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Dr. JAMES Richard Henry

Male Abt 1829 -


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  • Name JAMES Richard Henry  [1
    Prefix Dr. 
    Birth Abt 1829  Southampton County, Virginia (Drewryville ?) Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    Census 1850  Nottoway Parrish, Southampton County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 1850 United States Federal Census
      about Richard H James Name: Richard H James
      Age: 19
      Estimated birth year: abt 1831
      Birth Place: Virginia
      Gender: Male
      Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Nottaway Parish, Southampton, Virginia
      Family Number: 164
      Household Members: Name Age
      John James 44
      Eliza A James 37
      Richard H James 19
      Mary T James 18
    Census 1860  Cabin Point, Surry County, VA. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 1860 United States Federal Census
      about Richard H James Name: Richard H James
      Age in 1860: 29
      Birth Year: abt 1831
      Birthplace: Virginia
      Home in 1860: Surry, Virginia
      Gender: Male
      Post Office: Cabin Point
      Value of real estate: View image
      Household Members: Name Age
      Richard H James 29
      Georgiana E James 22
      Sarah James 4
      Otelia F James 3
      Mary G James 1
    Military 20 Apr 1861  Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Civil War 
    • U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
      about Richard H James Name: Richard H James
      Occupation: Physician
      Age at Enlistment: 31
      Enlistment Date: 20 Apr 1861
      Rank at enlistment: Private
      Enlistment Place: Surry County, VA
      State Served: Virginia
      Survived the War?: Yes
      Service Record: Enlisted in Company E, Virginia 5th Cavalry Regiment on 20 Apr 1861.
      Mustered out on 03 May 1862 at Camp Pryor, VA.

      Description: height: 5 ft. 9 in., light complexion, dark eyes, auburn hair.
      Birth Date: abt 1830
      Sources: The Virginia Regimental Histories Series
    Census 1880  Guilford, Surry, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • 1880 United States Federal Census
      about Richard James Name: Richard James
      Home in 1880: Guilford, Surry, Virginia
      Age: 50
      Estimated birth year: abt 1830
      Birthplace: Virginia
      Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
      Spouse's name: Georgianna James
      Father's birthplace: Virginia
      Mother's birthplace: Virginia
      Neighbors: View others on page
      Occupation: Farmer
      Marital Status: Married
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Cannot read/write:

      Blind:

      Deaf and dumb:

      Otherwise disabled:

      Idiotic or insane: View image
      Household Members: Name Age
      Richard James 50
      Georgianna James 42
      Sarah James 24
      Mary J. James 22
      Eva J. James 15
      Ann D. James 14
      John S. James 12
    Reference Number 1172 
    Burial Surry County, VA (Rogers Family Cemetary, Off Rt.40) Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 3
    Notes 
    • Her husband, Dr. Richard Henry James, was an alcoholic who abandoned his wife. When he died, the Booth's refused to let him be buried next to his wife, and he was interred on a nearby farm owned by the Rogers family.

      Obit. of daughter, Othelia Florence James Westbrook, in Sussex Gazette, August 1937. indicates she was a daughter of Dr. J. J. James, a prominent physician of Southampton County, however, in the family bible, she is the daughter of Dr. Richard Henry James, and John James is her grandfather. Also, Southampton County Census Records show John and Eliza James as the parents of Richard Henry James and Mary T. James.

      In October, 2006, Patricia McElroy Smith and I (Jean G. Johnson), agreed on the following interpretation of a letter Patricia found among the papers of her Aunt Mary Baird Bray. Mary very likely obtained it along with other items from her mother, Lola Idene (Daisy) Westbrook Baird who was a grand-daughter of Richard Henry James and his wife Georganna Booth. Some words were illegible or questionable. " Phildelphia. Dear Sister, I received your letter this afternoon and was very glad to hear_________ but there was a passage that wounded my feelings very much it was the death of her whose soothing words has frequently calmed my raging mind, whose tender smiles has caused me to reflect when nothing on earth could, therefore I c___________ with those whom I loved and who I had every reason to believe loved me, (Mrs. Gurley) I have finally determined am going home Christmas and you must surely be________ home I cannot tell what time but I will most assuredly eat my Christmas dinner at home I thought from the scrap of paper in the letter you desired a piece of cambric as such I sent it but I find it was all a mistake of yours, but (eventually??) you will find a use for it give my love to all. I am well in better health than I have been in for some time believe me. ever yours truly as a dear brother Dr. R. H. James October the 10th 1852."

      Making certain asumptions and with research, I (Jean) concluded he was in medical school in Philadelphia in 1852 as he was 23 yrs. of age, signed the letter as "Dr.", in 1860 Surry Co. Census his occupation was "MD", the 1870 Southampton Co. Census listed his occupation as "Physcian". I provided details about RHJ to Thomas Jefferson Universiy Archives in Philadelphia and received this letter from the University Archivist. " Dear Mrs. Johnson, Richard Henry James did not graduate here but did take courses for one year at JMC (it was a two-year program). The Student Registration Book lists the following: "Sept 4, 1852/ R. H. James/ Farmers Grove/Southampton/Virginia/$20. second course/ (Preceptor) Dr. J. W. Gurley/ [Remarks] Harp. L'ndg.-1851-2" The preceptor was his sponsor whom he "apprenticed" under and the Remarks column usually refers to previous course work taken. FYI, James had a colleague, J. Thomas Butts, also from Farmers Grove who shared the same preceptor. Lack of a diploma did not exclude one from practicing medicine in those days before medical licensure. Best of luck, Michael Angelo, Universiy Archivist."

      These findings are interesting: RHJ mentions the death of Mrs. Gurley in his letter. Dr. J. W. Gurley was his sponsor at the university. The 1850 Southampton Co. Census- Nottoway Parish shows John W. Gurley at house #165 and his occupation was physcian. John and Eliza A. James were at house #164 as were their children, Richard H. (19 yr. old student) and Mary T. (18 yrs. old) John James was listed as a 44 yr. old farmer, his wife, Eliza was 37. Also the 1850 census lists James T. Butts, a 19 yr. old student at house #166.

      The 1860 Southampton Co. Census does not list John W. Gurley. Richard H. James was a physcian in Surry Co. in 1860, was married to Georganna E. (Booth) James and had 3 children - Otelia, Sarah, and Mary.
    Person ID I322  Booth Family
    Last Modified 6 Jul 2015 

    Father JAMES John   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother DRAKE Eliza A.   d. 25 Aug 1870 
    Marriage 9 Feb 1829  [4
    Family ID F1503  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family BOOTH Georgianna Elizabeth,   b. 2 Mar 1838, Surry County, VA (Snow Hill Plantation) Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Nov 1897 (Age 59 years) 
    Marriage 30 Jan 1855  [2, 5
    Children 
     1. JAMES Sarah Eugenia,   b. 22 Nov 1855   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. JAMES Otelia Florence,   b. 5 Oct 1856   d. 20 Aug 1937, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years)
     3. JAMES Mary Gertrude,   b. 9 Jul 1858   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. JAMES Nannie Beth,   b. 6 Oct 1860   d. 16 Jul 1862 (Age 1 year)
     5. JAMES Eliza Frances,   b. 12 Jun 1862   d. 14 Jul 1863 (Age 1 year)
     6. JAMES Annie Missoura,   b. 5 Oct 1863   d. 9 Jul 1865 (Age 1 year)
     7. JAMES Eva Jackson,   b. 20 Jan 1865, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Dec 1934, Petersburg, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)
     8. JAMES Ann Booth,   b. 15 Feb 1866   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. JAMES John Samuel,   b. 17 Jun 1868   d. 7 Jul 1870 (Age 2 years)
    Family ID F124  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 2 Feb 2008 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1850 - Nottoway Parrish, Southampton County, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1860 - Cabin Point, Surry County, VA. Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Guilford, Surry, Virginia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Surry County, VA (Rogers Family Cemetary, Off Rt.40) Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S16] Doris Jean Goodrich Johnson.

    2. [S192] Maitland O. Westbrook, III,.

    3. [S268] Snow Hill, History of, Snow Hill, History of, (Interview with Marie Baird (1920's)).

    4. [S16] Doris Jean Goodrich Johnson (Reliability: 3).

    5. [S194] Talmadge Booth.