Edley Anderson Cornett (1803 - abt. 1852)

Born 1 Sep 1803 in near, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died about 1852 at about age 48 in vicinity of, Marysville, California, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Margaret Kerns [send private message]

Biography

Edley^[1][2] Anderson Cornett^[3][4] was born 1 September 1803^[2][1] near Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia. Ida (Hall) Hudson, who lived many years among her older relatives, including her grandmother Cornett, wrote: "He was of French descent. In the early days his parents settled near Richmond, Virginia,^[2] where he was born 1 September 1803. His mother died when he was a small child and his father married again.^[2]

He married Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis and Sallie Patton, on the old Davis homestead, Independence, Jackson County, Missouri.^[1] They were married by William Silver, Justice of the Peace, on 11 July 1828, filed and recorded July 30, 1828.^[5] Edley was named in a list of voters as E. Cornet at the election held at the house of Joel P. Walker on 4 August 1828 at Fort Osage township, Jackson County, Missouri.)^[6]

In 1830, Edley Cornett is shown in Jackson County, Missouri with his wife and baby daughter.^[7] In 1840, the family was living in Van Buren County, Missouri (which later became Cass County). In addition to their five daughters, two men, probably hired hands, were living with them.^[8]

Edley Anderson Cornett and Elizabeth, his wife, sold land to James Aull and Robert Aull, of Jackson County, Missouri, in a deed on 23 March 1835 at Jackson County, Missouri, for the consideration of $125; being the East 1/2 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 9 Township 50 Range 31 containing 80 acres; Edley signed and Elizabeth made her mark.^[9]

He joined the West Fork Baptist Church, Jackson County, Missouri, in Aug 1847 and received a letter of removal in August 1849.^[10]

Edley died probably about 1852, perhaps in the vicinity of Marysville, California, on his way to San Francisco to sail for Missouri with his profits from his years in various investments and a store in the Gold Fields. A cousin, (name unknown) was in business with him in Marysville.^[2][1] Many years later when his son was traveling in the West, he found a small stone in Orisleybar Cemetery with his father's initials carved on it, which may be his grave.^[2]

Ida Hudson Memories

"The new wife did not like his children, so a grown son John, (aged 21) and his sister Polly (aged 22 and married) decided to go with some emigrants to Missouri (about 1818). There were several families in the bunch, traveling by covered wagons and ox teams. They were about ready to start when John rode up to his father's door on a big horse to say goodbye. Little Edley [aged 15] came running and crying, and wanted to be taken along. John was deeply touched, so reached down and pulled his little brother up behind him on the horse and brought him to Missouri. He and his sister established a home and cared for their little brother during childhood and educated him."^[2]

(From other evidence, it is apparent the family stopped for a time in Kentucky, or maybe were living there with their father when they left for Missouri. Polly had children born in Kentucky from 1814 to 1818. When they first arrived in Missouri, they spent some time in Boone County before going on to Jackson County. Edley lived briefly in Clay County, Missouri, north of the Missouri River from Jackson County.)^[11]

"They settled on a farm near my great-grandfather (John) Davis' home. John Cornett soon married Polly Davis and later Edley married her younger sister Elizabeth.^[2]

"Their sister Polly Cornett married Josh Gilliam. They became early settlers of the Honey Creek neighborhood, near Carsville, Henry County, Missouri. . ." (at this point, Ida inserted names of several families)^[2]

"When gold was discovered in California, there was great excitement, so with others he decided to try his fortune in the Gold Mines. He must have been very brave and unafraid. He was the father of nine children, some about grown, so leaving his family to the care of his wife and older children, he went with an emigrant train of covered wagons with ox teams directed by Kit Carson (doubtful) to the mining districts of northern California. He settled at Marysville, California and started a store and staked mining claims which proved to be very rich. He soon amassed a great fortune, and wrote Grandmother he had plenty for all their needs and the needs of all his children during life, was closing out his possessions and would start home on a certain date when the ship sailed, for by that time ships were going and coming around the horn of South America.^[2]

"There were no banks, so he had to carry that gold along with him. About the time they began expecting him home, Grandmother received a letter from someone in authority telling her he had died on the same date he planned to leave, just a few hours before departure of the ship. Of course, he was murdered for his gold. She and her father and brothers did all they could to investigate and trace his property, but failed completely. They could never get in touch with his cousin who was a partner in part of his undertakings. Of course he was the guilty one or one of them. One officer wrote that he had left there. He believed he had gone to South America. Also Grandmother was told that when a man died in California his property, much or little, went to the State. The only real information ever received was that he was buried at Ousleybar (or Orisleybar) Cemetery close by. California had few laws then."^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Carter, Mittie Cornett (Hall) and Hall, Mattie Davis, family records about 1950 (typescript (pages 31, 32, 46 and 47) manuscript prepared by Mittie and Mattie (twin sisters) when they lived in Windsor, MO; typed by Georgia Collins, and copied from that typescript by Margaret Kerns. Original was property of Arthur Loyd Collins, college professor in Shreveport, LA, and wife Georgia, both now deceased. Copy in possession of Margaret Ann Kepner Kerns; Repository: Kerns, Margaret Ann (Kepner), 729 NW 1101 Road, Urich, MO 64788-8121 in 2019, Cornett/Davis file, typed copy in acco notebook 660 890-1104.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Hudson, Ida Hall Family Notes handwritten original in possession of Margaret Ann (Kepner) Kerns, 729 NW 1101 Road, Urich, Missouri, who typed the manuscript and numbered the pages in her typescript
3. ↑ Hendrick Cemetery, Bogard Township, Henry County, Missouri tombstone inscription of Elizabeth Cornett gives her as wife of E. A. Cornett
4. ↑ Andrew Jackson Hall Family Bible Record, property of Frances Lee Hall, Clinton, MO (now deceased). When Margaret Kerns copied the family data pages, she was inexperienced and failed to copy the publication information. Location of Bible currently unknown
5. ↑ Missouri, Jackson County, Marriage Records 1805-2002, Volume I page 4 (appears to be a copy of a page originally numbered 10)
6. ↑ The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late war... history of Missouri, map of Jackson county .. Voters at Fort Osage Township on the first Monday in August 1828 (list of voters); Union Historical Company, Kansas City, MO, 1881, page 107
7. ↑ US Census, 1830, Missouri, Jackson County, page 307-23
8. ↑ US Census, 1840, Missouri, Van Buren County, page 135 line 25
9. ↑ Missouri, Jackson County, Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book C page 382, 112 W Lexington Ave # 30, Independence, MO 64050 (816) 881-4478
10. ↑ Vital Historical Records of Jackson County, Missouri 1826-1876, page 52 Call No. 977.841 D2652, Midwest Genealogy Center, 3440 S. Lee's Summit Road, Independence, MO 64055 816.252.7228
11. ↑ Kerns, Margaret Ann Kepner, 729 NW 1101 Road, Urich, Missouri 64788-8121, study of records and conclusions

Acknowledgment

This person was created through the import of PittsPenn_2010-09-21.ged on 22 September 2010.