John Chesnut1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 20660, (1826 - 1894)
FatherMajor George Chesnut1 (29 Nov 1803 - 10 Mar 1884)
MotherElizabeth Edwards1 (26 Jan 1807 - 19 Aug 1874)

Key Events:

Birth: 17 Apr 1826, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania4,5,6
Marriage: 30 Oct 1848, McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Jane Flora (about 1828 - 27 Jan 1899)7,8,9
Death: 16 Dec 1894, Martinsburg, West Virginia10
Burial: 18 Dec 1894, Martinsburg, West Virginia10
ChartsDescendants of David Dutt/Toot

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     John Chesnut was born on 17 Apr 1826 in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.4,5,6
     He was probably the male under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Major George Chesnut, in the 1830 Federal Census of Dublin Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.11 He was probably the male age 10 to 15 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Dublin Twp., Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.12
     John was appointed postmaster of Ft. Littleton, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania, on 9 Apr 1846. He was replaced 5 Jun 1848, but was re-appointed 11 Jul 1848. He served until 15 Jun 1849. On 29 Jul 1853, after the area had become part of Fulton Co., he was appointed again, serving until 14 Dec.13,14
     John married Elizabeth Jane Flora, daughter of George Flora and Rebecca Simpson, on 30 Oct 1848 in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.7,8,9
     John and Elizabeth appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Dublin Twp., Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, enumerated 25 Sep 1850, reporting no real estate. Their son George was listed as living with them, as was Susan Spencer, age 12, relationship unknown. She may have been related to the Samuel Spencer family that was listed next in the record.2
     John and Elizabeth appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Dublin Twp., Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, enumerated 19 Sep 1860, reporting no real estate but personal estate of $150. Their children George, Charlotte and James were listed as living with them.3
     John registered for the draft for the Civil War, appearing on the register dated in Jun 1863, while living in Dublin Twp., Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, reporting he was employed as as a teacher. There is a notation "in 9 mos. service" on that record, but no other record of any military service has been found.15
     John and Elizabeth appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Ft. Littleton, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, enumerated 13 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate of $150. Their children George, Charlotte, Alice, Ann, Martha and Flora were listed as living with them.16
     John and Elizabeth moved with all their younger children to West Virginia before 1880. They appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Hampshire Co., West Virginia, enumerated 10 Jul 1880, as was James R. Edwards, age 23, a farm hand. Their children James, Alice, Ann, Martha and Flora were listed as living with them.17
     He was a farmer in 1850, and a teacher by 1860. By 1870 he had returned to farming, and continued farming after they moved to West Virginia. By 1884 he was known as a lumberman.18,19,20,21,1,22
     John died on 16 Dec 1894 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, at age 68.10 He was buried on 18 Dec 1894 in Martinsburg, West Virginia.10

Children:
     Children with Elizabeth Jane Flora:

Citations

  1. [S6728] Berkeley County West Virginia GenWeb, online, "Biography of John Chesnut," submitted by Marilyn Gouge, extracted from West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, vol 3, a reprint of Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia Berkeley County, West Virginia, Biographies List (1884).
  2. [S6729] John Chesnut household, 1850 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania.
  3. [S6730] John Chestnut household, 1860 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania.
  4. [S6728] Berkeley County West Virginia GenWeb, online, "Biography of John Chesnut," submitted by Marilyn Gouge, extracted from West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, vol 3, a reprint of Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia Berkeley County, West Virginia, Biographies List (1884), shows date, county, and state.
  5. [S6729] John Chesnut household, 1850 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows age 24 and state.
  6. [S6730] John Chestnut household, 1860 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows age 33 and state.
  7. [S6728] Berkeley County West Virginia GenWeb, online, "Biography of John Chesnut," submitted by Marilyn Gouge, extracted from West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia, vol 3, a reprint of Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia Berkeley County, West Virginia, Biographies List (1884), shows date, city, and state.
  8. [S6729] John Chesnut household, 1850 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  9. [S6730] John Chestnut household, 1860 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  10. [S6739] Register of Deaths, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 2:258, no. 119, John Chestnut.
  11. [S6746] George Chesnut household, 1830 U.S. Census, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.
  12. [S6745] George Chesnut household, 1840 U.S. Census, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.
  13. [S6737] Ft. Littleton, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971.
  14. [S6738] Ft. Littleton, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971.
  15. [S6735] John Chesnut Jr., Civil War Draft Registrations Records.
  16. [S6733] John Chesnut household, 1870 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania.
  17. [S6734] John Chestnut household, 1880 U.S. Census, Hampshire Co., West Virginia.
  18. [S6729] John Chesnut household, 1850 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as farmer.
  19. [S6730] John Chestnut household, 1860 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as teacher.
  20. [S6733] John Chesnut household, 1870 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as farmer.
  21. [S6734] John Chestnut household, 1880 U.S. Census, Hampshire Co., West Virginia, shows occupation as farmer.
  22. [S6787] Lester Herbert Sigler and Eleanor Margaret Hitchens, Application for Marriage License and Return, shows occupation as tool dresser.
  23. [S6729] John Chesnut household, 1850 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  24. [S6730] John Chestnut household, 1860 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  25. [S6733] John Chesnut household, 1870 U.S. Census, Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  26. [S6731] James M. Chesnut, Certificate of Death.
  27. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 20:80, James W. Sigler and Margaret E. Chesnut.
  28. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 20:86, John H. Daniels and Alice B. Chesnut.
  29. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 21:51, George A. Williams and Ann E. Chestnut.
  30. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 22:204, Daniel G. Moler and Ella D. Chestnut.