According to census records listing his children in Sumner County, Tennessee, Hartwell Anglea was born in Virginia (probably Cumberland County or Charlotte County). It is estimated that his year of birth was about 1795. His father, William Anglea, and grandfather, Benjamin Anglea (Angel) were Revolutionary War Veterans. Hartwell's father was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. When his father (William Anglea) died on January 9, 1852 in Charlotte County, Virginia and the Will was probated, Hartwell's children were mentioned in the settlement.

Little is known of Hartwell's early years. His father's Revolutionary War affidavits indicate that he spent his adolescent years in Charlotte County, Virginia. Hartwell was a Private in Captain Edward Archer's Company of Virginia Militia in the War of 1812. He enlisted on August 2, 1814 and was discharged on February 3, 1815.

Hartwell Anglea married Elizabeth Ferguson in 1833 in Charlotte County, Virginia. On November 8, 1838, he purchased 103 acres of land in Sumner County, Tennessee. The 1840 Census of Sumner County lists Hartwell Angel as head of household with 2 boys and 2 girls less than 5 years old. Two of the children were probably William and Mary Anglea but the other two are unknown. There were only two children, William and Mary, listed in Eliza Angel's household in the 1850 Census. It is not known what happen to the other girl and boy. There were five children added to the family after the 1840 Census. Hartwell Anglea died in September 1846.

Sumner County, Tennessee Deed Book 26, page 225 records a deed from James M. Angle and W. M. Angle to Edmond A., John W., and Frank D. Angle of Marshall County, Kentucky (heirs of Hartwell Angle). The deed was for a tract of land that Hartwell Anglea purchased from James Braken in Sumner County, Tennessee in 1838. Two generations of Hartwell Angleas family are as follows:

 
1 Hartwell Anglea (ca. 1795 - Sept 1846/7) 
  m (1832/34) Elizabeth Ferguson (1810) 
  2 William M.  Anglea (1836) 
    m Martha (1837 - ) 
  2 Mary Anglea (1838) 
  2 John Wesley Anglea (1840/43 - 1
Apr 1933) 
    m Fredonia I. Brown (15 Sep
1857 - 28 Feb 1941) 
    3.Wade H. Anglea (Feb 1879) 
    3 Hattie J.  Anglea (14 Jul 1881 - 23 Apr 1967) 
      m (23 Nov 1899) Orlando Walter Gant (Oct 1880) 
    3 John M.  Anglea (Dec 1883) 
    3 Louella (Lien) T.  Anglea (Nov 1886) 
      m Unknown Freeland 
    3 Maud M.  Anglea (Aug 1891) 
      m Unknown Lambert 
  2 Edward Archibald Anglea (1841 -
1908) 
    m (14 May 1872) Matilda Clementine
Brown (Apr 1852 - 1934) 
    3 Miles Douglas Anglea (30 May 1873 - 15 Aug 1909) 
      m (1 Jun 1898) Dorothy Brown (17 Jun 1881 - 7 Feb 1955) 
    3 Thomas D.  Anglea (1877) 
      m Stella McGlothlin 
  2 James M.  Anglea (1844) 
    m L.  C.  Unknown 
  2 Samantha J. Anglea (1845 ) 
    m (10 May 1879) James W. 
Brown 
  2 Thomas A.  Anglea (1847 - bef.  1860) 
  2 Frank Douglas Anglea (15 Oct 1855 - 24 Oct 1921) 
    m (21 Oct 1877) Sarah E. Williams (18 May 1857 - 15 Apr 1917) 
    3 Joseph Franklin Anglea (10 Aug 1878 - 16
Jun 1943) 
      m (12 Apr 1905) Cordelia (Cordie)
Brown (2 Jan 1866 - 23 Oct 1977) 
    3 Lula Anglea (Apr 1882) 
      m (29 Jan 1903) J. W. Rippy