Henry Jessup was the fifth of nine children born to Henry Jessup and Jane Raynor. Henry was born on August 12, 1776 in Quogue, Suffolk County, New York. Quogue is located in Southampton on Long Island. There is still a Jessup Avenue in the village.
The Move to Palmyra
Henry’s move to Palmyra had everything to do with his oldest sister Mehetable and her husband, Joel C. Foster. Joel was a carpenter and house joiner by trade. In 1790, Joel Foster and his brother Abram were hired to look for a future home for the “surplus population of Southampton,” which included Henry Jessup. The Foster brothers explored Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky before exploring Western New York.[1] Joel and Abram Foster recommended that residents of Southampton settle in the wilderness of Western New York.
In 1793, Joel Foster took his family to Western New York. He built a courthouse and framed houses in Canandaigua before settling in Palmyra in 1798. Once in Palmyra, he and his brother Abram built the first sawmill in town. News of their success in Palmyra led Henry Jessup, who had married Ruth Post, to pack up his belongings and leave Southampton to join the Fosters in Palmyra.
A Man in High Standing
In 1800, when Henry Jessup arrived in Palmyra at the age of twenty-four, William P. Wilson was operating a tannery on the south side of East Main Street. Henry became partners with William in the tanning and curing business. Within a year or so, Henry purchased William’s interest and started operating the business alone. He registered a cattle mark, “a swallow’s tail in each ear,” with the village of Palmyra. Whenever he purchased cattle for his tannery from men such as Lemuel Durfee Sr., he immediately branded his mark.[2]
Henry was wildly successful. He bought hides and sold leather. His employees cured the hides and made shoes. Henry had sixteen apprentices, employed over a hundred men, and ran the largest tannery in the region, with sales extending from Auburn to Buffalo and from Lake Ontario to Bath, New York.[3] He had 127 vats called “the outdoor tan yard.” Henry purchased the “Democratic schoolhouse” at the corner of Mill and Main Street in Palmyra and turned it into a tenant house for his workers.[4]
Under the firm name of Jessup and Foster (his brother-in-law), Henry owned the Jessup Shoe Factory on Main Street.[5] He hired Robert Webster Smith as foreman of the shoe factory. Robert was a member of the Western Presbyterian Church and the grand master of the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge in Palmyra.
Henry also owned the saw mill that was first owned by John Swift, the founder of Palmyra.
Mason. Two years after Henry arrived in Palmyra, ten master masons from the Palmyra vicinity signed a petition to form the Mount Moriah Lodge. Henry was not one of the ten master masons, but he was among their first initiates.
War of 1812. On June 18, 1812, when the US Congress declared war on Great Britain,[6] John Swift, the founder of Palmyra, was appointed brigadier general of a military unit composed of Palmyra residents ages eighteen to forty-five.[7] Men in the target age group could either enlist or hire a substitute to enlist for them. Getting a substitute was only available to those with money. It is assumed that thirty-six year old Henry Jessup, like his prosperous friend Martin Harris, hired a substitute. There is no record of Henry fighting alongside General Swift in battles at Niagara, Pultneyville, or Sackets Harbor.[8] Following the war, Henry did not participate in honorific military units like his contemporaries George Beckwith and Thomas Rogers II.
Home. Henry built a mansion at the foot of Main Street called the “Long House.” The name did not reflect the length of the house; it was named in remembrance of Henry’s youth on Long Island. By 1820, his family consisted of a wife and four children. Joining the family were houseboys and a “female foreigner.” The houseboys and foreigner worked as servants for the Jessup family.[9] His home was near the houses of George Beckwith, Abner Cole, and John Hurlbut.[10]
Civic Positions. In the village of Palmyra, Henry was an overseer of highways (1821), commissioner of highways (1825), assessor (1817, 1824), overseer of the poor (1818-1822), and school commissioner (1819-1820). As school commissioner, he proposed a “High School” building with a second story so that higher branches of education could be taught in the village. His proposal was accepted, and the building was erected two stories in height. The money for the additional story was raised by stock subscriptions of $25 per share. Henry did not hold any positions in the village after 1824, though he lived in Palmyra for an additional thirty years.
Western Presbyterian Church. Henry was a trustee of the Western Presbyterian Church. His wife Ruth joined him in the faith and was a member of the Female Bible Society of the Presbyterians.[11] In September 1821, the Wayne Sentinel carried the following notice—
The Christian Public are informed that Deacon Henry Jessup of this village is appointed an agent to receive articles of Produce, which may be appropriated for the benefit of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions—and the benevolent of this district are invited to make annual and large appropriations of corn, wheat, oats, or whatever may best suit their convenience.—And, when they have occasion to purchase any of those articles, they are requested to give this Missionary Store House a preference.[12]
Historians have debated whether Henry Jessup held the office of deacon or elder in the Western Presbyterian Church. Most historical accounts mention him as an elder. However, the Prophet Joseph Smith refered to him as a deacon. Whatever his office, Henry served on a Committee of Elders that had the right to determine whether Presbyterian membership should be suspended. In 1828, the case of Gain Robinson was heard before the Committee of Elders. Gain Robinson had been seen riding his horse for pleasure too fast on Sundays. The committee resolved to reprimand him. Angered by what he perceived as an overreach, Gain asked the committee to revoke his membership as he enjoyed riding his horse fast and did not wish to stop.[13]
The Academy. In 1821, Henry entered a financial partnership with Orvid Lord and James White to form “The Academy,” a stock organization with a capital of $12,000.[14] Under the name of “The Academy,” the partners commissioned the construction of a two-story brick building on Church Street with stairs on the outside and two apartments in each story. The first town bell was housed in their building.[15] The location of the building is significant. If you were to put a tape measure on Church Street going northeast, the first three buildings in the 1820s were the Western Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Lodge, and The Academy.
Wayne County Bank. In 1825, Henry joined other well-to-do men in Palmyra to
“present to the next Legislature of the state of New York, a petition, for the incorporation of a Bank, to be located in the village of Palmyra, to be called ‘The Wayne County Bank,’ with a capital of $100,000, and the privilege of extending the same to the amount of $250,000.”[16]Henry was appointed director of the bank.
As a bank director, Henry felt it necessary to write to the Wayne Sentinel in November 1825—
The undersigned deems it a duty which they believe they owe to themselves, but more particularly to the community at large, to give publicity through your paper, of a serious and growing evil and practice . . . We allude to the practice of strangers locating themselves among us, holding out the idea of a permanent location—assuming the appearance of men of business and wealth, whose entire object proves to be, to obtain as much credit as they can. Having done this, they secretly cheat themselves, leaving the honest and unsuspecting creditor to whistle for his debt. . . . we believe if the practices should be adopted of publishing the names and conduct of such men, it would have a salutary and beneficial effect.
Raising funds for war-torn Greece. Henry and several other men of high standing in Palmyra, including Martin Harris, took up the cause of war-torn Greece. They put the following advertisement in the Wayne Sentinel:
Fellow Citizens – The issue is accepting donations for the benefit of those suffering in Greece. “We do not call upon you to extend your charities in an unworthy cause.” It is the cause of humanity that prompts us to appeal to your sympathies—to ask you to give from the super abundance . . . to sustain and save from STARVATION and DEATH, the aged and helpless of that once happy country, and to revive the hopes of the patriots of Greece.[17]
Erie Canal. The Palmyra portion of the Erie Canal opened on November 21, 1821. As the first boat sailed away, there were three cheers, gun fire, and a cannon blast. The celebration marked the beginning of Palmyra’s most prosperous years. Several Palmyra merchants became wealthy due to the canal. Few became as wealthy as Henry Jessup. Where the canal crossed Main Street at the eastern end, Henry owned “a large and commodious basin.” (A basin was a cove dug out so that boats could float in from the main channel and be loaded or unloaded). Horns blasted through town whenever a boat began nearing Henry Jessup’s Basin. Horses were put in a fast trot to draw the boat to the landing. Millions of bushels of grain were loaded on boats in Jessup Basin. Henry’s son George Jessup remembered, “Immense quantities of grain were brought to Palmyra for shipment.”[18]
A toll was charged for using the basin. In the year 1827 alone, the Canal Commission reported $84,009.96 in tolls was collected in Palmyra. The collector of tolls for Palmyra had his office at Jessup’s Basin. When Thomas Rogers II offered him a better arrangement, the toll office was moved to the Thomas Rogers II Basin. This led to a rivalry between the “big money men” in Palmyra.
Recorded vignettes between Thomas Rogers II and Henry Jessup give us our first glimpse into the unscrupulous character of Henry Jessup. One record tells of Thomas II purchasing boots from Henry Jessup. Thomas asked Henry to grease the boots. Henry charged him an extra sixpence for the grease. When he picked up the boots, they had not been greased. Was it a mistake on Henry’s part or a character flaw? Thomas paid the money, went down to Henry’s cellar, turned on the faucet of oil, filled both boots to the top, and walked off.[19] Another vignette is of Thomas’ pigs strolling down to Henry’s land. Henry put the pigs in his pen and said nothing to Thomas. The next day, Thomas found the pigs in Henry’s pen and went home without saying anything. In the winter when it was time to kill the pigs, Thomas asked Henry to let him know when he planned to kill the pigs and he would come down and help him. Thomas came with his hired man, took his dressed pigs, and went home.[20] In both accounts, Thomas Rogers II called out Henry Jessup for his unscrupulous actions.
Property owner. When Henry had extra money, he bought property. His name appears on deeds of our suspects as well as lesser known people like Stephen Phelps,[21] Peleg Holmes, Charles Peckham, Samuel Todd, Joseph Todd,[22] Samuel Jennings, Walter Hubbel, Sir John Johnstone, and Asa Swift.[23]
The Year 1828
On June 14, 1828, Martin Harris carried the 116 pages to Palmyra. He had the manuscript in his possession for three weeks or until about July 7, 1828. During those weeks, Martin showed the manuscript to any “prudent” person who called. In 1828, Henry Jessup was age fifty-two. Putting it in perspective, Joseph Smith Sr. was age fifty-seven. Henry Jessup would be viewed as a prudent person because of his huge financial success and his important position in the Western Presbyterian Church.
We also know that Henry Jessup had a relationship with Martin Harris. In 1829, he recommended that Martin Harris see Charles Butler regarding a loan to print the Book of Mormon.[24] Would Henry steal the manuscript? No! But let us reason together. Henry was a religious zealot. If any man in Palmyra was a man of high standing who would take notice of young Joseph Smith, it was Henry Jessup. We are convinced he would pay someone to take the manuscript.
Henry Jessup and the Smiths
If we are looking for a conspiracy theory that involves Henry Jessup, we may not be missing the mark. Joseph Smith viewed Henry Jessup as a man “without scruples.” It appears that Thomas Rogers II felt the same. What is significant is that Joseph Smith Jr. didn’t have such comments about other men of high standing in town such as George Beckwith, Lemuel Durfee Sr., or Thomas Rogers II. The only man in Palmyra he said was “without scruples” was Henry Jessup.
To his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith Jr. said of Henry Jessup—
“You look at Deacon Jessup,” said he, “and you hear him talk very piously; well, you think he is a very good man—Now, suppose that one of his poor neighbors should owe him the value of a cow; and, that this poor man had eight <little> children, and he should be taken sick and die, leaving his wife with one cow but destitute of every other means of supporting herself and family— Now I tell you, that Deacon Jessup, religious as he is, would not scruple to take the last cow from the poor widow, in order to secure the debt although he has an abundance of everything.”[25]
Lucy Mack Smith added, “This seemed to us at that time impossible but it was not one year from the time in which it was spoken when we saw that every [thing] that was told transpire.”[26]
Lucy Mack Smith obviously didn’t agree with Joseph Smith Jr.’s perception of Henry. Lucy and three of her children—Hyrum, Sophronia, and Samuel—attended the Western Presbyterian Church and observed Henry Jessup in his role as deacon/elder. Hyrum Smith was a member of the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge and would have observed Henry at lodge meetings. What changed for Mother Smith during the year? Did the Smiths approach Deacon/Elder Henry Jessup for financial help when they were about to lose their farm? Did he turn them away and suggest that the Smiths petition Lemuel Durfee Sr. instead?
Minutes of the Western Presbyterian Church on March 3, 1830 read: “Western Presbyterian Session met pursuant to notice – opened with prayer. Present Reverend Alfred E. Campbell, moderator. It was resolved that the Reverend Alfred E. Campbell and Henry Jessup be a committee to visit Hiram, Lucy and Samuel Smith.” It had been eighteen months since any of the Smiths had attended the Western Presbyterian Church. Why was the Committee of Elders suddenly so interested in visiting them? Was it because the Book of Mormon was close to being ready for sale?
On March 10, 1830, three leading men from the Western Presbyterian Church— Reverend Alfred E. Campbell, Henry Jessup, and George Beckwith—entered the Smith log home. Living in the home was the Hyrum Smith family, the Joseph Smith Sr. family, and Oliver Cowdery. The men, with George Beckwith as spokesman, asked to see the Book of Mormon manuscript. Lucy Mack Smith’s response was, “No sir you cannot see it we have done exhibiting the manuscript altogether I have told you what was in it and that must [suffice].”
The Presbyterian delegation was not sent to ask about the manuscript. In asking, we think they tipped their hand—their guard was down. Did they have knowledge of the lost manuscript?
George Beckwith spoke of Lucy and her children being members of the Western Presbyterian Church for a year and said, “We respect you.” He decried the Book of Mormon manuscript, but said “We cannot bear thoughts of losing you.”[27]
Finding it futile to convince Mother Smith to stop talking about the Book of Mormon, the Presbyterian delegation left the log home and went outside to find Hyrum Smith. Hyrum took the same adamant stance as his mother: “I will tell you what I will do, Mr. Beckwith. If you do get a testimony from God, that the book is not true, I will confess to you that it is not true.”[28]
At 2 p.m. on March 29, 1830, Mother Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Samuel Smith were cited to appear before a Committee of Elders of the Western Presbyterian Church to answer the charge of neglect of public worship and failure to take the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for the last eighteen months. (The planned session was to be held three days after E. B. Grandin announced the Book of Mormon was for sale, and eight days before the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830.)
The Smiths did not appear as requested. On March 29, 1830, complainants resolved that Lucy, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith should be censured for contumacy (the stubborn refusal to obey authority). The charge against the Smiths was sustained by the testimony of Henry Jessup, Frederick U. Sheffield, Harvey Shel, and Robert W. Smith (foreman at the Jessup Shoe Factory).[29] The Committee of Elders officially resolved that the three Smiths in question be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.[30] The proceedings were “closed with prayer”.[31]
Henry Jessup, Martin Harris, and Charles Butler
Did Martin Harris approach Henry Jessup about a loan, and did Henry Jessup push him off to Charles Butler? In 1831, Charles Butler was engaged in making loans for the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company of Geneva, New York. Martin Harris went to Geneva to visit with Charles Butler about obtaining a loan from the insurance company. Martin carried with him a letter of introduction to Charles Butler written by Henry Jessup.
According to a letter attributed to Charles Butler, he wrote that Henry Jessup was—
a leading man and an elder in the Presbyterian Church and on whose judgment I depended in respect to the character of the borrower and the value of the property in all cases of applications for loans from that quarter. From the letter of Mr. Jessup the bearer was introduced to me as a very worthy and substantial farmer, possessing a very excellent farm which would furnish a very ample security for the amount of money which he wished to obtain, viz. $1,300 and he commended Mr. Harris to me as a desirable borrower.[32]
John H. Gilbert, compositor of the Book of Mormon, wrote of Henry Jessup’s letter and Charles Butler’s reaction to the reason Martin Harris wanted a loan—
The letter introduced Martin Harris as a well to do farmer in Palmyra, who wanted to borrow a sum of money on his farm. Charles Butler, according to his custom, asked what he wanted the money for. After some hesitation he said he wanted it to pay for printing a book, which would cost $1,300.[33] This was a surprise that a Wayne Co. farmer should be willing to mortgage his farm in order to print a book and Mr. Butler asked, what is the book? He said—a Bible—& on being asked what Bible—he said, “The Mormon Bible . . . Mr. Butler told Harris that he could not lend the money for such a purpose as he did not regard it as legitimate business for a farmer to mortgage his farm for such a purpose.[34]
“Testimony of 51 Neighbors”
On December 4, 1833, when Doctor Hurlbut came to Palmyra seeking affidavits against the Prophet Joseph Smith, Henry Jessup signed the “Testimony of 51 Neighbors,” later printed in Mormonism Unvailed.[35]The signed testimony indicated that the signees were acquainted with the Smith family for a number of years and “consider them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community.” The testimony further tells of Joseph Smith Sr. and his son Joseph Smith Jr. being “entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits,” and ends with “we know not of a single individual in this vicinity that puts the least confidence in their pretended revelations.”[36]
Still a Man in High Standing
In 1831, Henry Jessup, Thomas Rogers II, E. B. Grandin, George Crane, Pomeroy Tucker, and Pliny Sexton applied to the New York legislature to have a railroad built that connected Palmyra with Canandaigua.[37] Henry continued to buy and sell property, such as the 1833 indenture between himself and William E. Evertson for a $600 tract of land. Henry’s more interesting purchase was the mortgage of Luther Howard, the book binder of the Book of Mormon, in December 1831. As a result of this purchase, Henry owned most of the east end of Main Street.[38]
In October 1831, in partnership with Pliny Sexton, he had a slaughter-house and other buildings built in Rochester. He advertised—
packed from 50 to 75 head of cattle daily. To those who may be disposed to barrel their beef, either for an Eastern or Canada market, this place unites more advantages than any other point between Buffalo and Albany. . . . Barrels and salt, both coarse and fine, will be provided, and cash paid for hides and tallow. We will pay cash on delivery for 1000 head of fat cattle over 3 years old, delivered at our yards in Rochester.[39]
In the Western Presbyterian Church, Henry became the leader of the Sunday School Union through a series of elections. On July 13, 1831, he was elected to the board of officers and directors of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union. On March 13, 1832, he was elected president of the Presbyterian Sunday School Union.[40] He was also the elder responsible for selling pews in the church. He advertised in the Wayne Sentinel on August 22, 1832—
“For Sale, or To Rent,” The pew and convenient Ashery at the Furnace, formerly occupied by A. Gregg. Henry Jessup Palmyra, August 22, 1832
On January 9, 1833, Henry was selected to represent the Presbyterian Sunday School Union at the County Sunday School Union meeting. On January 8, 1834, Henry was again elected president of the Sunday School Union.[41]
In 1836, he became a stockholder in the new Palmyra Hotel. The three story hotel was built at a cost of $1,200.[42] Henry Jessup and Robert W. Smith set up several branches of the Shoe and Leather business under the firm name of Smith, Jessup & Company.[43]
When the 1850 US Federal Census was taken, Henry was listed as age seventy-four and residing in a household of twelve, which included his son, George, and George’s wife, Mary. Also in his household were Sarah E Jessup age 11, Jane E. Jessup age 9, Edwin Jessup age 4, George H. Jessup age 3, Ann Culver age 23, Sylva Curry age 23, John Dutch age 23, and George Cooper age 32.
Death of Henry Jessup
Henry Jessup died on January 4, 1854 in Palmyra and was buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery. His widow, Ruth Post Jessup, died nine years later on August 4, 1863 in Palmyra and was also buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery.
Children of Henry and Ruth Jessup
1. Albert Jessup (October 13, 1804–March 24, 1860). He was born in Palmyra. He married Elizabeth Foster (1813–1897) on October 7, 1847. Albert’s will was written by Hiram K. Jerome on March 12, 1860.[44] He asked that his executors pay his debts. He gave his real and personal estate to his wife, Elizabeth. In his will, he mentioned his children, Josiah and Albert Jessup. He named his priests, Crandall and Tuttle, executors of his will.
2. George G. Jessup (December 2, 1806–October 31, 1887). He was born in Palmyra. He attended the Canandaigua Academy before attending Union College, graduating in 1838. George married Mary C. Young (1816–1898) in Palmyra. In 1853, George was elected president of the village of Palmyra. He was a member of the Western Presbyterian Church. George died of a stroke of paralysis in Palmyra at age eighty-one. He left a widow, two sons, and a daughter to mourn his death. His funeral was held in his residence with Reverend H. D. Cone officiating.[45]
3. Henry J. Jessup (1809). He was born in New York. He married Rebecca P. Jessup (1814–1887).
4. Mary Jessup (1811–1881).
5. James Jessup (1812–1812).
6. George Post Jessup (1814–1815).
[1] Biographical Sketch of Jedidiah Foster. In author’s possession.
[2] Palmyra Old Town Records; Lemuel Durfee Sr. Account Farm Book, August 3, 1825 to July 10, 1829.
[3] “Death of George G. Jessup.” Palmyra Community Library.
[4] Horace Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra,” 1858.
[5] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 30.
[6] Current, Williams, and Freidel, American History: A Survey, p. 200.
[7] Clark, Military History of Wayne County, New York, pp. 245–246.
[8] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 15.
[9] US Federal Census, 1820.
[10] Wayne County Sentinel, February 1824.
[11] Betsy Lewis, comp., Female Bible Society Book of the Western Presbyterian Church, November–December 2003; Certificate of Incorporation of the West Presbyterian Church in Town of Palmyra.
[12] “Missionary Depository,” Wayne Sentinel, September 20, 1821.
[13] “Bicentennial Celebration 1817–2017: Gleanings from the First 200 Years,” Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra, NY; The Woman’s Society of the Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra: Wayne County, New York (Rochester, NY: The Herald Press, 1907).
[14] Joseph Smith Home Page: Local Histories Wayne County.
[15] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 271.
[16] Wayne County Sentinel, October 1825; Wayne County Sentinel, November 1825.
[17] Wayne County Sentinel, February 25, 1827.
[18] “Death of George G. Jessup,” Newspaper clipping, November 1887. In author’s possession.
[19] Horace Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra,” 1858.
[20] Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra,” 1858.
[21] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[22] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[23] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[24] Howard Coray Autobiography.
[25] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, p. 94.
[26] Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:308.
[27] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, pp. 8–9.
[28] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, pp. 8–9.
[29] See Minutes of Testimony, on file with the clerk.
[30] Records of the Session 2:11–12.
[31] Recorded from the minutes of the Moderator. [Signed] Geo. N. Williams Clerk; H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters, Inventing Mormonism, chapter 6; Smith, History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, p. 87; Black and Tate, Joseph Smith: The Prophet, The Man, p. 60; Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 366–367; Backman, Joseph Smith’s First Vision, p. 182; Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, pp. 3, 89.
[32] This document is said to be a fragment of a “letter” written by Charles Butler to an unidentified person; Vogel, Early Mormon Documents 2:277–278.
[33] The Charles Butler papers were given to the Library of Congress by his daughter, Emily O. Butler in 1825.
[34] John H. Gilbert Statement, October 23, 1887; John H. Gilbert Memorandum, September 8, 1892; Vogel, Early Mormon Documents 2:275–277.
[35] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 366–367.
[36] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 366–367.
[37] Western Argus [Lyons NY], September 5, 1831.
[38] Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra, 1858.
[39] “Rochester Slaughtering Establishment,” Rochester Republican, July 22, 1831.
[40] Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra, 1858.
[41] Eaton, “The First Settlement and Early History of Palmyra, 1858.
[42] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 89.
[43] Wayne Sentinel, February 1, 1840.
[44] Last Will and Testament of Albert Jessup, Wayne County Surrogate Court.
[45] “Death of George G. Jessup,” Newspaper clipping, November 1887. In author’s possession.