I am searching for the parents of John Jett (b 1797) who was living in Daviess Co Indiana in the 1830-1860 censuses. The 1850 census shows his birthplace as Kentucky and the 1860 census shows it as Virginia. On subsequent censuses his children list him as being born in Virginia. In the 1830 census, he is listed with an unknown first wife, five girls under 14, and one boy under 5. Between 1830 and 1840 two additional boys, including one named Abraham, are born to John and his first wife. In 1840 he married Elizabeth Gilley Stropes, the widow of John Stropes. To this union were born Amanda Jett Thompson, Presley Jett (my g-grandfather), Henry Clay Jett, and Martha Jett Comer. Nothing could be found for son Abraham after the 1850 census. The names of Presley, Henry Clay, and Martha are carried forward in the children of Amanda, Presley, and Henry Clay.
Henry Clay and his wife died early leaving 5 orphans. One of these orphans, Henry Clay, was taken in by the household of spinster Melvina Jett and her brother, Judson. Melvina and Judson were children of William Jett and Mary Allen. William Jett (b 1810), relationship unknown (brother maybe??), is also in 1830 census and later censuses of Daviess Co. William displayed his birthplace as Kentucky or Tennessee in censuses. His children were Calvin, Mary, William, Melvina, Judson, and Milton. In the 1850 census, William is living next door to Elizabeth Jett Smoot (b 1806), who lists her birthplace as Tennessee. Is she a sister??
We were always told that we were not related to any Jetts in the area, which I find difficult to believe given the three early Jett families. I would think the families are related and that they come from a Virginia line of Jetts. And that’s the mystery….