Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-05-13
TALES or THE REVOLUTION neT0lD
MAJ. JOHN JAMES.

pressed by landlords sought a
on this side Of the Atlantic
and a few years afterwards ap-
peared in arms against the moth
&c country. as assertOrs Of the in
Dependence Of the American Re-
public It has been computed
that in 1913 and the five precetd d.
ing years, the North Of Ireland
drained OF one fourth OF its
trading cash, and Of the ike pro-
portion Of manufacturing people.
The congregation Of Williams
burg suffered much from the in
c~ursiOns Of the British. But it
acted a noble part in the struggle
which secured our liberties, and
more than one name on it, rolls
is distinguished on the pages Of
history. The most conspicuous Of
these is that of John James, who,
when the Revolution commenced
in lI15 was captain Of the VIII
iiamshurg militia under George
Ill. He subsequently held the
Office OF major and served under
Marion and Greene. He was
born April ID, 1872, and was the
eldest son Of William James, who
had served King William in his
wars in Ireland againstsIames IT..
William James was originally
from Wales, which country he
left in consequence of a difficulty
with his sovereign in reference 10
a mill-pond and the FISH it con-
tanned. The property being
wrestsd from him he removed to
Scotland. where he married the
daughter Of John Witherspoon.
He subsequently emigrated to
Ireland and thence To America.
He is said to have inherited, with
the rest Of the family, a barony
of land in Wales, which they did
not return to cain, and which
fell into the hands of other heirs.
William James accompanied his
father-in-law, James Wither-
spoon, 10 America in 1882 CHS
son, John James, being then an
infaut,) and with his family were
many Of their neighbors and John
James, the younger brother OF
William. The partlality of Will
liam james 10 the memory Of VIII
liam OF Orange in which MS as
soeiates sympathized, is supposed
10 have originated the name VIII
liamsburg, first given 20 the town
ship but later borne by the dis
trict or county. Both William
and John became herdsmen, like
the Patriarchs # Old. William
settled on 1.-THE Lake and John
on Broad Swamps. William had
large flocks and herds which he
kept on Bulls Savannah, about
twelve miles from Kingstree, and
his son, John, Afterwards Mai.
James, spent much of his boy
hood herding the cattle of his
father and acquiring that athletic
vigor and bold horsemanship
which prepared him for his future
exploits.
Maj. James married on Jan. IS.
TO Miss Jean Dobine and at
the commencement of the Revo-
had acquired a consider
able portion OF property and of
military reputation, he was 43
years CT age. a period when men
are most full Of energy and enter
When the first settlers To-
Gated all around was wild and
savage; they dweit at first in rude
houses OF earth or s'shanties."
Much of life was spent on horse-
back and In hunting, and when
the people net together the men
would now try the speed Of their
horses IN the race, and now en-
gage with the fairer portion of
society IN the merry dance. Nor
had the day of total abstinence
yet come; nor was it as very dis
graceful TO make merry with ones
friends, and to reach that point
when the worse wine could be set
iorth safely-tle men having well
trunk. 30 We need not be sur
orised to find that the brave SOL
fers and good elder some times
was present and participated in
the scenes.
There was not wanting in Mai.
James a spice of humor. The
belief in ghosts was common.
Maj. James had as little dread of
those imaginary beings as ne had
ot men on the field of battle. On
one occasion he was driven into
the session-house TO escape the
fury of a storm. Using his sad
die for a pillow, he fell asleep.
came on, and a neighbor
entered to enjoy the same friend
y shelter. In moving about he
stumbled over him unawares and
COX to his heels in pale alright.
James armed, uttered a loud and
terrific cry, which gave new speed
% the trembling fugitive. Out
Of this incident a new ghost story
was circulated which filed the
aeighoorhood with alarm and
continued current till the secret
.ranspired, To the modification of
he neIghbors. Maj James pass
ng his fathers grave one night
what appeared to be a white
sheet hanging over the cedar
head board which marked the
Ipot. He supposed it was placed
here by design to inspire terror.
determined to see what il was.
As he drew near he saw bare feet
beneath the sheat and soor