Jenny Stuart

Biography

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38929305/jenny-stuart

Jenny Stuart was also known as Jane or Jannet. She was the daughter of Thomas Stuart and Elizabeth Moore. Plus, she was the granddaughter of Archibald Stuart and Janet Brown. She was called a spinster or older unmarried woman.

She was born PRIOR TO 17 Feb 1746 - 1747 based on the following: List of baptisms by Rev. John Craig, Augusta County, Virginia, 1740-1749, published by L.B. Hatke, P.O. Box 655, Staunton, VA, 1979, page 17: on the 17th February 1746-1747, "Thomas Stewart, a child baptized named Jennet." The rest of his children are here also. She died prior to the May 1832 filing below.

"Miss Jenny Stuart, baptized by the Rev. John Craig in 1747, lived in Staunton to a great age, and left a considerable estate which she had managed with masculine energy and skill. She owned and resided on the lot at the southeast corner of Beverley and Augusta streets. She also owned the lot at the northeast corner of Frederick and Lewis streets, where her barn and stable were, and many acres near the town. In early life she recovered heavy damages from her cousin, Dr. Isaac Hall, the first of that name and title, in a suit for breach of marriage contract, which was the foundation of her fortune." Annals of Augusta County, Virginia by Joseph Waddell, Chapter 14: Made Up of Sundries. - Page 367.

She "had a store carried on in what is now (1873) Armentrout's corner." Part of article in the Staunton Spectator (VA), dated 8 July 1873, called The Great Valley of Virginia, Old Augusta, Archibald Stuart, Sr. and his Descendants (see copy on her father's page).

Same source, page 368: "Isaac Hall, Sr., born May 12, 1747, and studied medicine in Scotland. He jilted his cousin, Miss Jenny Stuart, and suffered the penalty, as stated. His wife was Martha Everard, of Petersburg, where he resided."

Her father, Thomas Stuart's will dated 14 Oct 1788, daughter "Jenny" is left houses and lots in Staunton.

VIRGINIA: At Rules held in the Clerk's office of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Augusta county, February 6th 1832. Robert Moffett, William Moffett, and and John K. Moore, administrators of James Moffett dec’d, plaintiffs—against Thomas Stuart, and Alexander H. H. Stuart and John K. Moore, administrators of Jane Stuart dec’d, defendants. IN CHANCERY. The Defendant, Thomas Stuart, not having entered his appearance and given security, according to the. act of Assembly, and the rules of this Court, and it appearing by satisfactory evidence that he Is not an inhabitant of this Common-wealth—-It is ordered that the said defendant Thomas Stuart, do appear here on the first Monday in May next, and answer the bill of the plaintiff; and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some newspaper published in Staunton for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the courthouse in the town of Staunton. A copy—Teste, NICHOLAS C. KINNEY, c. c. See photo from the Staunton Spectator, Vol 9, #13, dated 2 March 1832.

Drennen vs. Stuart's heirs--O. S. 17; N. S. 6--Bill filed May, 1832. "John Drennen, guardian of James Thompson Stewart, infant, complains that in August, 1831, a certain Jane Stuart, of Staunton, died intestate, leaving heirs sixteen nieces and nephews; the son of a deceased niece and orator's ward, aged 9, who is sole representative of Capt. James Stewart, a deceased nephew of Jane. Orator's ward also owns land in Washington, Shelby and Fayette Counties, Tennessee, as heir of his father. The interest in Jane's estate is derived through the ward's mother. John Drennen lives in Davidson County, Tenn. Defendants, heirs of Jane, are John, Robert S., William, Thomas S., John K. Moore and Jane, his wife, late Jane Moffett; James C. Moore and Ellen, his wife, late Moffett; William McClenachan and Elizabeth, his wife, late Moffett; Montgomery Stewart, Thomas Stewart, James Thompson Stewart (orator's ward), Henry Ruffner and Sally, his wife, late Sally Lyle; William L. Alexander, Jno. B. Hart and Julia, his wife, late Julia Lyle, Alexander S. Hall and Jane, his wife, late Jane Paxton; Elizabeth Paxton, James Paxton and Wm. Paxton, heirs of Jane Stewart, and also Emily R. Drennen, late Emily R. Stuart; and James T. Stewart, who would be the heirs-at-law of said ward in case of his death under 21." Lyman Chalkley's Chronicle of a Scotch-Irish Settlement, Vol. 2, p 64.

Her gravestone reads
"Sacred
to the Memory of
JENNY STUART,
who departed this life
August 10th 1851 (sic)
in the 85th year of her age".

Rita Crabbe's Tombstone Inscriptions found in the Churchyard of Trinity Church (Episcopal), Staunton, VA, 1968, page 4. Plus the History of the Trinity Churchyard, by Elizabeth C Hullihen, Staunton, VA, 2005, Beverly Manor Chapter, DAR, page 49, gives the correct death year, 1831, in their transcription.

Also buried here are her father's Stuart kin, Archibald, Eleanor, Martha B and Judge Alexander.

Bio researched and written by LSP.

From Chalkley's:

Page 113 - - 14th October, 1788. Thomas Stuart's will - - To wife, Elizabeth, to son, James; to grandson, Thomas Stuart; to son, Robert, houses and lots in Staunton; to son, Thomas; to daughter Elizabeth Paxton; to daughters, Jenny (houses and lots in Staunton), Julia and Mary; to grandson, Stuart Paxton. Executors, son Robert, Thomas Stuart. Teste: Benj. Stuart, William and Samuel Black, Robert Stuart. Proved, 17th February, 1789, by William and Samuel black. Robert qualifies, and 22nd April, 1789, Thomas Stuart qualifies.

[Note: Thomas Stuart was the father of Jenny Stuart]

Source: The Staunton Spectator, Vol 9, #13, dated 2 March 1832, Admins of James Moffett, decd, et al, plaintiffs and Admins of JANE STUART, el al, dec'd, defendants. In the Circuit Superior Court and Chancery for Augusta Co., VA.

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References

1. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jane_Stuart_%2813%29 cites
   1. Wilson, Howard McKnight. The Tinkling Spring, Headwater of Freedom. (Privatetly published by The Tinkiling Spring and Hermitage Presbyterian Churches, pub. Fishersville, Virginia) pg. 482.
   2. Jane Stuart, in Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1745-1800. (Rosslyn, Virginia: The Commonwealth Printing Company, 1912-1913 in Three Volumes). Drennen vs. Stuart's heirs--O. S. 17; N. S. 6--Bill filed May, 1832. John Drennen, guardian of James Thompson Stewart, infant, complains that in August, 1831, a certain Jane Stuart, of Staunton, died intestate, leaving heirs sixteen nieces and nephews; the son of a deceased niece and orator's ward, aged 9, who is sole representative of Capt. James Stewart, a deceased nephew of Jane. Orator's ward also owns land in Washington, Shelby and Fayette Counties, Tennessee, as heir of his father. The interest in Jane's estate is derived through the ward's mother. John Drennen lives in Davidson County, Tenn. Defendants, heirs of Jane, are John, Robert S., William, Thomas S., John K. Moore and Jane, his wife, late Jane Moffett; James C. Moore and Ellen, his wife, late Moffett; William McClenachan and Elizabeth, his wife, late Moffett; Montgomery Stewart, Thomas Stewart, James Thompson Stewart (orator's ward), Henry Ruffner and Sally, his wife, late Sally Lyle; William L. Alexander, Jno. B. Hart and Julia, his wife, late Julia Lyle, Alexander S. Hall and Jane, his wife, late Jane Paxton; Elizabeth Paxton, James Paxton and Wm. Paxton, heirs of Jane Stewart, and also Emily R. Drennen, late Emily R. Stuart; and James T. Stewart, who would be the heirs-at-law of said ward in case of his death under 21.
   3. Jenny Stuart, in Waddell, Joseph A. (Joseph Addison). Annals of Augusta County, Virginia: with reminiscences illustrative of the vicissitudes of its pioneer settlers biographical sketches of citizens locally prominent, and of those who have founded families in the southern and western states : a diary of the war, 1861-'5, and a chapter on reconstruction by Joseph Addison Waddell. (Staunton, Virginia: C.R. Caldwell, 1902) p 367 - ... Miss Jenny Stuart, baptized by the Rev. John Craig in 1747, lived in Staunton to a great age, and left a considerable estate which she had managed with masculine energy and skill. She owned and resided on the lot at the southeast corner of Beverley and Augusta streets. She also owned the lot at the northeast corner of Frederick and Lewis streets, where her barn and stable were, and many acres near the town. In early life she recovered heavy damages from her cousin, Dr. Isaac Hall, the first of that name and title, in a suit for breach of marriage contract, which was the foundation of her fortune. ... p 368 - ... Dr. Isaac Hall, Sr., born May 12, 1747, and studied medicine in Scotland. He jilted his cousin, Miss Jenny Stuart, and suffered the penalty, as stated. ...
   4. Jenny Stuart, in Find A Grave. [includes headstone photo. Inscription: Sacred to the Memory of Jenny Stuart, who departed this life August 10th 1851 (sic) in the 85th year of her age.] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38929305/jenny-stuart
   5. Jennet Stewart, in List of baptisms by Rev. John Craig, Augusta County, Virginia, 1740-1p 17. [published by L.B. Hatke, P.O. Box 655, Staunton, VA, 1979] ... on the 17th February 1746-1747, "Thomas Stewart, a child baptized named Jennet."
   6. Augusta County, Virginia. Staunton Spectator 8 July 1873. “I. Jane [Stuart] never married. She lived io Staunton, where she owned a large amount of real estate and bad a store carried on in what is now Armentrout's corner. She died in 1830.”