James Elder was born on 25 Oct 1765 in Maryland;[1] he was the son of Guy Elder and Eleanor Ogle.[2] James was born into a Catholic Christian family, and he remained a Catholic for his entire life. His Catholicism was a key aspect of his life, and one of the motivating factors for his eventual immigration from Maryland (where there were then restrictive laws against Catholics) to Kentucky.[2]
About 1791,[2]
James Elder migrated from Maryland to Kentucky (which at that time was still part of Virginia; not becoming a separate state until 1792).
On 13 Feb 1792 in Nelson County, Kentucky,[3]
James Elder married Mary Ann "Polly" Richards. The marriage record includes a marriage bond (made on the same day) that states that both James Elder and Polly Richards were of "lawful age".
In 1800,[4]
James Elder was paying taxes in Washington County, Kentucky.
In 1810,[5]
James Elder was living in Washington County, Kentucky as head of household, which included (age range): a) males - 3 (<10), 3 (10 - 15), 1 (26 - 44); b) females - 1 (<10), 1 (16 - 25), 1 (26 - 44).
In 1820,[6]
James Elder was living in Lebanon, Washington County, Indiana as head of household, which included (age range): a) males - 1 (10 - 15), 1 (16 - 18), 2 (16 - 25), 1 (45 & over); b) females - 1 (16 - 25), 1 (45 & over).
In 1830,[7]
James Elder was living in Washington County, Kentucky as head of household, which included (age range): a) males - 1 (20 - 29), 1 (60 - 69); b) females - 1 (5 - 9), 1 (60 - 69).
1840 - see Research Notes below
James Elder (age 81) died on 14 Aug 1845 in Marion County, Kentucky,[2]
and he was buried in the Saint Charles Cemetery, Saint Mary, Marion County, Kentucky.[8]
Research Notes
1840 - There is a James Elder recorded living in Marion County, Kentucky in the 1840 federal census. However, that record is most likely that of James Elder, Jr. rather than of his father James Elder, Sr. It is possible/probable that James Elder, Sr. was in 1840 (age 76) living with one of his children, though apparently not James Elder, Jr.
In 1834,[9]
Marion County was formed from part of the prior Washington County, Kentucky. As such, James Elder, Sr. would then have been living in Marion County, even though he would not have moved.
↑ 2.02.12.22.3 Webb, B.J. (1880). "Catholicity in Kentucky: The Elder family of Maryland and Kentucky." The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Volume 5, Philadelphia: Hardy & Mahony; available online from Google Books, citing section on James Elder, pages 661 - 664
↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5Z6-M21 : 9 March 2021), James Elder and Polly Richards, 13 Feb 1792; citing Marriage, Nelson, Kentucky, United States, various county clerks and county courts, Kentucky; FHL microfilm 9,666.
↑ "1810 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7613/images/4185989_00320); accessed 16 Feb 2022, citing Images reproduced by FamilySearch;
Original data: Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Washington, Kentucky; Roll: 8; Page: 323; Image: 00320; Family History Library Film: 0181353
↑ "1820 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7734/images/4433238_00061); accessed 16 Feb 2022, citing Images reproduced by FamilySearch;
Original data: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Lebanon, Washington, Kentucky; Page: 40; NARA Roll: M33_29; Image: 61
↑ "1830 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4410618_00302); accessed 16 Feb 2022, citing Images reproduced by FamilySearch;
Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Washington, Kentucky; Series: M19; Roll: 42; Page: 151; Family History Library Film: 0007821
↑Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26700754/james-elder : accessed 16 February 2022), memorial page for James Elder Sr. (25 Oct 1765–14 Aug 1845), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26700754, citing Saint Charles Cemetery, Saint Mary, Marion County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Dolores & Danny Bohn (contributor 47129663) .
Ogle, R.W. & Engler, J.F. (2012). Looking Back at the Ogle Family: A Comprehensive History and Genealogy of the Ogle Families in America, (Vol. 1, pp. I-258 - I-259). Seattle, WA: The Genealogy Printing Co. Print.
Williams, T.J.C. (1910). History of Frederick County, Maryland, 2, pp. 835. Hathitrust. eBook.[1]
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with James by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with James: