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Note: >>There is no oral tradition in James Stanley's family concerning James' father. Proof of parentage is in estate filings for his grandfather, Charles Jordan.
James Stanley was born in Georgia in 1785. His mother was Penninah Jordan, daughter of Captain Charles Jordan. The earliest verified record of James Stanley is the Jackson County tax digest of 1810. His brother, Jordan Stanley, is recorded in the Jackson County tax digests of 1805 and 1810.
Source: Georgia Military Record Book 1779-1839. Copied, Indexed and Bound with authority of John B. Wilson, Secretary of State, Under direction of Mrs. J. E. Hays, State Historian. 1941. Original book in Department of Archives and History in Atlanta, Georgia. Page 182.
"Muster Roll of a company of militia under the command of Capt. Nehemiah Garrison detached by order of Brig. General Frederick Beale if the 21st of November 1813 from the 25 Regiment of Georgia Militia (in absence of Col. Walton Harris) commanded by Major Tandy Key for the purpose of building a blockade near he Hog Mountain in Jackson County."
Listed the following men, among others:
Nehemiah Garrison, Captain
Isaac Burson, Sergeant
Jonathan Betts, Private
John Stanley, Private
In his later writings, R. D. Winn named James Stanley as helping to garrison Fort Daniel at Hog Mountain. The transcription of the muster roll may be in error.
A land deed transaction of 1816 shows him as seller of seventy-five acres on Cedar Creek (now Barrow County) to Reverend Hosea Camp. James Stanley sold 75 acres on Cedar Creek (now Barrow County) to Hosea Camp. The deed was dated May 2, 1816, recorded in 1839 Jackson County Deed Book L, p. 108.
A search of records at the Georgia Archive for Lincoln and Jackson counties did not produce estate, will or land deed records for James Stanley during 1800-1805.
The 60 acres which James Stanley purchased on (present) Stanley Road in Dacula, GA was awarded in the 1820 Gwinnett Co Lottery to Thomas Kilgore of Clarke County. It was Gwinnett Fifth District, Lot 270.
1821 Georgia Land Lottery. James Stanley drew lots in both Houston and Monroe counties.
1856: James Stanley purchased 40 acres from John Conine. The property was adjacent to his existing home place. It was in Lot 270. Like James Stanley, John Conine moved to that location after 1820.
The 100 acres which James Stanley willed to his sons James and John in 1875 remained in the family until 1950. By that time his grandsons, Robert and Early, had added many times that amount of land adjacent to the original home place. Descendants of James Stanley remain in Dacula, GA. in 1998.
Tradition and living memory attest to the location of his home place near Dacula, Georgia. Since no land deed exists showing that he purchased that property, it is assumed that he relocated there after 1820. During the 1820 Gwinnett land lottery Lot 270 was granted to Thomas Kilgore of Clarke County. Land Lot 269 was granted to Thomas Terry of Elbert County. Since that location was not already claimed by homestead, and was given in the lottery, James Stanley must have purchased it.
Situated south of the present Georgia Road # 29 on Stanley Road, just west of Dacula. There is a right-of-way for electrical power lines which transects Stanley Road. On the south side of Stanley Road, about twenty yards down the west side of the right-of-way lies a mound of rock, or field stones. Close examination of the stones reveals a mud mortar. These were the stones of the fireplace in the cabin.
This location was verified by personal inspection by the writer and through conversations with people now living in the area. The property on which he farmed and raised his large family originally consisted of sixty acres in Land Lot 270.
In 1856 he purchased forty acres from John Conine. This property was adjacent to his own, and extended east of the cabin to Turkey Creek. A land deed filed at Gwinnett County shows that James bought the forty acres for a cost of one hundred fifty dollars on April 26, 1856. It was on this property that his son, James Young Stanley, erected his home. James Stanley owned one hundred acres between Hopkins Branch and Turkey Creek, and north of the property called The Hogan Place.
On the south side of this property, near the present gas pipeline pumping station, is a small cemetery. Located there are five graves marked with field stones. This private burial place is probably where Penninah Jordan was buried. Since the census records children in James Stanley's house which are not accounted for in the oral history, some of the graves may also represent childhood deaths in the family.
James Stanley was married to Elizabeth Conine. According to Census records, James was father to at least twelve children. Oral tradition states that he and Elizabeth had only four. The 1820 Census information shows four children born between 1810 and 1820. The identities of those children is not known.
James Stanley died in 1875, and was buried at Fairview Presbyterian Church cemetery in Lawrenceville. Elizabeth died in 1876, and was listed on the membership roster of that year. The following was copied from the Gwinnett Herald, a weekly newspaper printed in Lawrenceville.
"March 31, 1875
Death of James Stanley
The number of old citizens who have died within the last few months has been a subject of remark. And it now becomes our duty to chronicalize the death of another. Mr. James Stanley died last Friday and was buried at Fairview. He was in his ninetieth year and had been a citizen of the county for nearly a half century.
He has always borne a character for uprighteousness and integrity, which is a bright legacy to his children.
He lived beyond the time allotted to man and raised a large family, some of whom preceded him to the grave. At last, however, full of years and the pleasures of life, he falls before the cycle of time and is gathered to his fathers." The property in Dacula, Georgia, on which James Stanley first settled and to which was added the Conine property, served as the family home place for over one hundred thirty years. The original property, off Stanley Road, remained in the family until 1951 when a grand-daughter of James, Betty Stanley Allen, died and the property was sold. Today the Stanley family is still represented in Dacula and Lawrenceville and across the country.
The earliest record which establishes the family of James Stanley is a Power of Attorney filed at the Greene County Probate Office. It states:
James Stanley - Power of Attorney State of Alabama
Bibb County
Know all men by these presents that we Jordan Stanley, Samuel Stanley and Stephen Stanley all of the county and state aforesaid, hereby constitute and appoint James Stanley of the County of Gwinnett and State of Georgia our true and lawful attorney and in our names to receive and collect our parts or portion of the estate of our grandfather Captain Charles Jordan, deceased, now in the hand and possession of the heirs of Dempsey Jordan, deceased, formerly or Warren County, Georgia, and we do hereby authorize and empower our said attorney to sue if necessary for the same and to use all lawful means in his power to collect our distributive shares of said estate which we claim in name of our mother, Penainy as the daughter and legal representative of the said Charles Jordan, deceased, and whatever our said attorney shall do or cause to be done touching or concerning our interest in said estate we will ratify and allow as if done by us in our own proper persons.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 17th day of February 1836.
Jordan Stanley
Samuel Stanley (his mark)
Stephen Stanley
This Power of Attorney was granted to James Stanley toward securing a portion of remuneration paid by the State to Dempsey Jordan and his heirs. That payment was made because of losses sustained by Charles Jordan while in command of Fort Rogers in 1779. At the instigation of the British, some three hundred Creek Indians attacked the fort and destroyed the Jordan home, several outhouses, and carried off their livestock. Charles Jordan did execute a Will, which was filed at Wilkes County. However, it was destroyed by fire and not available for probate at his death in 1780.
The next document found concerning James Stanley was a land deed from 1816, wherein he sold seventy-five acres on Cedar Creek (now Barrow County) to Reverend Hosea Camp. It reads:
Georgia, Jackson County
This indenture made this second day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and sixteen, between James Stanley of the State and County above written of the one part, and Hosea Camp of the same State and County of the other part, witnesseth that the said Stanley hath for and in consideration of one-hundred dollars to him in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, bargained and sold, and by all these presents doth grant, bargain, sell and convey a certain tract or parcel of land situated on the Northwest side of Cedar Creek being-part of a survey originally granted to Baker, containing seventy-five acres more or less, beginning at a Sassafras corner on Cedar Creek, running North 45, West 22.80 links to a Black Jack Corner -thence South 49, West 11.19 links to a post oak corner at the head of a branch Thence down the various courses of said branch to Cedar Creek to a white corner -Thence down the current of said Creek to the beginning. To have and to hold the said premises and every part thereof together with all the rights and appurtenances thereunto belonging to him, the said Camp, his heirs and assigns, to his and their only proper use, benefit and behoof forever --and the said Stanley the premises and every part thereof shall warrant and forever defend against himself, his heirs or assigns or any other person or persons lawfully claiming the same or any part thereof, Whereunto the said James Stanley hath set his hand and affixed his seal the date above written.
In presence of Rachel Kelly (her mark)
Robert Kelly James Stanley (his mark) Acknowledged before me, Jesse Murphy, JP
The deed was recorded on November 6, 1839, by William Cowan, clerk. Inscribed on the deed is a drawing of the parcel of land. It details the location in a deep bend on the North of Cedar Creek. No other geographical description is made. Cedar Creek flows from West to East on the northwest side of Winder, Georgia.
Two marriage records found at Jefferson, Jackson County, may indicate two possible sisters of James Stanley:
In 1809 Salley Stanley married Thomas Jones
In 1816 Elizabeth Stanley married John Minchett
EARLY RECORDS
1820 Georgia census for Gwinnett County
James Stanley age 26-45 born in GA, 1785
Elizabeth 16-26 born in GA, 1800
2 males, 2 females under 10 born 1810-1820
1 female over 45
The four children are not stated in the oral history. Three are not yet identified. The older woman is believed to have been Penninah Jordan Stanley.
1830 Georgia census for Jackson County
James Stanley age 40-45
Elizabeth 30-40
2 males, 2 females under 5 born 1825-1830
3 males 5-10 1820-1825
1 female 10-15 1815-1820
1 male, 1 female 15-20 1810-1815
The 1830 census recorded ten children in the house. Their ages are contiguous with those listed in 1820. The five children known by oral tradition were born between 1823 and 1832.
1840 Georgia census for Gwinnett County
James Stanley age 50-60
Elizabeth 40-50
1 male, 2 females under 5 born 1835-1840
2 males, 1 female 10-15 1825-1830
1 male 15-20 1815-1820
1 male, 1 female 20-30 1810-1820
The children, one male and two females, listed under five years old are named in the 1850 census. They were Henry, Eliza and Syrena. Four children listed in the 1830 census are absent here, probably due to young deaths or early marriages.
The 1850 Georgia census for Gwinnett County
James Stanley age 65
Elizabeth 50
Hosea 21 should be 18
Eliza 18 born 1832
Sarena 16 1834
Henry 13 1837
The appearance of Eliza, Syrena and Henry are not stated in the oral tradition. Their marriage records, filed in Gwinnett County are listed:
Elizabeth Stanley married Thomas M. Hammett in 1851. There was no census record in Gwinnett or Walton counties for them during 1860 and 1870.
Syrena Stanley married W. F. Lamkin in 1859. The 1860 Gwinnett census listing for them indicates Franklin Lamkin, at age 29, and his wife, Syrena at age 25. Their property was valued at $685. Both people indicated they were born in Georgia.
Syrena Lamkin later married William Stanley of Floyd County. The 1900 Floyd County census listed a William Standley born in 1845 as a widower. He stated he was born in South Carolina as were his patents.
Henry S. Stanley married Rily T. Harris in 1866.
The 1860 Georgia census for Gwinnett County
James Stanley age 75
Elizabeth 60
Hosea 28
Hosea Stanley remained at home all his life, a laborer on his father's farm. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate service. He died at home later that year due to illness. He died at the age of thirty-four.
In both the 1850 and 1860 Census records, James Stanley stated his state of birth as Georgia. He was never the owner of slaves. He was mentioned in the writings of Judge R. D. Winn in 1873 as "There is probably but one man now living who assisted to garrison that post (Fort Daniel, 1812) and that man is our venerable and respected fellow citizen James Stanley, Now nearly ninety years of age."
Commissioners with authority over roads and waterways were appointed in Gwinnett County by 1821.
July term, 1835: Ordered that Hiram Williams, Alfred Williams and James Bracewell be commissioners to let out to the lowest bidder the covering and banistering of William's bridge on the road to Decatur, and that Elias Green, William Gordon and James Stanley be commissioners to let out to the lowest bidder the covering and repairing of the bridge on the Alcova River at Brandon's Mill.
The Brandon family moved from the Mulberry River area in Jackson County to a farm about one and one-half miles south of Suwanee. It is believed that Brandon's Mill was at the location where the Alcova River now intersects Highway 29 west of Dacula. This location has been in the Stanley family for many years and was the site of a grist mill until its destruction by Phillip (Burl) Stanley in 1959.
Road Commissioners, June term, 1836, 474 District: Newton Bramblett, James Stanley, Robert Gower
Inferior Court Jurors: 1841, December: Mason Davis, W. F. Mitchell, Thomas
Glenn, Stephen Couch, William Jenkins, Luther Knight,
John Campbell, Ellis Norton, James Stanley, Spencer
Moore, David Driskell, Newton Bramblett
James Stanley is also listed as sitting on a Grand Jury in 1841.
1843, June: George Verner, Abel Waldrup, James Alexander, John Foster, Thomas Allison Jr., John Collins, James Roberts, John Bailey, Burrell Webb, James Stanley, Mark Driskell, William Gordon
1845, June: John Harbin, William Robinson, Joel Davis Fielding Hamilton, Abel Waldrup, James Watson, Asa Wade Jr., James Stanley, George Kirk, Littleberry Jackson, William Hill, Edward Williams
The Creek and Indian War
On Tuesday, May 25, 1836 Colonel James Austin, who was at the head of the Regiment in Gwinnett County, assembled the entire county militia at the courthouse for the purpose of organizing for the Creek War then raging in the vicinity of Columbus. Just as they were assembled a messenger arrived from the governor with orders directing Colonel Austin to raise men for immediate service by voluntary enlistment or by draft. A call was made for volunteers to form a company for the protection of the citizens of the county and adjoining counties. About ninety men formed a line. Notice was given that on Friday, the 27th, the company would be organized at the courthouse when the following citizens met and elected:
Officers: Benjamin Gholston, Captain
George Oran, First Lieutenant W. Isham Williams, Second Lieutenant Ezekiel Mathews, Ensign The Company was called the Gwinnett Greys. Among the privates were: Elisha Winn, James Peden, J. Barnett, D. Bradford,Jesse Rambo, John Sammon and James Stanley
Civil War
Troop I was composed of those who were over and under the conscription age, or who were otherwise exempt from service. The troop was mustered in at Bethany., Georgia. This company was made up from the counties of Jackson, Gwinnett., Hall and Fulton. Jackson County furnished five Sergeants, four Corporals and forty Privates. There were three Privates from Hall, and one from Fulton County.
Among those Privates from Gwinnett County is a J. G. Stanley. Due to the requirements of this troop, this may be either James Stanley, Sr., who was then seventy-nine years old, or his son James Young Stanley, who was then forty-one years old with nine young children at home.
At the time of his death, James Young Stanley was named J. G. Stanley by the Lawrenceville newspaper.
Estate of James Stanley The probation of the estate of James Stanley, Sr. offered information that was not known by the Oral History. Firstly, his Will named a son, John C. Stanley, whose identity is not known even among the oldest living descendants of James Young Stanley.
John Stanley filed a caveat in October 1877 requesting letters of administration over his father's estate. His request was denied because of a caveat filed by James Y. Stanley, which read:
Gwinnett Court of Ordinary
October 7, 1877
And now comes James Y. Stanley, one of the heirs at law, and a legatee under said Will of said James Stanley, deceased, and caveat the granting of letters of administration by this court to said John C. Stanley, with the Will annexed, the estate of said James Stanley, deceased.
First: Because there is no necessity for an administrator on said estate, there being no property of James Stanley on which to administer, and no outstanding heirs.
Second: Because by his will said James Stanley disposed of his entire estate, and the personality, which was bequeathed to his widow absolutely, was taken possession of by her and appropriated to her use as intended by the testator, and there is no personality belonging to said estate.
Third: Because by said Will, said testator devised his land to caveator and said John C. Stanley (after termination of life estate of his widow) and caveator having purchased said John C. Stanley's interest therein, has heirs in possession thereof since the death of said widow, and holds the same under said Will and purchase.
Fourth: Because said applicant is not entitled either as an heir at law, or legatee to letters of administration, he having no interest whatever in the estate.
Fifth: Because said Will requires no administration to execute it, it having been probated at the instance of caveation only as evidence of his title to said land.
Wherefore, and for other good causes of caveaty, caveator prays judgment that said applicant is disqualified.
A. L. Hutchins signed the document as Caveator's Attorney. Below is copied the Last Will and Testament of James Stanley, Sr.
Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, Blessed by Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say
First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth one hundred acres of land more or less being and lying in the County of Gwinnett being part of that lot in Gwinnett to have and to hold her lifetime with all my goods and chattels to make use of for her benefit and support after which the land is to be divided between my (two) sons for their benefit.
Item further, I give to my son, John C. Stanley, his heirs and assigns all the sum of fifty acres of the land afore stated to have and to hold to him the said, J. C., his heirs and assigns forever.
And I hereby give to my son James Y. Stanley the remaining fifty acres of land afore stated of which the one hundred acres is to be equally divided between them at the time of death of my wife, Elizabeth.
And lastly as to the residue and remainder of my personal estate, goods and chattels of what kind I give and bequeath the same to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, whom I hereby appoint sole executor of my Last Will and Testament, hereby making all former wills by me void in witness whereof and hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of November, in the year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and sixty-nine.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named James Stanley to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator
Thomas H. Loveless A. F. Johnson Russell Whaley James Stanley Attached is a statement signed by Russell Whaley in the presence of Cyrus Allen, Ordinary, dated August 29, 1877. The statement declares that the witnesses did in fact witness the above will in the presence of each other and the testator, and that James Stanley executed the Will freely and voluntarily.
Of particular interest to this research are the children listed as living in the James Stanley house between 1820 and 1850. Only those listed by name in the 1850 census have been identified, but there are still many compelling questions. Those children were Henry, Syrena and Eliza Stanley.
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