The West Family Line

James West

The Story Continues

Today I will share the documents and other sources that I have found about James and Sarah. 

As I said earlier I know that he was in Granville County by 1784 and that is through primary sources. Through transcribed documents we find that he was in Granville earlier than that. 

On the NCGENWEB site I found a transcribed document that James took the Oath of Allegiance and that was probably in 1777. Why do I say 1777, because going through the Bute County North Carolina: Minutes of the Court of  Pleas and Court Sessions, 1767-1779 by genealogist Brent Howard Holcomb it was in 1777 that they sent out Justices to obtain these oaths. 

On the NCGENWEB site I also found a transcription for a Company of Foot(Infantry) belonging to Captain William Burford and James was on that list. 

From Fold3 they had the following:

James enlisted in 1782 and served for 18 months. It does not appear that he or Sarah applied for pension for his service. If they had, there would be more documents and this is unfortunate for us today. If he had applied the documents would have given us so much more information about him and the battles he was involved in. Maybe there are more records out there but as of today I have not found them. 

Below is a section of the 1786 State Census from the Island Creek District. James was not a slave owner during his lifetime. It could be for moral reasons or due to his own experience as a servant. 

Also on the NCGENWEB site was the transcribed Tax Payers in Granville County in 1788. James is listed on this document but appears to have no land or carriage wheels. It was for Abraham's Plains District. 

James West is on the Federal Census for 1790 but I do not have a copy of that document. 

James and Sarah had at least 12 children that she recorded in her family Bible. Cousin Cindy is sending me copies of the pages from the Bible and I will share them with you soon. These are the children that she listed with their birthdates:

• James West born 2 May 1769
• Susannah West born 25 Apr 1771
• Mary West born 15 Feb 1773
• Peter West born May 1774
• William West born Feb 1776
• Daniel West born Nov 1778
• Abraham West born Nov 1778
• Sarah West born Aug 1780
• Joseph West born Feb 1784
• Ann West born Oct 1785
• Elizabeth West born 12 Mar 1787
• John West born May 1790

Some people list a Hannah and an Elsie but Sarah did not record these births, so I will not either.

James died in 1808 without a will. More about his estate is on the way. 

This is all I have for today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

As Christa Cowen says from Ancestry.com, Have Fun Climbing Your Family Tree!

Pattie