Person:Jane Wetherell (1)

Biography

Possible origins

Jane was said to be 73 when she died on 26 Sep 1822, Clark County, Indiana, implying a birth date of about 1749.^[1] Jane’s daughter Elizabeth Weach was born 25 April 1781. If Jane’s estimated birth date is accurate, she would have been 32 when Elizabeth was born, which seems a bit late for a second child. Her youngest child was born in 1797, when she would have been 52. Although this is possible, it’s unlikely, and suggests that Jane’s age at death was exaggerated slightly. More likely Jane was born sometime between 1749 and 1759.

One account (possibly through a granddaughter) of Jane’s origins states that she came from Virginia with two small children.^[11] Wetherall is not a common name. Evidence of one family by the name of Weatherall was found in Culpeper County, Virginia for the appropriate time period, but is apparently not Jane’s family. Nor is there any evidence that Jane is related to a Maryland Weatherall family.

Another of Jane’s much later descendants guessed she might have come from Pennsylvania.^[2] This remains an open possibility.

Adult Life

Jane first appears in the documentary record on 3 December 1781, in Jefferson County, Virginia (now Kentucky), as Jane Weach, on a list of Poor Persons entitled to 400 acres of land.^[3] The list resulted from an Act passed by the Virginia legislature the previous May, to compensate those people who “by reason of great hardships they have encountered and expenses incurred by them in their removal to that distant place [Kentucky] and the parts adjacent, they have become unable to advance ready money to pay the state price of vacant lands.” Jane’s loss was the death of her husband, killed by Indians sometime after August of the previous year.^[2] The American colonies were at war and the Kentucky country was a major battle arena, contested by British assisted Native Americans fighting to hold their land against the incoming Americans.

Jane did not apply for her 400 acres. Payment was only deferred for two years, not cancelled, and Jane apparently had no one to help with the survey or work the land. She did have, however, two young children for whom she had somehow to provide, a son Harry; and a daughter Elizabeth, born just that April, near Louisville.^[12][2] It is possible that Jane bound her son out, although there is no record of her doing so. For children left orphans, binding out was mandatory, a means of providing for their support and education. Parents, particularly single mothers, without the means to support their children also often bound out their children. For herself and Elizabeth, Jane must have had friends or least acquaintences who helped in some way for the next year and a half.

Jane is said by descendants of one branch of the family to have survived the attack on Bryan’s station,^[15] but Jane is not listed among those present at the time of its most famous siege.^[13][14] Jane may, or may not, have been present at Bryan’s station at some other time, since it endured more than one attack, later returning to the vicinity of Louisville.

On 13 Jul 1784, Jane reappears in the documentary record, this time as Jane or Jean Wich, when she married her second husband, John Reese, in Louisville, Kentucky. Jane’s daughter Elizabeth was part of the family, and was soon joined by Joseph, born 18 March, 1785. John and Jane’s family continued to grow, with Catherine born January 1788 and Sarah born November 1790. Sadly, Jane’s son Harry was probably the bound boy killed by Indians in Scott County, Kentucky, in June 1788, a few months after Catherine’s birth.

By 1791, the family was living in Woodford County, Kentucky, possibly in the same area that became part of Scott County the following year, in 1792. In Scott County, they became members of the Great Crossings Church, and their family continued to grow. Benjamin was born November 1792, and John, their youngest son in May 1797.

Jane’s husband John became increasingly active in the Church, eventually becoming a minister who helped found at least two additional churches in the area. Then, about 1807, John and Jane sold their farm in Scott County, Kentucky and moved, with a community of other Baptist church members, across the Ohio River to Jefferson County, Indiana. From there John and Jane soon moved to neighboring Clark County. Here John and Jane were founding members of the 14 Mile Creek Baptist Church, and Jane eventually died, on 26 September 1822.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Family Bible Record of Benjamin and Sarah Davis Reese of Clark Co., Ind., in Johnson, Bess Sellers; Daughters of the American Revolution. Alexander Hamilton Chapter (Indiana); and Vera Reese Tranter. Family bible records of Johnson County, Indiana: a collection of family records compiled from family bibles and other sources. (Ft. Wayne, Indiana: Allen County Public Library, 1986)
   p. 146.

   p. 146, Deaths - Jane Reese (mother of Benjamin Reese) Sept. 26, 1822 - 73 yrs. old [note: relationship to Benjamin Reese added in transcription]

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Application for Membership, Indiana Society of Pioneers, Florence Virginia (McBride) Salyards, approved 22 Feb 1987; Indiana Society of Pioneers, Indiana State Library.

   Ancestor Jane Wetherall Weach Reese, b. “probably PA”, 1749
   Came to IN from KY, to Clark County
   “Mrs. Veach (nee Jane Wetherall sometimes spelled Wetherill) married again, this time to Mr. John Reese, Sr. by whom she had 5 more children, and whose records and Family Bible record are in possession of a descendant, Mrs. Trantor. . . .”

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 County Court Minute Book A (1781 - 1783), in Cook, Michael L. (Michael Lewis). Jefferson County, Kentucky, records. (Evansville, Indiana: Cook, c1987-).

   At a Court held for Jefferson County, the 3rd of December, 1781. It appearing to the Court that the following Persons, are entitled by virtue of an Act of Assembly passed May last, to four hundred acres of land, each. Orders that the County Surveyor lay off to them accordingly, viz:
   . . . . Jane Weach . . .

   This suggests that her first husband was deceased by that time.

   An alternate source is: The History Quarterly of the Filson Club, Vol. 3, No. 2, January 1929.
   Jefferson County, Kentucky, County Court Minute Book A (1781 - 1783, pp. 14-16) is also available online.

   The Act was the Poor Persons Act 1781,
   CHAPTER XVIII, An Act for the relief of certain persons now resident on the western frontier. Approved May 1781 by the Virginia General Assembly. Kentucky Land Office, Kentucky Secretary of State, Trey Grayson, 27 June 2009

4. ↑ “The Great Crossings Church Records, 1795-1801”., Leland Winfield Meyer, ed.; FHL #0896513 , in Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, Kentucky). The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. (Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society)
   Vol. 34, January, April 1936.

   p. 3 – Great Crossings Baptist Church, Great Crossings, Scott county, Kentucky organized May 28 and 29, 1785, either the 2nd or the 3rd Baptist Church north of the Kentucky river. Records from founding to 1795 were lost.
   pp. 4-5 – Charter members (1785) did not include John or Jane Reese; they were present as of June [1795?]
   p. 1785 – A List of Females names in the church – Jane Rease, Rec’d by Letter (name crossed out)

5. ↑ Vols 1, A-C, 1793-1822; FHL #1876550, in Scott County (Kentucky). Clerk of the County Court. Deeds, 1793-1903. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1959, 1975, 1990)
   Vol. 1, B-18.

   [Note: These volumes recreated from fire-damaged originals, only partially complete.]
   Indenture 26th . . . sixty two poles to . . . thence thousand . . . onehundred & twenty . . . thence south twenty-five West . . .
   To Have and to hold the . . . all profits and advantages . . . pertaining thence to the only proper . . . K Couckwell and his heirs and . . . his wife for themselves and their Heirs . . . defend the right and title of the aforesaid . . . said John K. Couckwell and his heirs . . . the said John Reese and his heirs Jean his wife . . . against all other persons whatsoever In Witness thereof . . . set their Hands and Seals this day and date above . . .
   Witness . . .
   Scott Kt
   This Indenture from John Reece and [Joan?] . . . Couchwell was this day in the open acknowledged . . . Reece to be his act and Deed the said Joane . . . examined voluntarily relinquishes her right . . . whether mentioned in virtue of which and an act of [assembly] in such case made and provided it is admitted toward . . .
   Teste . . .
   [preceeding deed dated 26 Jan 1807; next deed dated 26 Jan 1807]

6. ↑ Church Book, New Washington Baptist Church, 1807 – 1836. TS, anonymous transcriber MSS 24, Hamilton Library Archives, Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana.

   [Note: New Washington was originally known as the Fourteen Mile Creek Baptist Church]
   p. 1 – Constitution adopted 19 September 1807
   Founding members included William Goodin, Isaac McCoy
   Members of Silver Creek Church, inc.: John Reese, Jean Reese, Gean Coovert, Sarah Huff, Chas. Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Hanna Brenton, Margaret Storm
   Members of New Washington include [NB – nd] as above, plus Joseph Reace
   p. 2 – and John and Nancy Webb, Nancy Reace

   Neither Jane nor her husband John Reese appear in the records of the Silver Creek Baptist Church in Clark County, Indiana. Names and membership of these two churches seem to have been somewhat fluid during the early years.

7. ↑ Deed Records, Vol. 10-16, Dec. 1816-Aug 1818; FHL #1428596, in Clark County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records 1801-1901, with indexes to grantors and grantees, 1801- 1910. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985)
   Book 11, p. 335.

   Indenture 3 February 1815 between John Reese Snr and Jane his wife of the one part and Joseph Reese of the other part, all of Indiana Territory and Clark County
   for $600 paid by Joseph Reese
   50 acres of land sold by John Reese Snr
   a part of the SE lot or quarter, Sec 6, Township No. [1] N of Range 9 East of the land directed to be sold at Jeffersonville
   Signed John Reese Snr, Jane her X mark Reese
   Witness Joseph Bowers

8. ↑ Deed Book, Clark County, Indiana, Vols. 10-16, Dec 1816-Aug 1818; FHL #1428596, in Clark County (Indiana). Recorder. Deed records 1801-1901, with indexes to grantors and grantees, 1801- 1910. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985)
   Vol 14, p. 94.

   Indenture 2 April 1817
   Between John Rease and Jane his wife of Clark County, Indiana
   And Thomas Sanders of same place who paid $150 for the part of the NW1/4, S5, T1N, R9E
   Beginning at the NE corner of S 1/4 Section and running West on the Section line 24 chains and 30 links of a no pole chain
   Then S according to the true Meridians 80 chains or a half mile. Thence E according to the true Meridian 24 chains and 30 links to the 1/2 mile post on the line between Sec 4 and 5 then North up the Sd line to the place of beginning
   Containing 49 acres and 2/5 of an acre
   Signed John Rease, Jane Rease
   Witness Jno K Graham, Benjamin Rease, Joseph Bowers JP

9. ↑ Indiana, Clark County Washington Township, in United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   John Reas, 1 male 45 and over; 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 25-45, 1 female 45 and over [Jane]

   The younger females in the household are most likely John and Jane's daughter Catherine Reese Gutherie and her daughters Permilia, Eliza Jane and Sarah.

10. ↑ Trantor, Vera Reese, compiler. "Reese Family of John Benjamin William". TS, nd. Indiana State Library #929.2 R329t.

    p. 2 – The following church letter is a prized possession of a member of the family:
    “The Fourteen mile Church of Jesus Christ, Clark, County, Indiana, January 19, 1822.
    Holding the doctrine of Gods everlasting love to his people, Justification by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Effectual calling by irresistible Grace final perseverance of the Saints through Grace to Glory, believes baptism by emerstion Reserection of the dead and eternal Judgement. To any Church of the same faith and order we would recommend our bother, John Reese and sister Jane his wife as members in good standing and full fellowship with us, and when received by you no more under our care, done by order of the Church.
    Walter Wheatly, Clk.

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 Houston, Florence Amelia Wilson; Laura Anna Cowan Blaine; and Ella Dunn Mellette. Maxwell history and genealogy: including the allied families of Alexander, Allen, Bachiler, Batterton, Beveridge, Blaine, Brewster, Brown, Callender, Campbell, Carey, Clark, Cowan, Fox, Dinwiddie, Dunn, Eylar, Garretson, Gentry, Guthrie, Houston, Howard, Howe, Hughes, Hussey, Irvine, Johnson, Kimes, McCullough, Moore, Pemberton, Rosenmüller, Smith, Stapp, Teter, Tilford, Uzzell, Vawter, Ver Planck, Walker, Wiley, Wilson. (Indianapolis, Ind: Press of C.E. Pauley, Indianapolis Engraving Co., 1916).

    page 380 - Permelia Guthrie as "a granddaughter of a widow who came with two children from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day."

12. ↑ Mouser, Evelyn Shipman. "Graham Genealogy", in Indiana Historical Society (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Indiana University (Bloomington). Indiana magazine of history. (Indianapolis [Indiana]: Indiana Historical Society)
    June 1943, p. 207.
13. ↑ Durrett, Reuben T. (Reuben Thomas); Henry T. (Henry Thompson) Stanton; George W. (George Washington) Ranck; Elizabeth Slaughter Bassett Scott; and Bennett Henderson Young. Bryant's station and the memorial proceedings: held on its site under the auspices of the Lexington Chapter, D. A. R. (Louisville, Kentucky: John P. Morton and Co., c1897).
14. ↑ Hammon, Stratton O., “Several Corrections to the List of Defenders of Bryan’s Station”, in Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, Kentucky). The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society. (Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society)
    50:1, 1952, pp. 35-39.
15. ↑ Minnich, Effie Eugenia E. Descendants of Christian Eby (1777-1859) and his wife Susannah McDonald Eby (1781-1866). (E.E.E. Minnich], 1951).