As part of my “Genealogy Do-Over” efforts AND to force myself to get
crackin’ on my James Franklin Jollett book, Jollett Reunion, I will be
researching and writing brief biographies of James Franklin, his wives, and his
children.
Child number 8 must have come as a welcome change for
James Franklin Jollett and his wife Lucy Ann. After six daughters in a row,
finally a little brother came along to give big brother Burton Lewis some
company. Of course, Burton Lewis was probably used to being the only male among
so many females, and besides, he was preparing to marry anyway, so it is
doubtful he had much time for little William Isaac.
William was 3 months old when the census taker called on
the Jolletts in Greene County, Virginia in 1880. In the 1900 census, the usual
literacy questions indicated that William had been to school and had learned to
read and write as had all the Jollett children. At the age of 20, he worked as
a farm laborer.
Life on a farm might not have been what William had in
mind for his future. SOMETHING took him to Newport News, Virginia, but what it
was is not known. All that is certain is that he died there in 1903.
 |
| from Fredericksburg Free Lance July 23, 1903 |
Perhaps he had joined the Navy or other armed forces to
aid in the Spanish-American War. If so, a wound might have required treatment
at the VA Hospital. The usual online searches have produced no documents to
explain his death at only 23 years of age or to reveal where he was buried.
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All
rights reserved.
Died so young! I bet he was mourned.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Sad to see poor William's death at such a young age. I hope you can find out more.
ReplyDeleteNow that's a mystery I hope you can solve!
ReplyDeleteSounds a little like Cheaper by the Dozen in the beginning with all those girls. So sad he died so young...perhaps your thinking is correct...is there more in a local paper?
ReplyDelete