Jesse B. Caudill was the son of Stephen and Sarah (Adams) Caudill. Some Caudill researchers have Jesse marrying first to a Mary Cornett, but no marriage record has been found. Jesse married Mary "Polly" Back on April 4, 1844, in Letcher County, KY. They had fourteen children: Watson "Watty" Caudill, Sarah "Sally" (Caudill) Brashears, Benjamin "Paw Paw" Caudill, Susannah Sue (Caudill) Roberts, John Maggard Caudill, Nancy (Caudill) Caudill, Henry Caudill, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Caudill) Boggs, Easter (Caudill) Brown, David J. Caudill, James Caudill, Samuel Caudill, Mary (Caudill) Collins and Rebecca "Becky" (Caudill) Webb.

Jesse and Polly lived near the mouth of Dry Fork below Whitesburg, Letcher County, KY. Jesse was born in a part of Harlan County, KY, which later become Letcher County in 1842. Jesse's original headstone was made from sandstone and over the years it has deteriorated considerably. The information on it was hand-carved but is mostly still readable except the portion near the bottom containing his death date. A photo taken by Gregory Brown in August 2006 had just the right lighting and relief to make it possible to read most of the death date; although, with great difficulty. See below for a complete transcription of the original and newer headstones.

According to a "List of Births and Deaths of the Family of Samuel Banks and Near Relatives and Kin-Folk" published in the March 2002 issue of the Letcher Heritage News (page 36) there is an entry that states "Jessie Caudill, deceased, on the 30th day of December, 1904." It is unknown whether this Jessie is the same one who married Mary "Polly" Back or if it was some other Jesse Caudill; however, so far no other Jesse Caudill has been found with the above-mentioned death date. The Samuel Banks information was originally sent to Homer Banks from Rosa Banks with a message that stated the information was from her grandfather's trunk - "From Bible or Records of Samuel 'Baby Sam' Banks - 1988."

A death date of December 30, 1904, would be supported by the barely readable date on Jesse's original headstone (Dec. 1904) and the date his Will was "produced and filed in open court" which was on January 4, 1905.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following Will of Jesse Caudill is from Letcher County Will Book 1, Page 137:

Jesse Caudill
To
Will

I Jesse Caudill Sr. of Letcher County State of Kentucky being in good health and sound mind, do by these presents make this my last will and testament and for the purpose hereinafter mentioned viz:

1st I will my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the grave.

2nd I will that Nancy Caudill and Sallie Brashears my daughters and Rachel Boggs my daughters child have fifty dollars each and that the two heirs of Ester Brown have twenty five dollars each they being my daughters children to be paid as soon as practicable after my death out of my estate.

3rd I will to my sons James Caudill, Wattie Caudill, Benjamin Caudill, John M Caudill and heirs of Henry Caudill jointly) and my daughters Susan Robertds, one dollar each to be paid after my death out of my estate (They all having hertofor received fifty dollars each from my estate as their part)

4th I will that one half of my landed estate be retained and go after my death to the party or parties who clothe feed and care for me during the remainder of my natural life.

Given under my hand this Sept 26" 1901 and at 4 O'clock P.M. of said day.
Jesse Caudill

Attest J N McCrary
W G Caudill

State of Kentucky }
County of Letcher } Sct

I John W. Collins Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid certify that the foregoing will of Jesse Caudill decd, was on the 4th day of January 1905, produced and filed in open court and proven by the oath of W G Caudill one of the subscribing witnesses thereto to be the last Will and testament of Jesse Caudill Decd who also testified that J N McCrary the other subscribing witness thereto was then dead and that said Will was ordered by said Court to be and is with this certificate duly recorded in my office.

Given under my hand this the 9th day of August 1905,
John W. Collins, Clerk