52 Ancestors: #16 - Fielding JOLLETT

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued a challenge:  write one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  It can be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem – anything that focuses on one ancestor.

The supposed first son of James and Nancy Walker is my direct ancestor, Fielding Jollett, my 3G grandfather.  Since I have already written a great deal about Fielding’s legal problems, I will present “just the facts, ma’am,” but you can read about his exploits here:

Fielding Jollett in Chancery Court

The Road to Chancery Court

I O U

Decree in the Court of Equity

Was It a Dirty Deed?

Grayson's Complaint

Was It Fraud?

Fielding was born sometime between 1795 and 1801 in Orange County, Virginia.  He married Ann Stoutemire/Stoutamoyer on December 7, 1822 in Rockingham County.  They had two known children, but the presence of a second boy under age 5 in the 1830 Rockingham County, Virginia census suggests there may have been a third child.  Ann did not live long.  In fact, she died about 1828.  Perhaps she died in childbirth.

The wife in the 1830 census is Fielding’s second wife, MaryAnn Armentrout, from whom I descend.  Whether the boy was hers or Ann’s is unknown, but he evidently did not live long.  He does not appear after the 1840 census. 

Fielding and Mary Ann had 5 known children.

Mary Ann died January 1870 of Epaulus.  Searches for this term have turned up no definition.  One possibility is that it was a misspelling of a type of skin tumor.

Lucretia Jollett and
Thomas Shifflett tombstone
photo courtesy Jan Hensley
Findagrave.com

Following the death of his wife, Fielding lived with his youngest daughter Lucretia and her family in Rockingham County, Virginia, until he died after 1880.  She and her husband are buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in McGaheysville.  It makes sense that Fielding would be there too, but if he is, there is no marker. 

Three Generations:

Fielding JOLLETT (1795 in Orange Co, Virginia - After 1880 in Rockingham Co, Virginia) & m1) Ann STOUTEMIRE  (1795 – Before 1828 Rockingham Co, Virginia)  7 Dec 1822 in Rockingham Co, Virginia ;  & m2) Mary Ann ARMENTROUT (1795 – Jan 1870 Rockingham Co, Virginia) 2 Oct 1828 in Rockingham Co, Virginia

Family of Fielding & Ann Stoutemire JOLLETT:

1. Emanuel JOLLETT  (16 Jun 1824 - 19 Oct 1859 in Rockingham Co, Virginia) & Ann Elizabeth BREEDING/BREEDEN (10 Sep 1824 – After 1870)  4 Jan 1843 in Page County, Virginia

• Jonathan S. BREEDEN (1839 - ) & Elizabeth MEADOWS (1837 - ) 28 Oct 1858 in Page Co, Virginia
• Susannah (Susan A.) JOLLETT  (1844 in Page Co, Virginia - ) & Charles W. LONGLEY (1838 Rockingham Co, Virginia – 3 Oct 1864 Elmira, New York)  19 Oct 1862 in Page Co, Virginia
• Margaret A. JOLLETT (1845 in Page Co, Virginia - )
• William H. JOLLETT (1847 in Page Co, Virginia - 28 Jun 1924 in Monroe Co, West Virginia) & m1) Mary Elizabeth MARTIN (1845 Warren Co, Virginia - ) 27 Nov 1865 in Warren Co, Virginia ; & m2) Harriet Hattie ECHOLS (28 Sep 1857 – Before 1940) 1 Aug 1876 in Giles Co, Virginia  **aka William P. BOYD
• Nancy JOLLETT (1850 in Page Co, Virginia - )
• Sarah E. JOLLETT  (1852 in Page Co, Virginia - )
• Andrew J. JOLLETT (14 Nov 1855 in Page Co, Virginia - )
• UNNAMED JOLLETT (27 Aug 1859 in Page Co, Virginia - 27 Aug 1859 Page Co, Virginia)

2. Margaret Ann JOLLETT (19 May 1826 in Rockingham Co, Virginia - 15 Aug 1899 in Oakland, Carroll, Maryland ) & Peter J. NAIR (20 Mar 1819 – 13 Nov 1884) 13 Jan 1845 Rockingham Co, Virginia

• George NAIR (6 Oct 1845 in Bath County, Virginia - )
• Thomas J. NAIR (6 Oct 1845 in Bath County, Virginia - 11 Dec 1911) & m1) Elizabeth WINE ( 1839 – Before 7 Sep 1878) ; &  m2) Mary Fanny KINDIG  (Feb 1851 Virginia - ) 7 Sep 1878
• Mary Jane NAIR (14 Dec 1847 - 11 Aug 1926) & Matthias Buchanan ROSS (1836 – 11 Jul 1898) 9 Jun 1866
• Robert Franklin NAIR (14 Mar 1848 - Jun 1917) & m1) Susannah HESS ; & m2) Mary Susan SMITH
• John NAIR  (1849 in Highland Co, Virginia - )
• Simon Peter NAIR (10 Jun 1849 - 24 Apr 1924)
• Martha Laura NAIR (1851 Virginia - )
• Sarah Frances NAIR (19 Mar 1853 - 24 Jan 1930 in Loch Lynn, Ohio) & John Wesley CALHOUN (Sep 1851 - )
• Melvina NAIR (1858 in Highland Co, Virginia - 18 Feb 1860 Rockingham Co, Virginia)
• Bellzora NAIR  (1 Oct 1859 in Rockingham County, Virginia - ) & Charles MCROBIE
• Malinda NAIR (1861 in Virginia - )
• William J. NAIR (1867 in Highland Co, Virginia - ) & Mary Ellen SMITH
• Alpharetta NAIR  (1869 in Virginia - )
• Ruhamiah A. B. NAIR (1872 in Maryland – 1918) & Ellis Rizer SHROUT (17 Nov 1869 – 1935) 19 Mar 1892

Family of Fielding & Mary Ann Armentrout JOLLETT:

1. Lydia Catherine JOLLETT  (26 Apr 1830 in Rockingham Co, Virginia – After  1910) & George Washington BREEDEN (1825 – 1910) on 19 Oct 1846 in Page Co, Virginia

• Josiah BREEDEN (1847 in Page Co, Virginia - Before 1900) &  Mary Susan Polly PATTERSON (1854 – After 1930) 3 Jan 1876
• James Madison BREEDEN  (Jan 1851 in Page Co, Virginia – 1915) & Sarah Eliza MEADOWS (May 1841 – 1917)
• John F. BREEDEN (1 Apr 1853 Page Co, Virginia - 3 Oct 1889 Augusta Co, Virginia) & Mary S. UNKNOWN
• Fielding L. BREEDEN (26 Oct 1857 Page Co, Virginia - 23 Mar 1865 Page Co, Virginia)
• Mary Catherine BREEDEN (1858 – After 1930 Washington) & George CARPENTER (1850 Greene Co, Virginia – Before 1930 Washington) 12 Feb 1880 Rockingham Co, Virginia
• Elijah Nicholas BREEDEN (Apr 1864 -26 Dec 1928 Rockingham Co, Virginia) & Christina Catherine SELLERS (2 Sep 1859 Rockingham Co, Virginia – 4 mar 1940 Rockingham Co, Virginia) 4 Oct 1884 Rockingham Co, Virginia
• Berryman Suel BREEDEN (1869 - 15 Jul 1876 Rockingham Co, Virginia)
• Charles Wesley BREEDEN (5 May 1872 – 1938) & m1) Mollie F. WILLIAMS on 12 Oct 1893 in Rockingham Co, Virginia ; & m2) Lucy CRAWFORD on 01 Jun 1926

2. John Wesley JOLLETT  (6 Apr 1832 in Rockingham Co, Virginia - 18 Oct 1916 in Page Co, Virginia) & Sarah Elizabeth SMITH (22 May 1834 in Rockingham Co, Virginia - 30 Jan 1917 in Page Co, Virginia) 21 Feb 1853 in Rockingham Co, Virginia

• Artubine Joseph JOLLETT (16 Dec 1853 Page Co, Virginia - 27 Oct 1862 Page Co, Virginia)
• Mary E. V. JOLLETT  (1854 Page Co, Virginia - Before 1901 Page Co, Virginia) & Hiram Franklin MEADOWS (14 Sep 1849 - 22 Feb 1911 Page Co, Virginia) 8 Mar 1870 Page Co, Virginia **aka Marietta V.
• Matilda Catherine JOLLETT (16 Feb 1858 Page Co, Virginia - 24 Jan 1953 Page Co, Virginia) & Thomas Wesley MEADOWS (15 Jan 1854 Page Co, Virginia - 4 Feb 1941 Page Co, Virginia)  7 Dec 1873 Page Co, Virginia
• John B. JOLLETT (30 Jan 1867 Page Co, Virginia - After 1940 Baltimore, Maryland) & m1) Fannie Bell GRIFFITH  (Mar 1872 – Before 1940) 13 Dec 1883 ; & m2) Carrie M. UNKNOWN (1894 Maryland - )
• Charles Belsin Lewis JOLLETT (29 Aug 1871 Page Co, Virginia - 15 Jan 1939 Portsmouth, Virginia) & Nannie June FOGG (Aug 1872 Rappahannock Virginia – 30 Jun 1947 Portsmouth, Virginia) 24 Jun 1890 Page Co, Virginia 

3. Henry Harvey JOLLETT (26 Jul 1834 Rockingham Co, Virginia – 1850 Page Co, Virginia)

4. James Franklin JOLLETT  (17 Nov 1836 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 3 Jun 1930 Augusta Co, Virginia) & m1) Lucy Ann SHIFLETT (1843 Greene Co, Virginia - 1884 Monroe, Greene, Virginia) 12 Nov 1859 in Greene Co, Virginia ; & m2) Eliza Jane COLEMAN (17 Jan 1856 Greene Co, Virginia - 9 Dec 1938 Augusta Co, Virginia) 29 Aug 1885 Greene Co, Virginia

Family of James Franklin & Lucy Ann Shiflett JOLLETT:

• Burton Lewis JOLLETT  (1860 in Virginia – Before 5 May 1934 in Greene Co, Virginia) & m1) Louisa SULLIVAN (1861 – 1900) 20 Jan 1881 ; & m2) Cornelia MORRIS (Nov 1844 – Before 1920) 19 Sep 1900 Greene Co, Virginia
• Emma F. JOLLETT (1 Feb 1863 Greene Co, Virginia - 10 Apr 1945 in Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) &  Andrew Jackson COLEMAN (29 Jul 1858 Greene Co, Virginia – 4 Oct 1947 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 26 Nov 1880 Greene Co, Virginia
• Laura E. JOLLETT (30 May 1865 Greene Co, Virginia - 30 Jul 1947 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) & William J. SULLIVAN (13 Jan 1866 – 22 May 1942 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, Virginia
• Columbia Ann Leanna JOLLETT (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, Virginia - 20 Sep 1936 Greene Co, Virginia) & James Mitchell KNIGHT (9 May 1866 Greene Co, Virginia – 16 Feb 1942 Greene Co, Virginia) 1 Mar 1885 Greene Co, Virginia
• Mary Frances JOLLETT (10 Jan 1870 Greene Co, Virginia - 22 Feb 1950 Harrisonburg, Rockingham, Virginia) & Walter Beriah Sylvester DAVIS (12 Sep 1867 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 31 Oct 1934 Shenandoah, Page, Virginia) 11 Feb 1890 in Greene Co, Virginia 
• Sarah Catherine Sallie JOLLETT (11 May 1872 Greene Co, Virginia  - 7 Jul 1944 Washington DC) & George Thomas CLIFT (Sep 1865 Virginia - ) 30 Mar 1891
• Victoria Elizabeth JOLLETT (19 Mar 1878 Greene Co, Virginia - 2 May 1944) & Decatur Bainbridge BREEDEN (15 Sep 1877 – 27 Sep 1952 Washington DC) about 1902
• William Isaac JOLLETT  (Jan 1880 Greene Co, Virginia - Jul 1903 Newport News, Virginia)=
• Ulysses Finks JOLLETT (26 Jan 1883 Greene Co, Virginia - 30 Jan 1931 Baltimore, Maryland) & Sadie Janiero LAMB 23 Nov 1903 Greene Co, Virginia

Family of James Franklin & Eliza Coleman JOLLETT:

• James Henry JOLLETT  (Apr 1894 Augusta Co, Virginia - 1909 Augusta Co, Virginia)

5. Lucretia  JOLLETT (18 Sep 1838 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 31 Dec 1911 Rockingham Co, Virginia) & m1) Jacob Haskell SHIFLETT (1836 Greene Co, Virginia – Before 1871) 5 Aug 1858 in Page Co, Virginia ; & m2) Thomas S. SHIFLETT (1839 Albemarle Co, Virginia – 16 Jan 1924 Rockingham Co, Virginia) 8 Oct 1871 Greene Co, Virginia

Family of Lucretia JOLLETT & Jacob Haskell SHIFLETT:

• Mary E. SHIFLETT  (May 1859 - Before 1955) &  George Remington MAYHEW (Jul 1847 New York - ) 17 Mar 1879 Page Co, Virginia,
• Martha F. S. SHIFLETT (1863 - Before 1955) George W. MCCAULEY (Aug 1852 – Before 1920) 8 Jun 1882 Rockingham Co, Virginia

Family of Lucretia JOLLETT & Thomas SHIFLETT:

• James William Newton Will SHIFLETT (16 Apr 1873 - 2 Mar 1955 Rockingham Co, Virginia) & m1) Phenie BERRY (1881 – Before 1902) 18 Jul 1901 Rockingham Co, Virginia ; & m2) Sudie Belle LIFE (Jul 1885 – 28 Mar 1950 Rockingham Co, Virginia) 17 Dec 1902 Rockingham Co, Virginia
• John Thomas Sylvester Sell SHIFLETT (19 Oct 1876 Rockingham Co, Virginia - 10 Mar 1958 Rockingham Co, Virginia) & m1) Annie Laura MEADOWS  (1880 – 27 Dec 1898) 13 Dec 1898 Rockingham Co, Virginia ; & m2 ) Margaret JOHNSON (25 Nov 1862 Rockingham Co, Virginia – 27 Dec 1954 Rockingham Co, Virginia) 14 Dec 1901 Rockingham Co, Virginia
• Aaron SHIFLETT (Apr 1891 Rockingham County, Virginia - )

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Mystery Monday: One Step Closer in the Search for Mary Ann

Mystery Monday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers encouraging bloggers to share mystery ancestors or mystery records – anything which is currently unsolved.  With any luck fellow genealogy bloggers will lend their eyes to what has been found so far and possibly help solve the mystery.

Searching, part 6

As soon as I saw John and Elizabeth Lingle Armentrout with 4 children (including Maria) listed in the “Miscellaneous” chapter of the Armentrout Family History by Russell S. Armentrout, I went to work.

1810 Rockingham County, Virginia Federal Census
Click to enlarge

In studying the 1810 Rockingham County, Virginia Census, I noticed John Armantrout (Ermentraudt/Armentrout) was a neighbor of George Armantrout and near neighbor of Augustine Armantrout, both known sons of Johan Friederich Ermentraudt, the most likely candidate for father of “my” John Armentrout.

Since they were close in age, they look like brothers:

	John	George	Augustine
Males under 10	-	1	3
10 – 16	-	-	-
16 - 26	-	-	1
26 - 45	-	-	-
Over 45	1	1	1
Females under 10	1	2	-
10 - 16	1	-	1
16 - 26	1	-	-
26 - 45	-	1	1
Over 45	1	-	-

The ages of the girls line up with the names identified with this John Armentrout family:

• 16-26 - Maria born 1795
• 10-16 - Elizabeth born 1798
• Under 10 - Linda born 1805
• Over 45 – John’s wife Elizabeth Lingle Armentrout

The fact that there were no male children makes sense since young John was not born until 1816.

Likewise, the ages match what is known of George’s family:

• Male under 10 – Michael born 1807
• Females under 10 – Barbara born 1806, and Magdalena born 1809
• Female 26-45 – George’s wife Elizabeth Michael Armentrout

And Augustine’s family:

• Males under 10 – Emanual born 1801, Charles born 1805, and Frederick born 1808
• 16-26 – John George born 1793
• Female 10-16 - ? Magdalena would have been about 19 but she also was married before 1810 and likely out of the house.  Possibly this is another child for whom other records have not been found.
• Female 26-45 – Augustine’s wife Margaret Schneider Armentrout.

What makes all this even more compelling are the other near neighbors.  These names appear together on the SAME page of a 31-page census recorded by Daniel Bryan for Rockingham County. 

• Jacob Lingle
• Jacob Lingle (senior)
• Martin Snyder/Schneider
• Jacob Stoutemire

Using the theory that people dated and married within a three-mile radius, I conclude that the two Jacob Lingles must be the father and brother of Elizabeth Lingle who married John Armentrout.  Is it possible?  Let’s see:

	John	Jacob	Jacob Sr.
Males under 10	-	2	-
10 – 16	-	1	-
16 - 26	-	-	-
26 - 45	-	1	-
Over 45	1	-	1
Females under 10	1	3	-
10 - 16	1	-	-
16 - 26	1	-	-
26 - 45	-	1	-
Over 45	1	-	1

Obviously John and younger Jacob are of the same generation with children of similar age while Jacob Sr. and his wife are empty-nesters.  Of course, without DNA or at least a marriage record or other document, this is conjecture, but a pretty strong one anyway.

Like a good neighbor, Martin Snyder/Schneider and his wife were the sponsors at the baptism of John and Elizabeth Lingle Armentrout’s daughter Maria, the one I hope was the woman later known as Mary Ann. 

So what about Jacob Stoutemire?  What does he contribute to the solution to the mystery?  The answer reads like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game, so pay attention:

• Jacob Stoutemire was the father of Ann Stoutemire.
• Ann Stoutemire married Fielding Jollett in 1822, but she died before 1828.
• In 1828 Fielding married his second wife, Mary Ann Armentrout.
• Mary Ann was the daughter of a John Armentrout. 

This scenario satisfies my curiosity about how Fielding might have met Mary Ann when his farm, which bordered the Stoutemire line, was in Naked Creek while Mary Ann’s family seemed to be closer to McGaheysville.  The theory of the 3-mile dating circle is also reinforced if it turns out that Maria and Mary Ann are the same person and that John and Elizabeth Lingle Armentrout are my 4G grandparents.

Theories!  Everybody has one.  The trick is to make this circumstantial evidence stick, and that will mean proving Maria and Mary Ann are the same person.  Or that possibly Mary Ann is another daughter.  After all, there is a sizeable gap between the births of Elizabeth and Linda and between Linda and John. 

Just for once it would be nice if my family would be predictable:  follow tradition, stay close to one another, leave a trail.  Is that too much to ask?

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Fielding Jollett - The Road to Chancery Court

This is a continuation of the story of Good and Walton vs Jollett Chancery Cause of 1860.

Like so many young men in the early 1800s, Fielding Jollett was destined to become a farmer.  For whatever reason, when he came “of age,” he moved away from the family home in Greene County, crossing the mountain by way of Swift Run Gap along what is now the famed Skyline Drive into Rockingham County. 

Today the road from Greene County
 crossing the mountain is a series of winding curves.
I wonder how long the trip took by horse and wagon.

In 1822, Fielding married Ann Stoutemire/Stoutamoyer, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Orebaugh Stoutemire/Stoutamoyer.  Most likely they lived with her parents or close by.  In 1824, with their first child on the way, Fielding purchased 2 acres and 24 poles of land that partially bordered his in-laws’ property. 

Two acres did not a farm make, but apparently that was the extent of Fielding’s land holdings for some time.  He likely earned his living as a laborer on other farms, perhaps even in his father-in-law’s employ.

This is not Fielding Jollett's land,
but it is the right neighborhood.
photo courtesy of Lois Emswiler
Rootsweb

In 1828, Ann died, but Fielding quickly found a new wife and mother for his children, Mary Ann Armentrout with whom he had five more children.

In 1837, Fielding and Mary Ann sold some land they had inherited upon the death of her father, John Armentrout.  How much land and how much money passed hands is uncertain since the original deed was among the Rockingham County documents burned during the Civil War.  Fragments of the deed were recovered and re-recorded in 1884.

Perhaps Fielding had an entrepreneurial spirit that made him dream of becoming an important farmer and land owner.  He did not sit on that money very long.  That same year, he purchased 66 acres along Naked Creek from Joseph Mauzy, county surveyor, merchant and post master. 

Again, this is not Fielding's property,
but this is the area where he lived and raised his family.
And it's the kind of view he was privileged to enjoy every day.
No wonder he bought land there.

However, two short years later, Fielding and Mary Ann sold the same 66 acres back to Mauzy for $400. I have to wonder whether Fielding just couldn’t make a go of it there or if he had improved the farm to the extent that he could sell it at a profit.  And why would Joseph Mauzy want it back?

There are no answers, but another possibility is that Fielding had his eye on a bigger prize.  In 1849 Fielding and Mary Ann purchased 300 acres in Page County from George and Susan Conrad.  (NOTE: the area along Naked Creek straddles Rockingham and Page counties, so it appears likely that the Jolletts were living in the same area they had always lived.) 

If trouble hadn’t begun earlier, maybe this is when Fielding’s financial troubles began because in just a few short years, he was woefully in debt. 

© 2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

A to Z April Challenge: W is for Wives

This is day 23 of the A to Z April Challenge.

is for Wives.  My 3G grandfather Fielding Jollett had two of them.  Not at the same time, of course.  I descend from his second wife, Mary Ann Armentrout, whom I wrote about briefly HERE. 

Today I want to talk about Wife #1, Ann Stoutemire/Stoutemoyer/Stoutemyre/take your pick.  She was the daughter of Jacob and Barbara Orebaugh Stoutemire, born probably around 1800.  They lived along Naked Creek in Rockingham County, Virginia.   Ann and Fielding Jollett married in 1822 and bought land next to her parents.  They had two children.  Emanuel and Margaret were just little folks when their mother Ann Jollett died some time before October 1828 (which is when Fielding married his second wife). 

That’s the extent of my knowledge of Ann Stoutemire Jollett.  But I owe a great deal of gratitude to Ann’s 3G granddaughter Cathy Hecker, my half 4^th cousin.  Cathy compiled a great deal of Jollett research the old-fashioned way before computers, before email, before a phone call and credit card could get you a quick answer.  She was in Ohio, but the Jolletts were in Virginia.  She drove to court houses.  She wrote letters and mailed checks.  By the time we found each other, she had all but given up hope that there was anyone out there who cared about the Jolletts.  She mailed copies of her research to me. 

The broken font reminds me of the old word
processing machines in the days before Windows.

The bulk of her work was on the Fielding-Ann line, as it should be.  But she had found deeds, wills, and obituaries for many on the Fielding-Mary Ann side as well.  Her work gave me a strong foundation on which to build my own research. 

Cathy and I talked a couple times a year.  Her last phone call to me was filled with expressions of thanks for my interest in the Jolletts and excitement over all the new information generated due to my little website.  She was only sorry she had never had a chance to meet me in person, and had she mentioned that her cancer had come back. 

Then it hit me – this was a good-bye. 

Cathy Hecker is always close to my thoughts when I’m writing about the Jolletts.  And because of her, I think fondly toward Ann Stoutemire, a woman who is not my ancestor.

Why don’t you Work your Way over to the A to Z April Challenge for more Wonderful Writings?

©2014, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.