Lee, George Washington Custis, 1832-1913

The central figures in this collection are Cuthbert Powell (1775-1849), his son, Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), Charles Leven Powell's wife, Selina (Lloyd) Powell (d. 1871), and their children.

Cuthbert Powell Cuthbert Powell (1775-1849) was born in Middleburg, Loudoun County, Virginia to parents Leven Powell (1737-1810) and Sarah (Harrison) Powell. He was one of eleven children. Cuthbert made his fortune alongside his brother, Leven Powell, Jr. (1772-1807), as a merchant and ship owner. He retired to "Llangollen," Loudoun County, Virginia in 1812 after a decline in business. Later he was elected to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly; the Virginia State Senate in 1829 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 1840. In 1788, Cuthbert married Catherine Simms, daughter of Col. Charles Simms. The couple had ten children including; Anne Maria Powell (1800-1885), who married 1st cousin Dr. William Levin Powell; Dr. Llewellen Powell (1802-1870), who married cousin Sarah Elizabeth Harrison; Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), who married Selina Lloyd; Mary Emily Powell (b.1807), who married cousin Cuthbert Powell and later Rev. George Adie; Ellen Douglas Powell (1813- 1862) who married Judge William H. Gray; Cuthbert Harrison Powell (1814-1897); and Jane Simms (Fanny) Powell, who married Wellington Gordon.

Charles Leven Powell and Family Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896) married Selina Lloyd (d. 1871) in 1830. The couple had six children, including; Rebecca Powell (1831-1921), Harriet Lee "Hattie" (Powell) Smoot (1833-1870), Lloyd Powell (1834-1861), Charles Leven Powell, Jr. (1835-1862), Minna Powell (1837-1854), and Selina "Nina" (Powell) Hepburn (1842-1918). Harriet Lee "Hattie" (Powell) Smoot (1833-1870) married Rector Smoot. In 1871, Selina "Nina" (Powell) Hepburn (1842-1918) married Sewell Stavely Hepbron. At some point, the last name Hepbron was changed to Hepburn.

Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896) graduated from Yale College in 1825. After unsuccessful attempts at starting a law practice in Alexandria, Virginia, he was able to support his family as a teacher. Still hoping to advance his law career, the family moved to Henry, Illinois in 1850. After the death of their daughter, Minna Powell (1837-1854), the family returned to Virginia leaving the two sons behind. The parents opened a girls boarding school in Winschester, Virginia, but at the start of the Civil War in 1861 were forced to shut down. Lloyd Powell (1834-1861) returned to Virginia to enlist in the war and was killed at the 1st Battle of Bull Run, 21 July 1861. Following his death, Charles Leven Powell, Jr. (1835-1862) returned to Virginia to enlist and was killed in a skirmish in August 1862. The rest of the family scattered across the state to live with various relatives until the end of the war. The family reassembled in Alexandria, Virginia and opened another school for girls called the "Arlington Institute." The teachers on staff include Charles Leven Powell (1804-1896), his wife and his three remaining daughters. This school supported the family for 30 years until its closure in 1894.

From the guide to the Powell Famiy Papers, 1775-1927., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)