4. James C. Marquis
was born about 1795 in Posey County, Indiana. James C. Marquis' birth year
is calculated from the census record of Wells County, Indiana for 27 North of
Range 12 East. This census was taken in 1840. James was listed as a farmer
in the the same census record. The exact location where James C. was born is
derived from further United States Census records recording James' birthplace
as Indiana and most certainly would have been Posey County, whether in Smith
or Robinson Township it is not evident from official records.
James C. Marquis is listed as James Marcus in the 1820 United States Census for
Posey County in Smith Township. He is listed as being the next household to
William Marcus, Sr., his father. He again is recorded as James Marcus in the
1830 United States Census for Posey County, but this time in Robinson Township.
As in 1820, his father William Marcus, Sr. is his neighbor and also his brother
William Marcus, Jr. All of these records were found in the State of Indiana
Archives in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He settled on Nov 19 1839 in Wells County, Indiana. James C. Marquis purchased
60 acres of land in section 11 of Township 27, Range 12 of Lancaster Township.
This property is near the present-day Wells County seat, Bluffton, Indiana.
The land sale or Federal grant record only records the land transaction and
not the purpose for which the property was to be used. In addition, James C.
Marquis was listed as living in Jamestown on page 208 of the 1840 United States
Census for Wells County, Indiana.
To bring the migration of the Marquis family forward one generation, William
Marcus Sr.'s son, James C. Marquis, as previously stated, moved northeast into
Wells County, Indiana.
It is not revealed in researching the migration of James C. Marquis as to why
he moved to Wells County, but he was a farmer and the possibility of land grants
or further opportunity moved him and the rest of his family there. No further
movement of James is traced from there. But, James' son, Perry G. Marquis, who
had lived with William A. Marcus Sr., (after James C. Marquis migrated northeast)
was the one to move from southern Indiana to southern Illinois. It is clear
that James C. Marquis was raised in the very southern tip of Indiana. But it
is not clear as to the reason James C. Marquis moved to the far northeast section
of Indiana. Since James C. was a farmer, it would have to be concluded that
he moved to farm the northeast land.
In the book Early Indiana Trails and Surveys, George R. Wilson describes a prominent
trail that may have been one that James and his wife Sarah would have taken north
to around Fort Wayne. Wilson writes: "An Indian trace going from Fort
Wayne to Fort Harrison passed near Thorntown, in 1822. In places, some of these
Indian traces have become surface roads, improved highways, 'Dixie Highways,'
and even railroads and traction lines. Many early pioneer roads were blazed
from them." Our ancestor James C. Marquis was surely one of those early
pioneers.
He signed a will on May 12 1846 in Wells County, Indiana. May 12th, 1846
The Last Will And Testament Of James C. Marquis; This my last will is that after
my death the property belonging to me shall rest wholly in the hands of Sarah
Marquis my wife until her death at which time after the friends or persons that
have had the care of either or both of us during our afflictions are satisfactorily
compensated for the trouble they may have had and all expenses paid, the remainder
if any shall be divided among the heirs as follows Viz. Florinda Clark shall
have one hundred dollars worth of property first then the remainder shall be
equally divided between Florinda, Robert C. and James F. Marquis.
Attested by }
Daniel K. Hanna } James C. Marquis
John Johnston }
State of Indiana }
Wells County } Personally appeared before me Bowen Hale, Clerk of the Probate
Court of Wells County Daniel K. Hanna and being by me duly sworn upon this oath
says that he signed the above will as a witness in the presence of the said Testator
and at his request and that he believes that the said Testator was of sound mind
and memory at the time of making the said will and further saith not.
Subscribed and sworn to this }
18th day of March A.D. 1847 } Daniel K. Hanna
before me Bowen Hale, Clerk }
He died about 1847 in Wells County, Indiana. No exact date has been found
for the death of James C. Marquis. Wells County did not record deaths until
1853. Since no date is recorded in the Wells County records, it would be easy
to assume that James died before that time since he is not listed in the 1850
census for Indiana. It would appear that he may have died shortly after preparing
his will in 1846, so a date of 1847 is contrived. The Indiana State Archives
in May of 1997 did not contain any additional data to support or disprove this
conclusion.
He was married to Sarah Rogers (daughter of
William Rogers) on Mar 4 1820 in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Both James and
Sarah were about 25 years old when they were married. Their marriage certificate
is in the handwriting of James McCray, Justice of the Peace. They were married
on a Saturday, probably near Evansville, Indiana since their marriage is recorded
in the Vanderburgh County, Indiana Marriage Records for 1818-1840, compiled by
Ruth M. Slevin, published 1974.
Sarah Rogers was born about 1795. Where Sarah was
actually born is not yet known. Her birth year is calculated from a census
record taken in 1840 for Wells County, Indiana James C. Marquis and Sarah Rogers
had the following children:
+7 i.
Robert C. Marquis.
+8 ii.
Mariah Marquis.
+9 iii.
Perry Green Marquis.
+10 iv.
William Marquis.
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