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Source: Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga) Page 9
Dated: Aug. 28, 1887
A NEGRO OF GREAT AGE
James James, a United States Citizen, Living at
Santa Rosa, Mexico.
James James, a negro and citizen of the United
States, who resides at Santa Rosa, Mexico, is probably the
oldest man on earth. He was born near Dorchester, S.
C., in 1752, and while an infant was removed to Medway
River, Ga., in the same year that Franklin brought down
electricity from the thunder clouds. In 1773 there was
quite an immigration into South Carolina, and his master,
James James (from whom he takes his name), moved near
Charleston, S. C., in company with a number of his
neighbors. ON June 4, 1776, when 24 years of age, a
large British fleet, under Sir Peter Parker, arrived
off Charleston. The citizens had erected a palmetto
wood fort on Sullivan's Island, with twenty-six guns, manned
by 500 troops under Col. Moultrie, and on June 28 the
British made an attack by land and water, and were compelled
to withdraw after a ten hours' conflict. It was during
this fight that Sergt. Jasper distinguished himself
by replacing the flag, which had been shot away upon the
bastion, on a new staff. His master, James James,
manned one of the guns in this fight, and Jim, the
subject of this sketch, and four other slaves were employed
around the fort as general laborers. Jim
followed his master throughout the war, and was with Gen.
Moultrie at Port Royal, S. C., Feb. 3, 1779, when
Moultrie defeated the combined British forces of Prevost and
Campbell. His master was surrendered by Gen.
Lincoln at Charleston, S. C., on Feb. 12, 1780, to the
British forces, and this ends Jim's military career.
He remembers of the rejoicing in 1792 throughout
the country in consequence of Washington's election to the
presidency, he then being 40 years of age. In this
year his first master died, aged about 60 years.
Jim then became the property of "Mar__Henry" (Henry
James), owning large estates and about thirty slaves
near Charleston. On account of having raised "Marse
Henry," Jim was a special favorite with his
master and was allowed to do as he chose. His second
master, Henry, died in 1815, about 55 years of age,
and Jim, now 63 years of age, became the property of
James James, Henry's second son. In 1833 the
railroad from Charleston to Savannah was completed, then the
longest railroad in the world, and Jim, with his
master, took a trip over the road, and was shown special
favors on account of his age, now 81. James James
was 10 yes of age at his father's death, and when he became
of age inherited large estates, slaves, etc., among whom
were "old Uncle Jim" and his family. James
James lived in South Carolina until 1855, when he moved
to Texas with all his slaves. James desired
that his slaves should be free at his death, and in 1856
moved into Mexico, so that they could be free before his
death. James returned to the United States and
died in Texas, and in 18___, after there were no longer
slaves in the United States, Jim's children and
grandchildren returned to the United States. Five
years ago, at the age of 1_0?, Jim could do light
chores, but subsisted mostly by contributions from the
citizens; but for the past two years, not being able to
walk, he remains for the most part in his little j__al, his
wants being supplied by generous neighbors. The
rheumatism in his legs prevents him from walking, but yet he
has sufficient strength in his arms to drag himself a short
distance - fifty yards or more - and readily took a position
on the outside of his cabin to enable The Glob-Democrat
correspondent to make his photograph - Laredo (Tex.) Letter
to The St. Louis Globe-Democrat. |
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