James P Short (abt. 1804 - 1894)

Born about 1804 in Washington County, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Jan 1894 at about age 90 in Holmes Mill, Harlan, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pamela Wilson [send private message]

Biography

James was born in 1804. He was the son of William Short and Elizabeth Bolling. He passed away in 1880.

Note by Barney Banks: James and Rebecca lived much of their lives and died at Holmes Mill, Harlan County, Kentucky. They are buried in the Short Family Cemetery in Holmes Mill, Kentucky. The data in my research comes from sixty years of personal research in places like the Library of Congress, the National Archives, LDS Libraries, and local libraries in every town/city I have ever lived in; long before computers and digital access were ever the norm. I later found that much of my research was confirmed in an excellent work by noted Short researcher, Ruby Caroline Short Redding in her book on the Short families of Southwest Virginia, Tennessee, and Southeastern Kentucky. ^[1]

In the 1820 Census ^[2] All indications are that this James Short and his wife were age 45+. However, in the 1830 census of Harlan County, Ky ^[3] we find them at age 20 to 29. So, was that his father in Washington County, Va? There was no one living with them in 1830 Harlan, Ky.

In the 1830 Census of Harlan County, Kentucky ^[4] shows that James & Rebecca were the only people in their household. It shows two people as "Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 years of age." One male and one female.

In the 1840 Census of Harlan County, Kentucky ^[5] there are five male children under 14 and one female child under age 5. James and Rebecca are listed as age 30 thru 39.

In 1850 Census of Harlan County, Kentucky ^[6] we find James Short at age 43 (b. abt 1807, Va) and Rebecca at age 40 (b. abt 1810, Tn) and a large number of children. Living next door to James was his first son, by his first marriage, Pealy (Pely) Short, 22, a farmer, and his wife, Sally, age 22. Both born in Kentucky. They have no children. Next to Pealy is Elizabeth Short, age 43, born Virginia. I believe this to be a sister of James Short. In her household was Andrew Hall, age 9. Wright Short is also in this census, living next door to his Aunt Elizabeth, with his wife Susan. Both are age 20.

In 1860 Census of Harlan County ^[7]James, age 55, and Rebecca, age 50, are living next door to his sister, Elizabeth, age 53.

By 1870, most of James & Rebecca's children had left home. But they hadn't gone too far. Many lived in Harlan County. Some right next door. The 1870 Census ^[8] Only daughter Mary is with them at age 18 and her brother Hampton, age 22. Nearby is son James, Junior & wife Anna. Also nearby is son, William and wife Lucy, both age 39. Daughter Barbary Short Witt and husband Jonathan Witt are next to William. On the next page are sons Charles and Hampton Short and their families. More on these families when you read their Biographies.

I removed three references (Sources) to Family Search that were incorrect. They had no basis in fact and were not supported by any sources. These reference numbers were L5KY-WG4, LHVH-2FD, and MRHW-5X3. They had James Short born in Europe. He was most definitely born in Southwest Virginia.

According to the marriage record of Harlan County, Kentucky, on ^[9] Dec 25, 1861, Enoch Kelly, 19 & Rebecca Short, 16 born in and living in Harlan Co, Ky were married. Rebecca Short's father, who was James Short, was born in Washington County, Virginia according to her marriage record. Her mother was born in Tennessee.

Rebecca's brother, John B Short, age 26 and Lucrency Reece, 16 who was born in Johnson County, Tennessee, marriage was also recorded on the same page of this record. Their marriage record states that Lucretia's father was born in Harlan County, Ky and Her mother in Tennessee. John & Lucretia were married in Lee County, Va.

1870 Harlan County Land Transactions involving James Short and two of his sons ^[10] William and Hampton. He transferred by deed two parcels of land. To William, "...a parcel located on Clover Fork of the Cumberland River on the East side of Days Creek ...to the top of Little Black Mountain ...to the top of the ridge on the east side of the Rockhouse Creek.... He also deeded to Hampton Short 100 acres beginning at the lower end of James Short's field ... to the Eastern side of the Laurel Branch ... across the Clover Fork ... along the southside of the Clover Fork...."

On 20 August 1870, ^[11]James Short, 66, a farmer, and Rebecca, 58, were living at Mount Pleasant, Harlan County, Kentucky. Still at home was Hampton, age 22 and Mary, age 18. Next door was their son James, 23 and his wife Anna, 27, with two children, Isaac 3, and Rachael, 6 mos.

James and Rebecca are buried in the Short-Witt Cemetery in Holmes Mill, Harlan County, Ky.

Short Cemetery, Holmes Mill, Ky.

Short & Bailey Headstones

Coments

Regarding the parents of James P. Short, I have not seen any documentation or sources to-date that show within a reasonable doubt whom his parents were. I would love to think that they are as shown above and/or that he came from North Carolina (which is very likely). But, it's pretty certain that James P. Short was born in Virginia, likely Washington County. Barney Banks

Sources

1. ↑ Descendants of James Short of Harlan County Kentucky and Allied Families''; Editors: Ruby Caroline Short Redding, with Larri Jean Humphries Jacoby, and Betty Janis Short Tedford. Published November 2011 by DiggyPOD, inc. Saline, Michigan.
2. ↑ US Census - 1820; Census Place: Washington, Virginia; Page: 229; NARA Roll: M33_141; Image: 245.
3. ↑ 1830 Census of Harlan County, Kentucky
4. ↑ US Census - 1930 Harlan County, Kentucky
5. ↑ US Census - 1940 Harlan County, Kentucky
6. ↑ Year: 1850; Census Place: District 1, Harlan, Kentucky; Roll: M432_203; Page: 15A; Image: 326.
7. ↑ Year: 1860; Census Place: Harlan, Kentucky; Roll: M653_371; Page: 430; Image: 432; Family History Library Film: 803371.
8. ↑ Census - Year: 1870; Census Place: District 3, Harlan, Kentucky; Roll: M593_468; Page: 20B; Image: 44; Family History Library Film: 545967 .
9. ↑ Kentucky Marriage Records, 1852-1914 (1861) - Harlan
10. ↑ Harlan County Deed, dated 7 October 1870
11. ↑ US Census - Year: 1870; Census Place: District 3, Harlan, Kentucky; Roll: M593_468; Page: 20B; Image: 44; Family History Library Film: 545967,

• William Howard Hauser Genealogy

• US Civil War Records
• Personal visit to Short Cemetery, Holmes Mill, Harlan County, Kentucky.