Saturday, April 28, 2012

James Ross Lost Brothers - Found

Lost Brothers - Found

James Ross was born June 26, 1850 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States.1 He Nancy, his wife, is enumerated in the 1900-1930 censuses for Chesterfield County, South Carolina.2 3 4 5 6 James died on 6 Dec 1945 at the age of 94 in Darlington County, South Carolina.7 He was buried on 7 Dec 1945 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.8
James Ross and Nancy J. Davis were married on 17 Jul 1870 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Nancy J. Davis, daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers, was born on 25 Jun 1844 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.9 10 She is listed with her parents in the 1860 census. 11 12 13 She died on 5 Nov 1918 at the age of 74 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.14 Nancy was buried on 6 Nov 1918 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.15 16 17

James Ross and Nancy J. Davis had no children of their own. In the 1900 Census for Chesterfield they list William Alfred Rivers, age 15, as their adopted son.

           +2              i.   William Alfred Rivers, born Jan 1885, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States; married Nellie Campbell, 5 Oct 1904, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 1 Apr 1951, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Nancy Davis Ross is my second Great Aunt. Not much is known about James Ross but we do know he had two brothers and a sister. On May 15, 1930 the following article appeared in the local newspaper.  

JAMES ROSS FINDS
             LONG LOST BROTHER
Quite a good deal of interest was aroused about three years ago when Mr. James Ross, one of Chesterfield's successful farmers and one of her most highly respected sons, located in Arkansas a long-lost brother, Frank.  Mr. Frank Ross then came to Chesterfield, spent a few months here and moved to Charlotte, where he is engaged in the mercantile business. The story of their early life and separation was repeated with a good deal of interest. There was another brother, however, named Jethro, who had been given up for dead for the past fifty-five years.
Through an advertisement in the Junior Order's publication Mr. Frank Ross learned that his brother Jethro was living in Lincoln County, Georgia.
Correspondence resulted in a visit to Chesterfield by Mr. Jethro Ross, who has prospered in his adopted state and won the esteem of his fellow citizens.
In speaking of their early life Mr. James Ross says the original home was in this county near Cheraw, that his mother died when all the children (there were four then) were quite small. The war was coming on conditions were rather chaotic. Before going to the war the father placed the children, three boys and a girl in different homes. The father was killed in the war and later the sister died. The boys became scattered though Jethro and James corresponded for a time. It was when the correspondence ceased that these two brothers believed each other dead.
It was a happy circumstance that brought them together again.
Mr. James Ross accompanied his brother to his home in Georgia where he spent a few days. Together they first visited the brother Frank in Charlotte. [The Chesterfield Advertiser, May 15, 1930.]

No Tombstone exists for James Ross but he is most likely buried beside his wife Nancy Davis Ross at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His SC Death certificate #013745 indicates he was buried at Zoar on 7 December 1945.


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        1. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page 326B; Line 36, Dwelling 289, Family 289, Household of  James ROSS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225. James ROSS, age 25, born in SC, parents born in SC; Nancy J. ROSS, Wife, age 30,  born in SC, parents born in SC.
        2. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #21, Page 108B, Line 75, Dwelling 455, Family 463, .Household of James ROSS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_Roll: 1523. James ROSS, age 49, born unk 1851;  Nancy ROSS, age 54, wife, born June 1845, married 30 years [1870], no children; William A. RIVERS, adopted  son, age 15, born Jan 1885.
        3. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #0036, Page 105, Line 33, Dwelling 30, Family 31, Household of James ROSS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1455. 1910 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1455; Enumeration District: 0036; Image: 865; FHL Number: 1375468, Page 105, Line 33, Dwelling 30, Family 31; James ROSS, age 59, born NC, married 40 years, his wife Nancy [Davis] ROSS, age 65, born in SC; married 40 years; William A. RIVERS, Nephew, age 26, born in SC; married 5 years; Nellie RIVERS, niece-in-law, age 25, born in SC; married 5 years, 2 children, 1 living, James N. RIVERS, grandnephew, age 1 7/12, born in SC. .
        4. 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #039, Page: 154, Line 30, Dwelling 136, Family 149, Household of James ROSS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690. 1920 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1690; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 908; Page: 154, Line 30, Dwelling 136, Family 149; James ROSS, age 68, born NC; William A. RIVERS, nephew, age 34, born in SC, Nellie C. RIVERS, niece, age 36, born in SC; James M. RIVERS, nephew, age 11, born in SC and William W. RIVERS, nephew, age 9, born in SC.
        5. 1930 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #14, Page 11A; Line 16, Dwelling 212, Family 235, Household of James ROSS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 28 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_2192. James ROSS, Male, age 80, born in NC.
        6. The Chesterfield Advertiser, 15 May 1930, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
        7. James Ross, death certificate #013745 (6 December 1945), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
        8. Ibid.
        9. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 849. Tombstone of Nancy Davis ROSS; 25 June 1844–5 November 1918, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
Tombstone, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery as recorded in "Chesterfield County, South Carolina Cemetery Survey", Page 849, By James C. Pigg, Published by Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, Copyright 1995. [Nancy Davis ROSS, Jun 25, 1844 - Nov 5, 1918].
        10. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851. 1850 CENSUS: Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: M432_851; Image: 363; Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240. Michael DAVIS,  age 43, Farmer, born in SC; Huldy DAVIS, Wife, age 33, born SC; William A. DAVIS, Son, age 15, born SC; Sarah A. DAVIS, Daughter, age 11, born SC; Elizabeth DAVIS, Daughter, age 9, born in SC; Thomas F. DAVIS, Son, age 8, born SC; Nancy DAVIS, Daughter, age 5, born in SC; Charley W. DAVIS, Son, age 3, born SC and Elisha B. DAVIS, Son, age 1, born SC;  Film #0444814.
        11. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Population Schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #5, Page 326B; Line 36, Dwelling 289, Family 289, Household of  James ROSS. 1880 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; National Archives Film T9-1225; Family History Film: 1255225; Enumeration District: 5;  Page 326B; Line 36, Dwelling 289, Family 289; James ROSS, age 25, born in SC, parents born in SC; Nancy J. ROSS, Wife, age 30,  born in SC, parents born in SC.
        12. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #21, Page 108B, Line 75, Dwelling 455, Family 463, .Household of James ROSS. 1900 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: T623_1523; Enumeration District: 21; Page 108B, Line 75, Dwelling 455, Family 463; James ROSS, age 49, born unk 1851;  Nancy ROSS, age 54, wife, born June 1845, married 30 years [1870], no children; William A. RIVERS, adopted  son, age 15, born Jan 1885.
        13. 1910 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, ED #0036, Page 105, Line 33, Dwelling 30, Family 31, Household of James ROSS. 1910 CENSUS: Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1455; Enumeration District: 0036; Image: 865; FHL Number: 1375468, Page 105, Line 33, Dwelling 30, Family 31; James ROSS, age 59, born NC, married 40 years, his wife Nancy [Davis] ROSS, age 65, born in SC; married 40 years; William A. RIVERS, Nephew, age 26, born in SC; married 5 years; Nellie RIVERS, niece-in-law, age 25, born in SC; married 5 years, 2 children, 1 living, James N. RIVERS, grandnephew, age 1 7/12, born in SC. .
        14. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Nancy Davis ROSS. Tombstone, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery as recorded in "Chesterfield County, South Carolina Cemetery Survey", Page 849, By James C. Pigg, Published by Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, Copyright 1995. [Nancy Davis ROSS, Jun 25, 1844 - Nov 5, 1918].
        15. Ibid.
        16. Mrs. James Ross obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, 7 November 1918, page 1, col. 3:.
Obituary - Mrs. James Ross, The Chesterfield Advertiser, November 7, 1918, page 1, col. 3: Mrs. James Ross died at her home on Green Street last Tuesday morning at 6:30 o'clock after a long illness, which she had borne with Christian resignation. Mrs. Ross had attained the age of 75 years and had been a lifelong member of Zoar church. Before her marriage she was Miss Nancy Davis, and was raised in the Zoar section. She is survived by her husband and a large family connection. The body was laid to rest in the Zoar cemetery Wednesday afternoon. Many beautiful floral tributes attested the love and esteem in which this good woman was held by her friends.[SOURCE: James C. Pigg, "Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926, Chesterfield County, SC" (Tega Cay, SC, Self-published, 2001].
        17. Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: n.p., 1927), page 222. Harry Alexander Davis in his book "The Davis Family in Wales and America" made the following statement: "Nancy J. b 1845 md 1865 David Richard son of Eliza Davis and Benjamin Teal, 1st cousins: had 2 children in 1870. Page 222."

This is not TRUE.

David Richard son of Eliza Davis and Benjamin Teal, did in fact marry Nancy J. Davis. The Nancy J. Davis that he married was born 17 March 1839 and was the daughter of John Calvin Davis and Charlotte Hurst. John Calvin is the uncle of Nancy J. Davis, b. 25 Jun 1844 to Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers. Nancy, b. 25 Jun 1884 is believed to have married James K. Parker who died in 1862 in the Civil War and after the War married James Ross abt 1870.

Another misconception and incorrect information:
Some researchers say NANCY J. DAVIS was married to GEORGE PARKER had 1 son----- d. young. Before marrying (M #2) 17 Jul 1870, James Ross. B abt. 1850.

There are two PARKER'S listed in the 1860 Census with wives named NANCY.  George A. PARKER, age 24 and his wife Nancy PARKER, age 27 and James K. Parker, age 23 and his wife Nancy PARKER, age 16. This above statement is not true; but may be partially right. I believe the 16-year of wife of James K. Parker was in fact Nancy J. DAVIS PARKER, b. 25 June 1844. James K. PARKER, Private, Co. E. 21st SC Volunteers, Infantry died 14 April 1862 at Georgetown, SC.

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