James Family Archives

 

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Children of Thomas James (circa 1690-1753) and Mary Jones (1716-1745) of Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania:

 

1.    Enoch James:  born circa 1739 in Upper Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; married April 29, 1762 to Rachel Richards; chairmaker by trade; known to have resided in Chester County, Pennsylvania through 1772 in the townships of Tredyffrin and Marple; known children include:  Elias James.

 

2.    Leah James:  born circa 1743 in Upper Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

 

3.    Elias James:  born February 11, 1744 Upper Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; married Anna Matson (circa 1746-1827), daughter of Peter Matson and Ann Ely; served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Henry Shade's Company, First Battalion, Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment of Colonel Samuel Miles according to the record dated 1776; in 1785 moved to Loudoun County, Virginia where he and Anna settled in an old rock house located on land adjacent to a lot originally laid out for Elias’ half-brother Daniel James near Round Hill; members of the Ketoctin Baptist Church; Elias died May 20, 1789 in Shelburn Parish, Loudoun County, Virginia and Anna died April 11, 1827 in Shelburn Parish, Loudoun County.  Both are buried in the Old Potts Cemetery in Hillsboro, Virginia located between their home and the Church.  known children include: Thomas James, Hannah James, Anne James, Isaac James, James James and Elias James.

 

Children of Thomas James (circa 1690-1753) and Sarah Henderson (-1800) of Radnor Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania:

 

4.    Daniel James:  born March 31, 1750 in Upper Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; married June 18, 1772 to Susanna Bealert (1745-1849), daughter of Johan Jacob Behlerdt “Bealert” and Maria Dorothea; served in Revolutionary War as bombardier in Captain Hercules Courtney’s Company, 3rd Company of Pennsylvania Artillery, mustered March 10, 1777 into the Continental Line, 4th Regiment of Artillery, served February 6, 1777 through November 3, 1783; 1782 purchased land and relocated to Bedford County, Virginia; died in testate January 4, 1817; known children include: Daniel James, Jr., Sarah (Sallie) James, Jacob James, Joseph James, Mary (Polly) James, Thomas James, Johnston James, Jonathan James and Elizabeth (Betsy) James.

 

5.    Jonathan James:  born circa 1751 in Upper Merion Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; married March 24, 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mary Latch (born March 24, 1757), daughter of Rudolph Latch (1732-1785) and Mary Bealert (1734-1813); in 1790 purchased land in Bedford County, Virginia; died circa 1843 (aged 92); known children included:  Eva James, Christiana James and Elizabeth James.

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Notes:

 

Thomas James (1690-1753) was the son of David James (1660-1739) and Margaret Jane Mortimer of Glascwm and Landegley Parish, Radnorshire, Wales.

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Information Concerning Enoch James:

 

Following his marriage to Rachel Richards on April 29, 1762, Enoch James and his new wife Rachel borrowed 84 pounds, British currency, from Enoch’s uncle Evan James of Radnor Township, Pennsylvania. These funds were used to purchase 30 acres of land in a community within Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania known as “Old Cockletown” which was later renamed "Berwyn" after the Berwyn Hills in Wales.  Old Cockletown was located along the Conestoga Road, later renamed Lancaster Road. It appears from the following land transaction records that Enoch and Rachel disposed of this land on May 14, 1763, selling the land for 97 pounds. From the following land transaction records obtained from the Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society of Pennsylvania it is also known that Enoch was a "chairmaker" by trade.

 

M-554 Mortgage. On 16 Sep 1762 Enoch James of Tredyffrin, chair maker, & Rachel his wife to Evan James of Radnor, yeoman. Enoch James stands bound to Evan James for £84 conditioned on payment of £42 plus interest on 16 Sep next. Enoch James & Rachel his wife to better secure said debt granted to Evan James a tract of land in Tredyffrin bounded by Conestoga Road, land late of Walker & Blare, land late of John Jones & Evan David & land of Isaac Wayne containing 30 acres. Signed Enoch James & Rachel James. Delivered in the presence of Isaac Davis, Hannah Davis & Martha Joffey. Recorded 3 Mar 1763. (M12:554).

 

N-11 Mortgage. On 9 Mar 1763 Enoch James of Tredyffrin, chair maker to David Jones of Tredyffrin, blacksmith. Enoch James stands bound to David Jones for £40.14 conditioned on payment of £20.7 plus interest on 9 Sep 1763. Enoch James to better secure said debt granted to David Jones a tract of land in Tredyffrin bounded by Lancaster Road, land of Captain Blair, John Jones, late dec., Evan David, Isaac Wayne, William Sharp & Benjamin Robinson containing 30 acres. Signed Enoch James. Delivered in the presence of William Braneman & Catherine Jones. Recorded 19 Apr 1763. (N13:ll).

 

N-53 Deed. On 14 May 1763 Enoch James of Tredyffrin, chair maker, & Rachel his wife to Christian Branneman of East Town, storekeeper. Whereas Anthony Morris of the City of Philadelphia, & Phebe his wife by deed dated 1 may 1749 granted 300 acres in Tredyffrin to Thomas Godfrey. Thomas Godfrey & Jane his wife by deed dated 14 June 1750 granted 30 acres being part of the 300 acres, to Samuel Daves. Samuel Daves by deed dated 6 Aug 1753 granted the 30 acres to William Walter. Whereas William Walter died intestate with out issue, the said land descended to Abraham Walter, the elder brother of William Walter & heir at law & by a release dated 12 May 1760 executed by Sarah & Esther Walter, his sisters, releasing all right to real estate of the said William Walter, dec. their brother. Whereas Abraham Walter by deed dated 27 May 1760 granted to John Shaw, the said 30 acres. Whereas John Shaw & Margaret his wife granted the said 30 acres to Enoch James. Now Enoch James & Rachel his wife for £97.10 granted to Christian Branneman a tract of land in Tredyffrin bounded by Connostogo Road, land of Walker & Blare, John Jones & Evan David containing 30 acres. Signed Enoch James & Rachel James. Delivered in the presence of Isaac Davis & John Rees. Recorded 28 June 1763. (N13:53).

 

In the year 1767 Enoch James is reported as being an “inmate” within Tredyffrin Township, serving time in jail for some unknown offense.  See page 326 of the Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 11 (1897), "Provincial Papers, Property Tax Lists of the County of Chester for the Years 1765, 1766, 1777, 1768, 1769, 1771", under "18th Pence (Tax) Rates for Tredyffrin Township for the year 1767.”

 

In the year 1768 Enoch James continues to be reported as an “inmate” within Tredyffrin Township, serving time in jail for some unknown offense.  See page 507 of the Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 11 (1897), "Provincial Papers, Property Tax Lists of the County of Chester for the Years 1765, 1766, 1777, 1768, 1769, 1771", under "18th Pence (Tax) Rates for Tredyffrin Township for the year 1768.”

 

In the year 1771 Enoch James is residing in Marple Township and is listed as a "chairmaker."  He is reported as owning no land, horses, cattle, sheep or servants.  See page 695 of the Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 11 (1897), "Provincial Papers, Property Tax Lists of the County of Chester for the Years 1765, 1766, 1777, 1768, 1769, 1771", under "18th Pence (Tax) Rates for Marple Township for the year 1771.”

 

In the year 1772 Enoch James continues to be living in Marple Township and is listed as the owner of a "House and Garden" but no animals or servants.  See Delaware County History.com, Marple Township Tax Information for 1772.

 

By 1773, Enoch James is no longer living in Marple Township.  See Delaware County History.com, Marple Township Tax Information, by 1773.

 

In 1775 Enoch James would report his wife Rachel (Richards) James’ adulterous behavior to the Pennsylvania Evening Post, May 18, 1775 edition.  In a post Enoch James writes, “she (meaning Rachel Richards) has kept company for sometime past with a certain man who some call a cobbler, lately come from Cuckold’s Town, which I have reason to believe was one great cause of her eloping from me.”  From “Sex Among the Rabble: An Intimate History of Gender and Power in the Age of the Revolution, Philadelphia, 1730-1780” by Clare A. Lyons, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill 2006.

 

Elias James, the son of Enoch James and Rachel Richards was born about 1775 and subsequently relocated to either Tennessee or 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 strongly suggests that Elias was the son of Enoch James and Rachel Richards.  Elias James reportedly had 7 to 8 daughters and three sons.  The only known son of Elias James was Thomas A. James born circa 1803.

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Information Concerning Daniel James:

 

Johan Jacob Behlerdt, mentioned above, was age 24, and his wife Maria Dorothea was age 19 when the two of them arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship “Samuel” on August 11, 1732.  Johan was a rope maker, and the ship traveled from Rotterdam (present day Netherlands) to England, to Philadelphia. They lived their entire lives in the Philadelphia and Montgomery County areas. They lived and died in Lower Merion Township, in Montgomery County. They had 5 children: Mary Bealert who was born circa 1733 and married to Rudolph Latch on March 5, 1755 and died 1813; Jacob Bealert, Jr. who was born circa 1735 and married Lydia Edwards in February 1762 and died in 1795; David Bealert who was born circa 1742 and was first married to Anna Maria Voltz in August 1767 but divorced in 1795; Susanna Bealert who was baptized on August 31, 1745 at the St. Michael & Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia and who married Daniel James on June 18, 1772; Elizabeth Bealert who was born circa 1747 and married Benjamin White, of Horsham, Pennsylvania.  “Old Jacob” left a will in 1770, which was proved in January 1776, in which he names all his children.  Old Jacob, his wife, and son Jacob Jr. are buried in the Friends Meeting House graveyard (Quaker) in Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County.  Baelert genealogy information posted by Gene James on Rootsweb April 8, 2006, sourced from William Johnson mufmoe@msncom.  Baptismal and Birth Records of the St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran Church of Philadelphia- August 31, 1745: Susanna, tochter des Johan Jacob Behlert, und  Maria Dorothea, seine frau"

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Sources:

 

See, Susanna Bealert’s date of birth, August 30, 1745, in Germantown, Pennsylvania at Carson Archives Website managed by Steve Brannon.

 

See, Daniel James’ reported date of birth, March 31, 1750, at Carson Archives Website managed by Steve Brannon at BrannonSG@aol.com.

 

See, “1753 Guardianship Petition of Sarah (Henderson) James”, Records of the Orphans’s Court of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1716-1755, File No. 218.

 

See, “Marriage Record of Enoch James and Rachel Richards in St. Paul’s Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania dated April 29, 1762,” in Marriage Record of St. Paul’s Church, Philadelphia 1759-1806, published in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. IX (1880), Record of Pennsylvania Marriages, Prior to 1810, Vol. II, page 446.

 

See, “Marriage Record of Jonathan James and Mary Latch dated March 24, 1775,” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 41, by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (1917), Pennsylvania Marriage Licenses 1769-1776, page 491.

 

See, “Indenture to Land Acquired by Elias James in Loudoun County, Virginia dated December 12, 1785.”

 

See, “Indenture to Land Acquired by Daniel James in Bedford County, Virginia on September 22, 1794.”

 

See, Family Records of Scott K. Williams for Information regarding Elias James, son of Enoch James and Rachel Richards.

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Virtual Memorials on “Find A Grave” Website:

 

Enoch James (1739-Unknown), Memorial ID No. 236290050, by James Family Archives, added January 28, 2022.

 

Elias James (1744-1789), Memorial ID No. 71836717, by Dan Layton, added June 22, 2011.

 

Ann (nee “Matson”) James (1750-1827), Memorial ID No. 71836759, by Dan Layton, added June 22, 2011.

 

Daniel James (1750-1817), Memorial ID No. 86604954, by Marty Rutledge, added March 11, 2012.

 

Susanna (nee “Bealert”) James (1745-1849), Memorial ID No. 236337105, by James Family Archives, added January 30, 2022.

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Updated: March 27, 2022