Returning Home to New Jersey ? Alletta Van Arsdalen
Biography

Returning Home to New Jersey ? Alletta Van Arsdalen


B. 7 May 1803 in Somerset County, New Jersey
M. 29 Mar 1826 in Boundbrook, New Jersey
Husband: James Ross
D. 13 May 1886 in South Branch, New Jersey

Alletta Van Arsdalen was born and died in Somerset County, New Jersey, but spent much of her life in Illinois. She was born May 7, 1803 to Christopher Van Arsdalen and Sarah Dumont, the youngest of six children. She was baptized in the Reformed Dutch Church with her name being listed as "Alche," a Dutch variation of her name. Her parents called her "Letty." When she was 11 years-old, she was left $50 and two ?suits of wearing apparrel? in the will of a female family friend.

On March 29, 1826, Alletta married James Ross in Boundbrook, New Jersey. She had three sons born between 1829 and 1836: John, David and James. When the family moved to Jersey County, Illinois in 1839, Alletta's father loaned James $500. About a year after they got settled in their new home, her father died.

By 1860, all three of Alletta's sons had gotten married. While David and James were well-respected, John was not. In 1866, he was arrested for burglarizing a grocery store in Jerseyville and sent to prison. In a petition by the members of the community, it was suggested they were requesting John's release mainly for the sake of his parents; one signer even wrote next to his signature, "for his mother." John was pardoned by the governor after serving only one year of his 3-year sentence.

Alletta's husband had a stroke in 1874 and died four years later. Sometime after this, she left Illinois and returned to New Jersey, where she owned some property. While she was living in New Jersey, in March of 1885, son David committed suicide. In 1885, she sold the New Jersey property for $1,400, and had a will made out, leaving her assets to son James and her granddaughters. Son John is believed to have died before 1880.

Alletta died on May 13, 1886 at the home of Arthur Schenck in South Branch, New Jersey. When she died, an inventory was taken of her possessions that seemed to indicate she was living alone in one room, since there was only a bed, a chair and a dresser listed. She was buried in Raritan Cemetery in Somerville, New Jersey, but in her will also asked that she be given a gravestone next to her husband in Jerseyville, Illinois.

Children:
1. John Ross ? B. 1829, New Jersey; M. Ellen Ann Luckey (1829-1882), 3 Apr 1850, Jerseyville, Illinois

2. David R. Ross ? B. 1831, Boundbrook, New Jersey; D. 16 Mar 1885, Jersey County, Illinois; M. Eliza McBride (1834-1904), 7 May 1885, Carrollton, Illinois

3. James Christopher Ross ? B. 20 Mar 1836, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 27 Jan 1904, Jersey County, Illinois; M. Elizabeth J. Robinett (1842-1905), 22 Mar 1857, Jersey County, Illinois

Sources:
Family Bible of Christopher and Sarah Van Arsdalen
Death certificate of Alletta Ross, Somerville, New Jersey, 13 May 1886
Will of Alche Van Deventer, Piscataway, New Jersey, 23 Jun 1814
Will of Aletta Ross, South Branch, New Jersey, 1885-1886
Prison pardon file of John Ross, Jersey County, Illinois, 1867
1850, 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census, Illinois
Tombstone inscriptions, Oak Grove Cemetery, Jersey County, Illinois
Tombstone inscriptions, Oakwood Cemetery, Parsons, Kansas
Marriage certificate of John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey, 6 Apr 1850, Jersey County, Illinois
Jersey County, Illinois obituary index
History of Jerseyville, Illinois, Reverend Marshall M.Cooper, 1901
Illinois statewide marriage index, 1763-1900




- A Husband In Prison ? Ellen Ann Luckey
B. 1829 in Tennessee M. 3 Apr 1850 in Jersey County, Illinois Husband: John Ross D. 1882 in Labette County, Kansas Ellen Ann Luckey was born in Tennessee in 1829 to Joseph and Esther Luckey, probably as the two migrated from North Carolina to Missouri....

- Giving Up Her Family Bible ? Sarah Dumont
B. 9 Mar 1764 in Somerset County, New Jersey M. 30 Apr 1789 in Somerset County, New Jersey Husband: Christopher Van Arsdalen D. 28 Feb 1846 in Somerset County, New Jersey Sarah Dumont was born in Somerset County, New Jersey on March 9, 1764 to Peter Dumont...

- Eight Children Left Without A Father ? John Ross
B. 5 Feb 1764 in New Jersey M. 7 Sep 1788 in New Jersey Wife: Martha Van Tuyl D. 2 Mar 1808 in New Jersey John Ross was born February 5, 1764 in New Jersey to John Ross and Martha Anderson, one of five children. The family is believed to have lived in...

- Raising Her Children Alone ? Martha Van Tuyl
B. 20 Jun 1767 in New Jersey M. 7 Sep 1788 in New Jersey Husband: John Ross D. 27 May 1853 in Somerset County, New Jersey Martha Van Tuyl was born in New Jersey on June 20, 1767, but it is unknown who her parents were. The Van Tuyl family were Dutch immigrants...

- Revolutionary War Veteran ? Christopher B. Van Arsdalen
B. 20 Apr 1760 in Somerset County, New Jersey M. 30 Apr 1789 in Somerset County, New Jersey Wife: Sarah Dumont D. 1 Jun 1840 in Somerset County, New Jersey Christopher B. Van Arsdalen was born April 20, 1760 to Hendrick Van Arsdalen and Catherine Brokaw...



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