Benjamin ROCHELLE, Jr. and wife Indianna SLOAN
Samuel JAMES first appeared in Onslow Co., N.C.; dated May 1744 where he gives much of his land to his children: Isaac, Enoch, Sarah, and Jacob; his wife was not named but is mentioned in these deeds. There may have been other children to this family. The only child known to have ties to the ROCHELLE family is Isaac JAMES. Please note: the JAMES land runs both in Onslow Co., and present day Pender Co.
According to the late Judge Joshua JAMES of Pender Co., N.C.; the JAMES were Quaker and came over from Wales. Issac JAMES married twice; his first wife's last name was BOND; their known children were:1)Roda 2)Samuel JAMES. His 2nd wife was Priscilla PADGETT, their children were 1)Sarah 2)Isaac 3)Nicanor 4)Susanna 5)Jacob 6)Hester and 7)John.
I do not have a large amount of information on this family, so I will continue with the ROCHELLE lines and their marriages into this family.
Isaac JAMES sold some of his land on Oct. 1819 to his heirs, they were listed as Sarah WILLIFORD, Isaac JAMES, Nicanor JAMES, Benjamin PAGETT, Stephen LANIER, Susanna ROCHELL, Benjamin ROCHELL, Jacob JAMES, Hester JAMES, John JAMES of New Hanover Co. (Nicanor JAMES, Benj. PAGETT, Stephen LANIER of Co. of Duplin) and wife: Priscilla JAMES. This deed appears in the Register of Deeds Office in New Hanover County, Db.Q, p.533.
Susannah JAMES married Benjamin ROCHELLE of New Hanover Co., N.C. sometime between 1800 & 1804. "Two Centuries at Sycamore Springs Plantation" by the late Judge Joshua JAMES; states that Susanna & Benjamin ROCHELLE lived in the area of the White Oak District which was about 3 miles from the JAMES plantation. Benjamin ROCHELLE, was apparently a somewhat wealthy man, as were the JAMES family. The JAMES plantation still stands today, in present day Maple Hill, N.C. now Pender Co. According to the late Judge JAMES, the house that is presently standing is the 4th house on this property. Benjamin ROCHELLE appears in many court records, and land deeds of New Hanover Co.
The 1820 Census of New Hanover Co., N.C. lists Benjamin ROCHELLE as having 3 male children under age 10- (b. 1810-1820); 1 male age 10-16 (b.1804-1810); 1 male age 16-18 (b.1802-1804) 1 male 16-26 (b.1775-1794) and himself 1 male age 26-45 (b.1775-1794) (Please note: in the 1800 census he is listed as the head of the family age 10-16; his mother living; his father must have died) 2 females under age 10 (b.1810-1820); 2 females age 10-16 (b.1804-1810); 1 female age 16-26 (b.1794-1804) and Susanna-1 female age 26-45 (b.1775-1794)
Susanna's husband Benjamin ROCHELLE died in the early part of the year of 1826. His will was written on 12 June 1817, several years before his youngest children were born. His will states the following:
12 June 1817, New Hanover Co., N.C.-I, Benjamin ROCHELL of the State of N.C. and county of New Hanover; being of sound and perfect mind and memory do this 12th day of June make and publish this my last Will and Testament. First, I give and bequeath to my dear wife Susannah ROCHELL, all my personal and real property in the State and County aforesaid. 2nd, all my debts be paid, and all such property as may be left for her to have and to hold during life; at her death all such landed property to be equally divided among my dear children-I make and ordain my worthy friend Jacob JAMES, executor of my will.Signed: Benjamin ROCHELL; Signed, sealed in the presence of Samuel JAMES, Bryant WOOTEN, Stephen WOOD
This will was probated in the March term of Court, 1826 and recorded in Bk. C., p. 380; New Hanover Co., N.C.---(no children were listed in this will)
Since woman, had no legal rights in those days-Guardian bonds were issued by the courts for the care of the minor children. The first guardian bond was issued on 10 March 1828 to Amos ROCHELL, Thomas PLAYER, Jacob JAMES; all bound to the Justices in the sum of $4000, in trust for the minor, tuition of Amos. The above Amos ROCHELL is appointed guardian to Ann, Isaac, Jacob, Mary, John and Benjamin ROCHELLE, all minors. If the said Amos shall improve and secure the estate of the said minors, then this obligation shall be void. Signed: Amos ROCHELL, Jacob JAMES, Thomas PLAYER. Another guardian bond like this was issued on 10 March 1829. ------Since Amos ROCHELLE, the oldest son, would have been close to 21 years of age, I am assuming he was the one appointed as guardian to the children. There are several land deeds naming the children, and specifically stating that land came from the estate of Benjamin ROCHELLE (this proves that Benjamin ROCHELLE was the father-there has been confusion that Amos ROCHELLE was the father, but this is not true; he was the oldest son---and to make matters more confusing there was another Amos ROCHELLE of this time period-I believe him to be possibly the grandfather.)
Susanna ROCHELLE was dead by September 1839. Her son John ROCHELLE was appointed administrator of her estate and the property of Susanna ROCHELL, dec'd was sold on 1 Oct. 1839.
Numerous family members were mentioned; and will be posted later. Slaves mentioned: DICK, JIM, JENNY & 4 children.
Both Benjamin ROCHELLE and his wife Susanna JAMES gravesites are unknown.
The next JAMES child that I have information on is John JAMES, b. 26 Jan. 1792 and died 24 Feb. 1875 in New Hanover Co., N.C. His first marriage was to (first name unknown) PICKETT and his second marriage was to Civil A. SLOAN, b. June 1813-d.6 June 1888. She was the daughter of William SLOAN, wife unknown (possibly a SWINSON) and Aunt of Indianna SLOAN, pictured above. John JAMES and Civil A. SLOAN were married 1 August 1830. The children of John JAMES and Civil A. SLOAN were 1)Rachel JAMES, b. abt. 1833 who married Dennis AMAN-2)Jacob K. JAMES, b. 7 March 1840-d. 6 April 1907, married Hester Jane L. ROCHELLE-3)Olive JAMES, b. abt. 1844, married John MARSHBURN-4)John William JAMES, b.25 April 1845-d. 24 Dec. 1917 and married Nancy Catherine ROCHELLE, b.7 Oct. 1848-d. 23 July 1915;-5)Hester JAMES, b. abt. 1849 and married Eli SHIVAR-6) Priscilla JAMES, b. abt. 1852,married Isaac T. MORTON- and last 7)Gibson JAMES, b. 17 Dec. 1854-d.20 Feb. 1945 and married Anabelle MURRAY (parents of the late Judge Joshua JAMES). John JAMES & his wife Civil A. SLOAN are both buried in the JAMES Cemetery at Sycamore Springs in present day Maple Hill, Pender Co., N.C. The "Wilmington Journal", dated 12 March 1875 states: John JAMES died in Holly Township the morning of 26 Feb., aged 83 years and 28 days. Born and died at sunrise. He lived and died on the same plantation he was born on. He had never been out of his native state. New Bern was the extent of his travels. He accumulated a large landed estate, left a widow and 6 children.
Several of John JAMES'S children married into the ROCHELLE line as follows:
Jacob K. JAMES, b. 7 March 1840-d. 6 April 1907; he married Hester Jane L. ROCHELLE, b. 22 March 1844-d. 18 July 1929-they were married on 14 March 1862. They were married at the residence of her parents: Isaac & Sabra Jane Padgett ROCHELLE. (note: Isaac was the son of Benjamin & Susanna James ROCHELLE). Children of this family were 1) Joy Alton JAMES- 2) Beulah J. L. JAMES- 3) Clarence E. JAMES 4) Bertha Civil JAMES-5) Isaac Theodore JAMES- 6) Eliza Ann JAMES-7) Roxie JAMES.
John William JAMES, b. 25 April 1845-d. 24 Dec. 1917. He married Nancy Catherine ROCHELLE, b. 7 Oct. 1848-d. 23 July 1915. They were married on 19 Nov. 1868. She was also the daughter of Isaac ROCHELLE and Sabra Jane PADGETT.
