Other Jeter Stories
A few weeks earlier, the Jeter family was introduced in this column by outlining some of the descendants of a John Crosby (1795-1845) and Elizabeth (Tomlinson) (1800-1863) Jeter, who were for a period of time residents of Macon County. Additional information on other Jeter families has been made available that allows today’s writing.
The Jeter name, which means, “to throw,” is of French origin. Family legend contends that the Jeters were French Huguenots who fled France and resided for a time in England before immigrating to America. It is believed that one ancestor, John Jeter, made the move during the early 1700s and settled near Port Royal in Caroline County, Va. His name appeared often in the records of that county until 1762, which is probably the year of his death. The name varied from Jeter to Jeator, Jetter and Geter.
John Jeter was married twice, but only the first name of his second wife, Elizabeth, is known. It is quite notable that he had 11 children with each wife, and that at least 15 of the 22 were males. There is some question on a few of the names, and only the name of one daughter, Jane, is known. There appears to be a break in the ages of the children from 1722 to 1731, so it is most likely that is when his first wife died, and he was married to the second.
The first 10 sons included the following: George, b. ca 1697; Henry, b. 1699, d. 1793; Thomas, b. ca 1700, d. 1765, m. ca 1740; Nicholas, b. ca 1701, d. 1785; John Jr., b. 1706, d. 1807, m. 1716 Sarah Dozier; James, b. ca 1709, m. 1756 Priscilla Yarbrough; Edmund, b. ca 1711; John William, b. ca 1720, d. ca 1797, m. ca 1741 Margaret Vaughan; and Joseph, b. before 1722, d. 1747. At least the first four of the above were born in England before the family moved to America. It is not known if all these 10 were the sons of the first wife, and the names of any daughters by her are not known.
Only the name of one daughter, Jane, is known. She was married to Moses Higgins and died in 1835. The other sons who appear to have been by the second wife, Elizabeth, included the following: Littleton, b. ca 1731, d. 1842, m. 1786: Ambrose, b. 1733, d. 1803, m. 1760; Horatio, b. ca 1734, m. 1786; Fielding, b. ca 1735; Elisha, b. ca 1736, m. 1768; Elijah, b. ca 1737, d. 1786; and Burrell, b. ca 1739. Most of these if not all were born in Caroline County, Va., and some moved to Kentucky and the Carolinas.
There were most likely many descendants bearing the Jeter name from the above men. Only those of John Jeter, Jr. will be followed in this writing. John Jr. who was born in St. Mary Parrish of Caroline County, Va., was married to Sarah Dozier who was born in 1716 in Lunenburg Parrish of Caroline County. Sarah died in 1752 at the young age of 36 years in St. Mary Parrish.
Among the children of John Jr. and Sarah Jeter were three sons: Elisha; William, b. 1734; and John Edward Jeter III who was born before 1728 in Caroline County, Va. John Edward III was married to Lucy Robinson who was a native of the same county. They had a son, Andrew Jeter, who was born in 1753 in Caroline County, Va., and who later moved to the State of Georgia. Andrew was married to Mary Smith, who was born circa 1751 in Prince Edward County, Va.
Andrew and Mary Jeter had at least the following 11 children: Charles, b. ca 1800, m. Elizabeth P. Cashwell (b. ca 1800-1881); Elizabeth; Sarah; Edmond, b. 1760; John; Peter; William, b. 1782; James J., b. 1795, d. 1870; Peter; Elizabeth; and unnamed daughter.
The oldest son, Charles Jeter, was born in Georgia, but he was residing in Barber County, when he died.
He was married to Elizabeth Cashwell in Putnam County, Ga., but she was living in Covington County, when she died in 1881. They reared the following children: Ransom, b. 1823, d. 1907, m. Susan Colson Kindred; Franklin “Frank,” b. 1825, d. 1902, m. 1858 Martha Elizabeth Lassiter (1835-1900); Samantha, b. ca 1832, m. 1864 Neil McKennis; George Washington, b. ca 1833, m. 1858 Nancy F. Stewart or Steward; Lucretia, b. ca 1838, m. 1967 T.A. Jones; Marion J., b. ca 1842, d. 1862 in CSA Army, m. 1859 Bethaney P. Bradley; and Louisa F., b. ca 1844, m. 1858 James A. Lassiter.
The oldest son, Ransom Jeter, and his wife, Susan Colson Kindred, were married in Macon County by Methodist minister Dow Perry. They both died in Lowndes County. They reared the following children: Washington Melvin, b. 1846, d. 1912, m. 1868 Elizabeth Catherine “Cat” Tucker (1851-1922); Dow Perry, b. 1849, d. 1963; Anna Elizabeth, b. 1954, d. 1863; Emma F., b. 1856, d. 1963; Ella F., b. 1856, m. 1875 H.M. Clayton; Robert Ransom, b. 1861, d. 1917, m. 1885 Sena L. Carter.
The second son, Franklin “Frank” Jeter, and his wife, Martha Elizabeth Lassiter, were married in Pike County, but they ended up residing and dying in Red Level in Covington County. They reared the following children: Ella, b. 1862, m. J.C. Colvin; Franklin, b. 1866; Aura D., b. 1868, d. 1889; Martha Orah, b. 1869, d. 1948; Anne, b. 1850; and Dow Pinkney, b. 1849. The years of birth of the last two are questionable to this writer.
The third son, George Washington Jeter, and his wife, Nancy Floyd Stewart, reared at least two children: Lorenzo Floyd, b. 1862, d. 1931, m. Malissa Magnolia Bradley (1862-1942); and Elizabeth, b. ca 1859. Lorenzo and Malissa were enumerated in the 1900 federal census of Covington County. They reared the following children: Willie Wesley, b. ca 1888; Columbus W., b. ca 1890; Bessie M., b. ca 1892; Virgie L., b. ca 1896, d. 1974; Mary Ida, b. 1898, d. 1973, m. 1912 John Henry Armstrong (1896-1970); Eula Bae, b. 1902, d. 1928; Jessie M., b. 1904; Inez, b. 1906, d. 2009; and Charlie, b. 1907.
The fourth child, Mary Ida Jeter, was married to John Henry Armstrong, son of John and Lonie (Dunkin) Armstrong. They reared the following children: Allie Mae, b. 1913, d. 2000, m. Lucien Joseph LeMarchand (1907-1985); Ida Pearl, b. 1915, m. ? Bonner; Roma Lee, b. 1918, d. 1919; Nonie Lavada, b. 1920, m. ? Redmon; Tramel Oresta, b. 1922, d. 1942; and Brunson Neal, b. 1929. (This answers the question raised in the previous Jeter column of how this family tied into the other Jeter families of this area.)
Ransom’s son, Washington Melvin Jeter, and his wife, Elizabeth Catherine “Cat” Tucker, were married and then lived and died in Crenshaw County. They reared the following children: Priscilla Elizabeth “Lizzie,” b. 1870, d. 1938, m. James Madison “Jim” Fowler; Melvin Bozaris, b. 1874, d. 1952, m. 1895 Lucy Ethel Knight; William Clanton, b. 1876, d. 1933, m. Viola Kelly; Thomas Byron, b. 1879, d. 1891; Ira Rubin, b. 1880, d. 1910, m. Ettie Cornelia Waterhouse; Robert Huey, b. 1882, d. 1961, m. Lula Nelson; and Charles Furman, b. 1889, d. 1954, m. 1910 Annie Mae Brunson.
Ransom’s youngest son, Robert Ransom Jeter, and his wife, Sena L. Carter, married, lived and died in Crenshaw County. Their children included John, b. 1885; Mary Fletcher “Marie,” b. 1887, d. 1904; Bertha Sena, b. 1889, d. 1967, m. Joseph Eugene “Gene” Petrey; Arthur, b. 1890; Dr. Marvin Luther, b. 1892, d. 1957; and Kennie.
Although there is additional Jeter genealogy available, this appears to be a good ending for today’s column. The source for this writing is the research records of Kenneth Hall, a Jeter descendant. Appreciation is expressed to Betty LeMarchand for sharing this information.
Anyone who might have any correction to the above or additional information on the Jeter family is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or Email: [email protected].