Robert Jellison Jr. (1781 - 1863)

Born 1781 in Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Boland) Jellison — married 14 Oct 1836 in Derry, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Died 1863 at about age 82 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography

Robert Jellison, son of Robert and Margaret Jellison, was born about 1781, probably in New Jersey.^[1] By the time he was ten years old his father had brought the family to Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Robert Jellison apparently married first, probably around 1802,^[2] Mary Karns (or Carns).^[3] Robert later married (around 1818) Phebe, daughter of Zebulon and Sarah (Rickey) Doty.^[4] Phebe apparently died in childbirth in 1836, a month before Robert married Mrs. Elizabeth Purnell (see below).

After his first marriage, Robert set up his home on land owned by his father (as indicated in his father's will). In the 1810 census Robert Jellison, Jr. appears in Derry Twp. as follows: 3 males under 10 (James, Mathew and Robert?); 1 male 26-45 (Robert), four females under 10 (Isabella, Hannah, Jane and ??), and 1 female 16-26 (wife Mary).

Robert Jellison appears in the 1820 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: 3 males under 10 (Ephraim, Jonathan and Samuel); 2 males 10-15 (Mathew and Robert); 1 male 16-25 (James); 2 females under 10 (Isabella and Eliza); 2 females 10-15 (Jane and Hannah); 1 female 26-44 (Phebe).

Robert Jellison appears in Derry Township in the 1830 census as follows: 1 male under 5 (Hugh); 3 males 5-10 (Doty and ??); 1 male 10-15 (Samuel); 2 males 20-30 (Ephraim and Robert?); 1 male 40-50 (Robert); 1 female under 5 (Susan); 1 female 10-15 (??); 2 females 15-20 (Eliza and Isabella?); 1 female 30-40 (wife Phebe); 1 female 50-60 (presumably Robert's mother).

On 11 Nov. 1833 Robert Jellison of Westmoreland Co., Penn. bought from John Jellison of Preble Co., Ohio, for $150, 52 acres of land "which was inherited by the said John from the Estate of the late Robert Jellison deceased father of the parties to this instrument... Subject however to the right of Dower of Margaret Jellison the mother of the parties hereto and wife of the said Robert deceased..."^[5] This indicates that Robert's mother Margaret Jellison was still alive in 1833.

On 21 May 1836 Robert Jelison and wife Margaret sold a plot of land with the brick school-house on it to the Derry Township School District.^[6] As Robert Jellison, Sr. was dead by this time and his wife Margaret probably was as well (as she didn't sign this deed), I believe this to be a deed by Robert Jellison, Jr. in the names of his parents, or perhaps he was merely formalizing an arrangement made years before by his parents. (This conclusion is supported by the fact that there was already a schoolhouse built on the land that Robert was deeding to the township!)

On 14 Oct. 1836 Robert Jellison and Mrs. Elizabeth Purnell, both of Derry Twp., were married.^[7]

Robert Jeallison appears in the 1840 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: 2 males 5-10 (presumably died young); 1 male 20-30 (Doty?); 1 male 50-60 (Robert); 2 females under 5 (Catharine and ??); 1 female 10-15 (Susan); 1 female 30-40 (Elizabeth).

“Robert Jellison, Jr. is listed in Derry Township tax records from 1804 to 1842. In 1828 and 1834, he is listed as a farmer. In 1810 through 1833, he is listed as the owner of 100 acres; in 1834, 135 acres; and in 1835 through 1842, 150 acres (a 100 acre tract and a 50 acre tract)."^[8]

Robert Jellison appears in Derry Twp. in the 1850 census as follows: Robert Jellison, age 69, b. Germany; Elizabeth, age 40, b. PA; Catherine, 13, b. PA; John, 8, b. PA; Mary Ann, 7, b. PA; Margaret, 7, b. PA; Martha, 1, b. PA; Hugh, 23, b. PA. All of the children are of Robert and Elizabeth, except Hugh, who is a child of Robert's first wife.

Robert Jellison appears in Derry Twp. in the 1860 census as follows: Robert Jellison, age 79, b. PA, farmer, real estate worth $3000; personal property worth $700; Elisabeth, age 40 (she didn't get any older since 1850!), b. PA; John, 18; Mary Ann, 14; Margaret, 13; Melissa, 8.

Robert Jellison apparently died sometime in 1863. His will was written 15 Dec. 1859 and proved 18 Nov. 1863.^[9] In this will Robert Jellison, "understanding and knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof," instructed that "the tract of land I bought of Brother John of 52 acres" be sold and that the proceeds be divided evenly among his children James, Hannah Doty, Isabella Beaty, Mathew, Jonathan, Doty, Susan Singley, Jane Patterson (to receive $50 less than the others), and Eliza Duncan (to receive $20 less than the others). Also, for his sons Robert, Samuel, Ephraim and Hugh "to be paid one dollar each out of the above sale of land." Robert willed "the farm on which I now reside" to his son John with the condition that (1) Robert's wife Elizabeth have the use of the property and household goods during her life and that (2) at specified 1-year intervals after her death that John pay $25 to "Catharine married to George Trump," $40 to daughter Mary Ann, $30 to daughter Margaret, and $30 to daughter Malissa. Furthermore, that daughters Mary Ann, Margaret and Malissa "have one bed and bedding and one cow each to be given to them at their marriage." As executors he appointed James Rutledge and his son Doty Jellison. The will was witnessed by James Rutledge and Andrew Cook.

Elizabeth Jellison appears in the 1870 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: Elizabeth, 60, b. PA, real estate $2000; Mary Ann, 25, b. PA.

Children of Robert Jellison (order of early children is uncertain):

1. James, b. 1803; m. Martha Stimmel.

2. Hannah, b. 1 May 1807; married George Doty around 1827; d. 28 Apr. 1877 at Grant, PA.^[10] George Doty appears in the 1850 census in Montgomery Twp., Indiana Co., PA as follows: George Doty, 50, b. PA, farmer, r.e. $2000; Hannah, 43, b. PA; Nathaniel, 19; Rebecca, 17; Phoebe, 10; Robert, 15; Jonathan, 10; Elizabeth, 9; John, 8; Sylvester, 6; James A., 4.

3. Jane, b. 1807; m. Robert Patterson 6 Feb. 1827 in Westmoreland Co., PA.^[11] Robert Patterson appears in the 1850 census in Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA as follows: Robert, 51, b. PA, farmer, r.e. $2000; Jean E., 43; Mary A., 23; Sarah, 21; Isabella, 19; Jean, 17; Margarett, 13; Euphena, 10; Amanda, 5, Robert HOMES, 26.

4. Robert, b. perhaps 1808.^[12]

5. Mathew, b. c. 1810; married Sarah Haney.

6. Ephraim, b. c. 1810; married Mary A. ----.

7. Isabella, b. c.1811; m. William Beatty; d. 13 Apr. 1870

8. Jonathan, b. 1813 (?); m. Suzana Bollman.

9. Eliza, b. c. 1814; m. Alexander Duncan. In the 1850 census the following family appears in Centre Twp., Indiana Co., PA: Alexander Duncan, 46, b. PA, farmer; Eliza, 36, b. PA;Alexander, 19, b. PA; Thomas, 17, b. PA; Samuel, 14, b. PA; Milton, 10, b. PA; Minerva, 5, b. PA; Robert, 4, b. PA; David, 1, b. PA.

10. Samuel, b. 1817 (?), m. Elizabeth Cassell 30 July 1844 at Preble Co., OH.^[13]

11. Doty, b. 1820; m. (1) Mary ----; m. (2) Hester ----.

(There were two more sons born between 1820 and 1825, as seen in the 1830 census.)

12. Hugh, b. 1827; in his father's household in 1850 census as follows: Hugh, 23, b. PA.

13. Susan, b. 31 Dec. 1829; d. 6 Jan. 1902 at Sullivan Co., MO; m. George Washington Singley 16 Aug. 1848.^[14]

(There were two sons born between 1830 and 1835, as seen in the 1840 census.)

14. Catharine, b. 11 Sept. 1836^[15]; d. 13 Feb. 1928^[16]

Children of Robert Jellison by wife Elizabeth:

(There was a daughter born between 1835 and 1840, as seen in the 1840 census.)

15. John, b. 1842; m. Margaret ----.

16. Mary Ann, b. 1843 or 1846; in mother’s household in 1870 census.

17. Margaret, b. 1843 or 1847.

18. Martha, b. 1849, listed in 1850 census, not mentioned in father's will.

19. Melissa, b. 1852.

FOOTNOTES

1. ↑ Robert's age is given as 69 in the 1850 census and 79 in the 1860 census. The 1850 census states that he was born in Germany, which is clearly incorrect, but possibly indicates his family origin. In the 1860 census his birthplace appears as Pennsylvania, but it doesn't seem that his father's family was in Pennsylvania this early.
2. ↑ Robert's eldest son James was born about 1803, per 1850 census.
3. ↑ The Doty-Doten Family, by Ethan Allen Doty (1897), p. 349, states that George Doty married Hannah Jellison, daughter of Robert and Mary (Karns) Jellison. Hannah is referred to as Hannah Doty in her father's will.
4. ↑ The Doty-Doten Family, by Ethan Allen Doty, p. 347, states that Zebulon Doty's daughter Phebe married a Jellison and had a son named Doty. Furthermore, the 1842 will of Zebulon Doty (see Indiana Co., Penn. Will Book #1, p. 413) leaves a legacy to his grandson "Zebulon Doty Jellison." This is doubtless the same as Robert Jellison's son Doty, who named his eldest daughter (as shown in the 1850 census) Phebe. For what can be inferred from the scanty evidence about Phebe, see her profile.
5. ↑ Westmoreland Co., Penn. Deed Book #51, p. 220. This deed was not recorded until 24 June 1864, shortly before the land involved was sold by the executors of the estate of Robert Jellison, Jr.
6. ↑ Westmoreland County Deed Book #24, pp. 596-7.
7. ↑ Newspaper Accounts of Births, Marriages & Deaths 1808-1929 (not all inclusive), Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, by Mary Jane Mains (1994, Westmoreland County Historical Society), p. 117.
8. ↑ Letter to John Schmeeckle from James Bruce of Camp Hill, PA, who researched the Westmoreland County tax records through 1842. Robert Jellison, Jr. doubtless appears in the tax records after 1842. In the various years researched, Robert owned between 1 and 5 horses and between 1 and 5 cows.
9. ↑ Westmoreland County Will Book #4, p. 481.
10. ↑ The Doty-Doten Family in America, by Ethan Allen Doty (1897), p. 349.
11. ↑ Marriage and Death Notices from Newspapers 1808-1921 (not all inclusive), Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, by Mary Jane Mains (original research by Agnes Tomichek) (1998, Westmoreland County Historical Society), p. 60.
12. ↑ Robert first appears in the Westmoreland County tax records in 1829 (per research by James Bruce) as “Robert Jellison, Jr.,” the owner of 1 horse. He is listed as a single man in 1830, “just married” in 1831, and “gone” in 1842.
13. ↑ Listed in the IGI.
14. ↑ Information sent to John Schmeeckle by Chloie (Stickler) Porter, granddaughter of Susan (Jellison) Singley.
15. ↑ Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Cemetary Records, compiled by Bob and Mary Closson, 1980, p. 9, showing gravestone records from Old Salem Cemetary in Derry Twp. She must have been born just before her mother died, as her father remarried a month later.
16. ↑ Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Cemetary Records, compiled by Bob and Mary Closson, 1980, p. 9, showing gravestone records from Old Salem Cemetary in Derry Twp.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to John Schmeeckle for creating WikiTree profile Jellison-79 through the import of Stickler ged.ged on Dec 8, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by John and others.