Margaret, I would think the answer to the mystery might be in KY where he left from living with his father. Perhaps his work wouldn't allow having a child living at home and he went with relatives to IL. Did he list parents at marriage or death record? Donna Jaster ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Fox-Jackson" <mfox7@optonline.net> To: <ILCHAMPA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 01 January, 2002 4:08 PM Subject: [ILCHAMPA-L] Robert James - help!! > Hi Karen and all, > I do have them on the 1900 census in , the family was still living in Edwards > County, which I guess is what you meant? They then moved to Wabash County and > then it seems spread out from there, Ross having gone to Champaign County. > As far as trying to locate Robert's father on the 1850 Kentucky census I need to > show you a time line on my Great Grandfather and then please let me know what you > think, or anybody else jump in any time with advice or suggestions- LOL!!! > Robert J. James born on September 23, 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky, parents > unknown, but he always lists his father as being from England and Mother from > Ohio on any census I have located him on. I find him with a family named Simkins > on some censuses with someone he refers to as his sister Sarah/Sally Simkins. (On > marriage info for Sarah/Sallie I find that her Mom Edith was Edith Ann Wilson and > that her Father is named Holmes Simkins) Edith was born in Ohio and Holmes in > England............. > Holmes Simkins can be found on the 1850 census, in Louisville, Kentucky, with a > wife Edith, "son Robert", aged 10 and a daughter Sarah aged 2. The Robert is > listed as if his surname was Simkins. The 1840 census shows Holmes Simkins in > Louisville as well with only men in his household. > By 1854 I find Robert J. James in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, by way of a > Guardian Bond that was filed with the court naming guardians for the now 14 year > old boy. The Guardians are a Bowman and a Thompson, (both English) but he > continues to live with the Simkins. It appears that he was orphaned, but the > Circuit Clerk cannot find any paperwork leading up to > the Guardian Bond. > 1860 census, Albion Illinois, shows a household that looks like Edith and > household. There is an Ann Simkins as head of household, a Robert with ditto mark > indicating the same surname, aged 20 and a Sarah of the correct age. Holmes no > longer appears any place. > 1870 - Albion-census shows Robert James ( listed as James) living with Edith > Simkins and her daughter Sarah. > In 1880-Albion- Sarah/Sallie is listed as living with Robert James and his now > wife and children and is listed as 'sister' to the head of the household, Robert. > > Any suggestions, comments or feedback would be appreciated in helping to figure > out his story. Let me know, and sorry this was so long........ > Take care, > margaret > > > KPhill2906@aol.com wrote: > > > Hi Margaret: > > > > I'm sure you've found them on the 1900 census. This indicates Robert John > > James was b. Sept. 1840 in Kentucky. His father was born in England and his > > mother in Ohio. They were married about 1873. > > > > I have the 1850 Kentucky census on CD. There are A LOT of James families. I > > would be happy to search for your Robert with his parents for a small fee. > > It would probably take about a week of "after work" searching. Let me know > > if you are interested. > > Karen > > >

Hi Donna, His marriage records burned in a fire in Wayne County, Illinois.:-( The marriage info I got was from a newspaper and it only listed her parents, not his. His death certificate had his son as the informant and listed the Father's name as Robert John James (Sr) born in Ohio and Mother as Unknown born in England. The fact that Robert himself on any census he was asked had his Mother as the one from Ohio and his Father as the one from England, makes the info provided by his son on his death certificate as not totally reliable. I am guessing that as the Simkins family he is found living with from the age of 10 onwards has the father from England and the Mother from Ohio, perhaps Mr Simkins immigrated from England with Robert's Mother and Mrs. Simkins was a friend or relative of his Mother. Another guess is that as a Guardian bond was created for him in the court at age 14, his parents had died. Thanks for listening, margaret Donna Jaster wrote: > Margaret, > > I would think the answer to the mystery might be in KY where he left from > living with his father. Perhaps his work wouldn't allow having a child > living at home and he went with relatives to IL. > > Did he list parents at marriage or death record? > > Donna Jaster > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Margaret Fox-Jackson" <mfox7@optonline.net> > To: <ILCHAMPA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: 01 January, 2002 4:08 PM > Subject: [ILCHAMPA-L] Robert James - help!! > > > Hi Karen and all, > > I do have them on the 1900 census in , the family was still living in > Edwards > > County, which I guess is what you meant? They then moved to Wabash County > and > > then it seems spread out from there, Ross having gone to Champaign County. > > As far as trying to locate Robert's father on the 1850 Kentucky census I > need to > > show you a time line on my Great Grandfather and then please let me know > what you > > think, or anybody else jump in any time with advice or suggestions- LOL!!! > > Robert J. James born on September 23, 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky, > parents > > unknown, but he always lists his father as being from England and Mother > from > > Ohio on any census I have located him on. I find him with a family named > Simkins > > on some censuses with someone he refers to as his sister Sarah/Sally > Simkins. (On > > marriage info for Sarah/Sallie I find that her Mom Edith was Edith Ann > Wilson and > > that her Father is named Holmes Simkins) Edith was born in Ohio and Holmes > in > > England............. > > Holmes Simkins can be found on the 1850 census, in Louisville, Kentucky, > with a > > wife Edith, "son Robert", aged 10 and a daughter Sarah aged 2. The Robert > is > > listed as if his surname was Simkins. The 1840 census shows Holmes Simkins > in > > Louisville as well with only men in his household. > > By 1854 I find Robert J. James in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, by way > of a > > Guardian Bond that was filed with the court naming guardians for the now > 14 year > > old boy. The Guardians are a Bowman and a Thompson, (both English) but he > > continues to live with the Simkins. It appears that he was orphaned, but > the > > Circuit Clerk cannot find any paperwork leading up to > > the Guardian Bond. > > 1860 census, Albion Illinois, shows a household that looks like Edith and > > household. There is an Ann Simkins as head of household, a Robert with > ditto mark > > indicating the same surname, aged 20 and a Sarah of the correct age. > Holmes no > > longer appears any place. > > 1870 - Albion-census shows Robert James ( listed as James) living with > Edith > > Simkins and her daughter Sarah. > > In 1880-Albion- Sarah/Sallie is listed as living with Robert James and his > now > > wife and children and is listed as 'sister' to the head of the household, > Robert. > > > > Any suggestions, comments or feedback would be appreciated in helping to > figure > > out his story. Let me know, and sorry this was so long........ > > Take care, > > margaret > > > > > > KPhill2906@aol.com wrote: > > > > > Hi Margaret: > > > > > > I'm sure you've found them on the 1900 census. This indicates Robert > John > > > James was b. Sept. 1840 in Kentucky. His father was born in England and > his > > > mother in Ohio. They were married about 1873. > > > > > > I have the 1850 Kentucky census on CD. There are A LOT of James > families. I > > > would be happy to search for your Robert with his parents for a small > fee. > > > It would probably take about a week of "after work" searching. Let me > know > > > if you are interested. > > > Karen > > > > > >