Query: Gustavus Payne of Parke County

I am in search of the family of Gustavus Payne. I have the children but nothing on parents or siblings.

I saw that Roberta Wysong compiled a Parke County probate box 36, File # 17 dated 15 Sep 1846 concerning Payne, Jos. estate. "Julia Payne received a legacy but relationship not specified" Mentioned was James Payne, Capt. James Payne, James W. Payne, Gustavus Payne. My question is whether there would be more information in that file, and if so what would be the charge to send a copy of the full file? Thanks.

Douglas B. Payne
1126 Woodhorn Dr
Houston, TX 77062-2731
paynedb@gmail.com

Revolutionary War Veterans Sebastian Frederick and Jonathan Conger

Information submitted by Cathy Conrad (chart12554@aol.com) of Lafayette, Indiana about her 5th great-grandfather (Sebastian Frederick) and her 4th great-grandfather (Jonathan Conger). Thank you, Cathy, for sharing this information!

Sebastian Frederick, Jr. was born in Moorefield, Hardy County, West Virginia and died 9 October 1827 in Gibson County, Indiana. He was a Revolutionary War sergeant and spy. He served as a Sergeant in the Second Battalion of Captain Samuel Cunningham's Company in the Washington County Militia from 22 June 1781 - 23 July 1782. Proof: Militia Loan Document of 1 April 1784, certificate of public debt, number 2026.

His father, Sebastian Frederick, Sr. (1740-1787) also served in the Pennsylvania Militia (with Captain Minter) as a spy in the Revolutionary War.

According to FindAGrave, Sebastian is buried in the Frederick Family Cemetery in Pike County, Indiana, but there is also a military marker for him in Greenlawn Cemetery, Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana.

Jonathan Conger was born in 1750 in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. He served in the New Jersey Militia and enlisted as a Revolutionary War Soldier. He was trusted by Col. John Dodge of Ft. Vincennes in Vincennes in 1780 to carry his official seal to Col. George Rogers Clark, at Express Falls on the Ohio River. For this, he is listed as a Revolutionary Patriot. He served in Francis Vigo's Militia, and was included in the roster of those who served in the campaign of Tippecanoe in 1811. He was credited then with serving in the War of 1812.  (History & Families of Pike Co., Indiana, 1816-1987, pages 9 & 10, published by the Pike Co. Historical Society.)

Jonathan Conger is buried in Conger 1 in an unmarked grave on private land. A headstone was erected for both him and his wife Mary (daughter of Sebastian Frederick) in the Davidson Family Cemetery, Clay Township, Pike County, Indiana.

Both men are listed in the Patriot databases for DAR & SAR.

Query: Leonard Jerrell of Pike County

I'm researching my Jerrell Family genealogy and I've hit a brick wall. I have an 1860 Federal Census record for Leonard Jerrell. It lists Petersburg, Pike County, Indiana, and includes his wife, son and my gr-grandmother Fruzanne Jerrell.

Then I have a copy of my ancestor Leonard Jerrell's Civil War Draft registration, 1863-1865. It lists the state of Indiana, several counties and the date of June 1865. There is other writing but it is difficult to read. After that I've been unable to find any kind of record of him at all.

In Nov. 1865, I have a marriage record for his wife Eliza Jerrell and an Isaac Harrell; the 1870 census has her married to Isaac and her children by Leonard Jerrell listed as step-children.

How could she remarry unless he died? Is there any way I can find out if Leonard died in the war or maybe died from injuries received in the war. Did he desert? He couldn't just vanish without some kind of record.

Phyllis Cantrell
kpc1@hamiltoncom.net

SUGGESTIONS FROM IGS:
The draft registration is an indication that he was subject to the draft, not that he actually served. (He may or may not.) Is there an estate for Leonard Jerrell in Pike County? Is there a guardianship for his children?

New Database of Civil War Burials plus Select Indiana Legion Rosters

We are thrilled to announce several new Civil War databases on the IGS website!

All of these databases are in the Members-Only section of the IGS website. Not a member? Join today!

Military Records:

- Burials of Civil War Veterans from Indiana (1861-1904)
An index of 17,500 veterans of the Civil War who either served in an Indiana regiment or were buried in an Indiana cemetery, as listed on applications to have the federal government purchase a tombstone for their graves. Compiled by Meredith Thompson.

County Records:

The following are browsable digital images of rosters of the Indiana Legion, which was formed to protect Indiana's borders during the Civil War. All are in the collection of the Indiana State Archives and contributed by Ron Darrah.

Benton County:
- Roster of Benton Guards, Indiana Legion, Benton County, Indiana (1861)

Delaware County:
- Roster of Liberty Rangers, Indiana Legion, Delaware County, Indiana (1861)

Gibson County:
- Roster of Oakland Rangers, Indiana Legion, Gibson County, Indiana (1861)

Union County:
- Roster of Morton Scouts (Cavalry), Indiana Legion, Union County, Indiana (1863)
 
Vigo County:
- Roster of Terre Haute Guards, Indiana Legion, Vigo County, Indiana (1863)

White County:
- Roster of Monticello Rifles, Indiana Legion, White County, Indiana (1861)

Query: Hughes Family of Warrick and Vanderburgh Counties

I am trying to find anything on my family. What I have found so far: My great-great-grandparents Samuel W. Hughes, who came from Wales, married Martha Jane Gray in Warrick County, Indiana.

I found they were living in the Evansville, IN, area and are both buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville, along with some children. I can't find anything on my great-grandfather, James Samuel Hughes, Sr. and great-grandmother Lizzie Prepstel (She was born in Evansville to Peter Prepstel and Margartha Rocket, who both came from Hesse, Germany, I think.) I know my grandfather died in 1930 at the age of 29 in Evansville and is buried in Locust Hill Cemetery in Evansville. Is there any way to find if either family has any living relatives still in the area?

Greg Hughes
10075 E Margaret Dr.
Terre Haute, IN 47803
gah042651@gmail.com

New Monroe County Databases

If you have ancestors in the rolling hills of Monroe County, you'll want to take a look at these four databases we recently added to the IGS website:

Free Database:

- Index to Yearbooks for Smithville Schools, Monroe County, Indiana (1936-1974)
An index of 23,000 students and teachers in grades 1-12 who attended Smithville schools. The yearbooks are in the collection of the Red Men Museum and History Center in Smithville, This database was contributed by Randi Richardson.

Premium Databases:

The following are members-only databases. Log in to use these collections. Not a member of the Indiana Genealogical Society? Join today!

- Index to Photographs in Yearbooks of Bloomington High School, Monroe County, Indiana (1912)
An index of the students and teachers whose photos appear in Bloomington High School's 1912 yearbook, The Gothic. This database was contributed by Randi Richardson.

- Landowners in Monroe County, Indiana (1856)
An index of 1,875 people who owned land in Monroe County in 1856, as listed in an 1856 atlas. This database was contributed by Randi Richardson.

- Residents of Monroe County Poor Asylum, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana (1918-1920)
An index of the people who lived in the Monroe County Poor Asylum from 1918 to 1920, as listed in the asylum's quarterly reports. This database was contributed by Randi Richardson.

New Military Databases on the IGS Website

Indiana has a proud military history. Explore your family's military service with these six new databases on the IGS website:

Free Databases:

- Burials of Mexican War Veterans from Indiana (1846-1903)
An index of 128 veterans of the Mexican War who either served in an Indiana regiment or were buried in an Indiana cemetery, as listed on applications for military tombstones.

- Burials of Revolutionary War Veterans in Indiana
An index of 49 veterans of the Revolutionary War who were buried in Indiana, as listed on applications to have the federal government's military tombstone for their graves.

- Burials of Spanish-American War Veterans from Indiana (1898-1904)
An index of 35 veterans of the Spanish-American War who either served in an Indiana regiment or were buried in an Indiana cemetery, as listed on applications for military gravestones.

Premium Databases:

The following are members-only databases. Log in to use these collections. Not a member of the Indiana Genealogical Society? Join today!

Steuben County:
- Roster of Orland Home Guards, Indiana Legion, Steuben County, Indiana (1863)
Browsable digital images of an Indiana Legion roster, which was formed to protect the state’s borders during the Civil War. This roster is in the collection of the Indiana State Archives and was contributed by Ron Darrah.

Warrick County:
- Roster of Newburgh Guards, Indiana Legion, Warrick County, Indiana (1861)
Browsable digital images of an Indiana Legion roster, which was formed to protect the state’s borders during the Civil War. This roster is in the collection of the Indiana State Archives and was contributed by Ron Darrah.

Washington County:
- Roster of Blue River Grays, Indiana Legion, Salem, Washington County, Indiana (1863)
Browsable digital images of an Indiana Legion roster, which was formed to protect the state’s borders during the Civil War. This roster is in the collection of the Indiana State Archives and was contributed by Ron Darrah.

Query: Lavina Jordan Johnson, Hendricks County

Need anything after 1880 on: Lavina or Vina (Jordan) Johnson, b. 1854/55 in Indiana; m. James F. Johnson in 1871 in Hendricks County, IN. The 1880 Census has her as head of the household with her 4 boys: Walter Johnson b. 1872, John W. Johnson b. 1873, Isaac Newton Johnson b. 1874, George P. Johnson b. 1876. Family lore says she ran away and left the boys with their father. He remarried in 1885.

Also would like Vina's Father and Mother's death certificate which would have their parents’ names on it: Andrew J. Jordan b. 1825 in VA; Mary Ann Lipe b. 1830 in NC; Married 1870 in Hendricks County, IN.

I know that when Andrew died about 1862-66, there was a guardianship set up for the children and Lavina was 11. They lived in Pittsboro with John Nelson whom Mary Jordan married. Lavina left that household at 16 to marry James F. Johnson.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

Lois B. Sutton, Gr-Grand-Daughter of Lavina Jordan Johnson
lois_sutton@yahoo.com