James Turner (1766 - 1824)

Born 20 Dec 1766 in Southampton County, Virginia

Died 15 Jan 1824 at age 57 in Warren County, North Carolina

Preceded by 11th Governor Benjamin William Preceded by Jesse Franklin

James Turner 12th Governor of North Carolina 1802—1805 US Senator (Class 2) from North Carolina[1] 1805—1816

Succeeded by 13th Governor Nathaniel Alexander Succeeded by Montfort Stokes

Biography

James Turner is Notable.

James Turner served with Warren County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

James Turner (December 20, 1766 – January 15, 1824) was the 12th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1802 to 1805. He later served as a U.S. senator from 1805 to 1816.

Father: Thomas Turner b: Abt 1719 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia Formed 1637 From Warrosquyouke County Formed In 1634

Mother: Rebecca b: 1719 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia Formed 1637 From Warrosquyouke County Formed In 1634

Turner was born in Southampton County, Virginia, the son of Thomas and Rebecca Turner. Little is known of his early life or education; his family moved to Warren County, North Carolina in 1770. Raised in a family of farmers,

Turner served in the North Carolina volunteer militia during the American Revolutionary War in 1780. He served under Maj Gen Nathanael Greene during his southern campaign alongside Nathaniel Macon in the Warren County Regiment^[2], with whom he formed a lasting friendship and political alliance.^[3]

12th Governor of North Carolina
In office
December 6, 1802 – December 10, 1805
Preceded by Benjamin Williams
Succeeded by Nathaniel Alexander
United States Senator
from North Carolina
In office
March 4, 1805 – November 21, 1816
Preceded by Jesse Franklin
Succeeded by Montfort Stokes

Historic Marker

North Carolina Historical Markers: Gov James Turner

Marriage

By 1790 Turner had become a moderately successful planter, having acquired two Warren County plantations and twenty slaves. Turner was married three times and widowed twice. His first wife was Mary Anderson of Warrenton, who died in 1802. His second wife, Anna Cochran, died in 1806. His third wife was Elizabeth Johnston, who survived him. The three marriages together produced six children, two sons and four daughters. ^[4][5]

Marriage 1 Ann Willis b: 1762 in Gloucester County, Virginia^[6]

Married: in Warren County, North Carolina

Marriage 2 Mary Anderson b: Abt 1766 in North Carolina^[7][8]

Married: 1793 in Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina

1. Rebecca Turner b: 5 Jan 1799 in Warren County, North Carolina ^[9][8]
2. Mary Turner b: 1800 in Warren County, North Carolina^[10]
3. Thomas Turner b: Abt 1794 in Warren County, North Carolina F
4. Sally Park Turner b: 16 Jul 1811 in Warren County, North Carolina
5. Daniel Turner b: 1796 in Warren County, North Carolina
6. Children Ann Turner b: Abt 1798 in Warren County, North Carolina

Marriage 3 Ann Cockran b: Abt 1766^[8]

Married: 6 Oct 1803 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine

Marriage 4 Elizabeth Park b: Abt 1766 in Bute County, North Carolina ^[8][11]

Married: 21 Jul 1810 in Warren County, North Carolina

Political Career

John Baptista Ashe was elected North Carolina governor in 1802 but died before his own inauguration. Because of Ashe’s death, Turner was elected governor in a special election a few days later. Turner served three years in this role.

Death

Death: 15 Aug 1824 in Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina ^[8]

Burial

Bloomsbury Plantation, Ridgeway, Warren County, North Carolina. ^[12]

James William Turner (20 Dec 1766–15 Jan 1824)

Find A Grave: Memorial #23466483

Elizabeth “Betsy” Park Turner (1770–1825) (spouse)

Find A Grave: Memorial #156631493

Sources

1. ↑ Resigned due to ill health, vacant November 21, 1816 – December 4, 1816 when successor elected.
2. ↑ #Warren
3. ↑ Wikipedia: James Turner
4. ↑ North Carolina Historical Markers: Gov James Turner
5. ↑ North Carolina History: James Turner cites: Martin. Jonathan author. Michael Hill, ed., The Governors of North Carolina (Raleigh, 2007). North Carolina History Project
6. ↑ Gloucester County Formed 1651 From York County
7. ↑ North Carolina Formed 1712 From Carolina, First Settlement By Roger Green 1653
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} Copeland,Harris,Lawrence,Neville,Pittman,Turner,Wheeler, James Turner. Last accessed Dec 23, 2015
9. ↑ Formed 1779 From Bute County
10. ↑ Warren County Formed 1779 From Bute County
11. ↑ Bute County Formed 1764, From Granville Became Franklin And Warren In 1779
12. ↑ "Find a Grave", database and images accessed 24 September 2021, memorial page for James William Turner (20 Dec 1766–15 Jan 1824), Find A Grave: Memorial #23466483; exact burial location unknown.

See Also:

• Charles L. Coon, The Beginnings of Public Education in North Carolina: A Documentary History, 1790-1840 (1908)
• Delbert H. Gilpatrick, Jeffersonian Democracy in North Carolina, 1789-1816 (1931)
• William S. Powell, ed., Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, VI, 65—sketch by Roy Parker Jr.
• Robert Sobel and John Raimo, eds., Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, III (1978)
• Warren County Regiment, North Carolina Militia