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3.18 James W. DARWIN, Sr.
Male Abt 1787 - 1834


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  • Title  3.18 
    Suffix  Sr. 
    Birth  Abt 1787  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender  Male 
    Census  1790  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    James W. Darwin (age 3) presumed in household of father, James Darwin 
    Census  1800  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    James W. Darwin (age 13) presumed in household of father, James Darwin 
    Court & Legal  19 Jan 1808  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    James W. Darwin (age 20) charged with Assault and Battery by John Seehorn; signs bond for appearance at March Court 
    Court & Legal  28 Mar 1808  [4] 
    James W. Darwin (age 20) named in Bill of Indictment in suit by John Seehorn 
    Court & Legal  25 Oct 1809  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    James W. Darwin (age 22) loses lawsuit brought by John Seehorn; fined $100 plus costs  
    Land Purchase  02 Aug 1813  Hickman County, TN Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    James W. Darwin (age 26) receives 40 acres in State land grant 
    Court & Legal  Oct 1813  Hickman County, TN Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    James W. Darwin (age 26) sued for debt and 40 acres seized by sheriff  
    Census  1820  St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    James W. Darwin (age 23): Head of Household (multiple unidentified families in listing) 
    Census  1830  St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    "James Darwin" (age 33) 
    Died  1834  San Felipe, Austin County, TX Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    • Killed by a mishap with a ceremonial cannon; age 47
    Person ID  I1603  DARUSA | Descendants of William Darwin
    Last Modified  09 May 2010 

    Father  James DARWIN,   b. 19 Jun 1744, Louisa County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1825, York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother  Mary COWAN,   b. 14 Sep 1746,   d. Abt 1818, York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  11 Mar 1766 
    Family ID  F0102  Group Sheet

    Family 1  Nancy SHORES,   b. Abt 1790,   d. 1827-1829 
    Married  Abt 1810  York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • place of marriage conjectural
    Children 
    >1. Narcissa DARWIN,   b. 1812, York County, SC Find all individuals with events at this location
    >2. John T. DARWIN,   b. 1814, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Before 1880, TX Find all individuals with events at this location
    >3. Reuben DARWIN,   b. 1818, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >4. Mary Ellen DARWIN,   b. 1823, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location
     5. James W. DARWIN, Jr.,   b. 1825, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1870
     6. Charlotte DARWIN,   b. 1826, LA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >7. Louisa DARWIN,   b. 1827, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified  08 May 2009 
    Family ID  F0763  Group Sheet

    Family 2  Mary M. RAPER,   b. 11 Nov 1809,   d. 1844 
    Married  12 Jan 1830  St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    >1. Overton H. DARWIN,   b. 12 Oct 1830, St. Landry Parish, LA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 06 Sep 1906, McLennan County, TX Find all individuals with events at this location
    >2. George W. DARWIN,   b. 1833, Grimes County, TX Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1881, Grimes County, TX Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified  04 May 2009 
    Family ID  F0765  Group Sheet

  • Event Map
    		Event
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Abt 1787 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - James W. Darwin (age 3) presumed in household of father, James Darwin - 1790 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - James W. Darwin (age 13) presumed in household of father, James Darwin - 1800 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCourt & Legal - James W. Darwin (age 20) charged with Assault and Battery by John Seehorn; signs bond for appearance at March Court - 19 Jan 1808 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCourt & Legal - James W. Darwin (age 22) loses lawsuit brought by John Seehorn; fined $100 plus costs - 25 Oct 1809 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Abt 1810 - York County, SC Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLand Purchase - James W. Darwin (age 26) receives 40 acres in State land grant - 02 Aug 1813 - Hickman County, TN Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCourt & Legal - James W. Darwin (age 26) sued for debt and 40 acres seized by sheriff - Oct 1813 - Hickman County, TN Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - James W. Darwin (age 23): Head of Household (multiple unidentified families in listing) - 1820 - St. Landry Parish, LA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - "James Darwin" (age 33) - 1830 - St. Landry Parish, LA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Jan 1830 - St. Landry Parish, LA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 1834 - San Felipe, Austin County, TX Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Maps 
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 

    • Commentary: DWD 3.18

      I was working in Ottobrunn, West Germany, when I first drafted the chart of James W. Darwin in 1986. I'd always wanted to chart all the branches of the Virginia Darwins but had had insufficient information to do this while in Seal Beach. I had maintained correspondence with both Frances Corcoran, who I mentioned previously had sorted out the origins of James W. Darwin and the identity of his two wives in Louisiana, as well as Ann Darwin, who had managed to dig up a lot of Texas marriage records along with the biographical profile on Overton Darwin which gave a brief on the life of James Darwin. However, the chart had a big blank in the middle which could only be built up from the Louisiana and Texas census and marriage records because I only received one personal input to this chart from Roy W. Darwin of Texas City. Roy was keen to know about his Darwin heritage because he could only trace his family back to his grandfather, Banks Darwin, and he was equally keen to know if he was related to Danny Darwin, the pitcher of the Texas Rangers who was a star during the nineteen eighties. Fortunately, I think I gave Roy a satisfactory answer on both counts because Danny Darwin can actually be identified in Bill and Bonnie's family group. Now I realise that there could be inaccuracies on this chart when being so dependent on census records alone to link up the jigsaw puzzle but I did have a fairly clear idea which Texas Darwins belonged to each of the different family groups and I must admit that the appearance of the chart has been much improved after I contacted Elaine Barker and received her information.

      There is a noted reference in York Co., SC, for James W. Darwin concerning a court case when John Seehorn brought a suit against James on 19 Jan. 1808 for assault and battery and wounding with a knife. The case came to trial 24 Oct. 1809 and was found in favour of the plaintiff, John Seehorn, who received damages of $100 plus the cost of suit, an additional $100.62. It would appear that James got off quite lightly since the plaintiff had been seeking $5000 in damages and must have been equally to blame for the provocation but just happened to be the injured party.

      I have deduced that James married his first wife, Nancy Shores, in S. Carolina because the family was still living there in 1812 when their eldest daughter Narcissa was born. Shortly thereafter, James and Nancy decided to migrate to Tennessee, where he received a state grant dated 2 Aug. 1813 for 40 acres in Hickman County, lying on the east side of the Pine River in the first district on a double branch of the same river.

      James was living in the vicinity of his sister Jane, who was married to Thomas Petty, but was obviously dissatisfied with his new home and decided to move south to St. Landry Parish, Louisiana where his first son, John Darwin, was born in 1814. The records give no indication what attracted James away from Tennessee to this area in the vicinity of Bayou Teche. Louisiana had only reached statehood in 1812 and possibly generous land grants were still being offered to encourage more American farmers from the Carolinas and Tennessee to migrate there and consolidate the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which had transferred political ownership of these vast territories to the United States. The bayou country around Opelousas, alternately flat and rolling and in all places verdant, has rich soil and pastureland which encouraged a diverse choice of crops such as corn, rice, and sweet potatoes, along with raising cattle. The later census records list James Darwin's sons as "Planters", so they like their father must have been involved in all aspects of farming associated with the region.

      The 1820 Louisiana census for the household of James Darwin may possibly show a head count for two families. There are two additional male adults in the age category 26-44 with James. They could be hired farm hands or possibly relatives of Nancy Darwin that traveled south with James from Tennessee. Towards the end of the 1820-30 decade, Nancy died and by 1830, the Louisiana census shows James, with his second wife Mary together with 3 sons and 4 daughters.

      All the names of the children are identified from later census records except one daughter. I've tentatively named her as Charlotte, which is taken from the 1850 Louisiana census where the James' youngest son George Darwin, aged 16, is shown sharing the home of Solomon and Charlotte Johnson, next door to the family of his older brother Reuben Darwin. I only suspect that Charlotte, shown aged 24, is a sister and this obviously requires more investigation.

      In the history of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas, a short profile on James' son, Overton Darwin, furnishes details of the death of James W. Darwin:

      Mr. & Mrs. Darwin were married in Louisiana in 1828 [should be 1830], and three years later moved to Texas, settling in what is now Grimes county. In 1834, while in attendance at New St. Phillip, Austin County, at the celebration of the arrival of the first steamer that far up the Brazos, the father was accidentally killed by the premature firing of a cannon. He was in the act of loading the piece, when the party, whose duty it was to hold his thumb over the touch-hole, became careless, and an explosion occurred, which resulted fatally to Mr. Darwin.


      The Overton Darwin profile also notes that Mary (Raper) Darwin died in 1844.

    • References:

      Ann Darwin
      Frances Corcoran
      OD

    • Working Notes

      Under Investigation: We have found a "James Darwin" in a transcribed roster of Raulston's (sometimes spelled Roulston) company of the 3rd Regiment, West Tennessee Militia (1813-1815), a unit which served under General Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, January 1815; we have not yet had opportunity to check the original documents to confirm identification with James W. Darwin -- but it seems very likely. NARA records (not currently available on line) Ref: M602, Roll Box: 53 Roll Exct: 602.

      From Tennessee State Archives (Regimental Histories)

      COLONEL JAMES RAULSTON

      * DESIGNATION: 3rd Regiment West Tennessee Militia Infantry
      * DATES: November 1814 - May 1815
      * MEN MOSTLY FROM: Jackson, Sumner, Wilson, Overton, Smith, and White Counties
      * CAPTAINS: James A. Black, Matthew Cowen, Henry Hamilton, Elijah Haynie, Wiley Huddleston, Matthew Neal, Daniel Newman, Edward Robinson, Charles Wade, Henry West

      BRIEF HISTORY:
      Part of Major General William Carroll's division at the battles for New Orleans, this regiment suffered casualties during the skirmish of 28th December 1814 and had two of the handful of fatalities on the famous 8 January 1815 battle. General Carroll's report of the battle tells that Captains Elijah Haynie and Matthew Neal "had the honor of receiving and repelling the attacks of the British forces." After the war, James Raulston became a prominant member of the state legislature of Alabama.

      Also listed:

      Name: James Derwin
      Company: 16 REG'T (THOMPSON'S) LOUISIANA MILITIA.
      Rank - Induction: PRIVATE
      Rank - Discharge: PRIVATE
      Roll Box: 57
      Roll Exct: 602

  • Sources 
    1. [S37] CEN: 1790 SC York.

    2. [S38] CEN: 1800 SC York.

    3. [S132] LOC: SC-YO: 1808 Seehorn/Darwin Lawsuit (Assault & Battery), York County Court Minute Book (Volume I - 1786-1820).

      "James Darwin Jun. and James Darwin Senior and George Campbell personally came before me Francis Adams one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace in the District aforesaid, and acknowledged themselves to owe to the State of South Carolina; that is to say, the said James Darwin Junior the sum of one thousand dollars, and the said James Darwin Senior and George Campbell each the sum of five hundred dollars, separately, to be made and levied of their goods and chattels, lands and tenements, respectively, to the use of the said State, if the said James Darwin Junior shall make Default on the condition under written.

      The condition of the recognizance is such that if the above bound James Darwin Junior shall appear at the court of general sessions of the peace to be holden at York Court house in and for the District of York on the fourth monday of March next and then and there answer to a charge against him by the State of South Carolina for an escape and also for a charge on suspicion of wounding (hiatus: lost line of text which probably reads "Seehorn, and not depart") without leave of the court then the above recognizance to be void otherwise to remain in full force."

    4. [S132] LOC: SC-YO: 1808 Seehorn/Darwin Lawsuit (Assault & Battery), York County Court Minute Book (Volume I - 1786-1820).

      "James Darwin Junior late of the district and State aforesaid laborer on the Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eight with force and arms at York Court house in the district of York aforesaid with a certain knife which he the said James Darwin in his right hand then and there had and held in and upon one John Seehorn in the peace of God and this State then and there did make an assault and the said John Seehorn with the knife aforesaid did then and there strike stab and wound with intent him the said John Seehorn then and there feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought to kill and murder and other wrongs to him the said John Seehorn then and there did to the great damage of the said John Seehorn against the peace and dignity of the same State aforesaid."

    5. [S132] LOC: SC-YO: 1808 Seehorn/Darwin Lawsuit (Assault & Battery), York County Court Minute Book (Volume I - 1786-1820).

      "John Seehorn
      vs.
      James Darwin Jr.

      Assault and Battery

      The Jury Number (2) two, who were charged with the trial of this case Yesterday all appeared upon being called today, with their Verdict sealed up, and took their seats. And they returned the following Verdict to wit

      We find for the Plaintiff one hundred dollars and Cost of suit"

    6. [S240] LOC: TN-HI: 1813 Darwin Land Grant.

      We have not yet secured full details of the transaction; on 2 August 1813, James W. Darwin secured a State grant of 40 acres on the east side of the Pine River in Hickman County, Tennessee.

      The tract was subsequently seized (October 1813) in a debt action and sold at auction (to James' brother-in-law and neighbour, Thomas Petty, husband of Jane (Darwin) Petty), as noted in the 1817: Phillip - Petty Land Deed.

    7. [S43] LOC: TN-HI: 1817 Phillip/Petty Land Deed, Hickman County TN Deed Book C, p. 622..

      "WITNESSETH: That whereas to-wit at October Term, eighteen hundred and thirteen James Garden obtained a judgement against James Darwin for twelve dollars and costs of suit on exactment on which an order of sale, issued to sell forty acres of land belonging to said Darwin or so much thereof as would satisfy said judgement and said forty acres being amortised as the law directs to be sold at the court house at Vernon on the fifteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fourteen at which time the said forty acres was sold to Thomas Petty, Sr. for ten dollars fifty cents"

    8. [S79] CEN: 1820 LA St. Landry.

    9. [S94] CEN: 1830 LA St Landry.

    10. [S158] PUB: 1893: History of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas, (Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago).

      "...while in attendance at New St. Phillip, Austin county, at the celebration of the arrival of the first steamer that far up the Brazos, the father [James W. Darwin]was accidentally killed by the premature firing of a cannon. He was in the act of loading the piece, when the party, whose duty it was to hold his thumb over the touchhole, became careless, and an explosion occurred, which resulted fatally to Mr. Darwin."


  

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