John Russell and his descendents

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James² Russell (John¹) was born about 1783 in Washington County, Virginia. He is the son of John Russell and Barsheba (_____) Russell.

Early Years

James Russell was born about 1783 in Washington County, Virginia. Probate records for his father, John, include a list of John's children in birth order. The estimates of birth years for James and his siblings were based on the order of birth, a few census records, and property and land tax records showing the years in which John's older sons appear on the tax lists.¹ His parents were:

• John Russell, b about 1756; d 1821 in Missouri.
• Barsheba.

James is John's oldest child. James' parentage is supported by the evidence. A son, James, is listed in John's probate record.² In addition, James appears on the Washington County, Virginia, Personal Property tax lists at the same time and place as his father, John. He appears in the lists at an age at which it is reasonable for him to be listed separately, with his own horse.³

Marriage and Children

No marriage has been definitely identified for James.

In Virginia

James was born and raised in Washington County, Virginia, on the north fork of the Holston River.⁴ He is first seen in the 1800 Personal Property Tax List for Washington County.⁵ He Is listed on the same page as John Russell and is shown with one horse. James could be 16 or 17 in 1800, a little young to be listed separately, but it is possible if he owns a horse.

James does not appear on the 1801 or 1802 property tax list, but appears again in 1803. However, the 1803 list shows a James Russell in Rich Valley, not in the same area as his father. The tax list was dated 2 weeks later for James than John, suggesting that James was not in the same area as John, although not too far distant. This James might be a different James Russell, since he is in a different location, or he might be the same James Russell who had moved to a different location. This James is listed with one horse.

James Russell is listed in 1804 in the same location as John Russell. This James is almost certainly John's son. He is listed with 3 horses. James is listed in 1805 with 4 horses, in 1806 with 2 horses, and in 1807 with 1 horse.⁶

James does not appear in the property or land tax list for Washington or Scott County after 1807. It can be pretty safely assumed that he moved away. At this time, he has not been definitively located after 1807. James Russell is a very common name and there are many in Virginia and elsewhere. No definitive evidence has been located to positively identify any James Russell as the James Russell of this discussion.

James Russell did not move to St. Charles County, Missouri in 1821 when his father and several siblings moved there. James is not found on the tax lists and census records where his father and siblings are found. However, where he did move is unknown.

Death

When John Russell died in 1821, James brother, Patterson, was the executor.⁷ The following abstract of a sworn affadavit by the executor, Patterson Y Russell, shows James in the list of heirs:

Russel, John – No. 7 – Adm. Aug 20, 1821. Paterson Y. Russell Admr. Heirs – James Russell, John Russell, Henry Russell, Joseph Russell, Patterson Y. Russell, Sally Allen wife of Wm Allen, Elizabeth Allen wife of John Allen, Barsheba Foley wife of Abraham Foley, Barsheba Russell wid. of John Russell Sr. dec.

However, in 1826, the list of heirs who received a distribution from the estate did not include James. One explanation for this is that James was alive in 1821 when his father died, but died before the final distribution in 1826. However, another possible explanation is that they did not know whether James was alive in 1821 and discovered he was dead during probate or were unable to locate him during probate.