James Family Archives

 

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Children of Elias James (circa 1775-circa 1840) of Wilmington District, North Carolina:

 

1.    Isaac James: born December 24, 1797 in Georgia; married prior to 1823 to Elizabeth C. (E.) (circa 1803-1860); died March 1880 (aged 82) in Neshoba County, Mississippi; known children include: William Elias James, Thomas Edmund James, Miriam Elizabeth James, Martha Emily James, Isaac Richard James, Maryan Amanda James, Marion Lumpkin James, Alven Alexander James, Susannah Frances James and Sanford Augustus James.

 

2.    Thomas James: born circa 1803 in Georgia; married Mary Polly Bonds (circa 1807- 30 July 1887), daughter of John Bonds (1772-1840) and Nancy Stark (1781-1850); died circa 1850 in Franklin County, Alabama; known children include:  Thomas C. James, Elizabeth James, Elias Walter James, William C. James, Rachel James, David James, Andrew Jackson James, Enoch James, Mary James, Jefferson James, and John James.

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Notes:

 

Elias James (c1775-c1840) was the son of Enoch James (circa 1739-ukn) of Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and Rachel Richards.

 

Elias James reportedly has 7 to 8 daughters and three sons.  The only verified sons of Elias James confirmed through DNA testing of descendants are Isaac James (1797-1880) and Thomas James (circa 1803-circa 1850).

 

Elias James migrated from the Wilmington District of North Carolina to Wilkes County, Georgia with his father Enoch as early as 1797. In 1803 Elias is reported to have participated in the Georgia Land Lottery.  Between 1823 and 1850 both of Elias’ known sons 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. Following 1850 Isaac would migrate further to Mississippi whereas Thomas and their father Elias would migrate to Franklin County, Alabama.

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Biographical Information Regarding Isaac James:

 

On or about 1858, Isaac James and his wife “Elizabeth” migrated from Elbert County, Georgia to Newton County, Mississippi along with four of their sons including: William Elias James (age 35), Isaac Richard James (age 28), Marion Lumpkin James (age 24) and Sanford Augustus James (age 16). Their daughter Susannah Francis James (age 17) along with ten grandchildren also accompanied them to Newton County, Mississippi. Isaac and Elizabeth left behind four married children and one who was soon to be married including two sons: Thomas Edmund James (age 34) and Alvin Alexander James (age 21); and, their three eldest daughters including: Miram Elizabeth James (age 32), Martha Emily James (age 30) and Maryan Amanda James (age 26).

 

Four of Isaac’s sons including: Isaac Richard James, Marion Lumpkin James, Alven Alexander James and Sanford Augustus James all served in the Confederate States Army during the War of the Rebellion (“Civil War”) (April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865). On September 2, 1862, Sanford Augustus James succumbed to illness and died at Camp Pleasant in Vicksburg, Mississippi. On September 20, 1862, Isaac Richard James also succumbed to illness and was sent to a military hospital at Mississippi Springs, Mississippi where he died on October 15, 1862. Marion Lumpkin James would go on and fight against Union forces led by generals Grant and Sherman during the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18, 1863 – July 4, 1863). Marion was captured toward the end of the Siege, but escaped and was later captured again at the Battle of Nashville (December 15, 1864 – December 16, 1864). He was imprisoned at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and died of dysentery on April 26, 1865, and was buried at the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in grave No. 1920. Alven Alexander James survived the war and returned home to his wife and children in Elbert County, Georgia.

 

By the end of the Civil War, Isaac James and his eldest son William Elias James resettled their families on a section of land that straddled present day North Street in Union, Mississippi, then known as the “Dixon Community” in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The James family suffered mightily during the war but by its end had solidly become Mississippians.

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Biographical Information Regarding Thomas James:

 

An alternative report published on Ancestry.com suggests Thomas James was born in York County, South Carolina in 1804; served as a captain for the Confederate States Army during the Civil War; and died in 1871. No source provided.

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Sources:

 

See, DNA evidence provided by Lee Allyn James of Olympia, Washington courtesy of the James Y-DNA Surname Project documenting Elias James’ descent from his great grandfather, David James (circa 1660-1739) of Llandegley and Glascwm parishes in Radnorshire, Wales.

 

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

 

See also, “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.

 

See also, Federal Census (1830), Georgia documenting Thomas James’ residence in Warren County.

 

See also, Family Records of William Ralph James, Jr. of Marietta, Georgia documenting Isaac James’ residence in Elbert County, Georgia as early as 1832.

 

See also, Family Records of Scott K. Williams documenting Thomas James as the son of Elias James.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Isaac James (1797-1880), Memorial ID No. 196805780, created by William James, added February 12, 2019.

 

Elizabeth James (1803-186), Memorial ID No. 239015170, created by James Family Archives, added April 19, 2022.

 

Thomas James (1804-1851), Memorial ID No. 190633781, created by Sweet Carolineage, added June 16, 2018.

 

Mary Polly Bonds James (1807-unk), Memorial ID No. 190633909, created by Sweet Carolineage, added June 16, 2018.

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Updated:  January 1, 2024