Jesse Ray (Yokum) Yocum (abt. 1762 - aft. 1841)

Born about 1762 in Botetourt, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Diana Howe (Denton) Yocum — married 1787 in Kentucky

Descendants

Died after 1841 after about age 79 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cari Yocom [send private message]

Biography

https://www.fold3.com/page/581-the-yocum-gang

THE YOCUM GANG Jesse Ray, some of his sons, and some of his grandsons were suspected of being outlaws in Kentucky, along the Natchez Trace and in the Neutral Strip in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Though several were hanged or shot by vigilante groups, none were arrested, tried, and convicted by legal authorities. The family criminal activities occurred over three generations from about 1800 to about 1878.

Jesse Ray Yoakum b: 1760 in Betetourt, Virginia, d: Abt. 1840 in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana (Veteran of the American Revolution) (Tried several times for murder in Natchitoches, suspected of bribing witnesses and jurors, never convicted).

Several descendants of Jesse Ray Yocum and Diana How Denton made their way to the lawless area in southwest Louisiana in the mid 1800s. Some were involved in the lawless activities of the time. Two sons were hanged. One, Zach Yocum, was hanged by "Regulators" in Louisiana (date unknown, perhaps around 1876) and the other was hanged by parties unknown in Texas in 1841. A grandson, Doc Addison fought off the Regulators, killing four of them, in Louisiana after fleeing from murder charges in Texas. Another son, Matthew (or Matthis) Yocum, along with his brother-in-law, James Collier, was suspected in the killing of Robert Collier (James's brother). They then attempted to kill Charles Chandler, Robert Collier's son-in-law.

These lawless few constituted a minority of the Yoakum family members in the area at the time. The Yocums mentioned in the Handbook of Texas article "Yokum Gang" are all children of Jesse Yocum, son of Matthias Yoakum and Diana Denton, both of Kentucky. Matthias Yocum, b 1790, KY; Thomas D. Yocum, b 1796, Ky married Pamelia Peace, 9 Jan 1814, St. Landry Parish, LA; and Martha "Patsy" Yocum,b 20 Mar 1804, KY. m James Callier. Jesse and Diane had 11 children in all.

Sources

• FamilySearch.org; ID LJRW-L21; Footnote by ToniTurk1

Jesse Yocum was captured at the Battle of Blue Licks, KY, 19 Aug 1782. In that battle the Revolutionary soldiers were defeated by Canadian Rangers and Northern Indians. In that battle the Kentuckians suffered over eighty casualties at an engagement near a ford on a branch of Licking River. Jesse Yocum was paid 1 pound 9 shillings and 4 pence for service from 4 May - 4 Jun 1782. After his release from capture he was paid for 373 days of service at $6.67 per month. He received 24 pounds 7 shillings and 4 pence (Virginia currency) ["George Rogers Clark & His Men," by Margery Harding, 1981, pp. 125 & 210. 1. 1795 tax list - Mercer Co., KY. 2. 1800 census - Mercer Co., KY. 3. "A History of the Yoakum ... Families," by H. C. Smith, 1963. 4. Records of Bob Derryberry 5. Ancestral File.

16 October 2014 by ToniTurk1

• "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V653-KX4 : accessed 20 May 2017), Jesse Yocum and Diana Or Dianna Denton, 12 May 1787; citing Mercer, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 192,267.

• 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Natchitoches, Louisiana; Page: 94; NARA Roll: M33_31; Image: 92. Ancestry.com. Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Name: Jesse Yocum

Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Natchitoches, Louisiana

Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2

Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 2

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 5

Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1

Slaves - Males - Under 14: 3

Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: 1

Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 2

Slaves - Males - 45 and over: 1

Slaves - Females - Under 14: 1

Slaves - Females - 14 thru 25: 2

Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 11

Free White Persons - Under 16: 5

Free White Persons - Over 25: 3

Total Free White Persons: 15

Total Slaves: 10

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 25

• Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Name: Jesse Yocom File #R11.940, Rejected. M804, Roll 2659, 11 pages. Ancestry.com

• United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q292-3B9K : 8 March 2021), Jesse Yokum, 1812-1815; citing NARA microfilm publication M602 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 234; FHL microfilm 882,752.