James Arnet,abt 1792,Duplin Co.NC,d.Muhlenberg, Co.,KY

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Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on August 10, 2009 at 3:27pm

Welcome Danna-

On Ancestry, I see a marriage bonds for a James Arnet to a Hannah Magee on September 17, 1805 in Duplin County, NC. Bondsman was Henry X Deal and witness was Samuel Hearing.

Do you have death information for James or Elizabeth? Or information on their children?

Permalink Reply by Danna Arnett Stevens on August 10, 2009 at 4:28pm

James died in 1842 in Muhlenberg Co., KY, Elizabeth died Jan 26, 1854 in Muh., Co.,KY. Children were1.Nancy Carter Arnett, b.8-19-1815,d.July 1889,m.James C.Wilkins 2 James Jr. b.11-4-1816, m. Mary Ann Wilkins 3.Nelly Ellen b 1823 m. James Barnabus Wilkins 4.Lewis I m. 1.Sarah Wilkins 2.Edith Peavler 5. William no info. 1830 census shows 4 boys,3 girls.James Sr. married Elizabeth in 1815 in Muhlenberg Co., & bought land there in 1816.Most of the Wilkins seem to have come into Muh.Co in late 1790's. Elizabeth was born in Duplin Co in 1797.Also some discrepency in that line, most records showing her father as William Cunningham & mother Nancy Hannah. I don't believe the William Cunningham record is accurate. He was a 1st generation American & other research I have found proves the Wilkins ancestors to have been here much longer than that, going back to Lemuel/Capt. William Wilkins in VA.Any help will be much appreciated. Had not been able to find many records in Duplin Co. Thanks, Danna

Permalink Reply by Danna Arnett Stevens on August 18, 2009 at 10:38pm

Gene, some of the info on James came from the geneological dept. of the Muhlenberg Co. library. This is the James who was married to Elizabeth Wilkins. Some dispute as to the parents of Elizabeth, but either way, she would have been born in Duplin, Co. NC, as all of the Wilkins in Muhlenberg Co were on the census in Duplin Co until their departure for Muhlenberg Co.Question as to whether her father was Wm., or Willis. 1 record show Wm & another Willis. Willis would be logical, as his wife was Nancy Carter, & she named her first daughter Nancy Carter Arnett.However, the ages of his children don't match. Most trees show her father as WmCumberland & him as the 1st generation born in US. I have pretty well proved that to be incorrect. I got James age from census records. I found evidence that he could have been connected to the Bath Co., group(Louisa VA/KY) as it showed a will of Samuel? MaGehee & a marriage license for Sally Burris being transferred from Muhlenberg Co to Bath Co. This would imply their was a connection to James, as he & Elizabeth Arnet Garris were the only 2 Arnetts in Muhlenberg Co. at that time.However, although there were James' in that group, the ages, locations,etc., don't fit. Have also felt their might be a connection w/Joseph & Agnes Shelton, as they moved to Henderson about the time he appeared in Muhlenberg, & many of the given names are the same in the 2 families.The connection w/Philemon is because all records I have found give Philemon as the probable father of Elizabeth Arnet Garris, who was born & married in Duplin Co. & the only Arnet in Muhlenberg until James came. There were a number of marriages between the 2 families & the Wilkins.James & Elizabeth had a son, William, who had apparently left the county-or at least the family, since he was only left "$2.00 to be paid him in cash" when James died. The other children were left land, furn., cattle, etc.The family was active in the beginning of the Unity Baptist Church in Graham, as either James Sr. or Jr.(doesn't specify which) was church clerk. The cemetery was donated by my grandfather.I am open to any proofs that James came from somewhere other than Duplin Co., but just haven't found anything that fits anywhere-there or otherwise.I had seen the Arnett web & have talked to John Arnett.There was a family story to the effect that James was carried into Ky from NC by his mother & a neighbor woman because he was too small to ride in the covered wagon, & Alec Arnett(History prof. at U of NC) confirmed to my father that he was familiar w/the story from the NC end.However, since he doesn't show up until 1815, that doesn't fit, unless they stopped somewhere else on the way after leaving NC.He has just been a complete puzzle! Any help is appreciated!Almost forgot-Elizabeth lived w/her daughter Ellen, & her husband Barnabus Wilkins, after James died in 1842.

Permalink Reply by Danna Arnett Stevens on August 19, 2009 at 5:11pm

I have been trying to get in touch w/some of the Henderson Arnetts, as the given names all fit, & usually families seemed to follow the same pattern w/them. I did find a Deborah Arnet in Duplin Co in 1810 or 20(will have to check) who never showed up before or after, w/a son, John & family, & then a son William. The ages & dates fit perfect for James to have been in that family. She had obviouslly JUST become head of the household, as she doesn't show up otherwise. The same census, Philemon had just moved to Roberson Co. along w/what was apparently a son,Zaddock, & Perrigrin l& famiy already lived there.Philemon's wife is never mentioned by name on Elizabeth Arnet Garris' records, or Perrigrin's. Perrigrin was quite a bit older than his wife, which led me to wonder if James could have been his son by a previous marriage & maybe he started the trip to KY w/his sister & family & lost his wife on the way. That would have been a rough trip for a woman who had just had a baby(going back to the family story), & maybe Elizabeth & Sikes raised him in Muhlenberg Co. & Perrigrin went back to the Carolinas.He seemed to have moved around a lot there, & 1 record says he moved to GA after his daughter was grown. I do have everything on Ancestry.com, except things that are "iffy". I have most of the family from James & Elizabeth forward.Have been checking. as you said, on later generations going back to see what they have, but no luck so far. Danna

Permalink Reply by Danna Arnett Stevens on August 19, 2009 at 11:19pm

I have talked w/Dr. Charles Garris, who is related through the William Jackson Arnett side. He is watching fo whr any possible proof that Elizabeth Arnet & Sikes Garris might have raised James, or that other Arnet's may have been in the wagon train they came in with.There appear to be connections between most of the families in Graham w/Duplin Co, possibly having come in together.The Carters & Wilkins were already related by marriage, prior to their move to KY & most of the Arnetts were married to Wilkins in Muhenberg Co.I was hoping that someone in the Henderson group might have some family info(Famiy Bible, etc) showing a James moving to Muhenberg Co. I have the family Bible from my mother's side, which has been a great help w/part of her family.A Willliam showed up inHenderson who has possibilities of being the William who was apparently "dis-inheireted" by James.If so, James would have grandchildren(g.g.) there who might have info that we don't.The research so far has been both fun & profitable, just in having located relatives in all families that I didn't know about. Some I have now met & we are keeping in touch on info. Found that I went to school w/one of them, & we had no idea (nor did our parents) that we were related. In fact, we lived about 2 blocks from each other.His father was the first of the Biggs family to move to KY, while mine, the Mercers, had been there for generations. They all started w/the marriage of Katherine Biggs & Thos.Mercer, & since the Biggs name was lost in that marriage, no one in our family ever knew it had been there. Also found 2 cousins in CA & NV whose mother I knew as a child, but didn't know what happened to her.I got into this, partly for medical reasons, plus a desire to know more about my father's family, & it has gone from there. One of the Arnett connections is Jarvis, whose name was changed, apparently from von Graf, to Graf, to Graves & Gravey. According to my Dr., I have some Jewish blood, he thinks probably from the German connections we also never knew were there!The Briles family were also German & changed their name about 12 or more times through the years, so there is another possibility.Also the Gossetts were German.I have been in touch w/a Jarvis from Muh.Co who is Morman & has tons of research on them. Hoping to find some info through him.Thanks for your thoughts on this. I have some books on Muh Co history. Arnetts are mentioned but no specific info on what I want to know. I know where the graves for James Jr. & Mary Ann are, but have not been able to locate those for James & Elizabeth, so far. Danna