Benjamin married Virginia Maury Otey in May 1842. Virginia (daughter of James Hervey Otey and Elizabeth Davis Pannill) was born on 5 Aug 1822; died on 23 Apr 1900. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

James Hervey Otey, Bishop of the Southwest, was born 27 January 1800, in Bedford, Virginia, and died 23 April 1863, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is buried in St. Johns, Ashwood, Maury County, Tennessee. He married 18 October 1821, Elizabeth Davis PANNILL. She is buried beside her husband, having died in June, 1861.

The Dictionary of American Biography has the following account of Bishop Otey:

".....first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee, was born in Bedford County, Va., one of a family of twelve children. His grandfather, Col. John Otey, fought in the Revolution; his father, Isaac, was a farmer and served for thirty years as the representative of his county in the Virginia Legislature; his mother was a Mathew, a descendant of Tobias Mathew, Archbishop of York, 1606-1628. [NOTE: this last assertion has been discredited, see remarks elsewhere in this book] At the age of twenty, James Hervey graduated from the University of North Carolina with the degree of bachelor of belles-letters. Remaining in the university as instructor in Greek and Latin, he had to lead the daily prayers in the chapel. Since he showed evident embarrassment, a friend gave him an Episcopal prayer book, the first he had seen, his parents not being members of any church. On Oct. 13, 1821, he married Eliza D. Pannill of Petersburg, Va., and soon took charge of an academy at Warrenton. Here he was baptized by the village rector, Rev. William Mercer Green, later first bishop of Mississippi. Bishop John S. Ravenscroft..... confirmed him, and on Oct. 10, 1825, ordained him deacon. On June 7, 1827, he was ordained priest by the same bishop.

"Settling in Franklin, Tenn., he opened a school, serving also as pastor and missionary for eight years, with only one other Episcopal clergyman in the state. Bishop Ravenscroft visited him in 1829 and the diocese of Tennessee was organized at Nashville. In 1833 there were only five presbyters and one deacon in the diocese but at the convention held at Franklin in June of that year Otey was elected bishop, and was consecrated in Philadelphia, Jan. 14, 1834.

"His services by toilsome journeys on horseback extended through Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indian Territory as well as Tennessee. "Weary, weary, weary," found frequent repetition in his diary. In 1852 he settled in Memphis.

"As the originator of the idea, and one of the founders of the University of the South, Bishop Otey deserves remembrance. The formal meeting for organization was held on Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, July 4, 1857. Otey made an address, was elected chairman of the meeting and later, chancellor of the institution. Sewanee was selected as the site, and ten thousand acres secured. The legislature granted a charter, Jan. 6, 1858, nearly $500,000 was subscribed, and the corner stone was laid, Oct. 10, 1860. War stopped all further effort and swept away all the subscriptions. Before it was over, Otey had died and Bishop Charles T. Quintard..... took up the work.

"By birth and early training, Otey was an "old-time Whig," a stanch supporter of the Constitution. His letters on the eve of war show the horror it aroused in his soul. The clergy in his diocese were recommended to use the ante-communion office, which did not contain any prayer for the President, in place of the usual services of morning and evening prayer, which included such a petition. He wrote to Secretary of State Seward, begging that hostilities be suspended and imploring him to use his influences with the President in the interest of peace. (See "The Change of Secession Sentiment in Virginia in 1861," in American Historical Review, October 1925.) General Sherman treated Bishop Otey with marked respect, did not compel him to take the usual oath of allegiance, and was a frequent attendant at the Bishop's services in Memphis. Notwithstanding the secession of the Southern states, Otey saw no reason for dividing the Church. He felt that at least "the opinions and consent of our northern brethren should be consulted in any such step, and everything avoided as far as possible likely to give offence to any portion of the Church."

"The death of his wife in June 1861 was a heavy blow to him, and his own followed in less than two years. They had nine children. His remains lie in the churchyard in Ashwood, where a memorial service is still held every year. He was the author of one book, Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the American Branch of the Catholic Church, Explained and Unfolded in Three Sermons (1852)."

James married Elizabeth Davis Pannill on 18 Oct 1821. Elizabeth was born WFT est 1785-1810; died in Jun 1861; was buried in St. Johns, Ashwood, Maury County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Elizabeth Mathews on 5 Feb 1789. Elizabeth (daughter of William Mathews and Frances Crowe) was born on 22 Feb 1767 in Rockbridge County, Virginia; died on 4 Mar 1855 in Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia; was buried in Bedford City, Bedford County, Virginia.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth Mathews was born 22 February 1767, and died 4 March 1853. She married 5 February 1789, Major Isaac OTEY, who was born 18 October 1765 in New Kent County, Virginia and died 18 October 1839 at his home near Lynchburg, Virginia. They lived in Bedford County, Virginia, and had twelve children. Isaac Otey was the son of Colonel John OTEY and Mary HOPKINS. Their home was "Sandusky", near Lynchburg. He was an officer in the War of 1812, an honored citizen of his State, and member of the Legislature from Bedford County, 1797-1822. His Will is recorded in Will Book 8, page 35, Campbell County, Virginia, dated 11 October 1838 and probated 9 March 1840.