James was born 18 April 1829 in Russell County (now Dickenson), Virginia. I have found no exact date of his death. Based upon the recollections of his granddaughter Vesty Mullins, James died around 1914. I’ve heard conflicting stories on the location of his death. He died either in Pike county, Kentucky or Dickenson county, Virginia. I’ve searched through death records of both counties and can not find any record of his death being recorded.

James married Judith Bolling on September 20, 1849 in Pike County, Kentucky. (Register of the Ky Historical Society, Kentucky Marriage Records, Genealogical Publishing Company 1983 /1996 Baltimore, Md.). I have seen the name Theresa Potter as a 2nd wife. However, I can find no record  of any marriage other than Judith.

• Residence:(from census records)
• 1850 - Russell County Virginia Census District 54
• 1853 - Logan County, Va. (now W. Va.). Savilla (Mullins) Wallace death certificate states that she was born in Logan County.  I can find no other evidence of this. James grandfather “Counterfeiting Sol” was living in Boone county, Wva. (formerly Logan) so, it is possible that James and family was living with or near Sol when Savilla was born in 1853. 
• 1860 - Wise County, Virginia (Wise formed from Russell in 1856). James and family are living next to his father Eli and Eli’s brother William.
• 1870 - Wise County, Virginia Walker Census District. James and family are living between two Branham families.
• 1880 - Pike County, Kentucky Lower Elkhorn Census District
• 1900 - Pike County, Kentucky Lower Elkhorn Census District. James adult son Spencer and grand daughter Juda are living with him and Judith.
• 1910 - Pike County, Kentucky Lower Elkhorn Census District. James and Judith are living with Spencer - identified on the census as Mage. James’s son Andy is the next family listed on the census.

James was 32 years old when the “War Between the States” started. According to family oral history he would not join either side. He chose to hide in the mountains during the day and came down to work his fields at night. Some even speculated that he probably wasn’t hiding out - he was up there protecting his still. I don’t know when or why James and family moved into Kentucky. After the war ended and the reconstruction period started many land owners lost land. This could possibly be the reason that the family moved. However, I’ve found no evidence that supports my theory.

There are multiple indictments for James in Dickenson County, Virginia for possession of a gun on a Sunday and moonshining.

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Copyright 2007 - 2008 Thomas Andrew Mullins