Person:Mary Vestal (2)

Mary Vestal Jay was condemned for marrying out of unity to William Jay in 1743. She did not "acknowledge the error" until after William's death and just prior to removal to South Carolina, where she asked for her letter in 1772 from Hopewell MM at Winchester, VA. (The Bulletin by CMJ).

Mary received a "certificate to Ohio" in 1804 along with her daughter Rachel Arnold. (Hinshaw, "Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy" , Vol. 1, part II, Bush River MM, p. 1022.)

December 13, 1804, Hinshaw's "Encyclopedia of Amer. Quaker Gen., Vol. 5, p. 61, Miami M.M., states: "Rachel Arnold & her ancient mother, Mary Jay, received on certificate from Bush River MM, S.C., dtd 1804, 8, 25." Miami M.M. was located on the Little Miami River in Warren County, Ohio and was the first Monthly Meeting to be established in southwestern Ohio.

More About MARY VESTAL: Burial: Caesars Creek Quaker Burying Ground, Warren Co., OH Fact 6: 05 Oct 1772, Signed Certificate of Apology to Hopewell Mtg. for Bush River9 ___________________________

Mary Vestal and William Jay married about 1743 in Frederick Co., VA. She likely lost her membership in the Quaker church for marrying out of unity.

On 10/5/1772, Mary Vestal Jay sent an acknowledgement of marriage out of meeting to the Hopewell Monthly Meeting. This was a few months before her husband's death. (Some researchers mistakenly claim this is because she married again.) (C-1338) It was accepted and Jesse Pugh was appointed to assist the women in preparing a certificate for her to remove to Bush River. (C-804) In Virginia, none of the Jays appear to have been Quakers, but shortly before and around the time she was reaccepted, all of her children appear to have become Quakers. She had two children married in the Quaker Meeting in the 3rd month of 1772.

Vickie Leimback and Mike Southerland state that Mary's birth date was about 1723. Mike gives her death date as 1773 in New Burlington, Miami, OH and her full name as Mary Elizabeth Vestal. However, this death date cannot be correct, as Mary Vestal Jay and her daughter Rachel Jay Arnold received a certificate to move to Ohio in 1804. They moved in 1805 probably to Miami Co., Ohio. She died near New Burlington, Ohio between 1818-1820 and is buried in Caesars Creek Quaker Burying Ground.