Amanuensis Monday: Eliza Jollett's Widow Pension Application

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme at Geneabloggers which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts.

From the application of Eliza Jane Coleman Jollett

The Applicant must read, or have read to her, every word in this Application

Pensioners now on the ROLL are NOT required to make new application, but meet file annual Certificate

THIS APPLICATION must be filed with the Clerk of the Corporation Court of Your City or Circuit Court of Your County

FORM No. 7

APPLICATION of a widow of a Soldier, Sailor, or Marine of the late Confederacy under acts approved March 26, 1923, and March 10, 1928, as amended by an act approved March 24, 1930.

I, Eliza J. Jollette, do hereby apply for a pension under the provisions of the acts of the General Assembly of Virginia relating to Confederate pensions.

I do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the State of Virginia and that I have been an actual resident of the said State for one year next preceding the date of this application, and that I am the widow of James F. Jollette, who was a soldier (sailor or marine) in the service of the Confederate States in the War Between the States, and that I was married to him 1885 (See note below) and the best of my knowledge and belief during the said war my husband was loyal and true to his duty, and never at any time desered his command or voluntarily abandoned his post of duty in the said service, and that I was never divorced from my said husband, and that I never voluntarily abandoned him during his life, but remained his lawful wife up to the time of his death, and that I am a widow at the date of making this application, and that I am now entitled to receive a pension under the provisions of said act. I do further swear that I do not hold a national, State or county office, which pays a salary or fees exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per annum, nor have I income from any and all sources whatever exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor is there held in trust for my own benefit, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed in fee or for life, which years a total income exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per annum. I do further swear that I do not receive a pension from this or any other State. I do solemnly swear that the answers given to the questions which I am required to answer in this application are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Any assessment of property does not affect the right to pension, but the gross income from all sources must not exceed $1,000.00 per year. Certificates under B, C, E, not necessary if husband was pensioner.

NOTE – Widows seventy-five years old or over can receive pension regardless of date of marriage. Widows under seventy-five years old are required to have been married prior to January 1^st, 1890.

1.       What is your name? Eliza J. Jollette

2.       What is your age? 74

3.       Where were you born? Rockingham Co, Va.

4.       How long have you resided in Virginia? All my life

5.       How long have you resided in the City or County of your present residence? 26 years

6.       Where do you reside? If in a city, give street address. Post office  Harriston, Va  County of Augusta Virginia

7.       With whom do you reside? By my self

8.       What was your husband’s full name? James F. Jollette

9.       When, where and by whom were you married?

When? In 1885

Where? Stanardsville, Va

By whom?  Rev Walters

10.   When and where did your husband die?  June 3 – 1930, Harriston, Va.

11.   What was the cause of his death?  Old age

12.   Have you married since the death of your husband? If yes, give full particulars.  No

13.   In what branch of the army did your husband serve?  Infantry, unknown Regiment. Unknown Company

14.   Who were his immediate superior officers?

Colonel  not known

Captain Norris

15.   Give the names and addresses of two comrades who served in the same command with your husband during the war if living. (Not necessary if your husband was a pensioner.)

[ left blank ]

16.   Name source of income, and what income have you from all sources?  None

NOTE – By income is meant the total gross receipts derived by you from all crops (whether sold or used), wages and all other sources valued in dollars.

17.   Was your husband on the pension roll of Virginia? If yes, in what county or city was his pension allowed?  Yes, Augusta County Va

18.   Have you ever applied for a pension in Virginia before? If yes, why are you not drawing one at this time?  No

19.   Is there a camp of Confederate Veterans in your city or county?  Yes

20.   Give here any other information you may possess relating to the service of your husband which will support the justice of your claim. Don know any

A signature made by X mark is not valid unless attested by a witness.

WITNESS Ira Sullivan   Eliza J. X Jollette

I, J. C. Weast, a Justice Peace in and for the County of Augusta in the State of Virginia, do certify that the applicant whose name is signed to the foregoing application personally appeared before me in the County aforesaid, having the aforesaid application read to her and fully explained, as well as the statements and answers therein made, the said applicant made oath before me that the said statements and answers are true.

Given under our hand this 7 day of June 1930  J. C. Weast Justice Peace

(A)   OATH OF RESIDENT WITNESSES

(Must be signed by two residents of Applicant’s City or County)

We P. R. Weast and J. B. Rodgers do solemnly swear that we are residents of the County of Augusta in the State of Virginia and that we have known personally and well for 5 years the applicant whose name is signed to the foregoing application for aid under the pension law, and that the said applicant is a resident of the said city or county and is a woman of good reputation for truth and honesty, and that we have read the foregoing application and the answers to the questions therein propounded, made by the said applicant, and verily believe that the said applicant has been truthful in the said statements and answers, and that from our personal knowledge we verily believe the said applicant is justly entitled to aid under the law and that we have no personal interest in the allowance of the applicant’s claim.

A signature made by X mark is not valid unless attested by a witness.

P. R. Weast

J. B. Rodgers

WITNESS  P. R.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Justice of Peace in and for the County of Augusta State of Virginia this 7 day of June 1930

J. C. Weast Justice Peace

(B)   AFFIDAVIT OF COMRADES  [not required if applicant’s husband was a pensioner]

(C)   AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES, NOT COMRADES  [not required if applicant’s husband was a pensioner]

(D)   CERTIFICATE OF PHYSICIAN [not required unless applicant was blind]

(E)   CERTIFICATE OF CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS (Not necessary to have this Certificate E filled out if husband was pensioner, otherwise it must be filled out where there is a camp in applicant’s city or county.)

I J. Wellington Spitern commander of Stonewall Jackson Camp of Confederate Veterans of the City of Staunton in the State of Virginia, hereby certify that the said camp has examined into the merits of the foregoing application for pension and being satisfied of the justice of said claim, hereby recommend the same, under the provision of said acts, and that the said camp has no personal interest in the allowance of the applicant’s claim.

J. Wellington Spitern Commander

Given under my hand this 1 day of July 1930

(F) CERTIFICATE OF PENSION BOARD

I J. Logan Dunlap, chairman of the Pension Board of the County of Augusta State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the foregoing application has been examined and approved by said Board.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand this 1 day of July 1930

J. Logan Dunlap Chairman of Pension Board

(G) CERTIFICATE OF JUDGE

This Court, from an examination of the foregoing application and of affidavits, certificates, etc., therewith filed, and hereto annexed, and of such witnesses as were required and called by the court, being satisfied that the said application is supported by the affidavits, certification, etc., of persons of well-known reputation for truth, honesty and integrity, and that the claim of the said applicant is just, and in due form, doth certify the same to the State Comptroller.

Given under my hand this 12 day of July 1930

Jas. A. [ unclear ] Judge

Eliza Jane’s application for a Widow’s Pension was approved. The cover of her application indicates she was awarded $10 monthly. She died eight years later in 1938.

Wendy

© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sepia Saturday: You Can Leave These

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday photo of the Bridge of Sighs takes me back to 2004 when my older daughter Jordan and I rendezvoused in Venice, Italy with my younger daughter Zoe who was enrolled in a study abroad program. Venice is truly the most beautiful city, fun to get lost in, enchanting in every way. But rude! I have never been treated as badly as I was in Venice.

 

A page from my traditional scrapbook of our trip to Italy

Palazzo Ducale means "Doge's Palace"

One of our first tours was the Doge's Palace. As we prepared to enter, the guard instructed us to take backpacks to the guardaroba. Many museums in the United States require any large or bulky item to be left – backpack, shopping bag, large purse, doesn’t matter. So even though Zoe and I had cross-body side packs while Jordan’s was a traditional backpack, we assumed the guard meant all of us. We placed our bags on the counter of the guardaroba and waited for our claim check. The clerk placed her hands on Zoe’s and my bags and said, “You can leave these.” That’s what we tried to do. Our broken Italian and her broken English just did not mix. I said, “The lady at the door said we need to check our bags.” With one hand on her hip, the clerk glared at me, and in a mocking tone said, “Well, the LA-A-A-A-dy is wrong.” Finally we understood that she meant to say, “You can TAKE these.” Apparently side-packs were considered different from backpacks. The second clerk just rolled her eyes at our ignorance. ROLLED her eyes!

Upper center: The Bridge of Sighs (from which prisoners
got their last look at their beloved Venice)
connects the Doge's Palace and the prison, which was the
Renaissance version of "Scared Straight."
Upper right: that pesky 18th century globe

I grant that the next incident once we got inside the Palace was my own fault. Even though I heard – and READ – the warning not to take pictures inside, I just didn’t think when I saw that beautiful 18^th century globe. On impulse, SNAP. The rule is one I have never violated anywhere else, so I cannot explain what happened in that moment. The flash caught the attention of the guard who YELLED at me. No gentle reminder. No, I was certainly made an example to others.

We managed to avoid any international incidents after that until we stopped for dinner that same evening. Apparently we angered our waiter who punished us with the worst service I have ever received anywhere before or since. We do not know what set him off, but Jordan’s theory is that she asked one too many questions about her selection on the menu. Apparently the waiter’s patience for answering questions wore off, so in retribution he slammed a bottle of water on the table. Then he did not present the bottle of wine for approval; he merely opened and served it. He delayed bringing us our bill despite repeated requests “Il conto, per favore.” It is a good thing that tips are not expected in Italy.

I suppose people who work in tourism and those who work in popular tourist areas grow weary of tourists, especially those who are ill-mannered or whose behavior conflicts with other people’s sensibilities. Or maybe there is such a thing as a national personality, even a regional personality, which we tourists bring with us. Later in the week, a merchant in the Cinque Terre asked how we liked Venice. We laughed as we recounted the guardaroba incident. The merchant just shook her head sighing, “Oh those Venetians. They think they are better than everyone else.” So maybe it wasn’t just us.

Despite these memories of insulting the Venetians at every turn and being insulted right back, Venice is high on the list of places I would visit again.

 ~ Sigh ~

Take your backpack, side pack, and fanny pack when you cross the bridge to Sepia Saturday. No one will roll their eyes.

Wendy

© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.

Amanuensis Monday: James F. Jollett's Pension Application

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme at Geneabloggers which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts.

From James Franklin Jollett’s Pension Application

Pension Form No. 9

Application of Soldier, Sailor or Marine for Disability by Reason of Disease or the Infirmities of Age

I, James F. Jollett, do hereby apply for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, entitled as act to aid the citizens of Virginia who were disabled by wounds received during the war between the States while serving as soldiers, sailors, or marines of Virginia, and such as served during the said war as soldiers, sailors, or marines of Virginia, who are now disabled by disease contracted during the war, or by the infirmities of age, and the widows of soldiers, sailors, or marines of Virginia who lost their lives in said service, or whom death resulted from wounds received or disease  contracted in said services, and providing penalties for violating the provisions of this act, and I do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the state of Virginia, resident at Harriston in the County of Augusta in the said State, and that I have been an actual resident of the said State for two years, and of the said city (or county) for one year next preceding the date of this application, and that I was a soldier (or sailor or marine) of the State of Virginia in the war between the United States and the Confederate States, as a member (here state specifically the command and branch of service to which the applicant belonged and the name of his immediate superior officer) Wise Legion 46 Virginia Regiment Company D Col. R.T.W. Duke, Capt. Geo Norris, and Lieutenant James [?] and that I am now disabled by disease (here state the nature of the disease and the cause from which it resulted) infirmities of old age disease, deafness, and kidney trouble,  and that from the effects of such disease I am now permanently disabled from following my normal and ordinary occupation for a livelihood (in the case of disability from the infirmities of age, strike out all relating to disability by disease, and then proceed as follows:) and that I am now suffering from the infirmities of age, and permanently incapacitated thereby from the following my usual and ordinary occupation, or any other occupation for a livelihood (here state specifically the nature and character of the disability which prevents the applicant from following any occupation for a livelihood) old age   kidney trouble & deafness and that during the said war I was loyal and true to my duty, and never at any time deserted my command or voluntarily abandoned my post of duty in the said service, and that by reason of such disability I am now entitled to receive under the said act the sum of Twenty-Four dollars annually. And I do further swear that I do not hold any national, State, city or county office which pays me in salary or fees one hundred and fifty dollars per annum; nor have I an income from any other employment or any source whatever which amounts to one hundred and fifty dollars per annum; nor do I receive from any source whatever money or other means of support in value of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum; nor do I own in my own right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit or use, nor does my wife own, nor does anyone hold in trust for my wife, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the value of five hundred dollars; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and that I am not an inmate of any soldiers' home, or of any other public institution; and I do further swear that the answers given to the following questions are true:

1. What is your age? Ans. 72 years

2. Where were you born? Ans. Rockingham County, Virginia

3. How long have you resided in Virginia? Ans. 72 years

4. How long have you resided in the city or county of your present residence? Ans. 4 years

5. What is your usual and ordinary occupation for earning a livelihood? Ans. Farming

6. How long have you followed such occupation or employment? Ans. All my life

7. Have you followed such occupation or employment, or any other occupation or employment, within the last two years? If so, state when and where and the amount of your annual income from the same. Ans. Same farming

8. State specifically the nature of your disability or disease. Ans. Old age Deafness & Kidney trouble

9. What were the causes which led to the disease which has resulted in your disability? Ans. [ ? ]

10. How long have you suffered from such disease, and when did you first become aware that you were afflicted with the same? Ans. 40 years

11. With what disease or sickness did you suffer during the time of your service? Ans. Fever

12. Are you totally disabled because of such disease, or the infirmities of age, from following your usual and ordinary occupation or employment, or any other occupation or employment, by which to earn a livelihood? If not totally disabled thereby, but only partially state the extent of your partial disability. Ans. Nearly total

13. When and where did you enter the service of Virginia, or of the Confederate States? Ans. Albemarle County

14. In what command and service were you engaged during the war between the States? Ans. Wise Legion & Virginia Regiment Co. D

15. How long were you in the service? Ans. 18 months

16. When did you leave the service, and under what circumstances? Ans. At end of war [ ? ]

17. If suffering from disease, state what physician or physicians have attended you for the same. Ans. Dr. Bibb

18. Give the names and addresses of two or more in the service of your command, if any such be living, and if not, so state. Ans. All dead so far as I know

19.  Give here any other information you may possess relating to your service, or disability, that will support the justice of your claim for aid? Ans. Old age [?] deafness & kidney trouble  think the cause came from fever

20. Is there any camp of Confederate Veterans in the city or county of your residence? Ans. No

21. Is there anyone living, the residence and address of whom is known to you, either comrade or otherwise, who has knowledge of your service, and of the cause of your disability? If no or not, state. Ans. W.A. Garrison, & John C. Shiflett

Witness my hand this 20 day of January 1908                                                                              

James F. Jollett

 J. C. Weast, J.P.

I, J. C. Weast a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Augusta, in the State of Virginia, do certify that James F. Jollett whose name is signed to the foregoing application, personally appeared before me in my Co aforesaid and having the aforesaid application read to him and fully explained, as well as the statements and answers therein made, the said James F. Jollett made oath before me that the said statements and answers are true.

Given under my hand this 17th day of Feb, 1908.

J. C. Weast, J.P.

(A)

OATH OF RESIDENT WITNESSES

We, T. W. McClung and J. F. McClung, do solemnly swear that we are residents of the County of Augusta, in the said State, and that we have known personally and well for 40 years James F. Jollett, whose name is signed to the annexed application for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, and that the said James F. Jollett is a resident of the said county (or city), and is a man of good reputation for truth and honesty, and that we have read the annexed application and its answers to the questions therein propounded, made by the said applicant, and verily believe that the said applicant has been truthful in the said statements and answers, and that from our personal observation the applicant is disabled (state the character of the disability, and whether it is partial or total)  kidney trouble, [?] deafness [ ? ] and that we verily believe the said applicant is justly entitled to aid under the said act, and we have no personal interest in the allowance of the applicant's claim.

T. W. McClung

J. F. McClung

Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Justice of Peace for the County of Augusta, State of Virginia, this 17th day of Feb 1908

J. C. Weast JP

(B)  

AFFIDAVIT OF COMRADES

[not completed]

(C)

AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESS, NOT COMRADE

We, W. A. Garrison and John C. Shiflett,do solemnly swear that we are residents of the County of [illegible but likely Greene] , in the State of Virginia, and that we personally know, and are well acquainted with James F. Jollett, whose name is signed to the annexed application, and who is applying for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, and that we have known the said applicant for 40 years, and that to our personal knowledge the said James F. Jollett was a loyal and true soldier (sailor or marine), in the military (or naval) service of Virginia, or of the Confederate States in the war between the States, and was faithful in the discharge of his duty, and that we verily believe he is disabled from the causes, and in the manner in his application, and that his claim is just, and that we have no personal interest in the allowance of his claim under the said act.

                                                     

W. A. Garrison

John C. Shiflett

                                                     

Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Justice of Peace in and for the County of Greene this 24 day of January, 1908.

[ illegible signature ]

            Note - If no comrade in arms or other person has knowledge of the service of the applicant and of the cause of his disability is living, whose residence is known to the applicant, state that fact here.

(D)

CERTIFICATE OF PHYSICIAN

I, D.P. Bowman, a presiding physician in the County of Augusta in the State of Virginia, do certify that I am personally acquainted with James F. Jollett whose name is signed to the annexed application for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, and that from a personal examination of the said James F. Jollett as to the disability stated in his application and the cause thereof, I am clearly of the opinion that he is disabled by reason of  (here state specifically the nature of the disability and the cause thereof, and if such disability be total, whether the applicant is deprived thereby of all ability to pursue his usual and ordinary occupation for a livelihood, or any other occupation for a livelihood, and if the disability be partial to what extent the applicant is hindered from pursuing such occupation as aforesaid) partial disability from the three causes named above and that I verily believe his disability is wholly due to causes assigned in the said application, and that he is entitled to aid under the provisions of the said act, and that I have no personal interest in the allowance of the said act, and that I have no personal interest in the allowance of the applicant's claim.

Given under my hand, this 13 day of Feb, 1908.

Dr. Bowman, M.D.

                                                        

(E)

CERTIFICATE OF CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS

The Stonewall Jackson Camp of Confederate Veterans of the City of Staunton in the State of Virginia, hereby certifies that it has examined into the merits of the annexed application of Jas. F. Jollett for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, and being satisfied of the justice of his claim, hereby recommends the said James F. Jollett for aid under the provisions of the said act, and that it has no personal interest of the applicant's claim.

                                                                                 

Wm. N. Scott

1^st Lieut. Commander

                                                                              

Note - It there is no camp of Confederate veterans in applicant's city or county, then the certificate of two ex-confederate soldiers, well known and of good reputation, residing in said city or county, should be obtained as follows:

                                              

(F)

CERTIFICATE OF EX-CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS

We, W. A. Garrison and John C. Shiflett of the County of Greene State of Virginia, do certify that we were soldiers (sailors or marines) of Virginia in the war between the States, and that we have examined into the merits of the annexed application of [illegible but likely says James F. Jollett] for aid under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia, approved April 2, 1909, and that we are satisfied of the justice of his claim, and recommend the said James F. Jollett for aid under the provisions of the said act, and that we have no personal interest in the allowance of the applicant's claim.

Given under our hands, this 24 day of Jan 1908.

                                                                            

W. A. Garrison

John C. Shiflett

                                                           

(G)

CERTIFICATE OF THE COMMISIONER OF THE REVENUE

[ Commissioner’s name is illegible as is value of real and personal property.]

Augusta County, No. 361

Name James F. Jollett

Post Office Harriston, Va

The Circuit Court of the county (or the Corporation or Hustings Court of the city) of Augusta for an examination of the within application of James F. Jollett and of the affidavits and certificates therewith filed, and hereto annexed, and of such witnesses as were required and called by the court, being satisfied that the said application is supported by the affidavits and certificates, and oral testimony (if any oral testimony is required by the court) of persons of well-known reputation for truth, honesty and integrity, and that the claim of the said applicant is just, and in due form, doth certify the same to the Auditor of Public Accounts, this 2nd day of May 1908                       

Y. H. Wickes [?]

Judge

                           #9560

Approved April 18^th 1908 for $24

Samuel F. Tilson, Chairman

[stamped] Sep 2 1908

Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Military Monday: J. F. Jollett, Deserter

Military Monday, a daily prompt at Geneabloggers, is a place to post images, stories and records of an ancestor’s service in various branches of the military.

James Franklin Jollett was 25 years old when Civil War was declared to defeat the Southern states’ attempt at independence from the Union. He had been married to Lucy Ann Shiflett for less than two years, and he was the father of their 6-month old baby boy Burton Lewis. Maybe that is why he did not enlist right away as did his older brother John Wesley Jollett.

Yet ironically, ten days after his second child Emma was born in February 1863, he joined the 46^th Regiment of Virginia Infantry, Company D as a private. When the regiment was formed in 1861, it saw action particularly in a siege against Charleston, South Carolina. But by 1863, it had been renamed “Border Guards” and the troops were sent to Albemarle County, Virginia to build fortifications near Chaffin’s Bluff.

As it turns out, a major battle ensued at Chaffin’s Farm in September 1864. As part of General Ulysses S. Grant’s siege of Petersburg, this battle forced General Robert E. Lee to shift his resources away from the Shenandoah Valley, which ultimately benefited the Union’s efforts. The battle at Chaffin’s Farm cost the lives of over 5000 soldiers.

But not James Franklin Jollett. Why?

He was not there.

According to his service records, Frank Jollett deserted in July 1863, five months after he enlisted and over a year before the costly battle.

 

What the circumstances were that led him to pack up all his clothes and head back home to Greene County is anyone’s guess. Maybe it was the fear of “Chaffin’s Farm Disease,” a fever that spread throughout the camp.

Maybe it was concern for his young family. A story told by his granddaughter Vessie Jollett Steppe suggests James Franklin was just not tough soldier material.  While serving as a guard delivering prisoners of war by train, he chatted with a prisoner who spoke of how much he missed his family and how he would give anything to see them one last time. Sympathizing with his plight, Frank told him he was going to step outside the train for a smoke. While he was outside, the prisoner escaped, much to Frank’s delight.

Vessie said that family was everything to her grandfather. She said, “He would cry when you came to see him and he would cry again when you left.”

 

Or maybe because he was never paid, he just left. The Muster Rolls for January through April show he had not received pay.

 

Actually, desertion on both sides was very common during those years of the Civil War, especially among farmers who needed to go home to plant or to harvest. So maybe that was why he left.    

from Descriptive List
and Account of
Franklin Jollett, Deserter

REMARKS:The said private Franklin J. Jollett did leave camp on the night of the 16 July 1863 taking with him all of his clothing and is believed to be on his way to Greene County, Va to where his family resides at present.

According to the official records, however, he never returned and was officially dropped from the rolls in December 1863.

That information conflicts with James Franklin’s testimony on his pension application. He claimed to have served eighteen months and left service at the end of the war. (Admittedly, it is possible that he simply lied in order to get that much-needed pension.)

To justify his request for a pension, James Franklin cited not just old age but also his near-deafness and kidney trouble, blaming fever endured during the war. The fever might very well have been “Chaffin’s Farm Disease.” The term is not associated with any known disease today but reflects the location of a particular outbreak. Most field hospitals were known for “fevers” and diarrhea-like ailments stemming from the unsanitary conditions made even worse by lack of understanding of how disease spread.

Apparently James Franklin’s record as a deserter had no bearing on his application as it was approved. On April 18, 1908, he was awarded a monthly pension of $24. When he died in 1930, his widow Eliza Jane applied for a widow’s pension and likewise was granted approval for $10 monthly.  

Wendy

© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sepia Saturday: All the News That's Fit to Print

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt is a photo of typesetters. Surely technology for printing newspapers in 1929 was more advanced than when workers sat before a tray of dirty lead tiles to formulate titles and paragraphs. Setting type the old fashioned way was labor-intensive, even for such a brief article as this one recounting the events of one Jollett Reunion:

JOLLETT REUNION

Shenandoah, Sept 5 – The fourteenth Jollett reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett, near Harriston, Va, on Sunday, Sept 1^st in honor of James F. Jollett’s 94^th birthday.

The members of the family began to gather around the large and beautiful spring about 9 a.m. and continued to come until 1:30 p.m. and it was indeed a great pleasure to see Mr. Jollett greet each of his relatives as they began to gather in and as it has always been in the past they were greeted with a smile and many kind and loving words spoken to them and many tales of olden time were told to each with each hand clasp.

At 1:00 p.m. lunch was spread with GrandFather Jollett offering up praise and thanks to God for the wonderful repast set before him and for sparing his life and each one present so that they may again enjoy the company of each relative and friend.

Business meeting was called to order by President Millard Davis at 2:30 p.m. and it was decided to hold the Reunions yearly at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett as long as the Lord spared Mr. Jollett’s life and permitted him to be present. The meeting opened with the song “Blest be the Tie That Binds” after which Miss Virginia Maiden of Dayton College, Va gave a reading followed by Prayer by Mr. W. J. Sullivan. Mr. James F. Jollett and Dr. A. L. Maiden of Dayton College each gave an address and from the expression on the faces of those present they more than enjoyed each of their remarks.  The meeting then came to a close by singing “God Be with you Until We Meet Again” after which the crowd began to wind their way to their respective homes each promising to meet the other at the next reunion and each promising to try and make the next reunion as near 100 percent in attendance as it is possible to do so.

Probably the oldest photo of a Jollett Reunion
maybe 1916 based on clothing
and assumed ages of those pictured

My grandaunt Violetta Davis Ryan used to say that the Jollett Reunion was THE main event of the year for her mother and aunts. In fact, one oft-repeated family story is that when it was announced that Japan had surrendered thus ending World War II throughout the world, my great-grandmother Mary Frances Jollett Davis’s response was, “Don’t you know today is the Jollett Reunion?” World Peace was secondary to Family Peace, I guess.  

The report in the newspaper gives a glimpse into the importance the Jolletts attached to the event. A BUSINESS meeting complete with a presiding officer hints at the formal structure needed to pick a date and place, find someone to offer a prayer, and arrange a program of sorts.

Standing: Burton Lewis Jollett, Victoria Jollett Breeden,
Sallie Jollett Clift, Mary Frances Jollett Davis, Leanna Jollett Knight,
Laura Jollett Sullivan, Emma Jollett Coleman
Seated: Eliza Coleman Jollett, James Franklin Jollett, Ulysses Jollett

This article is informative but a tad confusing. The home “near Harriston” and the “spring” confirm that the reunion was held at Jollett Springs, James Franklin’s home known for its natural springs. People used to bring jugs to fill at his place. September 1 fell on a Sunday in 1929. If the reporter was correct about its being the fourteenth reunion, the first was in 1916. So far so good. The birthday celebration is questionable though. James Franklin’s birthday was in November, so while combining the reunion and birthday might seem likely, in 1929 he would have turned a spry 93, not 94. Of course, that error can be attributed to either a typo or miscalculation by the family spokesperson.

The promise to meet again in 1930 at the Jollett home in Jollett Springs was likely not fulfilled as James Franklin Jollett passed away in June, three months before the annual September reunion. The reunions may have moved to the home of Burton Lewis Jollett in Greene County for a time, but he died in 1934. A summary of the 1940 reunion appeared in the Daily News Record (Harrisonburg, Virginia). Since that one was held at Verbena Park in Shenandoah, Virginia, I suspect Verbena had become the new designated home of the Jollett Reunion.

Opening paragraph of the 1940 article
The rest is just a list of all those who attended.

The 1940 news report is the proverbial “treasure trove” of genealogical clues. Everyone who attended is named. Until I read it, I had always thought the Jollett Reunion drew ALL the Jolletts, not just the children of James Franklin Jollett and their families but also the families of James Franklin’s sisters Lydia Breeden and Lucretia Shiflett, and his brother John Wesley Jollett. However, it appears that the reunion was more focused than that. It was a time for James Franklin’s children to get together.

The two news articles tell me more about the Jolletts. The prayer and singing of hymns reveal their spiritual side.

Arthur Maiden delivering the prayer
James F. Jollett and Emma J. Coleman

4 Generations 1925
Orvin Davis, Mary Frances J. Davis,
Orvin Davis Jr., and James F. Jollett

Photos of family groups and the different generations - especially 4-generations together – are proof of what I have always heard about how close the Jolletts were.

4 Generations 1923
Standing: Minnie Coleman Maiden
Seated: Emma J. Coleman, James F. Jollett,
Virginia Maiden

The "Younger Generation" of cousins 1919
Standing: Orvin Davis, Johnny Coleman, Russell Coleman, Alda Clift, Violetta Davis, Elta Sullivan Farrar and husband Lewis Farrar, James Mitchell Morris with Reba Coleman Morris, Millard Davis and wife Edith
Sitting center: probably Wes and Minnie Sullivan Breeden
Sitting front: Raymond Clift, possibly Vessie Jollett, Leota Sullivan, Velma Davis, possibly Mattie Coleman




The Spouses at a reunion before 1928
Will Sullivan (Laura), Decatur Breeden (Victoria), James Mitchell Knight (Leanna), Sadie Lam Jollett (Ulysses), Walter Davis (Mary Frances), Jack Coleman (Emma), and James Franklin Jollett

Walter Davis died in 1934, so this reunion photo was taken in
or before 1934.  Seated: Jack and Emma Coleman
Standing: James Mitchell Knight, Sallie Clift, Leanna Knight,
Walter Davis, Mary Frances Davis, Decatur Breeden,
Victoria Breeden, Laura Sullivan, Will Sullivan

This new insight into the Jollett family has inspired my next book, which will be called Jollett Reunion. Chapters will be devoted to James Franklin Jollett, his wives, and each of his children. In the coming weeks and months (I hope not YEARS), I will be researching and writing. As in the past, the stories on this blog will be the stories that comprise the book. I am thankful for programs like Blurb so that no one will have to sit at a tray of lead tiles to typeset it.

To see what news others have to share, follow the links at Sepia Saturday.

© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.