Margaret (Chandler) Jordan (1797 - abt. 1860)

Born 25 Oct 1797 in South Carolina

Ancestors

Wife of Gray Jordan — married 19 Dec 1816 in Franklin, Georgia

Descendants

Died about 1860 at about age 62 in Lawrence County, Mississippi

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Biography

Margaret filed for divorce sometime after 1850 citing Gray was harsh, cold, unfeeling, cruel, and that Gray had lost his affection for her. He would not furnish her with comfortable clothing or indispensable conveniences. She stated that Gray used actual force to drive her away from the home and she was forced to live with one of their daughters. Gray denied any guilt and stated any problem was instigated by Margaret. Gray claimed she left of her own accord when he was not at home vowing never to return and swearing to cost him all of his money in the divorce. Margaret states she birthed and raised nine children for Gray (they had 12 children, 3 died) noting "disrespectful" treatment at Gray's hands and being "turned out" without money and having to live with one of her adult children. She cites an instance where she went to the house to get money and a slave woman and her child were "moved into the main house;" that the slave woman threatened her with a knife if she did not leave and Gray did nothing to stop or admonish the slave woman. (Mormon Family History Records) Per son William, the divorce was settled in 1854 and Margaret received $350 as a final settlement. However, Margaret claims she was not notified and did not find out that Gray had divorced her until she filed for his War Pension. (Jordan family letters)

Sources

• 1850 Federal Census

Name Age Gray Jordan 57 Margaret Jordan 53 Simon Jordan 10

• Marriage: Georgia Marriages 1754 to 1850 / Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc