William James (bef 1755-1799) and Elizabeth Welch (bef 1755-aft 1810) of Marion Co., SC

Marty and Karla Grant

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William James and Elizabeth (Welch) James are my 5^th Great Grandparents.

William James was born before 1765 assuming he was at least 21 when listed on a 1786 tax list. His wife was born before 1755 per her 1800 census entry, so he probably was too unless there was a big age difference between them, thus I’ll list him as born before 1755 also.

I’m assuming that William was born in the same general area he lived and died, which means he was probably born in what is now Marion Co, SC but in the 1750s was part of Craven Co., SC. That area became Georgetown District in 1769 and Marion District in 1798 effective 1799. Of course it’s possible he was born outside the bounds of present day Marion County, perhaps even out of state if he migrated to the area instead of being born there. There were James families in the region in the 1730s in the Welch Colony. I tend to think my William is connected to them, but might not be.

That brings me to the question of William’s parents. I have no information on who his parents were, nor any strong clues as to any siblings. As noted, there were James families in the region in the 1750s, many arriving there in the 1730s including several men named William James, all of whom are too old to be the William we are interested in.

Our William James married Elizabeth Welch before ca 1780, perhaps in Georgetown Dist., SC, now Marion Co., SC. She was born before 1755 (per her 1800 census entry), parents unknown. She’s a likely sister of Stephen Welch (1759), Mourning Welch and William Welch. In his Revolutionary War Pension Application, Stephen reported his birth place as Gourdine’s Ferry, Santee River in Craven Co., SC, so it’s likely Elizabeth was born there too. This area is now Berkeley Co., SC, just above Jamestown, SC.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Georgetown District records were lost during the Civil War, so most documents from 1769-1799 that would help us are gone.

William James is listed on a 1786 tax list in Georgetown District in Cpt. Stephen Godbold’s company, taxed for 640 acres and 3 Negroes. He was the only one of his surname listed.

William James and Thomas James were signatories to a 1788 petition by inhabitants of Little Pee Dee River. Their names were close to each other. However, it’s possible Thomas James is Thomas Jones instead as it’s hard to make out.

William James is listed on the 1790 census in Georgetown Dist., SC, in Prince George Parish. It’s an alphabetical listing so I can’t determine neighbors. John James, John James Jr and Absalom James were also listed in Prince George Parish. There were other James households in Prince Frederick Parish (Jane, John, Robert, another William, and Samuel Winter James.)

1790 Census, Georgetown Dist., SC, Prince George Parish

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
507	William James	2	1	4	~	3

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

2m 16+ (before 1774) 1. William James (bef 1755)

2. Son?

1m -16 (1774/1790) James James (1774/1780) son

4f (before 1790) 1. Elizabeth Welch James (bef 1755) wife

2. Sarah James (1774/1784) daughter

3. Ann James (1774/1784) daughter

4. Mary James (before 1790) daughter

3 Slaves 1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

On 22 Oct 1791, William James, Blacksmith, deeded land to James and Benjamin Rolans, Planters, of Liberty Co., Georgetown District, for L14.5.8, being 100 acres on the south side of Maidendown Swamp and Sister Branch. William James signed. Stephen Welch and Robert Rollins witnessed. (Marion Co., SC Deed Book A, p. 72.)

On 18 May 1793, William James, Elias Miller and Elise Martin witnessed a deed from Moses Martin, Planter, to David Martin, Planter, for 200 acres south side of Maidendown Swamp. The deed was signed by Moses Martin and Mathew Martin, both of whom made marks. (Marion Co., SC Deed Book B, p. 342.)

William James appears to have died between 1793 and early 1799. He was probably no older than 40.

On 16 Mar 1799 James James, & Elizabeth James and Mary James & Sarah James & Ann James of Liberty Co., SC, made a deed to William Burket of the same place, for 30 pounds sterling for 125 acres in Georgetown District on the north side of Maidendown Swamp beginning on Elias Miller land ... including waters of Little Peedee being part of a tract of 640 acres granted to William James 15 Feb 1786. James James signed, Elizabeth James made her mark, “Sary” James made her mark, Mary James made her mark, and “Anny” James made her mark. The deed was witnessed by Nathan Grice, Charles Powell and Nathaniel Miller. (Marion Co., SC Deed Book A, pp. 74-76.)

William Burket sold the above to Dreadzell Runnels on 3 Dec 1799 and in his deed he mentioned that William James was now deceased. In his description of the land he also mentioned Henry Flowers corner and David Runels’s line. (Marion Co., SC Deed Book A, pp. 76-78.)

The above deeds seem to prove (or strongly suggest) that James, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Ann James was heirs of William James who was dead by 1799 since they were selling his property.

Elizabeth James, William’s widow, was head of household on the 1800 census in Marion Dist., SC. She was listed between William White and Stephen Welch (her brother). John Wood was two houses away. He was the father of Ann Wood who would shortly marry James James. Darling James was the only other James listed on this census, and he was not nearby.

1800 Census, Marion Dist., SC

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

450/794

Elizabeth James

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 16-25 (1774/1784) James James (1774/1780) son

1f 45+ (before 1755) Elizabeth Welch James (bef 1755) wife

2f 16-25 (1774/1784) 1. Sarah James (1774/1784) daughter

2. Ann or Mary

4 Slaves 1. Patt?

2. Peter?

3. David?

4. Amrit?

On 27 Sep 1803, Elizabeth James, Stephen Welch, Moarning Welch and William Welch made a deed to John and William Baker for Negroes Patt, Peter, David and Amrit. Witnesses were Joshua Avant and Ann James. (Marion Co., SC Deed Book B., p. 294.)

Elizabeth might be with Sarah James on the 1810 census in Marion Dist., SC, if that’s her daughter Sarah and not some other Sarah. They were listed next to Stephen Foxworth Jr and eight houses from Thomas James (1765/75), relationship unknown, but apparently related.

1810 Census - Marion Dist., SC

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

Sarah James

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1f 45+ (before 1765) Elizabeth Welch James (bef 1755) mother

1f 26-44 (1765/1784) Sarah James (1774/1784)

I have no record of Elizabeth after the 1810 census, assuming that’s actually her with Sarah. If it isn’t her, then I have no record of her after 1803.

Children

The 1799 deed seems to prove William and Elizabeth’s family, consisting of one son and three daughters.

1. James James (1774/1780) married Ann Wood. See their page for more information.

2. Mary James (before 1790-aft 1799). Signed 1799 deed. No other record.

3. Sarah James (1774/1784-aft 1819). Signed 1799 deed. Head of household on 1810 census. Listed in 1819 estate record of Absalom Legette (not as an heir). No further record.

4. Ann James (1774/1784-aft 1803). Signed 1799 deed. Witnessed her mother’s 1803 deed. No further record.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for William James and Elizabeth Welch.

Revised: January 29, 2026

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