James Family Archives

 

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Children of Enoch James (circa 1739-) of Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and Rachel Richards:

 

1.   Elias James:  born circa 1775 in Wilmington District, North Carolina; relocated to Georgia; died circa 1840 in Franklin County, Alabama; known children include:  Isaac James and Thomas James.

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Notes:

 

Enoch James (1739-) was the son of Thomas James (circa 1690-1753) and Mary Jones (1716-1745) of Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

 

Elias James, the son of Enoch James and possibly Rachel Richards was reportedly born about 1775 and subsequently relocated to Georgia.  Although documentary evidence proving his descent from Enoch James and Rachel Richards has not been located, DNA evidence obtained through the James Y-DNA Project indicates that Elias was the son of Enoch and Rachel Richards.  Elias James reportedly has 7 to 8 daughters and three sons.  The only verified sons of Elias James through Y-DNA evidence include Isaac James and Thomas James born circa 1803.

 

Elias James and his father Enoch James are believed to have migrated from the Wilmington District of North Carolina to Wilkes County, Georgia as early as 1797.  In 1803 Elias is reported to have participated in the Georgia Land Lottery.  Between 1823 and 1850 Elias’ children can be found within 30 miles of Wilkes County with Isaac James residing in neighboring Elbert County, 23 miles to the north, and Thomas James residing in neighboring Warren County, 30 miles to the south.  Isaac would later migrate further to Mississippi whereas Thomas and their father Elias would migrate to Franklin County, Alabama after obtaining a land grant for 40 acres in Franklin County in 1835.

 

Sources:

 

DNA evidence provided by Lee Allyn James of Olympia, Washington courtesy of the James Y-DNA Surname Project document Elias James descent from his great grandfather David James (circa1660-1739) of Radnorshire, Wales.

 

Historical Records of Elias James (1775- Aft 1840) including: Land Certificate of Elias James (1775-After 1840), dated 1835 for forty acres of of land in Franklin County, Alabama signed by President Andrew Jackson.

 

“In Search of the Lost Line of Enoch”, published November 3, 2016, by Larry James, documenting Elias James decent from Enoch James (circa 1739-).

 

The Early Records of Georgia, Volume I, Wilkes County abstracted and compiled by Grace Gillam Davidson, published in 1933 at Macon, Georgia. Appearing on page 233 Enoch James is in Wilkes County, Georgia in 1811 and financially supporting two orphans: Nancy Ferrington and Mandy Ferrington, the daughters of the late Aaron Ferrington.  Appearing on page 318, Elias James is residing in Wilkes County, Georgia and participating in the Land Lottery of 1803.

 

1790 Federal Censust for the State of North Carolina documents Elias James residing in Duplin.

 

1830 Federal Census for the State of Georgia document Thomas James residing in Warren County.

 

The family records of William Ralph James, Jr. of Marietta, Georgia document Isaac James residing in Elbert County, Georgia as early as 1832.

 

The family records of Scott K. Williams document Thomas James as the son of Elias James.

 

Updated:  April 19, 2021