Nevada County picayune., 1888-04-25
Frank and Jesse James.
A Patriotic Ancestry to be Proud
 of-.At the Battle of Boyne.

EDITOR SUNNY SOUTH: The early settlers of old Williamsburg District, South Carlonia, were generally from Scotch and Irish Presbyterian paren- tage. They inherited, in common with all the descendants of the Irish in the American Colonies, a hearty detestation of the English name.- This feeling made them devoted pa triots and daring soldiers during the Revolution.
 John James. the ancestor of Major James. was born in Antrim county. Ireland. June 12th. 1867. He was a thorough Protestant. and at the age of twentv-three was soldier in the armies of King William. He was in the battle of the Boyne, in l690.-- After the dispersion of King James forces in Ireland. he married. Gin l6- 98) being then near thirty years of age His eldest son, Major John James. was also native of Ireland. and was born in l132. MT. Simms. in his notice of the early settlers of the old Williamsburg District, states l that they were men generally of fear less courage, powerful frame, well stung nerves. and were endowed with a bravery that led them to delight in ] dangers where the immediate ob- jects by no means justified the risk. | In addition to these natural endow- ments for brave soldiery, they were excellent horse back riders, and fa- nous for their markmanship--they were huntsmen who knew the woods almost as well by night as by day.
 Among the settlers of the Will liamsburg District, was a family of the name of James J ohm, 1 William. Gavin. James and Robert. Fearless. strong. and active, they were always ready to fight the enc my; the first in attack, the last in re- l treat. Of these. the eldest-Maj jor
 John .Iamcs-waS chosen the repre- 1 sentative of the men of Williams burg. Under this appointment Maj jor James repaired to Georgetown, the nearest British post, attired as Mir i Simms states, as plain back-wood5- man. James obtained an interview with the British Captain Ardesof, and in prompt and plain terms en- tered at once upon the business for which he came. But when he de handed the meaning of the British protection. and asked upon what terms the submission of the citizens was to be made, he was peremptori- Ilv informed that the sub mission must be uncon- ditional.' To an inquiry whether the inhabitants were to be allowed to remain upon their plantations he was rudcly answered in the negative.
 His Majesty" said Ardesof, of fers you free pardon-of which you are undeserving, for you ought to be hanged but il is only on con dition that you take up arms in his cause"
 Major James not rclishing the tone and insolent language in which he was addressed, very coolly replied that the people whom he came to represent would scarcely submit on such conditions. The brave and re- publican language of the dauntless Major provoked King George $ shoulder-strapped minion. The word represent in particular, smote hardly on his ears. Some thing. too, in the cool, conte emptuous manner of Major James, had con tributed to his vcxation.
 Represent" :" he exclaimed in a fury, you d-m rebel, if you dare speak such language l will have you hung up at yard arm.
 Ardesof was sea captain, and was engaged in distributing the proc lamatons of Lord Cornwalls among the people of Williamsburg District. The ship which he commanded la y in the neighboring river, hence he used the seaman's habitual form of speech when he threatened the ward arm, " instead of the tree Major James gave him no time to make the correc- tion. He was entirely weaponless, ond Ardesof wore a sword but the inequality in the moment of his an ger. was unfelt by the high-spirited citizen Suddenly rising, he seized upon the chair on which he had been sitting, and hoorcd the insolent sub ordinate at a blow.