Jesse Lay (abt. 1798 - 1884)

Born about 1798 in Grainger County, Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Shelby) Lay — married 7 Sep 1845 in Claiborne Co., Tennessee

Husband of Gelina (Whitehead) Lay — married 16 Dec 1870 in Union Co., Tenn.

Descendants

Died 1884 at about age 86 in Union County, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Jesse was the son of "Big Valley" Dave Lay and his wife Mary Lay. Some accounts have his name as James Jesse but there is currently no proof regarding this. The records only refer to him as Jesse. Anyone with proof of his full name is asked to provide that information here.

He was born, lived, and died in an area that was initially in Grainger County, Tennessee, but when he was a young boy it became Claiborne County. Jesse Lay/Ley/Loy is found in the 1830,^[1] 1840,^[2] and 1850^[3] federal census of Claiborne County, Tennessee. In 1850 Union County was carved out Claiborne and four other counties. In 1860,^[4] 1870,^[5] and 1880^[6] Jesse is found in Union County in the federal census. His birth year is variously given as 1793, 1798, and 1800.

Jesse had three wives and was the father of 20 or more children. He had a common law arrangement with his first wife Dorcas Shoffner and fathered 10 Shoffner children by her. And while he did eventually marry his second wife Sally Shelby we see that his relationships with the two women overlapped.

In 1830 his census entry appears that of a young newly married man with wife and young children. In 1840 there are only a few males in the household. In 1850 Dorcas Shoffner has her own entry with her younger children and Jesse is living next door with wife Sally and their children!

He is buried in Jessie Lay Cemetery in Union County, Tennessee.^[7]

6 Sep 1845 - License is issued for the marriage of Jesse Lay to Sarah Shelby. Claiborne Co., Tenn. Service on the 7th inst. by William Williams, M.G., (probably Jesse's son-in-law by Dorcas Shoffner).^[8]

16 Dec 1870 - Jesse Lay marries Gelina Whitehead in Union Co., Tenn. Service by William Williams, M.G.^[9]

Sep 1873 - Union Co., Tenn. Jesse Lay presents a petition to the court that was accepted.

"To the worshipful County Court sitting for the County of Union, at the September term 1873: Your petitioner (Jesse Lay) would respectfully show unto your worshipful body that he is desirous to have and wishes your worshipful body to adopt and make the following named persons his legitimate children and lawful heirs namely, Jacob Shelby, Amanda Miller, formerly Amanda Shelby, and Charity Miller, formerly Charity Shelby all of which were children of your petitioners wife but were born out of wed-lock before marriage. Your petitioner desires said Jacob, Amanda, and Charity to be made by adoption his legitimate children and heirs with capacity to inherit and succeed to the seal and personal estate of the petitioner as heirs and next of kin. And your petitioner will ever pray &c. Jesse (his mark) Lay, Attest: A.J. Brock, Parlin Hill"^[10]

Nov 1873 - Union Co,. Tenn. Jesse Lay presents a petition to the court that was accepted.

"To the worshipful County Court sitting for the County of Union at the November term 1873. Your petitioner Jesse Lay would respectfully show unto your worshipful body that he is desirous to have and wishes your worshipful body to adopt and make the following named persons his legitimate children and lawful heirs, namely Catharine Keck, Elizabeth Sharp, wife of Ambrose Sharp, Conna Keck, wife of Henry Keck; she is dead but to her heirs, Berry Shoffner, Jesse Shoffner, Calaway Shoffner, Mary Keck, wife of Fredrick Keck, Sarah Lamb and David Shoffner. All of which were chilren of your petitioners but were born out of wedlock. Your petitioner desires said Elizabeth Shoffner, wife of Ambrose Sharp, Conna Keck, wife of Henry Keck, she is dead but to her heirs. Berry Shoffner, Jesse Shoffner, Calaway Shoffner, Mary Keck, wife of Fredrick Keck, Sarah Lamb, and David Shoffner to be made by adoption his legitimate children and heirs with capacity to inherit and succeed to the seal and personal estate of your petitioner as his heirs and next of kin. As your petitioner will ever pray &c. (signed) Jesse x Lay, Attest: J.G. Palmer, J.W. Branson"^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP9-4C1 : accessed 30 November 2015), Jesse Lay, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing 136, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 180; FHL microfilm 24,538.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT1-QBP : accessed 30 November 2015), Jesse Lay, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 217, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 518; FHL microfilm 24,542.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDH-3GQ : accessed 30 November 2015), John Ley, Claiborne county, Claiborne, Tennessee, United States; citing family 1014, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T2-KM5 : accessed 30 November 2015), Jessee Loy, District No 11th, Union, Tennessee, United States; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing p. 141, household ID 991, NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 805,276.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8C-HGM : accessed 30 November 2015), Jessey Lay, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 10, family 65, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,066.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDWN-VP3 : accessed 30 November 2015), Jesse Lay, District 11, Union, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district 116, sheet 229C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1283; FHL microfilm 1,255,283.
7. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 45385775
8. ↑ Marriage records by locale, Ancestry.com
9. ↑ Marriage records by locale, Ancestry.com
10. ↑ Union County Court minutes, p206
11. ↑ Union County Court minutes, p254