David Jenners
was born 23 July 1802 near Broad Run, Loudoun Co., Virginia. His parents were Abiel Jenners and his wife,
Deborah Young. Broad Run probably refers
to the area near the stream, Broad Run, that flows into the Potomac River south
of Leesburg, Virginia. I suspect David was named for his paternal grandfather, David Jenners.
According to
the Jenners document apparently written by David, the family lived near Broad
Run until he was about three years old, then moved about 1805 to the “Wertly
Farm.” They lived between 1806 and 1807
at “Mr. Fasces’ Farm.”
On 5 May
1821, when David was about 18 years old, the following notice appeared in the
local newspaper, The Genius of Liberty:
"To
Farmers.
WE, the
subscribers, having rented Mr. Wm. H. Handey's MILLS AND FARM, hereby give
notice to the farmers in the neighbourhood, that we shall be glad to do their
grinding on the usual terms, and shall do our best to please by punctuality and
despatch [sic]. JOHN ARNOLD, DAVID
JENNERS.
Mr. John
Arnold being a stranger in the neighbourhood, and my son David, young in years,
I do hereby bind myself, my heirs, &c. to make good, or be answerable for
all the contracts the said Arnold & Jenners make in the Milling
Business. Given under my hand this 26th
day of February, 1821 ABIEL JENNERS.
All persons
who have borrowed FLOUR from me, are requested forthwith to deliver WHEAT for
the same to Messrs. Arnold & Jenners.
WM. H. HANDEY. March 6, 1821. ---
8 3t."
An account
book has been discovered that was kept by a Waterford merchant whose identity
is not known. David Jenners has the
following entries in the book during 1823: 24
Feb 1823 "Cr Mary Harvey (?) $3;" 12 March 1823 "6 3/4 yds
linnen, th'd;" 10 April 1823 "2 1/2 yds cassimire, silk, 1 hkf
(handkerchief)." 21 June 1823,
"-- coats, 3 lb coffee, 6 lb sugar."
On 26
September 1824, David’s father, Abiel, died.
On 29 April
1828, David left Waterford, Virginia for the “Western Country” and settled in
Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana. He
set up a blacksmith’s shop there.
According to a letter from his sister, Ann, David’s shop caught fire in
August 1829, but he was not injured.
On 13 January
1831, David married Maria Simpson in Lafayette.
Some sources give her maiden name as “Sampson.” I have not done much research on her, yet,
and do not have her parents’ names. She
was born 27 November 1811 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. David’s sister, Ann, described her as “a very
amiable girl.” The couple took up
residence in a log cabin at the corner of 4th and Ferry Streets in
Lafayette.
From 26 May
1832 to 3 June 1832, David served as a private in the 62nd regiment of
the Indiana Militia during the Black Hawk War.
A letter from Ann Jenners dated 6 June 1832 states that David went to
fight the Sioux Indians, but that he had returned to Lafayette by the date the
letter was written, and according to a Ann, David returned home because his wife,
Maria, "soon promises an increase of family."
That “increase of family” came on 21 August 1832 when
their first child, Martin Putnam Jenners, was born. Martin was apparently named for David’s
oldest brother, Martin. I have not
discovered the origin of the middle name “Putnam.” On 20, January 1833, Ann Jenners wrote
to Elizabeth Braden that "Sally, Mary and David's wife all had sons in
August. Sally's only lived one day,
Mary's one week, and Maria's is still living; it is a fine hearty child." This would be Martin Putnam.
In November
1833, Ann Jenners wrote in a letter to Elizabeth Braden that
"David's wife is again in the good old way." Sure enough, on 26 January 1834, their second
child, Deborah Ann Jenners, was born. Deborah
was probably named for her grandmother, Deborah (Young) Jenners and perhaps her
aunt, Ann “Nancy” Jenners.
Another
daughter, Sarah Y. Jenners, was born 9 December 1834. She was probably named for her aunt, Sarah.
Then a
daughter, Clara Jenners, was born 2 January 1838. The four year gap between the births of Sarah
and Clara makes me wonder if there was at least one child born that we do not
know of. That is just speculation,
however.
The 1840
census for Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, lists David Jenners with the following
household: 1 male 5-10 (born 1830-1835, probably Martin Putnam Jenners);
1 male 10-15 (born 1825-1830); 1 male 15-20 (born 1820-1825); 1 male 20-30
(born 1810-1820 Alba Jenners?); 2 females under 5 (born after 1835, Sarah and
Clara Jenners); 1 female 5-10 (born 1830-1835, probably Deborah A. Jenners); 2
females 20-30 (born 1810-1820, probably Ann Jenners and Maria Simpson Jenners).
On 29 January 1841, in Tippecanoe Co.,
the State of Indiana filed a suit against Saurin (David’s brother) and David
Jenners. No further explanations about
the nature or outcome of the suit have yet been found.
On 25 March 1841, daughter Lavinia
Duvall Jenners was born in Lafayette.
According to a letter
dated 3 October 1841, from David's sister, Sarah Bradfield, to their sister,
Mary Braden, Sarah had been at David's house for a week to help David's wife,
Maria, who had not been well. David
wanted Sally to tell Mary that he was willing to bring their mother into town
from Burr and Mary Braden's farm whenever their mother was ready. Maria was reported as doing "very
poorly," and it was noted that she had no help except "little
William, the boy."
On 14 May 1842, David’s
mother, Deborah (Young) Jenners, died in Lafayette, Indiana.
In a letter dated 12 December 1843,
David's sister, Sarah Bradfield, wrote to their sister, Mary Braden: "I
now have no earthly trouble in this world ... except the situation of yourself
and brother David, you physically, David mentally. I have no influence over poor David myself
but feel to commit him to his God and pray for him...."
On 22 August 1844, a son, David S.
Jenners, was born. He was probably named
for his father. I have not found what
the initial “S” stands for, but it could certainly be for “Saurin” (his father’s
brother) or “Simpson” (his mother’s maiden name).
On 15 October 1847, David purchased a
plot in the “Lafayette City Graveyard” (now called Greenbush Cemetery). The family plot was Lot 36, Section 2, Range
3B.
Sometime in 1849, a son, Harry M.
Jenners, was born in Lafayette. He may
have been named for his uncle, Henry Martin Jenners.
The 1850 census of Lafayette,
Tippecanoe Co., Indiana lists the family of David and Maria Jenners. The
following people resided together in the household: David Jenners: age 47; male; Blacksmith; 9000
real estate value; born VA; Mariah J. Jenners: age 38; female; born NC; Martin
Jenners: age 18; male; Painter; born IN; Deborah Jenners: age 16; female; born
IN; attended school this year; Sarah Jenners: age 14; female; born IN; attended
school this year; Clarissa Jenners: age 12; female; born IN; attended school
this year; Lavina Jenners: age 9; female; born IN; attended school this year;
David Jenners: age 6; male; born IN; attended school this year; Mary M.
Jenners: age 1; female; born IN (this is probably actually Harry M. the 1 year
old son); Job Drellinger: age 16; male; born IN.” The next residence counted was that of Peter
S. Jennings (brother-in-law of David), so they must have lived near each other,
possibly next door.
The 1860 census of Lafayette lists the
family as: David Jenners: age 58,
male, Farmer, $5000 real estate, $2000 personal, born Virginia; Maria Jenners:
age 50, female, born North Carolina; Deborah A. Jenners: age 25, female, born
Ind.; Sarah Jenners: age 23, female, born Ind.; Clara F. Jenners: age 22,
female, born Ind.; Lavinia Jenners: age 18, female, born Ind.; David S.
Jenners: age 15, male, born Ind.; Harry Jenners: age 11, male, born Ind.,
attended school this year; Thomas Truit: age 23, male, Farmer, no property,
born Ind.”
On 2 October 1866, Harry M. Jenners
died. He was about 17 years old. A death notice from an unidentified Lafayette
paper states: "Oct. 2nd 1866 Died
Tuesday, Oct 2d, Harry M., son of David Jenners. Funeral will take place from the family
residence on Union Street tomorrow (thursday) at 10 o'clock a.m."
On the 1870 census the household consisted of the
following indivduals: “David Jenners, 67, m, w, retired blacksmith, $4,000 real
estate, $3,000 personal property, born Virginia; Mary Jenners, 58, f, w,
keeping house, born North Carolina; George Butler, 39, m, w, railroad
conductor, born New York, parents both foreign born; Clara Butler, 29, f, w,
wife, born Indiana; David Jenners, 26, m, w, laborer, born Indiana.” George Butler was the husband of their
daughter, Clara.
David wrote his will dated 17 August 1876. In it, he left all of his estate to his wife,
Maria, and to his daughter, Sarah. The
other children were left out of the estate unless Sarah died. A transcription follows:
"I, David Jenners, of the City of
LaFayette in the County of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana being of sound and
disposing mind do make and publish this my Last Will & Testament, hereby
revoking and setting aside any and all Wills heretofore made by me.
I desire to dispose
of all my property in such a manner that those dependent on me who are the
least able to support and provide for themselves may receive the benefit
thereof, and having implicit confidence in the fairness and good judgement of
my daughter Sarah Y Jenners, and fully believing that she will if she thinks it
proper and right, aid and assist any of the remaining members of my family, if
they shall stand in need of same, (though it is not intended by me that any
restriction of this kind shall be laid upon her by this Instrument, but on the
contrary I desire her to act freely and of her own judgment as to any disposition
she may wish to make of any property coming to her under and by this
Instrument) and acting as I think the best for all concerned do make the
following disposition of all the property, real personal & mixed of which I
may die seised [sic] and possessed.
First - I give and
bequeath to my beloved wife, Maria Jenners, and my daughter Sarah Y Jenners all
of my real estate in fee simple _ to wit: Lot No forty (40) in Cabots
Huntingdon's Addition to the town (now City) of LaFayette Indiana, it being the
house and lot now used [page 2] by me as a residence.
Also.
Lot No six (6) and fractional Lot No four (4) in Peter Coon's second
Addition to the town of LaFayette Indiana.
Also - The undivided half of the East
half of the South East quarter of Section No thirty-three (33) in Township No
Nine (9) of Range No nine (9) in the County of Cumberland and State of Illinois
Also.
The East half of the North East quarter and the North west quarter of
the North East quarter and the North East quarter of the South East quarter,
all in section No nine (9) in Township No fourteen of Range No 3 (3) wes
situate in the county of Vernon, in the State of Wisconsin, together with all
the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to have and to hold the
above described Lots and Lands with the appurtenances, unto my said wife Maria
Jenners and my said daughter Sarah Y Jenners as tenants in common, & not as
joint tenants, share & share alike, for their own use and benefit forever.
Second. I will and bequeath to my said wife Maria
Jenners and my said daughter Sarah Y. Jenners all my personal property of
whatever kind and description, including money, notes household and kitchen
furniture and clothing of which I may die possessed, share and share alike, to
have and to hold for their own use and benefit forever. [page 3]
Third - I have
heretofore, for the reasons and consideration given in this Will, transferred
and assigned to my daughter Sarah Y Jenners three (3) certain notes of one
thousand dollars each made by John A Reis, and secured by a mortgage, and I
desire and request that my said daughter Sarah shall pay over to her mother
Maria Jenners one half of the net income from said notes or one half of the net
interest or proceeds of any renewal or reinvestment of the principal of said
notes.
Fourth - In the event
of my surviving my wife, Maria Jenners, I will and bequeath to my said
daughter, Sarah Y Jenners, all of my estate real personal & mixed as above
enumerated to have and to hold the same for her own use and benefit forever.
Fifth - In the event
of my surviving my said daughter, Sarah, then and in that event I will and
bequeath to my beloved daughter, Lavinia Jenners, the undivided one half of all
my estate real, personal & mixed, as above enumerated she taking the place
of my said daughter Sarah and having and holding my estate with my said wife,
as tenants in common, share and share alike, for their own use and benefit
forever. Provided however, that if at my
decease my said daughter Lavinia be married and living in coverture [?], then
and in that event I will and bequeath to my beloved daughters Deborah A and
Lavinia Jenners and Clara Butler one sixth each of all my estate, real personal
and [page 4] mixed, as above enumerated, they taking the estate which would
have belonged to my daughter, Sarah Y Jenners if she had survived me, and with
the same restrictions rights and privileges.
And lastly I nominate
and appoint as Executors of this my last will and testament, my said daughter
Sarah Y Jenners and Robert F Braden and authorize and empower them to settle my
estate, and direct and desire that they be not required to file a schedule of
my property or to give bonds, but to do and perform all necessary acts in the
settlement of my estate without any order or action of any Court.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this 17th day of August 1876 David Jenners
Signed, sealed, published and declared
by David Jenners, the above named testator as his Last Will and Testament in
the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses to said last will
& testament, at the request of said testator in his presence and in the
presence of each other. John A Wilstach Jos. Walter Wilstach."
The 1880 census of Lafayette shows David; his wife,
Maria; and their daughter, Clara Butler, living in the household.
David Jenners died on 16 February 1881 at his home on
North 8th Street in Lafayette, Indiana. Cause of death was given as old age. David was buried in Greenbush Cemetery,
Lafayette, in Section 2, Lot 36, Range 3B.
On 2 April 1881, David’s estate was entered into probate
in Lafayette.
On 26 December 1883, daughter, Sarah Y. Jenners, died in
Daphne, Baldwin Co., Alabama. Cause of
death was given as “scrofula.”
On 12 March 1886, son, David S. Jenners, died in
Lafayette. Cause of death was “paralysis.” At the time, Maria was staying with daughter,
Lavinia, in Mobile, Alabama. He is buried in Greenbush Cemetery.
Maria (Simpson) Jenners died on 3 February 1899 at her
home at 11th & Kossuth Streets, Lafayette. Cause of death was “La Grippe” (influenza). She was buried in Greenbush Cemetery and
shares a tombstone with her husband, David.
Family of David & Maria Jenners:
David Jenners, b. 23 Jul 1802 at Loudoun Co., VA, d. 26 Feb 1881 at
Tippecanoe Co., IN
+Maria Simpson, b. 27 Nov 1811 at NC, m. 13 Jan 1831 at Tippecanoe Co.,
IN, d. 3 Feb 1899 at Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana
├── Martin Putnam Jenners, b. 21 Aug 1832 at Tippecanoe Co.,
IN, d. 22 Dec 1919 at Tippecanoe Co., IN
│ +Mary E. Williams, b. 1843 at
OH, m. 16 Apr 1877 at Tippecanoe County, IN
├── Deborah Ann Jenners, b. 26 Jan 1834 at Tippecanoe Co.,
IN, d. 13 Jan 1917 at CA
│
├── Sarah Y. Jenners, b. 9 Dec 1834 at IN, d. 26 Dec
1883 at Baldwin Co., AL
├── Clara Jenners, b. 2 Jan 1838 at IN, d. 9 May 1925 at Tippecanoe Co., IN
│ +George Butler, b. 1 Jan
1830 at Lincolnshire, England, m. 27 Dec 1864 at Tippecanoe Co, IN, d. 16 Aug
1878
│ +William Upton Sweetser, b. 6 Mar
1830 at MA, m. 3 Feb 1881 at Tippecanoe Co, IN
├── Lavinia Duvall Jenners, b. 25 Mar 1841 at Tippecanoe Co.,
IN, d. 30 Aug 1913 at Tippecanoe Co., IN
│ +William M. Jones, m. after 4
May 1882, d. 1910
│ ├── Clara Jones
│ └── Georgianna A. Jones, b. 22 Mar at
AL
├── David S. Jenners, b. 22 Aug 1844 at Tippecanoe Co.,
IN, d. 12 Mar 1886 at Tippecanoe Co., IN
└── Harry M. Jenners, b. 1849, d. 2 Oct 1866 at IN
I will do posts on David and Maria’s children in the
future.
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