James Family History

Summary

This Welsh coal mining family originated in the elevated Wentlwg district of north-western Monmouthshire. They followed coal mining in the valleys of the South Wales coalfield before migrating to Queensland in the 1880s. Some of the family emigrated to Pennsylvania in the United States in the 1870s and 1880s, afterwards settling in Montana.

Places	Locations
WLS MON Mynyddislwyn	Gelligroes, Cwmfelinfach, Fleur de Lis, Cae'r-llwyn Quarry
WLS MON Bedwas	Felin Wynt
WLS MON Bedwellty (St Sannan's)	Blackwood, Aberbargoed, Cwmsifiog
WLS MON Aberystruth	Ebbw Vale, Cwm, Victoria
WLS GLA Gelligaer	Brithdir, Bargoed
WLS GLA Ystradyfodwg	Trealaw, Treherbert, Penygraig
WLS GLA Llanwonno	Porth
WLS GLA Llantwitfardre	Pontypridd
WLS GLA Eglwysilan	Glyntaff
WLS GLA Newton Nottage	Porthcawl
WLS GLA Llantrisant	Williamstown
AUS NSW	Abermain, Aberdare, Pelaw Main, Newcastle, Leconfield, Kurri Kurri, Cessnock
AUS QLD	Rockhampton, Howard, Burrum, Torbanlea, Mount Morgan
AUS VIC	Outtrim
USA PA Lackawanna County	Scranton
USA MT Cascade County	Great Falls, Barker
USA MT Fergus County	Lewistown, Stanford

My Line of Descent

William JAMES born ca 1771, died 23 Jan 1848 Gelligroes, bur 25 Jan 1848 Mynyddislwyn, mar 28 Dec 1806 Mynyddislwyn to Mary MORGAN bapt 14 Aug 1783 Mynyddislwyn, died 28 Mar 1858 Gelligroes, bur 30 Mar 1858 Mynyddislwyn (dau of Richard MORGAN); 1821 at Cwmfelinfach; 1826 at Cae'r-llwyn Quarry; 1841 census at Felin Wynt. Labourer (1821, 1826, 1840), blockborer (1841), blocklayer (1846, 1848), collier.

1. William JAMES bapt 17 Jan 1808 Mynyddislwyn
2. Thomas JAMES bapt 1 Nov 1811 Mynyddislwyn, bur 8 Mar 1839 Mynyddislwyn, abode Gelligroes
3. Jane JAMES bapt 11 Apr 1812 Mynyddislwyn
4. John JAMES bapt 11 Apr 1813 Mynyddislwyn (see below)
5. Morgan JAMES bapt 14 Jan 1816 Mynyddislwyn, bur 29 Jun 1856 Mynyddislwyn, abode Gelligroes
6. James JAMES born ca 1818 (no bapt found)
7. Richard JAMES bapt 22 Apr 1821 Mynyddislwyn, abode Cwmfelinfach, died ca May 1893 Pontypridd, mar (1) 9 May 1846 Llanwonno to Rebecca EVANS ca 1820-1849, mar (2) 29 Mar 1851 Llantwitfardre to Charlotte TARRANT ca 1829-1897, and had issue with both wives
8. Daniel JAMES bapt 12 Mar 1826 Mynyddislwyn, mar 5 Dec 1846 Mynyddislwyn to Elizabeth TARRANT b ca 1826, sister of Charlotte, and had issue; 1861 at Glyntaff; probably went to Pennsylvania

John JAMES born ca Mar 1813, bapt 11 Apr 1813 Mynyddislwyn, died 26 Nov 1880 Trealaw, bur 29 Nov 1880 St Sannan's, Bedwellty, mar 28 Mar 1840 St Sannan's to Amelia PHILLIPS born ca 1815 Bassaleg, died 17 Jan 1884 Treherbert, bur 22 Jan 1884 St Sannan's (dau of William PHILIPS and Catherine JONES); 1841-51 at Blackwood; 1852 at Fleur de Lis; 1859 at Cwmsifiog; 1861-71 at Woodland Cottage, Brithdir; from mid- to late-1870s at Trealaw. Coalminer, quarryman, collier, labourer.

1. Elizabeth JAMES born 11 Jan 1841 Blackwood, died 31 Aug 1911 Porthcawl, mar 25 Feb 1859 Gelligaer to John WHEELER ca 1835-1903, and had issue
2. William P JAMES born 5 Jul 1843 Blackwood (see below)
3. John Phillip JAMES born 2 Jul 1849 Blackwood, bapt 16 Oct 1859 St Sannan's, died 21 Sep 1921 Aberdare NSW Australia, m1 21 Nov 1874 Gelligaer to Cecilia HALL born ca 1848 Machen, m2 28 May 1904 Newcastle NSW Australia to Catherine JONES nee ROSSER 1865-1920, and had issue
4. Mary JAMES born 3 Oct 1852 Fleur de lis, bapt 16 Oct 1859 St Sannan's, died 1 Apr 1913 Great Falls, Cascade MT USA, had three partners - de facto ca 1871 Gelligaer with John JONES, m1 24 Dec 1874 Ponytpridd to Robert MACKIE 1843-1908 (divorced 1897), m2 22 Jun 1898 Barker, Cascade MT USA to Thomas W McGRATH 1852-1932, had issue, and emigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania USA and later Montana USA

William P JAMES born 5 Jul 1843 Blackwood, died 26 Aug 1924 Abermain NSW, bur 27 Aug 1924 Kurri Kurri NSW, m1 21 Dec 1867 Nebo Baptist Chapel, Ebbw Vale to Margaret EDMUNDS born 20 Oct 1839 Cwrt Coch, Bedwellty, died 21 Jun 1877 Penygraig, bur 23 Jun 1877 St Sannan's (dau of Thomas EDMUNDS and Jane LAWRENCE), m2 1 Mar 1882 at St David's Chapel of Ease, Hopkinstown, Llanwonno to Eliza Ann McDONALD, born 28 Jun 1841 Ellesmere SAL, died 12 Oct 1915 Abermain, bur 13 Oct 1915 Kurri Kurri, m3 18 Apr 1922 St Anne's Church of England, Ryde NSW to Margaret FENWICK nee ANDERSON alias BURGOYNE, born 2 Jan 1851 Blyth NBL ENG, died 1 Jul 1934 Cessnock NSW, bur 3 Jul 1934 Kurri Kurri, had issue with first wife; 1851 at Blackwood, 1861 at Brithdir, 1871 at Cwm, Victoria, Ebbw Vale, 1873 at Bargoed, 1875 at Williamstown, 1877 at Penygraig, late 1870s in USA, 1881 at Penygraig, 1883 emigrated per "Ravenscrag" to Rockhampton QLD AUS, 1884 at Howard QLD, 1886 at Burrum QLD, 1889 at Torbanlea QLD, 1898 at Mount Morgan QLD, about 1903 at Pelaw Main NSW, 1904 at Abermain NSW. Coalminer, innkeeper, storekeeper, lay preacher.

1. Charles Edmund JAMES born 24 Jun 1868 Bryncelin, Penygraig(see below)
2. John JAMES born 8 Nov 1869 Cwmsifiog, died 23 Jul 1878 Tynycelyn, Penygraig, bur 26 Jul 1878 St Sannan's
3. William Arthur JAMES born 20 Mar 1871 Cwm, Victoria, Ebbw Vale(see below)
4. David William JAMES born 20 Jun 1873 Field Street, Bargoed, died 7 Aug 1950 Kurri Kurri NSW, cremated 8 Aug 1950 Beresfield NSW, m 14 Mar 1895 Torbanlea to Margaret WILLEY born 1873 Brancepeth DUR ENG, died 13 Jul 1951 Abermain, had issue
5. Margaret Hannah JAMES born 16 Nov 1875 Williamstown, died 20 Apr 1877 Penygraig, bur 24 Apr 1877 St Sannan's
6. Thomas Samuel JAMES born 18 Jun 1877 Penygraig, died 1 Aug 1877 Coed-y-brain Row, Bedwellty, bur 4 Aug 1877 St Sannan's

Charles Edmund JAMES born 24 Jun 1868 Bryncelin, Penygraig, died 22 Jun 1944 Kurri Kurri NSW, bur 23 Jun 1944 Kurri Kurri NSW, m 30 Mar 1891 Torbanlea to Ada Rosetta WRIGHT born 24 Dec 1869 Battersea SRY ENG, died 22 May 1939 Abermain (dau of Thomas Vernon WRIGHT and Sarah Ann COSBURN); 1871 at Ebbw Vale, 1881 at Penygraig, 1883 emigrated per "Ravenscrag" to Rockhampton QLD AUS, 1884 at Howard QLD, 1886 at Burrum QLD, 1889 at Torbanlea QLD, 1892 at Leconfield NSW, 1894 at Torbanlea, 1897 at Outtrim VIC AUS, 1903 at Abermain; started work in the coal mines aged ten years, union activist, coal mine proprietor.

1. Margaret Amelia JAMES born 7 Jul 1892 Leconfield, died 26 Aug 1946 Kurri Kurri, m 27 Dec 1911 Kurri Kurri to Ernest Walter RECKENBERG, born 4 Mar 1890 Plattsburg NSW, died 21 Apr 1971 Cessnock NSW, had issue
2. Annie Rosalie JAMES born 21 Feb 1894 Torbanlea, died 19 Jul 1983 Mayfield NSW, m 28 Nov 1917 Newcastle to Nathanial VEALE, born 27 Aug 1890 Adamstown NSW, died 8 Aug 1951 Newcastle NSW, had issue
3. Ada May JAMES born 29 Sep 1895 Torbanlea, died 19 Oct 1977 Cooranbong NSW, m 19 Mar 1913 Kurri Kurri to John Robert PARKINSON, born 29 Aug 1886 Wallsend NSW, died 2 Feb 1980 Dudley NSW, had issue
4. Beatrice Maud JAMES born 23 Aug 1898 Outtrim, died 10 Oct 1964 Newcastle, m 23 Oct 1920 Abermain to Albert Raymond RECKENBERG, born 13 Oct 1895 Plattsburg, died 8 Feb 1956 Newcastle, had issue
5. Elizabeth Ann JAMES born 19 May 1901 Outtrim, died 6 Feb 1973 Kurri Kurri, m 17 Jan 1920 Weston NSW to Michael David O'BRIEN, born 31 Aug 1898 Cootamundra NSW, died 20 Apr 1979 Abermain, had issue
6. Charles Alfred JAMES born 23 Jul 1904 Outtrim (see below)
7. Daisy Evilyn JAMES born 15 Jul 1907 Abermain, died 18 Oct 1935 Weston, m 25 May 1927 Kurri Kurri to John Gwilym JAMES (see below), had issue
8. Olive Mary Rosetta JAMES born 15 Jun 1913 Abermain, died 12 Jan 2015, Toronto NSW, m 23 Dec 1931 to William CAIN, born 17 Dec 1914 Abermain, died 13 Feb 1994 Kurri Kurri, had issue

William Arthur JAMES born 20 Mar 1871 Cwm, Victoria, Ebbw Vale, died 22 Mar 1948 Lidcombe NSW, m 17 Apr 1901 Pentrebach GLA to Agnes DAVIES born 29 Aug 1878 Merthyr Tydfil GLA, died 22 Sep 1956 Camperdown NSW; late 1870s and early 1880s in USA, 1891 at Bargoed, 1892 at Penygraig, 1896 at Aberdare GLA, about 1906 at Aberbargoed, 1922 emigrated per "Largs Bay" to Sydney NSW and settled at Abermain, about 1943 at Randwick NSW and later at Blacktown NSW; coal mine manager and contractor, lay preacher.

1. John Gwilym JAMES born 29 Jul 1902 Merthyr Tydfil, died 21 Oct 1935 Kurri Kurri, m 25 May 1927 Kurri Kurri to Daisy Evilyn JAMES (see above), had issue
2. Blodwen JAMES born 23 Sep 1904 Merthyr Tydfil, died 5 Sep 1987 Kurri Kurri, m 31 Dec 1930 Weston to John GREENWOOD, born 5 Jul 1895 Easington DUR ENG, died 19 Aug 1974 Kurri Kurri, no issue
3. Agnes Madeline JAMES born 5 Aug 1907 Aberbargoed (see below)
4. William Charles Edward JAMES born 27 Mar 1913 Aberbargoed, died 11 Jun 1983 Parramatta NSW, m 26 May 1945 Concord West NSW to Eileen Mary JOHNSTONE, born 11 Oct 1917 Nelligan NSW, died 20 May 2011 Westmead NSW, had issue
5. Daisy Margaret Louvain JAMES born 2 Nov 1915 Aberbargoed, died 18 Jul 2003 Bowral NSW, m 13 Jul 1935 West Maitland NSW to Harold James HOLLINGWORTH, born 14 Apr 1914 Sawyer's Gully NSW, died 5 Jun 1968 at sea per "Flavia", had issue
6. Ivy Edith Cavell JAMES born 2 Nov 1915 Aberbargoed, died 30 Aug 1999 Mona Vale NSW, m 11 May 1939 Wickham NSW to Sidney Mathora ELLIOTT, born 25 Sep 1917 Nerewether NSW, died 6 Aug 1980 Swansea NSW, had issue

Charles Alfred JAMES born 23 Jul 1940 Mount Misery, Outtrim, died 1 Mar 1971 Kurri Kurri, m 23 Jun 1926 Kurri Kurri to Agnes Madeline JAMES, born 5 Aug 1907 Aberbargoed, died 5 Feb 1990 Belmont North NSW (daughter of William Arthur JAMES and Agnes DAVIES, see above); lived at Abermain except for a brief period mid-1930s at Caswell near Singleton NSW; coal mine manager, local government councillor.

1. Charles William JAMES born 18 Dec 1926 Abermain, died 27 Aug 2003 Wollongong NSW, m1 16 Apr 1949 Cessnock to Esma Merle BARRETT, born 13 Sep 1928 Cessnock, died 16 Jul 1988, divorced 1967, had issue, m2 12 Dec 1968 Camden NSW to Barbara Jean TAYLOR nee WILE, born 4 Jun 1937 Neath NSW, died 12 Nov 2014 Tara QLD, had issue
2. Gwendoline JAMES born 1 Mar 1928 Abermain, died 3 Nov 2022 Maitland NSW, m 29 Oct 1949 Abermain to John WILLIAMS, born 22 Mar 1926 Abermain, died 20 Nov 2008 Kurri Kurri, had issue
3. Glyndwr JAMES born 24 Jul 1931 Abermain, died 2 Jul 1990 Singleton NSW, m 17 Dec 1954 Weston to Moira Barbara PULLIN, born 11 Aug 1935 Kurri Kurri, died 9 Sep 2015 Singleton, had issue
4. Agnes Madaleine JAMES born 2 Oct 1932 Abermain, died 22 May 2019 Kurri Kurri, m 26 Sep 1959 Abermain to Albert James WILLIAMS, born 27 Jul 1930 Weston, died 26 Apr 2001 Adelaide, South Australia, had issue
5. living person, details withheld for privacy reasons
6. John Edmund JAMES born 4 Sep 1936 Abermain, died 24 Aug 2008 Penrith NSW, m 12 Nov 1960 Cessnock to Alice Maude RYAN, born 6 Oct 1937 Cessnock, died 27 Oct 2009 Cooranbong, had issue

DNA Evidence

Autosomal DNA matches confirm the line back to William JAMES and Mary MORGAN, who married in 1806 at Mynyddislwyn.

Facebook Group

Descendants and their spouses, are invited to join our family's private Facebook group at James Family History. Applicants are required to answer questions to establish their identity and relationship.