James, Sr. was the son of (parents unknown); born (exact date & place unknown) 
probably no later than 1743 & possibly in VA; died (exact date & place unknown) 
between 1820 & 1830, probably in Pitt Co., NC.  He married Ann(e) (___) (exact 
date & place unknown) probably by 1764 in VA.
     Ann(e), daughter of (parents unknown); born (exact date & place unknown) 
probably no later than 1755 & possibly in VA; died (exact date & place unknown) 
sometime after 1820 Federal Census of Pitt Co., NC.
     According to the first identified deed record for James and Ann ODOM, they were 
residents of Southampton Co., VA in 1764.  James purchased 160 acres of land in 
Southampton Co. from Jacob DELK, as deed was recorded 12 April 1764.  James 
sold this same property to Edward Drew in 1769, as was recorded 14 Dec. 1769.
     ODOM researcher, Anabel (McCORMICK) SMITH, states, "In order to execute a 
deed the law required a person to be at least 21 years of age; thus, James ODOM, 
Sr. had to have been born no later than 1743, and probably in Virginia."  She also 
believes, although she has no authoritative proof, that their land was located in the 
area which was originally a part of Nansemond Co., VA.   Researcher Betty 
(McCORMICK) ST. DIZIER found that this area, first known as New Norfolk, was 
erected in 1636 from Elizabeth City.  In 1637 it was abolished with the formation of 
Upper Norfolk; in 1642/3 Upper Norfolk became Nansemond Co.  In 1749 
Southampton Co., VA was created from Nansemond and Isle of Wight Counties, 
so perhaps the 0DOM land lay in Southampton Co. after its formation.  
     Following the sale of his 160 acres in Southampton Co., VA in Dec. 1769, we next 
find James purchased property just across the state line of VA in Northampton Co., NC.  
The first deed recorded  here was 13 April 1770 where "James ODAM" purchased 
200 acres from Harmon & Ann TAYLOR.  Other deeds recorded in 1773, 1779, 1784, 
1790 and 1792 relates the buying and selling of land in this county by James and Ann 
ODOM. 
     During this same time period there also lived in Northampton Co., NC a Moses ODAM 
and his family.  James ODAM was a witness to the signing of his will in May 1792 in 
which he named his wife, Rachel (___), daughters Rachel MOORE and Ruth ODAM, 
granddaughter Sarah ODOM, and sons Moses, Josiah and Jacob. 
     There was also an Aaron ODOM and his family.  His will, written in December 1784 
and probated in 1791, named a daughter Elizabeth and a son Uriah with testates 
William, John and Mary ODOM.  We do not know the relationship, if any, between 
these families. 
    There is also a 1793 deed in Pitt Co., NC for purchase of land by Wright ODOM.  An 
1811 marriage of Ann ODOM is recorded & states she was sister of Wright ODOM, 
deceased.  ODOM compiler LaVerne (McELROY) MARKART speculates the possiblity 
of Ann & Wright being the children of James ODOM, Sr. & Anne. 
     According to ODOM compiler, Betty ST. DIZIER, research showed that "while there 
was no complete state census taken of NC residents, a few lists of early inhabitants 
were made between 1715 & 1831."  In 1784 the U. S. Continental Congress & the 
General Assembly of North Carolina requested a list of all inhabitants residing within 
the state be taken.  For various reasons compliance was not completed in that year, 
and it was not until 1787 that an incomplete state census, based partially on tax lists, 
was recorded.  Alveretta K. Register's STATE CENSUS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
1784-1787, 2nd ed., rev. (1971; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978), 
lists the "James OADHAM" family in Northampton Co., NC with a total household of 
eight: 5 females [one would be wife Ann; others unknown] and 3 males - 1 male 21-60 
years of age [probably James Sr.] and 2 males under 21 or over 60 years of age [one 
probably James, Jr.; others unknown]. 
     The 1790 FEDERAL CENSUS OF NORTHAMPTON CO., NC [possibly Halifax District] 
page 74, line 18 - lists the “James ODAM” family with 6 members: 3 females and 3 males 
over the age of 16.  Both of the younger males who are over 16 years of age would have 
been born in, or prior to the year 1774.  Except for James ODOM, Jr. none of these 
children's names are actually known, as no will for James ODOM, Sr. or his wife, Ann, 
has been located. There was a courthouse fire in Pitt Co., NC destroying many records.  
Perhaps the will of James ODOM, Sr. was destroyed in that fire.
     Also listed on this 1790 census in Northampton Co., NC is the family of William ODAM, 
page 75, with 2 males over 16 and 1 female.  Further research on pages 75 & 76 shows 
the ODOM families of Jacob, Josiah [2] and Moses.
      As early as August 1792 James ODOM, Sr. and Ann purchased land in Pitt Co., NC. 
There are other deeds in 1793; on 1 Nov. 1798 [in which James Odam, Senr. & Ann 
Odom deeded 100 acres to son James Odam, Junr. with an Elizabeth Odom as a witness - 
her relationship to this family is unknown]; in 1801; in 1803 [with William Crisp as a 
witness; possibly a half-brother of Mary?]; and a power of attorney granted in 1812 [not 
sure if this is James Senr. or Junr.].  
     Other deeds during the 1786 to 1834 time period were executed by William Odom/Odam, 
Uriah Odom/Odam, John Odom/Odam and Fanny Odam, widow of John Odam.  Again, 
their relationship, if any, to our ODOM family is unknown.
     James Odom, Sr. was listed as a resident of Pitt Co., NC in the 1800 FEDERAL CENSUS, 
page 593, line 4, with 6 family members: 2 females over 45 years of age; 2 females between 
the ages of 26 and 45; 1 male over 45; 1 male between the ages of 16 and 26.  Then again 
we find on page 561, William Odam with 1 male over 45 & 1 female over 45.
     The 1820 FEDERAL CENSUS OF Pitt Co., NC, page 520, line 6 enumerates the "James 
Odom" family  with 1 male 45 and over; 1 female 10 & under 16; 1 female 45 and over.  After 
the 1820 census, at least at this time, no further record of the parents has been found.  
Enumerated on the 1820 census is also the the family of "John Odom," with 1 male 45 and 
over; 2 females under 10; 1 female 26-45; 1 slave.  There are no other known Odoms listed 
in the Pitt Co., NC census of 1820.
     The Martin Co. Heritage book lists a Mary "Molly" ODOM who married Jonas NELSON, 
Sr. in Northampton Co., NC before 1800 [her relationship to James & Ann is not known].  
Her family moved to Martin Co., NC about 1801 to join her Odom relatives who had already 
moved there.  Molly & Jonas had two sons who married sisters of Mary CRISP, wife of 
James ODOM, Jr. and daughter-in-law of James, Sr. & Ann.  The two NELSON sons who 
married CRISP gals were 1) Jonas NELSON, Jr. md. Fanny CRISP and had 6 known 
children; 2) Kinchin [or Kinchen] NELSON md. 1825 Martha or "Patsy" CRISP & had 4 
known children.  Researcher LaVerne MARKART also mentions that Martin, Edgecombe 
& Pitt Co., NC records seem to be intermixed, probably because of changes in county lines.
     Researchers of our ODOM lineages will note that our ODOM family name is spelled in a 
variety of ways in deeds, censuses, wills and other records, and yet all pertain to the same 
family group - ODAM, ODEM, ODAN, OADHAM, ODUM, and others.  ODOM researcher 
Luther Wayne "Wayne" ODOM mentions that our family spelled the name "ODAM" in 
most instances up until around 1850. 
     At this writing, there have been several suggestions given as to the names of other 
children, parents and other siblings for James ODOM, Sr.  None of the information has 
been confirmed, therefore is not included here.

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Copyright c1997 by: Betty ST. DIZIER & Gloria ODOM
Prepared using a variety of sources; most indentified in the body of the introduction.