James Dillingham (1757 - aft. 1830)

Born 1757 in Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Young) Dillingham — married 1786 in Greenville, South Carolina

Descendants

Died after 1830 after age 73 in Caldwell, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

James Dillingham was born about 1757 in Virginia. He was the son of Vachel Dillingham.

He married Hannah Young about 1786.

In the 1790 U.S. Census, James Dillingham was enumerated in 96 District, Greenville County, South Carolina as head of a five person household.^[1]

Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 1

Free White Persons - Females: 2

Number of Slaves : 1

In the 1810 U.S. Census, James Dillingham was enumerated in Caldwell County, Kentucky as head of a nine person household.^[2]

Males - Under 10: 2

Males - 10 thru 15: 1

Males - 16 thru 25: 1

Females - Under 10: 3

Females - 10 thru 15: 1

Females - 16 thru 25: 1

In the 1820 U.S. Census, James Dillingham was enumerated in Caldwell County, Kentucky as head of household. Note, his son was James was listed on the same page.^[3]

Research Notes

The following excerpt is from researcher Larry Lieneke.^[4] James, believed to be the oldest son of Vachel Dillingham by his first wife Ann, was probably born in Halifax County, Virginia, ca 1758 to 1760. (On why Hester Renfro is not regarded as James' mother: "His first wife was named Ann, but her surname is unknown. He had at least one child, a daughter, Patience, born about 1760, by his first wife, and possibly two of his sons, but Ann was deceased prior to 1765 when Vachel married Hester Rentfro, daughter of James and Esther (Van Bibber) Rentfro. In July 1765, James Rentfro conveyed one hundred acres in Halifax County, Virginia, to Vachel Dillingham, and it is assumed that this was Hester's dower." Note that this marriage date is approximately eight years before Vachel and Hester married, The source for the name of "Ann" for the previous wife and presumably James' mother is not stated.)

On 7 October 1791, James Dillingham was deeded land adjacent to Robert Prince, and 27 January 1794, he bought 215 acres of land in Greenville County, South Carolina, on Mush Creek, witnesses to deed, George Salmon and William Young, and he bought land on Buckhorn Creek in 1795.

On 11 September 1795, James Dillingham sold 400 acres of land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to David McDowell of Greenville County, for 20 pounds sterling. This was part of a 965 acre tract originally granted to James, 26 November 1793, according to the deed. James was witness to a deed of sale of land on N. Saluda River by his father, also in 1795.

By 1797, James Dillingham was in Kentucky. He appeared in the tax lists of Christian County from 1797 to 1807, and in Caldwell County tax lists, 1810 to 1830. On 5 December 1798, 200 acres on Little River, Christian County, were surveyed for James Dillingham.

On 9 December 1802, Vachel Dillingham, Sr., of Christian County, Kentucky, made his last will and testament, naming James Dillingham as a son and heir, and co-executor. James had 200 acres of land in Christian County surveyed, 3 September 1803, and another 200 acres surveyed on Piney Fork of Tradewater River, 1 November 1803, granted to him in 1803.

After 1812 the name Dillingham disappeared from the early records of Christian County. When Livingston County was formed in 1798 and Caldwell County was formed from Livingston County in 1809, Dillingham land on Tradewater River lay in Caldwell County. James was enumerated in the 1810 and 1820 census of Caldwell County, however, no older male and female appear in the age group list. He was also of record in Caldwell County surveyor's book of 1810 as a clerk and commissioner.

James Dillingham was appointed Tobacco Inspector in Caldwell County, Kentucky on Tradewater River in 1818.

In 1830 James Dillingham is recorded in the US census again in Caldwell County, Kentucky as follows; 1 male 60-69, 1 female 60-69. He is listed on page 140, the same as his son George S.. Another son, William Young is also close on page 155.^[5]

Although no record of James Dillingham's marriage has been found, a deed in Spartanburg County, South Carolina dated 3 December 1814, concerning the sale of 219 acres of land on S. Pacolet River, by the heirs of John and Margaret Young, deceased, included among signatures of the heirs, James Dillingham (and wife,) Hannah Dillingham. This deed and association of the Dillingham and Young families in Kentucky including marriages of children, has led to the assumption by descendants and researchers that Hannah was the daughter of John and Margaret Young. George Salmon and William Young, witnesses to the 1794 deed, were also heirs of the Youngs. The deaths and settlement of the estate of John and Margaret Young, may also account for the absence of James and Hannah from Kentucky at the time of the 1810 and 1820 census enumerations. During their stay in South Carolina while the estate was being settled they probably visited with relatives and would not have been enumerated as a separate family. They had returned to Kentucky by 1821, as the Caldwell County Minute Book, January and February Terms, names James Dillingham as surveyor of the public road from Princeton to Ball's Ford.

Proof that Margaret Hannah was a daughter of James is confirmed by his letter approving the issue of the marriage license as follows;

Mr. John H. Phelps,

Sir, Please to let Mr. Westly Adams have license to marry my daughter Margaret H. Dillingham and your compliance will oblige. Yours to serve December 30, 1823.

James Dillingham

The last record found to date, is enumeration in the 1830 census of Caldwell County, James Dillingham and wife, both aged 60-70, and no other members of the household. There is an old Dillingham family cemetery near Tradewater River in Caldwell County with only three marked graves, and about fifty unmarked; however, the burial site of James and Hannah Dillingham is unknown."

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," Jas Dillingham, Greenville, South Carolina, United States; citing p. 93, NARA microfilm publication M637, roll 11; FHL microfilm 568,151. FamilySearch accessed 21 October 2020.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," James Dilingham, Caldwell, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 5, NARA microfilm publication M252 roll 9; FHL microfilm 181,354. FamilySearch database accessed 21 October 2020.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLH-7LR : accessed 1 August 2019), James Dillingham, Caldwell, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 34, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 19; FHL microfilm 186,179.
4. ↑ Research by Larry Lieneke; compiled date: ?
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGB-BGT : 12 August 2017), James Dillingham, Caldwell, Kentucky, United States; citing 155, NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 34; FHL microfilm 7,813.