Guardian Bond for Catherine (Jewell) Jennings (1813-1854)

Catherine Jewell married Powhatan Perrow Jennings on 23 February 1836 in Amherst County, Virginia, and was the daughter of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs. She was also my great great grandmother. She was born in 1813 and her parents died before she was 21 years old. As a result her eldest brother, Jesse, signed a bond promising to pay Catherine her share of her father's estate when she became an adult.

The bond was abstracted in a book entitled The Wills of Amherst County, Virginia, 1761-1865:

CATH. JEWELL -- Book 8, Page 355 -- Guardian Bond -- October 21, 1833. JESSE JEWELL, JAS. JEWELL, and TERISHA JEWELL for JESSE as guardian of CATH. JEWELL, orphan of THOS. JEWELL, deceased

Earlier this year, we stopped in Amherst County on our way to North Carolina and visited the courthouse. I photographed several documents related to the Jewell and Jennings families in will, marriage, and deed books.

Amherst County, Virginia courthouse; personal collection

The complete text of the bond abstracted above is as follows:[1]

Amherst County, Virginia
Will Book 8, Page 355

Know all men by these presents that we, Jesse Jewell, James Jewell, and Terisha Jewell are held and firmly bound unto Ambrose Rucker, William M. Waller, Jonas Pierce, Zacharias Drummond, Gentlemen Justices of the County Court of Amherst, in the sum of two thousand dollars current money of Virginia, for the payment of which well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.

Sealed with our seals and dated this 21st day of October, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three and in the 58th year of the Commonwealth.

The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Jesse Jewell shall well and truly pay and deliver, or cause to be paid and delivered unto Catherine Jewell, orphan of Thomas Jewell, deceased, all such Estate of Estates as is now, or shall hereafter appear to be due to the said Catherine Jewell, when she shall attain to lawful age to demand the same, or when thereto, required by the Justices of the Court, for the time being, do also save harmless and indemnify the first above mentioned Justices from all trouble or damage that shall or may arise about the said Estate or Estates, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue.

Jesse Jewell (signed and sealed)
James Jewell (sealed)
Terisha Jewell (sealed)

At a court held for Amherst County on the 21st day of October 1833.

This bond was acknowledged in open Court by the parties thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

Teste,

Robert Tinsley, Clerk

_______________
[1] Transcribe by Schalene Jennings Dagutis, 1 May 2018

Powhatan Perrow Jennings and Catherine Jewell Marriage Bond

During a trip to North Carolina from our temporary home in upstate New York, Pete and I stopped at the Amherst County Court House to photograph and transcribe documents about my Jennings ancestors. One of the gems we found was the marriage bond for the union of my two times great grandparents, Powhatan Perrow Jennings and Catherine Jewell.

Marriage bond between Powhatan Jennings and Terisha Jewell, Catherine
Jewell's brother; personal collection

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That we Powhatan Jennings and Terisha Jewell are held and firmly bound unto Littleton Waller Tazwell, Esq. Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the just and full sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, current money of Virginia, to be paid to the said Governor and his successors, for the use of said Commonwealth; for the payment whereof, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, and each of us, and each of our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 23rd day of February 1836 and in the [illegible] year of the Commonwealth.

The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound Powhatan Jennings and Catherine Jewell of the county of Amherst. -- Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then this obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Powhatan Jennings (signed and sealed)
Terry Jewell (signed and sealed)

_______________
NOTE: Jennings researchers this marriage bond may be found on my Ancestry tree and the transcription may also be found there. If you do not have a subscription to Ancestry but would like a copy of this document, please leave a comment with your contact information on this post.

Thomas Jewell (after 1776-1833): Mystery Man
Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858): A Life Cut Short
DNA Discoveries: Jewell Progress

52 Ancestors #11: Henry Downs (bef 1761-c1825): Recently Discovered Direct Ancestor

Ancestor, Henry Downs, four times great grandfather
DNA Haplogroup: Unknown

Henry Downs is a "new" four times great grandfather. Of course, he has been one of my direct ancestors since I was born but I only learned of his existence late last year thanks to a comment on a blog post that directed me to a Fauquier County, Virginia, Chancery case.

Henry was enumerated in the 1810 and 1820 census as living in Fauquier County, which had been formed from Prince William County in 1759.

Census information about the household of Henry Downs; created using
Microsoft Excel

Henry Downs wrote his will on 8 December 1821:

The last will and testament of Henry Downs, Fauquier Count Will Book 13,
page 448, image 250; courtesy of Ancestry.com

In the name of God amen. I Henry Downs of the County of Fauquier and the State of Virginia, being at this time in good health of body and of sound disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, do make this my last will and testament in the manner following, viz.

First, I will and desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid as soon as practicable after my decease.

Secondly, I will and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Downs all my estate both real and personal of every sort during her natural life or widowhood and at her death or marriage that all my personal estate be sold and equally divided among my three daughters, namely Elizabeth Garret, Sarah Jewel, and Mary Jones, share and share alike to them and their heirs and assigns forever.

Thirdly, I have already executed a deed to my son Henry Downs for part of my land therein mentioned which I consider his full share of my estate. Said deed is dated on the twenty-ninth day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my son William Downs one half of the residue of my land on the southernmost side of my tract to be laid off by a line parallel with William Battson's line on which it binds, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Fifthly, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Downs the balance of my land it being the third share, being between the shares of my other two sons Henry and William aforesaid, his lawful heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute appoint and empower my beloved son Henry Downs aforesaid and my trusty friend John Sinclair my executors to this my last will and testament, publishing and declaring this to be my last will and testament in the presence of to which I have set my hand and seal this 8th day of December one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one,

Henry Downs (signed and sealed)

Alex H. Bennett
Casper Johnson (his mark)
William D. Sinclair

At a court held for Fauquier County on the 26th day of January 1825, this last will and testament of Henry Downs deceased was proved by the oath of Alex H. Bennett a subscribing witness thereto -- And at a court held for said county on the 23rd day of February 1835 a writing purporting to be the last will and testament of said Henry Downs deceased was again produced to the Court, and it appearing to the satisfaction that this same has been heretofore proved by the oath of Alex H. Bennett on of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and that Casper Johnson another subscribing witness, is dead, and that William Sinclair the remaining subscribing witness has no known place of residence, and therefore Henry Downs was introduced and sworn as a witness who deposed and said that he was present and saw the said Casper Johnson attest the said writing -- and on the motion of Luther O. Sullivan the same is ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of the said Henry Downs deceased. Henry Downs one of the executors named in the said last will and testament personally appeared in open Court and refused to take upon himself the burthen of execution thereof -- And at a court held for said County of Fauquier on the 23rd Day of March 1835, John Sinclair another one of the executors named in the said last will and testament, by his writing under his hand and seal, refused to take upon himself the burthen of the execution thereof. -- Administration with the will annexed of the estate of Henry Downs deceased is granted to Luther O. Sullivan who thereupon qualified and gave bond and security according to law, the security having satisfied.

Teste,
A. J. Marshall, clerk

An appraisement of the estate of Henry Downs was supposed to have occurred on 29 April 1825 and been filed with the court on 26 September, but it is not located at book and page numbers cited in the will index. I have yet to go through the will book for 1825 image by image. Luther O. Sullivan filed an account of sales and a second appraisement in 1835 and on 28 August 1837 made his last recorded administrator's account:

Administrator's account for the estate of Henry Downs, Fauquier County Will
Book 15, page 313; courtesy of Ancestry.com

In the account Mr. Sullivan stated all the personal property of Henry Downs, which was to be sold after this wife's death with the proceeds being distributed equally among his daughters, was sold by 3 April 1835. After expenses, there was $1,236.23 remaining to be divided. Next, he began paying the heirs and his administrator's account provided more new information.

Mary (Downs) Jones was dead by 1836; therefore, Luther O. Sullivan paid $136.51 on 15 February 1836 to the assignee of of her son, Notley W. Jones, a man named Amos Johnson. Mr. Sullivan noted in the account that Notley was entitled to one-third of the proceeds from the sale of his grandfather's personal property. This turned out not to be the case. (He should have received a third of a third.) On 13 May 1836 Mr. Sullivan paid Catherine (Garrett) Russell, daughter of Elizabeth (Downs) Garrett $414.43. This indicated that her mother died sometime before 1836. No mention was made of Henry's daughter, Sarah (Downs) Jewell in the administrator's account. And that, I think, is when the trouble started.

On 16 April 1840 the heirs of Henry Downs' daughters filed a bill of complaint in the Fauquier County Chancery Court against Luther O. Sullivan, claiming they had not been paid. All of the his daughters were deceased by the time their mother died and the sale of their father's personal property had been completed. And those heirs were numerous:

Heirs of the daughters of Henry Downs; note Elizabeth (Garrett) Russell
correct given name is Catherine; created using Microsoft PowerPoint

Eventually, after a year of haggling in court with Mr. Sullivan, the heirs of Henry Downs' daughters were all paid.

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The theme for this week was "Lucky." I feel lucky that I began blogging about my family history as comments on posts have resulted in countless new cousins, new information, corrections, and so much more.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, Henry Downs is Ancestor number 70 on my family tree:

70.0 Henry Downs born before 1765; died before 26 January 1825; will written and probated in Fauquier County, Virginia; married Mary (maiden name unknown). Shed died before 1836.

70.1 Henry Downs, Jr. born about 1775 per 1850 and 1860 census; died after 1860; married Mary (maiden name unknown); father deeded him one-third of his real property on 29 July 1820

70.2 William Downs born before 1800; died after 1830

70.3 Thomas Downs born before 1800; died after 1830

70.4 Elizabeth Downs born on an unknown date; died between 1825 and 1836; married a man named Mr. Garrett.

35.0 Sarah Downs born on an unknown date; died between 1825 and 1833; married Thomas Jewell

70.5 Mary Jones born on an unknown date; died between 1825 and 1836; married a man named Mr. Jones.

_______________
Sources:

1810 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Henry Downs, Fauquier County, Virginia, 1810; citing p. 250 NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 68; FHL microfilm 181428 (accessed 29 Dec 2017).
1820 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Henry Downes Sr, Fauquier, Virginia, 1820; citing p. 105, NARA microfilm publication M33 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll 136; FHL microfilm 193,695 (accessed on 29 Dec 2017).
1830 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Henry Downs, Fauquier, Virginia, 1830; citing 451, NARA microfilm publication M19 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll 194; FHL microfilm 29,673 (accessed (30 Dec 2017).
1830 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Thomas Downs, Fauquier, Virginia, 1830; citing page 451, NARA microfilm publication M19 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll 194, FHL microfilm 029673 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
1830 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, William Downs, Fauquier, Virginia, 1830; citing page 450, NARA microfilm publication M19 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll roll 194, FHL microfilm 029673 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
1850 US Census (database and images), FamilySearch, Henry Downs, Fauquier county, part of Fauquier, Virginia, 1850; citing family 236, NARA microfilm publication M423 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
1860 US Census (database and images), Ancestry.com, Henry Downes, North East Revenue District, Fauquier County, 1860; citing family 422 NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration citing page 59, FHL microfilm 805344 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
Discovering Henry Downs, a "New" 4X Great Grandfather, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 6 Mar 2018).
Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858): A Life Cut Short, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 6 Mar 2018).
Thomas Jewell (bet 1776 and 1784-c1833): Mystery Man, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 8 Mar 2018).
Virginia Chancery Court Records, 1786-1969, Library of Virginia, Fauquier Chancery Court 1841-009, 72 pages (accessed 28 Dec 2017).
Virginia Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (database), Ancestry.com, Henry Downs father of Charles M. Downes marrying Emily F. Windsor (accessed 1 Jan 2018).
Virginia Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (database), Ancestry.com, Catherine Russell and Thaddeus Russell as parents of Sarah E. Russell, bride, Fauquier County, 1855 (accessed 1 Jan 2018).
Virginia Select Marriages, 1785-1940 (database), Ancestry.com, Catherine Russell and Thaddeus Russell as parents of William H. Russell, groom, Clark County, 1874 (accessed 1 Jan 2018)
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1938 (database and images), Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Will, Appraisements, Account of Sales, and Administrator's Account, Fauquier Index to Wills 1759-1924, image 60 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images), Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Will, 1821; Fauquier Will book 13, page 448 (accessed 31 Dec 2017).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images), Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Appraisement, 1825; Fauquier Will book 9, page 312, (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images, Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Account of Sales, 1835; Fauquier Will book 14, page 41 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images, Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Second Appraisement, 1835; Fauquier Will book 14, page 42 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).
Virginia Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983 (database and images, Ancestry.com, Henry Downs Administrator's Account, 1837; Fauquier Will book 15, page 313 (accessed 30 Dec 2017).

Thomas Jewell (bet 1776 and 1784-c1833): Mystery Man
Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858): A Life Cut Short
Discovering Henry Downs, a "New" 4X Great Grandfather

52 Ancestors #10: Thomas Jewell (aft 1776-abt 1833): Mystery Man

Ancestor: Thomas Jewell, three times great grandfather
Haplogroup: Unknown

Thomas Jewell was my three times great grandfather, father of Catherine Jewell, first wife of Powhatan Perrow Jennings, my two times great grandfather. I call him my "mystery Jewell."

Based on the 1810 and 1820 census he was born between 1776 and 1784. His father could be Thomas Jewell born about 1740, but more on that later. "My" Thomas married Sarah "Sally" Downs[1], daughter of Henry and Mary Downs of Fauquier County, sometime before 1800. According to a Chancery case, Fauquier County 1841-09, regarding the last will and testament of Henry Downs and the probate package for Thomas Jewell, we know he had six children who lived to adulthood. Those children were all born in Virginia.

On 15 December 1805 Thomas Jewell purchased 100 acres known as Porrage from Reuben Novell and his wife, Polly. The land adjoined property owned by Henry Turner of England, and Alex Jewell, who I believe to be an older brother. Thomas took possession of the land on 6 December 1806.

By 1810 Thomas Jewell lived in Amherst County, Virginia, and was enumerated in the 1810, 1820, and 1830 census:

1810, 1820 and 1830 census enumerations for Thomas Jewell household;
created using Microsoft Excel

I have estimated birth years for the six children based on other records, such as census, marriage, death, and chancery cases, and I cannot make sense of the 1820 census in terms of slotting the children into the sex and age ranges listed. Thomas Jewell remained in the 26-44 age range but it appeared his wife, Sally, was not enumerated unless she was categorized in the 20-29 category.

It is possible that Thomas served with the Virginia Militia in the 3rd (Dickinson's) Regiment, but I have not yet determined if the record is for "my" Thomas Jewell.

Thomas Jewell's Probate Package

Thomas Jewell died about 1833. There are two abstracts of probate records in The Wills of Amherst County, 1761-1865, by Bailey Fulton Davis:

THOS. JEWELL -- Book 8, Page 354 -- Administrator's Bond -- September 16, 1833. JESSE MUNDY. Bondsman: CHAS. MUNDY. Book 8, Page 364 -- Inventory -- Farmer - $3,706.76. September 30, 1833. WM. KENT; LAWSON TURNER; RUBEN CARVER. Book 9, Page 22 -- Division to legatees: JESSE JEWELL, WM. WOODSON, JAS. JEWELL, CATH. JEWELL, URIAH BURLEY, TERISHA JEWELL. October 30, 1833. JNO. DILLARD, WM. KENT, D. STAPLES.

CATH. JEWELL -- Book 8, Page 355 -- Guardian Bond -- October 21, 1833. JESSE JEWELL, JAS. JEWELL, and TERISHA JEWELL for JESSE as guardian of CATH. JEWELL, orphan of THOS. JEWELL, deceased.

In addition to learning the names of his children, I learned Thomas Jewell was a farmer and his estate was valued at $3,700, or $102,000 in today's dollars.

A Chancery Court Breakthrough

On 16 April 1840, Jesse Jewell and his five siblings as well as their spouses and/or children and maternal cousins filed suit in the Fauquier County Chancery Court against the Luther O. Sullivan, the administrator of Henry Downs' estate. Henry Downs was their maternal grandfather.

Henry Downs had three sons and three daughters. In his will he divided his land into thirds and bequeathed it to his sons. His three daughters were to split his personal property into thirds after their mother's death. However, by the time Mary Downs died, sometime before 1840, their three daughters were also deceased. So their interest in Henry's personal property went to their children.

Children of the daughters of Henry Downs. Note: The given name of Elizabeth
(Downs) Garrett's daughter should be Catherine, not Elizabeth; created using
Microsoft Powerpoint

There were two surprises in this Chancery case in addition to discovering the correct maiden name for Thomas Jewell's wife and the names of her parents.

I had assumed James Jewell was a son, but he was a son-in-law, married to daughter, Harriet Jewell. I had also assumed Terisha[2] was a daughter, but she was a he and married Sophia Ann Mahone. He died about 1838 so his three minor daughters were parties to the lawsuit. This Chancery case was also confirmation that Thomas Jewell's wife was deceased, perhaps confirming the 1820 record.

Daughter, Catherine

Thomas Jewell and Sally Downs' youngest daughter was named Catherine. She was born in 1813 in Amherst County. At the age of 23, she married Powhatan Perrow Jennings on 23 February 1836 in Amherst, becoming my great great grandmother. She had six children between 1838 and 1850, five boys and one girl. Catherine died in 1854 according to her headstone. Her death would have occurred before 10 May as her widower remarried on that date. There is a Find a Grave memorial for Catherine (Jewell) Jennings which indicates she was interred at the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Cemetery in Fancy Hill, Virginia. However, several Jennings researchers do not believe she was buried there but rather that her burial location is unknown. Her husband, Powhatan, died four years later but was interred at Tudor Hall Cemetery in also Fancy Hill.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, Catherine (Jewell) Jennings is Ancestor number 17 on my family tree.

A Word about DNA

I have been fortunate in my relatives. On the Jennings side of my family tree, my two siblings, my paternal uncle, two first cousins, and a first cousin once removed have all taken autosomal DNA tests and allowed me to manage their results. Between all of us, we have 12 matches with the common shared ancestor being Powhatan and Catherine (Jewell) Jennings; two matches with the common shared ancestor being Catherine's parents Thomas and Sarah "Sally" (Downs) Jewell and six matches to the person I believe to be Thomas' father, who I call "Unknown" Jewell. Each of these six matches are descendants of Judith Jewell, who I think was a sister of "my" Thomas Jewell.

Jewell DNA match to other Jewell family besides Catherine (Jewell) Jennings;
created using Microsoft Excel

Judith Jewell[3] was born about 1768 in Amherst County, which would make her about eight years older than Thomas. She married Dennis Ensey, son of Jacob Ensey, sometime before 1805. Dennis was born in Frederick County, Maryland, served in the War of 1812 in the 90th Regiment. He was discharged at the rank of Matross. They were responsible for assisting gunners load, fire and sponge the artillery guns. By 1830 Dennis and Judith's family had migrated to Warren County, Tennessee, and by 1840 they had settled in Coffee County. Dennis died in January 1860 of old age per the Federal Census Mortality Schedules. Judith's death date is unknown.

Judith and Dennis Ensey had four known children, all born in Amherst County, Virginia. The six DNA matches are through their sons, Rhodum Hathum, William Thomas, and Alexander Charles Ensey.

If I am correct about the relationship between Thomas Jewell and Judith (Jewell) Ensey, my family tree would look like this:

Possible "new" Jewells based on DNA test matches; created using
Microsoft PowerPoint

It is possible my Unknown Jewell was Thomas Jewell, who served as a sergeant in Capt. Andrew Wallace's Company of the 12th Virginia Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He was listed on the February 1778 payroll. However, no one with the Jewell surname is included in the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR) Ancestors database.

I reviewed the patriarch spreadsheet at the Jewell DNA Project but could not find "my" Thomas Jewell listed. So now I am on the hunt for a male Jewell descendant who would be willing to take a FamilyTree Y-DNA test and contribute the results to the project.

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The theme for this week was "Strong Women." As you have may have noticed, everything about researching Thomas Jewell has been difficult, including being able to use this week's theme. Even our temporary move to upstate New York has been an issue. It was soon after we moved that a comment on a previous blog post about the Jewell family pointed me in the direction of the Chancery case. So many books that could help me advance this research are just sitting in the Virginia Room of the Fairfax County Public Library, but I no longer live 10 minutes from the library, three hours from the Amherst County Courthouse, or two hours from the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, Thomas Jewell is Ancestor number 34 on my family tree:

34.0 Thomas Jewell, born between 1776 and 1784 according to the 1810 and 1820 census; died about 1833 in Amherst County, Virginia, as an administrator's bond was filed in Amherst County on 16 September 1833; married Sarah Downs, daughter of Henry and Mary Downs, about 1800.

34.1 Jesse Jewell, born between 1800 and 1810. He was still in Amherst County in 1833 as he was appointed his sister, Catherine's guardian but disappeared from the records after that. There are 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census records for a Jesse Jewell born about 1796 in Sullivan County, Indiana, but I do not know if they are for "my" Jesse Jewell.

34.2 Harriet Jewell, born about 1803 in Amherst County; died after 1880; married James Jewell on 21 December 1821 or 1826 in Amherst County and migrated to Georgia between 1840 and 1850, settling in Whitfield County.

34.3 Tacey Ann Jewell, born about 1804 in Amherst County; died 13 April 1872 in Temperance, Virginia; married Uriah Burley or Burleigh on 10 March 1830 in Amherst County.

34.4 Terisha or Terresha Jewell born about 1805 in Amherst County; died about 1838 when his wife requested a guardian bond for their three daughters in Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia); married Sophia Ann Mahone 31 March 1832 in Kanawha County.

34.5 Sarah Ellen Jewell born about 1812 in Amherst County; died before 1840; married William Woodson on 19 March 1832 in Amherst County.

17.0 Catherine Jewell born 1813 in Amherst County; died in 1854 in Amherst County; married Powhatan Perrow Jennings, son of John W. Jennings, Sr., and Anna Maria Waldron on 23 February 1836 in Amherst County.

_______________
[1] Most public trees list her maiden name as Guilford but this is not correct as proved by the Fauquier County Chancery case 1841-009.
[2] Many document transcriptions list his name as Jerry, but if you look closely at the original handwriting, I believe it is actually Terry, which makes more sense to me.
[3] The wife of Dennis Ensey is named Delphy in many family trees. I am not sure how this came about since the two marriage index records list his wife as Judith.

Sources:
12th Virginia Regiment (Revolutionary War), FamilySearch (accessed 2 Mar 2018).
12th Virginia Regiment, Valley Forge Muster Roll (accessed 2 Mar 2018).
1810 US Census, (database with images) FamilySearch, Thomas Jewell, Amherst Virginia; citing p. 299, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration) roll 66; FHL microfilm 181426 (accessed on 9 Jul 2015).
1820 US Census, (database with images) FamilySearch, Thomas Jewel, Amherst Virginia; citing p 28 microfilm publication M33, (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 131, FHL microfilm 193690 (accessed 9 Jul 2015).
1830 US Census, (database with images) FamilySearch, Thomas Jewell, Amherst Virginia; citing 505, NARA microfilm publication M19 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration), roll 194, FHL microfilm 29673 (accessed on 9 Jul 2015).
Davis, Bailey Fulton. The Wills of Amherst County 1761-1865, (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985).
Davis, Bailey Fulton, The Deeds of Amherst County 1761-1852 and Albemarle County 1748-1807, (Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1979), page 450.
Discovering Henry Downs, a "New" 4X Great Grandfather, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 2 March 2018).
DNA Discoveries: Jewell Progress, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 2 Mar 2018).
Fauquier County 1841-009, Virginia Chancery Court Records citing Jesse Jewell etal, Library of Virginia (accessed 28 Dec 2017).
Find A Grave, Memorial 127484632, citing Catherine B. Jennings, died 1854 (accessed 13 Apr 2013).
Inflation Calculator, In 2013 Dollars (accessed 2 Mar 2018).
Jewell, SurnameDB (accessed 3 May 2014).
Jewell DNA Project, The, WorldFamilies (accessed 17 December 2015).
Matross, Wikipedia (accessed 2 March 2018).
Third Auditor's Office (editor). Virginia Militia of the War of 1812, (Richmond, VA: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1999), page 3.
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) Ancestory.com, citing Powhatan Jennings and Catherine Jewell, 1836, Amherst County, Virginia (accessed 13 Apr 2013)
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940, (database) Ancestry.com, citing Thomas Jewell, father of the bride Sarah Jewell, married William Woodson (accessed 12 Nov 2017).

Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858): A Life Cut Short
What Happened to Sophia, Widow of Terresha "Terry" Jewell?
Discovering Henry Downs, a "New" 4X Great Grandfather
DNA Discoveries: Jewell Progress
Discovering My Local Family History Center

52 Ancestors #5: Powhatan Perrow Jennings (1812-1858): A Life Cut Short

Ancestor Name: Powhatan Perrow Jennings, two times great grandfather
DNA Haplogroup: I-M253

According to his headstone, Powhatan Perrow Jennings was born on Christmas Day 1812. However, it is unlikely Powhatan's family celebrated Christmas the way many of us do today since those traditions are little more than 150 years old. Many historians believe the holiday customs we cherish were invented as a response to sectionalism, civil war, urbanization and industrialization. When Powhatan was born, Virginia's planter class took the occasion of Christmas to hunt, feast, dance, gamble, and visit each other much as their English ancestors did. Other Virginians hardly took any notice of the holiday at all.

Powhatan was fourth child and son of John W. Jennings, Sr., and his wife, Anna Mariah Walrond (now spelled Waldron) and he was likely born in Buckingham County, Virginia. His father was a farmer, but volunteered to serve in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. For four months during early 1814 he was in Norfolk, stationed at Fort Norfolk, part of the regiment responsible for defending the city and its port from the British.

Unlike a million other Virginians who moved westward, out of state between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Powhatan's father remained in Virginia. Tobacco, the crop that was the foundation of state's agricultural economy seemed to have run its course. The plant quickly depleted nutrients in the soil and the increased popularity of smoking made the tobacco grown in the piedmont region less valuable.

Mill, blacksmith and tannery at New Canton, Virginia; courtesy of the
Library of Virginia

I assume Powhatan grew up in Buckingham County on his father's farm. We don't know if the family moved around while in Buckingham County, but in 1820 they lived near New Canton. The town had been established by the General Assembly by decree in 1793 and was laid out on the south shore of the James River near the mouth of Bear Garden Creek on a bluff above Cannon's Ferry, a service which had operated for many years. One of the state tobacco inspection warehouses was built in the town in 1804.

Married Catherine Jewell

Powhatan's father moved to Amherst County sometime between 1830 and 1850. Perhaps, that is how Powhatan met his future wife, Catherine B. Jewell, daughter of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs. They married in Amherst County on 23 February 1836. Catherine was born in 1813 in Amherst County. Her father had died in 1833 when she was under the age of 21 and legally considered an "infant" by the court. Her three elder brothers, Jesse, James, Terresha (known as Terry) Jewell, were appointed her guardian on 21 October 1833.

When the 1840 census was enumerated, Powhatan and Catherine lived in Buckingham County, and had two sons who were under 5 years of age. Powhatan owned one slave.

In 1837, Catherine's grandmother, Mary Downs died, leaving her husband's estate to be distributed according to his will. The will divided his land among his three sons and his personal property among his three daughters. Since all his daughters were deceased, their children were entitled to a share of the value of her grandfather, Henry Downs' personal estate which became available for distribution after his wife's death. In 1841 after filing suit against the administrator of Henry's estate, Powhatan and Catherine received $74.84 plus interest from 1837.[1]

By 1850, Powhatan had moved his growing family, which now included six children to Amherst County. His father and several brothers also lived and farmed in the county.[2] Powhatan's farm consisted of 200 acres of which 100 were improved. He valued the farm at $1,000 and his farm tools and implements at $80. He had horses, milk cows, working oxen, other cattle, sheep and pigs and his total stock was valued at $630. His sheep produced 20 pounds of wool and the dairy cows produced 100 pounds of butter as well as gallons of milk, I'm sure. He grew wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes but no tobacco. He also owned 6 slaves: one 20-year-old male, one 25-year-old female and four little boys, ranging in age from 9 to 5 years old. I believe, but am not positive the 5-year-old boy was named Alexander.[3]

Snippet from the 1850 Slave Schedule; courtesy of Ancestry.com

Married Elizabeth Rhodes

In early 1854 Powhatan's wife, Catherine, died. She was interred at the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Cemetery in Fancy Hill, Virginia. Her six children ranged in age from 16 to 4 years old at the time of her death and Powhatan wasted no time remarrying. He married Elizabeth A. Rhodes, daughter of John Rhodes and Lucretia Harrison, on 10 May 1854 in Amherst County. She was 23 years his junior. They had a daughter in 1855.

Powhatan was mortally ill with dysentery when he wrote his will on 18 August 1858. He died two days later. His will was probated on 20 September and his death was registered with the county on 11 October. The abstract of his will included in The Wills of Amherst County, Virginia 1761-1865 on page 192 simply says that one of his sons was to superintend his estate until the youngest child was 21 years old. An inventory valued the estate at $5,495.75.[4] He was interred at Tudor Hall Cemetery in Fancy Hill, Virginia. Like his father's will, the will book which included Powhatan's will and probate records is not available on Ancestry.com; so I have ordered it from the Amherst County Circuit Court.

We know nothing of Powhatan's politics and are left wondering if naming one of his sons Zachariah Taylor Jennings provides a clue. Gen. Zachary Taylor was a national hero as a result of his victories during the Mexican-American War and a reluctant politician. He was elected president in 1848 as a Whig candidate. Though a southern slaveholder, his main political goal was to preserve the union and achieve sectional harmony. To that end, he did not push the expansion of slavery in the lands newly won from Mexico. When the Civil War erupted, three of Powhatan's sons served in the Confederate States Army.

Children Marry

His children by his first wife remained on the farm in 1860. His eldest son, John, married while on furlough from his military unit for illness in 1863; the remaining children married after the war was over. Most of his children went on to establish deep roots in Amherst County and some descendants still live in the county today. Four of his sons married into the Johnson and Miller families.

The Jennings-Miller marriages in Amherst County, Virginia; created
using Microsoft PowerPoint

Benjamin Franklin Jennings and William Henry Jennings married three sisters. William married three times and his third wife was a first cousin of his first two wives.

Sons of Powhatan -- Charles and Zachariah -- marry their first cousin's
daughters, Mary and Nancy Johnson; created using Microsoft Powerpoint

Charles Edward Jennings and Zachariah Taylor Jennings married sisters, too, who were also their first cousins once removed.

This is my entry for Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The theme for this week was "In the Census." I used the 1850 federal, agricultural and slave census schedules to describe the type of farm Powhatan owned and his family.

Using the Ancestral Reference Numbering System, Powhatan Perrow Jennings is Ancestor number 16 on my family tree:

16.0 Powhatan Perrow Jennings, born 25 December 1812 in Buckingham County, Virginia; died 20 August 1858 in Amherst County, Virginia; married 1) Catherine B. Jewell, daughter of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs, on 23 February 1836 in Amherst County, and 2) Elizabeth A. Rhodes, daughter of John Rhodes and Lucretia Harrison, on 10 May 1854 in Amherst County. 

17.0 Catherine Jewell born in 1813 in Amherst County, daughter of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs, died in 1854 in Amherst County; married Powhatan Perrow Jennings on 23 February 1836.

Known issue:

16.1 John Thomas Jennings, born about 1838 in Virginia; died after 1905; married 1) Margaret Ellen Tomlinson, daughter of Andrew or Ambrose Tomlinson, on 1 July 1863 in Amherst County; and 2) Ellen Camp, a widow, on 28 May 1902 in Nelson County, Virginia.

16.2 William Henry Jennings, born 13 Feb 1839 in Virginia; died 23 September 1929 in Amherst County; married 1) Sarah Frances Miller, daughter of Daniel Sheffey Miller and Jane Woodson Layne on 9 November 1870 in Amherst County, 2) Nancy Jane Miller, a sister of his first wife, on 15 February 1881 in Amherst County, and 3) Eva Byrd Miller, daughter of George Miller and Mary Jane Parrish and a first cousin of his first two wives, on 3 Mary 1892 in Amherst County.

8.0 Charles Edward Jennings, born 23 September 1843 in Amherst County; died 10 August 1917 in Erwin, Tennessee; married 1) Nancy "Nannie" Jane Johnson, daughter of William Marshall Johnson and Martha Ann Jennings[5], on 23 December 1873, and 2) Effie Beard, daughter of David Fleming Beard, Sr., and Barbara Ann Mitchell, in June 1895.

16.3 Frances Ann Jennings, born about 1845 in Amherst County; died 15 June 1891 in Amherst County; married James Adolphus Coleman, son of Jesse Coleman and Susan Grant, on 22 December 1869 in Amherst County.

16.4 Zachariah Taylor Jennings, born 2 October 1848 in Amherst County; died 28 July 1926 in Amherst County; married Mary "Molly" Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of William Marshall Johnson and Martha Ann Jennings (and sister of his brother, Charles' wife, Nannie), on 14 December 1871 in Amherst County.

16.5 Benjamin Franklin Jennings, born 6 November 1850 in Amherst County; died 1 May 1917 in Amherst County; married Mary Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Daniel Sheffey Miller and Jane Woodson Layne, on 23 May 1873 in Amherst County.

16.6 Willie Ann Jennings, daughter of Powhatan and his second wife, Elizabeth A. Rhodes, born on 23 November 1855 in Amherst County; died 3 November 1903; married Dudley Caddis Dawson, son of Sidney Dawson and Narcissia Hudson, on 27 August 1870 in Amherst County.

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[1] Fauquier County Chancery 1841-009.
[2] See analysis of farms of John W. Jennings and his sons, which was published on 26 January 2018 John W. Jennings, Sr. (1776-1858): War of 1812 Veteran. 
[3] Slave deaths were registered in Amherst County and between 1853 and 1863 the slave owners named was included on the entry. A 12-year-old slave named Alexander, belonging to Powhatan Perrow Jennings died of typhoid fever on 23 October 1857. He was added to the Slave Name Roll 29 Dec 2015.
[4] I have ordered his probate records from the Amherst County Circuit court and will update this post with the additional information I am sure they contain.
[5] Martha Ann Jennings was a first cousin of Charles Edward Jennings, the daughter of John W. Jennings, Jr. Therefore, Charles' first wife was his first cousin once removed.

Sources:
1840 U.S. Federal Census, Census Place: Southern District, Buckingham County, Virginia, for Powhalan W Jennings; Roll: 550; Page: 391; Family History Library Film: 0029683 (accessed 8 Sep 2017)
1850 U.S. Federal Census, Census Place: Eastern, Amherst County, Virginia, for Pawhaten Jenning; Roll: M432_933; Page: 149B; Image: 300 (accessed 15 Jul 2013)
1850 U.S. Federal Non-Population Census (Agricultural), Census Place: Eastern District, Amherst County, Virginia, for Powhatan Jennings; Archive Collection No.: T1132; Roll: 1; Page: 190; Line: 11 (accessed 15 Jul 2013)
1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Male 20 Years; Line:12; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)
1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Male 9 Years; Line:13; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Male 7 Years; Line:14; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Male 5 Years; Line:15; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Male 3 Years; Line:16; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)

1850 U.S. Federal Census (Slave Schedule), Census Place: Amherst County, Virginia for Female 25 Years; Line:17; FHL microfilm: 444,973 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)
Amherst County, Virginia, Register of Deaths in the District of Y. A. Brown Commissioner, for the year ending December 31st 1858, P. P. Jennings, Octo. 11

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 15; Page: 31; Powhatan Jennings Will

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 15; Page: 159; Administrator's Bond for estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 15; Page: 203; Inventory of the estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 15; Page: 607; Administrator's 1859 account of the estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 16; Page: 382; Administrator's 1860 account of the estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 17; Page: 50; Administrator's 1863 account of the estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 17; Page 103; Administrator's 1866 account of land sales from estate of Powhatan Jennings

Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book: 17; Page: 134; Administrator's 1866 account of estate of Powhatan Jennings

Ancestry.com, Virginia Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890, Powhatan Jennings, Page 785 (accessed 4 Aug 2017)

Ancestry.com, Virginia, Deaths and Burials Index, 1853-1917, P P Jennings, Death Place: Amherst, Virginia, Death Year: 1858; FHL Film No.: 2056972 (accessed 1 Aug 2013)

Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, P. P. Jennings as the father of the groom, C. E. Jennings, FHL Film No. 30311 (accessed 9 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, P. P. Jennings and E. Rhodes, citing Amherst County, 10 May 1854, FHL Film No.: 30311 (accessed 1 Aug 2013)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, P. R. Jennings as father of the groom, B. F. Jennings, FHL Film No. 30311 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan as father of the groom, W. H. Jennings, FHL Film No. 32734 (accessed 12 Dec 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan Jennings and Catherine Jewell, citing Amherst County, Virginia, 23 Feb 1836, FHL Film No.: 30273 (accessed 2 Aug 2013)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan Jennings as father of the bride, Frances A. Jennings, FHL Film No.: 3011 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan Jennings as father of the bride, Nellie A. Jennings, FHL Film No. 30311 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan Jennings as father of the groom, Wm. H. Jennings, FHL Film No. 30311 (accessed 9 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhatan Jennings as father of the groom, William H. Jennings, FHL Film No. 30311 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Powhaten P. Jennings as father of the groom, Zachariah T. Jennings, FHL Film No.: 30311 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marragies, 1785-1940, Powhaton B. Jennings as father of the groom, John T. Jennings, FHL Film No.: 30311 (accessed 24 Nov 2015)
Ancestry.com, Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Pown. as father of the groom, Jno. T. Jennings, FHL Film No. 32734 (accessed 12 Dec 2015)
Bryan, Charles F., Jr. Virginia, the unsettled state Richmond Times-Dispatch [Richmond, VA], 21 Feb 2016 (accessed 20 Jan 2018)

Davis, Bailey (compiler). The Wills of Amherst County, Virginia, 1761-1865, (Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1985), several pages

Discovering Henry Downs, A "New" 4X Great Grandfather, Tangled Roots and Trees 20 Jan 2018)
Discovering My Local Family History Center. Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
Doughtie, Beatrice, Documented Notes on Jennings and Allied Families, (Decatur, GA: Bowen Press, 1961), pages 637-641).
Families on the Farm. Teaching History (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
John W. Jennings, Sr. (1776-18580: War of 1812 Veteran, Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 26 Jan 2018)
Library of Virginia, Virginia Chancery Records, Fauquier County 1841-009 Jesse Jewell et al v Luther O. Sullivan (accessed 28 Dec 2017)
New Canton, Virginia. Wikipedia (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
Restad, Penne. Christmas in 19th Century America. History Today, 12 Dec 1995 (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
Rural Life in Virginia. Virginia Historical Society, Virginia History Explorer (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
Slave Named Alexander, A. Tangled Roots and Trees (accessed 20 Jan 2018)
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Agricultural Schedules: 1850-1900 (accessed 5 May 2014)
U.S. Find A Grave, Memorial No: 127484632
U.S. Find A Grave, Memorial No: 127484193 (accessed 16 Jul 2013)
Zachary Taylor. Wikipedia (accessed 20 Jan 2018)

John W. Jennings (1776-1858): War of 1812 Veteran
Benjamin Jennings (c1740-1815): Last Will and Testament
Benjamin Jennings (c1740-1815): Morgan's Riflemen
Benjamin Jennings (c1740-1815): Beginnings and Endings
Who Was the Original Jennings Immigrant?
Did John W. Jennings, Sr. (c1777-1858) Marry His Niece?
Discovering my Local History Center

British Surrender at Saratoga
The Great Jennens Case
Revolutionary War Soldier
There's One Born Every Minute -- Scamming the Greedy
A Forcible Act of Possession
Dicken's Bleak House Is about My Family

What Happened to Sophia, Widow of Terresha "Terry" Jewell?

A case in Virginia Circuit Superior Court and Chancery revealed Sophia Jewell was the widow of Terresha Jewell, known as Terry, often transcribed and indexed as Jerry, with three minor daughters -- Sarah Ellen, Frances Ann, and Mary Elizabeth. We know Terry Jewell died sometime before 14 May 1838 as that was the date Sophia appeared before the Kanawha County court requesting guardianship of her children who were described as the "orphan children of Terry Jewell, deceased..." Her motion was granted the same day.

Virginia Chancery case 1841-009, page 74; courtesy of the Library of Virginia

Those three little girls were my first cousins three times removed, nieces of my great great grandmother, Catherine B. (Jewell) Jennings.

Terry died when Kanawha County was still part of Virginia. Virginia did not require counties to record deaths until 1853 and West Virginia did not require statewide registration until 1917. Currently, this court case is the best evidence we have of his death until some other substitute record may be found, such as an obituary or funeral record. However, I did learn that Terry and Sophia were married in 31 March 1832 in Kanawha County by James C. Taylor. Sophia's name was listed as Sophia Ann Mahone, so I surmised that was her maiden name and her three daughters were born between 1832 and 1838.

Sophia married again to Hiram Harbour on 16 June 1839, according to the return sent to the Kanawha County clerk by Francis A. Timmous. Sophia was listed as Mrs. Sophia Juel. In 1840 Hiram was enumerated in the federal census as the head of a household comprised of seven people in Kanawha County:

1840 Household of Hiram Harber (Harbour); created with Microsoft Excel

We may assume Hiram was the male between 20-29 years of age, making the range of his birth between 1811 and 1820. Sophia was the female between 30-39 years of age. The three young girls are surely Sarah Ellen, Frances Ann and Mary Elizabeth Jewell. The mystery is the male between 10-14 years of age. Who was he?

By 1850 Hiram and his family had moved to Howard County, Missouri, and for the first time all the names of members of his household were enumerated. The mystery boy from the 1840 census was likely John Mahone, who was 23 years of age in 1850. My current theory is he was Sophia's son born out of wedlock and before her marriage to Terry Jewell. Terry's three daughters are also listed in the 1850 census as being 16, 14, and 12 years of age, respectively.

Sarah Ellen (16) and Frances Ann (14) disappeared from the records thereafter. I have not found a trace of Sarah Ellen, but believe Frances Ann died on 1 September 1851 and was interred in the Clarks Chapel Cemetery in New Franklin, Missouri.

Sophia's son John Mahone married Catherine Foster Rhoads in September 1852 in Sacramento County, California, which was my first clue the family had settled there after their sojourn in Missouri.

In 1855 Hiram was charged with assault with the intent to kill due to an incident where he shot Andrew Bates over some horses. Over the next few years he was in and out of court frequently on various matters.

By 10 March 1857 Hiram Harbour lived in Sacramento County and was placing advertisements, likely required by law, in the Sacramento Daily Union that his wife had "abandoned his bed and board" in December 1855 and he wasn't going to pay any debt she may have incurred.

One of five identical advertisements placed by Hiram Harbour in the Sacramento
Daily Union; courtesy of the California Digital Archives

An article in the same newspaper reported Hiram and Sophia were granted a divorce on 7 March 1859 in Sacramento County.

Mary Elizabeth Jewell married Benjamin H. Hereford on 13 January 1859 in Sacramento County. Benjamin was a city-county councilmen and the son of an attorney; his brother would become a U.S. Senator from West Virginia in the 1870s. They had two sons before Mary died on 27 August 1866 in Virginia City, Nevada.

In 1860 Sophia lived with Mary Elizabeth and her new husband, Benjamin, on their extensive ranch in Lee Township. A notice in the Sacremento Daily Union informed readers that Sophia died on 2 February 1862 in Virginia City, Nevada, where Mary and Benjamin had moved shortly after their second son was born in 1861.

View of Virginia City from a nearby hillside ca. 1867; courtesy Wikipedia

Virginia City was booming when the Hereford family arrived soon after the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859. It was once heralded as the most important city between Denver and San Francisco. Samuel Clemens began reporting for the city's newspaper, Territorial Enterprise, under the name Mark Twain in 1862.

NOTE: The Find A Grave memorial for Mary Elizabeth (Jewell) Hereford lists her birth year as 1839. A California mortuary and cemetery card listed her death date as 27 August 1866 and stated her age was 27 years, 3 months and 14 days, making her date of birth 14 May 1839. This cannot be true because she was listed on the request for guardianship, which was filed in Kanawha County court on 14 May 1838. I believe she was actually born in 1838.

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Discovering Henry Downs, Another 4X Great Grandfather
DNA Discoveries: Jewell Progress

Discovering Henry Downs, A "New" 4X Great Grandfather

Henry Downs, a prosperous farmer in Fauquier County, Virginia, wrote his last will and testament on 8 February 1821.

Snippet of Henry Downs' last will and testament from Ancestry.com's Virginia
Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1983

We know that Henry Downs died before 24 January 1825 as that was the day the will was proved. The will was annexed to Luther O. Sullivan to be administered on 23 March 1835 after the two executors named by the deceased refused to "take on the burthen of the executing."

The part of the will that is most relevant to this story is:

"Secondly I will and bequeath my loving wife Mary Downs all of my estate both real and personal of every sort during her natural life or widowhood and at her death or marriage that all my personal estate be sold and equally divided among my three daughters namely Elizabeth Garrett, Sarah Jewell, and Mary Jones share and share alike to them and their heirs and assigns forever."

A Virginia Chancery Case, 1841-009, which began in Fauquier County on 16 April 1840 with the filing of a bill of complaint by the counsel for the heirs of the daughters of Henry Downs, all of whom were deceased.

Snippet of Bill of Complaint filed in Fauquier County Chancery Court for
Case 1841-009; courtesy Library of Virginia

The portion of the complaint that describes the family relationships is as follows:

"To the Honorable John Scott Judge of the circuit Superior Court of Law Chancery of Fauquier County, humbly complaining unto your Hon. your orator and oratrixes, Jesse Jewell, James Jewell and Harriet his wife, Powhatan Jennings and Catherine, late Jewell, his wife, Uriah Burley and Tacy Ann, late Jewell, his wife, Sophia Jewell, widow of Terresha Jewell, and Sarah E. Jewell, Francis Ann Jewell, Mary Elizabeth Jewell, the last three infants by Sophia Jewell, their guardian’s next friend, Notley W. Jones, Elizabeth Jones, and Sarah Ann Jones. _____ Russell and Catherine, late Garrett, his wife, and William Woodson, respectfully represent to your Hon.: That they are entitled to an interest in the personal estate of the late Henry Downs, accruing to them under the following circumstances, viz.: The said Downs departed this life some years since, having made his last will and testament, a copy of which is herewith filed and prayed to be taken as a part of the Bible, by which he bequeathed to his three daughters, Elizabeth Garrett, Sarah Jewell, and Mary Jones upon the death of his wife, (which has occurred) all his the said Down’s personal estate, which your orators and oratrixes aver to have been of very considerable amount – and your orators and oratrixes are the heirs at law and personal representatives of the said Elizabeth Garrett, Sarah Jewell, and Mary Jones above mentioned – "

Therefore, we can construct this family tree for the daughters of Henry and Mary Downs:

Children of the daughters of Henry Downs; created using Microsoft PowerPoint
(NOTE: Elizabeth (Garrett) Russell's given name should be Catherine)

Because the names of the children of Sarah (Downs) Jewell matched the names listed in the extract of Thomas Jewell's will found The Wills of Amherst County, 1761-1865, I knew that Sarah (Downs) Jewell was the wife of Thomas Jewell, and my three times great grandmother. This is the relevant abstract:

THOS. JEWELL -- Book 8, Page 354 -- Administrator's Bond -- September 16, 1833. JESSE MUNDY. Bondsman: CHAS. MUNDY. Book 8, Page 364 -- Inventory -- Farmer - $3,706.76. September 30, 1833. WM. KENT; LAWSON TURNER; RUBEN CARVER. Book 9, Page 22 -- Division to legatees: JESSE JEWELL, WM. WOODSON, JAS. JEWELL, CATH. JEWELL, URIAH BURLEY, TERISHA JEWELL. October 30, 1833. JNO. DILLARD, WM. KENT, D. STAPLES.

I had assumed James Jewell (listed as Jas. Jewell above) was a son of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs, but this was not the case. Instead, he is the husband of Harriet Jewell, daughter of Thomas Jewell and Sarah Downs -- an understandable error if I do say so myself -- until you read the Chancery Case 1841-009, especially page 66:

Fauquier County Chancery Case 1841-009; courtesy of the Library of Virginia

"Know all men by these presents that we James Jewell and Harriet his wife formerly Harriet Jewell, Powhatan Jennings and Katherine his wife formerly Katherine Jewell, Uriah Burley and Tacey Ann his wife formerly Tacey Ann Jewell, for a full and valuable consideration to us in hand paid, by Jesse Munday of Amherst County..."

The case is comprised of 75 pages of file folders and documents. I have transcribed the packet and everything may be found on my family tree on Ancestry associated to the relevant people.

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DNA Discoveries: Jewell Progress