Unanswered Questions About the Everitt Family
Research on the Everitt family of Scott County, Indiana has lead to many unanswered questions. These questions may eventually be answered by research or may never be answered because of the loss of records and the passage of time. If anyone has an answer to one of the following questions, or suggestions and ideas on how to find an answer, please contact me at jhar33@aol.com.1) Who were William C. Everett's parents?
William was born in Virginia on 8 Feb 1788. He may have been born near the Atlantic Coast as suggested by the family tradition that says he went to sea at age 8. A town called Everets once existed in what is now Suffolk, Virginia. One of Captain William Davis Everitt's Civil War letters makes reference to his Virginia cousins, indicating relatives remaining in that state. UPDATE!!!
2) Was William C. Everett married prior to his marriage to Mary C. Lewellen and, if so, did he have other children?
William, at the age of approximately 30 years, married Mary C. Lewellen, age approximately 16, on 12 May 1818 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. They apparently remained in Kentucky until at least 1824 when their son James was born there. It is assumed, therefore, that he would be listed in the 1820 Kentucky census, probably in Jefferson County. In fact, a William Everitt, age 26-45, is listed in the 1820 census for Louisville, Kentucky. By this time, William would have been about 32 and Mary 18. There are three females listed in the census with William, one under the age of 10, one 10-16 and the other 26-45, none of which would appear to be Mary. If it is assumed that Mary is mistakenly listed as being 26-45 years of age, are the two other girls daughters of William's by a previous wife, other relatives, or is this the wrong William Everitt? In the 1830 census, William and family appear in Clark County, Indiana. Five children appear in the family. Data found to date indicate only four children born by the time of the 1830 census. The child in the census that does not "fit" is a female aged 10-15 years, or born between 1815 and 1820, possibly the girl under the age of 10 in the 1820 census. This girl could be a daughter by a previous marriage, a daughter by Mary that died young for which no other records exist, or possibly a relative living with the family.
3) Did William C. Everett have a son named Isaac?
Some family history documents prepared by previous researchers working on this family have suggested that William may have had a son named Isaac, but left the question open. There are some records of an Isaac Everett in Scott County around the middle of the 1800s, primarily in the form of deed transfers. None of these transfers involve other identified members of William Everett's family as do many other transfers involving his children. There does not appear to be any listing of an Isaac Everett in any Scott County census records, possibly an indication that he only traded in real estate in the county and was not a resident. An Isaac Everett died in Louisville, Kentucky on 18 Jan 1873, apparently the same Isaac Everett listed in the 1870 Jefferson County, Kentucky census, aged 66, an insurance agent who owned $120,000 worth of Real Estate (some connection to the Galt House). It is possibly that this Isaac Everett was the one who owned land in Scott County. It is unlikely that this is the son of William as he was born in Kentucky and William was apparently still in Virginia at that time.
4) What became of William C. Everett's children, Edwin J. Everett and Elizabeth J. Everett and who was Mary C. Anderson?
The 1850 Scott County census is the first to list the names of all members of the William C. Everett household. In this census, two persons, assumed to be William's children, are listed that do not appear in any other records. These are: Edwin J. Everett, age 15, and Elizabeth J. Everett, age 11. Additionally, a young woman, Mary C. Anderson, age 17, is also listed. No other records of these three individuals have been found and the relationship between the William Everett family and Mary Anderson is unknown.
5) What became of William's second (third?) wife, Margaret Consley, whom he married on 17 Oct 1860?
Family tradition indicates that William married a Mrs. Consley "..who had 3 boys and 1 girl. She was a good looking woman but they separated.." The Captain William Davis Everitt Civil War letters mention both a Harman Consley and a Louisa Consley, possibly two of these children.
6) Who was the large slave holder that Everitt family tradition indicates was related to William C. Everitt?
Everitt family tradition indicates that there was a relative of William C. Everett that was a large slave holder, holding up to 800 slaves at one time. One family member believes this person to have been a brother of William's. This slave holder likely lived in Virginia.
7) What became of George Washington Everett's daughters?
George Washington Everett married America Frances Wilson and had two
daughters, Margaret F. Everett and Laura E. Everett. George died
in 1865 at the close of the Civil War and America remarried in 1867 to
George W. Chapple. George and America Chapple appear in the 1870
census, apparently with Margaret, age 8, but not Laura. In December,
1874, Scott County probate records indicate that John W. Wilson was appointed
guardian of the persons and estates of these two girls. From this
it is assumed that America and/or George Chapple had died prior to this
appointment and that John W. Wilson is some relation of America.
No further record of either girl has been found.
