James FERGUS
1751
James FERGUS was born 1751, probably in County Tyrone, Ulster Province, Ireland. The knowledge about Francis’ brother was lost with the deaths of Francis and his eldest children. At this point it is not known if any of the children ever met their uncle, James.
Francis’ eldest son, James, would be named after Francis’ brother who immigrated with him to America. When James, the brother, died in 1798 in Sussex County, Delaware, James, his nephew would have been 15 years of age. In that same year, 1798, the Francis Fergus family lived in Rockbridge County, Virginia. There are 243 miles between Rockbridge County, Virginia and Sussex County, Delaware (the way the crow flies, traveling west-southwest from Sussex Co, DE to Rockbridge Co, VA. Travel would have taken ___ days by horseback and longer by wagon or coach. It is doubtful that these brothers visited or had met each other’s children or spouses.
It was absolutely a fluke that led me to find James Fergus. Always searching about the Internet for any Fergus listings, I decided to do a search on the new Delaware archives online. Bingo, James Fergus’ probated will was listed for 1798. Hmmmm, I thought, that is definitely worth checking. I mailed for a copy of the will from the records office. Due to the old handwriting, I had difficulty reading through it. I missed the Rockbridge County connection until a few days had passed and another Fergus researcher prompted me to rethink what I was seeing. Then, the reference in the will [hyperlink "reference in the will" to the actual paragraph] became clear to me that this was the unnamed brother who had stayed in America. It was a joyous occasion, as James had died over 200 years earlier!
From the will [hyperlink to the entire will] we are able to glean additional information. His wife’s name was Mary, and his daughter’s name was Eliza. Also, Eliza was not of age (probably under 21 years) when James died. There were no other children listed. During this time period it would have been peculiar to have only one child. There most likely were other children born who had died as infants or young children. But, we know that one child had survived, Eliza Fergus.
James Fergus was buried in the Coolspring Presbyterian Churchyard. His gravestone is much shorter than the one belonging to his daughter and her husband, to the left of his. I think perhaps that the tombstone may have been broken and reseated at the gravesite. The area to the right of where James is buried does not have a gravestone, but may be where his wife, Mary is buried. To the left of James’ stone is his daughter’s, Eliza. She died 10 December 1813, only three days after giving birth. Her infant daughter, Eliza Ferges (sic) Smith, shares her mother’s gravestone, and probably her grave. She lived only one day beyond the death of her mother. And so, with the death of James, Eliza, and Eliza Ferges Smith there would be no descendants of this lineage.
Eliza’s husband, John D. Smith, is buried to the left of her. Other Smith family members extend to the left of John. He was born 23 October 1791 and died 15 November 1822.
John D Smith has item in Vol. 1, pg. 175 Sussex court of chancery. Evidently he was a prominent man of Milton, owner of a grain mill and wharf. He appears to have been involved in the bonding for a public school but petitioned several times against commercial progress, such as, another grain mill and dam.
Coolspring Presbyterian Church, Broadkiln Hundred, Sussex Co, DE.
Re-built church
John D. Smith (husband of Eliza Fergus), Eliza Fergus (dau. of James Fergus) with her dau. Eliza Smith (on one stone), James Fergus (stone obviously broken and reseated)
Cynthia Russell with remaining portion of James Fergus' tombstone
James Fergus (older brother of Francis Fergus)
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Cynthia Nichols Russell
6113 Edmar Drive
Traverse City, MIchigan 49686
(231) 947-8780
c.russell@charter.net -
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| This map shows the town of Cool Spring located
half way between Lewes and Georgetown. This is where James Fergus, his
daughter, Eliza, her husband, John D. Smith, and their infant daughter
Eliza Ferges Smith are buried. It is believed that James Fergus' wife,
Mary, is also buried in this cemetery, probably in the unmarked space next
to James' gravestone. [Return] |
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