Jesse Arledge

Notes from research files of Pam Wilson <wilsonpam@mindspring.com>:

Jesse Arledge was quite a writer. A series of long letters he wrote from Reed Creek, Randolph Co, NC to his children in "the far North West" (Iowa) from 1857-1866 are transcribed and printed in the Randolph Co, NC Genealogical Journal , Vol 21 no 1, Spring 1997. Part of his family had migrated to Tennessee and part to Iowa, and in these letters he conveys news he has received about the Tennessee group as well as life in rural NC in these years just prior to the Civil War. In December 1857, he wrote to Samuel and Lydia Thompson in Guthrie Co, IA, "We had tolerably good crops of corn considering the drought and cinch bug.... The Banks are closed andas been for some time, and produce has fell in price considerably, and there is a pressure in money mattters, but it is thought the Banks will resume again shortly." He later writes with scorn about John Brown and the abolitionists, and says, "I hope all my children will stand aloff from anything and everything that favors abolitionism. I trust there is good and sound union men in the free states as well as the south." On April 3 1861, Arledge writes, "There has been a good deal of excitement in this state the 28th day of February convention. I hear there are certain counties in this state holding meetings for some purpose I know not what. I was and yet unopposed to a convention. If the Northern States has passed obnoxious laws, to the detriment of the South, I don't believe succession (sic] is the way to get redress. I am a union man, and I believe the North has trampled on the rights of the south." He explains that slavery is justified in the scripture and has existed since the days of Jesus. "I am no slave holder, nor don't expect to be. I suspect that the Northern abolitionist is wise above what is written. And every man had better mind his own business. Times are somewhat dull in this country to what they were previous to Mr. Lincoln's election." In his 1866 letter he never mentions the war or its effects, mainly commenting upon his garden and the weather.

One IGI source gives a different date (8 Feb 1783) for the birthdate of Jesse Arledge.

Nancy Martin <jam@asheboro.com> wrote in July 1999:

Jesse was a witness to the wills of Samuel Allen (1830) and Jesse Bray (1845). He also served as a coroner's juror. He is given as the surveyor in several people's estate papers. He must have been a justice of the peace. I found JP after his name. I have assumed that he is the only Jesse Arledge in the county in the 1840's and 1850's. I didn't check the census.

PW: Jesse Arledge was also witness to the will of Nathan Cox in 1842: Nathan Cox, farmer, Will bk 7, pg. 431-432 (Randolph Co, NC), will dated 13 April 1842.

Connie Callaway <cecall@webaccess.net> supplied the following will:

Will of Jesse Arledge: Randolph Co, NC Will Bk. 15, pgs 29,30,31

In the matter of the Will of Jesse Arledge, dec'd...Dr. Alfred Holten being sworn doth say that Jesse Arledge, late of said county is dead having first made and published his last will and testament, and Dr. Alfred Holten is the executor named therein.

Further, that the property of the said Jesse Arledge consisting of real and personal is worth about $600.00. so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application and that Isaac S. Arledge, Bethania Craven, Lydia B. Thompson of the State of Iowa, Cara K. York, and Henry W. Arledge, both of the State of Tennessee, are the parties entitled and it is as follows, to wit:

       "In the name of God, Amen.  I, Jesse Arledge of the County of Randolph and State of North Carolina, being advanced in years & considering the uncertainty -- human life & also being of sound mind, Blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make this my last will and testament in manner & form following...

I desire that my body be decently buried in Parks burying ground by the right side of my deceased wife, Rainey.
1st I direct that my funeral charges and lawful debts be paid out of the first money that may come into the hands of my executors.
2nd I bequeath unto my son Isaac S. Arledge $200 dollars, one bed, and
furniture and one cow or their equivelent in money.

       3rd  I bequeath unto my daughter Bethania Craven $100.

4th I bequeath unto my daughter Carey K. A. York $100.
5th I bequeath unto my daughter Lydia B. Thompson $100.
6th I desire if there be any balance residue or remainder, after paying legal expenses, that it be equally divided between all my children, that is Henry W. Arledge, Isaac S. Arledge, Bethania Craven, Carey K. A. York, and Lydia B. Thompson, share and share alike.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint Doctor Alfred Holton, my executor to this last will and testament, In witness whreof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, October 18th, 1865.
In the Presence of W.F. Foushee, Lovy (her mark) Foushee, and John W. Turner. Probated in the County of Randolph, State of NC 25 Sep 1869.

Also, in addition to Jesse Arledge's 1865 will, Linda also sent the list of property sold at the 14 Oct 1869 and 6 Nov 1869 and 18 Nov 1869 auction of Jesse ARLEDGE's estate in Randolph County, with the names of all buyers. It is dozens of pages (he had a lot of stuff!), but some of the names of buyers included:

Jesse P. ALRIDGE

J.P. ALRIDGE

Henry KIVETT

Franklin YORK

Eliza PHILLIPS [was she a relative of his first wife? she bought a lot]

William F. FOUSHEE

many BROOKS and PARKS and others

The auction and sale netted $362.22 1/4 for the estate.

                       <nowiki>------------------------</nowiki>

PW Note: Jesse listed as head of household in 1840 Randolph Co, NC census. P. 60 , South Division.

LA Cooper writes: Jesse Arledge shows up on the 1850 Randolph County, North Carolina Federal Census as:

       Allridge [see below: it's clearly ARLEDGE], Jesse 54

Isom S. 30
Lydia B. 17
and on the 1860 Randolph County census as:

       Arledge, Jesse  63

Julia 57
PW: from microfilm image: 1850 Randolph Co NC census (all born NC):

693/702 Lazarus Philips 53 M Laborer

Nancy 45

Lucinda 24

Joel 22

Mary R. 16

694/703 Jesse Arledge 54 M Farmer 475

Isom S. 30 M

Lydia B. 17 F

685/704 Balaam Allridge 57 M Laborer

Tabitha 56 F

Jesse P? 16 M

From Don Meenach: In his father's will, filed August 1818 in Randolph County, North Carolina, Jesse was to receiv.e the the plantation after after his mother's death.

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Letter from Jesse Arledge to his son Henry, dated 27 December 1866, provided by Jo Arledge Askew,:

1866 November 4 Elder Wm. Burns preached Julia _______'s Funeral

(See 1866 December 27 entry) Julia was the ____ of Jesse Arledge.

1866 December 27 - Letter (#112) from Jesse Arledge to his son, Henry, and family - written at Reed Creek, Randolph County, N. Carolina.

I copied the letter exactly as written...mispelled words and all.

"Dear Son Henry and family, By the blessing of a supernatural power I am yet in the land of the living blessed with a reasonable portion of health and strength sufficient to be up and commence a letter to you. For which favor a tribute of praise and thanks is due to Him who is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

Am in hope you are all enjoying good health, peace and quietness. I received your lengthy and ? letter of 4 of Aug. and to the 5 of inst. the 25 Dce. after Sunset it was brought to me by W. G. Lane I was glad to get a letter And I agree with you in the major part you wrote. But you made use of one word that I don't approve of, i.e. you called a certain people "Sick spi " They are no doubt sorry enough in every sense but we should speak evil of no man. God is the Supreme ruler of the universe. And America has been abundantly blessed by him, not only in natural things, in bestowing on them food and raiment. But they had the sincere milk of the word disseminated unto and among them by his ministers whom he had chosen, called qualified and sent forth to proclaim the gospel of his Son Jesus Christ to a world of sinners. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. But a Simon Magus (I'm guessing at the name Magus) followed the Lord's people over the great water and disseminated his baneful doctrines among the people and it being more congenial to human nature and human capacity, the people very redily received it and took darkness for light and light for darkness. So darkness hath covered the earth and gross darkness the people.

And it may be for aught I know that the time is near at hand, that the beast that John saw coming up out of the earth is to exercise all the power of the first beast. When that time comes all those who were on the Lord's side may expect to suffer a severe persecution and probably faggot and flame as thousands did in the old countries under the reign of the first beast.

I have thought for many years past that the people of America are going into idolatry as fast as the wheels of time rolls along, Not in the north only (for there is some there that adheres and stands firm for the truth) but in the south also. There is no new ism set afloat but what many will join with and follow its pernicious principles.

I will drop this subject now.

Balaam Aldredge was here a little while ago, he said I might tell you he and the rest was well lately, and that he was doing tolerably well he expected to make about 1500 lbs. of pork has not killed his hogs yet has had them up some time. he yet lives by himself at the same place.

I don't think the Primitive Baptist is published now. There has been no mail facilities in this section until a few months past and it now only passes up and down once a week. It used to pass up and down twice a week.

I don't know of any religious periodical that is published any where. The Primitive Baptist Association was held this year at Mount Tabor. We had some good preaching there. Our preachers have come down to P. Snider and J. H. Cravin and A. Wright. Cravin & Wright don't preach a great deal - But we had some good sound preachers there from some other association, Viz Elders Wm. Burns from Staunton River Elder Levi Boderhamer & Ring from ? and Elder N. M. Clark from Bear Creek. Their preaching was to the letter & spirit of the word. Brother Burns said he had saw one new translation of the bible, but he neither had heart room nor house for it. I have not seen it nor don't crave to see it. Elder Wm. Burns preached Julia's Funeral the 1st Sunday in Nov. last from the gospel by Matthew 25 C & part of the 10 verse, "and thy that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut."

I thought he preached one of his big sermons.

I expect you will get to see Carey's letter that I expect to mail at the same I do this, & you will learn that I have had a letter from Jo & Bethinia informing of me of the denomination that they have united themselves with ? I would be glad you would write to them & give them some information respecting of their order, I have no faith in it myself. I have started a letter to them but I said but little about it, only requested them to search the scriptures ? I have given the prices of things in Carey's letter as far as I knew except spiritous liquor that I forgot it is a scarce article & sells at $3 a gallon. I don't expect to give away my land to get to go to any country. We have very cold weather here now it is clear today and windy from the north A great many people has left this country some gone to one state & some to another some left without selling their land & some got something for theirs I want you to write as soon as you can. I shall not get my letters mailed now till this day week (he probably means when the mail person passes next week).

I am better off today than I was yesterday.

Yours Affectionately, Jesse Arledge"

(H. W. Arledge's name is at the left on the page where Jesse signed his name.)

____________________

Re. Wives:

In his 18 October 1865 will, Jesse says:

I desire that my body be decently buried in Parks burying ground by the right side of my deceased wife, Rainey.

Then in a letter dated 1866 December 27 to his son Henry, he says:

Elder Wm. Burns preached Julia's Funeral the 1st Sunday in Nov. last from the gospel by Matthew 25 C & part of the 10 verse, "and thy that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut."

This would mean Julia was buried 1 Nov 1866. I think this provides evidence that Rainey and Julia were two different wives. It appears that Rainey must have died prior to 1850, and he married Julia prior to 1860.

So now we need to go back and find out if there is a marriage record for Jesse and Julia in the 1850s in Randolph County, and also what Julia's maiden name may have been.

Perhaps Kathy Card's family Bible will have some information on this as well.

This means that the earlier versions of his wife as "Julia Rainey Phillips" are not accurate. We need to confirm the names and birthdates of both wives.