James Madison Court (1829 - 1891)

Born 1829 in St. Landry, Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Julia Ann (Sparks) Court — married 15 Oct 1850 in Jefferson, Texas

Descendants

Died Feb 1891 at about age 62 in Port Arthur, Jefferson, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jana Cox [send private message]

Private James Court served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: May 28, 1862
Mustered out: May 01,1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 11th Cavalry Battalion, Company B (Gunboat "Uncle Ben") , Texas

CSA Texas Flag

Biography

James Madison Court was born in 1829 in Louisana. He married Julia Ann (Sparks) Court. They had fourteen children. He enlisted in Company B (Gunboat "Uncle Ben"), Texas 11th Cavalry Battalion. Civil War vet....he was a marksman in Speight's Battallion, Company B who served on the war-converted cotton boat steamer "Uncle Ben" and was involved in at least one Sabine Pass battle. (Frank Courts). He died after 1899 in Jefferson County, Texas. His parents were Thomas Court and Anna (Johnson) Court. Her parents were John Sidney and Melinda (Jones) Sparks.

Died Feb 1891^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ pension application

James Court. United States Census, 1850. Name James Court. Event Type Census. Event Year 1850. Event Place Jefferson county, Jefferson, Texas Age 22. Birth Year (Estimated) 1828. Birthplace Louisiana. House Number 219. John S Sparks 39 North Carolina. Melinda Sparks 29 Tennessee. Albert Sparks 9 Texas. Eliza J Sparks 7 Texas. John F Sparks 4 Texas. Sarah C Sparks 1 Texas. James Court 22 Louisiana. Julia Ann Court 14 Tennessee. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLL-7C1

• James* Madison Court

Male 1829 - Aft 1899 (> 70 years). 28 May 1862 Enlisted Company B (Gunboat "Uncle Ben"). Name: J M Courts. Rank at Enlistment: Private. State Served: Texas. Service Record: Enlisted in Company B, Texas 11th Cavalry Battalion. Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records. The marriage of James Courts, son of Thomas and Ann Johnson Court, and Julia Ann Sparks, 13 year old daughter of John Sidney and Melinda Jones Sparks, brought together two of the founding families of lower East Texas. Thomas and Ann, with James as a baby, came to Sabine Pass about 1829/30. The historical marker in Sabine Pass Lion's Club Parks states that our Court Family and another family named McGaffey were here "as early" as 1832. Not only were they in Texas before it became a state, they were here during the time that it was part of Mexico, and in 1836, when it became a Republic in its own right. Our family can truly say we are mutli-generation Texans.

The Sparks arrived in Texas, traveling by covered wagon from Tennessee, in 1838, when Julia Ann was just two. They settled on Pavel's Island first, then came ashore at Sabine Lake and became the first permanent anglo inhabitants of what was called "Aurora", and which eventually became Port Arthur.

The Pioneer Spirit prevailed as both families withstood early life on the Gulf Coast. Yellow Fever, mosquitos, hurricanes and tropical storms, alligators and other wild creatures combined to make life harrowing and an adventure at the same time. Some of those stories will be included in other history items.

James and Julia began their married life in Aurora, and eventually built their own cabin. Julia's brothers, sisters, and some cousins married and remained in the area of Aurora. James' siblings stayed in the area of Sabine Pass and Port Arthur as well, although several moved away after they reached adulthood.

James and Julia had 13 children, most of who have descendants still living here in the Golden Triangle. We have located descendants of the other children as well.

James and Julia are featured in the Museum of the Gulf Coast in the section on "Aurora." Pictures of both of them and several other family members (Sparks) are on display.

Civil War Vet....he was a marksman in Speight's Battallion Company B who served on the war-converted cotton boat steamer "Uncle Ben" and was involved in at least one Sabine Pass battle. (Frank Courts).

(Note from Kirby Courts:) James "Jim" was one of the first Pony Express Riders in Texas. He carried mail from Sabine Pass to Harrisburg (Houston), Texas. He was also a farmer and cattleman. During the Texas Battle for Independence in 1836, James was on the muster Roll for Jefferson Co. George Hargraves organized the company. They were known as "Capt. Chessire's Company Volunteers." (Jefferson Co Historical Commission Veterans, Pt 1). The Book "Pioneer Remimscences of Jefferson County" by T.J. Russell, p 34, states in Sabine Pass "Thomas Courts and son, James Courts, were there with John McGaffey at an early day. Both are dead. Several children of James Courts are now in this county."

Father Thomas* Court, b. Bef 5 Jan 1800, St Mary the Virgin, Blackburn, Lancashire, England, d. Bef May 1850, Sabine Pass or Galveston, Texas (drowned) (Age > 50 years). Mother Ann* Johnson, b. 1810, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, d. Aft 1860, of, Calhoun Co, Texas (Age > 51 years). Married 19 Aug 1828 Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Court, Thomas of England (Thomas & Ellen Anesworth) m 19 Aug 1828 Ann Johnson (Opel Ct hse mar # 51).

Family Julia* Ann Sparks, b. 13 Oct 1836, Franklin Co, Tennessee, d. 25 Jan 1925, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years). Married 15 Oct 1850 Jefferson Co, Texas. Name: James Courts. Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850.

Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks.

Marriage County: Jefferson. Marriage State: Texas.

Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466 license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5. [1]

• James Court.

mentioned in the record of Henry Clifton Court. Name James Court. Sex Male. Wife Julia Sparks. Son Henry Clifton Court. Other information in the record of Henry Clifton Court. from Texas Deaths. Name Henry Clifton Court. Event Type Death. Event Date 18 May 1938. Event Place Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas, United States. Gender Male. Marital Status Married. Birth Date 05 Jul 1854. Birthplace Jefferson, Texas. Father's Name James Court. Mother's Name Julia Sparks. Certificate Number 23936. Citing this Record: "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MQ-LGJ : 5 December 2014), James Court in entry for Henry Clifton Court, 18 May 1938; citing certificate number 23936, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,695

Note

Note: James M. Courts

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=2c076f49-fe24-4541-b2c0-4298f8a13d57&tid=15043181&pid=337580573

Note: Jim Courts

(http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=ec27dcc6-e750-4291-9799-52e78a549b3b&tid=15043181&pid=337580573)

Marriage

Husband: James Madison Court

Wife: Julia Ann Sparks

Relationship to Father:

Marriage:

Date: 15 Oct 1850

Place: Jefferson, Texas. Note: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=txmarriageindex&h=197548&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Marriage date: 15 Oct 1850 Marriage place: Jefferson, Texas.

(http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=txmarriageindex&h=197548&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt)

• Source: S1730862093 Repository: #R1730539867 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15043181/person/337580573/facts

• Repository: R1730539867 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:
• Source: S2157626491 Repository: #R1730539867 Title: Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data - Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. Early American Marriages: Texas to 1850. Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing Publishers, 19xx.Hunting For Bears, comp. Texas marriage information.

• Source: S2157708505 Repository: #R1730539867 Title: 1850 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. .Original data - Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of th Note:
• Source: S2158436229 Repository: #R1730539867 Title: 1880 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Court-120 created through the import of Edwards Family Tree.ged on May 29, 2011 by Kennon Edwards. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Kennon and others.