James Monroe Partridge (1836-1905)

aka James M. Partridge

Note: This is an older research article that has been moved to the new format. Since the initial writing of this article in 2002, I have made a match for James and identified him as the likely son of William A. Partridge of Georgia.

James Monroe Partridge, b. in AL or GA on 5 Mar 1836 enlisted in Company G, Hillaby Rifles, 14 Alabama Infantry on 24 July 1861 in Hackenville (Hackneyville), Tallapoosa Co., AL. He was injured in the Battle of Salem Church, Virginia on 3 May 1863. He died 1 Mar 1905 in Pope County, Arkansas, and is interred in the White Church Cemetery, Pope County, Arkansas. We know for certain that he married Minnie Page, b. 1843/5 in MS, d. in Arkansas. That marriage bore the following children:

1. Benjamin Partridge, b. 1861 in AL.
2. Alapeirs “Alley” Fair Partridge, b. 1866 at Lafayette Co., Mississippi. Married Pleasant Bradford Looper, 17 Jul 1884 at Pope County, Arkansas. Marriage record stated both parties were from Silex, Arkansas. They were married by David Hall JP. ^[1]Book F, page 132
3. Ida D. Partridge, b. 1868 at MS; married Joseph McGowen, 21 Feb 1884 at Pope County, Arkansas.
4. Paterson W. Partridge, b. 1872 at Arkansas. Married Jeanie.
5. Celia Partridge, b. 1876 at Arkansas.
6. Mary M. Partridge, b. 1878 at Arkansas.

Out of wedlock child:

1. Jesse Harrison Partridge, b. 25 Mar 1882, d. 12 Mar 1966 in Arkansas. Jesse had the following child:
   1. Donald Partridge, later in life resided in California. Donald had the following child:
      1. Lisa Partridge, who in 1996 resided in Oregon.

Who are the Parents of James Monroe Partridge?

Lisa is attempting to verify her ancestry and can only get as far as James Monroe Partridge.

The problem we have in verifying James M. Partridge’s birth is the lack of birth records in both GA and AL during this time period, and the abundance of James, J. M., and James M. Partridge’s and variant spellings that can be found in Alabama and Georgia.

I believe in theory that most Partridge’s in GA and AL came from three families:

1. Nicholas Partridge of Sussex Co., Virginia.
2. Captain Nathaniel Partridge of Richland Co., South Carolina.
3. Daniel Partridge of Mobile Co., Alabama (descendant of William Partridge of Portsmouth, New Hampshire).

Daniel Partridge can be ruled out immediately; John is a possible; Nicholas a probable. Nathaniel’s descendants appeared to have stayed in South Carolina and then mainly Florida after the Civil War, although a few migrated into Georgia. My main emphasis on Nicholas Partridge of Chatham Co., North Carolina stems from the list of his ancestors with the names of Jesse and James. The only known possible candidate from my list of descendants of Nicholas is a James M. Partridge who can be found in the 1850 Census of GA with his father Jesse in Odessedale, Meriwether Co., GA at age 15. It is most likely, however, that this is not the James M. we are searching for as he was born in 1836 and this James M. was born in 1835.

In order to better understand this situation I feel it is necessary to review the migratory habit of Nicholas’ family. The great-grand-children of Nicholas can be found in the following counties of Georgia during the 1820 Census.

Henry – Washington Co.

William – Washington Co.

Thomas – Jones Co.

Nicholas – Jones Co.

James – Jones Co.

During the 1830 Census Henry and William remained in Washington Co., and Nicholas remained in Jones Co.; Thomas removed from Jones Co. to Monroe Co. and James removed from Jones Co. to Upson Co.

During the 1840 Census Henry and William removed from Washington Co., to AL, William’s son, Madison can now be found in Walker Co., GA; Nicholas removed from Jones Co. to Meriwether Co., and Jesse can now also be found in Meriwether Co.; Thomas removed from Monroe Co. to Macon Co., and James remained in Upson Co.

From what I can detail from later census extractions the Upson Co. families remained there; as already mentioned the Washington Co., families migrated into Tallapoosa Co., AL, Madison eventually following; the Meriwether Co. families migrated into Troup Co., GA and Chambers Co., AL, and Tallapoosa Co., Al.

It would seem therefore that the main effort to find this James Monroe should concentrate on the families from Washington Co., GA, and Meriwether Co., GA. Doing so I would like to look further into James M. (b. 1835), son of Jesse. As was already mentioned the descendants of Jesse can be found not only in Meriwether Co., but also Troup Co., GA, and Chambers Co., and Tallapoosa Co., AL. I can find in the Marriage records of Chambers Co., AL is a James M. Partridge who married Missouri A. Turner on 15 Oct 1854. I believe that this James is the son of Jesse of Odessedale, he would have been 19 at the time of his marriage. There weren’t any Partridge families in the 1860 AL census listed in Chambers Co. There were many however listed in other parts of the state, especially, Tallapoosa Co., AL. There was also a Missouri Partridge listed in Rockdale, Randolph Co., AL.

As for the Confederate Records of Alabama, the following is known by myself. There appears to be two different James M. Partridge’s. This may only be an appearance however, as they may be all one and the same. The following is what I have, by order of date:

James, Company G, (Hillaby Rifles) 14 Alabama Infantry Regiment – this company organized in Randolph Co., AL. J.M., (age 25) Company G, 14 Alabama Infantry Regiment, enlisted 5 September 1861 from Tallapoosa Co., AL. J.M., (widow, Ida) Company F, First Alabama Infantry, enlisted in 1862 at Montgomery, resided 1900 in Shelby Co., Al. James M., Company A, 47 Alabama Infantry Regiment, enlisted 20 March 1862 in Tallapoosa Co., AL.

It is very important to note that J.M. may stand for John M., or Jessie Madison, both of which resided in Tallapoosa Co., AL at the time.

The following are the marriage records of which I have a record of in Tallapoosa County Alabama:

Book 2

#210 John M. Partridge and Ardimintha Foster, 30 July 1846. Book 3,

#36 James F. Partridge and Jane C. Baker, 14 November 1850. Book 3,

#152 James Partridge, Sr. and Mary A. Gallagar, 21 August 1856. Book 3,

#216 James M. Partridge and Frances C. Partridge, 19 December 1856. Book 3,

#581 James M. Partridge and Augusta Ann Hubbard, 9 July 1859 – license returned. Book 3,

#681 James M. Partridge and George Ann Cassady, 15 December 1859. Book 4,

#144 Jesse Partridge and Matilda Weldon, 7 August 1861.

Notice the consistency of J.M. initials. There was also one other J.M. that I am aware of:

Jesse Madison Partridge who married Francis Elizabeth Perryman, Jesse was a native of Meriwether Co., Georgia and settled in New Site, Alabama. He had at least the following child:

1. John William Partridge, b. 18 December 1872; married Lodeska Harsley, 22 March 1896 at Hurtsboro, Alabama. Issue:
   1. Jessie
   2. Jimmie
   3. Eloise, resided in Russellville, Alabama.

James Monroe Partridge’s Civil War Record

Alabama

James M. Partridge

Application for Pension: Application of James M. Partridge for a Confederate Veteran Pension in Pope Co., Arkansas. Mr. Partridge swore he served in Company G. 14th Regiment of Alabama Inf. Volunteers. He was honorably discharged July 1864. He was wounded by a cannon shot in the left side which was received at Chancellorsville 3 May 1864. Reason for application was a rupture of the right side and vertigo. Signed by James M. Partridge 26 June 1902. E. S. Bradley: Notary Public. He was allowed $50.00 per month at that time.

Evidence of Physician: James M. Partridge of Turnersville, Yell Co., Arkansas, was examined and found to have a cannon shot wound of the left side. Rupture of right side and vertigo. he is physically broken down from the disabilities stated above along with old age. He was found to have half disability. He can do about one day’s work in two days. Attest: Physician C.K. Canslee. (question spelling of last name.)

Proof of Civil War Record: Alabama County of Tallapoosa. J.A. Ferrel and W.H. Green (comrades) from said County state they had known James M. Partridge for 40 years. That he was in Company G 14th Regiment Alabama Infantry Volunteers from July 1861 until July 1864. He was cannon shot in the left side which was received at Chancellorsville, 3 May 1864. Signed 21 November 1901 by the above witness. In Pope Co. H.W. Cobbs and Z.T. Trantham witnessed they also knew J.M. Partridge and that he was unable to work.

Widows application for pension: Minnie Partridge swears she was the widow of James M. Partridge who served in the 14th Reg. of Volunteers for Alabama and that he died at his home near Tunersville, Arkansas on the 27th day of February 1905 of Brights Disease. Signed (her marke) 24th of June 1905. W.H. Poynler and D.C. Brown of Pope Co. swore that they knew the applicants husband James M. Partridge for 35 years. Minnie was allowed $50.00 per month at that time.