James Jeams Smith b abt 1783 Washington Co VA d abt 1874 Russell Co VA; s/o William Smith and Elizabeth Unknown. James Jeams Smith m. abt 1805 Russell Co VA to Sarah Sally Counts b abt 1787 Russell Co VA d abt 1874 Russell Co VA; d/o John Counts and Margaret Peggy Kelly. Children of James Jeams Smith and Sarah Sally Counts;

1. John George Smith b 31 Jul 1806 Russell Co VA d 3 Nov 1892 Russell Co VA; m. Rebecca Finney b 8 Apr 1812 Russell Co VA d 31 Oct 1848 Russell Co VA; d/o George Finney and Nancy Fletcher. John George Smith m. 28 Sept 1852 Russell Co VA to Nancy Sutherland b abt 1836 Russell Co VA; d/o Daniel Sutherland and Phoebe Fuller.

2. Joseph Smith b abt 1809 Russell Co Va; m. Sarah Sally Lockhart b abt 1812 Russell Co VA; d/o William Mitchell Lockhart and Catherine Caley Scott.

3. George Washington Smith b 20 Mar 1810 Russell Co VA d 21 Dec 1890 Dickenson Co VA; m. abt 1830 to Phoebe Musick b abt 1812 Russell Co VA d Mar 1896 Dickenson Co VA; d/o Elexious Musick and Lydia Thompson.

4. Elizabeth Smith b abt 1811 Russell Co VA d 24 Apr 1889 Russell Co VA; m. abt 1833 Russell Co VA to Solomon Musick b abt 1808 Russell Co VA d 25 Aug 1896 Russell Co VA; s/o Elexious Musick and Lydia Thompson.

5. William Patton Smith b 4 Feb 1817 Russell Co VA d 25 Apr 1916 Russell Co VA; m. abt 1837 to Matilda Kiser b 11 Feb 1820 Russell Co VA d 14 Aug 1891 Russell Co VA; d/o John C Kiser and Nancy Long.

6. Henry Smith b abt 1818 Russell Co VA d abt 1850 Russell Co VA; m. Mary Polly Artrip b abt 1816 Cleveland, Russell Co VA; d/o James H Artrip and Mary Polly Kiser. Children of Henry Smith and Mary Polly Artrip; i. Riteson Smith b abt 1843 Russell Co VA ii. James Smith b abt 1845 Russell Co VA iii. Jasper Smith b abt 1847 Russell Co VA iv. Sarah Smith b abt 1850 Russell Co VA

7. Margaret Smith b abt 1820 Russell Co VA; m. John M Preston Rasnake b 16 Jun 1821 Russell Co VA d abt 1864; s/o Jacob Rasnake and Judith Finney. Children of John M Preston Rasnake and Margaret Smith;

i. James Harvey Rasnake b 3 Jul 1842 Russell Co VA d 15 Apr 1929 Russell Co VA; buried Smith Family Cemetery, Cleveland, Russell Co VA; m. Nancy Jane Breeding b 20 Mar 1837 VA d 8 Dec 1902 Russell Co VA; buried Smith Family Cemetery, Cleveland, Russell Co VA; Findagrave Memorial; d/o George Breeding and Caroline Sutherland. Children of James Harvey Rasnake and Nancy Jane Breeding;

I. Louisa Rasnake b abt 1865 Russell Co VA

II. Albert Rasnake b abt 1867 Russell Co VA

III. Franklin Pierce Rasnake b 16 Feb 1869 Russell Co VA d 6 Aug 1931; m. 31 Dec 1890 Russell Co VA to Elizabeth Bessie Cook b 5 May 1867 Russell Co VA d 19 Apr 1944; d/o Henry D Cook and Frances Frankey Fields. Child of Franklin Pierce Rasnake and Elizabeth Bessie Cook;

III.1. Bertha Rasnake b 28 Jan 1898 VA d 21 Dec 1982; m. Tazzie Belcher b abt 1895 VA d abt 1992 Bristol, Sullivan Co TN; s/o Ulysses Grant Belcher and Mary Alice Shepherd.

Elizabeth Bessie Cook m. (1) Elexious Everette Alex Musick b 30 May 1866 New Garden, Russell Co VA d 1 May 1920 Mingo Co WV; s/o George Musick and Martha Jane Smith.

Elexious Everett Alex Musick m. (2) Dicie Ann Dickens b abt 1869 VA. Child of Elxious Everette Alex Musick and Diciey Ann Dickens;

III.1. Rufus Maurice Musick b 15 Oct 1890 Dickenson Co VA d 16 Dec 1933 Williamson Memorial Hospital, Williamson, Mingo Co WV; m. 25 Mar 1919 Kanawha Co WV to Fannie Coy Ellis b 1898 Mingo Co WV; d/o Leander Lee Ellis and Mahala Frances Elkins.

Elexious Everette Alex Musick m. Sept 1892 Logan Co WV to Sarah P Varney b abt 1866 Logan Co Wv; d/o Samuel F Varney and Mary A Shannon. Children of Alexious Everette Alex Musick and Sarah P Varney;

III.1. Florence Music b 1893 Logan Co WV

III.2. Martha Mattie P Musick b 10 Apr 1895 Varney, Mingo Co WV d 13 Nov 1987; m. 20 Mar 1920 Mingo Co WV to Leander Lee Ellis b 1896 Mingo Co WV d abt 1973; s/o Leander Lee Ellis and Mahala Frances Elkins.

ii. Nancy Rasnake b abt 1844 Russell Co VA; m. 5 Oct 1868 Russell Co VA to Thompson Musick b 1848 Russell Co VA; s/o Jacob Musick and Louisa Breeding. Child of Thompson Musick and Nancy Rasnake;

I. Allie Musick b abt 1871 Russell Co VA; m. 23 Apr 1890 Russell Co VA to Henry Hascue Cook b 1871 Russell Co VA; s/o William M Cook and Synthia A May. Children of Henry Hascue Cook and Allie Musick;

I.1. Elsie Cook b 1893 Russell Co VA

I.2. Alta Cook b 1895 Russell Co VA; m. 7 Oct 1909 Russell Co VA to Edward J Ed Vance b 13 Jun 1887 Russell Co VA d 9 Mar 1950 McVeigh, Pike Co KY; buried Fairview Cemetery, Williamson, Mingo Co WV; s/o James Vance and Nancy M Puckett. Children of Edward J Ed Vance and Alta Cook; I.2.i. Mabel Vance b abt 1912 MD I.2.ii. Paul Vance b abt 1914 Russell Co VA; m. Gladys L Johnson b 17 Mar 1920 Pike Co KY; d/o Butler Johnson and Rebecca Becca Black

Thompson Musick m. 27 Feb 1872 Russell Co VA to Mary Polly Grizzle b 1850 Russell Co VA; d/o Elam Grizzle and Nancy Jane Artrip. Children of Thompson Musick and Mary Polly Grizzle;

I. Emmit Musick b abt 1874 Russell Co VA

II. Nancy J Nannie Musick b 1877 Russell Co VA

III. Carrie Musick b 1880 New Garden, Russell Co VA

IV. Asa Musick b 1885 Russell Co VA

8. Sarah Smith b abt 1821 Russell Co VA d 16 Feb 1895 Russell Co VA; m. abt 1838 to James Artrip b 7 Mar 1814 Russell Co VA d 23 Apor 1878 Russell Co VA; s/o James H Artrip and Mary Polly Kiser. Child of James Artrip and Sarah Elizabeth Smith;

i. Noah Artrip b abt 1840 Russell Co VA d 14 Aug 1888 Castlewood, Russell Co VA; m. 12 Feb 1866 Russell Co VA to Malissa C Fletcher b 17 Dec 1843 Russell Co VA d 19 Dec 1936 Russell Co VA; d/o James Fletcher And Celia Thompson. Child of Noarh Artrip and Malissa C Fletcher;

I. Florence V Artrip b abt 1867 Russell Co VA d 1 Dec 1949 St Joseph, Buchanan Co MO; m. 29 Jan 1890 Russell Co VA to Bertrand Otis Caldwell b abt 1865 VA d 19 Dec 1942 St Joseph, Buchanan Co MO; s/o Otis Caldwell and Celia Emerine Davis. Child of Bertrand Otis Caldwell and Florence V Artrip;

I.1. Ruby Lee Caldwell b abt 1892 Russell Co VA d 24 Oct 1964 Barberton, Summit Co OH; m. 7 Sept 1909 Bristol, Sullivan Co TN to Emett Charles Thompson b 2 Dec 1891 Russell Co VA d 8 Sept 1980 Akron, Summit Co OH; s/o Norman Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Wallis. Child fo Emet Charles Thompson and Ruby Lee Caldwell; I.1.i. Stewart Bertron Thompson b 13 Mar 1912 Milan MO; m. 21 Dec 1940 to Mildred Irene Pinky Ikard b 19 Nov 1915 Alto TN d 27 Jun 1942 Akron, Summit Co OH; d/o Thomas Allen Ikard and Allie Farris Henley.

9. Mary Smith b abt 1829 Russell Co VA; m. John Whitt b abt 1817 Russell Co VA; s/o William Whitt and Mary Unknown. Children of John Whitt and Mary Smith;

i. Eliza J Whitt b abt 1846 Russell Co VA

ii. William H Whitt b abt 1848 Russell Co VA

10. James M Smith b abt 1829 Russell Co VA; m. Sarah Sally Artrip b abt 1826 Russell Co VA; d/o James H Artrip and Mary Polly Kiser.

11. Joshua Smith b abt 1830 Russell Co VA; m. Sarah Sutherland b abt 1828 Russell Co VA; d/o Daniel Sutherland and Phoebe Fuller.

Source: Joel Hager - joel.hager@hughes.net

James Jeams Smith (Note: Link Now Goes To My Heritage and Does Not Work as of 20 Jan 2019) Was the pioneer of the Smith family in Russell Co., VA. He came there when a young man in the early 1800s from KY, and settled in the Sink Hole area, north of Cleveland, VA. - The Musick Book by Egbert S. Musick, 1978. The names of his parents are unknown to his descendants. They lived in the Sink Holes Section of Russell Co., where it is said all their children were born. He was living there when the 1820 Census was taken, with a wife, four sons, and two daughters. Earliest existing records of Reeds Valley Baptist Church show both as members in 1823. The 1850 Russell Co. Census states he was 67 years of age and a native of that county; however, in 1930, a grandaughter, Mollie Jessee [E315] said that her grandfather, James "Jeams" Smith came to Russell Co. from KY; that she had heard he was from Scotland, and that she did not think any other branch of the Smith Family in Russell Co. was related to him. On 4-10-1854 James Smith executed four deeds to his sons and grandchildren for parts of his farm - 205 acres to James M. Smith; 146 acres to Joshua; 60 acres to William; and 151 acres to Ritison Smith, James Smith, Jasper Smith and Sarah Smith (children of his deceased son, Henry).

His will was dated 01-12-1874 and probated 4-7-1874, therefore it is certain he died between those dates. The 1860 Census shows his age as 76 and that James and Sarah "Sally" were in the household of his son, James M. Smith, who lived at the old homestead. In 1940, Martha Smith [E326] recalled that she had seen James Smith "a lot"; that he stayed with his son Jim at the old home in the Sink-Holes... "sometimes he would get mad and leave home and come over to Henry's and stay until his mad spell wore off, then go back to Jim's;" that she had seen him take his hoe and cane and go to the field and hoe corn and do other work; that he came to the home of Henry's widow in his last days and stayed until "he got so weak they took him back home." He was about 90 years old at death. Both are buried in a field on their homeplace. - Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper Sutherland Robert & Samuel may not be children of James & Sarah. - CVR See notes on Nancy Thompson. At This Link

WILL OF JAMES SMITH - Russell County, Virginia - Will Book 9, Page 158 Executed 07 Apr 1874 Know all men by these presents that I James Smith of the County of Russell and State of Virginia do hereby will that my property be divided at my death as follows. To my son John Smith I will and bequeath out of my Estate one dollar. To my son Joshua Smith I will one dollar. To my son George Smith I will one dollar. To my son William Smith I will one dollar. To my son Joseph Smith I will one dollar. To my son James M. Smith I will two dollars. To the heirs of my son Henry Smith dec'd I will one dollar to be equally divided between them. To my daughter Elizabeth Musick I will one dollar. To my daughter Sarah Artrip I will one dollar. To the heirs of my daughter Peggy Rasnake I will one dollar to be equally divided between them. To the heirs of my daughter Mary Whitt I will one dollar to be equally divided between them. The remainder of my Estate I will and bequeath to the heirs of J. M. Smith to be equally divided between them. I do hereby certify that this is my last Will and Testament, Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of January 1874. his - James X Smith {seal} - mark Witness - Joseph Breeding, R. L. Smith

At a Court held for Russell County at the Court House on the 7th day of April 1874. The last will and testament of James Smith was this day produced in Court and proved by the oaths of Joseph Breeding and R. L. Smith the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. On motion of James M. Smith who took the oath of an administrator prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $200.00 together with J. C. Gent as his security thereto conditioned according to law, a certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining letters. Jessee Family Website Rootsweb (Note: Link No Longer Works as of 20 Jan 2019).

Source: Michael Dye Date: 1 Aug 2004 Re: James "Jeams" Smith and Sarah "Sallie" Counts In Reply to: Re: James Jeams Smith and Sarah Sallie Counts by: Max Ervin

There were TWO James Smiths in Russell Co. early on.

The first is the James Smith of the Lower District of Russell Co. Max, you mentioned he first appears on the 1793 tax list, but he is also on the 1788 list. This James Smith is the son of the John Smith who died in Russell Co. in 1826 and is much too old to be James "Jeams" Smith. Also, when you refer to John Smith's 1826 will you see it not only names a son James Smith, but also names a grandson, Solomon Smith, son of James Smith. We know that James "Jeams" Smith did not have a son named Solomon. So we know that, between that facts that John's son James was clearly too old to be "Jeams" and that John's son James had a son named Solomon, that John's son James was most definatley not James "Jeams" Smith.

The second of these early James Smith's was James "Jeams" Smith. First lets address one of the favorite legends. We know that James Smith's grand daughter Mollie Jessee said in an interview to E. J. Sutherland late in life that she believed James came from KY to Russell Co. However, this is the only reference I have ever found that James came from KY and in fact every other piece of evidence I have found in dicates he was born in Russell Co. Each of the 1850-1870 census records has him listed as being born in Virginia with the 1850 listing his POB as Russell Co. Now, lets look at those census records. The 1850 census lists James as being 67 years of age indicating a birth year abt. 1783. The 1860 census lists him as 76 and the 1870 as 87. Assuming that these ages are pretty close to being accurate, I would think of no reason to not think this, since they are pretty consistant that would mean that James "Jeams" Smith should show up on the Russell Co. tax lists somewhere about 1804-1805 give or take a couple years if he was in Russell Co. when he became 21 years of age.

So now lets look at the tax records. I'll concentrate only on the upper list at this time as it is the only one that matters in this instance. Beginning in 1800 we note that the upper list is missing. On the 1801 list there is one person who has more than one tithable in his household. This person is Eli Smith, son of Ericus Smith who has two tithables in his household. However, missing from the 1801 list is William Smith. William has been consistantly on the lists ever since 1787 and why he is not on the 1801 list is unknown. Maybe he got missed or was exempted from paying tax that year. I need to look into this furhter. Anyway, in 1802 William reappears on the tax list and at this time has two tithables in his household. Ely is again the only other person with two tithables. Then in 1803, note that Ely still has two tithables and that his brother, Ericus Jr., now also has two tithables. Also on this list it shows William with only one tithable and James Smith first appears on the list in this year. This is a clear indication that William Smith just had a son named James come of age. Now assuming that James was 21 in 1803, that would place his birth about 1782 or only one year different from the earliest for James "Jeams" Smith.

Now for additional evidence. Max you mentioned William receiving a grant in Glade Hollow. Refering to an abstract of the Washington Co., VA Surveyor's Book, page 73 we find: January 14, 1783 - William Smith, assignee of John Hays...4 00 ac...nigh the head of Glade Hollow joining Robert Dean, includes improvements, actual settlement made in 1776...September 1, 1781 From this we know that William Smith first settled in Glade Hollow in 1776. William received a second grant for 200 ac. adjoining this tract in 1789. Here is a Link to That Survey (Note: This Link No Longer Working as of 20 Jan 2019). Now, looking at the deeds, we find the following transaction from Russell Co. Deed Book #1 (abstracted):

Page 296 - September 17, 1793 between William Smith, Sr. & Elizabeth and James Pemberton... on the north side of Moqueson Ridge on the waters of Clinch River, a piece of land given by William Smith to his son Charles Smith, part of a tract of land granted to William Smith by patent dated September 11, 1789...Beginning at the corner of a conditional line made between William Smith & James Pemberton and run with the old marked conditional line...70 acres...Signed: William Smith & Elisabeth Smith. Witnesses: Anjer Price, Thomas Whiteley, George Smith.

From this we know that William was listed as a Sr., indicating he probably had a son named William, his wifes name was Elizabeth and that he also had a son named Charles. Note also the witness, George Smith. This piece of land was part of the tract from 1789 as indicated by later deeds. Charles Smith is listed with his father on the 1787-1789 tax lists and then he disappears. I don't know whether he died or moved away at this point. Ok, further researching the tax lists, we find that there w as a Moses Smith who first appeared on the 1788 tax list. There was nothing to indicate who he was at this time, howev er, on both the 1789 and 1790 tax lists there is the entry William & Moses Smith which clearly indicates that Moses was living with William during those years. Moses therefo re must have been another son of Williams. Moses is on the tax lists thru 1797 and then himself disappears. He apparently never owned land in Russell Co., but was a witness on two deeds, both of which were in Glade Hollow. I believe he probably moved away.

In the 1790 tax list we find that William Smith has two tithables from age 16-21 in his household. One of these is Moses. In 1791 Moses is back on his own and William has three tithables including himself, indicating two other sons. There is also another William who appears this year. In 1792 William is listed with only two tithables. Also appearing this year is Mann Smith as well as two John Smiths. Mann Smith moved to the lower district and died in 1793 as hi s estate was probabted in that year. Of the two John Smiths, one was only on the one list and then disappeared while the other was only on the 1792 & 1793 lists. I don't think they are related. The second William does not appear on this list. In 1793 William is again listed with two tithable s and the other William is back. In 1794 William again has two tithables and this year two George Smiths appear. In 1795 William is down to only one tithable and one of the George Smiths is now listed as George Smith of Glade Hollow. I believe that the second William Smith and George Smith are probably also sons of William & Elizabeth Smith. Reme mber above George was a witness on William Smith's deed. If all this is accurate it means that Williams & Elizabeth Smith had at least the following sons: Charles, Moses, Willi am, George and James, with James probably being the youngest.

Next look at the naming patterns in James "Jeams" Smith & Sarah Counts family. James & Sarah had a son named John & a daughter named Margaret after Sarah's parents. They also had a son named William and a daughter named Elizabeth as well as a son named George. With the knowledge that families at that time very much carried on names, it seems more than mere coincidence that James & Sarah would have three of their children named after three people in William Smith's family.

Now I have not yet found out what happened to all these people in William Smith's family. I haven't found that they died in Russell Co. so I think that most must have moved away. And, if this is the case, it may explain the legend of James coming from KY. It may be possible that the rest of the family moved away with some going to KY and James staying behind with his wifes family. If this were the case then it would seem reasonable that he may have visited family in KY and descendants may have believed that he came from there. Anyway, with all the above evidence, and the lack of any evidence to the contrary, my belief is that James "Jeams" Smith is most likely the son of William & Elizabeth Smith of Glade Hollow.

1820 Russell County, Virginia census

James Smyth 3 1 0 0 1 0 - 5 0 0 1 0
James Smyth 1 3 0 0 1 0 - 2 0 0 1 0