James Family Archives

 

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Children of Evan James (1715-1794) & Margaret Jones (-1790) of Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania:

 

1.    Griffith James:  born circa 1739 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married Mary Gyger (-1825); resided in the Old James Mansion in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania formerly located at the corner of Montrose and Conestoga Avenue; died in 1812; buried at Radnor United Methodist Church graveyard in Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania; known children include:  Mary James, Rachel James, Isaac James, David James and Moses James.

 

2.    Rebecca James:  born circa 1740 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married June 22, 1763 at Swedes Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Smith, mason, of Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; received two houses and 51 acres from the estate of Evan James; known children include: James Smith, Caleb Smith, Aaron Smith, Mary Gravel, John Smith, Amy Smith and Evan Smith.

 

3.    Hannah James: born born circa 1747 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married Robert Johnson.

 

4.    Samuel James:  born October 11, 1750 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married circa 1780 in Loudoun County, Virginia to Hannah Smith (1758-1844), daughter of Samuel Smith and Naomi Whitacre; moved to Harrison County, Virginia; moved again to Jefferson County, Ohio; died October 26, 1812 in Jefferson County, Ohio; buried at the Short Creek burial grounds, Short Creek Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, Ohio; known children include:  Joshua James, Evan James, George James, Samuel James, Nancy James and Margaret James.

 

5.    Rachel James:  born circa 1751 in Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania; married December 1, 1774 at St. Paul’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Robert Martin, storekeeper.

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Notes:

 

Evan James (1715-1794) was the son of David James (circa 1660-1739) and Margaret James Mortimer of Llandegley and Glascwm Parishes, Radnorshire, Wales.

 

Griffith James (-1812) reportedly "signed the Association Test, 1779.  He was born in Radnor, Pa., where, 1812, he died." This report was made by James family historian Mrs. Mary Isabelle James de Gozzaldi (1852-1935) on page 159 of the Lineage Book of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume 27, published in Washington, D.C. in 1909.  Mary was the daughter of Dr. Thomas Potts James (1803-1882), the granddaughter of Rev. Dr. Isaac James (1777-1874), and the great granddaughter of Griffith James.  The Association Test began in New Hampshire in 1773.  It was a boycott designed to cripple commerce between the American Colonies and the British Empire.  By the time of the Revolutionary War, Great Britain had become dependent on the Colonies for high quality raw materials such as pig iron. Signatories to the Association Test agreed to engage in economic warfare against the British Empire until independence was achieved. The Association Test also served as a declaration of loyalty to the American cause. Among those prominent founding fathers who were also signatories to the Association Test include George Washington, John Adams, and Peyton Rudolph, President of the First Congress.

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Sources:

 

Records of the James Family Archives.

 

Records of the Radnor United Methodist Church, Radnor Township, Pennsylvania.

 

Daughters of the American Revolution (“DAR”) Genealogical Research Database, Ancestor Search for Griffith James, Ancestor No. A061503.

 

Lineage Book of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Published in Washington, D.C. in 1909, Volume 27, Page 159 for lineage of Griffith James.

 

For the record of the marriage of Rachel James and Robert Martin, See Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume II (1876), Pennsylvania Marriages, “M”, Page 199.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Griffith James (c1739-1812), Memorial ID No. 43638652, by Dan Oh, added October 28, 2009.

 

Samuel James (1750-1812), Memorial ID No. 22571514, by Lenore, added October 30, 2007.

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Updated:  June 10, 2022