Journal Report

Descendants of (--?--) James



Generation One


34. (--?--)1 James134 married Jane Spencer. (--?--) died.
Jane Spencer.135 Jane died.
Children of (--?--)1 James and Jane Spencer were as follows:

Generation Two


35. William2 James ((?)1).138,139,140 William was born at England. He married Jane Frances. William died.
He witnessed the biography of William James: (an unknown value); According to Alice Ayer Williams and Clementine Ayer Morse he was the younger son of the Earl of Carmarthen. I have not been able to prove this. He came to America and settled in Richmond, VA. He was in the shipping business between Canada and Liverpool (his wife wrote a poem while sailing from St Johns, New Brunswick and Liverpool). He was also involved in shipping to China and other eastern ports. Most of the beautiful and valuable things that he collected during his travels were lost when Richmond was burned during the Civil War. During the war he and his family moved to Washington because he was a Union man. At the time of his daughter Jennie's wedding they were living at 302 13th St in Washington. His son, Samuel, said (in his 1904 Civil War Pension application) that there were nine children of which four were still alive.
Jane Frances.141,142 Jane was born at Wales. Jane died. She witnessed the biography of Jane Frances: (an unknown value); During the Civil War she helped the wounded and dying in hospitals. She often wrote letters to the families of the soldiers that died. She is mentioned in the biography of her son-in-law Ira Ayer, II because after writing a letter to the family of a soldier from Ira's regiment Ira came to thank her. This is when Ira and Jennie met. According to Alice Ayer Williams and Clementine Ayer Morse she is one of the few woman mentioned in "Deeds of the Civil War" (this book may have been "Martial Deed of Pennsylvania). She crossed the Atlantic 24 four times and Jennie was born on one of those trips. Below is a poem she wrote during a particularly rough passage. The ship was traveling from New Brunswick to Liverpool when it encountered a terrible storm.

      STANSAS
      Written on board the "Lillies"
      on a passage from St John NB for Liverpool

     In the "Lilies" from the port of "St John" we set sail.
     Towed out by the steam boat, with a southerly gale,
     Around the bluff headlands where the winds wildly blow
     Away! far away! to the Eastward we'll go
      II
     Three cheers 'from the gallant ship soon rose on high
     And rang through the vapour that obscured the sky,
     But twill soon clear away and Norwesters will blow
     Bound away to the East ward in the "Lillies" we'll go,
      III
     Night soon came on and the winds wilder blew
     We stood by and up our top gallants did clew
     While the tempest tossed ship lay rolling to and fro
     Bound away to the East ward in the "Lillies" we go
      IIII
     We beat down the bay for two days or more
     Till the winds drove us down on the bold Yarmouth shore
     Our foresail to pieces while we "ware ship" is rent
     But another good sail in it's place soon is bent,
      V
     The wild "Petite "passage" lay under our lee
     Either we must run through it or lost we shall be
     Either we must run through it from the frost and the snow
     Or away to the Eastward we never shall go
      VI
     So now then Lay aft-every soul of our crew
     Stand by your "Clewgarnets" your mainsail up Clew
     Jump start your main Jack and let your wheel flow
     And flying away to the passage we go.
      VII
     We near it hope in each sailors heart now beats high
     Alternately "luff" and "Keep away" is the cry
     We clear it. We fly from the frost & the snow.
     And in triumph away to the Eastward we go.
      VIII
     But still there Cape Sable looms out on our lee
     Board your main tack and we'll stand out to sea
     And now let the west winds more wildly blow
     For before them in triumph to the Eastward we go
      IX
     Still wilder and wilder the good west wind blows
     Think our good starboard anchor is adrift from the boat
     And our boatswain washed away with a wild [Gyfar - may be Gybe or Jibe]
     Still away far away far away to the Eastward we go
      X
     Our anchors secured we snugged every sail
     And ran 'fore the fury of that western gale
     Away from New Brunswick and the [ice] & the snow
     In the wild Ocean "Lillies" to the Eastward we go

     We run fore the fury of that western sea
     Till our bulwarks are stove and life boats washed away
     But the west wind is Blowing. so let each sheet flow
     And away! far away! to the East ward we go.

     Let her ride o'er the foam let her bend to the blast
     Thirteen knots are counted as each hour is past
     Blow good wind and we fly from the frost and the snow
     And in triumph away to the East ward we go

     But Hark! the ship popps she is struck by the sea
     Our wheel is all smashed and taffrel rail washed away
     Our foresail is split [Dump] and up it blew
     As flying wildly away to the Eastward we go

     Lay aft with your tackles lay aft all our crew
     Quick with your helm up before we come to
     There away she goes off 'fore her deadly foe
     Like lightning away to the East ward we go

      These lines are most respectfully dedicated to the Captain & passengers of the ship "Lillies" and will be concluded on arrival in the Mersey.

     -- Clew-garnet is the tackle used to furl the lower square-sails.
     -- "Till the bulwarks are stave" means till the bulwarks are broken.
     -- Taffrel rail or taffrail is the rail around transom of a ship.
Children of William2 James and Jane Frances were as follows:

Generation Three


43. Virginia 'Jennie'3 James (William2, (?)1).160,161,162,163 Virginia was born in Aug 1845 at on a boat crossing the Atlantic. She married Ira Ayer II on 21 Dec 1863 at Foundry Meth. Epis. Church, Washington, DC.164 Virginia died on 25 Jan 1907 at age 61.
She witnessed the biography of Virginia 'Jennie' James: (an unknown value); The 1900 census says that she had six children all of whom were still alive. According to tradition, her pension application, and a biography of her husband, her name was Jennie but the census identifies her as Virginia. At the time of her husband's death she received a life insurance settlement of $5,800 of which $3,800 had to go to settle debts. She received a pension until her death.
Her common name was Jennie.
Ira Ayer II.165,166,167,168,169,170 Ira was born on 14 Jul 1836 at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY. Ira died on 3 Feb 1903 at 37 Cambridge Pl, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY, at age 66. He witnessed the biography of Ira Ayer II: (an unknown value); The following is from a book called "Marital Deeds of Pennsylvania" written by Samuel P. Bates. It was published in 1874 by T. H. Davis & Co in 1875. The book contains biographies of many of the more prominent people that fought in the Civil War from Pennsylvania.
      Ira Ayer, Jr., Colonel of the Tenth Reserve regiment, was born in Erie county, New York, on the 14th of July, 1836. He was son of Ira and Julia M. (Wadsworth) Ayer. At the opening of the Rebellion he was a student of Allegheny College. Without waiting for authority he called together his fellow-students, and having had some training in the Sixty-seventh militia, of which his father was Colonel, commenced drilling them. Though earnest in his appeals his company failed of acceptance, until the Reserve corps was authorized, when it was mustered as Company I of the Tenth. He was first in action at Dranesville. He seems to have had a poetic appreciation of valor; for when General Ord, who commanded in the battle, came galloping forward, leading Easton's battery into action, he thus records his impressions: "Just then Ord came dashing up. `Make way for my artillery,' he shouted, and without slackening his speed dashed by, while his `war-dogs' followed close behind. The General was an old artillerist, and knew well how to value this arm of the service. The scene was, I think. the most animated that I witnessed during the war. He was mounted on a beautiful bay, and as he rode up, his eyes flashing fire and every lineament of his countenance betokening courage, his presence inspired all with confidence."
      In the battle of Beaver Dam Creek he was sent forward with his company to occupy the skirmish line, and remained in this advanced position during the entire engagement, the regiment ??quitting itself in the most gallant manner. "About ten o'clock," he says, "the roar of artillery had ceased. In our advanced position we could hear distinctly the movements of the enemy, and the cries and shrieks of the wounded and dying, as lay where they had fallen or were being moved from the field." In the battle of the following day, at Gaines' Mill, he received a gunshot wound in the right side and a severe contusion of the right arm. "Colonel Warner," he says, "mustered the regiment on the 30th, and I shall never forget the glow of soldierly pride with which he commended the company's bravery, and viewed its thinned but still compact ranks." And now came the change of base, with infinite discomfort to the wounded and worn-out soldiers. But a place of rest had not been gained before the enemy attacked, now at Charles City Cross Roads. The Reserves felt the first shock and were terribly scourged, but suffered no diminution of gallantry. In the Seven Days of this contest Captain Ayer's company lost more heavily in killed and wounded than any in the division. As it was the representative of one of the prominent colleges in the State, the fact may be regarded as significant.
      At Bull Run, Captain Ayer received a severe wound. Passing over this field nearly a year afterwards the recollection of the battle were brought vividly to his mind and he thus wrote to a friend: "A little farther on we came to the scene of our last year's operations. There is the very field where we lay, Thursday night, August 28th, all day under a hot sun, covered a little from the enemy. This was near Groveton. Yonder is the wood where our regiment made a charge to take a rebel battery, but without success, and there is the field where they shelled us after dark, throwing their missiles very accurately, but, as it happened, without effect. That was Friday evening, the 29th; and there is the field where our regiment stood picket the same night. Passing on a little farther we come to the house hear which we lay Saturday, before we were ordered into the engagement. But here to the right is the very spot where the regiment fought. There fell Captain Hinchman, of Company A, and it is said that he is buried in that little rail enclosure. Here, too, fell Tryon and Pearl; and Phelps, out Lieutenant, a bold and dashing officer, was shot through the breast. No better men graced the ranks of the Union army. On this same ridge the rebel bullet struck my arm, and another went through my hat. The former made a sad hole in my canteen, causing all my cold coffee to run out. The boys in going over the field to-day found what they asserted to be the self-same canteen; but they were mistaken, for I carried it off with me." His wound was a severe one, fracturing the left forearm. At Gettysburg, while reconnoitring, he was fired at by two sharpshooters from an unexpected quarter, but was not hit. Turning suddenly back, a third shot was fired, which just grazed his side, making a deep abrasion, and would have done certain execution had it not been fired at the instant of his turning away, carrying him out of aim after the missile had actually left the piece.
      He had been promoted to the rank of Major on the 18th of October, 1862, and on the 18th of December, 1863, was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and placed in command of the regiment. When it entered the Wilderness campaign it went with the free step and resolute mien of the best trained and organized soldiers. It had not penetrated far before the old foe was met. In a letter dated May 6th, the second day of the battle, he says: "Our division had been rapidly ordered forward, preparatory as was supposed to a charge upon the enemy's works. I was leading my regiment my regiment into line when hit by a bullet from the one of the enemy's sharpshooters, which passed through the large bone of my leg, causing a very painful though I hope not dangerous wound. I was compelled to leave the field at once, which I did after exhorting my men to do their duty."
      For more than a year after the Reserve corps had completed its period of service and been mustered out he was disabled. He was brevetted Colonel for this action, and was warmly complimented by Generals Crawford and Fisher. Only by wounds, however, was he kept from the field, possessing a good constitution and actuated by real patriotism. In person he is six feet in height, well formed, and of fair complexion. At college he manifested a strong liking for mathematics and natural science, and later in his course for lingual studies. Strictly temperate--of tobacco and spirituous liquors abstemious--he was little affected by temptation, as the habits of youth are strengthened and firmed by time.
      Colonel Ayer was married on the 21st of December, 1863, to Miss Jennie James, whose mother had, during the war, ministered at the bedside of many sick and dying soldiers, evincing a patriotism as sincere and fervid as the man who bore the musket and met face to face the foe. She watched at the side of one of the brave men of Ayer's company, Edwin B. Pier, a scholar of promise, and after his death wrote a most touching letter, descriptive of the Christian fortitude of the departed young soldier. When Ayer next visited Washington, he called upon the family to tender his acknowledgments for the kindness shown his beloved companion-in-arms, and then for the first time met the daughter. The acquaintance ripened into esteem, and finally resulted in their marriage. At the close of the war, Colonel Ayer settled in Virginia, and now resides at Norfolk, where he holds a responsible position in the civil service of the General Government.
      The following is the Civil War record of Ira Ayer, Jr. rebuilt from his military records and other sources.
     June 14, 1861 - Ira Ayer, Jr. enlisted as Capt. "to fill an original vacancy" in Co I, 10th Reg't Pennsylvania Reserve Corps for a period of three years.
     July 21, 1861 Harrisburg, PA - reported for duty.
     Sept. & Oct., 1861 - Muster roll - present.
     Nov. & Dec., 1861 - Muster roll - present.
     Jan. & Feb., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Mar. & Apr., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     May. & June., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Aug. 29&30, 1862 - Wounded at Bull Run.
     July. & Aug., 1862 - Muster roll - absent - wounded.
     Sept. & Oct., 1862 - Muster roll - absent - wounded in hospital.
     Oct. 27, 1862 Buffalo - Letter from Doctor "To whom it may concern...the arm of Capt Ayer...tho doing well, it would be ingurious if not dangerous to attempt to use it for at least twenty days yet."
     Nov. & Dec., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Jan. & Feb., 1863 - Muster roll - present commanding Regiment.
     Apr. 10, 1863 - Special Muster roll - present.
     Apr. 22, 1863 - Promoted to Major.
     Mar. & Apr., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     May 1, 1863 Washington, DC - Individual Muster-out roll - age 25.
     May 13, 1863 Washington, DC - Individual Muster-in roll - age 25.
     May. & June., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Jul. & Aug., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Sept. & Oct., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Nov. & Dec., 1863 - Muster roll - absent on leave.
     Dec. 13, 1863 - From [Manenton] Junction applied for a pass to Alexandria for three days to transact private business.
     Dec. 15, 1863 - Went on leave.
     Dec. 18, 1863 - Printed Special Order 560. War Department Adjutant General's Office, Washington,
     December 18th, 1863. (Extract)
      27. The leave of absence granted Major Ira Ayer, 10th Pennsylvania Reserves, in Special Orders, No. 551, December 12th, 1863, from this Office, is hereby extended fifteen days.
      By order of the Secretary of War:
      Signed by E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General. Dec. 21, 1863 Washington - Ira and Jennie got married.
     Jan. 15, 1864 - Returned from leave.
     Feb. 27, 1864 - Promoted to Lieut. Colonel to replace retiring Lt. Col. J. B. Knox. Took Oath of Office as Lieut. Colonel in Bristow Va.
     Jan. & Feb., 1864 - Muster roll - present.
     Mar. & Apr., 1864 - Muster roll - present.
     May 6, 1864 - Wounded by "minie ball" in right leg at Wilderness.
     May 12, 1864 - Admitted to a hospital (stamp says 3rd Div G. Alexandria, Va). Record says age: 28, Nativity: New York, Married, Residence: Washington, DC, wife: Jennie Ayer of 13th St. Washington, DC, Rank: Lt. Col. from Army of the Potomac. Back says Patient was received at 12ock at Night and transferred the Next Morning 7ock. no description of wound taken.
     May 13, 1864, Trasferred to Washington, DC [Seminary] Hospital. No date - Treated at Vol. Officers Hospital for G. S. W. (gun shot wound) Leg.
     June 11, 1864 - Discharged. "this records that the above named officer was discharged the service June 11, 1864, by reason of the muster out of the field and staff on that date, he being at the time absent wounded." He was in Gent. Hospital in Washington, DC.
     June 22, 1867 - Appointed Colonel by Brevet for "gallant conduct at the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia. To date from March 13, 1865."
     According to tradition, he had a stillborn twin brother. According to himself, he was 5'11", had a light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. He was a student at Allegheny College at the start of the Civil War studying to become a minister. He enlisted with 100 other students and was unanimously elected the captain of the Company. After training them very quickly they fought throughout the war during which time he was seriously wounded several times. After he was wounded in the leg he was treated at Seminary General Hospital in Georgetown, DC. He got married during the last year of the war. After the war he again served in the army from 1865 through 1867 and was stationed in the West. Part of that time he served on the Bureau of Refugees, Freed men, and Abandoned Lands. In 1869 he was appointed to the Treasury Department. According to an obituary (source unknown), he was always given the most important and delicate investigations. He was stationed in Norfolk, VA around 1871-5 (listed in city directories from 1872-1875/6). His daughter Alice said that she was born there and some pictures of the family were printed there. However, his family spent much of the time living in Richmond and Ashland with his in-laws. Between 1886 and 1888 he was special agent in charge of San Francisco. After that he was made statistician for the Treasury Department for the tin-plate industry, under the operation of the McKinley law. Then he worked to establish the rate of "drawback" on merchandise exported from this country. From about 1888 until the time of his death he was stationed at the port of New York. In 1892 in President Benjamin Harrison's fourth annual message to Congress he mentioned Ira by name while referring to a report done by Ira on the tin industry. He said "The report of Ira Ayer, special agent of the Treasury Department, shows that..." In 1900 he was renting a house at 37 Cambridge Pl., Brooklyn, NY. His wife and all his children were living there except Ira, III and Alice. They were both married at the time. He had a servant living there name Lena Curtis. Because of his war injuries he received a pension from 1875 until his death. For more information on his accomplishments during the Civil War see the section on him.
Children of Virginia 'Jennie'3 James and Ira Ayer II were as follows:


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