James Files (1769 - 1842)

Born 9 Sep 1769 in Pendleton District, Province of South Carolina, British Colonies Americ

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Holcomb) Files — married about 1789 in South Carolina, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1842 at age 72 in Mantachie, Itawamba, Mississippi, United States

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Buried 1 February 1842 in Files Cemetery, Mantachie, Itawamba County, Mississippi.

Biography

Sources

• http://bristol-cathey.org/Genealogy/Descendants%20of%20John%20Files.pdf
• Much of this info was provided by Charlie Files, noted Files researcher.

James Files

1769-1842

It is surprising that James has never been shown with a middle name, while all his brothers and sister carried their own. According to all records discovered up to now, none has displayed even an initial letter. If anyone of his descendants has the family bible, maybe someday they will check it and see if one existed in it. Very few of his known descendants have gotten into researching the family history.

What do we know about James? Very little has been discovered except that he moved his family to Tennessee before moving to Mantachie, Itawamba County, Mississippi after 1816. We know his son, John Files served with General Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War, War of 1812, and the Battle of New Orleans, where he was wounded, dying a day later. James served in a legal capacity in Tennessee. After moving to Mississippi, he started farming and enticed his brother, Abner Lee, to move his family there before his death. A cemetery near Mantachie was named after the Files family was created prior to his death, and he was buried in it as his brother Abner was to lie after his death. It seems James taught his son well as they purchased tracts of land throughout Mississippi, David, William and Manley all participated in land deals.

One very interesting story comes from James‘s daughter, Mary Susan ‗Polly‘ Files, who married William Tom, Jr. Their first born was named John Files Tom and along with his father, William led an interesting life after Mary passed away in 1830. William remarried and moved his family to Texas in 1834 and established residence. The following describes a brief history on William:

He served in Gen. Andrew Jackson's infantry (under Captain Nathan Davis) in the War of 1812 and fought the British at the Battle of New Orleans. His friend and comrade, John Files, (RIN 179), was one of only eight Americans killed at the Battle of New Orleans. William later married John Files' sister, Mary Susan "Polly" Files. He was also a soldier in the Army of The Republic of Texas. He received First Class Headright Certificate Number 408 entitling him to one League of land. The certificate was awarded and dated March 22, 1838.

William C. Tom born in South Carolina, moved to Texas with his eight children in 1835 and settled near Washington-on-the-Brazos. In 1846 he moved to Guadalupe County, Texas. Mary Files Tom, first wife of William Tom III, died after the death of their fifth child, Sarah Tom. He married a second time to Kessiah Hines who apparently bore him seven more children.

TOM, WILLIAM (1792-1871). William Tom, early settler, Texas Revolutionary soldier, and Texas Ranger, son of William and Nancy (Brown) Tom, was born in Southwest Territory on January 1, 1792. He participated in the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans in the War of 1812. In 1817 he married Mary Files, and they had five children. After his first wife's death, Tom married Kessiah Hines, and they had six children. He moved his family to Stephen F. Austin's colony in Texas in February 1835 and homesteaded at Washington-on-the-Brazos. In June and July 1835 Tom organized his neighbors for campaigns against the Comanche and Tawakoni Indians. He joined the Volunteer Army of Texas at Gonzales on October 10, 1835, and marched with it to San Antonio, where he participated in the battle of Concepción and the Grass Fight. He was with Ben Milam in the siege of Bexar and remained in San Antonio under the command of James C. Neill until February 11, 1836, when he returned to Washington-on-the-Brazos in time to assist in the evacuation during the Runaway Scrape. Tom commanded a ranger company on the Sabinal River during the period of the Republic of Texas. In 1846 he moved to Seguin and was elected sheriff of Guadalupe County. Mrs. Tom died in 18l0, and Tom died in 1871. They were buried in the family cemetery near Seguin, but on July 18, 1937, their bodies were reinterred in the State Cemetery.

As for John Files Tom, his story follows:

TOM, JOHN FILES -- Born at Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee April 22, 1818. When he appeared before the Board of Land Commissioners for Washington County January 15, 1838 to apply for a Headright Certificate he stated that he came to Texas in 1834. He received Headright Certificate No. 80 for one-third of a league of land. He was the eldest son of William and Mary (Files) Tom. According to the Tom family records, William Tom, his children , and his second wife, arrived at Velasco in February, 1835 and settled in Washington Municipality.

Mr. Tom received Bounty Certificate No. 1762 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 1 to May 30, 1836. He was a member of Captain William W. Hill's Company at San Jacinto and on page 6 of the San Jacinto rolls printed in 1836 he is shown as having been killed in the battle. He was badly wounded and crippled for life but lived to be an old man. On May 24, 1838 he received Donation Certificate No. 35 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On an original roll of Captain Hill's Company at muster April 11, 1836, the following information concerning Mr. Tom is given: He was five feet, five inches in height, of dark complexion with black hair and black eyes. He was enlisted at Asa Mitchell's home in Washington County by Captain Joseph P. Lynch. (Note: HR No. 267 1 league By Special Act of Congress)

Colonel John M. Swisher in his published memoirs has this to say about Mr. Tom: "The pursuit of the fugitive Mexicans was continued until dark. On my return to the battle ground, I found that one of my comrades of Hill's Company, Mr. John Tom, had been wounded and had not been carried off the field. A blanket was obtained upon which the wounded soldier was laid. A man at each corner of the blanket had not difficulty in bearing the weight, but as soon as it was raised the poor fellow gave a cry of agony; his leg had been shattered just below the knee and the foot was dangling, which gave the most excruciating pain to every movement. It fell to my part to support the foot, and in doing this I had to stoop nearly to the ground; if I raised or lowered it an inch it caused a groan. This was the most tiresome task I ever undertook. It was impossible for me to go over a hundred yards without stopping to rest, consequently it was near ten o'clock when we reached the camp.

"In some of the lists of Mr. Tom's name is published among the dead. This is a mistake. He recovered entirely, and the only evil effect resulting from this wound is a crooked leg. He lived many years in Washington County and moved west. He was for several years sheriff of Guadalupe County. He is at present a citizen of Atascosa County and two or three years ago represented his district in the lower house of the State Legislature."

Mr. Tom moved to Guadalupe County in 1846 and from 1856 to 1860 he served as sheriff of the county. In 1862 he moved to Atascosa County, which was then just being settled. The Indians were very hostile and made many raids through this country, and in 1863 John F. Tom received a commission to raise a company of rangers for frontier protection. While acting in this capacity the Indians made a raid and killed some of the people besides carrying off a lot of stock. Captain Tom pursued them with his rangers and came upon the Indians at the head of San Miguel Creek, and a fight ensued. Both parties tried to get to a mound of rocks for protection during the battle and the Indians beat the rangers to the coveted spot. In the fight which followed, the Comanches were defeated with loss. Of the men in the fight only the names of Calvin Turner, Lott Miller and one of the McCombe boys can be remembered. After the fight the rangers followed the Indians to the Frio waterhole on the divide, hut could not again bring them to battle and the pursuit was abandoned.

Mr. Tom was twice married. He was married to Mary Ann Moffitt, July 2, 1840. After her death he, in 1873, was married to Nancy Henderson. Mr. Tom died March 26, 1906 while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. Mrs. Tom died February 25, 1923. Both are buried in marked graves in the cemetery at Leakey, Edwards County. Mr. Torn was a member of the Methodist Church and was made a Mason in 1867, Pleasanton Lodge No. 383.

Children of Mr. Tom by his first marriage were: Mary J., who married Edward Campbell; Sarah C., who married W. G. Winsett; Harriet L., who married Charles H. Long; and Emily Tom, who married Thomas Deweese. By his second marriage his children were: William, who married Isabel Wilson; Ida, who married John Howell; Annie, who married H. B. Godbold; Ireland, who married Ora Bonner; Burges, who married Ola Cooper; Ola, who married L. L. Orrell; and Vesta Tom, who married B. Godbold.

There are other articles addressing John, but we shall leave them for now.

Children of James Files and Sarah Holcomb:

1. Anne M. ‗Annie‘ Files (1790-1870), m. Nicholas Parrish (1772-1852) on 14 October 1821, Lauderdale Co., AL

2. Mary Susan ‗Polly‘ Files (1792-1830), m. William Tom, Jr. (1792-1871) on 26 December 1816, Maury Co., TN

3. John Files (1795-1815)

4. Abner Files (1796-aft 1820)

5. Margaret R. Files (1798-1880), m. George Gresham (1796-1855) in 1820

6. Emanuel Files (1798-1835)

7. Susannah Files (1799-1800)

8. Elizabeth Files (1801-1880)

9. Sarah ‗Sally‘ Files (1803-1877), m. William Farmer (1794-1851) on 27 April 1820, Lauderdale Co., AL

10. Delilah Files (1805-1877), m. Philemon Gresham (1800-1850) on 21 February 1823, Lauderdale Co., AL

11. Dorinda Files (1807-1880). M. Alfred H. Kennedy (1804-1880) abt 1828

12. James Files (1810-bef 1850)

13. David Files (1811-1873)

14. William Holcomb Files (1813-1850)

15. Manley David Files (1815-1900), m. Emeline D. ‗Emily‘ Grissom (1833-1900) on 8 May 1866, Itawamba Co., MS

Source: The Files Family Odyssey in America - A Partial Genealogy