[The following "pedigree" may need modification based on information received during the week of Jan 18, 1999 transmitted to J.Arnett by Marge Fox. See "Straight" addendum at the end of this genealogical register]
[In Aug 2001, Phyllis Vines sent me a manuscript "ARNETT Narrative Part IV" in which he makes a strong case for the uncertainty of the heritage of James Arnett. See a copy of this manuscript at the end as well.]
Descendants of Thomas Arnett
Generation No. 1
1. Thomas1 Arnett was born Abt. 1705. He married unknown wife Abt. 1748.
Notes for Thomas Arnett:
[See a dissenting opinion by Phyllis Arnett Vines in the article at the end of this section.]
Thomas Arnett, the possible father of James below, was said to be a ship master of the Maryland Eastern Shore. In an 1985 biographical sketch of Joseph Edward Arnett, Sr. "Joseph's lineal ancestry, of English origin, descends from Thomas Arnett, a sea captain of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, through his son, James, who migrated into the Monongahela Valley with several children, purchased 400 acres of land and were among the early settlers of Arnettsville. James Arnett died about 1818." [History of Marion Co, West Virginia, about 1985]
There were several Arnetts who settled in Dorchester Co, MD by the early 1700's and it may be that Thomas Arnett was connected with the family whose head was a William Arnett (Arnott) likely from Scotland or Northern Ireland. Many of this family migrated to North Carolina southern Virginia and had James and Andrew as common names. It may also turn out that Thomas' grandfather was the William noted in the "Straight" addendum below.
"Mr. Sylvester Arnett (1846-1927), of Rivesville, [WV], told this writer [Glenn Lough] that the...Arnetts were of English-German descent, and that his ancestor, Thomas Arnett, was a ship's-master, and sailed an English vessel, the "Seven Brothers" by name (or it may have been the "Three Brothers"; he wasn't quite certain) for many years. . . .James Arnett was born and reared in the old Thomas Arnett homestead, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland." [Glenn D. Lough, Now and Long Ago, A History of the Marion County Area, Marion Co Historical Society, 1969] [As noted below, Thomas' ship often transported immigrants from the Palatine region of Germany, and the possible German origin started because of that connection. --jwa]
On September 27, 1727 at a Council of Court in Philadelphia, a list of 53 Palatines [German immigrants] was presented who had arrived aboard the Ship James Goodwill from Rotterdam. Among those aboard was a Jacob Arnett. [Ship Passenger Lists, Minutes of the Provincial Council, PA]
On October 13, 1747 in Philadelphia a list was presented of "Foreigners whose names are underwritten, imported in the Ship "Two Brothers", Thomas Arnett [master] from Rotterdam and last from Leith, Inhabitants of the Palatinate and places adjacent." [quoted in a Fulmer Genealogy]
On September 15, 1748, Johann Yost Ebert and Jonas Eberth took the Oath to the Government and stated they had immigrated on the ship "Two Brothers", Thomas Arnot, Master." [Genealogy of Pennsylvania Families, Vol. I, 1982]
Children of Thomas Arnett and unknown wife are:
+ 2 i. James 2 Arnett, born Abt. 1748
in Dorchester Co, Maryland;
died 1818 in Arnettsville, Monongalia Co, WVa.
3 ii. Mary Arnett.
She married Daniel Michael.
Generation No. 2
.........2. James 2 Arnett (Thomas 1) was born Abt. 1748 in Dorchester Co, Maryland, and died 1818 in Arnettsville, Monongalia Co, WVa. He married Mary Belle Michael Abt. 1767 in possibly Loudoun Co, VA, daughter of father Michael and wife.
Notes for James Arnett
James Arnett may be the same James Arnett who served in the French and Indian War and was from Dorset, Maryland and enlisted in Pennsylvania.
[See comments by Phyllis Arnett Vines in article at end of section]
John N. Cunningham, who compiled an extensive WV Arnett genealogical manuscript in 1941 assumed that James was the son of the Isaac and Hannah Arnett of Elizabeth, NJ, but subsequent research indicates no connection with the NJ Arnetts but that James was likely the son of Thomas Arnett, the ship master of the Maryland Eastern Shore.
"Mr. Sylvester Arnett (1846-1927), of Rivesville, [WV], told this writer [Glenn Lough] that the...Arnetts were of English-German descent, and that his ancestor, Thomas Arnett, was a ship's-master, and sailed an English vessel, the "Seven Brothers" by name (or it may have been the "Three Brothers"; he wasn't quite certain) for many years. . . . The first Arnett to live in the Marion County area, he said was James Arnett, who settled at (now) Arnettsville, in 1789, and purchased land here in 1791. This James Arnett was born and reared in the old Thomas Arnett homestead, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but lived in Virginia and Pennsylvania before making a permanent settlement at (now) Arnettsville. He said that Mrs. James Arnett's maiden name was Mary Michael, and that her brother, Daniel Michael, married Mary Arnett, her husband's sister." [Glenn D. Lough, Now and Long Ago, A History of the Marion County Area, Marion Co Historical Society, 1969] Sylvester was the great grandson of James.
James is said to have moved with his wife to the Monongahela Valley of now WV about 1782 [Cunningham] or 1785
He purchased 400 acres of land on Indian Creek from Frederick Gire and David Scott. John Cunningham looked for a deed but was told that county records of that period had burned in 1795. [John N. Cunningham, 273 page manuscript on the Arnett and related families of WV, 1941, copy on microfilm #0001140 in LDS library in Salt Lake City]
In 1810, James sold to his son Jonathan two tracts of land, one of 30 acres in June 11 and another of 100 acres later. Attached to the sale of these lands was a covenant whereby Jonathan was to grant to James and Mary the possession of the land until they died. On May 13, 1818, Jonathan sold the land to Andrew Arnett.
Notes for Mary Belle Michael:
[See John Vines' comments at the end of this section.]
Mary Belle the wife of James has been the subject of some mystery over the years. Frederick Virkus listed the name of James' wife as Mary Bell and gave a marriage date of 1763 and date of death for Mary of 1815. [Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy, 1928] John N. Cunningham, like others as well, assumed her surname was Bell when he wrote his manuscript in 1941. "James Arnett m. Mary Bell in Loudoun Co, VA." No marriage records have been found for James and Mary, and there have been no records of collateral Bell families in the Monongahela Valley or Loudoun Co, VA which have been found to be Mary's Kin.
In about 1993 I found in the Fairmont WV Library a History of Marion Co, abt 1985, and an article about Frank Arnett, Jr in which the author stated that Frank was "a descendant of James Arnett and Marybelle Michael." Then in 1994 during a visit to the Hogue Cemetery in Arnettsville, WV, I found several markers for the Michael family including one Cora Belle Michael (1882-1942) and apparently unmarried. The plaque which marks James Arnett's grave states his wife's name as Mary Belle Arnett. There's also a marker for Clarence Camden Arnett with his wife listed as Mary Belle.
Thus it appears likely that James' wife's name was Mary Belle Michael or Marybelle Michael rather than Mary Bell. During a trip to the WV Library & Archives in 1994 I found the following statement by Sylvester Arnett which would seem to settle the matter. "He [Sylvester Arnett] said that Mrs. James Arnett's maiden name was Mary Michael, and that her brother, Daniel Michael, married Mary Arnett, her husband's sister." [Glenn Lough in Now and Long Ago, 1969, cited above] [J.W.Arnett, 1998]
Children of James Arnett and Mary Michael are:
4 i. Caroline or Catherine Arnett. b.1776
She married David Musgrave.
5 ii. Elizabeth Arnett. b.1774
She married Daniel Michael 1842.
6 iii. Thomas Arnett. (not in Cunningham's mss)*
7 iv. William Arnett. (not in Cunningham's mss)*
* Accord to notes of Wanda Arnett
Coleson Hall said James who moved
from MD to WVA had sons: James,
Thos & William. I wonder if he was
getting this confused with "Straight"
genealogy. -- jwarnett
+ 8 v. John Arnett, born May 08, 1770 in Loudoun Co, VA;
died May 26, 1850.
+ 9 vi. Andrew Arnett, born Abt. 1772 in Maryland;
died May 1824 in Monogalia Co, WVa.
+ 10 vii. Jonathan Arnett, born 1786;
died 1835.
+ 11 viii. Daniel Arnett, born 1788.
+ 12 ix. James Arnett, Jr., born 1777;
died March 1861.
+ 13 x. Mary Arnett, born September 27, 1791;
died April 04, 1857.
Generation No. 3
........8. John 3 Arnett (James 2, Thomas 1) was born May 08, 1770 in Loudoun Co, VA, and died May 26, 1850. He married Mary Dickens.
Notes for John Arnett:
John settled on a 240 acre farm on the headwaters of Arnett's Run in what is now Paw Paw District, Marion Co, WV. He lived his entire life on that farm. He and his wife had ten children. He was the only one of the Arnett families researched by John N. Cunningham to own slaves.
Children of John Arnett and Mary Dickens are:
+ 14 i. William 4 Arnett, born May 06, 1798;
died March 16, 1869.
+ 15 ii. Thomas Arnett, born 1794 in Virginia;
died July 12, 1857.
16 iii. Jeter Arnett.
17 iv. Levi Arnett.
18 v. Mary Arnett.
19 vi. Rebecca Arnett, born Abt. 1800.
20 vii. Benjamin Arnett.
21 viii. Stephen Arnett.
22 ix. John Arnett.
23 x. Ruth Arnett.
24 xi. Barbary Arnett.
........9. Andrew 3 Arnett (James 2, Thomas 1) was born Abt. 1772 in Maryland, and died May 1824 in Monogalia Co, WVa. He married Elizabeth Leggett.
Notes for Andrew Arnett:
Andrew was a farmer and purchased part of the original family land from his brother, Jonathan.
Children of Andrew Arnett and Elizabeth Leggett are:
+ 25 i. James4 Arnett, born September 10, 1797;
died February 22, 1850.
+ 26 ii. Daniel Arnett, born 1804;
died 1880.
+ 27 iii. Andrew "Andy" Arnett, born June 05, 1805;
died December 18, 1888.
28 iv. Cassandra Arnett, born 1808;
died 1888.
She married John Toothman.
+ 29 v. John Arnett, born 1809;
died June 26, 1852.
+ 30 vi. Solomon Arnett, born March 10, 1810;
died March 10, 1852.
+ 31 vii. Hannah Arnett, born 1811.
+ 32 viii. Mary Arnett, born 1794.
33 ix. Sallie Arnett.
She married George Toothman.
+ 34 x. Thomas Arnett, born August 09, 1816
in Monongalia Co, WVa;
died March 16, 1899.
........10. Jonathan 3 Arnett (James 2, Thomas 1) was born 1786, and died 1835. He married (1) Elizabeth Willey. He married (2) Mariah Barnhouse.
More About Jonathan Arnett:
May 13, 1818, Jonathan sold the land he'd previously obtained from his father to Andrew Arnett
Children of Jonathan Arnett and Elizabeth Willey are:
35 i. James Perry4 Arnett.
+ 36 ii. Ulysses N. Arnett, born November 07, 1820;
died December 03, 1880.
37 iii. William Willey Arnett.
38 iv. Hippolite Arnett.
........11. Daniel 3 Arnett (James 2, Thomas 1) was born 1788. He married Ann Barker February 02, 1809.
Children of Daniel Arnett and Ann Barker are:
39 i. Pinkney4 Arnett.
40 ii. Sydney Arnett.
41 iii. Limnah Arnett.
42 iv. Goulden Arnett.
........12. James3 Arnett, Jr. (James2, Thomas1) was born 1777, and died March 1861. He married Elizabeth Barker March 19, 1798.
Children of James Arnett and Elizabeth Barker are:
43 i. James 4 Arnett.
44 ii. John Arnett.
45 iii. Eleazo Arnett.
46 iv. Jane Arnett.
47 v. Willie Arnett.
48 vi. Anarah Arnett.
........13. Mary 3 Arnett (James 2, Thomas 1) was born September 27, 1791, and died April 04, 1857. She married Solomon Hogue 1811.
Children of Mary Arnett and Solomon Hogue are:
49 i. James4 Hogue.
50 ii. Andrew Hogue.
51 iii. Mary Ann Hogue.
52 iv. John Hogue.
53 v. Elizabeth Hogue.
54 vi. Solomon Hogue.
55 vii. David Hogue.
56 viii. Jonathan Hogue.
57 ix. Cavin Hogue.
Generation No. 4
........14. William 4 Arnett (John 3, James 2, Thomas 1) was born May 06, 1798, and died March 16, 1869. He married Eleanor Meredith January 09, 1826, daughter of Davis Meredith and Ann wife).
Notes for William Arnett:
"He was a great reader and exceptionally well posted in the political history of the country. In that crisis which arose threatening the destruction of the country and the dismemberment of the Union, he was a strong Union man, energetic and prudent. William Arnett was recognized as a prosperous farmer and an intelligent man, who always took an active part in the affairs of his community and country." [Biographical and Portrait History of Marion County, 1895]
Children of William Arnett and Eleanor Meredith are:
+ 58 i. Rebecca 5 Arnett, born November 21, 1828; died 1904.
+ 59 ii. Dorcas Arnett, born November 12, 1830; died April 14, 1911.
+ 60 iii. Levina Arnett, born November 06, 1832; died Bef. 1895.
61 iv. Eber Arnett, born January 02, 1835; died Bef. 1895.
He married Eliza Ann Arnett.
Notes for Eber Arnett:
Eber served in the 6th Regt. WV in Civil War.
+ 62 v. Riley Arnett, born January 10, 1840;
died May 20, 1912.
+ 63 vi. Franklin C. Arnett, born March 12, 1842.
64 vii. Elbert Meredith Arnett, born August 08, 1844.
Notes for Elbert Meredith Arnett:
17th Regt. WV Infantry
65 viii. Sarah Ann Arnett, born May 05, 1847;
died Bef. 1895.
66 ix. Melissa Arnett.
+ 67 x. Calvin W. Arnett, born June 14, 1853;
died 1896.
........15. Thomas4 Arnett (John3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1794 in Virginia, and died July 12, 1857. He married Mary Toothman February 13, 1816 in Monongalia, VA.
Notes for Thomas Arnett:
In her family group sheets, Ada Jean Arnett Painter, lists as the parents of Thomas Arnett a Thomas Arnett who m. Sarah Steel in Norfolk Feb 10, 1773. On the other hand, John Neace Cunningham lists the father of Thomas as John as noted. I don't think Ada was aware of Cunningham's work and, thus, just supposed that Thomas and Sarah Reed Arnett were this Thomas' parents. We don't know who the children of Thomas and Sarah Reed Arnett were.
More About Thomas Arnett:
July 12, 1857, Death Cert: son Tetrarch states Thomas d. at age 63 of dropsy
More About Mary Toothman:
June 04, 1874, buried in Hixon Cemetery, Vinton Co., OH
Children of Thomas Arnett and Mary Toothman are:
+ 68 i. John A.5 Arnett, born August 25, 1826;
died October 21, 1895 in Vinton Co, OH.
69 ii. Tetrarch Arnett.
70 iii. Malinda Arnett, born 1820 in Monongalia Co, VA.
She married Moses Wallace November 24, 1840.
........25. James4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born September 10, 1797, and died February 22, 1850. He married Rachel Meredith February 17, 1817, daughter of Davis Meredith and Ann wife).
Notes for James Arnett:
The post office of Arnettsville was named for this James Arnett since he was the first postmaster.
More About James Arnett:
lived in Arnettsville all their lives
buried in Arnettsville Cemetery
Children of James Arnett and Rachel Meredith are:
71 i. Eleazer5 Arnett.
72 ii. Margaret Arnett.
She married (1) Samuel Bunch.
She married (2) John Amos February 13, 1845.
+ 73 iii. William M. Arnett, born November 25, 1819;
died October 27, 1903.
+ 74 iv. Andrew Arnett, born July 24, 1823;
died June 17, 1888.
+ 75 v. Davis M. Arnett, born February 16, 1827;
died June 21, 1920.
76 vi. Martha Arnett, born March 30, 1829.
She married Elias Satterfield.
77 vii. Francis M. Arnett, born January 07, 1832;
died September 25, 1910.
He married Delilah Mrkley.
78 viii. Jasper Arnett, born March 30, 1838;
died February 07, 1899.
He married Sirena Hayhurst May 07, 1857.
79 ix. Rachel Caroline Arnett, born May 25, 1840.
She married Elisha Snider August 21, 1860.
80 x. Caroline Arnett.
........26. Daniel4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1804, and died 1880. He married (1) wife. He married (2) Rachel Hall. He married (3) Rachel Price January 11, 1823.
Children of Daniel Arnett and Rachel Hall are:
81 i. Nancy5 Arnett.
82 ii. Jennie Arnett.
83 iii. Harriet Arnett.
84 iv. John Arnett.
Children of Daniel Arnett and Rachel Price are:
85 i. Mahala5 Arnett.
86 ii. Thaddeus Arnett.
87 iii. Thomas Arnett.
88 iv. Louise Arnett.
89 v. others Arnett.
........27. Andrew "Andy"4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born June 05, 1805, and died December 18, 1888. He married Rachel Toothman February 10, 1825.
Children of Andrew Arnett and Rachel Toothman are:
+ 90 i. Silas5 Arnett, born November 26, 1828;
died February 08, 1905.
+ 91 ii. Julia Arnett, born April 11, 1826;
died July 10, 1907.
+ 92 iii. James Arnett, born May 02, 1831;
died January 21, 1912.
93 iv. Berry Arnett, born June 22, 1833.
He married Sarah Kennedy December 21, 1857.
94 v. Phebe Arnett.
95 vi. Elizabeth Arnett.
96 vii. Sarah Arnett.
97 viii. Mary Arnett.
98 ix. Timothy Arnett.
........29. John4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1809, and died June 26, 1852. He married Ruth Neptune October 14, 1829, daughter of Henry Neptune and Rebecca Meredith.
Children of John Arnett and Ruth Neptune are:
+ 99 i. Thomas5 Arnett, born December 08, 1830;
died 1906.
100 ii. Henry Arnett, born July 27, 1832.
101 iii. Luvinia Arnett, born September 27, 1834.
+ 102 iv. Job Arnett, born October 29, 1836.
103 v. Rebecca Arnett, born August 20, 1838.
104 vi. Marion Arnett, born June 28, 1840.
105 vii. Absalom Arnett, born March 13, 1842.
106 viii. Jonathan Arnett, born April 04, 1844.
107 ix. Elizabeth Arnett, born March 27, 1846.
108 x. Alpheus Arnett, born 1848.
109 xi. Sarah Arnett, born 1848.
........30. Solomon4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 10, 1810, and died March 10, 1852. He married Mary Cordray March 22, 1830.
Children of Solomon Arnett and Mary Cordray are:
110 i. Curtis5 Arnett.
111 ii. Marcella Arnett.
112 iii. Elizabeth Arnett.
+ 113 iv. Thomas Calvin Arnett, born August 28, 1834;
died November 03, 1905 in Fairmont, WVa.
+ 114 v. David Clark Arnett, born May 10, 1837;
died August 03, 1918.
115 vi. Andrew Arnett.
116 vii. Benitha Jane Arnett.
117 viii. Sarah Isabelle Arnett.
118 ix. William Edgar Arnett.
119 x. Matthew Solomon Arnett.
120 xi. John Wesley Arnett.
121 xii. Nelson Arnett.
........31. Hannah4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1811. She married Andrew Price November 06, 1830.
Children of Hannah Arnett and Andrew Price are:
122 i. Elizabeth5 Price.
123 ii. Samuel Price.
........32. Mary4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1794. She married Charles Glascock August 27, 1814.
More About Mary Arnett:
lived on Indian Creek one mile north of Arnettsville, WVa
Children of Mary Arnett and Charles Glasscock are:
124 i. Steven5 Glasscock.
125 ii. Malinda Glasscock.
126 iii. John Glasscock.
He married Jane Lloyd December 02, 1841.
127 iv. Manerva Glasscock, born 1823;
died 1912.
She married (1) Teter Arnett.
She married (2) Joseph Fox February 18, 1845.
128 v. Hesekiah Glasscock.
129 vi. William Glasscock, born 1827. He married Catherine Statler.
More About William Glasscock:
soldier in Co. G., 10th WVa Cavalry, Civil War
lived 1 1/2 miles north of Arnettsville, WVa
+ 130 vii. Daniel Glasscock, born June 10, 1828; died July 16, 1910.
131 viii. Lettitia Glascock. She married Marc Kerns March 11, 1848.
+ 132 ix. Arnett Glascock, born 1832.
+ 133 x. Charles Glascock, born 1835.
134 xi. Imlah Glascock, born 1838;
died 1928.
He married Mary Shackelford January 13, 1865.
........34. Thomas4 Arnett (Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born August 09, 1816 in Monongalia Co, WVa, and died March 16, 1899. He married Zarilda Price.
Notes for Thomas Arnett:
Thomas was born on Indian Creek in the vicinity Arnettsville and remained there as a farmer his entire life. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Thomas was given a paper by Henry Anderson (1805-1900) which purported to be a list of the names of those living in Marion Co, WV who had fought in the French and Indian War. Thomas in turn gave the list to Ehriam Ashcraft (1832-1923) who made it available to Glenn Lough for his book, Now and Long Ago, a history of Marion Co, VA, 1969. Among those on the list was Thomas Arnett's grandfather, James Arnett said on the list to be from "Dorset, Maryland."
Children of Thomas Arnett and Zarilda Price are:
135 i. Eliza Ann5 Arnett.
+ 136 ii. William C. Arnett, born March 30, 1840
in Arnettsville, Monongalia Co, WVa.
137 iii. Susan E. Arnett.
138 iv. Sylvester Arnett, born 1846; died 1927.
Notes for Sylvester Arnett:
Sylvester was interviewed by Glenn Lough for a section in his book,
Now and Long Ago, 1969 which detailed the origins
of the Arnett family according to the information which had been
passed along him by his family.
139 v. Richard H. Arnett.
Notes for Richard H. Arnett:
Richard Arnett moved to California
140 vi. James M. Arnett.
141 vii. Sarah A. Arnett.
142 viii. Emily J. Arnett.
143 ix. Thomas W. Arnett.
........36. Ulysses N.4 Arnett (Jonathan3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 07, 1820, and died December 03, 1880. He married Elizabeth Cunningham November 27, 1837.
Notes for Ulysses N. Arnett:
"He was deeply interested in community, County and State affairs, serving in the Virginia Assembly 1857-59 and was president of the West Va Senate 1877. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention that met in Wheeling, WV in 1874 to revise the State Constitution. He was engaged in grazing beef cattle. He met a tragic death at Rivesville, D.A. Dec 3, 1880. On leaving the church on a dark night, he lost his way and stepped over a precipice some 75 feet high, known locally as the goose path, and was drowned in the creek." [John N. Cunningham's mss.]
Children of Ulysses Arnett and Elizabeth Cunningham are:
144 i. William Willey5 Arnett, born October 23, 1838.
+ 145 ii. Jonathan T. Arnett, born July 06, 1846.
Generation No. 5
........58. Rebecca5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 21, 1828, and died 1904. She married Ulyses Price January 07, 1851.
Notes for Ulyses Price:
farmer on Paw Paw Creek, Marion Co, West Va.
Children of Rebecca Arnett and Ulyses Price are:
146 i. Elbert6 Price.
147 ii. Camden Price.
148 iii. Samantha Price.
149 iv. Ella Price.
150 v. Eber Price.
151 vi. Elsworth Price.
152 vii. Melissa Price.
153 viii. Levian Price.
........59. Dorcas5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 12, 1830, and died April 14, 1911. She married Ezekiel Fielding Cunningham.
Children of Dorcas Arnett and Ezekiel Cunningham are:
154 i. Amos William6 Cunningham, born March 04, 1849.
+ 155 ii. John Neason Cunningham, born August 13, 1851;
died Aft. 1941.
John N. Cunningham is the genealogist to whom the WVa Arnetts
are most indebted for his detailed family research and records.
+ 156 iii. Sarah Ellen Cunningham, born September 24, 1854.
157 iv. David Cunningham, born July 31, 1855.
........60. Levina5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 06, 1832, and died Bef. 1895. She married Joseph P. Davis.
Notes for Joseph P. Davis:
After the Civil War Joseph and Levina moved to Neosho Falls, Kansas and reared five children
Children of Levina Arnett and Joseph Davis are:
158 i. Creed6 Davis.
159 ii. Jennings Davis.
160 iii. Jobe Davis.
161 iv. Grant Davis.
162 v. Oraline Davis.
........62. Riley5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born January 10, 1840, and died May 20, 1912. He married Livina Lough April 03, 1866.
Notes for Riley Arnett:
6th Regt WV
Child of Riley Arnett and Livina Lough is:
163 i. Francis Dana6 Arnett, born September 21, 1867.
........63. Franklin C.5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 12, 1842. He married Elizabeth Bebout October 19, 1871.
Notes for Franklin C. Arnett:
Commissioner of Marion County Court for six years
Child of Franklin Arnett and Elizabeth Bebout is:
164 i. Nettie6 Arnett.
........67. Calvin W.5 Arnett (William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born June 14, 1853, and died 1896. He married Belle Jamison August 14, 1875.
Notes for Calvin W. Arnett:
C.W. attended the University of West Va briefly and left to operate a nursery and other businesses until he accepted a position in 1884 as general manager of the Geyser Mfg. Co of Waynesboro, PA. In 1891 he he bought a section of Fairmont and laid it out into lots which were sold as part of the Arnett addition. He helped organize and manage the Fairmont Development Company with extensive real estate holdings. In 1893 he served as mayor of Fairmont, and in 1895 helped organize the Bank of Fairmont.
Child of Calvin Arnett and Belle Jamison is:
165 i. Glenn J.6 Arnett, born March 18, 1880;
died 1932.
........68. John A.5 Arnett (Thomas4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born August 25, 1826, and died October 21, 1895 in Vinton Co, OH. He married Mary Ann Higgins February 08, 1847 in Marion Co, OH, daughter of David Higgins and Sarah M..
Children of John Arnett and Mary Higgins are:
166 i. Martha6 Arnett, born 1849 in Richie Co, VA.
She married Enos E. Reed August 18, 1868.
167 ii. Sarah Arnett, born 1851 in VA.
She married Joseph D. Wyman August 20, 1871.
+ 168 iii. Hamilton Arnett, born 1853 in VA.
+ 169 iv. Oliver James Arnett, born January 14, 1856 in VA;
died December 16, 1918 in Vinton Co, OH.
170 v. Melinda Arnett, born 1858 in VA.
171 vi. Mary Arnett, born 1861 in West Virginia.
She married Charles Morrow October 30, 1879.
172 vii. Emma Arnett, born 1864 in West Virginia.
She married Vance Morrow September 21, 1881.
173 viii. John Arnett, born 1867 in OH.
174 ix. Eliza Arnett, born 1869 in OH.
175 x. Henry S. Arnett, born 1872 in OH.
........73. William M.5 Arnett (James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 25, 1819, and died October 27, 1903. He married (1) Elizabeth Ann Hess November 10, 1837, daughter of William Hess. He married (2) Drusilla Jane Price July 19, 1860.
Notes for William M. Arnett:
William M. Arnett grew up on the family farm and engaged in the activity of farming and raising livestock throughout his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Democrat until the Civil War when he became a Republican. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Children of William Arnett and Elizabeth Hess are:
176 i. Enos6 Arnett, born December 12, 1838.
+ 177 ii. James H. Arnett, born April 17, 1841.
178 iii. Selina Arnett, born December 21, 1843.
+ 179 iv. William Elza Arnett, born December 20, 1846
in Monogalia Co, WVa; died Aft. 1934.
180 v. Mary Emaline Arnett, born June 12, 1850.
181 vi. Matilda "Tilly" Ann Arnett, born December 01, 1852.
182 vii. Margaret Helen Arnett, born May 05, 1855.
183 viii. Rachel Caroline Arnett, born December 25, 1857.
Children of William Arnett and Drusilla Price are:
184 i. Susan A.6 Arnett.
185 ii. William M. Arnett.
186 iii. Richard T. Arnett.
187 iv. Florence Arnett.
........74. Andrew5 Arnett (James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born July 24, 1823, and died June 17, 1888. He married Levina Price.
Children of Andrew Arnett and Levina Price are:
188 i. Trephina6 Arnett.
189 ii. Ellen Arnett.
190 iii. Colem Arnett.
191 iv. Adaline Arnett.
192 v. Angeline Arnett.
193 vi. James P. Arnett.
194 vii. Cora Arnett.
........75. Davis M.5 Arnett (James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born February 16, 1827, and died June 21, 1920. He married Sarah Hayhurst May 18, 1848.
Children of Davis Arnett and Sarah Hayhurst are:
195 i. Andrew J.6 Arnett.
196 ii. Mary J. Arnett.
197 iii. Francis Arnett.
198 iv. Lee Arnett.
199 v. Dora Arnett.
........90. Silas5 Arnett (Andrew "Andy"4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 26, 1828, and died February 08, 1905. He married Lucinda Lynch 1849.
Children of Silas Arnett and Lucinda Lynch are:
200 i. Elizabeth6 Arnett.
201 ii. Ellen Arnett.
202 iii. Pinkney Arnett.
203 iv. Rachel Arnett.
204 v. William Arnett.
205 vi. Nancy Arnett.
206 vii. Jessie L. Arnett.
207 viii. Solle Arnett.
208 ix. Cloria Arnett.
........91. Julia5 Arnett (Andrew "Andy"4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born April 11, 1826, and died July 10, 1907. She married William Straight.
Children of Julia Arnett and William Straight are:
209 i. William6 Straight.
210 ii. James Straight.
211 iii. Lucinda Straight.
212 iv. Andrew Straight.
213 v. Neason Straight.
214 vi. Henry Straight.
215 vii. Imley Straight.
216 viii. Fran Straight.
........92. James5 Arnett (Andrew "Andy"4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born May 02, 1831, and died January 21, 1912. He married Jane Wilson.
Children of James Arnett and Jane Wilson are:
217 i. Andrew6 Arnett.
218 ii. Wesley Arnett.
219 iii. William Arnett.
220 iv. Rachel Arnett.
221 v. Julia Arnett.
222 vi. Ellen Arnett.
223 vii. Margaret Arnett.
........99. Thomas5 Arnett (John4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born December 08, 1830, and died 1906. He married Harriet Jones.
Children of Thomas Arnett and Harriet Jones are:
224 i. Sanford6 Arnett, born 1856.
225 ii. Marion Arnett, born 1852.
226 iii. James Arnett, born 1862.
227 iv. Virginia Arnett, born 1864.
228 v. Emma Arnett, born 1866.
........102. Job5 Arnett (John4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born October 29, 1836. He married Martha Musgrave.
Children of Job Arnett and Martha Musgrave are:
229 i. Nancy Ellen6 Arnett, born 1861.
230 ii. Mary Emily Arnett, born 1864.
231 iii. Francis Ann Arnett, born 1866.
232 iv. Jesse Lee Arnett, born 1868.
233 v. Amanda Allie Arnett, born 1871.
234 vi. Nora Margaret Arnett, born 1873.
235 vii. John Wesley Arnett, born 1875.
236 viii. William Franklin Arnett, born 1878.
237 ix. Zana Ruth Arnett, born 1880.
238 x. James Luther Arnett, born 1883.
........113. Thomas Calvin5 Arnett (Solomon4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born August 28, 1834, and died November 03, 1905 in Fairmont, WVa. He married Hannah Trippett, daughter of Topliff Trippett and Catherine Keenan.
Notes for Thomas Calvin Arnett:
Thomas was a farmer and carpenter. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Children of Thomas Arnett and Hannah Trippett are:
239 i. May Catherine6 Arnett.
240 ii. Dennis S. Arnett.
241 iii. Lydia Belle Arnett.
242 iv. Parris Arnett.
+ 243 v. Curtis Topliff Arnett, born March 14, 1870 in Arnettsville,
Monongalia Co, WVa.
244 vi. Lillian B. Arnett.
245 vii. Lucy A. Arnett.
........114. David Clark5 Arnett (Solomon4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born May 10, 1837, and died August 03, 1918. He married Louisa West.
Child of David Arnett and Louisa West is:
+ 246 i. Frank6 Arnett, Sr, born October 14, 1868;
died April 24, 1930.
........130. Daniel5 Glasscock (Mary4 Arnett, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born June 10, 1828, and died July 16, 1910. He married (1) Rachel Musgrove. He married (2) Prudence Michael.
More About Daniel Glasscock:
lived 1 1/2 miles north of Arnettsville
Captain of the Home Guards during Civil War
Children of Daniel Glasscock and Rachel Musgrove are:
247 i. Stephen A.6 Glasscock.
248 ii. William E. Glasscock, born December 13, 1862;
died April 12, 1928.
He married Alice Miller.
More About William E. Glasscock:
1902, admitted to practice of law
1906, Internal Revenue Collector 1906-1908
1909, Governor of West Va 1909-1913
1928, buried in Morgantown Cemetery
249 iii. Samuel Fuller Glasscock.
More About Samuel Fuller Glasscock:
attorney in Morgantown
250 iv. Verna Glasscock.
251 v. Franklin Glasscock.
252 vi. Mollie Glasscock.
253 vii. Sarah Glasscock.
254 viii. Zana Glasscock.
........132. Arnett5 Glasscock (Mary4 Arnett, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1832. He married Elizabeth Coogle May 06, 1868.
More About Arnett Glasscock:
Civil War service: Co. A., 6th Regiment, WVa Infantry
Child of Arnett Glasscock and Elizabeth Coogle is:
255 i. J. Coleman6 Glascock.
........133. Charles5 Glascock (Mary4 Arnett, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1835. He married Mary J. Hess January 22, 1868.
Children of Charles Glascock and Mary Hess are:
256 i. Columbus6 Glascock.
257 ii. Norah Glascock.
........136. William C.5 Arnett (Thomas4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 30, 1840 in Arnettsville, Monongalia Co, WVa. He married Mary Thorn', daughter of Dennis Thorn and wife.
Notes for William C. Arnett:
William C. Arnett enlisted as a member of Co. B, 6th WV Infantry Regt and served until end of war in 1865. The Regiment's main duty was to protect the B & O RR in West Va. He was a Republican and member of the Methodist Church.
Child of William Arnett and Mary Thorn' is:
258 i. Lonna Dennis6 Arnett, born 1870. He married Ethyl Toy Williams.
........145. Jonathan T.5 Arnett (Ulysses N.4, Jonathan3, James2, Thomas1) was born July 06, 1846. He married Flora Leigh Watson.
Notes for Jonathan T. Arnett:
Jonathan entered the Civil War at age of 17 and served as a lieutenant under Robert E. Lee and remained in service until the end of the war.
Child of Jonathan Arnett and Flora Watson is:
259 i. Thomas W.6 Arnett, born August 29, 1867.
He married Lillie J. Hutchinson 1891.
Generation No. 6
.........155. John Neason6 Cunningham (Dorcas5 Arnett, William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born August 13, 1851, and died Aft. 1941. He married Martha Stewart Crum September 19, 1882. As noted above, John was the main source for this Arnett genealogy.
Children of John Cunningham and Martha Crum are:
260 i. Willa Jean7 Cunningham.
261 ii. Boyd Crum Cunningham.
........156. Sarah Ellen6 Cunningham (Dorcas5 Arnett, William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born September 24, 1854. She married Alfred Prichard.
Child of Sarah Cunningham and Alfred Prichard is:
+ 262 i. Nellie7 Prichard, born September 20, 1893.
........168. Hamilton6 Arnett (John A.5, Thomas4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born 1853 in VA. He married Elizabeth Redd March 27, 1881.
Child of Hamilton Arnett and Elizabeth Redd is:
263 i. John Wesley7 Arnett, born February 25, 1886.
........169. Oliver James6 Arnett (John A.5, Thomas4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born January 14, 1856 in VA, and died December 16, 1918 in Vinton Co, OH. He married Eliza A. Trimmer January 21, 1880, daughter of Anthony Trimmer and Lucinda Miller.
Children of Oliver Arnett and Eliza Trimmer are:
+ 264 i. Paul Ray7 Arnett, born March 20, 1894 in Vinton Co, OH;
died September 14, 1982 in Autumnwood, NH.
265 ii. Edward Vidalia Arnett, born June 30, 1889;
died January 15, 1960.
He married Eunice Gatton February 1920.
266 iii. Chester Hysel Arnett, born February 18, 1887;
died January 17, 1967.
........177. James H.6 Arnett (William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born April 17, 1841. He married Mary Elizabeth Snider.
Child of James Arnett and Mary Snider is:
+ 267 i. Arthur Tansy7 Arnett, born November 21, 1874;
died May 22, 1973.
........179. William Elza6 Arnett (William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born December 20, 1846 in Monogalia Co, WVa, and died Aft. 1934. He married Margaret Almira Cox, daughter of Boaz Cox and Drusilla Price.
Notes for William Elza Arnett:
William Elza Arnett grew up on the family farm and worked there till 1886 when he moved to Fairmont and engaged in real estate business. He served Fairmont's mayor 1907-1909 and during that time oversaw the construction of "The Million Dollar Bridge" over the Monongahela which remains to this day. He was a member of the Board of Education and facilitated the building of many schools throughout the county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Republican Party and a member of Odd Fellows.
During the Civil War he was old enough to serve in the Home Guards which were allied with the North. In his memoirs, William stated that his family was divided during the War. His grandfather (James), father (William M.) and one uncle stayed with the Union while "my other three uncles were for the South and holloed for Jeff Davis."
During his life he saw remarkable changes in the society with the advent of such inventions as the Marconi (radio), electric light, telephone, railroads, automobile, airplane, oil an natural gas etc. He and his wife enjoyed frequent trips to Florida and during one of their early trips took 22 days to get there, camping out every night along the way. Nearly two months after his wife died in October, William sat down "because I have nothing else to do" and on December 20, 1934 at the age of 88 typed out a 25 page memoir of his life.
Children of William Arnett and Margaret Cox are:
+ 268 i. Olive7 Arnett, born November 04, 1867.
+ 269 ii. Luther Calvin Arnett, born March 21, 1869.
+ 270 iii. Drusilla Jane Arnett, born November 30, 1871;
died May 11, 1964 in Vienna, WVa.
271 iv. Jennette E. Arnett, born May 13, 1882.
She married Samuel Luper October 20, 1906.
........243. Curtis Taploff 6 Arnett (Thomas Calvin5, Solomon4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 14, 1870 in Arnettsville, Monongalia Co, WVa. He married Lucy C. Morrison January 01, 1900, daughter of Thomas Morrison and Matilda Southern.
Notes for Curtis Taploff Arnett:
Dr. Curtis T. Arnett grew up in WV and then graduated from University of Louisville Medical School in 1897. After some post-graduate studies at the Polyclinic of New York, he returned to WV and set up practice at Marshville, Harrison County. He moved to Riversville in 1903 for a couple of years and then settled at Clarksburg in 1905 where he remained. He developed an interest in several Oil and Gas Companies and served as director of several of the companies.
Children of Curtis Arnett and Lucy Morrison are:
272 i. Basil7 Arnett, born March 23, 1901.
273 ii. Belle Marie Arnett, born June 13, 1903.
274 iii. Dr. Thomas Morrison Arnett, born August 13, 1906.
275 iv. Lucy E.V. Arnett, born December 03, 1911.
v. William Jennings Arnett, born 1917
........246. Frank6 Arnett, Sr (David Clark5, Solomon4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born October 14, 1868, and died April 24, 1930. He married Lillie Jane Koon January 24, 1900.
Children of Frank Arnett and Lillie Koon are:
276 i. Joseph Edward7 Arnett, born April 18, 1901.
He married Amy Marie Grogg December 26, 1935
in Oakland, Maryland.
277 ii. Nellie Arnett, born September 12, 1903;
died April 25, 1904.
+ 278 iii. Frank Arnett, Jr., born November 15, 1912.
Generation No. 7
........262. Nellie7 Prichard (Sarah Ellen6 Cunningham, Dorcas5 Arnett, William4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born September 20, 1893. She married David Carson February 11, 1923.
........264. Paul Ray7 Arnett (Oliver James6, John A.5, Thomas4, John3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 20, 1894 in Vinton Co, OH, and died September 14, 1982 in Autumnwood, NH. He married Nellie Charlene Edwards November 24, 1921 in Wellston, OH, daughter of Charles Edwards and Louisa Tripp.
........267. Arthur Tansy7 Arnett (James H.6, William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 21, 1874, and died May 22, 1973. He married Estella Cenora.
........268. Olive7 Arnett (William Elza6, William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 04, 1867. She married John William Pepper September 19, 1891.
........269. Luther Calvin7 Arnett (William Elza6, William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born March 21, 1869. He married Sally Swindler.
........270. Drusilla Jane7 Arnett (William Elza6, William M.5, James4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 30, 1871, and died May 11, 1964 in Vienna, WVa. She married Charles Benjamin Chancellor July 02, 1889, son of Benjamin Chancellor and Sarah King.
........278. Frank7 Arnett, Jr. (Frank6, David Clark5, Solomon4, Andrew3, James2, Thomas1) was born November 15, 1912. He married Louise Bartholomew August 21, 1937.
[Names of subsequent generations are known and may be given to family members and other genealogy researchers. -- jwarnett]
The following is an annotated transcript of a copy of some papers Marge Fox found on the Arnett family which were generated in 1945. She sent them to me in January 1999 after the above genealogy had been completed. The term "Straight" is a family name.
Straight Genealogy -12
Arnett Family
The Arnett Family Lineage as furnished by the International Genealogical Society of London, England that is taken from the Colonial Records of Virginia:
William Arnett was born near Bradford, England in 1631. [possibly Bradford-on-Avon which is closer to Bristol] He was a weaver by trade. He married Margaret McAferty. They became the parents of three sons [including James below and possibly Thomas, a sea captain mentioned in notes at end, and possibly an Andrew, William or Robert] and one daughter.
James Arnett, [Sr.] the eldest son [of William], was born in Bristol, England in 1667. He was a coastal trade longshoreman in Bristol Port. He married Ann Cartright in 1692, and they lived for sometime at Berkeley, where a son, Robert Arnett [b. 1694] and a daughter were born, but returned to Bristol in 1699 and lived there until 1711, when the family emigrated to Virginia on the ship "Spodwell" ["Speedwell" ?] John Haf_irn, Master.
The Ship Records [We presume the ship "Spodwell"] show: James Arnett [Sr.], husband; Ann Arnett, wife; James Arnett, Jr.[b. after 1692], son ; Ruth Arnett, daughter and Ann Arnett, daughter. [Robert is not mentioned in this Ship Record. He may have been inadvertantly omitted or may have come over on another ship or at a different time. The record below indicates that he came over the same year, 1711, as his parents. There could have been other sons as well as James, Jr. and Robert.]
This family of Arnetts settled as reported first, in Isle of Wight, but in 1721 were listed in Charles City, where the Family lived for many years.
James Arnett [prob. James, Jr.] became a Captain in the King's Colonial Guards in Virginia in 1742, and served in the King's War in 1745 and 1746. (It is not recorded when or where he died.)
These records are true as filed and recorded in the Bureau of Colonial Records.
International Genealogical Society,
London, England
Mrs. R. L. Hamilton
-107
Straight Genealogy -13
Arnett Family - continued
Virginia Colonial Report No. 2374.
Robert Arnett, son of James Arnett [Sr.] and wife Ann Arnett, of Charles City, Virginia, was born in Berkeley, England, April 16, 1694 and came with his parents to Isle of Wight, Virginia, in 1711.
Robert Arnett studied surveying and at the age of eighteen surveyed and made plats of land for the Rector Carleton.
Robert Arnett married Hannah Rockwell, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rockwell of Charles City in 1731.
They [Robert & Hannah] had sons: John Arnett, born in 1734; William Arnett, born in 1738; and son James Arnett, born in 1742; and Louise Arnett, born in 1736; and Ann Arnett, born in 1744. [There may have been a son, Andrew, or Robert may have had a brother, Thomas, who was the sea captain on the Eastern Shore, noted in the comments below.]
Robert Arnett surveyed the Upper Course of the Rappahannock in 1735.
John Arnett, son of Robert and Hannah Arnett, was born in Charles City, Virginia, September 16, 1734. He became a Virginia Militiaman at the age of sixteen years. He with his company was sent to the frontier border of Virginia in 1754. In 1755, he was a guard at Wills Creek, and in 1758 was in service at Fort Duquesne, in General Forbes Army against the French. In 1776 he was a Wood Ranger in Monongalia County, and in 1777 was in service at Fort Henry.
He married Caroline Carroll, in 1764, and in 1767, he with his wife and daughter Sophia settled in Northwest Augusta County, Virginia, in now Monongalia County. They had sons: James Arnett, born July 12, 1767; William Arnett; Thomas Arnett; and Robert Arnett; and daughters: Sophia, Cyntha and Maria Arnett.
The above genealogy of the Arnett Families was compiled from Virginia Colonial Records, obtained through the researches made by the American Genealogical Society, and from records of Northwest Augusta County, Virginia.
I believe this to be correct to the best of my knowledge.
p-108
Straight Genealogy -14
Arnett Family - continued
I have no date at hand, of the generation of the Arnett Families from the children of John and Caroline Carroll Arnett, but so far as I am able to ascertain, all the Arnetts that lived in Monongalia County, Preston County and Marion County, West Virginia, are descended from John Arnett, who settled in Monongalia County in March, 1767. [Actually a large number- of the Arnetts of Monongalia Co may have descend from John's brother, James, b. 1742.]
W. F. Horn
Topeka, Kansas,
November 23, 1945.
Addenda
"I will investigate the line to which James Arnett, born in 1742, belongs, but I feel sure he is John Arnett's brother. [This is probably correct.] There is support given to the genealogical statement that the Arnetts had lived in several, or at least two or three places, in Eastern Virginia, before they settled in Northwest Augusta County, and they probably did live in the territory now Loudon County, but Loudon County had no yet come into existence, when the Arnetts emigrated to Northwest Augusta County."
W. F. Horn
This Arnett Family Genealogy was prepared for, and presented to Mrs. Glenn A. Keister, (Naomi Straight Keister) by Mr. W. F. Horn, November, 1945.
Mrs. Glenn A. Keister,
622 Benoni Ave.,
Fairmont, W. Va.
[John Neace Cunningham typed his extensive Arnett manuscript in 1941, and there's no indication that he ever saw Mrs. Keister's notes. He made the mistaken assumption that the James Arnett, b. 1742 who m. Mary, was a descendant of Isaac Arnett of New Jersey and makes no mention of the ancestors William, Robert, or Thomas]
[In Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Marion Co, Wva, 1895, an article about C.W. Arnett (b.1853) mentions that C.W.'s father was William Arnett and his paternal grandfather was John Arnett, "of German nativity, but an early settler on the 'Eastern Shore,' Virginia where he and a brother, Andrew Arnett, emigrated in 1785 to the vicinity of the present village of Arnettsville."]
[In Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia, ed by Butcher , 1912..Vol III, pg. 1187: "Arnett; The first of this name in Virginia, now West Virginia, was one James Arnett, who is believed to have come from England with his wife Mary. He was a revolutionary soldier. The names of his children were: Andrew, John, James, Jonathan, Daniel, Mary, Catherine, and one whose name is not known. John and Andrew purchased two hundred acres in 1795 on Indian creek, where Arnettsville is now located.]
[In a collection of oral history interviews compiled by Glenn Lough in Now and Long Ago, A History of the Marion County Area, he reports that Sylvester Arnett (1846-1927) told him that "The first Arnett to live in the Marion County area, he said, was James Arnett, who settled at (now) Arnettsville, in 1789, and purchased land here in 1791. This James Arnett was born and reared in the old Thomas Arnett homestead, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but lived in Virginia and Pennsylvania before making a permanent settlement at (now) Arnettsville. He said that Mrs. James Arnett's maiden name was Mary Michael, and that her brother, Daniel Michael, married Mary Arnett, her husband's sister... He said that the Arnetts were of English-German descent, and that his ancestor, Thomas Arnett, was a ship's master, and sailed an English vessel, the Seven Brothers by name (or it may have been the Three Brothers; he wasn't quite certain) for many years."]
[The original copy of the "Straight Genealogy" reproduced in the unbracketed non-italicized portions of text above was found by Marge Fox. The bracketed annotations and other sources were supplied by me - John Arnett, January 20, 1999]
Comments about the origin of James Arnett
-- Phyllis Arnett Vines, August 15, 2001
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001
From: Phyllis Arnett Vines
To: John W. Arnett
I am sending a draft of comments I have written re the James Arnett family of Monongalia County, WV. Unfortunately, some of the mis-information or unproven information about James Arnett comes from the book Now and Long Ago by Glenn D. Lough, now deceased. It has also been used as fact in the History of Marion County, West Virginia, 1985 in an Arnett article written by a descendant.
It seems that people still like to believe that anything you read in a book must be the truth. I have read the Horn history of Arnetts written for Mrs. Keister and like his history of the Straight family he offers absolutely not one source that could verify anything he wrote.
PART IV: WHAT IS OUR ANCESTRY BEYOND JAMES ARNETT?
What was his wife's actual surname?
To date, there is but one wife of record for James Arnett and she is found as simply Mary on the deeds they made to their son Jonathan Arnett in 1810. There are two questions about her. Not knowing when they married, one must wonder if she was the mother of all of James' children. In the deeds they referred to Jonathan as their son so he and his younger sister, Mary Hogue, were undoubtedly children by his wife Mary. The question, therefore, still remains: Are the older children by Mary or another wife? The other question remaining is: What was her maiden name?
On the applications for membership in the Arnett Family Association (AFA) in the period 1906-1910, some gave her name as Mary Bell or Mary Belle and a few gave the name Elizabeth Bell as the wife of James Arnett, but none gave the surname Michael.
The AFA used the name Mary Belle Arnett on the monument in the Arnettsville Cemetery dedicated on August 25, 1927, and estimated that her death had occurred about 1815. The bronze tablet bearing this information was installed 25 May 1939. This means that the maiden name of Mary Arnett was not known on that date in 1939. Lonna D. Arnett (1870-1947) in his manuscript spelled her name simply as Mary Bell. But in 1969, the surname Michael was presented on page 69 in the book Now and Long Ago by Glenn D. Lough. Lough attributed this "new found" information to Sylvester Arnett (1846-1927) and wrote: "He [meaning Sylvester Arnett] said that Mrs. James Arnett's maiden name was Mary Michael, and that her brother, Daniel Michael, married Mary Arnett, her husband's sister."
THERE IS NO PROOF THAT HER MAIDEN NAME WAS MICHAEL
Sylvester Arnett was the son of Thomas and Zarilda Price Arnett; grandson of Andrew and Elizabeth Leggett Arnett; and great-grandson of our subject James Arnett. On September 15, 1906 Sylvester Arnett made application for membership in the Arnett Family Association at age 60. He accurately named his parents: Thomas and Zarilda Arnett; grandparents: Andrew and Elizabeth Arnett; but he erroneously named his great-grandfather as Jonathan Arnett and gave no name for his great-grandmother. His brother William C. Arnett (1840-1916), in his application, did name his great-grandfather as James but gave no name for his great-grandmother. This means that Sylvester had no independent knowledge of who his great-grandparents were in 1906 and whatever he told Glenn Lough he heard or learned after that date or Lough misunderstood what he was being told. Lough's book was published forty-two years after the death of Sylvester Arnett. Yet, the one time secretary and historian and eventual archivist of the AFA, Lonna D. Arnett, nephew of Sylvester, does not include any of this information in his manuscript which was not completed until about 1943, 16 years after Sylvester died. [Lonna D. Arnett was for years, also head Librarian at the University of West Virginia.]
In the early days of the AFA some of the old timers said that James had a daughter Barbara/Barbary and Paul Michael's wife was a daughter of James. We now know that Paul Michael, his wife Sarah, and his family removed from Monongalia County to Harrison County before 1804. We now know that Barbara/Barbary never married and lived with her sister Mary and her husband Solomon Hogue. But, before this was known, no record had been found for a Barbary Arnett and Paul Michael and his family had simply disappeared from Monongalia County and the name of his wife was unknown. Lonna D. Arnett apparently presumed that Barbary Arnett must have been the wife of Paul Michael. But without more supportive information, he could not include Barbary as a daughter or even the wife of Paul Michael. Therefore, in listing the children of James, he wisely wrote on page 1: "The names of his children were as follows, - John, Elizabeth, Andrew, Jonathan, Catharine, Daniel, James and Mary. (There is a rumor that another daughter was named Barbara and married Paul Michael.)"
James Arnett's daughter Elizabeth was the wife of Daniel Michael, brother of Paul Michael. Three Michael brothers, Casper, Paul and Daniel, and their families came to Monongalia County with James Arnett and his family from Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The Michael brothers were sons of Henry Michael and his wife Kristina Karges who were married 6 January 1756 in the Cardockley Lutheran Church, Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Henry Michael came to America with his parents Paulus and Christina Michael in 1739. According to Paulus Michael's will written the 30th Day of March 1768, York County, Windsor Township, his children were: eldest son Henry; second son William; eldest daughter Margaret wife of Casper Sailers; daughter Katherine wife of Adam Poliset; youngest daughter Anna Christina wife of Lawrence Poliset.
WAS THE SEA-CAPTAIN THOMAS ARNETT REALLY THE FATHER OF OUR JAMES ARNETT?
On page 68-69 of Now and Long Ago Lough wrote, again referring to Sylvester Arnett, "He said the Arnetts were of English-German descent, and that his ancestor, Thomas Arnett, was a ship's master, and sailed an English vessel, the Seven Brothers by name (or it may have been Three Brothers, he wasn't sure) for many years. The first Arnett to live in the Marion County area, he said, was James Arnett, who settled at (now) Arnettsville, in 1789, and purchased land here in 1791. This James Arnett was born and reared in the old Thomas Arnett homestead, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but lived in Virginia and Pennsylvania before making a permanent settlement at (now) Arnettsville." Lough continues writing "This writer [meaning Lough] is aware that this story differs considerably from the stories most often told (published) concerning this James Arnett, who, his grandson, Thomas Arnett, said (the Heck Interviews) was a Maryland soldier, and served in Pennsylvania, during the French and Indian War."
THIS WRITER'S COMMENTS:
Lough is passing down hearsay! He does not write that Thomas Arnett (1816-1899) specifically said that his grandfather was a Maryland soldier serving in the French and Indian War. Lough wrote: "Here are the names of a few of the king's men, who fought in the French and Indian War. It is believed that most of them have descendants now living in the Marion County area." In referring to the list of names, Lough wrote that an Ephraim Ashcraft had given him the names and that Ashcraft had copied them from a paper which had been given to Thomas Arnett by Henry Anderson (1805-1900). It is quite likely that if such a paper ever existed, the name "James Arnett, Dorset, Maryland", was of interest to Thomas Arnett. He might have even wondered if this was his grandfather? But where is the proof? And even if our James Arnett was the same James Arnett from Dorset, Maryland, it is really a big stretch in naming the sea-Captain Thomas Arnett, [actually of the Two Brothers ship] as his father. How was it determined that the Captain was from Dorset and that he had a son James Arnett? There were other ships captained by a Thomas Arnett. Were they the same man? Moreover, Thomas Arnett (1816-1899) did not share this information as fact with his grandson Lonna Dennis Arnett (1870-1947) or his son William C. Arnett or even his son Sylvester Arnett who you will remember did not even know in 1906 that his great-grandfather was James Arnett almost seven years after the death of his father Thomas. After Thomas Arnett's death in 1899, it would seem that this paper would have been found among his effects and would have, therefore, been of interest to his sons.
There is a good genealogical saying: The same name the same man does not make. More questions need answers:
Was the James Arnett of Dorset who enlisted in Chester County, Pennsylvania on 18 May 1759 at age 22 our James Arnett who died about 1818? Lough on page 330-331 attributes a J. C. "Johnny" Eddy as the author of a story told to Adam O. Heck in 1899 when Eddy was past ninety years old wherein Eddy said "Then, in the Spring of 1778, he [James Arnett] went off to Maryland, Dorset, I think, was the name of the place he came from, and was not seen around here again until about twenty years later……." However, the Eddy story Lough is writing about places our James Arnett on the Ohio River about 50 miles below Fort Pitt by 1775 or a little earlier when James Arnett, Samuel Eddy and Shadrack Muchmore came out from New Jersey or Maryland and the three settled together. After Muchmore died in 1775, James supposedly married his widow, but when she was murdered and scalped by Indians in 1777, James Arnett got on the Monongahela River opposite and just above Brownsville [Pennsylvania] and followed its east banks to Indian Creek, in Monongalia County. James fell in with some of the Lows and in 1778 he returned back to Maryland where he had left his family. But for the same time period we have records showing that James and his family were actually living in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His son James and daughter Catherine were born during this period. [Dorset was the spelling variation for Dorchester County, Maryland.]
Which James Arnett had 190 acres surveyed in 1766 in Berks County, Pennsylvania (PA Archives, Series 3, V26:241) and was living in Cumru Township, Berks County in 1767 (PA Archives, Series 3, V18:28).
Which James Arnett was the James Arnett named son in the 1768 will of Andrew Arnett (probated Dorchester County, Maryland, 1769)?
WHAT ABOUT THE JAMES ARNETT AND MARY BELL OF LOUISA
COUNTY, VIRGINIA?
This possibility had gained popularity before 1969 as shown by this excerpt from a letter written that year by Mrs. Harry L. (Della M. Arnett) Martin, Sr. in referring to the James Arnett of Louisa County, Virginia: "The records found in Louisa Co., VA are the closest this writer has come to proving the theory that James Arnett m Mary Bell & came from VA. There we find a James Arnett with a son James as well as a George Bell with dau. Mary. It seems this is the area for further search, especially because of the names on James Arnett's [Louisa County] will.."
Even as late as 3 June 1992, Laura Michael advised this writer that she had just been given this information about the wife of James Arnett from Susan Arnold of Morgantown "Mary (Bell) Arnett b. ca 1750 Louisa Co, VA, d/o George Bell b. ca 1725 Louisa Co. VA and Mary (maiden name unknown) b. ca 1730 Louisa Co, VA."
The James Arnett who was named son in the James Arnett will made 6 March 1770 and probated in 1781, Louisa County, Virginia, died in Woodford County, Kentucky in 1820. James d. 1820 was the son of James Arnett and his wife Susannah McGehee. James d. 1820 married twice in Louisa County, Virginia first to Sally Burrus on 6 October 1783 , by whom he had three children: Burrus Arnett, Lucie Dennis and Frances Pickett. He then married Sally's stepsister, Margaret Linney 8 August 1791 d/o William Linney and his first wife, Ann Bell. William Linney m. 2nd in 1780 Ann (Henderson) Burrus (widow of John Burrus d. 1779 and mother of Sally Burrus). William Linney m. 3rd Ann White. Children of James and Margaret (Linney) Arnett were: William L.Arnett; James I. Arnett; Sandridge Arnett; John Arnett; George W. Arnett; Sary McDaniel; Elizabeth Porter and Susanna Petty. George Bell's will was dated 3 March 1787 and probated 10 September 1787. He mentioned his second wife Cecilia; sons: Samuel, George, Nathan, Ashley, Anthony and Pleasants; daughter Mary. [Note: he did not name her Mary Arnett.]
ISAAC AND HANNAH (WHITE) ARNETT OF NEW JERSEY WERE BELIEVED TO BE THE THE PARENTS OF OUR PATRIARCH, JAMES ARNETT FOR A FEW YEARS
Neason Cunningham's Manuscript named Isaac Arnett and his wife Hannah White of New Jersey as the parents of our patriarch James Arnett. James Arnett the son of Isaac and Hannah (White) Arnett died on October 28, 1778 and is buried in the same graveyard with his parents, Elizabethtown First Presbyterian Church Yard Excerpts from a letter dated July 30, 1956 from Sara Morton Koehler (Mrs. Albert P.) of Bloomfield, New Jersey to a Mrs. Conaway (not otherwise identified) indicate that Mrs. Koehler was going to purchase an entire article written by a Mr.. Hutchinson for Mrs. Conaway so that she could decide for herself the fact that Mr. Hutchinson was correct in stating that the James Arnett in the Graham Tavern Ledger was the son of Isaac. Mrs. Koehler then adds that "It is my opinion that the James Arnett as mentioned in the Ledger refers to the James Arnett who died on October 28, 1778, buried Elizabethtown, lst Presb. Ch. Yd."
WHEN DID OUR JAMES ARNETT FAMILY LIVE IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA?
Lonna D. Arnett's Manuscript, page 1, says: "James Arnett settled just north of Arnettsville, Monongalia County, W. VA. about 1792 or 1793. According to information handed down through the Family he came from Loudoun County, Virginia."
It is suspected that the Loudoun County, Virginia origin comes from the spouse side of some of the Arnetts. Tied to Loudoun County were (1) Richard Price and his second wife Eleanor Prichard; 2) Ann Nancy Prichard third wife of. Davis Meredith. [The Prichard's were from Loudoun County via Allegany County, Maryland, into Monongalia County.] Rachel Meredith and Eleanor Meredith married Arnetts. Rebecca Meredith married Henry Neptune who was born in Loudoun County and their daughter Ruth married John Arnett. Sylvester Arnett's wife Eliza Parker was the granddaughter of Mary L. Prichard second wife of John Parker, who was from Loudoun County. There were probably others.
There have been no Arnett records found in Loudoun County relating to our James Arnett family to date. However, there were Arnetts living there. There was an Alexander Arnett who bought land in 1761 and sold it to his son Samuel Arnett in 1765. Alexander's will dated 25 December 1769 was probated 10 March 1770. He named his wife Ruth and their son Samuel. Probate records and court orders indicate that Alexander had three sons: (1) Thomas Arnett who removed in 1769 to the Augustus County area which became Boutetout County where he and his family remained until about 1790 when they removed to Clark County, Kentucky where he died in 1809; (2) Samuel Arnett remained in Loudoun County where he died in 1810 ; and 3) Alexander Arnett, Jr. deceased by 1768 when his three children were bound to Samuel Arnett, his brother. The three children were: Thomas Arnett (age 10 in 1768); Sarah Arnett (age 8 in 1768) and Ruth Arnett (age 6 in 1768). Two other Arnetts were somehow connected to the Alexander Arnett family, a Margaret Arnett and a Jacob Arnett. After the War of 1812, a Nathaniel Arnett and his family removed from Frederick County (Clark County) Virginia to Loudoun County. Nathaniel Arnett appeared on the 1817 and 1818 tax lists, but he died in 1819. However, his widow and children did remain in Loudoun County.
CONCLUSION:
IF James Arnett and his family ever lived in Loudoun County, they left no tracks. He was not on the tithable or personal property tax list and no deed for land was found for him.
Research must continue to discover the ancestry of our James Arnett and his wife or wives.
Susannah's father was Samuel McGehee and deceased by 1795 when the Kentucky heirs gave permission for William Arnett to receive their legacies. Will of James Arnett dated 13 Dec 1819 on file, Woodford County, KY, Courthouse, Versailles, Ky, recorded Will Book F:196, 1820.
History of Louisa County, Virginia by Malcolm Harris.
Louisa County, Virginia, marriage records.
Samuel Arnett's will dated 18 December 1809 and probated in Loudoun County on 8 February 1810.
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