Before I Forget

On May 19, 1812 in Barren County in the new state of Kentucky, formerly Virginia, Edward Bray (husband to Nancy Ann Dowdy Bray) wrote his permission for his 18-year old daughter, Rachael Anne, to marry John Abraham James (my maternal 4th G-Grandfather). Source: Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850. 

          "This is to certify that John James has my consent" - John was 22 years old. 

But first, let me back up to 1800 when our John was age ten. His father had died, leaving his mother Mary with five children. I have the text copy of his Will.

In October of that year the court ordered three men to appraise Mr. James' estate "and slaves, if any, of James James, Deceased and make report thereof to the Court."

On March 13, 1801 appraisal of the estate was reported "worth of 100 pounds 7 shillings 6 pence." 

Two years later, "During April court of 1803," it was:

               ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court do bind out to James

               H. Rice, John James, orphan and son of James James, Dec'd,

               to learn the trade, art and business of farming according

               to law; and also, Polly James, orphan and daughter of James

               James, Dec'd, to the said James H. Rice according to law.

NOTE:  James H. Rice was an attorney for the Commonwealth of Barren County, Kentucky.

Yikes, indentured servitude? Our John, son of James James, was but 13 years old! His sister, Mary Anne "Polly" James, born in 1799, was only four years old.

But read more from the same court:

"ORDERED that attachment be issued against Mary James Belcher and Moses Belcher to appear at next Court to show cause why they should not be fined for contempt of the Court for not binding their children. (NOTE: Mary James, John's mother, had since married Mr. Moses Belcher.)

             And this in 1803 from "The November County Court:" 

ORDERED that _____ be issued to summons Mary James (alias) Mary Speakman, (alias) Mary Belcher to appear at next Court  to show cause, if any she can, why she shall not give county security or deliver up the Estate of James James, her late husband, into the hands of her security for his indemnity;"