John James (abt. 1688 - 1725)

Born about 1688 in Bristol, Somerset, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Justina (Thruston) James — married 16 Mar 1713 in Temple, Bristol, England

Descendants

Died Nov 1725 at about age 37 in Armsfield Plantation, James City, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

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From Thurston James: John James - Kentucky Pioneer In 1712, John James was 24 years old. He met 19 year old Justina Thruston and they were married. Almost immediately after the marriage, John and his bride made plans to move to the colonies in the new world. The young couple were sailing directly to a township, then known as Martin's Hundred, now known as Carters Grove, in the Colony of Virginia . Justina was coming to claim her inheritance, a home that had been established by her parents, in the late 1600s. The property was comfortably situated along the James River and was known as the "Loveing Estate".....

Justina Thurston, born Aug. 26, 1691, was the daughter of John and Anne Loveing Thurston (also spelled THRUSTON), descendants of a distinguished Thurston family of England.

Nothing is known about John James before he accompanied his wife to Virginia in 1713 to claim her inheritance at Martin's Hundred. The exact location Martin's Hundred, created in 1618, was North of the James, east of James City and west side of Skiffes (Keith's) Creek. Contained eighty thousand acres. Martin's Hundred was located on today Carter's Grove. Martins Hundred was a land company, a subsidiary of VA Land CO. formed in London.

The Family Register of Nicholas Taliaferro with Notes by William Buckner McGroarty William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, 2nd, Ser., Vol. 1, No. 3. (Jul., 1921), pp. 145-166. Nicholas Taliaferro(25) was born the 30th October, A.M., 1757; his sureties were Colonel George Taylor(26), Mr. Erasmus Taylor(27), Mrs. Sarah Slaughter(28), Miss Betty Slaughter(29) and Mrs. Mildred James(30.

30) The earliest record of the James Family seems to be that quoted in the Quarterly, Vol. 5, p. 276: "John James and his wife, Justina (Thruston) came to Virginia (James City Co.) 1713"; but the genealogical chain is incomplete. Bishop Meade (p. 259) mentions John James and Ann Strother, his wife, of Stafford, their son, Hon. Benj. James and the latter's daughter, Susan Washington James, who was born in Stafford in 1804. Among the descendants of the three Gregory sisters who married Thorntons, a numer of girls were named Mildred after their mother, Mildred Washington. All of these were related to the Taliaferros and Battailes, and the writer has a feeling that Mrs. Mildred James was one of these, but, which one?

In Norfolk County Records there is a power of attorney from Edward Thurston, of Long Ashton, in the county of Somerset Chyrurgeon to Walter Bayley, of Long Ashton, aforesaid shipwright, to dispose of interests by courtesy in the plantation at Martins Hundred on James River, which I hold by right of my former wife, Anne, the daughter of Thomas Loveing of Martins Hundred, merchant, now deceased. Etc.

It seems likely that the quotes below pertain to John James, spouse of Justina Thruston. Their son Thruston James was an influential Church Warden and Vestryman in Blisland Parish, and Thruston's son John James was also a Church Warden and Vestryman.

From Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, 1721 - 1786 by Chamberlayne, C. G. (Churchill Gibson), 1876-1939

Publication date 1935 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/480834/?offset=0#page=295&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=John%20James

p. 18 At A Vestry held for Blisland Prish y thirteenth day of October at the Brick Church: 1725

p. 21 The Names of the Delinq(ts): Returned by Mr John Doran late Collector are as Followes Viz Francis Harman: 1 Edward Henry:2 : Richard Gillmett: 1 : Robt Lockalere: 1 : Owen Morris: 1 : Edwd Merritt: 1 : Joseph Darling: 2 : Henry Crutchley: 1 : Matt Pond: 1 : William: Jones: 1 Henry: Lindley: 1: Jno: Holland 1: Charles: Oglesby: 1: Franck Darling: 1 : Sarah Yates: 1 : Robt: Clinch: 1: Jno: Rountree:1 : John: James: 1: Susanna Darling: 1:

p. 22-23 It is Ordered by this prsent Vestry that the Parish Levy for this prsent year by Forty three & an half poundes Weight of Tobbaccoe pr pole: and that Mr John James Deputy Sheriff of this County: Collect: & Receive the Sd Summ of: Forty three and one half poundes Weight of Tobbacco: from Every Individuall: Titheable: person Within this Parish: and on Refusall of payment To Levy the Same by distress according to Law: The Sd: John James first Entring in to bond with Good and Sufficient Security: to the present Churchwardens: for the Use of this Parish: for payment of the Said Severall Summes of Tobbaccoe to the Severall Respective parish Creditors to Whome it is Due: according as they are: above mentioned & Expresed in the : Parish: Charge: in hhds of Such Weightes and at Such Times as the Sd Churchwardens Shall Direct & appoint: And it is alsoe Ordered that the Clerke of the Vestry: take bond as aforesaid: before he Deliver a Copy of: the Parish Charge and a Copie of this Order of Vestry to the Sd Collector (My note: William Macon was Sheriff in 1725, he later was a Burgess from New Kent CO 1736-1738.)

It is: Ordered: by this prsent: Vestry that: Henry Holdcroft & John Doran be Continued Church wardens for this Ensueing year

p. 23 At: A Vestry held for: Blisland: Parish: At the Lower Church December ye 22d: 1725: Mr: Daniel Taylor Minister: Mr. Henry Holdcroft & Mr John Doran: Church Wardens

Capt: George Keeling: Capt: William: Kenney

Mr: William : Cox : & Capt: John : Arimstead Vestrymen (Kenney,Arimstead,Williams) Mr: John : Sclater: Mr: Thomas: Williams

Whereas Mr: John : James: Who: was Appointed Collector of the Parish Levy for this prsent Year is Lately Deceased: And hath done Very Little (if any part) of the Parish Collection: And Mr: John Doran: Acquainting this Vestry that he: hath Agreed With Capt: William Macon Sherriff of this County: to Serve: as Deputy Sherriff of this Lower precints: thereof: and haveing applyed himself to this Vestry for the Parish Collection: And the Parish Levy Laid: at the Last Vestry held for this Parish: the thirteenth day of October Last and amou( ) To: the Summ of Forty three poundes and One half pound Waight of Tobbacco: pr pole as by the Said Order May appear:.......

Pg. 104: M^ David Lewis, and M^ John James, are chosen Ves- trymen in the room of M'. George Bridges, who has re- sign'd, and M^ John Lewis, who is removed out of the Parish.

pg. 151; Present Edmund Hockaday Gent. Church Warden, James Hockaday, John Timberlake, Richmond Allen, John God- din, David Lewis, and John James Gent..

David Lewis, and John James Gent, are chosen Church Wardens for the ensuing year, in the room of Edward Power, and Edmund Hockaday Gent.

To 6W' C\ for Collecting £35 1| 15' 110^"

a 1785

By the Ballc' of James City Collectors ace* in £ S d the hands of John James 1|1 2l| 4^ By D°. in the hands of David Lewis 3||19|| 1>4 By D°. in the hands of Newkent Collectors 4l| 61| 9

Pg. 153: Pursuant to an Act of AJsembly past at the City of Richmond the 17*" of Nov'. 1784 the Inhabetants of Blis- land Parrish meet at M'. Adams Byrds on Easter Munday being the 28*" day of March 1785 and Elected the follow- ing Gent, To wit. as Vestrymen, Col. Burwell Bajsett The H'ble B Dandridge Cap*. James Hockaday Col. Richmond Allen M'. Edmund Hockaday Col. Edward Power Cap*. John Hockaday M'. David Lewis M'. John James Cap*. John Goddin Cap*. Andrew Banks and Cap*. William Allen, we the Subscribers do agree to be conformable to the doc- trine disciplin and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church Incoperated by a law Specify'd as above

Burwell Bajsett Burwell Bajsett Jr

James Hockaday Stanup Richardson

Richmond Allen George Baker

Edmund Hockaday

Edward Power,

John Hockaday. David Lewis

John James

At a Vestry held for Blisland Parrish at the upper Church the 7*- day of May 1785.

Present The Rev"* M'. Pryse Davies Rector Col. Burwell Bajsett Cap*. James Hockaday Col. Richmond Allen M'. Edmund Hockaday Col. Edward Power Cap*. John Hocka- day M'. David Lewis and M'. John James Gent This Vestry Proceeds to Chose a Clark Geo. Dillard is appointed Clark of the Vestry M'. David Lewis and M'. John James Gent, is appointed Church wardens for the Ensuing year. Col. Burwell Bajsett is appointed to represent the Par- rish of Blisland in Convention with The Rev"*. M'. Pryse Davies to be held at Richmond the 18*" day of this Instant

232 VESTRY BOOK OF BLISLAND PARISH

M^ William Armistead Sen^ is Chosen a Vestryman in the roome of The Hble B. Dandridge dec* Sighn'd by Pryse Davies Rector David Lewis ) „, , ,,. , _ , T V Church Wardens John James ( Test Geo. Dillard Clark of the Vestry

Historical and Genealogical Notes William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4, (Apr., 1897), pp. 275-282. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL NOTES. JAMES. - In a volume of the "Collection of the Acts of Assembly", printed at Williamsburg by William Parks, 1733, owned by the State Library, are the signatures of Thruston James, John James, and George W. James, and this memorandum, Elizabeth James, Susanna James, Sally James, Thruston James, John James, Grace James, children of John and Susan James. The Thruston Register (QUARTERLY, Vol. IV., p. 118) shows that John James and his wife, Justina Thruston, came to James City county in 1713. Major Thruston James was one of the committee of James City in 1774. He was probably a grandson of John James, the immigrant.

Old Pronunciation Philip Alexander Bruce William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 2. (Oct., 1914), p. 126. OLD PRONUNCIATION As is well known, the Virginians of the older generation pronounced "James" as if spelt "Jeames" or "Jemes". In examining a map of London and its environs dated 1563, now in the London Museum, formerly Stafford House, I found that "St. James Park", even then in existence, is spelt on the face of the map "St. Jemes Park". It is evident from this that the old Virginia pronunciation of "James" goes back as far as the sixteenth century if not earlier.