From family records and later census years we know that Jeremiah Lockett, II
was born in Virginia in 1809. It is believed that his Parents are Jeremiah Lockett, I and Lydia Bondurant (Lockett); this would
make him the G-G-Great Grandson of Thomas Lockett who first appeared in Virginia in the mid 1600’s. See the Two Jeremiahs.
Jeremiah Lockett, II first appears in the census records in the1810 Federal
Census, Virginia, Bedford County. He is living in the household of his father, Jeremiah Lockett I, his age would be 1, he is listed in
the "under 10" age group.
In the1820 Federal Census, Virginia, Bedford County, Liberty Township, Jeremiah
Lockett, II is living in the household of his father, his age would be 11, and he is in the "to 16" age group. On August 16, 1827 Jeremiah Lockett, II married Phebe W Karnes (b. March 27,
1812 d. December 20, 1877) in Bedford County, Virginia, with the consent of Jeremiah Lockett, I and the Surety of Jacob
Karnes. It is believed that Phebe is the daughter of Jacob Karnes and Peggy
Wood (Karnes).
In the1830 Federal Census, Virginia, Bedford County, Jeremiah Lockett, II, his
wife, Phebe and his first son, Edmund Lockett (b. May 11, 1829 d. December 23, 1878) are living in the household of the
senior Jeremiah Lockett. Jeremiah Lockett’s age would be 21, he is in the
"of 20 and under 30" age group, his son Edmund is also listed, his age would be 1 and is listed in the
"Under five years of age" age group. Jeremiah's wife, Phebe is
also listed, her age would be 18, she is listed in the "15 to 20" age group.
While the 1810, 1820 and 1830 census years did not include the names of any
individual other than the head of the household. Using birth dates, places
and ages we can be reasonably certain as to who the individuals listed on the census should be.
We discover from later census data, that in about 1831 Jeremiah's first
daughter, Lydia Lockett (Palmer) was born in Virginia.
In the early 1800’s many early American families left the Eastern coastal states and ventured west in search of their own fortunes. Veterans of the American Revolution were awarded land grants. Jeremiah, II’s uncle Edmond Lockett received such a grant in Kentucky. Other Locketts also moved West to Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Ohio. Many other Locketts moved west and south settling in Georgia and Texas. Sometime after the birth of Lydia in Virginia, Jeremiah and his family migrated to Ohio as from later Census data, in about 1833 Jeremiah's second daughter Martha was born in Ohio. Additionally, on September 10, 1834 a certificate for land in Gallia County, OH was issued, "Jeremiah Lockett of Gallia County, Ohio" purchased 40 acres, Section Thirty Three, Township Six, of Range Sixteen. The sale was recorded at the Land Office in Chillicothe, Ohio. Gallia County is in the Southern portion of the state and the land was more than likely purchased at an earlier date as the certificates were typically issued on later dates.
Jeremiah's second son George Lockett (b. March 13, 1836 d. May 24, 1903) was
born in Clinton County, Ohio. Clinton County is four counties west of Gallia County, this is only speculation, but perhaps George
was born on the trip moving the family to Indiana.
Jeremiah and his family first located to Delaware County, Niles Township,
Indiana as on April 1, 1836 a meeting was held for the organization of the Mississinewa Baptist Church. Jeremiah Lockett was one of the constituent members who signed the articles of covenant. This makes sense given the involvement that Jeremiah's father, Jeremiah I, had
with the Baptist church in Virginia.
Jeremiah’s Third Son James Lockett (b. June 15, 1838 d. July 25, 1913) was
born in Indiana, probably in Delaware County as on October 17, 1838 Jeremiah Lockett of Delaware County, Indiana"
purchased 121 4/100th acres, Section Three, Township Twenty Four North, of Range Ten East in Blackford County, In. The sale was recorded at the Land Office in Fort Wayne, Indiana and the
certificate for the land was issued on November 4, 1840, "
Jeremiah Lockett and his growing family settled in Blackford County becoming
one of the pioneer families who helped clear and settle the land in Washington Township, Blackford County, Indiana. We learn from a book written in 1887 recounting the history of the County,
(History of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana History 1887) that "Among the pioneers of Washington Township were:
Jeremiah Lockett, who was a justice of the peace many years, and remained a resident of his farm until his death". Jeremiah was also one of the first grand jurors named in the commissioners'
records for the March (1840) term of court.
Some of the marriages performed by Jeremiah Lockett as Justice of the Peace:
