James Family Archives

 

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James Family Archives News and Developments For 2023

 

Larry James, Senior Research Historian - Monday, December 25, 2023:

Merry Christmas James family, friends, distinguished historians and genealogists across the fruited plain and around the world! We have a very special holiday treat for you this holiday season thanks to the hard work of our devoted James Family Archives historians. This Christmas we bring to your the amazing story of “Mat James and Children” - a biographical sketch of the life of Martha Ann Britnell James (1858-1925) and her children following the death of her husband Andrew “Jack” Jackson James (1844-1902) of Franklin County, Alabama in 1902. This biography was written in 1982 by Dr. Jesse Clopton James (1924-2019), the son of Edward Newman James (1901-1982) and was originally published by Scott Williams on Facebook in 2023. Thank you Scott!!! What is so amazing about this particular biography is that it showcases the struggles and the victories of our family from the early days of Reconstruction in rural Alabama all the way through to the present and highlights the resilience of the James family and the very special purpose for which our family was created. I know you’re going to love it. For our genealogical aficionados, we have also updated Page 146 of the Genealogical Section, “Children of Thomas James (1804-1851) and Mary Polly Bonds (1807-1887) of Georgia;” Page 153, “Children of Andrew “Jack” Jackson James (1844-1902) and Martha Ann “Mattie” Britnell (1858-1925) of Franklin, County, Alabama;” and, Page 154, “Children of Edward Newman James (1901-1982) and Ira Belle Denton (1902-2001) of Alabama” to track this side of our family and enhance your research experience. Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy!

 

Larry James, Senior Research Historian - Saturday, November 11 2023:

Greetings Evan Samuel Kern! Thank you for reaching out to the James Family Archives. It is a sincere pleasure to make your acquaintance. I understand that you are researching our James family ancestor, Myrtle James (1889-1982), mother of James Robert Kern (1923-2001) and Dorothy Elizabeth Kern Walker (1920-2023), Your great grandfather James’ sister Dorothy Walker was a friend of mine. Many years before her recent passing I exchanged a great deal of information concerning our James family ancestors with her. She was a wonderful family historian. I have located the virtual memorial for your James family ancestor Myrtle on the Find A Grave web site at “Myrtle J. James Kern, Memorial ID Number 60835695, by ‘No Reins’, added October 29, 2010.” Myrtle is buried at Terre Haute Cemetery in Terre Haute, Henderson County, Illinois. Your ancestor, Myrtle James, was born August 22, 1889, and was the wife of Clarence Robert Kern (1891-1968), son of Newton Adam Kern (1861-1936) and Ladora C. Cloud (1861-1931) of Henderson County, Illinois. We also have another ancestor by the name of Myrtle James who was born August 6, 1889 in Hodge, Lafayette County, Missouri to Thomas M. James (1861-1936) of Roanoke County, Virginia and Melissa Pearson (1869-1964) of Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa. Thomas M. James (1861-1936) was the younger half-brother of Samuel Elias James (1843-1921). This Myrtle married on March 18, 1914 to Relvia Clarence Keller (1881-1964), son of Walter Celling Keller (1856-1936) and Sarah Viola Wilcox (1862-1946), and died on September 26, 1966 (aged 77) in Sibley, Jackson County, Missouri. This Myrtle was the cousin of your Myrtle and is buried at Buckner Hill Cemetery in Buckner, Jackson County, Missouri. Her known children include: Charles Vernon Keller, Walter Rollin Keller and Thomas Marvin Keller. You can find the other Myrtle James on the Find A Grave web site at "Myrtle James Keller (1889-1966), Memorial ID No. 54256733, by Rebekah Billings, added June 28, 2010. You can also find this Myrtle in the Genealogical Section of our James Family Archives web site on Page 194 entitled, “Children of Thomas M. James (1861-1936) of Roanoke County, Virginia and Melissa Pearson (1869-1964) of Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa.” You can find your great, great grandmother Myrtle James Kern (1889-1982) on our James Family Archives web site at Page 236 entitled, "Children of Samuel Elias James (1843-1921) and Annie Elizabeth Neighbors (1851-1904) of Stewartsville, Bedford County, Virginia." I appreciate you sharing with us your James family lineage. I wish you the best and many more hours of research on our mutual James family ancestors!

 

Evan Samuel Kern, evilevan04@gmail.com - Friday, November 3, 2023:

Hello JFA! I hope you are well. I stumbled across the JFA website recently and since the branch of the family I descend from is cut off at my third great grandpa, I would like to provide some information. My name is Evan Samuel Kern (2004), son of Brett Samuel Kern (1978), who is son of James Robert Kern (1947), James Robert Kern (1923-2001), Myrtle (middle name unknown) James (1889-1982), Samuel Elias James (1845), who is of course son of Elias James and grandson of Isaac Daniel James. This is almost an irrelevant thought but I have been thinking that it is pretty likely that my Grandpa and Great Grandpa are named after Myrtle James' family. I hope this email finds you well, Thank you, Evan Samuel Kern.

 

Larry James, Senior Research Historian - Saturday, October 28, 2023:

Greetings! James family, friends, historians and genealogists across the fruited plain and around the world! Today, October 28, 2023, marks the 341st Anniversary of the James Family's arrival in North America! It was on this date in the year 1682 that David James (c1660-1739), his wife Margaret Jane (nee "Mortimer") James and their infant daughter Mary of Llandegley and Glascwm parishes in Radnorshire, Wales disembarked the sailing ship "Bristol Factor" captained by Roger Drew following a two month voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and set foot at "Penn's Landing" in Philadelphia along with the celebrated founder, Sir William Penn. The Bristol Factor was one of twenty three ships Sir Penn chartered to transport his pre-selected colonists ("Welsh Quakers") to his new barony in North America, the British Colony of Pennsylvania. David and Margaret joined Penn in their flight from their centuries old homeland in the heart of Wales in the summer of 1682 due to the religious persecution they endured as members of the Religious Society of Friends ("Quakers") following the Restoration of the monarchy in England and the return of King Charles II in 1660.  Our family spent two months in Bristol, England before departing on board the Bristol Factor. They  crossed the Atlantic with two other vessels, the Welcome (carrying William Penn) and the Unicorn. Upon their arrival at Penn's Landing, David and Margaret along with William Penn were greeted by the Swedish colonists and native Americans already living in what then was called "Upland." Very soon thereafter, they trekked up the Schuylkill River and claimed 100 acres of a land surrounding a hill as their homestead in the midst of the Pennsylvania wilderness in what today is known as Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The James family resided in Radnor Township for 100 years prior to the conclusion of the Revolutionary War that secured independence for the fledgling United States of America.  After four generations in Pennsylvania, the family branched out in three directions towards Ohio, Virginia and Alabama and thereafter occupied the entire territory of the United States. Today, the descendants of David and Margaret James are legion as the family continues to thrive and multiply. God bless the James family and its deliverance to the promised land!

 

Larry James, Senior Research Historian - Saturday, October 21, 2023:

Greetings James family historians and genealogical enthusiasts across the fruited plain and around the World! I have just finished updating Page 104 of the Genealogical Section of our James Family Archives entitled, “Children of Reverend George William James (1856-1901) of Fannin County, Texas and Martha Alice Dorris (1862-1933) of Cass County, Texas.” What a fascinating side of our James family. The good Reverend was from the Virginia Line in our family that left Bedford County in 1849 and settled in north-east Texas around 1852. Rev. James was among the first generation to be born in Texas. He and his wife Martha migrated from Fannin County in the late 1800’s to Hunt County, then to Comanche County and finally settled in Palo Pinto County, Texas near the turn of the Century (1900). And wow! What a legacy they left behind: 8 children, 22 grandchildren, 13 known great grandchildren, and, 3 known great, great grandchildren. My goodness, the Good Lord certainly blessed this side of the family abundantly!. I want to give a shout out to cousins Marty Rutlege and Alice Denson for all the outstanding work they have done on the virtual memorials posted on the Find-A-Grave web site for this side of our family. Great job guys!

 

Larry James, Senior Research Historian - Sunday, October 8, 2023:

Greetings James family historians and genealogical enthusiasts across the fruited plain and around the World! It is so good to be back to work researching, documenting and reporting our family’s amazing history. I am excited to report that this Fall, the James Family Archives will be updating our family history web site for the first time in many years. During the past year I have been slowly incorporating all the new historical information that has been flowing in over the past few years. I have also renewed our contract with GoDaddy.com to keep our family history web site up and running for another three years. At the present, most of the updated pages have not yet been uploaded, however, as they are you will see announcements both hear and on our Facebook account. All I ask is that y’all be patient with me. Our James Family Archives web site contains over 235 pages of information and, as always, our we site remains “free” and accessible to anyone, anywhere at no charge. So hang on folks! The new and improved JFA web site is on its way!