In a footnote on pg 465-"Abel Janney was a resident of Goose Creek neighborhood (now Lincoln, Loudoun County, Virginia).  He was of a roving disposition, often engaged in hunting or 'trapping,' and it was while on a trapping excursion that he was captured.  Colman Wilks and John Russell were with him.  Wilks was shot.  Russell escaped and reached the settlements in Kentucky, but was so badly frozen and prostrated that he lived but a few days.  Tradition says that A.J. was employed at Washington as interpreter -John J. Janney." 

The above information was all found in the 1900 publication.

Notes from Christie A. Russell

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Abel Janney moved from near Philadelphia to Culpeper Co. Va., and later moved to Alexandria, where he was a large shipping merchant. His granddaughter, Mrs. Cosemlia Janney (Hutchinson) Brent of Loudoun Co., stated (ca. 1700) that her grandfather went to Kentucky as a young man and was a prisoner with the Indians for 7 years. That his diary was destroyed during the war (Revolution or 1812?). That Abel was taken prisoner by the Indians in Kentucky and by them sold to the English for 1/2 keg of firewater. He was in Kentucky prospecting for land when war broke out between England and the Colonies.

It is believed that he is the "Indian Abel Janney" spoken of by "The Rambler" in the Washington Sunday Star for 12 January, 1919, in which the following letter from 'K.L. Russell of Webster Street,' DC. is quoted: "The following narrative of Abel Janney, in connection with the Indians in Ohio in 1782, may be of interest to the readers of your Goose Creek stories of early Loudoun County." The person submitting this narrative to the publications of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society was John Jay Janney of Columbus, Ohio, who died in 1907 at the age of 96. He was born 25 April, 1812, in Lincoln, Va., known as Goose Creek Meeting House." In research of Court Records at Leesburg, it was noted a reference to an Abel Janney mentioned in the wills of Abel Janney, Sr., and his wife, Sarah. The wills were probated in 1770 and 1774, and it was stated that the Janneys lived in the Mansion House, near Short Hill. (The Abel Janney mentioned in the Wills was the son of Abel and Sarah (Baker) Janney --noted by Mahlon Hopkins Janney).

SOURCE: Copied by Christie Russell from JANNEY FAMILY HISTORY, Compiled by Mahlon Hopkins Janney and Miles White, jr. Gathered and printed by Werner L. Janney, 1985, Vol. 1, pg 197.

Research notes by Christie Russell. It is noted that Abel Janney was married to Margaret Wilkes, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Wilkes who must have been related to the Coleman Wilks of the above narrative. Francis Wilks and his son, John, are found in an indenture in 1755 in connection to Amos Janney with Samuel Russell and Jacob Janney signing as witnesses. Abel Janney was a second cousin once removed to Joseph Janney who married Elizabeth Russell. It is believed that Elizabeth was the niece of the John Russell referred to in the above narrative.

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REYNOLD JANNEY

Reynold Janney was the son of George and Rebecca (Betts) Janney. He was born near Martinsville, Clark Township, Clinton County, Ohio, July 4, 1858 and married Ella Cerinthia Dixon, August 15, 1882 in Londonderry, OH. He died October 7, 1938 and is buried in the Chillicothe City Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, OH. He was a 4^th great-grandson of Quakers ,Thomas and Margery (Heath) Janney, who emigrated from Cheshire, England to Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1683 and was a 5^th great-grandson of Captain Richard and Johanna (Chamberlain) Betts, who emigrated from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and Strood, Kent County, England respectively. Richard Betts emigrated in 1648 to Ipswich, Massachusetts, later removing to Newtown, Long Island.

Reynold was a member of the Newberry Friends Meeting in Martinsville. His father, George Janney, was a 1^st Lt. Company A, 2 Reg’t U.S.C.T. [United States Colored Troops], a white officer of African American Troops. George served 3 years primarily in Key West, Florida where he contracted yellow fever and returned to Clinton County very ill just as the war ended. George Janney died January 19, 1867 of consumption and is buried at the Newberry Friends Cemetery, Martinsville, Ohio. Reynold, the only surviving child of George and Rebecca Janney, and his mother were granted a certificate of transfer October 22, 1883 from Newberry MM to Wilmington, Ohio MM.¹

While a student of Professor Levi T. Edwards at Wilmington College, he and fellow student, Milton Farquhar, and Prof. Edwards built a thirteen-inch telescope which was housed in the observatory on Wilmington College Campus, the second building erected on the campus.²

By 1885-86, Reynold was the High School Principal in Wilmington, with his salary after 4 years in that position of $900.³

Reynold Janney was a teacher and high school principal in Chillicothe, Ohio. In 1894 he moved his family to Keene, New Hampshire and opened a bicycle manufacturing business. He also developed inventions to improve the typewriter.⁴ He was awarded the Howard N. Potts Gold Medal from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia in 1918 for his invention of the Waterbury Hydraulic Speed Gear while he was Chief Engineer and Vice President of the Waterbury Tool Company, New Britain, Connecticut.⁵

In his work, Reynold Janney crossed the ocean 18 times and made one trip around the world. The following letter was written by Reynold Janney to his first cousin, Rosa Janney [Mrs. C.C. Morrison], daughter of Stephen Janney, from Gillespieville, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1927 giving a more complete account of his career and family history.

"Dear Cousin Rosa:

I am truly glad to have your letter of the 1st addressed to our former New York address and forwarded here.

I made a tracing copy of the Samuel M. Janney Tree which was compiled in 1868, with such additions as I could conveniently locate. I also made a diagram tracing the descendants of Randle Janney from about 1530 to Thomas, who came to America in 1683 with 4 sons. I had a number of photographic copies made from these, but have given out all extra copies. I have not at hand just now facilities for making more copies, but shall probably be in New York soon and where I can make them. However, I have copied the direct line of descent from Randle to our grandfather, Joseph, 9 generations, then on another sheet, all our uncles, aunts and first cousins as far as I have at hand the information. There is further information as to dates and some names, but I can not place my hands on it at this writing.

Your father [Stephen Janney] and mine [George Janney] both enlisted in the war [Civil War] but were assigned to different places, yours went with Gen. Sherman. The members of his company loved him very much. My father was sent down the Mississippi to New Orleans thence by ship to Florida. He was wrecked near Tallahassee, then was at Tallahassee, Tampa, Dry Tantugas [Tortugas], Key West and others of the Keys on coast duty, until just the close of the war. He had yellow fever, of which one third of his regiment died, not fully recovering he was sent home sick leave, the war being over before he reached home.

Please write me some particulars about your mother and her people. Perhaps Lizzie wrote you something about me and my family. Here is a brief outline:

I was principal of High School in Wilmington and Chillicothe, O. altogether 12 years. elected Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy in Wilmington College, but moved east into manufacturing and mechanical engineering.

Westboro, Mass. Manager Densmore-Yost Co. and Prest. Cycle Improvement Co. 4 years

Worcester, Mass, and Keene, N. H. superintendent Trinity Mfg. Co. 4 years

Bridgeport, Conn. superintendent Locomobile Co. of America

Glen Ridge, N.J. with Thomas A. Edison as manager of his Storage Battery Co.

Jackson, Mich. superintendent Buick Co. and at the same time Vice President and Chief Engineer, Waterbury Tool Co. at New Britain, Conn. This last position I occupied for 18 years until after the close of the War when I sold out and later bought the Dixon home farm here, where we live, which I spend part of my time with our son Russell helping him in his work in New York, office at 556-58 West 45th St.

For several years while we maintained our residence in New York City, we lived in London and Paris. I had to be in England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russia and Japan so many times and so much of the time that our residence abroad was more convenient than in N.Y. During all the War, I was busy manipulating munition orders for Russia and England as well as our own factory work for the U.S. Government in Waterbury, Conn. In 1916 I was called to England to help on the "Tanks" and submarines. The cause of all this was a machine I invented which found its most extensive application on battleships for manipulating the guns, turrets and rudders. *[He was awarded the Howard N. Potts Gold Medal from the Franklin Institute in 1918 for this invention - notes of Christie Russell].

After the deaths of Mrs. Janney's parents, it was necessary according to her father's will, that the home place be sold and the proceeds divided among the children, 12, brothers and sisters. It is such a beautiful farm and home place of 180 acres that the family persuaded me to buy it. So we make our home here now. Our son Russell after graduating from Yale took up literary work and finally became a Theatrical producing manager. He produced among other things, "The Vagabond King". This proved a tremendous success. Last season while he was in London preparing a London Company, I managed his Philadelphia and Boston production for him. The play had already completed its run of 15 months in New York. This, with some scientific laboratory work in N.Y. keeps me in the east a part of the time.

Our daughter Bertha and her daughter Bertha (we call her Betty) live with us. She married Ernest S. Holland of Boston. Ramona is not married. She is with us. Russell's son, William, has the title role in "Tommy". He was all last season in Boston and New York and is now running in Chicago. His mother is with him. It is a great success.

Russell's work begins again in N.Y. in a few weeks. This and other work will call me east soon. I am having my brother-in-law, Harry, manage the farm work for me. We all work hard, but keep in good health.

Several years ago I received a letter from your mother about possible openings in electrical work for Charles. When Russell was in California a few years ago managing a theatrical company for a Mr. Woods, he called to see Russell (Uncle Lot's son) and Charles in Santa Barbara. I do not remember whether he saw Charles at that time or not.

If you can manage to wade through this letter it may help to acquaint us with each other. My mother used to speak often of your mother. I wish I might have been in N.Y. to meet Janice and her husband. We lived at 21 Claremont Ave., New York for so many years that we seemed a part of Columbia. The building we lived in is now owned by Columbia.

Please let me hear from you again soon.

With best wishes for yourself and Dr. Morrison,

Very sincerely,

Reynold Janney"

A Copy of this letter from Andrew "Jack" Janney was sent to his niece, Christie Russell, 1984.

Additional information of interest concerning Reynold Janney follows:

The FRANKLIN INSTITUTE of the State of Pennsylvania, For the Promotion of this Mechanic Arts, Acting Through it’s Committee on Science and the Arts, has awarded

THE HOWARD N. POTTS GOLD MEDAL jointly to Harvey D. Williams and REYNOLD JANNEY for their inventions embodied in the Waterbury Hydraulic Speed Gear in accordance with the committee’s Report, Numbered 2708 and dated April 3, 1918.

Signed Walter Clark, President

R. B. Owens, Secretary

"Through its awards program, The Franklin Institute seeks to provide public recognition and encouragement of excellence in science and technology. The list of Franklin Institute medal winners reads like a "Who’s Who" in the history of 20^th century science. Alexander Graham Bell, Pierre and Marie Curie and Rudolf Diesel were Cresson laureates in the early years of this century [20^th]. Thomas Edison, Niels Bohr, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawkings have received the equally prestigious Franklin Medal, which was established in 1914. In this century[20th]m 98 Franklin Institute laureates have also been honored by the Nobel Prize Committee.

Engraved over the entrance to The Franklin Institute are the words, ‘In Honor of Benjamin Franklin’ Recognizing the world’s leading men and women of science is one important way the Institute keeps its commitment to Franklin’s legacy."

From the Wilmington [Ohio] Journal

"18 Dec 1901
Died Saturday at Keene, New Hampshire, Mrs. R.A. Janney, sister of Madison BETTS and mother of Professor Reynold Janney. Wife of George Janney. Buried Martinsville."⁶

New York Times, Sunday May 30, 1948 Page 34

"Mrs. Reynold Janney Chillicothe, OH, Ella Dixon Janney died last night eight days after seeing the movie made from best-selling novel written by her son, Russell Janney. Her age was 86.

Mrs. Janney crippled for the last ten months, by a hip fracture saw the movie, ‘The Miracle of the Bells’ on May 20. She is the widow of Reynold Janney, Chillicothe High School Principal who died in 1938."

Copied by Christie Russell Novermber 1998

Endnotes:
1.    Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, WW Hinshaw, Vol. V, OH Genealogical Publishing Co., 1946
2.    History of Clinton County, Ohio - 1915
3.    The Teachers’ Blue Book for the Public Schools of Ohio, for 1885-1886 years salary for superintendents, principals and special teachers. The Clinton Chronicle, OH, Vol. XII, Issue 3 July 2001
4.    Genealogy of the Janney Family in America, Jane Burgess, 1990
5.    Research notes of Christie Russell, December, 2001. The above Certificate and Report No. 2708 Investigating The Waterbury Hydraulic Speed Gear was sent from the Franklin Institute with the application dated October 9, 1917. Included are three pieces of Correspondence from Reynold Janney on letter head stationery of Waterbury Tool Co., East Aurora Street, Waterbury, Connecticut. Reynold is listed as Vice President with business address Room 2935 Equitable Building, New York, NY.
6.    The Clinton Chronicle, OH Vol. VII Issue 4 October 2001

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