James Family Archives
• Researching the Past
• Education for the Present
• Preservation for the Future
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David’s final and complete legal acquisition of his lands in Radnor could not have come at a better time. In the decade to follow, the 1720’s the Colony of Pennsylvania would enjoy an unprecedented period of economic prosperity. It is during this time, t he 1720’s that David’s agricultural operation in Radnor came into fruition and the James family began to amass wealth following thirty years of struggle. These were the happy days for David as he watched his children grow as well as his flocks of sheep and his fields of grain. Over the next two decades David’s agricultural operation would grow significantly. He would also acquire additional lands in the neighboring township of Upper Merion, which he would give to his eldest son Thomas. Beginning in 1730, David would see the rest of his children begin building families of their own. The next child to leave the nest was David’s daughter Rebecca James, who in 1730 married John Miles, the son of Richard Miles and Sarah Evans. This union would cement an already lifelong tie between the James family and the Miles family of Radnor. Rebecca would go on to have six children including: James Miles, Enos Miles, John Miles, Sarah Miles, Rebecca Miles and Hannah Miles.
In 1731 Benjamin Franklin would open the first library in the colonies in the City of Philadelphia. In the year 1733 David’s sons Thomas James and Evan James were baptized at the Great Valley Baptist Church. By 1735 David James was married to his second wife Jane for on December 30, 1735 we know that David his wife Jane deeded to David’s son Thomas James a plantation called “Small Springs” in Upper Marion Township. The transaction is recorded in Philadelphia Deed Book H on pages 12 and 283.
On February 18, 1736, David’s daughter Sarah James married John Thomas (1713-1790) in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. John was a Baptist minister and the son of William Thomas and Ann Griffith. Sarah would go on to have four children including: Anna Thomas, Rebecca Thomas, Leah Thomas and Sarah Thomas.
In 1737 David James and his eldest son Thomas are listed on a document entitled “A Subscription Towards the Supporting of ye Ministry in ye Great Valley In the Year 1737.” Both men are listed as contributing three pence to the support of the ministry at the Great Valley Baptist Church. The year 1737 also saw a contingent from the congregation of the Welsh Tract Baptist Church migrates south to the Pee Dee River in South Carolina to establish a new Welsh Baptist settlement. This settlement was named “Welsh Neck” after the pioneers’ former residence and later give birth to the Welsh Neck Baptist Church.
In 1738 David’s eldest son Thomas at the ripe age of 48 would wed Mary Jones (1716-1745), the daughter of Griffith and Catherine John who are now living in Tredyffrin, Pennsylvania. Thomas and Mary would go on to have three children: Enoch James, Leah James and Elias James. Mary would die shortly after giving birth to Elias in 1745 and Thomas would wed, yet again to Sarah Henderson, daughter of Alexander Henderson in that same year who would bear him two more children: Daniel and Jonathan James.