Life History

Notes

• Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978
  William Jasper Hayes
  Marriage 25 Mar 1860 Habersham, Georgia, USA
  Spouse Mary Jane Lierecan Pitts
  Habersham Marriages, Book B, 1841-1874, p 399
  
  Several genealogies have her third name as Leman, but cite no documentation.  The name "Lierecan" could be a mistranscription of a handwritten Leman.  They also have an additional name of Orpha, likewise with no documentation.  The information carries some credibility, because they also have a fiull, exact date and place of birth and death, as well as the names of her parents.  But they all have the exact same strange form of William's nmae William DudeJasper Hayes, with no documentation.
  
  Mary Jane Orpha Leman Pitts
  Birth 5 JAN 1846 South Carolina
  Death 23 Mar 1878 Gassville, Baxter, Arkansas
  Parents:
  Henry Martin Pitts 1826-1905
  Susan Leathers 1819-
  Married William DudeJasper [sic] Hayes
  Birth 14 SEP 1842 Pickens, Habersham, Georgia
  Death 11 DEC 1928 Wewoka, Seminole, Oklahoma
  --  Stewart Family Tree, http://person.ancestry.com/tree/11874617/person/-380415155/facts?ftm=1
  
  In the 1860 census, recently-married 17-year-old Jasper is enumerated as William J Hays, and his 14-year-old wife is named Mary J L A.
  
  1860 Federal Census, Habersham County, Georgia, 27 June, PO Clarksville, page 56, Hse/Fam #410
  William J Hays 20 M Farmer $0 Real Estate $25 Personal  born GA
  Mary J L A Hays 14 F Housekeeper born SC
  
  I found Jasper and his second wife, reported as Rachael T, in Baxter County, where his parents and the others were living in 1880.  The T matches Tennessee.  Later censuses report Racheal Tennessee as born in Arkansas with her parents both born in Tennessee.   The census dates would support the idea that Jasper's first wife is the mother of his children, and he married Rachael (Tennessee) after he was in Arkansas.  William's burial in Oklahoma also has a headstone memorial right against it for Mary Jane Hayes, but it is inscribed "Barried in Arkansas."
  
  The 1880 census for William with his second wife reports that he and Rachael have been married 20 years, or married about 1879.  This would give us a time before which Mary Jane died in Arkansas, and indicates she probably died in Baxter County.
  
  Mary Jane Hayes
  Birth 1846
  Death 1879
  Stone is butted up as to appear as a double headstone I am sure to husband William Jasper Hayes.
  Not sure if she is in this grave because in the cement that holds her stone in place was drawn in by finger these words: "Barried in ARK"
  Spouse William Jasper Hayes (1842 - 1928)
  Burial Oakdale Cemetery, Paden, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma
  Created by Stephanie Naney Apr 11, 2002
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #6336867, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6336867

Sources

• 1. 1860 Federal Census, Habersham County, Georgia
  • 27 June, PO Clarksville, page 56, Hse/Fam #410
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. Ancestry Trees
• 4. 1880 Federal Census, Baxter County, Arkansas
  • 7 June, Whiteville Township, District 2, page 6, Hse/Fam #55
• 5. Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978