~Thank you to Deanna for creating this memorial,
June 6, 2012 and for the transfer.~
Penelope Nicholson was the daughter of wealthy landowners in Garrard county, Kentucky. She married and had three young sons by 1839, when they moved to Clay County, Missouri along with several extended family members, including the Courtneys and Nicholsons. They lived in the same neighborhood as Jesse and Frank James, and the families knew each other well. Her husband's uncle, Alva Maret, sold a large parcel of his land in Clay county to Rev. James, which is now the site of the James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, and their paths would cross again several times in the years to come. The Devers purchased land in Gentry county and moved by 1850, but when the Civil War began, Penelope, her younger children, two daughter-in-laws and grandchildren moved back to Clay County. They stayed with relatives there throughout the duration of the war, while her husband and three sons fought in the Missouri Calvary. Later in the war, her sons became Confederate Guerrillas under Captian George Todd in Quantrill's organization. In 1864, the Union Provost Marshall wanted to ban several Clay County Confederate families past the Union lines, including Penelope Devers and Zerelda James for aiding and abetting their guerrilla sons. In January 1865, the James were forced to relocate to Nebraska, and although Penelope did not have to move, she was soon faced with an unimaginable tragedy. In late March 1865, three of her sons were chased on horseback through Clay County by Union Militia. Two were shot and killed and she had to bury them in a common grave. In July 1865, her husband returned to Clay County after he was paroled from a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana. The family moved back to Gentry county, but tragedy struck again in March, 1868. One of her sons who had joined the James Gang, was lynched by a vigilance committee for his suspected role in the Richmond, Missouri bank Robbery of 1867.
Penelope outlived her husband by more than 20 years, and died at the home of her son, Alva Devers. It is unknown where she is buried, but it is most likely in the Devers' family cemetery in Gentry county. The farmstead, which no longer exists, was said to sit high above the Grand River on a bluff, and the area was known as "Devers' Bend"
The Devers where neighbors and friends of the James family.
At one time the Union malitia threatend to jail Penelope and Zerelda for harboring wanted men.
~Not blood related but family ties to Jesse and Frank James:
Nancy Merritt* Devers, mother of Alexander Devers Sr. and grandmother of Archibald Devers.
Nancy had a brother, Alva Merritt. Alva Merritt's eldest daughter, Louisa, married James Cole.
James Cole's sister was Zerelda Cole James.(1825 KY - 1911 OK, buried in MO)
Zerelda Cole James, mother of Frank(1843-1915) & Jesse James(1847-1882)
(*Marritt, Maret, Merit, etc.)
June 6, 2012 and for the transfer.~
Penelope Nicholson was the daughter of wealthy landowners in Garrard county, Kentucky. She married and had three young sons by 1839, when they moved to Clay County, Missouri along with several extended family members, including the Courtneys and Nicholsons. They lived in the same neighborhood as Jesse and Frank James, and the families knew each other well. Her husband's uncle, Alva Maret, sold a large parcel of his land in Clay county to Rev. James, which is now the site of the James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, and their paths would cross again several times in the years to come. The Devers purchased land in Gentry county and moved by 1850, but when the Civil War began, Penelope, her younger children, two daughter-in-laws and grandchildren moved back to Clay County. They stayed with relatives there throughout the duration of the war, while her husband and three sons fought in the Missouri Calvary. Later in the war, her sons became Confederate Guerrillas under Captian George Todd in Quantrill's organization. In 1864, the Union Provost Marshall wanted to ban several Clay County Confederate families past the Union lines, including Penelope Devers and Zerelda James for aiding and abetting their guerrilla sons. In January 1865, the James were forced to relocate to Nebraska, and although Penelope did not have to move, she was soon faced with an unimaginable tragedy. In late March 1865, three of her sons were chased on horseback through Clay County by Union Militia. Two were shot and killed and she had to bury them in a common grave. In July 1865, her husband returned to Clay County after he was paroled from a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana. The family moved back to Gentry county, but tragedy struck again in March, 1868. One of her sons who had joined the James Gang, was lynched by a vigilance committee for his suspected role in the Richmond, Missouri bank Robbery of 1867.
Penelope outlived her husband by more than 20 years, and died at the home of her son, Alva Devers. It is unknown where she is buried, but it is most likely in the Devers' family cemetery in Gentry county. The farmstead, which no longer exists, was said to sit high above the Grand River on a bluff, and the area was known as "Devers' Bend"
The Devers where neighbors and friends of the James family.
At one time the Union malitia threatend to jail Penelope and Zerelda for harboring wanted men.
~Not blood related but family ties to Jesse and Frank James:
Nancy Merritt* Devers, mother of Alexander Devers Sr. and grandmother of Archibald Devers.
Nancy had a brother, Alva Merritt. Alva Merritt's eldest daughter, Louisa, married James Cole.
James Cole's sister was Zerelda Cole James.(1825 KY - 1911 OK, buried in MO)
Zerelda Cole James, mother of Frank(1843-1915) & Jesse James(1847-1882)
(*Marritt, Maret, Merit, etc.)
~Thank you to Deanna for creating this memorial,
June 6, 2012 and for the transfer.~
Penelope Nicholson was the daughter of wealthy landowners in Garrard county, Kentucky. She married and had three young sons by 1839, when they moved to Clay County, Missouri along with several extended family members, including the Courtneys and Nicholsons. They lived in the same neighborhood as Jesse and Frank James, and the families knew each other well. Her husband's uncle, Alva Maret, sold a large parcel of his land in Clay county to Rev. James, which is now the site of the James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, and their paths would cross again several times in the years to come. The Devers purchased land in Gentry county and moved by 1850, but when the Civil War began, Penelope, her younger children, two daughter-in-laws and grandchildren moved back to Clay County. They stayed with relatives there throughout the duration of the war, while her husband and three sons fought in the Missouri Calvary. Later in the war, her sons became Confederate Guerrillas under Captian George Todd in Quantrill's organization. In 1864, the Union Provost Marshall wanted to ban several Clay County Confederate families past the Union lines, including Penelope Devers and Zerelda James for aiding and abetting their guerrilla sons. In January 1865, the James were forced to relocate to Nebraska, and although Penelope did not have to move, she was soon faced with an unimaginable tragedy. In late March 1865, three of her sons were chased on horseback through Clay County by Union Militia. Two were shot and killed and she had to bury them in a common grave. In July 1865, her husband returned to Clay County after he was paroled from a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana. The family moved back to Gentry county, but tragedy struck again in March, 1868. One of her sons who had joined the James Gang, was lynched by a vigilance committee for his suspected role in the Richmond, Missouri bank Robbery of 1867.
Penelope outlived her husband by more than 20 years, and died at the home of her son, Alva Devers. It is unknown where she is buried, but it is most likely in the Devers' family cemetery in Gentry county. The farmstead, which no longer exists, was said to sit high above the Grand River on a bluff, and the area was known as "Devers' Bend"
The Devers where neighbors and friends of the James family.
At one time the Union malitia threatend to jail Penelope and Zerelda for harboring wanted men.
~Not blood related but family ties to Jesse and Frank James:
Nancy Merritt* Devers, mother of Alexander Devers Sr. and grandmother of Archibald Devers.
Nancy had a brother, Alva Merritt. Alva Merritt's eldest daughter, Louisa, married James Cole.
James Cole's sister was Zerelda Cole James.(1825 KY - 1911 OK, buried in MO)
Zerelda Cole James, mother of Frank(1843-1915) & Jesse James(1847-1882)
(*Marritt, Maret, Merit, etc.)
June 6, 2012 and for the transfer.~
Penelope Nicholson was the daughter of wealthy landowners in Garrard county, Kentucky. She married and had three young sons by 1839, when they moved to Clay County, Missouri along with several extended family members, including the Courtneys and Nicholsons. They lived in the same neighborhood as Jesse and Frank James, and the families knew each other well. Her husband's uncle, Alva Maret, sold a large parcel of his land in Clay county to Rev. James, which is now the site of the James Farm in Kearney, Missouri, and their paths would cross again several times in the years to come. The Devers purchased land in Gentry county and moved by 1850, but when the Civil War began, Penelope, her younger children, two daughter-in-laws and grandchildren moved back to Clay County. They stayed with relatives there throughout the duration of the war, while her husband and three sons fought in the Missouri Calvary. Later in the war, her sons became Confederate Guerrillas under Captian George Todd in Quantrill's organization. In 1864, the Union Provost Marshall wanted to ban several Clay County Confederate families past the Union lines, including Penelope Devers and Zerelda James for aiding and abetting their guerrilla sons. In January 1865, the James were forced to relocate to Nebraska, and although Penelope did not have to move, she was soon faced with an unimaginable tragedy. In late March 1865, three of her sons were chased on horseback through Clay County by Union Militia. Two were shot and killed and she had to bury them in a common grave. In July 1865, her husband returned to Clay County after he was paroled from a prisoner of war camp in Louisiana. The family moved back to Gentry county, but tragedy struck again in March, 1868. One of her sons who had joined the James Gang, was lynched by a vigilance committee for his suspected role in the Richmond, Missouri bank Robbery of 1867.
Penelope outlived her husband by more than 20 years, and died at the home of her son, Alva Devers. It is unknown where she is buried, but it is most likely in the Devers' family cemetery in Gentry county. The farmstead, which no longer exists, was said to sit high above the Grand River on a bluff, and the area was known as "Devers' Bend"
The Devers where neighbors and friends of the James family.
At one time the Union malitia threatend to jail Penelope and Zerelda for harboring wanted men.
~Not blood related but family ties to Jesse and Frank James:
Nancy Merritt* Devers, mother of Alexander Devers Sr. and grandmother of Archibald Devers.
Nancy had a brother, Alva Merritt. Alva Merritt's eldest daughter, Louisa, married James Cole.
James Cole's sister was Zerelda Cole James.(1825 KY - 1911 OK, buried in MO)
Zerelda Cole James, mother of Frank(1843-1915) & Jesse James(1847-1882)
(*Marritt, Maret, Merit, etc.)
