I made an exciting discovery about my fourth great-grandparents when I discovered an article about them from 1875. Emeline and Norfleet Jordan had passed away a day apart, and the local newspaper, The Tennessean, published an article about them.

Not Divided in Death.
To the American:
PEGRAM’S STATION, CHEATHAM COUNTY, Oct. 18, 1875. – Mr. Norfllet (sic) Jordan and Mrs. Emaline Jordan, husband and wife, who resided at the head waters of Pond Creek, and about six miles from Sam’s Creek Springs, both died at their home, the former on the 13th and the latter of the 14th of this month. They were buried side by side in one deep, wide grave last Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were very old citizens and were highly respected. They had lived in the relation of husband and wife for more than forty years, he being about seventy-three and she about sixty-six years of age.
“They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided.”
ROAMER.

They were described as “very old citizens” but were only about seventy and sixty-five at death – which isn’t considered “very old” these days! This article also gave me the death date of Emeline, which I had not previously had. I do wish it would have listed probable cause of death for each.

The couple had been married  nearly 47 years. It’s a touching article — “in their death they were not divided.”

Here’s what I know about Norfleet and Emeline, based on records:

Norfleet Jordan was born about 1805, probably in Greenville County, Virginia,  the oldest child of Drewry / Drury Jordan and Sarah “Sally” Cato. By 1820, the family had moved to Davidson County, Tennessee, present day Cheatham County, Tennessee.

Emeline / Emaline Shadowens / Chaudoin was born about 1810 in Buckingham County, Virginia to Reuben Chaudoin and his wife. I am unsure of her mother’s name. After 1810, Reuben and his family settled near Dickson County, Tennessee.

Norfleet and Emeline were married on November 12, 1828 in Davidson County, Tennessee. (The bondsman was Thomas Richardson.)

In 1830, Norfleet is living with wife, Emeline (age 15-19), son (under 5) and a woman age 50-59, which is probably his mother, Sarah Sally Cato Jordan, in Davidson County, Tennessee.

In 1840, the family is now living in Dickson County, Tennessee. They have two sons under five (Drewry/Drury and Jesse), one daughter under five (Sarah), and two daughters age 5-9 (Rebecca and Nancy). They also have two slaves, one female and one male, age 10 – 23.

In 1850, the family lived in Davidson County, Tennessee with eight children: Rebecca, Nancy, Drury, Sally, Jesse, Agnes, James and Eliza. Norfleet was a farmer with $1000 value of real estate owned.

In 1860, the family lived in what was now District 9, Cheatham County, Tennessee with eight children: Nancy, Drury, Sally, Jesse, Agnes, James, Elizabeth and William. Norfleet was a farmer with a personal value of estate at $5100.

Norfleet had 500 acres in 1862 valued at $2,000.

According to the agriculture census in 1870, Norfleet had 40 acres he farmed on, and 448 untouched acres. His farm was valued at $1,800. He owned 2 hours, 3 mules, 1 cow, 7 other cattle, and 50 swine for a value of $535. He had 250 bushels of Indian corn and 30 bushels of oats.

The final census the family was on was the 1870 census. In District 9, Cheatham County, was Norfleet, Emeline, Sally, Eliza and William. Norfleet was a farmer, with $2500 in real estate and $725 in personal estate.

They had at least 10 children, including Drury / Drewry Jordan, my third great-grandfather.

As the newspaper article states, the family lived near the head waters of Pond Creek, in an area called Jordan Hollow. Per family, they are buried in a family cemetery on what used to be their land.

Main Source: Ancestry.com
Marriage Record Bondsman: Nashville Archives website

Do you descend from the Jordans? I would love to hear from you. Email me at downhomegenealogy@gmail.com.