Person:Jennie Wilmot (1)

Jennie was born the month before her father sought his freedom from Robert Matson in 1846. While we can't be sure that he is the biological father, she always used his surname in all of her records and David's obituary says Sim Wilmot was her father.

She became the second wife of David J. Manuel just months after his first wife died in 1870. She instantly became the mother of five children ranging in age from 16 to 1. She herself was 24 at the time of her marriage to David's 40 years. He is one of two or three tri-racial brothers who joined the Brushy Fork community and married younger women.

According to the 1900 census she had nine children with seven living: Simeon Guy, Clyde, Isaac, Jenny Grace, were still living, it is likely that Alice, Emma C. or G. had died. It is possible that she counted the three stepsons she raised in this number: Nelson, William and Jacob. Her stepdaughter Rachel might be the other child who died since she was living with the family in 1880.

She seems to have lived near her father in his later years, probably caring for him. And when her sister Nancy died, she took in her daughter, Amanda Gertrude Kirby. This information is based on census records, guardianship papers from 1875, and her entry on Find-a-grave.com. There is a image of the obit for Jennie on find-a-grave. It says she lived on E. Barker St. in Tuscola, was age 61 when she died and was the aunt of Mrs. William Mitchell (nee Gertrude Kirby).

1. ↑ 1900 Census Record, in Douglas, Illinois, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1900.

   Jennie Manuel b. Mar 1846

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Global, Find A Grave Index for Non-Burials, Burials at Sea, and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current.

   Jennie Manuel buried Tuscola Township Cemetery, Tuscola, IL died 14 Oct 1907.

3. ↑ Newspaper, in Mattoon Daily Journal
   pg. 5, 26 Feb 1902.

   Mrs. David Manuel (Jennie), 701 DeWitt Ave. has a severe attack of lung fever.