Jeannette Clark

b. 29 May 1794, d. 7 May 1873
FatherJames Clark1,2 b. 5 Jul 1754, d. 21 Dec 1818
MotherIsabella Breckenridge2 b. abt 1764, d. 9 Sep 1848
Birth29 May 1794 Jeannette Clark was born on 29 May 1794 in Virginia.3,4,5 
Name Other  She appears in many records as Jane or Jenny. Her brother Peter entered her as both "Jennet" and "Jane" in his family Bible. 
MarriageDec 1819 Jeannette and James Porterfield, son of John Porterfield and Elizabeth Kincannon,were married by Rev. Alexander McEwan in Dec 1819 in Washington County, Virginia. Rev. McEwen reported the marriage as having taken place on the 22nd in his return to the county clerk; he also recorded the bride's name as Jane. However Peter Clark's entry in his family Bible noted his sister's wedding date as Dec. 23rd.6,7,8,9,10 
Children  James and Jeannette were the parents of eight children: Elizabeth, James, Melinda, John, Lilburn, Sarah, Francis and Isabella. Francis and Malinda died when young and Elizabeth died as a young woman.11 
Widowed13 Mar 1847  Jeannette became a widow at age 52. James's will, written just before his death, instructed that his personal property be left in tact for the benefit of the family and that the land be divided when Lilburn turned 21.12 
  Accordingly, in August 1851 "Jane" was assigned 80 acres of land as her dower share of the family farm.13 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850 In 1850 she was enumerated living with her son John Porterfield, and three of her younger children in Washington County. William Snodgrass, [the young son of Jeannette's deceased sister Margaret], was also a part of the household.14 
Cens-Sum  After her son John moved to Missouri, Jane lived with another son, Lilburn, and his family.15,16 
  According to the J.B. Hutton manuscript, Lilburn Porterfield lived on the old family homestead north of the Glade Spring Depot most of his life. This suggests that when Lilburn was enumerated as head of the family in 1860 and 1870 Jane had not moved from the family home, but instead Lilburn and his family were residing with her and he had simply assumed the role of head of the family.11 
Death7 May 1873 Jeannette died on 7 May 1873 at age 78.3,17,18,19 
Anecdote  Lizzie Ryburn, Jeannette's niece, wrote that she was noted for her kindness and hospitality. 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

Jeannette's birthdate as entered in the Bible of her brother, Peter Clark20
Jeannette's marriage date as entered in the Bible of her brother, Peter Clark20
Learn more about Jeannette's childhood home21
Jeannette's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Jeannette as a member of household number 360. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

James Porterfield b. 1791, d. 13 Mar 1847
Children
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited12 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S131] James Clark will (1819), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 281.
  2. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 185. Jennettie (Clark) Porterfield, 29 May 1794-7 May 1873.
  4. [S1546] Peter and Margaret Clark Bible. The Bible included the dates of birth of Peter's siblings and includes the following entry: "Jennet Born May 29, 1794."
  5. [S9] Frank B. Porterfield, The Porterfields, p. 152. Lists yr of birth for Jeannette as 1797 however this info is not consistent with her stated age of 56 on the 1850 census.
  6. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 48. Bride's given name listed as Jane.
  7. [S1546] Peter and Margaret Clark Bible. The Bible included the dates of mariage for Peter's siblings and includes the following entry: "Jane Dec 23 1819."
  8. [S27] Leonidas Littleton Papers titled "Washington Co. Families". Date given as 23 Dec. 1819.
  9. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was James Porterfield's great nephew. He states that in 1819 James married Genettie Clark, daughter of James and Isabella Clark.
  10. [S2390] William R. Wheeler, Minister's Returns 1785-1832 Washington Co., Virginia Vol. 1A, p. 122.
  11. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J.B. Hutton was a first cousin, once removed, to the children of James Porterfield and Jeannette (Clark) Porterfield.
  12. [S668] James Porterfield will (1847), Washington Co., VA Will Book 10: 285. The will was dated 10 March 1847 and recorded in court 22 March 1847; son James C. Porterfield executor; John Clark Sr., Robert Clark and Tobias Smyth witnesses.
  13. [S720] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 20: 404.
  14. [S367] John Porterfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92 (stamped), dwelling 360, family 360, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 49 of 289. John Porterfield 22, farmer, owns real estate valued at $3,240; Lilbourn 20; Sarah 17; Isabella 13; William Snodgrass 9; Jane [Snodgrass or Porterfield not specificed] 56; all b. VA.
  15. [S234] Lilburn B. Porterfield household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 453 (added script), dwelling 639, family 624, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 91 of 361. Reported data includes: Lilburn Porterfield, 29, farmer, owns real estate valued at $7,500, personal property of $1,200; Rachel 27; Wilson 4; James 3; George 10/12; Jane Porterfield 66; Amanda Buchanan, 26, seamstress; all b. VA.
  16. [S635] Lilburn Porterfield household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 10 (original script), dwelling 72, family 79, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 10 of 44. Enumeration includes: Lilburn Porterfield, 40, farmer, owns land: $6,000, pers prop: $1,200; Rachel, 38; Graham, 14, at school; Eliza M. 8; Ennet L. 6; Thomas B, 4; Jeannette, 2; Jeannette, 76; all b. VA.
  17. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 70-85.
  18. [S9] Frank B. Porterfield, The Porterfields, p. 152. Year of death given as 1867, however she was enumerated on the 1870 census so this date is in error.
  19. [S27] Leonidas Littleton Papers titled "Washington Co. Families."
  20. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Carol Lockas.
  21. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Katherine Clark.
  22. [S9] Frank B. Porterfield, The Porterfields, p. 152-160.