Individual Details
Warden Pope "Pony" FLETCHER
(1810 - Dec 1890)
Printed pg 227, Freeport Pct., Stephenson Co., IL W. P. Fletcher,head, 1840
1 m 30-40 [1800-1810] W. P.
1 f 20-30 [1810-1820] [Narcissa]
1 f 5-10 [1830-1835]
1 m under 5 [1835-1840]
From estimated birth dates and birthdates of known children from Jean,there must have been two other children who didn't live - or birthdates on known children are wrong.
According to article on Amanda O. Swanson in Guinn's book, "William"P. Fletcher was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Born in VA and when 16 movedto Jo Daviess Co., IL, where he worked in the lead mines. He servedunder General Dodge in the Black Hawk War and then located within 6miles of Freeport. He remained in IL until 1850, when he came to CAand engaged in mining for 3 years. He returned to IL for a short timeand moved to Iowa, near Leon, and farmed. In 1862 he moved back toTulare Co., CA, where he purchased land in Deep Creek, near Visalia.Later he moved to Washington, where he died at 81.
"History of Stephenson County Illinois" by Addison L. Fulwider, A.M.,Chicago, the S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1910, on page 87 says:
"Claim jumping was a common crime in the early days. Worden P.Fletcher, known as "Pony" Fletcher, was one of the guiltyclaim-jumpers. He came to the county in 1830 and that year wasarrested and brought to trial before Justice Richard Hunt, at thecorner of Galena and Van Buren Streets. At the close of the trial, thejustice decided "Pony" guilty and meted out to him rather stringentpunishment. Fletcher objected to the severity of the sentence,pleading that claim-jumping was just a common crime and a nominaloffense. He was an eccentric character and, not having too muchrespect for the law, decided to take the affair into his own hands andat once made an attempt to escape without having complied with theconditions of the court. But in this he made a bad guess. Theaudience, which was composed of men who had no love for claim-jumpers,at once took a hand, became a self-appointed posse comitatus, and theguilty man was restrained from taking sudden leave. Enraged at hisplight and seeing escape shut off, Fletcher seized his gun and firedat the justice. The aim of the prisoner was bad, luckily, and noinjury was done except the vest of the justice was ruined. Fletcherwas pounced upon and disarmed and session of court was resumed.Finally he gave bail to appear later. Among those present at the timewere Frederick Baker, Isaac Stoneman, Allen Wiley and others. Fletcherthen opened a farm in Rock Run township where he later married adaughter of the Widow Swanson, and became a good citizen. The caseagainst him was dropped."
His parents' names, death information for him and Narcissa andresidence info in WA and OR, along with details on children, from JeanLaws, descendant. Jean obtained birth info of 1810 in Lee Co., VA,from his pension papers from the Black Hawk War.
Anna Salierno had all 5 children born Freeport, Stephenson Co., IL, onan early, handwritten family group sheet.
1 m 30-40 [1800-1810] W. P.
1 f 20-30 [1810-1820] [Narcissa]
1 f 5-10 [1830-1835]
1 m under 5 [1835-1840]
From estimated birth dates and birthdates of known children from Jean,there must have been two other children who didn't live - or birthdates on known children are wrong.
According to article on Amanda O. Swanson in Guinn's book, "William"P. Fletcher was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Born in VA and when 16 movedto Jo Daviess Co., IL, where he worked in the lead mines. He servedunder General Dodge in the Black Hawk War and then located within 6miles of Freeport. He remained in IL until 1850, when he came to CAand engaged in mining for 3 years. He returned to IL for a short timeand moved to Iowa, near Leon, and farmed. In 1862 he moved back toTulare Co., CA, where he purchased land in Deep Creek, near Visalia.Later he moved to Washington, where he died at 81.
"History of Stephenson County Illinois" by Addison L. Fulwider, A.M.,Chicago, the S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1910, on page 87 says:
"Claim jumping was a common crime in the early days. Worden P.Fletcher, known as "Pony" Fletcher, was one of the guiltyclaim-jumpers. He came to the county in 1830 and that year wasarrested and brought to trial before Justice Richard Hunt, at thecorner of Galena and Van Buren Streets. At the close of the trial, thejustice decided "Pony" guilty and meted out to him rather stringentpunishment. Fletcher objected to the severity of the sentence,pleading that claim-jumping was just a common crime and a nominaloffense. He was an eccentric character and, not having too muchrespect for the law, decided to take the affair into his own hands andat once made an attempt to escape without having complied with theconditions of the court. But in this he made a bad guess. Theaudience, which was composed of men who had no love for claim-jumpers,at once took a hand, became a self-appointed posse comitatus, and theguilty man was restrained from taking sudden leave. Enraged at hisplight and seeing escape shut off, Fletcher seized his gun and firedat the justice. The aim of the prisoner was bad, luckily, and noinjury was done except the vest of the justice was ruined. Fletcherwas pounced upon and disarmed and session of court was resumed.Finally he gave bail to appear later. Among those present at the timewere Frederick Baker, Isaac Stoneman, Allen Wiley and others. Fletcherthen opened a farm in Rock Run township where he later married adaughter of the Widow Swanson, and became a good citizen. The caseagainst him was dropped."
His parents' names, death information for him and Narcissa andresidence info in WA and OR, along with details on children, from JeanLaws, descendant. Jean obtained birth info of 1810 in Lee Co., VA,from his pension papers from the Black Hawk War.
Anna Salierno had all 5 children born Freeport, Stephenson Co., IL, onan early, handwritten family group sheet.
Events
| Birth | 1810 | Lee Co., Virginia | |||
| Residence | Bet 1826 and 1827 | Moved to Jo Daviess Co., IL and worked in lead mines. | |||
| Marriage | 14 Mar 1839 | Rock Run Twp., Stephenson Co., IL - Narcissa SWANSON |  | ||
| Census | 1840 | Printed pg 227, Freeport Pct., Stephenson Co., IL | |||
| Property | 1 Mar 1848 | Patent No. 21, 940 to Worden P. Fletcher of Stephenson County, IL. SW 1/4 NE 1/4 S10 T26 R7E, 40 acres. | |||
| Property | 1 Jul 1848 | Patent No. 24, 856 to Worden P. Fletcher of Stephenson County, IL. E 1/2 SW 1/4 S15 T26 R7E, 80 acres. Copy in possession of author. | |||
| Census | 1850 | Mud Springs and Vicinity, Eldorado County, CA, page 365, dated 9 Oct 1850. Worden P. Fletcher, 40? (1809-10), born VA, ( merchant. Enumerated in a hotel. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | P. O. Leon, Eden Twp., Decatur Co., IA, pg 128; Worden P. Fletcher, head, 50 (1809-1810), born VA, farmer, real estate of $800 personal of $550. | |||
| Census | 1870 | Tulare Co., CA. Wordon P. age 60 (1810) farmer born VA. | |||
| Marriage | 19 May 1878 | Lane Co., OR - Mary LAVOY | |||
| Census | 7 Jun 1880 | Dist. 2, Farmington, Whitman Co., WA, pg 352D, family 99. W. P., 70 (1810) born VA. Both parents born VA. Farmer. | |||
| Marriage | 8 Dec 1889 | Pine Creek Precinct, Gila Co., Arizona - Sarah E. | | ||
| Death | Dec 1890 | Oakesdale, Whitman Co., WA | |||
| Reference No | 1548 |
Families
| Spouse | Narcissa SWANSON (1810 - 1876) |
| Child | Alfred Moore FLETCHER (1840 - 1910) |
| Child | Mary Eunis FLETCHER (1842 - 1933) |
| Child | Levi Myers FLETCHER (1844 - 1872) |
| Child | James Worden FLETCHER (1848 - 1933) |
| Child | Stearns J. FLETCHER (1852 - 1872) |
| Spouse | Mary LAVOY ( - 1889) |
| Spouse | Sarah E. ( - ) |
Endnotes
1. Fletcher/Swanson marriage.
2. Ancestry.com database.