Samuel and Pernina mainly had girls and most of them are named after the Dean family.

Maranda James

Maranda was probably named after Peninah’s sister Miranda. Maranda died young at 36. She was married to Hugh Harkins, a prominent attorney and had 3 children. Her daughters sued their grandmother Peninah because they didn’t think they got treated fairly in the property distribution after Samuel’s death. They won. The documents page has a transcript of the lawsuit and settlement. Her youngest daughter Emily and her husband Robert Weddington settled in Golden, Missouri where her aunt Mahala and many of her children lived.

Hannah James

Hannah has caused me some confusion. In the short story Mountain Kinsman Ride there is no comma between Hannah and Mahala. So originally I thought they were one person, my grandmother Mahala. I have since learned they were two people. Hannah was named after Peninah’s Mother and sister. She married into two old Floyd County families the Indicutts and the Copleys and lived in Lawrence County and Wayne County, West Virginia. Wayne County, West Virginia is where her Grandfather John Dean moved to before his death.

Sarah James

Married Billy McCoy who was the sheriff on the posse when her half brother Abner shot William Prewett. They lived next door to the James homestead and the Priest homestead. She is named for Peninah’s sister Sarah.

Rachel James

Rachel must be a James name because Abner also had a daughter named Rachel. Rachel married into another old Floyd County family when she married William Ratliff. They moved to Fort Scott, Kansas where she died.

Malinda James

Caused some confusion between Maranda and Malinda. Malinda married John Roop from another old Floyd County family. John and Malinda stayed in the Floyd County area. John was also on the fateful posse with Billy McCoy and Abner James.

Tamsey James

I have no idea where the name Tamsey comes from. She married an outsider Ira Russell from New York and they moved to Lawrence County where many of her siblings settled or lived at one point in time.

David James

David James often gets confused with his brother Daniel James. David married Lovina Chapman and also lived in Lawrence County for many years.

Mahala James

Mahala was my 2nd great grandmother. I have a lot of information about her. She married John Priest. Please go to their page for information about them.

Samuel James

Samuel James namesake married Minerva Fitzpatrick and moved to Minnesota in search of new land. His travels eventually led him to Washington where he lived on the Kitsap Peninsula across the sound from Seattle. He died in the Old Soldier’s Home and is buried in Poulsbo, Washington. I wonder if the Priest’s in Morton and LaBam, Washington knew their uncle Samuel was living in Kitsap County. There are several pictures of the Old Soldier’s Home at Retsil and the Cemetery where Samuel is buried on the James Photo page.

Pernina Ann

Peninah’s namesake married John W. (McK) Smith. They lived in the Floyd County area and either John died or left because in 1870 Pernina is alone. In 1880 she is living with her Mother and children in Pike County, Kentucky.