First wife of Thomas J. Jefferson

Col. Thomas J. Jefferson, b. Jun 6, 1799, Amelia Co., VA;  d. Feb 14, 1880, MC, AR;  m. Abt. 1820
  +Charlotte C. UNKNOWN  [b. abt. 1803 NC; d. abt. 1833, according to page #1 of  the record  by Robert B. Jefferson]
           Children of Thomas and Charlotte:
   1. Albert Dewitt Jefferson, b. 1824, Iredell Co., NC
   2. Rufus Ansley Jefferson, b. Mar 6, 1825, d. Mar 20, 1856, Yellville, ¹MCAR
             +Elizabeth TUTT
                1. Rufus Ansley Jefferson, Jr., b. Jun 2, 1856
                       +Margaret Ellen NOE
                            1. Mary Jane Jefferson b. ?, d. May 17, 1924, Tulsa, OK
   3. Wellington  Pinkney Jefferson, b. Mar 27, 1827, Iredell Co., NC, d. Sep 8, 1878, MCAR
              +Sarah Lodusky "Dusky" MESSICK, b. Mar 5, 1844, d. Jun 11, 1920; bu. Concord Cem; dau. of John Wesley MESSICK
                                                  Sarah married a second time to:  William LaFayette MORELAND
                 1. Lucille Belle Jefferson, b. Jun 12, 1865, d. May 9, 1948
                       + Richard Oliver TREAT b. Aug 16, 1864 s/o Richard T. and Sarah J. Emaline [DUGGINS]TREAT
                            1. Dora Treat b. May 8, 1885
                            2. George Treat b. November 19, 1886
                            3. Cora Treat b. April 22, 1888
                2. John Henry Jefferson, b. Nov 21, 1867, MCAR; d. Jun 13, 1946, MCAR;  m. Jan 24, 1897, MCAR;
                      +Cora Bell Newton, b. Sep 21, 1881, MCAR; d. Jul 11, 1959, MCAR; d/o Ebenezer and Nancy Jane [JONES] NEWTON
                            1.  Maggie Jefferson,  b. 1897, d. 1900
                            2.  Agatha Jane Jefferson, b. February 17, 1899; m. May 27, 1916
                                     +John Brooksher HURST, b. Mar 9, 1896
                            3.  Eula Jefferson, b. 1900
                            4.  Icel Ellen Jefferson,b. Jan 22, 1902, MCAR; d. Dec 25, 1964, MCAR; m. Jul 25, 1923, MCAR
                                     +Oscar RORIE, b. Apr 16, 1902, MCAR; d. Dec 5, 1968, MCAR;
                            5.  Fay Pink Jefferson,b. Aug 17, 1903, MCAR; d. Aug 30, 1988, Yellville, MCAR; m, Feb 1, 1930, MCAR
                                     +Ola HURST, b. May 11, 1912, MCAR
                            6.  Lester William Jefferson,b. Sep 1, 1905, MCAR; d. Sep 13, 1993, MCAR; m. Mar 2, 1929, MCAR
                                     +Ella Bernece COWAN
                            7.  Guy Henry Jefferson,b. Feb 7, 1907, MCAR; d. Apr 18, 1993, MCAR
                                     +Verba Jane DUGGINS
                            8.  Henson Jefferson, b. 1908; d. 1909
                            9.  Otto John Jefferson,b. Jan 7, 1910;  d. Mar 1977
                                     +Pauline WOOD
                         10.  Roscoe Ebb Jefferson,
                                     +Nora Alma BELL
                         11.  Howard Thomas Jefferson,
                                     +Biffel SMOTHERS
                         12.  Opal Bell Jefferson,
                                     +Roy Woodrow BELL
                         13.  Ocie Jefferson,b. Jan 12, 1918, MCAR; d. Jan 3, 1969, MCAR; m. Apr 23, 1937, MCAR
                                     +Oron BELL, b. Jul 27, 1917, MCAR;  d. Apr 16, 1964
                         14.  Ola Jefferson,
                                     +Shelby TREAT
                         15.  Kyle Jefferson,
                                     +Dorse Lee DEWEY
                         16.  Lola Ann Jefferson,
                                     +Raymond  INGRAM
                3. Thomas Dewitt Jefferson, (twin) b. Apr 25, 1870; d. Feb 12, 1930
                        +Elizabeth KING, b. Dec 13, 1868; d. Dec 14, 1930
                          1.  Jacob Kyle Jefferson, b. Feb 25, 1896
                          2.  Thomas Pinkney Jefferson, b. Sep 5, 1897
                          3.  Zettia Elizabeth Lodusky Jefferson, b. Sep 18, 1900
                4. Wellington Pinkney Jefferson, Jr. (twin) b. Apr 25, 1870
                       +Gwen P. WARD
                5. Sarah Louvenia Jefferson, b. Sep 5, 1873
                      +W. Tom COX
                          1.  George  Cox
                6. Samuel Jefferson, b. Aug 27, 1875
                7. Minnie Grace Jefferson, b. Jan 23, 1878, d. Apr 8, 1880
   4. Thomas Dewitt Jefferson, b. Jul 31, 1829, Iredell County NC, d. 1857, MCAR; m. May 11, 1851
                    +Elizabeth ADAMS, b. Feb 3, 1832;  d. Jan 7, 1857, MCAR
                1. Thomas Dewitt Jefferson, Jr., b. Feb 21, 1854, MCAR  d. Nov 4, 1857, MCAR
   5. Samuel  Wooten  Jefferson, b. Mar 12, 1832, Iredell Co., NC; d. Mar 22, 1897, Valley Springs, ²BCAR; m. abt. 1853, MCAR
                    +Elizabeth ROWLAND, b.  May 8, 1835, MCAR, (later Boone Co.); d. Nov 13, 1886 Valley Springs, BCAR
                1. Emily Jefferson, b. Aug 14, 1855; d. Sep 7, 1868;
                2. George Watson Jefferson, b. 1857
                    +Almeda CARROL
                         1.  Ralph Wooten Jefferson, b. 1881
                         2.  Minnie Bowden Jefferson, b. Mar 19, 1883
                3. Ellen Jefferson, b. Apr 25, 1860, d. Sep 2, 1863
                4. Edmond Horace Jefferson, b. Nov 18, 1863
                    +Martha Emma RAY
                         1.  Helen Jefferson
                         2.  Myrtle Jefferson
                         3.  Roy Bowden Jefferson, b. Sep 21, 1889
                         4.  Blanche Jefferson, b. Abt. 1891
                         5.  Sam Ray Jefferson, b. Nov 15, 1893
                         6.  Ruth Bryan Jefferson, b. Dec 19, 1896
                5. Hugh Frank Jefferson, b. 1867
                   +Fannie EDWARDS
                        1.  Virginia Emily Jefferson

There is a discrepancy in the information on Charlotte C.   Robert Breckenridge Jefferson created a family record and entered Charlotte as Thomas J. JEFFERSON's first wife "who was born in Iredell County, NC, Oct 2, 1800".   I believe she was born in Iredell but think she has been mixed up with Nancy Ann WATSON.  It is believed that Charlotte was buried on the Jefferson farm.  This is highly improbable.  Charlotte died in North Carolina.  Thomas married a second time to Nancy Ann [nee WATSON] Patten, bore him two children, George and Sarah, then moved to Marion Co., AR abt. 1847.  This is the wife who is buried on the Jefferson farm outside of Yellville, not Charlotte C. Unknown. Click here   to view page #1 of this twenty-one page record. "Genealogies of Marion County Families 1811 - 1900" by the Historical and Genealogical Society of Marion County states that Charlotte was the "d/o of George and Mary [__?__]WATSON".  Earl Berrys, "History of Marion County"  states that Charlotte died in Rutherford Co., NC.   Could Charlotte have been born a Wasson/Wassen, or Ansley, Wooten or DeWitt since these are middle names of her children?  US Census records show that George and Mary "Polley" [MILLER] WATSON lived in Rutherford Co., NC.  Miles Philbeck, editor of the Newsletter of the Old Tryon Genealogical Society states that they had only one known child, Nancy Miller WATSON,  [a.k.a. Nancy Ann Watson]  (see George Watson).  Robert Breckenridge Jefferson's family record shows that after Thomas J. Jefferson's wife, Charlotte, died, he married the widowed Nancy Miller [nee: Watson] Patten, widow of Col. Elijah Patten, Jnr. of Rutherford Co., NC.   One of the difficulties is that Robert's family record shows Charlotte and Nancy born on the same day and year.  Did Robert's memory mistake one birthdate for the other?  I tend to think so.  Maybe the information is correct and Charlotte and Nancy were twin sisters, or were they cousins born on the same day?  These last two scenarios are highly unlikely. Mary Watson left a will [ Rutherford County NC Will Book E, page 66] in which she names her grandchildren born to her daughter Nancy M. with first husband Col. Elijah Patten, Junr.  She also names her grandson, Geo. Watson Jefferson, the first child born to Nancy and Thomas.  Thomas' children with his first wife, Charlotte, however, were not mentioned in the will.  This would lead one to believe that Charlotte was not a daughter of George and Mary as tradition purports.  It could also mean that Charlotte's children had reached their majority and were not mentioned in the will; however, Samuel W. youngest child of Charlotte and Thomas was still living with Thomas and his second wife, Nancy, when they left Rutherford Co., NC for Marion Co., AR.  He appears with Thos. and Nancy and the rest of their family in the 1850 census for Marion Co., AR.  Samuel Wooten Jefferson would have been eight years old and Thomas DeWitt Jefferson would have been 11 years old when Mary Watson's will was recorded with no mention of either of them.  Had Charlotte been her daughter, Mary would have at least mentioned these two in her will even though the others might have been out of the home. I have communicated with several people on this matter and they have been unable to find an answer to this conundrum. 1850 Census for Marion Co., Arkansas # Surname Given Name Age Occupation Value of Real Estate Where born Comments 79 Jefferson Thomas 51 Farmer      1000      VA Col. Thomas Jones Jefferson Nancy 50 NC "Nancy" Ann Miller [Watson]{Patten} Jefferson Samuel 18 Farmer NC Thos. and Charlotte's son Samuel Wooten Jefferson George W. 13 NC Thos. and Nancy's son Geo.Watson Jefferson Sarah J. 11 NC Thos and Nancy's dau. Sarah Jones Jefferson; Patten Charity 18 NC Nancy's dau. w/ Col. Elijah Patten, Jr. Patten Rachel 18 NC Nancy's dau. and Charity's twin sister NOTE:  Sarah Jones Jefferson was born after Mary Miller Watson's will was written; therefore, she is not mentioned in her will. Any help would be very much welcomed by me and my family. Will of Mary [MILLER] Watson (wife of George WATSON, son of Hugh WATSON of York County, Pennsylvania)   Written 31 July 1838 recorded during July Court, 1840, Rutherford Co., NC Entered Estate Book C Page 27 Recorded Will Book E Page 66 As found on line @ http://members.aol.com/pugagain/myhomepage/mary1840.txt In the name of God, Amen. Mary Watson of the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina being advanced in life but of sound mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die to make this my last will and testament. And first I recommend my soul to God as he gave it, and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent christian manner at the discretion of my executor.  And as touching such worldly estate as God has been pleased to bless me with I bequeth in the following manner And first I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand Daughter Mary M. Patten, one Negro grown(?) girl named Alviny to her and her ofspring if any forever, and Beauro model by Mark Moses(?), one bed and furnature with a stand of curtains with the bed sted maid by John Montieth, one slab table, one small table, one large wash pot, one large oven, and half of my Cupoard furniture, Item:  I give and bequeath to my Grand Son Adolphus L. Patten one Negroe boy named George, one house clock one bed and furniture, one rifle gun, Item:  I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Margaret M. Patten one _______, one bed, bedstead and furniture, one Cupboard, one Table, one half of my Cupboard furniture and the balance of my kitchen furniture, Item:  I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Harriet N. Patten one bed, bedstead and furniture, Item:  I allow my Negroe Woman Tilley and all my other Estate not heretofore mentioned to be sold by my Executor and the proceeds there from I allow to be divided as follows and first I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Nancy M. Jefferson fifty dollars. I also allow fifty dollars to Rachel C. and Charity E. Patten my grand children to purchase them beds when they come to need them. I also allow twenty five dollars to Little Britain Church to be paid in five yearly installments to any Presbyterian Minister that may labour in that Church. I also allow to my Grand son George W. Jefferson one hundred dollars, and the balance of all to be equally divided between my four grand daughters that is Margaret M., Harriet N., Rachel C. and Charity E. Patten. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my kinsman and friend James W. Carson my Executor of this my last will and testament, disanulling all other wills by me heretofore made, and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord 1838 in presence of us here. Jms. Carson (jurat) Mary X Watson Seal Frances Logan (jurat) mark State of North Carolina Rutherford County July Session 1840 The within writing was presented in open court for Probate and was proven in the usual form in open court by the Oaths of John Carson and Francis Logan the Subscribing Witnesses thereto. It was considered to be a genuine Instrument and as such was ordered to be recorded at length and filed away in this office. With leave to the Executor to qualify - James M. Carson Executor therein appointed came before the court and was duly sworn as such - and prayed Letters Testamentary which was granted Certified: William Willkins CA Executor:  kinsman James W. Carson.  Witnesses: Jon. Carson, Frances Logan NOTE:  Since none of Charlotte's children were mentioned in Mary's will, (not even Samuel Wooten Jefferson, youngest son of Charlotte C.), it suggests to me that Charlotte C. was not a daughter of George and Mary [Miller] WATSON  of Rutherford Co., NC as posited in some sources such as "The History of Marion County" by: Earl Berry, and "Genealogies of Marion County Families 1811-1900" published by the Historical and Genealogical Society of Marion County, AR, as well as family tradition as published in the JEFFERSON Family book by Dorse Lee [DEWEY] JEFFERSON.   Looking at the middle names of her 5 male children suggests that she might have been a DeWITT, ANSLEY or WOOTEN.  There were many military men who also had these surnames and Thomas and Charlotte could have given these names to their boys in honor of certain officers in the military.  This seems the most likely.  So, Charlotte C. "Unknown" goes unnamed at this time.

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