James, Thomas Jefferson

The James Family
Submitted by: Greggory E. Davies
120 Ted Price Lane
Winnfield, LA 71483

Thomas Jefferson James and Family
Submitted by Susie Boyett Hodge
This picture was sent to me (Susie Boyett Hodge) by Uncle Tom James, grandson John Wesley James Jr. Informatation of photo: Top row L/R: Tennesee James Smith,daughter of John Christian James & Sarah Sills,Della James Poole daughter of Thomas Jefferson James Jr. Botton Row L/R: Pete Smith son of John Smith & Lucretia Hatten,Thomas Jefferson James Jr son of Thomas Jefferson James Sr. & Martha Pierce from the Pioneer Winn Parish James Family, & Hardy James son of John Christian James & Sarah Sills.

Thomas Jefferson James, Sr., was born November 3, 1809 in North Carolina (there is some evidence that it possibly was Tennessee), died October 29, 1869, in Winn Parish, Louisiana, and is buried in James Cemetery, Ward Three, Winn Parish.

On February 23, 1829, he married Miss Martha "Patsy" Pierce in Lawrence County, Mississippi. Martha was born March 20, 1810 in Georgia, daughter of Randall Pierce, born April 27, 1769, in Ireland and Mary "Nancy" Watley, born circa 1788 possibly in Scotland. Martha Pierce James died in 1857 in Lawrence County, Mississippi, and is buried in the Henry Furr Cemetery located near Wesson, Mississippi. Thomas James next married Polly Wallace Lawrence, without issue.

Children of Thomas and Martha Pierce James were:

Minerva E. James, b. March 20, 1830, Lawrence Co., MS., d. August 13, 1920, buried in a family plot at the old home place. It has been said Minerva first married a Mr. Bush, with no issue. She married Jesse A. Brister, b. March 5, 1835(?), died January, 1886. Their children were Joyce Ellen, Mary Dora, William M., Martha Paralee, Allen Cicero, Wiley Egbert, Smiley E., and Sara A.

Eliza Jane James, b. September 18, 1833, d. November 22, 1893, m. William Benjamin "Bill" Brister, b. April 30, 1833, d. April 27, 1906. Both are buried in the James Cemetery, Winn Parish. Children were: Martha Ann, Mary Angeline "Matty", Smiley M., Catherine, Julia Anna, Jesse W., W. Y., W. R., and A. C.

Christian "Chris" James, b. March 3, 1835, d. August 3, 1916, buried in old Forest Cemetery, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana. Married Sarah Elizabeth Sills, b. August 8, 1837, Oak Grove, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana. They had fifteen children, the first eight dying in infancy or at early ages, three in the same week while "Chris" was fighting for the Confederacy during the War For Southern Independence. Thomas and Martha are the only two names known of the first eight children, named for Chris' parents. The other seven were: Marion, Sidney, Henry, Jesse, Tennessee, Ellen, and Georgia. (See photo at the end of the document.)

Mary Magdalene James, b. August 20, 1838, d. January 10, 1906, buried in James Cemetery, Winn Parish, Louisiana. Married first to Thomas Crain and they had one child, Louise, who married Bob Roberts. Mary next married Ulysses S. Snow, b. August 23, 1846, d. August 5, 1924, buried at James Cemetery, no children.

Joseph James, b. 1841 in Lawrence Co., MS, and died at age 12.

William Randall James, b. April 1, 1843, d. January 19, 1909, buried in James Cemetery, Winn Parish, LA., married Mary Carolyn Boyett, b. May 20, 1848, in AL, d. August 27, 1907 in Winn Parish, and is buried at James Cemetery, Winn Parish. They had one child, Daniel Ervin James.

Thomas Jefferson James, Jr., b. January 14, 1844, in Lawrence Co., MS, d. July 13, 1940, buried Old Union Baptist Cemetery, Old Joyce, Winn Parish, LA. Married three times, first to Minerva Adeline Caves and had nine children: Billie (died age 2), Minerva Jane, Martha Lou (died age 16), Christopher Columbus, Mary Magdalene, John Wesley, Thomas Franklin, Rhonda Belle, and Della Rose. Second marriage to Belle Moore, three children: Ola Mae, Martha, and Jesse. third marriage to Jessie Bonnett, no children.

Martha Calhoun "Kate" James, b. October 6, 1849, d. July 9, 1925. Married first to Thomas J. Caves, two children: Lilly and Sillah. Second marriage to John C. White, children were: William Columbus, Mary Malissa, Martha, Nellie, Martin, Alice Idella, Kate, and Eliza.

Cynthia Matilda James, b. September 20, 1850, d. May 2, 1923, buried in James Cemetery, Winn Parish, LA., married John William Boyett, b. December 11, 1843, d. November 15, 1910. Children were: Mary Emma, Daniel Bennett, William Jasper, James Albert, John Wesley, Henry Franklin, died at age 4, Randall M., died at age 17, Martha Isabell, Mary e., died at age 2, Minerva, Horace Lafayette, Rhoda Leola, and Robert Elijah, who was a Winn Parish Deputy Sheriff killed in the line of duty.

(Source: Winn Parish History, 1985, article by the late, great Winn historian, Mr. W. L. Sowers.

Chris & Sarah E. Sills James

Submitted by Martha Smith Jordan