Jacob Ketchum born about 1795 was on 1815 tax list for Bledsoe County, TN. Jacob was found to be in Blount Co., Alabama in 1830 on page 12 of the census records, recorded as Jacob Cetchum, age 30-40, along with a female age 30-40. Shortly thereafter he was in Texas and fought in the Texas war of Independence from Mexico between 1836 and 1837. After the war he received a land grant for his services from the Republic of Texas of 1,280 acres on Bois d'Arc Creek in Fannin District, TX for his service. He died sometime between March 1836 and about 1840. He was not on the tax rolls of Fannin County for 1840. However, it's possible that he had not yet filed for and received the patent to his land at that time. His siblings filed a probate court case over the land, but Mary, his widow, won and got the 1280 acres.

Jacob was son of Edward Ketchum, born about 1765 in Virginia/Tennessee, and Mary Reasor Ketchum, daughter of Peter Reasor. Their children were: Martha (Raines), Jacob, Joseph, Catherine (Niblett), Peter Reasor, Christopher, Christiana (Ferrell), Elizabeth (McAnally), Luther Henderson.

Jacob's widow Mary later married George W. McNutt on 5 Apr 1842 in Fannin County, Texas and some time later it was said that they moved to Lawrence Co., Arkansas. They sold the 1280 acres of land in Fannin County to Curtis Moore for $200 on 28 April 1855.

Texas Census, 1820-90
Name: George W. McNutt
State: TX
County: Fannin County
Township: No Township Listed
Year: 1842
Database: TX Tax List Index, 1840-1849

Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002
Name: George W. McNutt
Marriage Date: 5 Apr 1842
Spouse: Mary Ketchum
Marriage County: Fannin
Marriage State: Texas
Source: Texas Marriages, 1814-1909

According to the following information, taken from Daughters of Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume 1- By Turner Publishing Company, Thomas Kinsey, Sr. was married to George W. McNutt's sister Sarah and was therefore a brother-in-law of George W. McNutt. They were all in Fannin County at one time or another.

THOMAS KINSEY SR. was born Jan. 22, 1781 in Culpeper County, VA; died Aug 27, 1868, Coryell County, TX; buried in the Sugarloaf section of the Killeen City Cemetery, Bell County, TX. He married Sarah Jane (Sallie) McNutt Oct. 31, 1811 in Madison, Mississippi Territory, AL.
He was a farmer, printer, owner of the Gatesville Star, and a blacksmith.
In 1840 Thomas moved his family to Fannin County but had to move back to Arkansas because of Indian trouble. In 1844 he and the family moved to Wood County, TX. He received Republic of Texas land grant No. 382, November 1839. On Dec. 19,1839, he bought 640 acres of land in Red River County from George W. McNutt, his brother-in-law.
Thomas and Sallie were the parents of George, born 1812; Peter, born 1814; Roland, born 1817; Lunsford, born 1817; Martha Ann, born 1818; William Madison, born 1819; Thomas Jr., born ca. 1823/25; Margaret C, born ca. 1828; Arminda Mary, born ca. 1830/31; Francis Marion, born ca. 1831; Elisha K. born 1833; Madison Gaines, born 1836; Henry M. born ca 1822/39; and Lucinda, born 1842.
Thomas was a Primitive Baptist.
While out hunting, sons Roland, Lunsford and Thomas Jr. accidentally set the prairie on fire. Roland and Lunsford were burned to death and Thomas survived. According to family tradition his deformed arm and hand were a result of the fire. -- JUNE SHERMAN

There are a number of personal and private family trees on Ancestry.com stating that the widow of Jacob Ketchum was Mary Elizabeth Utter and that she married George Anderson McNutt on 29 Jun 1843 in Edgar County, Illinois. The marriage of these two in Illinois is fact. However, it is not true that she is the Ketchum widow . George Alexander McNutt and Mary that married in Illinois in 1843 are not the same George W. McNutt and Mary, widow of Jacob, that married in Fannin County, Texas in 1842. (unless he married Mary Ketchum the widow, changed his middle name, moved to Illinois and married Mary Utter the next year, and stayed there the rest of his life?).

I am searching for information about the McNutt family that would be connected to the widow Mary Ketchum. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I am ultimately trying to find Mary's family. I think she and Jacob probably married in Virginia or Tennessee.
– Berry Spradley