James Garner (1726 - 1796)

Born 1726 in Stafford County, Colonial Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Freeman) Garner — married 1737 in Orange County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 27 Jun 1796 at about age 70 in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

James is thought to be the youngest son of Thomas and Mary (Bushnell) Garner. His father, by his will of 1726, left each of his sons 400 acres of land, a negro slave, various items of livestock and household goods. In addition, after his mother's decease, James was to receive the family plantation and remainder of the estate left to her by Thomas's will.

On Mar 27, 1738, he was still under age since Ralph Hughes, his step-father, was appointed his guardian with Thomas Conway as security. (Pr. Wm. W.B.C., p.146)

On Jan 24, 1754, James Garner, Thomas Fletcher and Thomas Davis brought suit against Elizabeth Freeman, Executor of James Freeman deceased. (Pr. Wm. O. B. 1753-55)

On June 24, 1754, James Garner was appointed constable in the room of Thomas Garner.' (Pr. Wm. O .B.1753-55, p.109).

According to a sworn statement made by his son, John F. Garner, about 80 years later, James moved to Orange County, North Carolina about 1754, evidently to that part which became Guilford county in 1760 and Randolph in 1779.

In 1770 James Garner and wife, Betty, of Guilford County, North Carolina, sold to James Duncan 140 acres of land in Fauquier County, VA out of 214 acres of land which formerly belonged to Thomas Garner, deceased, on Tinpot Run. (Fauq. D.B. T, p.515)

A minute book for Randolph County, 1779-1782 states that James Garner was appointed constable in Mar 11, 1779.

On June 11, 1779 and June 12, 1780, James Garner was appointed an assessor and on Dec 16, 1779 he served on a grand jury.

On June 14, 1790, James Garner was nominated and appointed constable in the districts of John Fooshe Garner and others. Aaron Hill and John Fooshe Garner were securities.

On Sept 13, 1790, the court ordered John Fushee Garner, James Garner, James Whittle and others to survey the road form Harmon Con's Mill on Deep River 'down said River on the south side to Garner's meeting house.'....

He was appointed constable of Prince William Co, VA SRCE: Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck, VA, p. 110, quoting 'Pr. Wm. O.B. 1753-55, p. 109).

According to family tradition, James Garner was called Captain and served in the Revolution. There was a Captain James Gardner who served in the Second North Carolina Battalion form May 1775 to May 1777. However, there is not sufficient information available to identify him as the James Garner of Randolph county. The title may have been acquired through his official position as Constable, as the old records shows that constables and sometimes Justices were called Captain.

James Garner is said to have been six feet six inches tall and a man of powerful physique. He married Elizabeth--, possibly Freeman, and they are said to have had a large family of children. Two James Garners are listed in the 1790 Census for Randolph county but only one in the 1800 Census. It seems likely, therefore, that the elder James died before 1800. He was also known as James Gardiner.

According to family tradition, James was called Captain and served in the Revolution. There was a Captain James Gardner who served in the Second North Carolina Battalion from May 1775 to May 1777. However, there is not sufficient information to identify him as the James Garner of Randolph Co. The nickname could have come from his official position as Constable. He is said to have been 6' 6" tall and a man of powerful physique.

According to "Some Historical Sketches of the Moon Family and the Garner Family" by Isaac Moon, The Monitor, Leonardville, KS 1931, He was a ship owner, a planter and owned a large number of slaves. There is no official record of his having served in the Revolution, but family tradition says that he was a military captain and that his Ships carried merchandise and supplies for the colonies during that period. His son John Fushee did serve, pension records in possession of Karen Preston.-->

Sources

• Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, J. D. Warfield; Baltimore, Maryland: Kohn & Pollock, 1905, 601 pages.

• Freeman Footnotes, Volumes 17-24 by Ruby Simonson McNeill; pub. R.S. McNeill, 1988, pg. 33, 144.

• Garner-Keene families of Northern Neck, Virginia by Ruth Ritchie, Sudie Rucker Wood; pub. R. Ritchie and S. R. Wood, 1952, pg. 110

• Arkansas travelers 2; by Glen Garner; pub. Garner Services, 2005; pg. 9

• Southern Garners: our branch of the Garner-Keene family by Sam Garner; s.n., 1979, pg. 144

• If the Legends Are True...