Hi Dottie & All, The information for Howell JAMES in the Smith book is basically correct. However, the information for David JAMES is incorrect. I've been researching that particular family since 1979. There were TWO men named David JAMES. Once was a Quaker who came from Radnorshire, Wales in 1682 with wife Margaret and daughter Mary. He died before 1702 and left his daughter Mary "his sole child and heir" everything. She sold all his land, and then got married in a Quaker ceremony. Another David JAMES also came from somewhere in Wales sometime before 1718. He was a Baptist. He bought land near where the Quaker David had made his original purchase back in 1682. His gravestone at the Great Valley Baptist Church states that he was age 70 at the time of his death in 1739; making him born about 1669. So he was only 13 at the time of the Quaker David's arrival in PA. It was the Baptist David who had a son named Evan, NOT the Quaker David!! The Baptist David had NO daughter named Mary, but the names of the other children are correct--David left a will naming all these children. His wife Jane was probably not the mother of any of his children, but we don't know who David was married to prior to Jane. Evan James died in 1794, so he could not be the born in 1682, when the Quaker David came over. Evan was probably born on whatever ship the Baptist David came over on, but I have never found any records to indicate when Baptist David came over, and from what area of Wales, or on what ship. Unfortunately the two Davids have been combined together into one David in several old books, and the errors have persisted in many genealogies (such as on many Rootsweb Worldconnect trees) to this day. Susan --- Original Message --- From: Dott114029@aol.com To: PA-OLD-CHESTER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Howell JAMES & also DNA project and David James >Here is some information on Howell James. > >Quote from Biographical Notices from the book, The History of Delaware >County, by George Smith, M.D. published byHenry Ashmead. > >"James Howell was from Pontmoel, in Monmouthshire, England. His certificate >is dated, 5th mo. (July) 1684. The meeting from which it emanated, was held >in a court in front of the meeting-house, that had been locked up for more than >a year. He settled in Radnor, where his wife Gwenlin died in 1686, and from >the record, would appear to be the first corpse buried in the graveyard at >Radnor Meeting. In 1690, he contracted a second marriage with Maudlin Kinsey, a >widow, and in 1698 made a visit to his native country. He took a very active >part in the meeting affairs of the Society of Friends in which he was held in >much esteem." page 474 > >"David James with his wife Margaret, arrived in Pennsylvania in August, 1682. > They were Friends, but having neglected to bring the usual certificate with >them, one was forwarded the next year, which names a daughter Mary, and >informs us that they came from the parish of Llangeley or Llandegley and Glascum, in >Radnorshire, Wales, and that "they owned the truth several years." This >certificate is signed by John Jarman, David Meredith and other early settlers of >Radnor, and was probably brought over with them. Tradition says, a son named >Evan was born in the passage over. A David James, supposed to be the same >person, purchased a large tract on the eastern border of the township of Radnor, >upon which he resided and upon which his descendants continued to reside till >within a recent period. This David James, died in 178 or 1739, leaving a wife >named Jane, who was a second or possibly a third wife. Beside Mary and Evan, >his children, so far as is known were Sarah, Rebecca, Isaac, and Thomas. >Evan, to whom the mansion property was devised, married Margaret Jones of >Tredyffrin. Dr. Thomas P. James and John F. James, Esq., of Philadelphia, are >descendants from Evan." page 474 and 475 > >This might help you in your dna project too. Dottie > >______________________________