Jessee News

This summary represents my efforts to discover my maternal great-grandmother’s Jessee family. For a long time I have known that she came to Indiana from Tennessee based on family tradition, a few bible entries, and some genealogy work done by my mother; however, I didn’t know much more than that. 

Originally, I thought I had not been born, upon finding out that I was adopted. Then of course, I went through the adoption angst stages, why was I put up for adoption, who were my parents, how in fact did I become me from them? I wrestled with these unknown questions that had no answers. 

My great grandmother is Rebecca Jessee Weddle, daughter of Jacob and Nancy (probably nee CHILDS) Jessee. Nancy and her children can be found in the 1850 US census in Knox County Tennessee with her name spelled Jessey. 

The Jessee Family Database at www.jessee.org, shows Henry and Elizabeth Jessee as the parents of John Jessee, who marries Frances “Frankey” Lea, moves to Russell Co., VA and has 15 children with her. It is easiest to go to the Jessee family Database via the website and search for, Lea, Frances “Frankey.”  

This is Jack Jessee of Mill Creek who owned Jessee’s Mill, and built the beautiful home opposite the Jessee Mill.

The Roller Process Jessee Mill was built between 1889 and 1900, by Andrew Jackson Jessee. It is located on Mill Creek four miles southwest of Cleveland on Route 645 and about six miles from Lebanon, in Russell Co., VA.

The “preservation” of Jessee’s Mill remains a major concern for the JHF (Jessee Historical Foundation) and all Jessees in America. 

I'm the great-great granddaughter of Aurelia Jessee Dutcher, daughter of Archer Catron Jessee and Mary Ann Harbin. 

I posted that if we could find a daughter, of a daughter, of a daughter only descendant, of one of the seven daughters of John and Frankey (Lea) Jessee, we could discover Frankey’s Mitochondrial DNA heritage.   This would determine if Frankey has European, Indian or Melungeon origins. 

Mr. Donald Helton and I are pleased to announce the publication of two WCV Will Books (#21 and #22, covering principally the period 1879 through 1887), as below, by Iberian Publishing Company. 

I submitted my DNA to FamilyTreeDNA.Com, under the Jessup surname project, which includes our Jesse, Jessie, and Jessee surnames as variants. If indeed my Jessee male line is unbroken, then all John Jessee male descendants should have the same. The Jessee Y DNA Haplogroup is R1b1b2.

Sherman Wallace wrote us regarding Donations Needed To Save the Mill with a request for donations to help him preserve at least the status quo at Jessee’s Mill until some other arrangement for its long-term restoration is made.