The Family of Jesse Woodson James

 

And Others....

My intent here is not to create confusion, strife or even conversation, the information I am to give in the following is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I am not beyond error but believe none is present. If you choose to, prove me, or disprove me, my objective is to find truth, if you disagree with any portion please explain and provide what proof you may have. This was created for use of genealogist, historians and researchers with real intent, and pure motive to correct the linage and history of Jesse Woodson James and those touched by his life. 

Finding a title for this article was not easy as most combinations have been used. This project began as a result of being asked to evaluate the contents of the book Jesse James was one of His Names, (The Black Book) The objective was to try to validate the many controversial statements made within, or disprove them, to date, I have not been able to disprove anything in the book although many things remain to be assessed, I have however validated many statements or claims made within. It has gone beyond a project, it has become an obsession, it pulls at me I just have to straighten out the mess created by would be researchers, historians and academics whom it seems never learned how to ask questions but instead they just follow the leader… It is my recommendation that the researcher take the book more serious than has been in the past by researchers and academics. And Incidentally, DNA is not the answer… in fact it has become part of the problem.

The real image of Jesse W James

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After 7 years of what I thought would be a simple task, I have come to see first hand and realize just how misinformed or should we just say screwed up the history of the real Jesse James is. I don’t think we can lay all the blame on the many history writers and those who pretend by flexing their egos through such avenues as WIKI who are mostly guilty of nothing more than believing everything they read… one after another regurgitating what can only be classified as pure bullshit based upon many authors of even more bullshit all based on the narrative of those who created again, the bullshit history of the Civil war, pardon the backwoods slang. 

The intent herein is not to hash out the true history of the Civil war which I have already done in a very small way compared to what is still to tell. A majority of the so called researchers of history have succumbed to what can no longer be seen as research but simply filling their heads with regurgitated garbage of those looking to sell books. 

In this article I will not be presenting the many reasons for the conclusions I will make, however I will say that my findings are based upon real research, actually taking the time to piece things together, bits a pieces of evidence gathered in this quest which started with only an objective to prove or disprove the “Black Book.” It has gone far past a project; it has become an obsession due to the frustrations I have suffered and my meticulous nature in finding the plausible truth based on the many types of evidence there is, Physical evidence, Testimonial, Demonstrative, Documentary, photographic and something that seems to be a dying principle, Common sense, and lets not forget coincident of which I do not believe in. Yet as I read what the many book authors, so called scholars, researchers and historians have wrote with no more effort than regurgitation, the more frustrating it becomes. In short, all histories tables are full of vomit. 

My intent in this is to wake the many genealogist to the possible truths shake those historians that have what it takes to waken to the truth of the matter rather than the lazy way of just picking up a book based on other books based on more books based on the bullshit curriculum of the victors in war, designed to keep you ignorant.

A simple example of how easy it is if we just learn a simple principle, ASK! When reading the supposed history, question it, something as simple as pictures could open the eyes if the readers and researchers would just LOOK! 

Here is one of many examples I will insert before I get started… 

Researchers and historians, if you think these two woman are one and the same person, you need your head examined. And yet article after article web page after web page and books, can’t seem to decide which picture to use and often they are used side by side, do they think we are stupid? Doubtful, IT IS their own ignorance that blinds them.

 

They look nothing alike! Do I need more evidence or is it plain to see? Surprisingly enough, many cannot see the blatant difference. Perhaps the reason for this mix up is that Myra’s Confederate spy name for a time, was Bell Star.

 

Jesse Woodson James (Kentucky Born)

 Let’s start with Jesse who is the most misunderstood character of the Civil War, but lets start with the right Jesse, there were three… yes three.

(Kentucky Born) Jesse Woodson James, brother to Dr, Sylvester Franklin James (Frank James) and who were the Sons of Mollie Dalton and Captain George Strother James, the very man who fired the first cannon shot in 1861 at Fort Sumter. Jesse was NEVER married to Zerelda Mims. Nephew of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James. Cousin to Zeralda Mims. Died 1951

 

Progressive photos of Jesse Woodson James, these photos are among the only real photos of Jesse with the questionable top right photo most used for Jesse.

 

 

Missouri Born Jesse Robert (Dingus) James. First Cousin to Jesse Woodson James and Sylvester Franklin James and coconspirator. Son of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James.  Brother to Missouri Born, Alexander Franklin James, The other “Frank James.” Jesse Robert was also never married to Zerelda Mims. No photos are known at this time.

 

Sylvester Franklin James (Kentucky Born) BROTHER of Jesse W James and is usually the very “ Frank James.” in about half the stories. Frank is also the Son of Mollie Dalton and Captain George Strother James. Nephew of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James.

 

Sylvester Franklin James

 

Alexander Franklin James (Missouri Born) First Cousin to Jesse Woodson James and Sylvester Franklin James, THIS is the son of Zerelda Cole James and Rev. Robert James, and is usually the very “ Frank James.” in about half the OTHER stories.

 

Possible Photo of Alexander Franklin James

More Likely a possible Photo of Missouri born Alexander Franklin James

NOT to be confused with 

Sylvester Franklin James, brother of Jesse Woodson James

 

But the Second Photo is just as possible as being Alexander Franklin James and more likely than the previous 

Cousin Jesse Ballard James who was hung by the damned Yankees at Dora Missouri. 1862. No known Photo.

 

George Strother James (Jesse Woodson and Sylvester Franklin James’s Father) Brother to Rev. Robert James. Uncle to Jesse Robert and Alexander Franklin James. Husband of Mollie Dalton. History is correct in that he was the first to fire a cannon at Fort Sumter kicking off the Civil War, and he did not die in 1862, the center photo below was taken in 1920.

 

George Strother James

Jesse Woodson’s Father

 

 

Mollie Dalton, Georgia Born, (Molly) (Matilda?) (Jesse Woodson and Sylvester Franklin James’s Mother) A real lady by any standard. Sister to James Lewis Dalton who is the father of the Dalton Brothers. Parents possibly Benjamin Dalton and Nancy Rabourn.

 

Molly Dalton

Jesse Woodson James’s Mother

 

Myra MayBelle Shirley, Daughter of Judge John Shirley and Elizabeth Hatfield. Jesse Woodson James’s one and only true love, married under the names of Missouri Ann and Harrison Trow (See Photo often attributed to Jim Reed and Mayra Belle) Despite the many encounters Jesse had with other women, Jesse and Myra Belle stayed together until Missouri Ann’s supposed death in 1928. They had at least 4 children together but their real names are unknown. Although it is possible that Myra Belle married Jesse under the alias names of Jim Reed and /or Bruce Younger, she was never married to either, I have seen no record of it.

Myra Belle Shirley

 

 

 

Bell Starr, Murderous woman outlaw, I do not know where she came from, not sure anyone does. This is NOT Myra Belle Shirley.  

Bell Starr

 

 

Zerelda Mimms Bigelow, Jesse’s cousin, married to Charlie Bigelow. Charlie is the man who was killed and passed off as Jesse Woodson James. Her mother was Mary Elizabeth James who was the daughter of Rev. John Martin James, the brother of Rev. Robert Salle James, Jesse’s uncle.

Zerelda Mims

 

Jesse E. James and Mary James Barr (Which is not their real names) Thought to be Jesse W James’s offspring which is not true, they are the children of Zerelda Mims and Charlie Bigelow.

Jesse E. and Mary Susan Bigelow

 

 

Zerelda Cole Samuels James; Mother of Jesse Robert (Dingus) James and Alexander Franklin James, Jesse Woodson James Aunt. Sister-in-law to George Strother James who is Jesse Woodson’s Father.

 

Zerelda Cole James

 

 

 

Rev. Robert Salle James; Father of Jesse Robert (Dingus) James and Alexander Franklin James. Husband to Zerelda Cole James, Brother of George S. James who was Jesse Woodson James Father.

 

Rev. Robert Salle James

 

 

 

Carl O’Clark

posing as Jesse posing as William A Clark

 

      

Jesse had two other wives that is known, Margaret Wabasha and had a son Joe Jesse, also  He married Susan Palmer under the name of William Cole, they had a daughter in which Jesse likely never knew of... His wife and true love Myra Bell Shirly they married under the names of Harrison Trow and Missouri Ann, and he stayed with her until her passing around 1935.

 

Jesse W. James is 9^th direct cousins with my Grandfather Ira Earl Thornton As well as Zerelda Mimms

 

Jesse’s Family:

 

Father George Strother James Son of John Stobo James B 1799

Mother Mollie Dalton Likely daughter of Benjamin Dalton

Siblings:

John James

Sylvester Franklin James

Jesse Woodson James

Matilda (Tilly) Jesse’s Twin (Married to James Obedia Howk)  Possibly named after her Mother.

Morgan James Changed his name and owned a ranch in Colorado

Peter James Lived in Colorado (lived and Died under real name)

Levi James owned property in Moab Utah and in Idaho. (lived and Died under real name)

Rebecca James Younger, Married to Cole Younger. Rebecca Raised Jean Hickok in Maryland and who was the daughter of Calamity Jane and supposed Bill Hickok.

 

Believed to be Jesse and Myra’s Children before moving to Texas in 1900

Picture likely taken about 1880-1890 

Same Kids about 30 years later in 1920 and in Texas

 

Top Left in 1920 she was going by the name 

Florence Redfield Broadwell,

Top right and right photo, in 1920 she was going by the name of 

Mollie Elizabeth Barnard Webb.

Bottom left he was  going by 

Epinetus Bushrod Black

Bottom Right he was going by the name of 

Rev. Marcus Milton Beavers

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