Author: Robert Alvyn Sapp
1. Enoch[1]James was born about 1746. Enoch states his age as 73 years in 1819 deposition in Dearborn County, Indiana, Court. He, at the Orphans Court on 20 Aug 1765 in Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania, chose David Bowen as his guardian until he reached majority.[2] He and wife, Sarah, joined Tonoloway Church in May 1771.[3] Enoch and wife, Sarah, built a log-cabin home on 400 acre land grant in Worthington Beach in 1775.[4] He and Thomas Cunningham in Jun 1777 passed at near Coon's fort in Monongalia Co., Virginia where they saw Mr. Coon's daughter, Madeline, gathering some hemp. Shortly later, shots rang out and they saw an Indian shoot the girl and then proceed to scalp her. James fired upon the Indian but was too far to be accurate.[5],[6] He served in the Revolutionary War under Captain John Orbison from Aug 1780 to May 1782 in Cumberland Militia.[7] He also served for 28 days under Captain William Houston in 1781. Enoch was given a warrant No 1702 for 1000 acres on North Fork of Monongalia River on 20 May 1781 in Monongalia Co., Virginia by Governor Benjamin Harrison.[8] Enoch James is shown in 1782 in Montgomery Twp, Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania tax list with 2 horses, 4 cows and 2 sheep.[9] In Harrison Co., Virginia Court in 1784 ordered a list of all whites and buildings be taken. Tithables north of the West Fork River up to Simpson's creek were Enoch James, Jacob Bigler and Owens Owens.[10] He was granted, for the sum of two pounds, a certificate in right of settlement on 1 May 1784 for 400 acres on West Fork of Monongalia River, where he had settled in 1775. The deed was a title to unpatented lands in Monongalia, Yohogania and Ohio counties.[11] He and wife, Sarah, sold 250 acres on West Fork river, a part of 1 May 1781 patent for 1000 acres on 12 Nov 1792 in Harrison Co., Virginia, to Sarah Bowens of Franklin Co. Pennsylvania, for 10 pounds.[12] Enoch and wife, Sarah, sold on 6 Jun 1798 110-1/4 acres on west side of West Fork River above mouth of Tevebaugh Run in Harrison Co., Virginia, to John Rose for the sum of 50 pounds.[13] He was charged by the Grand Jury in Monongalia County, Virginia Court for maliciously disturbing the religious congregation of Methodist on 2nd Sabbath of January 1804.[14] He sold 400 acres for the sum of $2,400 on 17 May 1813 in Harrison Co., Virginia to John and George DeVilbiss.[15] Enoch, age 73, made a disposition on 25 Sep 1819 in court before Justice Charles L. Brasher in Dearborn, Indiana, regarding the service of Thomas Cunningham in 1776 and 1777 as ranger or spy.[16] Enoch stated that while he was a Lieutenant, Thomas Cunningham served as a spy or ranger 1776 and 1777 for 90 days. He appeared in the 1820 Population census on 7 Aug 1820 in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn, Indiana with Enoch, Jr. and Isaac James.[17] He died after Aug 1820 at the age of 74.[18] . In 1771 Enoch became part heir to the lands of his father Mesech James in Cumberland (now Franklin) County, Pennsylvania. Enoch was the only surviving male heir of Mesech James. His brothers William and Isaac were carried off by the Indians in November 1755. Enoch and his wife Sarah sold a portion of the lands to John Walker. The lands held by Enoch were bounded by Conocochegue Creek and lands of Robert Barr, Jeff Barr and Nicholas Freley. Enoch and Sarah, his wife, were among the first members of Tonoloway Baptist Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
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Enoch James and his wife Sarah settled on the west bank of the West Fork River in 1775 and built a log cabin on Worthington Beach. He obtained a land grant of 400 acres of land on which he settled. The land was surveyed December 28, 1781 and patent granted May 1, 1784 while the land was still in Monongalia County, Virginia for a sum of two pounds. Enoch and Sarah sold the land on May 17, 1813 to John and George DeVilbiss for the sum of $2400. Enoch sold one of the notes. After the death of John DeVilbiss, the land was tied up in litigation over the notes. The land was then sold on April 1, 1820 by Marshall Clark A. Swearingin of the Superior Court, Harrison County, for $1380 to Thomas Ogden [CIT:]124:1; p. 3, 33, 210[:CIT].
Harrison County, Virginia was formed from Monongalia in 1784. The newly formed Harrison County Court entered an order in 1785 that a list of all whites and buildings be taken. The list of tithables from the mouth of the West Fork River up to Simpson's Creek, including the Valley River included Enoch James, Jacob Bigler and Owen Davis among others. Enoch was listed on June 14, 1787, Harrison County, Virginia tax list as the only male above 16 in the household and with 4 horses and 10 cattle [CIT:]293:1; p. 529 and 533.[:CIT].
Enoch obtained two land grants in Monongalia County, Virginia. One for 400 acres he and his wife settled on. The second for 1000 acres was for adjoining lands. Both grants were made in 1784 for lands that were to become part of the newly formed Harrison County. He sold off the land bit by bit. A parcel just over 110 acres was sold to John Rose for 50 pounds on June 8, 1798. Another parcel of 250 acres (part of the 1000 acre grant) was sold to Sarah Bowens, his sister, of Franklin County, Pennsylvania for 10 pounds on November 12, 1792. Joseph Tetrick bought 98.5 acres for 400 dollars on June 18, 1804 and Isaac James purchased 164 acres on July 21, 1806 for 450 dollars. The original 400 acre grant was sold, as noted, to John and George DeVilbiss for 2400 dollars on May 17, 1813.
Enoch JAMES and Sarah BOWEN were married before 1767.[19] Sarah BOWEN, daughter of David BOWEN and Hannah DAVIS, was born about 1749.[20] She died after 1813 at the age of 64.
Enoch JAMES and Sarah BOWEN had the following children:
+2 i. Rebecca JAMES, born abt 1774; married James MCINTIRE, 23 Oct 1796, Harrison Co., Virginia; died bef 1842.
3 ii. Enoch JAMES, Jr.[21] was born about 1782. . It is said that Enoch James, Jr. was converted by Rev. Asa Shinn in a meeting at Worthington and joined the Methodist Church.
4 iii. Isaac JAMES was born about 1784.
[1]. Virginia Shannon Fendrick., American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: Historical Works Committee of the Franklin County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution), p. 137
[2]. Cumberland County Orphans Court, 20 August 1765, p 58 Enoch James, son of Mesach James, request David Bowen be assigned guardian, Reister of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
[3]. Harry Stuart Holman, History of Tonoloway Baptist Church (Harry Stuart Holman, 1980), p 84
[4]. Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox, History of Worthington, West Virginia and Surrounding Communities (Parsons, West Virginia: McClain Printing Company, 1968), p 3
[5]. Alexander S. Withers, Cronicles of Border Warfare or A History of the Settlement by the Whites, of North-Western Virginia: and of the Indian Wars and Massacres in that Section of the State; with Reflections, Anecdotes, ETC. (Clarksburg, Va: Jospeh Israel, 1831; reprinted, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc, 1993), p 159
[6]. Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox, History of Worthington, West Virginia and Surrounding Communities, p 3
[7]. Thomas Lynch Montgomery, editor, Pennsylvania Archives: Fifth Series, 8 Vols. (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906), Vol. VI, pp 264, 274, 294, 643.
[8]. 1000 acres granted to Enoch James, 1 May 1784, Treasury Warrant No 1702, ; Virginia , State Auditor's Office, Charleston, West Virginia.
[9]. Enoch James, Montgomery Twp, Cumberland County, p 264, Archive Rollname 325, Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794, Series No. 461; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4, ; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
[10]. Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox, History of Worthington, West Virginia and Surrounding Communities, p 9
[11]. Enoch James right of settlement, 1 May 1784, , ; Virginia Title for unpatented lands, State Auditor's Office, Charleston, West Virginia.
[12]. Rick Toothman, Monongalia County (West) Virginia Deed Book Records, 1784-1810: (Old Series Volume 1-4) (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1994), p 178.
[13]. Toothman, Monongalia County (West) Virginia Deed Book Records, 1784-1810, p 65.
[14]. Melba Pender Zinn, Monongalia County Court Abstracts (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), Vol. 3, p 27.
[15]. Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox, History of Worthington, West Virginia and Surrounding Communities, p. 210
[16]. Dearborn, Indianna, , Deposition, 25 September 1819; , .
[17]. Enoch James, Sr., 1820 Population Census, Lawrenceburg, Dearborne Co., Indianna, p 20, Micropublication M33, roll 142, NARA Microfilm
[18]. Enoch James, Sr., 1820, , p 20
[19]. William Henry Egle, M.D., editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, 30 vols. (Harrisburg: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897), Vol XI, p. 326 shows Enoch James an inmate (married renter) in the Tredyfrin Rate of Chester County, Pennsylvania
[20]. Assuming age of 18 a time of marriage
[21]. Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox, History of Worthington West Virginia and Surrounding Communities (Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Company, 1968), p.3
Bibliography
Alexander S. Withers. Chronicles of Border Warfare or A History of the Settlement by the Whites, of North-Western Virginia: and of the Indian Wars and Massacres in that Section of the State; with Reflections, Anecdotes, ETC.. Clarksburg, Va: Jospeh Israel, 1831; reprinted, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc, 1993
Assuming age of 18 at time of marriage
Enoch James, Sr. 1820 Population Census, Lawrenceburg, Dearborne Co., Indiana, Micropublication M33, roll 142. NARA Microfilm
Harry Stuart Holman. History of Tonoloway Baptist Church. Harry Stuart Holman, 1980
Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox. History of Worthington West Virginia and Surrounding Communities. Parsons, WV: McClain Printing Company, 1968
Harvey C. Fortney and Heisel M. Fox. History of Worthington, West Virginia and Surrounding Communities. Parsons, West Virginia: McClain Printing Company, 1968
Indiana. Dearborn. . . .
Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, editor. Pennsylvania Archives: Fifth Series, 8 Vols.. Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1906.
Pennsylvania. Carlisle. Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. Docket 2, p 58.
Pennsylvania. Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4. Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794, Series No. 461. . Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Toothman, Rick. Monongalia County (West) Virginia Deed Book Records, 1784-1810: (Old Series Volume 1-4). Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1994.
Virginia Shannon Fendrick. American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin County Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, PA: Historical Works Committee of the Franklin County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Virginia. . . State Auditor's Office, Charleston, West Virginia.
Virginia. . Title for unpatented lands. State Auditor's Office, Charleston, West Virginia.
William Henry Egle, M.D., editor. Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series. 30 vols. Harrisburg: Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, 1897
Zinn, Melba Pender. Monongalia County Court Abstracts. N.p.: n.p., n.d..