Halifax County, NC, DB 25, 32 (271), Mary Iles to James Iles, January 31, 1820, For "a comfortable support for life." acres which was willed to me for life or widowhood by John Iles dec'd joining Susanna Iles, Jr. and others
His land abutted the Edmonds and Womble's. Given to James upon his mother's remarriage.
James Iles first appears in the 1830 Bledsoe County, TN census, page 280. Included in his household are his wife, an older woman( 60-70) and two teen-age girls (10-15), possibly his Mother," Polly " and two sisters.
In 1835 Bledsoe County Deeds, Page 339 George W. Campbell to Sam McReynold 1369 acres in Bledsoe County, improvements by James Iles, John Pope, Nathan Sweat and Solomon Beason. Recorded March 19, 1835. Witnessed by Valentine Spring, William Anderson and James Lloyd.
1837 Tax List District 6 Isles, James
1838 Tax List District 6 Isle, James
1839 Tax List District 6 Iles, James
1840 Bledsoe County census Page 147, written 13, District 5 James Iles and his wife are recorded with two small children, John Iles and Nancy Iles.
1840 Bledsoe County census Page 15 District 5, Elenor Knight, widow of Jonathan Knight, and her youngest son are living not too far from James and his wife. In this same area are the Bromley (Brumley) and Grigory (Gregory) families. These families married into the Knight family.
March 15, 1844 James Iles purchased eighty-eight acres of land at the Bledsoe County Courthouse, formerly owned by Eleanor Knight, widow of Jonathan Knight, for 1843 delinquent taxes. This property had been transferred to Jonathan Knight on January 20, 1825 Entry No. 194. The Gazette of Chattanooga advertised the sale of the properties for delinquent taxes in their Saturday, May 18, 1844, publication.
According to James Iles great granddaughter, Ida Potter Brackett, the daughter of Tennessee Iles and John C. Potter, James Iles drove his cattle across the mountain from Pikeville to Sale Creek where he spent the night going on to the cattle yard at Chattanooga, the next day. On February 7th 1850 James Iles purchased 77 acres of land in Sale Creek, Hamilton Co., TN from A. Martin, Record Book H No. 165. I have been unable to find a record of the 88 acres of land in Pikeville being sold back to the Knight family, but it did revert to a member of the family at some point.
1850 Census Hamilton County, Tennessee District 27, Family 299, p 149, name spelled Eles, James 49, Ellender 38 b Tenn with children John 12, Nancy 10, William 8 and Jesse 7
Before the death of David Gray, he worked up a family tree chart for Michael Iles, while he was in high school. David Gray lists James Iles wife as Mary. Because of the change in ages recorded in the census and the inability to find the older sister of Ellender Knight Iles, it could be possible that Ellender is the second wife of James Iles and her older sister, Mary, was his first wife.
1860 Census Hamilton County, Tennessee H2081, p 91, District 11, Sale Creek, James 58, Elender 49 b Ky, Nancy 20, WIlliam 18, Jessie 16, Leanor 6
Hamilton County TN, WIll Book 1, page 43, Will of James Iles, Dec'd (proven Sept Term 1868)
I, James Iles of the County of Hamilton and State of Tennessee do make and publish this as my last will and Testament -
1st after all my just Debts are paid, that my beloved wife Elender Iles have during her natural life the farm on which I now live on with all the proceeds of the same and she have all my personal property and that she dispose of the same or enough of it as will pay all of my debts and if there is any remaining, she is to use it as it seems best to her.
Second, it is my wish and desire also that my beloved daughter Leanaher J Iles be educated and maintained out of the proceeds of the farm until she arrive at the age of twenty one, if she marrys before that time it stops and when she arrives at the age of twenty one or marrys before that time, it is my desire that for the love I have for her that she have out of my property or the proceeds of the farm. That she have one bed and furniture, one cow and calf and sow and pigs, one bee stand and one sheep. It is my desire that my beloved wife give her as near the amount as she can, that I gave my other children when they were married. It is also my desire if my beloved wife should die before my beloved daughter Leanaher J Iles arrives at the age of twenty one that my beloved daughter L J Iles have the proceeds of my farm until she is twenty one or if she marrys before she arrives at twenty one it stops. It is my will and desire that at the death of my beloved wife Elender Iles that my lands be equally divided between my beloved children. John Iles or his heirs, Nancy A Elsea formerly Nancy Iles, Leanagher J Iles or their heirs. It is also my desire that my beloved wife pay out of my property, the amount of a note executed by me and John Iles to J H Shipley, the dates and amount I misremember, as my beloved son John Iles has paid me, to pay the whole amount of the debts off is also my will at my death for the love I have for my son John Iles that he have my Rifle Gun which Gun my Executors is not to take or numberate with the balance of any property. It is my desire that my wife have all the bounties and wages that is coming to me from the government by the death of my two sons and that she apply the same to the payment of my debts.
Lastly, it is my will and desire for the confidence I have in my beloved wife Elender Iles, she be appointed Executrix of this my last will and testament and that she is not to be required to give security as Executrix. Given under my hand and seal this 9th August 1868
Attest: J B Thomas
James Barnes James Iles Seal
Mount Vernon Baptist Cemetery in Sale Creek is located 32 miles north east Chattanooga follow Hwy 27 north to Daughtery Ford Road (28 miles), turning 2 miles NE to Shipley Hollow Road 2 miles. Grave in the old portion of the cemetery behind the Church down the hillside.
James Iles June 10, 1802 died August 10, 1868, Age 66 years and 2 months, " Sleep on dear one and take thy rest; God called the (sic) home; He thought it best"
Mary E West, 4802 Alpine Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37415, 615-870-4700
