martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > James > Families > Robert
I (Marty Grant) don't know how or if I'm related to the Robert Wilson James family. I am very interested in him though.
Robert Wilson James was born ca 1818/19 in Marion Dist, SC. I'm not sure which section he was born in. He seemed to live in different areas over the years, seemingly living in the area near the border between Marion and Legette Township.
I don't know who Robert's parents were. There are several possibilities, but none I'm ready to commit to at this time.
Robert James married Mary Ann Brown before 1840. According to W.W. Sellers in his History of Marion County, South Carolina, 1902, page 378, Mary was a daughter of Lewis Brown.
Here is what Sellers wrote about this family (page 378) in the Brown family writeup (anything in brackets [] was added by me):
... Mary Brown married Wilson James, and had a number of daughters and one son, Preston, who was killed in the War. ...
That is about all I've found in Sellers work about this James family. I don't know how accurate the above information is. Sellers work, while amazing and incredibly valuable, does contain some errors, so it is best, when possible, to find confirmation from other sources. From the census records it does appear that they had only one son and numerous daughters, so Sellers seems to be correct.
Sellers also mentions that Lewis Brown (Mary's father) married as a 2nd wife, a "Miss James". The 1850 census shows Lewis Brown's wife as "Sarah" age 36, or born ca 1813/14. This makes Sarah of proper age to be a sister of Robert Wilson James, but I have no proof of that.
Robert James was listed on the 1840 census. He was listed near my ancestor Pinkney James, and also near Henry James and Malachi James. This places the Robert James family roughly within Marion or Legette Township.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence):
1840 Marion District, SC pg 179 Robert W. James 0000100000000-0001100000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Robert Wilson JAMES (1818/19) 1 Female(s) 20-29 (1810-1820) Sister? Sister-in-law? (1810/20) --> gone by 1850 1 Female(s) 15-19 (1820-1825) Mary BROWN James (1821/22) wife
Robert James and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marion County. Pinkney James was the nearest James family, but two or three pages away. This was still in the Legette Township area, or possibly in Marion Township in the border region.
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1850 MARION DIST, SC Page 40B House/Family # 607/ 610 JAMES WILSON 31 M W FARMER 125 MARION 1818/1819 JAMES MARY 28 F W MARION 1821/1822 JAMES ROBERT 9 M W MARION 1840/1841 JAMES ANN 8 F W MARION 1841/1842 JAMES SUSAN 6 F W MARION 1843/1844 JAMES TREACA 2 F W MARION 1847/1848
Robert and family were listed on the 1860 census in Marion Dist, SC. On this census, he wasn't near any other James family, but he seemed to be in Marion Township.
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1860 MARION DIST, SC Page 17 House/Family # 243/ 243 -- MARION Twp JAMES R W 45 M W BAR KEEPER 1000 200 SC 1814/1815 JAMES M J 38 F W SC 1821/1822 JAMES ROBERT P 18 M W SC 1841/1842 JAMES M A 15 F W SC 1844/1845 JAMES S C 14 F W SC 1845/1846 JAMES T E 11 F W SC 1848/1849 JAMES M M (or W M) 9 F W SC 1850/1851 JAMES M F 6 F W SC 1853/1854 JAMES C F 4 F W SC 1855/1856 JAMES C R 1 F W SC 1858/1859
For the Civil War, Robert enlisted in Company I, 8th Regiment Infantry, as a Private. Sellers mentioned he was Discharged, but didn't give a reason. (Per Sellers page 592).
Robert Wilson James died sometime between 1860 and 1870. His widow Mary Ann was listed on the 1870 census in Marion County, in Marion Township.
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 MARION CO, SC Page 188 House/Family # 211/ 220--MARION (PART 2) Twp JAMES MARY ANN 43 F W KEEPING HOUSE SC 1826/1827 JAMES MARTHA M 19 F W SC 1850/1851 JAMES CATHERINE F 14 F W SC 1855/1856 JAMES SHARLOTT N 11 F W SC 1858/1859
Mary was listed in Moody Township for the 1880 census. Don't know why she moved to that section, but that is where she was.
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1880 MARION CO, SC Page 272 House/Family # 216/ 216 -- MOODY Twp JAMES MARY W F 60 W KEEPING HOUSE SC SC SC 1819/1820 JAMES CATHREN W F 23 D S SC SC SC 1856/1857 JAMES CHARLET W F 19 D S SC SC SC 1860/1861
Children of Robert W. James and Mary Ann Brown are proven by the various census records, and their son Preston was also mentioned in Sellers book.
Robert Preston James was born ca 1840/41 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. He was home with his parents for the 1850 and 1860 census.
For the Civil War, Preston enlisted in Company "H" of Orr's Regiment of Rifles as a Private from Marion. He was killed at Gaines Mill. (Per Sellers, page 577).
Matilda Ann James was born ca 1841/42 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census. By 1870 she was gone from their household. A "Matilda A. Ellis" age 23 was found in 1870 Marion County, in Marion Township, with a 2 year old child, and a "Mary F. James" age 15 residing with her. I think this is the same person. She married a Mr. Ellis who died ca 1868-1870.
Susan C. James was born ca 1843/44 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census, but gone by 1870, so probably had married or died by then.
Treaca E. James was born ca 1847/48 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1850 and 1860 census, but gone by 1870, so probably had married or died by then.
Martha M. James was born ca 1850/51 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1860 and 1870 census, but gone by 1880, so probably had married or died by then.
Mary F. James was born ca 1853/54 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents in 1860, but in 1870 was residing with Matilda A. Ellis (probably her sister, see Matilda Ann James above). No record of her in 1880.
Catherine F. James was born ca 1855/56 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census.
Charlotte R. James was born ca 1858/59 in Marion Dist, SC, presumably in Legette Township. She was home with her parents for the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census.
Persons researching this family
1. Robert Wilson1 James (Pvt) , born 1818/19 in Marion Dist, SC; died 1860/70 in Marion Dist, SC He married in 1830/40 in Marion Dist, SC Mary Ann Brown , born 1821/22 in Marion Dist, SC; died aft 1880 in Marion Co, SC, daughter of Lewis Brown and (---) Lewis .
Children of Robert Wilson James (Pvt) and Mary Ann Brown were as follows:
+ 3 ii Matilda Ann2 James , born 1841/42 in Marion Dist, SC. She married (---) Ellis .
4 iii Susan C2 James , born 1843/44 in Marion Dist, SC.
5 iv Treaca E2 James , born 1847/48 in Marion Dist, SC.
6 v Martha M2 James , born 1850/51 in Marion Dist, SC.
7 vi Mary F2 James , born 1853/54 in Marion Dist, SC.
8 vii Catherine F2 James , born 1855/56 in Marion Dist, SC.
9 viii Charlotte R2 James , born 1858/59 in Marion Dist, SC.
3. Matilda Ann2 James (Robert Wilson1), born 1841/42 in Marion Dist, SC. She married in 1860/70 in Marion Dist, SC (---) Ellis , died bef 1870 in Marion Co, SC.
Children of Matilda Ann James and (---) Ellis were as follows:
martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > James > Families > Robert