John Jessee was a soldier living in Caswell County, NC, during the American Revolution. He was listed as musician in Yarborough's 10th Regiment, serving from April 1781-April 22, 1782, and is listed again in Pierce's Register as Revolutionary War soldier. Listed on roster of NC soldiers in NC by the NCDAR pg. 12 & 138. Also listed in the DAR Patriot Index, pg. 368 and referenced in National DAR Record Numbers 360261, 395105, 447302, 476641, 438437, 295105.

John Jessee and his father Henry owned about 600 acres of land on Hico Creek, in Caswell Co., NC. This was ostensibly near "Moravian Land" and supports the idea that the Jessees may have been part of the Moravian settlement of NC. Most of John and Frankey's family became Baptists, and there were several generations of ministers in the Baptist tradition, indicating at least influence of the protestant/baptist movement, of which the Moravians were part.

This property is near Leasburg, NC, and the land records show that John Jessee obtained all of this land from the State of NC. He first appears on the Caswell Co. tax records in 1777, implying he did not own land before that date. In 1779 he bought 450 acres in the area of Hico Creek, Caswell County, from the State, in 1785 he bought 526 acres from Isaac Brown, who had obtained it from the State. In all he bought 976 acres but sold a total of 1078 acres, or 102 acres more in 1787. He may have received the additional land from Frankey Lea's family, which may not have been recorded. Caswell Co., NC records show 13 Oct 1787-John Jessee sold to Barnett Lea both of Caswell Co. NC for 100 pounds, 277 acres. Wit: George Lea and John McFarland.

THE CASWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA TAX LISTS, 1777, 1780, AND 1784 (Copyright 1990 by T.L.C. Genealogy, PO Box 403369, Miami Beach, FL 33140-1369) provide , the fact that Henry and John Jessee (spelled variously Jessey in 1777 on pg. 12, or Jesse in 1780 on pg. 35, and the same in 1784 on pg. 67) are found together on the 1777 and 1780 rolls, but Henry is missing in 1784. These tax lists also provide evidence of several Lea families, one of which must be that of our Frankey Lea. Lastly, this publication included a map of Caswell Co., NC in 1777, illustrating the area in which the Jessee and Lea families lived, on Hico and Cobbs Creeks.

John Jessee relocated his family to Russell County, VA first settling at Bush's fort at Castlewood or in Upper District, Burke's Garden area. He first appears on Russell Co. tax list in 1788, and then bought land in Reeds Valley in 1790, near what is today the town of Lebanon, VA. John Jessee bought land on Cedar Creek from Thomas Price and Jane, wife, in Russell Co. on 25 Mar 1791.
He eventually established his large family on several pieces of land in Reeds Valley on both sides of the headwaters of Beck's Branch and on Carr's Creek. Going north from Lebanon on Mill Creek (Carr's Creek was later named Mill Creek because of several mills there) toward Cleveland, this land is about 1/2 mile north of Jessee's Mill near top of hill on right side.

Source: Russell Co. Deed Book 1, p. 133: This land was first granted to Price 22 April, 1785. D.B. 1, p. 133. D.B. 8, p. 87, son Archer Jessee bought 118 acres from John Jessee, Sr.. D.B.8, p. 90, son George L. bought 82 acres from John Jessee, Sr.

Source: RC Deed Book 2, p. 483-485: 26 Mar 1798: Indenture between John Jessee & Frances Jessee, his wife aned Wilson Vermillion (all of Russell Co.)... L100...100 acres m/l.. on both sides of Cedar Creek the waters of Clinch River.. being a part of a tract of Land granted to Thomas Price of said county.. by patent bearing date 22 Apr 1785 and Bounded: ....near the mouth of Millstone branch... Sig. John Jesse, Frankey (X her mark) Jesse Acknowledged/Recorded 27 Mar 1798...Frankey, his wife, being privily examined...

Dean C. Jessee of Salt Lake City provides evidence for John Jessee's birth from what appears to be John Jessee's own Family Bible, last known to be in the possession of Mrs. Ruth Jessee of Abingdon, VA. Dean indicates that his parents obtained copies of pages of the Bible from Ruth, many years ago. One value of the document is that the words, "Born 1750 John Jessee his book" written on the first page, and very well in his own handwriting.

William Gilmore and Elizabeth his wife to John Jessee 24 Sept. 1794, 200 acres on both sides Carr's Creek, granted to Gilmore from the Commonwealth of Virginia by patent bearing date 16 August 1756.

According to tax records of Russell County, in 1798 John Jessee owned tracts of 250 acres and 100 acres along with four slaves. By 1810 he owned eight slaves, and later on, even more. (from Yates/Campbell, Volume 2., by Betty Campbell Yates, June 1993).

The original John Jessee land was sold to Archer Jessee and George Lea Jessee, by settlement of the John Jessee estate, and is duly recorded with the names and signatures of all 15 of John Jessee's children. All spelled their name with "ee" in this document. Russell Co. Will Book 2, p. 249, Nov. Term 1817. Settlement included "vouchers produced: Note due Abednego Kiser's estate, $3.28; 17 gls of whiskey fiurnioshed for the Sale, $1.50; Paid Andrew Cowan for crying the sale, $2.00, May 18, 1817. This is the single authoritive source identifying his 15 children and their spouses.

The Bransen Family later owned this land and the place was referred to as the Bransen Place. For many years this land was owned and managed ) by the family of Katherine Smith, wife of Dr. Roy Smith, a veterinarian, whose wife is a descendant of the Counts family. In 1994/95 it was sold to Mr. Jimmy Herndon of NC, whose parents live in Honaker.

Tom Rudder reports that a John Jesse is listed in the "Virginia Genealogist", Vol. 15 under British Mercantile Claims 1775-1803, pg. 287 as follows.
"Debts due Dinwiddie Crawford & Company in their Upper Mecklenburg Co. store- (this is in VA just 40 miles north of Orange/Caswell Co. NC) [p. 37] John Jesse, L29.9.3, 1 Sept. 1772. Removed from this county before the peace, insolvent." and again "[p. 54] John Jesse (taylor). L29.9.3. Never was able." This implies that John Jesse came from Mecklenburg Co., VA to Caswell Co., NC between 1772 and 1777, when he shows up on Caswell Co. NC tax rolls.

Further evidence for a John Jesse(e) in Mecklenburg Co., VA comes from "Mecklenburg County, Virginia Deeds, 1765-1771" by T.L.C Genealogy, PO Box 403369, Miami, FL 33140-1369, Call # 975.5645 R2M at Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT. Page 353. Mar 12, 1770 from Micaja Smithson of Parish of St. James and M, to Mathew Burt, for 200L, a certain tract of land...on the branches of Blue Stone Cr.... Wit-John Jesse Jr. Page 408. Feb 28, 1770 from Joel Parrish of Duplin Co., NC, to Richard Ragsdale of M, for 43L, a certain tract of land.... Wit-John Jesse....

>From "Mecklenberg County, Virginia Deeds 1771-1776" Deed Book 3, Page 230. Sep 9, 1771 from William Hunt of M, to Bazzle Wagstaff of M, for 475L, 900 acres in M on Blue Stone Cr. .... Wit-John Jessee. Page 237. Nov. 11, 1771 from Ruben Eastridge and Delphey, his wife, of Charlotte County, to Griffen Smith of Amelia County, for 28L, a certain tract of land in M on the branches of Bluestone Cr. .... Wit-John Jesse.

The implied marriage date of John Jessee and Frankey Lea of 1775 is based on deduction from the Bible records for Archer Jessee, showing him as their second son, born in 1776. From this we also deduce that John Jessee Jr. was born about 1775, although we have no definitive information for either assumption.

John Jessee died before Nov. 17, 1815, as this date is the date of the recorded settlement of his estate, and not his actual death date. Source: Will Book 3, p. 169, Russell Co., VA. Heirs of John Jessee all signed a deed to Archer Jessee, 7 August 1827. This is the principle source for recording all 15 of John and Frankey's children, and their spouses. Source: D.B. 8, p. 87, Russell Co., VA.

"Because the Jessees were one of the earliest families to settle in Russell County, Virginia, and because the progenitor of this Russell family had so many children, the descendants of the Jessees are extremely numerous, with few people living in the County now who cannot trace their ancestry to the pioneer John Jessee, Sr. The Jessee family played an important role in the development of Russell County, serving in prominent places in the government, military, church, education, and civic affairs."

"A common thread that seems to dominate the Jessee family lies in its talent, its gregarious nature, and its high expectations of self. It was not surprising to learn that John Jessee, Sr. was a musician, since musical ability has abounded in many descendants of that man. It was not surprising to learn that John Sr's sons and grandsons had been politicians, since so many later Jessees have held numerous political positions. Most people who are descended from the Jessee clan seem to feel a sense of pride in their ancestry.
" Betty Campbell Yates.

>From research from the archives of the Virginia State Library in Richmond, some men of Russell, mostly residents of Moccasin, Reeds Valley, Casltelwood, Clinch River, and Copper Creek, along with a fewer number from Elks Garden, had petitioned to form an educational facility to be called amity Hall, on Dec.
9, 1813. On this list were names John Jessee, Charles Bickley, Samuel Porter, Archer and Archy Jessee, and many other names into whose families the Jessees married. Betty Campbell Yates.

Source: "Yates/Campbell" Vol. 2, by Betty Campbell Yates, June 1993.

See also "Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia" Roanoke Public Library, p. 172.

Source: Dr. Joy Malone [drjoym@bellsouth.net]
Subject: Abstract of Caswell County Records
Sent: 2/19/01
It could be that George Lea was an Attorney and that is why he is on the deeds, note on the deed # 106 George Lea signs for Isaac Brown as Atty. in (can't make out the word could be fact).

Caswell County, NC Will Books 1777-1814, (Abstracts by Katharine Kerr
Kendall, Index by Mary Frances Kerr Donaldson 1979) The 1784 Tax list - St Lawrence District lists John Jesse 631 Hico 1-0 & Moravian land.

Caswell County, NC., DB "A" p. 496 # 184, Dec 20, 1779 John Jessee
purchased 450 acres of land for the sum of fifty Shillings for every Hundred acres. Signed by Richard Caswell Esq. our Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief At Kingston. The twentieth day of December in this fourth year of our Independence and in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy Nine.( Certified copy on file)

Caswell County, NC., DB "B" p. 31 John Jessee sold land for 50lbs of
proclamation money, 450 acres to John Hodge of Caswell Co. March 4, 1783. (copy on file)

Caswell County NC., DB "B" p. 468, State of NC #721 to Hearndon Harrelson 66 acres...adjacent to John Jessee's land. November 10, 1784. (copy on file)

Caswell County NC., DB "C" p. 106, Isaac Brown sold 526 acres to John Jessee for 100 lbs. S. Hico Cr, adj. Richard Lea .... The deed is signed Isaac Brown by George Lea, Atty.in ____. July 19, 1785. (Certified copy on file)

Caswell County NC., DB "E" p. 200, John Jessee of Caswell County to Barnett Lea for 100 lbs., 277 acres on S. Hico ......Witness George Lea, John McFarland, October 13, 1787. (Certified copy on file)

Caswell County NC., DB "E" p. 208, John Jessee of Caswell County to William Warren of Halifax Co., VA for 100 Lbs., 75 acres......Witness George Lea October 14, 1787. (Certified copy on file)

Caswell County NC., DB "E" p. 209, John Jessee of Caswell County to William Warren of Halifax Co., VA for 100 Lbs., 276 acres......Witness George Lea October 15, 1787. (Certified copy on file)

Father: Henry JESSEE
Mother: Elizabeth

Marriage 1 Frances "Frankey" LEA b: 1752/1761 in Cobbs/Hyco Creek,Orange Co.,NC,later Caswell Co
Married: Abt 1775 in ,Orange Co.,NCChildren
John JESSEE b: Abt 1775 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
Archer JESSEE b: 8 AUG 1776 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
William JESSEE b: 9 DEC 1779 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
Lea JESSEE b: 1781 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
David JESSEE b: 6 MAR 1783 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
Elizabeth JESSEE b: 20 DEC 1786/1791 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Mary "Polly" JESSEE b: Abt 1787 in Cobbs Creek,Caswell Co.,NC
Frances JESSEE b: Abt 1787/1789 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Sarah "Sallie" JESSEE b: Abt AUG 1790/1792 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Boedicia "Dicy BIDDY" (BOADICEA) Jessee b: 22 MAY 1792 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
James JESSEE b: 1794 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Rebecca JESSEE b: 20 JUL 1796 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Jane JESSEE b: Abt 1797 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
George Lea JESSEE b: 1798 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA
Martin JESSEE b: 27 JAN 1801 in Reeds Valley,Russell Co.,VA