Jacob ROCHELLE was born 29 October 1848 the second son of Benjamin ROCHELLE, b.abt. 1823 in New Hanover Co.-d.10 June 1892 Lenoir Co., N.C. and his 1st wife Ann J. LANIER, b. 3 Nov. 1829-d.1850/1860 in Duplin Co., N.C.
Benjamin ROCHELLE married Ann LANIER sometime before 1847. Ann LANIER was the daughter of Spious LANIER, b.abt. 1794-1829, Duplin Co. and his wife Catherine M. PADGETT, b. 22 March 1807-d.1861/1870. After Spious LANIER died in 1829; Catherine Padgett LANIER married Bryant MAREADDY on 8 April 1831 in Duplin Co., and raised Ann J. LANIER as his own daughter.
{See Ben ROCHELLE for information on him and his ancestors.} Jacob ROCHELLE's birth is listed in the JAMES bible records and is also listed as son of Benjamin ROCHELLE. JAMES BIBLE
Benjamin & Ann had the following children:
As you can see Benjamin & Ann named Spirous ROCHELLE after Ann's father & their daughter Catherine after her mother. Jacob ROCHELLE was named after Benjamin ROCHELLE'S brother Jacob.
By the 1850 Census of Duplin County, N.C. they were living in the South Davidson District on 14 Sept. 1850 when the census was taken.
Sometime between September 1850 and June 1860 Ann J. L. ROCHELLE and her daughter Catherine ROCHELLE died as they do not appear on the 1860 Census.
By November things had changed.Benjamin ROCHELLE marries Sarah L. BATTS on 9 November 1860 in Duplin Co., N.C. the wedding is performed by Jesse BATTS. She was the daughter of William Hance BATTS and his wife Elizabeth. She was 23 years old at the time of her marriage he was 38 years of age and needed a wife.
The Civil War was upon them by 1861 and two more tragedies were to take place.
On 31 December 1861, Benjamin ROCHELLE left his wife Sarah and only remaining child Jacob ROCHELLE and enlisted in Company A, 38th Regiment, N.C. State Troops in the Confederate Army; he was about 39 years of age.
Benjamin ROCHELLE married his 3rd wife, about 2 Oct. 1865. She was Indianna SLOAN, daughter of Gibson SLOAN and Minerva WILLIAMS of Duplin Co., N.C. Indianna was born on 15 July 1845; she was 20 years of age and only 4 years older than her step-son Jacob ROCHELLE.
Jacob ROCHELLE was a man in his 20's with no ties, and probably very adventurous; as he decides to leave North Carolina and head to Alabama. He appoints his father Benjamin ROCHELLE as his attorney on Sept. 12, 1872 and is living near the city of Troy, Pike County, Alabama. He sold all his land in N.C.
How long he stayed there is not known. But by 1880 he is back in North Carolina living in Jacksonville, Onslow Co., N.C.
Jacob ROCHELLE married Annie "Jane" FISHER about 1874. She was the daughter of Cephus FISHER (1823-1908) and Polly BATCHELOR of the Maple Hill area of Pender Co., N.C. Cephus FISHER was a laborer, (cooper) on the JAMES Plantation in present day Maple Hill. He served in the Civil War, 20th Regiment, Co. K. Jacob ROCHELLE, and his father Benjamin ROCHELLE were all from this area also. Jacob's grandmother Susannah JAMES was born on the JAMES plantation. So all these families had close ties to this area. See JAMES Family for more info. on this line.
By 1880 Jacob ROCHELLE and his young wife Jane are living in Jacksonville, Onslow County. Jacob is 31 years of age, and Anna J. is 22, they have a small son named John R. ROCHELLE, b. 29 Dec. 1879.
Jacob ROCHELLE and Jane FISHER had the following children:
Eight children were listed as born to Jane Fisher Rochelle in the 1900 census, but only 4 survived.
Jacob ROCHELLE & his wife Jane Fisher Rochelle apparently ran a boarding house in Jacksonville. He is listed in the 1896 & 1897 City Directory for Jacksonville.
By 1897 Jacob ROCHELLE is dead. He is buried in the Jacksonville City Cemetery. Nothing is known about his death. Jane could not support the family after his death. The two youngest girls, Katie & Eva ROCHELLE were placed in an Orphanage.
Jane Fisher ROCHELLE remarried William "Buddy" Penn MORRIS in 1899. He was born 28 March 1877-d.20 May 1953. He was much younger than Jane; but apparently cared a great deal for her. Buddy Penn was said to have met Jane at her boarding house. They were able to get the girls back from the Orphanage, and Buddy Morris adopted Eva & Katie; and helped raise all the children.
FUNERAL FOR MRS. JANE MORRIS
Service last Thursday Conducted by Rev. L.C. PINNIX
Funeral Services for Mrs. Jane MORRIS, age 83, wife of W. Penn MORRIS of this place, were held last Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the MORRIS home. Rev. L.C. PINNIX, pastor of the Jacksonville Baptist church of which the deceased was a member, was in charge of the service. Interment followed in the Jacksonville Cemetery.
Mrs. MORRIS died at her home here at 4 o'clock last Wednesday morning, after a extended illness. She had been in declining health for some time. She was a native of Onslow County, and was the daughter of Cephus & Annie FISHER. Mrs. MORRIS was born May 26, 1859. She lived in Jacksonville all her life and was fondly called "Aunt Jane" by an number of old Jacksonville residents.
She is survived by her husband Penn MORRIS of Jacksonville, one daughter Mrs. J. E. BATCHELOR of Wilmington, four grandchildren: Mrs. Adolf OTERSON of Wilmington, Mrs. Alex JONES & John ROCHELLE of Washington, & D. W. ROCHELLE of New London, Conneticut. Mrs. MORRIS is also survived by a number of great grandchildren.
"The Daily News" Jacksonville, Onslow Co., N.C.-May 1953
William Penn MORRIS, 76, died at 9 o'clock, in the morning at the Onslow Co. Hospital wehre he was entered three days ago following a lingering illness. He was a resident of Jacksonville and was employed for many years by the Jacksonville Lumber Co. He is survived by two brothers, Cecil MORRIS, of Stoney Point, KY, and George W. MORRIS of Wilson, and one sister, Mrs. Neil COLE of Jacksonville. Funeral will be held Friday at 3 o'clock at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel and burial will be in the Jacksonville Cemetery.
Blanche K. ROCHELLE, b. 3/22/1899-d. 2/5/1904 Dumas Waldon ROCHELLE, b. 29 Sept. 1901-d. 15 November 1955.
After John R. ROCHELLE died Hattie ROCHELLE, his wife married twice more.
John Alfred Rochelle another son of Carl and Myrtle Rochelle is shown in his uniform.
A special thanks to Carl Rochelle for sending pictures of his family!
Also below is a picture of Eva Rochelle & John BATCHELOR
Eva & John BATCHELOR worked at Orton Plantation for many years in the 1920's & 30's, and we think this might be the house they lived in there; but not sure.
Eva was known in the area as "Orton Mama!!!" Eva & John BATCHEOR had only 1 child: Pauline BATCHELOR
J. E. BATCHELOR in back, (L-R)Camille OTERSEN, Jane Fisher Rochelle MORRIS, Eva Rochelle BATCHELOR & Pauline OTERSEN. The child is Warren ROCHELLE son of Dumas ROCHELLE.
Contact SLOAN MASON or Catherine WORTHINGTON if you can add any further information.