Abel Janney, Jonas Hatfield, Rachel Lewelling, Loudoun Co., VA
Billie Harris - Mar 4, 2011
Some researchers believe that Abel Janney (Sr) married Rachel Llewellyn in Loudoun County, Rachel being the daughter of Shadrach and Deborah (Burson) Llewellyn but I've found nothing to support Rachel marrying anyone other than Jonas Hatfield.
From a posting on GenForum:
Jonas Hatfield, b c1762 in Wales, came to America at 9 yrs of age. Tradition says he migrated to Kentucky and married a widow, Rachel (Llewellyn) Janney and had 9 children, later moving to Wayne Co., Indiana. Quaker records show them being received at the Westland MM (Washington Co., Penn.) from Fairfax MM (in Virginia) in 1788. Rachel had been disowned in 1779 for committing fornication and having a child born out of wedlock. This child was Abel Janney (the father was also Abel Janney), born 30 Sept 1779 in Loudoun Co., Virginia. Rachel married Jonas Hatfield c1786 and had children: Deborah, Thomas, Martha, Rachel, Mary, Jonas, Ann, John and Nathan. The family was granted cert. to move to Miami MM (Warren Co., Ohio) in 1806. They were in Wayne Co., Indiana (Greenfork) by 1810. I would really enjoy hearing from anyone who might be searching or have information on this family. I believe Rachel is the daughter of Shadrach & Deborah (Burson) Llewellyn of Loudoun Co., Virginia. I have more information on their lineage and am willing to share anything I have.
The Quaker records for Loudoun give the following naming Rachel, but are they one and the same or different Rachels?
1778 Jun - Rachel Lane {Lewellen} requests membership
1778 Jul - Friends appointed to visit Rachel Lawellin and report is now safe to grant request
1779 Sep - Complaint against Rachel Lewellen for having an illegitimate child
1786 Oct- Rachel Hatfield, formerly Lewellin, condemned her breach of chastity
From history of Greens Fork, Indiana:
Jonas Hatfield, Sr. came from Kentucky in 1812, purchased the land that the town of Washington (Greens fork) now is built on. Abel Jenny came the same year and joined lands with Hatfield, Sr. (Copy of the History follows.)
Following is a post on Roots Web (there are others) regarding the Janney/Llewellyn/Hatfield theory, followed by an article on Abel Janney of Loudoun County.
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From: JSuman@aol.com
Subject: Rachel JANNEY HATFIELD
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 01:36:53 EDT
Hello,
Jonas HATFIELD was my 3rd maternal great-grandfather. I am trying to find
out the maiden name of his wife Rachel. I have found two different names listed
for her. His grandson, Dr. Walter S. HATFIELD said his great-grandfather,
Jonas HATFIELD came to Pennsylvania when he was nine from Wales. He then moved
to Kentucky and was united in marriage to miss Rachel JANNEY. However, when
researching Rachel JANNEY in Quaker Genealogy, I found ten entries for Rachel
JANNY/JANNEY. There was also entries under LEWELLEN or LLEWELLYN with a
reference for her being dismissed for having an illegitimate child, whom I
believe was Abel Janney HATFIELD, Dr. HATFIELD'S father. She was later taken back
into the church along with her husband Jonas, an children, Abel, Deborah,
Thomas, Martha, Rachel, Mary, Jonas, Ann, John, & Nathan (my maternal
great-great grandfather).
Later I found a message by a Michael VanBarren (_norseman@jps.net_
(mailto:norseman@jps.net) ) however, his e-mail address is no longer valid. I hope
someone knows who he is, as I would like to contact him. His message read:
"Rachel had been disowned in 1779 for committing fornication and having a
child born out of wedlock. This child was Abel JANNEY (the father was also Abel
JANNEY), born 30 Sept 1779 in Loudoun Co., Virginia. Rachel married Jonas
HATFIELD c1786 and had children: Deborah, Thomas, Martha, Rachel, Mary, Jonas,
Ann, John, and Nathan. The family was granted cert. to move to Miami, MM
(Warren Co., OH) in 1806. They were in Wayne Co., Indiana (Greeenfork) by 1810. I
believe Rachel was the daughter of Shadrach & Deborah (BURSON) LLEWELLYN of
Loudoun Co., Virginia." He also said he would be glad to share his information
with others researching the same family. I would very much like to be able
to contact him.
Another researcher thinks that Rachel was descended from the JANNEY family
and sent me information back to the 1200s. However, they are all just names and
years, with no proof. I do not want to use information, I cannot verify and
this is holding up submitting my genealogy back 17 generations.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Jean Suman
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ABEL JANNEY AND JOHN RUSSELL
"Three young men from Loudoun County, Virginia--Quaker Abel Janney, John Russell and Colman Wilks--dared to cross the Ohio River in the spring of 1782 to look the country over. Indians picked up their presence when they were only a half-mile west of the river, near Marietta. The Indians shot Russell and Wilks dead. They took Abel Janney prisoner and he did not get home for fifteen months" from "The Friendly Virginians" by Jay Worrall.
"Narrative of the Capture of Abel Janney by The Indians in 1782" from the Diary of Abel Janney, published in Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications, Vol. VIII, Columbus, 1900, pg 465-473; reprinted in The Garland Library of Narratives of North American Indian Captivities, Vol 104, 1976, selected by Wilcomb Wasburn, Smithsonian Institution.
On the 12th day of March 1782, about break of day, as I and my two companions were lying in our blankets about half a mile from the Ohio River, on the Indian's side, near the mouth of the Great Kenhaway river. We were surprised by a shout of Indians who came rushing upon us...fired after one of my companions and killed him, [Wilks]...The other Indian ran after the other of my companions [John Russell] and caught him, but he escaped and got off, leaving his gun with the Indian, and had no clothes except a waistcoat, and Breeches and a pair of stockings, not even so much as a knife to help himself with...
In a footnote on pg 465-"Abel Janney was a resident of Goose Creek neighborhood (now Lincoln, Loudoun County, Virginia). He was of a roving disposition, often engaged in hunting or 'trapping,' and it was while on a trapping excursion that he was captured. Colman Wilks and John Russell were with him. Wilks was shot. Russell escaped and reached the settlements in Kentucky, but was so badly frozen and prostrated that he lived but a few days. Tradition says that A.J. was employed at Washington as interpreter -John J. Janney."
The above information was all found in the 1900 publication.
Notes from Christie A. Russell
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Abel Janney moved from near Philadelphia to Culpeper Co. Va., and later moved to Alexandria, where he was a large shipping merchant. His granddaughter, Mrs. Cosemlia Janney (Hutchinson) Brent of Loudoun Co., stated (ca. 1700) that her grandfather went to Kentucky as a young man and was a prisoner with the Indians for 7 years. That his diary was destroyed during the war (Revolution or 1812?). That Abel was taken prisoner by the Indians in Kentucky and by them sold to the English for 1/2 keg of firewater. He was in Kentucky prospecting for land when war broke out between England and the Colonies.
It is believed that he is the "Indian Abel Janney" spoken of by "The Rambler" in the Washington Sunday Star for 12 January, 1919, in which the following letter from 'K.L. Russell of Webster Street,' DC. is quoted: "The following narrative of Abel Janney, in connection with the Indians in Ohio in 1782, may be of interest to the readers of your Goose Creek stories of early Loudoun County." The person submitting this narrative to the publications of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society was John Jay Janney of Columbus, Ohio, who died in 1907 at the age of 96. He was born 25 April, 1812, in Lincoln, Va., known as Goose Creek Meeting House." In research of Court Records at Leesburg, it was noted a reference to an Abel Janney mentioned in the wills of Abel Janney, Sr., and his wife, Sarah. The wills were probated in 1770 and 1774, and it was stated that the Janneys lived in the Mansion House, near Short Hill. (The Abel Janney mentioned in the Wills was the son of Abel and Sarah (Baker) Janney --noted by Mahlon Hopkins Janney).
SOURCE: Copied by Christie Russell from JANNEY FAMILY HISTORY, Compiled by Mahlon Hopkins Janney and Miles White, jr. Gathered and printed by Werner L. Janney, 1985, Vol. 1, pg 197.
Research notes by Christie Russell. It is noted that Abel Janney was married to Margaret Wilkes, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Wilkes who must have been related to the Coleman Wilks of the above narrative. Francis Wilks and his son, John, are found in an indenture in 1755 in connection to Amos Janney with Samuel Russell and Jacob Janney signing as witnesses. Abel Janney was a second cousin once removed to Joseph Janney who married Elizabeth Russell. It is believed that Elizabeth was the niece of the John Russell referred to in the above narrative.
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HISTORY OF GREENS FORK, INDIANA
http://www.waynet.org/community/greens_fork/greensforkhistor
y.htm
Early History of Greens Fork, Indiana
The Village of Washington (Greens Fork)
One of the most honored and familiar names on the frontier that Indiana Territory was a part of was the name chosen by Thomas Hatfield when in 1818 he platted the town, Washington. The descriptions of the original plat, certified by him as proprietor, and Abraham Elliott, surveyor, September 28, 1818, was acknowledged for record November 19, 1818. It is situated near the center of the township, on section 26, and is the only town within its border. It was a station on the P., C. and St. Louis Railroad (based 10 miles Northwest from Richmond. It lay beside the large creek named Greens Fork near the center of present Clay Township, Wayne County, Indiana. Indiana Territory was created pursuant to the Act of Congress of May 7, 1800, dividing the Northwest Territory, and Wayne County was formed in 1810 from part of Dearborn, the county seat of which was at Lawrenceburg. Indiana became a state in 1816.
An obscure fact according to old records of the Wayne County recorder was that the town was first called Westfield. Why this name was first used is not known. The Greens Fork creek was named from a Delaware Indian named Johnny Green who lived along this creek. He is said to have been a man of more than ordinary talents and ferocity, shrewd but of ill disposition. His crafty ability gave him an unenviable reputation, which, together with his known influence in his tribe, made him a personage to be feared.
There was a second town in southern Indiana named Washington which caused postal service problems as well as mapping; therefore, the name of the post office was called Greens Fork. In November, 1889, after 71 years as Washington, the town board agreed to certify the name of the town as Greens Fork. Over the years there was confusion as to the spelling. After historical research in 1968 the correct spelling has been used officially.
Early Settlers
James Martindale, a native of North Carolina, settled on Green’s Fork, in the township, in 1812, settled on a farm about a half a mile from Washington (later Greens Fork). The farm was later that of his grandson James W. Martindale. Jonas Hatfield, Sr. came from Kentucky in 1812, purchased the land that the town of Washington (Greens fork) now is built on. Abel Jenny came the same year and joined lands with Hatfield, Sr. Jesse Albertson, from North Carolina, settled on a farm one-half mile east of Washington (Greens Fork). His brother Joshua came a few years later and settled south of his brother on what was in 1884, the Ratcliff’s land. William Fox came in 1813 and left in 1844, removing to Jefferson Township, where he died in 1860. Joshua Benny settled on section 27, and James Spray settled on section 35. James Odell settled in the eastern part of the township, on what was known as William Coffin’s place in 1884. Miles Murphy came in 1814, and in 1825, sold his farm to John Baldwin, from North Carolina. Mr. Baldwin’s four sons - Jonathan, Isaac, David, and Caleb - came with him. James Porter settled near the Friend’s meeting house in 1817. Moses Martindale, William Young, Benjamin Angell, John Peirson, and his son-in-law, Martin Martindale, William Ball, all came in 1814 and 1815, and settled in the eastern part of the township. Benjamin Albertson settled on section 36, and was from North Carolina, Owen Branson settled on land that later (1884) belonged to the heirs of Thomas Adams. Jonathan Cloud also settled on section 36, and William Pike, Isaiah Frazier, Jonathan Mendenhall, John Hunt and Israel Ganse all settled in the southeastern section of the township, all came to the area prior to 1816.
South and west of where Washington (Greens Fork) stands another settlement was made, commencing with the arrival of Jesse Bond in 1813, who settled section 35. Benjamin Hall, Jonas Foland, Stephen Horney, Moses Coffin, and Absalom Williams, from North Carolina, came in 1814, and died in 1868, aged 93 years, and Isaac Mendenhall, all settled in the south, southwest, and west sections of the township. Henry Hoover settled on Green’s Fork, and Peter Hoover adjoining him; Jonas Fincher not far from them, and Valentine Foland in the southwest corner of the township. Ephriam Genry purchased of David Hoover, on the west side. David Peacock came early, and his son David later (1884) lived on his farm land. William Wedims, mason Fitcher, Enos Veal, Sr., Peter Woolfert, Jonas Davis, James Owens, Sr. all came in 1817, and settled in the western portion of the township, as did Jonas Brockus, who came in 1815, as did Miles Dimet. Job Smith came in 1824, and Ezekiel Bradbury in 1825. They also settled in the western part. Jonathan Shaw settled on section 21, on the west line of the township, and Robert Walkins and William Elliott north of him on section 16. John and Josiah Bradbury on the same section, on Morgan’s Creek. John later settled on section 27. William Ball came in 1818, as did James Starling, Henry Riggs and Frederic Dean, and settled on section 15. Henry Garrett and Abraham Elliott came in 1814, and settled on section 23. Philip and Henry Renberger, in 1819, and settled on section 14, as did William Underwood. Jonathan Ross, David Young and John Ritchie settled on sections 22 and 15, about the last mentioned date. William Osborn, about 1820, settled near Washington (Greens Fork), and died in 1831, aged 29. Cyrus, his son, resided a half mile below town in 1884. Daniel Williams, born in North Carolina in 1792, from Pennsylvania in 1833, settled on the northeast part of the township, and later resided one and a half miles east of Washington (Greens Fork). Thomas Cook settled, at an early day, where his son, Samuel Cook lived in 1884, two miles north from Washington (Greens Fork), and where he died in 1824, aged 56. He was the first saddler in Washington (Greens Fork). Samuel Ball, born in Virginia, came from Tennessee in 1820, and died in 1849, near where his son John Ball resided in 1884. John Wilson, from South Carolina, came about 1820, settled two miles northeast from Washington (Greens Fork), where he died in 1852, aged 36. Joseph Lamb, from North Carolina, settled in 1829, on land adjoining Perry, where he died in 1855, at age 73. William Hindman, from Ohio, in 1839, settled 2 ½ miles west of Washington (Greens Fork) and died in 1843, aged 42. William Wright, from Maryland, in 1824, settled 2 miles southeast from town, where he died in 1854, aged 74. John Brooks came here from North Carolina, in 1831.
Hugh Allen, came from Ohio in 1820, settled one mile south of Washington (Greens Fork), where he died in 1870, aged 59. Emsley Hoover, from Ohio, came about 1811, settled on Green’s Fork, southwest from Washington, later home to his son, Owen P. Emsley died in 1865, aged 69.
Abraham Elliott is supposed to have been the first Justice of the Peace within what was in 1884 Clay Township; the next was probably John Martindale.
A block-house without a fort was built in war-time on or near Joshua Benny’s farm, a mile north of Washington (Greens Fork). On John Martindale’s land, four mile west of town a fort and block-house were built by Martindale and his sons, Elijah and William, Charles Morgan, Reynolds Fielder, Jacob Galion, and Jonathan Shaw.
Henry Garret built the first grist-mill, a mile and a half above town, about 1815. Jonas Hatfield soon after built a saw-mill the same year at Washington (Greens Fork), he did not live to finish it. It was completed in 1816, by his son Thomas, who 4-5 years later built a grist-mill at the same place. Henry Hoover, about 1840, built a saw-mill two miles below Washington (Greens Fork) - later selling it to Samuel Boyd, who in about 1855, also built a grist-mill at the same place.
In about 1825, or so, Thomas Hatfield built a carding machine and a fulling-mill near his other mills. After operating them for about a year, he purchased land (1/4 mile below his current site) from Jesse Bond, where he moved his operations, soon after selling them to the Bonds, who removed them further down to near where Nathan Bond resided in 1884.
William Underhill and Joshua Benny were the first blacksmiths in the township.
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While this site pertains to the Combs primarily, it does mention the Janneys of Loudoun
http://www.combs-families.org/combs/records/va/loudoun/
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CAN SOMEONE HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHO RACHEL LEWELLEN/LLEWELLYN WAS AND WHO SHE MARRIED.