James Monroe

James Monroe

• Father: Guilford b. circa 1794, d. between September 1867 and June 1870
• Mother: Leah b. circa 1808

• James Monroe was born on 16 July 1828 in Montgomery County, Alabama, at Greenwood plantation.
• He was known as Jim.
• Promissory Note from Green Wood to Bolling Hall, dated 5 January 1850
       Notation across text of the second page, “Cancelled, Bolling Hall, February 16th, 1855”
       State of Alabama, Montgomery County (Deed Book Vol. N, pages 382-383)
       Whereas I am indebted to the Estate of the late Doctor Thomas Brown in the sum of Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents and to secure the evidence and payment thereof have executed to Bolling Hall Executor of the last will and testament of said Thomas Brown a note of which the following is a copy – “$38,554.39. Twelve months after date, I promise to pay Bolling Hall executor of the Estate of Thomas Brown Dec’d or bearer Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents for value received with interest from date – January 5th 1850. “Green Wood.”
       Now, therefore, know all men by these Presents, that I Green Wood, for and in consideration of the premises, and to secure the payment of said sum of money in said note mentioned and also in consideration of the sum of One Dollar to me in hand paid by Bolling Hall at and before the Sealing and delivery of these Presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have bargained, sold and conveyed, and do by these Presents, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Bolling Hall the following named negroes slaves viz. Neptune & wife Pleasant and her two children Richmond & Butler; Henry and wife Crecy and her five children, Andrew, Sarah, Charles, Sandy and Mahala; Ned, Sylvy, Bill, Stephen, Turner, Warren, Granville; Little Bob and wife Eliza and their three children, Frank, Aleck and an infant not recollected, but believed to be Montgomery. Peter and his wife Darcas and her two children Dilsey and Charity, Peter Quarles, Ben, Hansel, Dave and wife Clarisa; Little Sam and Wife Fereby and her three children Beverly, Alfred and an infant name not recollected [Elbert]; Big Sam and wife Caroline; Jenny and her child Joe, John, Tom; Edmond and wife Ailsey; Maria and her two children Ann and Cass; Mary and her children Jerry, Morris, Sue, Rhoda, Wesley and Jane; Old Bill and wife Margaret and her children Len, Amanda, Harriet, Rose, Smith and an infant name not recollected [Frances]; Big Bob and wife Kizzy and her six children, Matilda, Ben, King, Lucey, Augustus and Cummings; Leah and her nine children Jim, Little Guilford, Archy, Chloe, Abraham, Satan, Jefferson, Dallas and Patsy, and Flora, a child of Patsey; Toby and Hannah and her children Ephraim, Rachel, and two other small children names not recollected; Daniel Adam and wife Caroline and her two children not recollecting their names [Mary and Thornton], and also her children Charles, Adam, Daniel and Oliver; And also another woman Letty. To have and to hold the above bargained and sold negroes to the said Bolling Hall, his executors, Administrators and assigns, Provided always and these presents and this Sale and Conveyance are upon the express condition, not if I the said Green Wood shall pay or cause to be paid and discharged the above mentioned debt with interest at Maturity of said note according to its tenor and effect, then this deed of conveyance and all and every interest title and estate in and to the above named negroes, Shall cease, determine, and be utterly null and void; but otherwise shall remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my seal this the fifth day of January One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of J. A. Elmore & W. Garrett. Green Wood [seal].
       The State of Alabama, City & County of Montgomery
       Personally appeared before me William Garrett, a commissioner duly commissioned & qualified a Commissioner to take proofs & acknowledgements of Deeds etc. executed in the State of Alabama, to be read or recorded in the State of Texas: Green Wood, the maker of the foregoing Deed to Bolling Hall, Executor etc. and executed the same by signing, sealing and delivering the same in my presence, on the same day that it bears date – given under my hand and seal this fifth day of January AD 1850. W. Garrett [seal], Commissioner.
• On Saturday, 11 May 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Willis S. Breazeal Started home. Sent Jim with the little waggon to carry his trunk to Montgomery. River very high. Crossed in the Keel boat of Captain Davis, Mules & Horses swam over." And on the following day, "Willis B. & Wm B. Wood went to Sanjacinto to Get Jim & the Mules & waggon home. Jim could not cross Adkins creek and did not get home." On Monday, the 13th, "Jim came home by Huntsville. Wm B. Wood went to hunt for him, had to Swim his horse & returned this evening."
• On Tuesday, 21 May 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Jim Robed Mr Talbot's Store last night."
• He married Lucy, daughter of Bob and Kizzy, on 28 July 1855 in Montgomery County, Texas, at Greenwood plantation, near old Danville.
• On Saturday, 28 July 1855, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Jim & Lucy got married, Wedding of Jim & Lucy."
• On Tuesday, 11 September 1855, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Jim Crazy, have to confine him all the time."
• On Monday, 6 December 1858, Wm Barnes Wood, in Green Wood's absence, recorded: "Green Wood & Wife left home for Galveston," and on Wednesday, the 7th, Bob & Jim got back from depot about 8 oclock at night."
• On Saturday, 16 December 1865, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Jim, Cloe & Dilcy moved to day."
• Following emancipation, James Monroe adopted the name James Monroe Baltrip.
• James Monroe and Lucy appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Montgomery County, Texas, but information on children's names and ages of all are not consistent with other records. Other members of the household included Louisa, Lucian, Silas and James Monroe.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1870 census.
• James Monroe and Lucy appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Harris County, Texas. Other members of the household included Lucian, Silas, James Monroe, Bob Baltrip, Benjamin Baltrip, Ella Baltrip and Elizabeth Baltrip. Children identified in confusing fashion as son Ben, age 10 (perhaps Gip or Louis in 1870?) and daughter Barbary, age 12 (likely Bob in 1870.)
• He was a farmer, according to the 1880 census.
• Children of Guilford and Leah born between 1825 and 1853, were recorded by Green Wood.
• Children of Jim and Lucy born between 1857 and 1865, were recorded by Green Wood.

• Last Edited: 29 Mar 2015