James Cain I (abt. 1755 - 1826)

Born about 1755 in Bladen, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Custer) Cain — married 1774 in Bladen, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 28 Mar 1826 at about age 71 in Tar Heel, Bladen, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

James Cain was born between 1748 - 1755 in Bladen, North Carolina, USA and died 28 MAR 1826; Bladen, North Carolina, USA

He married Elizabeth Custer about 1777^[1]

Last Will and Testament

Will of James Cain, Senr.

State of North Carolina, Bladen County.

In the name of God, "Amen".

I, James Cain, Senr. of the county of Bladen and State aforesaid, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of perfect mind and memory, Blessed be God Almighty for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say.

First, after my just debts and funeral expenses are paid, I will and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann Pearce one negro girl named Eliza given to her by her grandmother (Olive) Cain, by my consent, one sorrel horse, one bay horse, one feather bed, one rifle gun, all amounting to one hundred and forty five dollars, also one negro girl named Peggy given and delivered to her to have and to hold the above mentioned property to her and her heirs forever.

I will and bequeath unto my son James, one negro man named Neill, to him and his heirs forever.

I will and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Dunham, one negro girl named Mary ann, to her and her heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto my son William one negro man named Jamed, to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel one negro named Jonne, to him and his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath unto my son Jonathan, one negro girl named Thisk, to him and his heirs forever.

I will and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth, one negro girl named Betty, to her and her heirs forever, also one feather bed and furniture.

I will and bequeath unto my daughter Martha McMillan one negro boy named Lewis and all of the property heretofore given to her by me. But if she dies without issue the property shall return to my other children and be equally divided among them.

I wish my land containing 56 1/4 acres lying on Goodman Swamp, be sold for the best price and the money arising to be equally divided among my four youngest daughters.

I also wish my grandson Richard Cain to have twenty five dollars for his education, and for the balance of my property, not already disposed of to be equally divided among my eight youngest children and it is further my desire that if my daughters Elizabeth and Mag should get married and their husbands wish to leave the State of North Carolina, they should enter into a bond to my other for the return of the property with good security, if they die without issue and lastly I hereby appont Samuel Robeson and James Cain, my son, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 8th day of July 1826.

(Seal) James Cain (X)

Signed, sealed and acknowledged by

the before mentioned James Cain, Senr.

to be his last Will and Testament in

presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed

our names as witnesses.

Thomas Scriven

Jonathan Allen (X)

Daniel Monroe

Certified true copy by Wanda S. Campbell, Asst. Clerk Sup. Court, Bladen County, North Carolina, 5 August 1968

(Copied by Carlton Cain, 1984 from "Cain Genealogy of Southwest Georgia")

Private James CAIN I was born about 1748 in Bladen, North Carolina.

He passed away 28 Mar 1826 in Tar Heel, Bladen, North Carolina, United States.

There were two sets of Cain families in early Bladen Co., NC. The progenitor of both was named William Cain. They lived on opposite sides of Cape Fear which kept the families seperated until 1835(from Jason Bordeaux's research). There were two James Cains' both serving in the Revolutionary War and are established DAR lines:

(1.) James Cain of Turnbull (Northeast side of River). His rank was Sergeant. He served under different commanders than this James Cain . He was not in the Battle of Elizabethtown according to his descripton of his service which was stated in his pension # W5891. His FAG #80179308. He stated in pension that he was born in Pee Dee, SC. He married Mary Meeks(c.1765-17 Nov 1841.) He had a son Samuel Cain who married Nancy. His other children were Amos Cain, James J. Cain, John Cain who married Dolly, Isham Cain who married Elizabeth, Mary Cain and son un-named in census. His DAR ancestor #A018138.

(2.) The James Cain, Sr. whose memorial marker is here married Elizabeth c. 1775. James Cain was born about 1748 and resided on the Northwest side of the Cape Fear River. He was wounded in the Battle of Elizabethtown. His rank was that of Private. In Feb.1855, his sons, William & Samuel Cain filed for a pension (#R-1586). It was rejected not because they could not prove that their father had served in the Revolution, but because he had died before the required date of 1832 -when Congress passed the Pension benefit for soldiers and/or widow/children.

Children

• Ann Cain Pierce (1775- ) m. John Pierce
• James Cain II (1780 - 1852) m. Prudence Singletary
• Sarah Cain Dunham (1781 - 1850) m. William Randolph Dunham
• William Cain (1782 - 1871) m. Elizabeth Harrison
• Samuel Cain (1788 - 1867) m. Margaret Willis
• Mary Cain Powers (1790 - 1855) m. Matthew Powers,
• Jonathan Cain (1794 - ) m. Sarah__ .
• Elizabeth Cain
• Martha Cain McMillan (1795 - 1856) m. Angus McMillian
• Mag Cain McMillan

Names of above children were copied from his Will. Recorded in Will Bk. 2 pg. 368 Bladen Co. Court Records. Grandson, Richard Cain is named and lands on Goodman Swamp.

His DAR Ancestor # A018139.

James Cain's memorial marker is in this Scriven's graveyard; however he most likely was buried in the James Cain Cemetery located a very short distance away. The cemetery fell out of the Cain family in 1916 and has been abandoned since that time. The James Cain Cemetery is listed on pg 36 of Vol. 3 Northwestern- Cemeteries of Bladen Co., NC . cem. #56. The James Cain,Sr. listed in the Cemetery Book vol 3 was actually, James Cain, Jr.(1780-1852). In regards to the death date of James Cain, Sr. His son, Samuel & William gave Court testimony that their father died 28 March 1826. His Will is dated 8 July 1826. The Will was a re-copy after a Courthouse fire. (See letter on right). It is recorded in WB. 2 pg. 368 Bladen Co., NC Court Records.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: Ancestry Tree Date of Import: 17 Aug 2007

• John Perd Leonard Cain Ancestors
• Ancestry.com Operations
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83784737/james-cain

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Greg Rose for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Greg and others.