Jessa Duggar (mother: Ben Seewald)
Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born on November 4, 1992.
Jessa met Ben through church and began courting him in 2013. The old-fashioned approach to romance seemed like an entirely new concept to many viewers. Since the children had never talked about their romance before their engagement, Jim Bob explained to People magazine, “Courtship is about getting to know each other in a group, where both families spend time together, and where the couple sets goals together to decide whether they intend to get married. On dates, couples are often paired up alone, which can sometimes lead to a more physical relationship.”
Ben asked for Jessa’s hand and proposed in August 2014, sealing the deal by holding her hand for the first time. The two got married on November 1, 2014. Jessa was pregnant with her first child when 19 Kids and Counting was canceled, and TLC subsequently aired a sexual abuse special featuring Jill and Jessa to further educate viewers about the issue. The sisters would be the stars of their own show that winter, “Jill and Jessa: Counting On.” The show then evolved into Counting On, which also featured other Duggar brothers.
Meanwhile, Jessa and Ben welcomed son Spurgeon on November 5, 2015, son Henry on February 6, 2017, daughter Ivy Jane on May 28, 2019, and daughter Fern in July 2021. In February 2023, Jessa revealed that she suffered a miscarriage during the 2022 holiday season. She gave birth to son George in December 2023.
In August 2025, Jessa announced the birth of her son Edward.
