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Note: CENSUS DATA: The 1850 federal census, Tallapoosa Co., AL, Township 24, taken 7 Jan. 1850, shows James A. Gamble, head, age 28, born SC, estate valued at 1,100, and farming. Living with him were: Anna, wife, age 20, born GA and William, son, age 2, born AL.
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CENSUS DATA: The 1860 federal census, Tallapoosa Co., AL, Youngville, Western Division, Beat 9, p. 188, taken 1Sept. 1870 shows Seaborn Thomas, age 66 and wife, Charlotte, age 60, and son George M., age 20 and son, Cyrus A. age 18. Also, shown in the household were William M. Gamble, age 12; Sarah Gamble, age 9; and James Gamble, age 5.
NOTE: These Gamble children were the surviving children of James Anderson and Anna Irena Thomas Gamble who grew up in the Thomas household.
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NOTE: The following information was taken from a book entitled "The Gamble Family from Laurens District of South Carolina that Settled in the Foothills of Alabama", compiled by Billy T. Gamble and Lanny R. Gamble, 1995-1997.
LAND PURCHASES: James Anderson Gamble, Sr. married Anna Irena Thomas in Sep 1847. In Dec 1847 he bought land (W 1/2, Section 7, Township 24, Range 21E) in Tallapoosa Co. from John A. Uquart and Wife. In February 1852 he bought additional land (E 1/2, Section 7) from William T. Chilton. This land is located on Town Creek in the NE corner of Tallapoosa Co. where "Gamble's Mill" is shown on old maps of Tallapoosa Co., Boundaries are post 1866. This is approximately three miles SE of the Liberty Methodist Church in the extreme NW corner of Tallapoosa Co (map p4, loc 3).
UNTIMELY DEATHS IN 1854: Note the untimely death of our great-grandfather, James Anderson, Sr. He died 4 August 1854 at the age of 32, just 4 1/2 months prior to the birth of son, James Anderson Gamble, Jr. on December 24, 1854. Our great-grandmother, Anna Irena Thomas, died at the age of 26, when James Anderson Gamble, Jr., our grandfather, was less than two years old.
In 1854 tragedy struck. Mary, James Anderson Gamble, Sr. and Anna Irena's youngest child, died January 6, 1854. James Anderson Gamble Sr.'s father, William, died July 13, 1854. Anna Irena was widowed when James Anderson Sr. died on August 4, 1854. Mary Finney Gamble, the mother of James Anderson Sr., died just two days later on August 6, 1854. All of these deaths in 1854 were probably due to yellow fever.
Anna Irena was now alone with her son, William, age six, and daughter, Sarah "Susan" Frances, age two. She had 19 slaves (1855 Agriculture Census) to help with the farming and house work. James Anderson, Jr. was born 24 December, 1854. Anna Irena died on 6 October 1856 before James Anderson was two years old. All are buried at Liberty Methodist Cemetery except Anna Irena. It is likely that she had returned to her father's home during her final illness. She is buried in the Seaborn Jones Thomas Family Cemetery in Alexander City, AL. The surviving three children grew up in the Seaborn Jones Thomas home.
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COMMENT RELATED TO THE CONFUSION REGARDING THE FOUR JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE'S: Note that WILLIAM GAMBLE named one of his children JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE. This JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE then named one of his children JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, JR. WILLIAM GAMBLE'S son and grandson, JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, SR. and JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, JR. eventually moved to and lived a portion of their lives in Tallapoosa Co., AL in and around the Hackneyville community.
Note earlier that JOHN GAMBLE, a half-brother to WILLIAM GAMBLE, named one of his children JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE. This JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE in turn named one of his children JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, JR. JOHN GAMBLE's son and grandson, JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, SR. and JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE, JR. also moved to and lived a portion of their lives in Tallapoosa Co., AL in and around the New Site community.
The Hackneyville and New Site communities are in close proximity to one another, not more than 20 miles apart. These four JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE'S living in such close proximity created considerable confusion for family members in tracing their lineage. It appears that WILLIAM GAMBLE'S and JOHN GAMBLE'S sons and grandsons named JAMES ANDERSON GAMBLE were in fact first cousins, and the great grandsons of JAMES GAMBLE of Duncan Creek, Laurens District, South Carolina. Above note written by Lanny R. Gamble, 2001
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LEGAL NOTE ON ADOPTION OF JAMES A. & ANNA IRENA THOMAS GAMBLE'S CHILDREN
Tallapoosa Times July 26, 1860
State of Alabama, Tallapoosa County, Probate Court, July 18, 1860
This day came Seaborne J. Thomas, guardian of Wm. M., Sarah F. and James A. Gamble, minors and filed his accounts, vouchers, evidences and statements for an annual settlement.
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Alabama; A Documentary History to 1900 by Lucille Griffith states that Yellow Fever was probably the most dreaded plague in our early history. Mobile was always the hardest hit but at times the disease spread into the interior. There were 1331 deaths due to "Yellow Jack" between 1 August and 1 November in 1853 in Mobile, a city with an estimated population of 25,000. More than one of every 20 living residents were killed by this dreaded disease in just three months.
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A History of Alabama by William Garrett Brown reads; "A Scourge of yellow fever, in 1854, was particularly severe in Montgomery.
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Tombstone transcription: Liberty Methodist Church Cemetery, Tallapoosa Co., AL
James A. Gamble
Husband of Irena Gamble
Eldest son of Wm & Mary Gamble
Born 1822
Died the 4th of Aug. or July 1854
"In the 33rd year of his life"
"Without Stain or Blemish in his Character"
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