History of the Jameson Family
  (Most of the following information was written by John Jameson -- grandson of Madison -- about 1967)

Return to the Jameson Home Page
Sale Bill of the Estate of William Jameson
Barb's Tidbits (Abstracts & Cemetery Survey)
Visit the Jameson Family Photo Page



The Jameson family name is Scottish, and is one of the names in the Clan Gunn.  Clan Gunn has several  branches.  James, the eldest son and heir of Gunn, is the principle of this family name.  Here's a Clan map of Scotland (Thanks to John Suffill for making this map available).

The Orr and Jameson families were quite close.  Two of Thomas' children (Margaret and Amanda) married a child of William Jameson Jr.  Thomas' grandson (through James), William Wallace, married Amanda's daughter, Sarah. 

William Jameson, Senior:
It seems reasonably certain that William came to American with a brother, from Ireland, in 1750.  Because of his last name and the fact that he came from Ireland, we presume he was Scots-Irish.  He settled in Virginia, probably in Orange County.  From here, the brothers went their separate ways.

The record of William's life in his adopted country is mostly untold.  He served with Marion's men in the Revolutionary War.  He was 40 when he enlisted in this irregular force, considered to be the predecessor of the American Army's elite Rangers.  Several years after that conflict ended, he went to South Carolina where, about 1790, he bought a tract of land a few miles northeast of Easley, where he lived until his death.  A few years after his arrival there he helped to establish the Cross Roads Baptist Church, which is still active in that community.

William Jameson, Junior:
He spent his life in the Cross Roads community near Easley, South Carolina, probably on a farm adjacent to that owned by his father.  He appears to have been a succesful farmer and business man, and an active member of the Cross Roads Baptist Church.  His death followed a lengthy illness.  Here's a
photo of his gravesite.  His wife, Rebecca Fowler,  is buried here.

Four of his children: Frances, Madison, Wilkinson, and Westley moved to Georgia, where they spent their lives.  The other children probably remained in the area of their birth.  The distance from Easley, South Carolina to Alpharetta, Georgia is not far by modern transportation methods.  But, in the early nineteenth century, it represented a major break in the communication between families that has continued to the present time.

Here is some information about his estate, provided by Barbara Eades:

Jameson, William, clerk of Court Office, Pickens, SC Box 22 #269.  Estate administered May 6, 1850 by William M. Jameson, Joshua Jameson, W.L. Keith, P. Alexander are bound unto William D. Steele, Ordinary in the sum of $10,000.  Settlement: Louisa, James Carrol, William, Wilkerson, Madison, Joshua, John, Wesley Jameson, William Perry each received $285.  Paid McElroy Jameson $258.03.  Paid January 18, 1853 William H. Perry and wife Frances $267.76.

Jameson, William In Equity #39, clerk of court office, Pickens, SC.  In equity, to the Honorable the Chancellors: Your orator William M. Jameson and Joshua Jameson of Pickens District departed this life intestate on the 4 April 1850.  Possessed of considerable real estate consisting of vire tracts, viz. The home tract on Georges Creek waters of Saluda River... (continues with description of land).  Said lands are subject to division amongst Rebecca Jameson the widow of the deceased, and then said children, to wit: Frances the wife of William H. Perry, Madison Jameson, Wilkerson Jameson, John Jameson, your orator William Jameson, Wesley Jameson, your orator Joshua Jameson, McElroy Jameson, Louisa J. Jameson, and (James) Carrol Jameson, a minor of age 14 years to wit 20 years old.  Your orator sheweth that P.B. Jameson, one of the heirs of William Jameson deceased departed this life in 1846 four years before his father, leaving no heirs, save his mother and brothers and sisters, having never intermarried.  the lands cannot be divided without manifest injury to some of the parties.

Madison Jameson:
Madison's wife, Elizabeth, came from nearby Walton County.  He met her after moving there and they lived on a farm near Alpharetta, where their children were born.

He was too old for active military service at the beginning of the Civil War but was a member of the Georgia State Guards who were concerned with home defense.  In this capacity he was captured by federal troops near Atlanta in June, 1864, and imprisoned at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, until the end of the war.  He suffered greviously from cold and hunger while there; and from an old hernia which had partly healed prior to his war service.  He attributed his survival to the help of a fellow prisoner who had enough gold on his person to buy warmer clothes and blankets.

At the end of the war he was sent by train to Richmond where he was released, and from whence he had to walk home.  The trip required about three months and he arrived at home greviously ill and undernourished.

The family had to start over after the war.  Their property had been partly destroyed, their money was worthless, and their lives were somewhat embittered by their war experiences.  In spite of these diffficulties, however, they made progress and Madison mostly regained his health.  The family worshipped at the Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church, and both Madison and Elizabeth are buried in the cemetery adjacent to that church.

Two of his sons: William Thomas and George Washington, died while in military service.  Four other children: James Madison, Susan Calista, John Marion and Rebecca Ann moved to Texas.  From there, James and John moved to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) where they spent their lives.  The other children, except Sophronia who moved to South Carolina, remained in Georgia.  Here again, a geographical separation of families occurred which has mostly continued to the present time.

Wilkinson Jameson:
Wilkinson probably had four sons and three daughters.  The three oldest sons died during the War between the States, while in military service.  The youngest son, Carroll Wilkinson, survived.  No other names or dates are available.  Wilkinson went to north Georgia after reaching maturity, probably about he same time as his brother and sister settled there.  They lived within visiting distance of each other.  He acquired a variety of business interests in the community.

William M. Jameson:
The Confederate war records show that William M Jameson, of Pickensville, South Carolina, enlisted October 24, 1861 at the age of 42.  He ws absent from his company on sick furlough beginning in July, 1862, but returned to duty in September, 1863.  He was killed on May 12, 1864 in the battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, while serving with Bratton's Brigade.

The war records of his sons follow:

Wesley Jameson:
Only a few facts concerning Westley Jameson, sixth child of William Jr and Rebecca Jameson, have been found.  Pickens County records of property transfers indicate that he once owned a part of th eoriginal Jameson family homestead.

It seems probable that he left the Easley community prior to the War between the States, and went to Pickens County, Georgia, where he established a home.  Confederate war records show that a man of that name and from that area of Georgia was killed June 19, 1864 at a battle near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.  He may have had three sons.  E.J. Jameson said that he met one of these sons, a John Jameson.  No other record of this son or any others has been found.

Joshua Jameson:
The legal records of Pickens County show that he had property in that county prior to the War between the States.  His war record begins on January 17, 1862 when he was First Sergeant.  He was promoted to Second Lieutenant on February 1, 1862; to Captain on May , 1862; and discharged on October 15, 1862 because of poor health.

Definite information concerning him or his family after the war has not been found.  It seems probable that he moved to Texas.  One member of the family met some relatives in Hico, Texas during World War II who could have been his descendants.  Efforts to locate them have not been successful. (Richard's note:  we've found two descendents of Joshua through the internet and hope to share some of their information on this page at a future date.)

McElroy Jameson:
He was postmaster at Easley prior to the War between the States.  He enlisted in the Confederate army early in the war, and served until the end of that conflict.  He returned to Easley after his service, and was school trustee, superintendent of Sunday School, and a deaon in the Cross Roads Baptist Church.

James Carrol Jameson
James Carrol is my great-great grandfather.  We've only just learned that his first name was "James," as he is referred to usually just by his middle name.  I'll continue to refer to him by his middle name only (as apparently that was the family tradition) throughout this history.  He  served in Company E, 2nd South Carolina Rifles (Moore's Regiment), CSA.
Tom Jameson (another gggrandson of Carrol) has graciously provided a copy of Carrol's Last Will and Testament and the record of the estate sale.  Click on the hyper links to view them: 
Will   Sale
 

Carrol died shortly after he made his will, apparently of an ongoing illness.  He had been medically discharged from his service in Moore's rifles, but returned shortly after this will was signed to his unit.  He was 32 when he died; Amanda was only 26, and his 3 children were all under 5 years-old.  According to Amanda (as recalled by Don Jameson), James Carrol Jameson is buried in the National Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.

Jameson Minors:  Probate Judge Office, Pickens, SC.  Box 8 #126.  On 15 Nov 1869, Amanda M. McAdams, James Orr, John O. Davis are bound unto I.H. Philpot, Ordinary in sum of $4,000.  Amanda M. McAdams guardian of Thomas O. Jameson, Sarah A. R. Jameson, John C. Jameson minors under 21 years.  Amanda M. McAdams their mother.  Entitled to share of estate of Carrol Jameson, deceased. 

In 1877, Sarah A. R.  married William Wallace Orr.  (Barbara Eade's note: The James Orr mentioned above was undoubtedly Amanda's brother.  My note--James is William Wallace Orr's father.)

From the Pickens Sentinel, issue of 15 Apr 1915:

"Died-Mrs. Amanda Melvina Jameson McAdams died Sunday April 11, at the home of her son Tom O. Jameson, near Easley, and was buried in the Jameson burying ground. She was in her 80th year. Her maiden name was Amanda Orr and she was twice married. Her first husband was Carroll Jameson and two sons survive by this marriage, Tom O. of this county and John C of the West. Her second husband was Mr. McAdams and by him two sons survive, George McAdams of Texas and Mason B. McAdams of Oklahoma." Here's a photo of her gravesite.

John Charles Jameson:  My great-grandfather.  He was buried July 1st, 1928, in the Indian Creek Cemetery, near the Baptist Church there. He was a member of the Grove Hill Lodge, No., 373, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Here's a photo of J.C. and Flora Jameson's gravesite.