Family Group Sheet
NameJohn R. Pettit
Birthabt 1798, Tennessee
Deathaft 1850
Marriage26 Dec 1831, Madison Co., Kentucky
SpouseSarah “Sally” Ballard
Birthabt 1801, Orange Co., Virginia
Death1888, Scott Co., Kentucky
Children
BirthJul 1832, Madison Co., Kentucky
Birth9 Oct 1836, Georgetown, Scott Co., Kentucky
Death24 Oct 1914, Vevay, Switzerland Co., Indiana
SpouseMary E. McFarland
SpouseElizabeth Wright
SpouseOmelia Margaret Vance
Notes for John R. Pettit
Some online family trees list this John Pettit as the son of George Pettit and Elizabeth Gillespie, who were in Madison Co. in the 1810 census, and in Caldwell Co. in 1820 and later. This attribution is most likely based on geographical proximity. I do not think it is likely, though, because both the 1810 and 1820 censuses show only one son for George and Elizabeth, and that son is almost certainly the Thomas Gillespie Pettit who bears his mother’s maiden name as a middle name.
Other online family trees list this John as the son of Nehemiah Pettit and Susannah Keefe of Greene Co., Tennessee. That may be correct (it is consistent with the 1850 listing of his birthplace as Tennessee), but I do not know the basis for the attribution. Nehemiah and his other known children remained in Tennessee.
Other online family trees list this John as the son of Nehemiah Pettit and Susannah Keefe of Greene Co., Tennessee. That may be correct (it is consistent with the 1850 listing of his birthplace as Tennessee), but I do not know the basis for the attribution. Nehemiah and his other known children remained in Tennessee.
Notes for John R. & Sarah “Sally” (Family)
Madison Co., Ky, marriage records list John K. Petitt and Sally Ballard on 26 Dec 1831. (From a published index. The K may be a misreading of R.)
Online family trees at Ancestry.com contain this note originally submitted on 28 Nov 1006 by a member with the account name “maryedcampbell”:
“One of the Ballard nieces had written a record of the family that is passed around their family. It states that in 1850 John went to Texas and brought back Sarah's sister and children after her husband died while crossing a river there on the way to settle in Texas. After a Pettit cousin was shot by southern sympathizers trying to steal his horse all Pettit boys went to the Union forces. All three of Sarah's sons were in the Union forces and none were injured or killed. William made the statement that momma'a prayers saw them through according to this Ballard niece.”
Online family trees at Ancestry.com contain this note originally submitted on 28 Nov 1006 by a member with the account name “maryedcampbell”:
“One of the Ballard nieces had written a record of the family that is passed around their family. It states that in 1850 John went to Texas and brought back Sarah's sister and children after her husband died while crossing a river there on the way to settle in Texas. After a Pettit cousin was shot by southern sympathizers trying to steal his horse all Pettit boys went to the Union forces. All three of Sarah's sons were in the Union forces and none were injured or killed. William made the statement that momma'a prayers saw them through according to this Ballard niece.”
Census
1850 census of Owen Co., Kentucky, district 2, enumerated 14 Aug, lists as family #161:
John R. Pettitt, 47, b. Tenn; Sallie, 49, b. Vir; Mary, 16; William, 15; Charles, 11; Andrew, 8. All children born in Ky.
John’s occupation looks like “Porst Rudder”. Perhaps intended as post rider?
I cannot find this family in the 1860 census.
1870 census of Scott Co., Ky, Stamping Ground precinct, enumerated 11 July, lists on p. 19 as family #131/132:
Petitt, Andrew, 28, posten railer; Sally, 69; Mary, 36; Wm, 34, posten railer, b. Ky; John, 3. Sally born in Virginia, all others in Kentucky.
The unusual ordering, of putting the youngest son as head of household, probably indicates that the child John is his son.
John R. Pettitt, 47, b. Tenn; Sallie, 49, b. Vir; Mary, 16; William, 15; Charles, 11; Andrew, 8. All children born in Ky.
John’s occupation looks like “Porst Rudder”. Perhaps intended as post rider?
I cannot find this family in the 1860 census.
1870 census of Scott Co., Ky, Stamping Ground precinct, enumerated 11 July, lists on p. 19 as family #131/132:
Petitt, Andrew, 28, posten railer; Sally, 69; Mary, 36; Wm, 34, posten railer, b. Ky; John, 3. Sally born in Virginia, all others in Kentucky.
The unusual ordering, of putting the youngest son as head of household, probably indicates that the child John is his son.
