The purpose of this website is to display the Day Journals of James Temple Redd of Caroline County, Virginia. James Temple Redd of Caroline County, Virginia, kept daily journals of life on the farm. He always recorded the weather and significant farm activities. Rarer was his recordation of thoughts and feelings.
James Temple Redd, author of these day books which begin in 1843 and extend to his death in 1878, was born May 28, 1815, at Cedar Vale farm in Caroline County, Virginia. His parents were carriage maker Samuel Redd, 1764-1841, and mother Elizabeth Taylor, 1776-1848. He had nine brothers and sisters—Lucy Ann, Edmund Taylor, Elizabeth, Samuel, Emily, Sarah, John Robinson, Mary Frances, and Louisa.
The patriarch of his own Redd clan, James was a devoted husband and father, hardworking farmer, shop keeper, slave owner, school teacher, faithful Baptist and Sunday school teacher, and believer in temperance. In 1853, he was installed as Worthy Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance at Carmel Church in Caroline County. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, reading, machine work, etc. and was, truly, a Jack of many trades. Well respected within the community, he was especially close to his mother and older brother Samuel, both of whom lived nearby. At age 62, on April 11, 1878, James died in Caroline County, Virginia.
In August 1835, he was baptized, marking his early involvement with the Baptist church which would continue throughout his life. Sources differ as to the date but either in 1835 or 1838, he married Thomasia [pronounced like “Fantasia”] Anderson, 1817-1895.
Their first child was a son, Llewellyn Wentworth, 1840-1864. He was an artillery man during the Civil War fighting with the 3rd Co. Richmond Howitzers Light Artillery Battalion. After fighting in numerous battles, he died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse, in May 1864.
The next child was a daughter Julia Edmonia, born in 1841, but she lived only a year.
In 1843, another daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born. Although we do not know the circumstances, Mary was badly burned on January 24, 1849 (perhaps falling into the hearth fire?) and, despite medical attention, she died on January 29 that year.
A third daughter, Harriet Samuella, was born in 1844 and would go on to become her mother's companion and the third wife to William Dandridge, a Richmond grocer. She went to school at age 8, studying just as her older brother had done. Following her death on January 8, 1888, she was buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
John Robinson Redd, the second son, was born in 1846. During the Civil War he served as a private in Co. F, 24th Virginia Calvary. He survived the war, became a farmer, married twice, and fathered a child, Samuel Ragland Redd, born in 1880. He died of mitral regurgitation on May 20, 1920.
Next in line was James Thomas “Jim” Redd, 1849-1930. He was a farmer, store keeper, and magistrate. In 1880, he married Kate Carter Taylor, and their first son was Llewellyn Carter Redd who survived a little more than a month. Sadly, Kate died from complications of childbirth. Jim’s second wife was Addie Warren Walton. Wed in 1885, they would have a son Andrew Walton, “A.W.”, in 1888. In 1900, they were living at Lespedeza Farm in Hanover County. Jim would die at 81 years of age of chronic kidney disease.
Thomasia Temple, “Little Thomasia”, came along in 1851 but would die at age 5. She was buried at Topping Castle, her mother’s home place.
A set of twins, Lucy Edmonia and Elizabeth Barbara “Lizzy” was born on March 6, 1853, at Locust Grove in Caroline County. Lucy survived almost four months and was also buried at Topping Castle cemetery. Lizzy would go on to marry Alexander Lee "Sandy" England in 1873 and, with him, would parent four children.
Frances Cornelia, “Fanny” was the next child, born in 1855. She would marry George Preston Smith in 1875 and would succumb to pneumonia at the close of 1913.
Fanny was followed by her sister Linnae Bates “Ninny” Redd, 1857-1935. Ninny married farmer Byron Southworth in 1905 and would die in the same area where she was raised, of cerebral hemorrhage.
Elethia Pendleton “Lethia”, the next daughter, was born on October 14, 1859, but, at age 5, died of croup and was buried alongside her siblings at Topping Castle.
The last of the thirteen children was Gwynette Wentworth “Angie” Redd, born in August 1865, just after the end of the Civil War. She married Robert Walker Christian and gave birth to daughter Gwynette Walker Christian a year later. The family would move to Washington, D.C. where Robert worked as a printer. She was buried at Glenwood in Howard County, Maryland.
James Temple Redd, author of these day books which begin in 1844 and, with gaps, extend to his death in 1878, was born May 28, 1815, at Cedar Vale farm in Caroline County, Virginia. His parents were carriage maker Samuel Redd, 1764-1841, and mother Elizabeth Taylor, 1776-1848. He had nine brothers and sisters—Lucy Ann, Edmund Taylor, Elizabeth, Samuel, Emily, Sarah, John Robinson, Mary Frances, and Louisa.
The patriarch of his own Redd clan, James was a devoted husband and father, hardworking farmer, shop keeper, slave owner, school teacher, faithful Baptist and Sunday school teacher, and believer in temperance. In 1853, he was installed as Worthy Patriarch of the Sons of Temperance at Carmel Church in Caroline County. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, reading, machine work, etc. and was, truly, a Jack of many trades. Well respected within the community, he was especially close to his mother and older brother Samuel, both of whom lived nearby. At age 62, on April 11, 1878, James died in Caroline County, Virginia.
Sources differ as to the date but either in 1835 or 1838, he married Thomasia [pronounced like “Fantasia”] Anderson, 1817-1895. In August 1835, he was baptized, marking his early involvement with the Baptist church which would continue throughout his life.
Their first child was a son, Llewellyn Wentworth, 1840-1864. He was an artillery man during the Civil War fighting with the Virginia 3rd Co. Howitzers Light Brigade. After fighting in numerous battles, he died of wounds sustained at the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse, in May 1864.
The next child was a daughter Julia Edmonia, born in 1841, but she lived only a year.
In 1843, another daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born. Although we do not know the circumstances, Mary was badly burned on January 24, 1849 (perhaps falling into the hearth fire?) and, despite medical attention, she died on January 29 that year.
A third daughter, Harriet Samuella, was born in 1844 and would go on to become the third wife to William Dandridge, a Richmond grocer. She went to school at age 8, studying just as her older brother had done. Following her death on January 8, 1888, she was buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
John Robinson Redd, the second son, was born in 1846. During the Civil War he served as a private in Co. F, 24th Virginia Calvary. He survived the war, became a farmer, married twice, and fathered a child, Samuel Ragland Redd, born in 1880. He died of mitral regurgitation on May 20, 1920.
Next in line was James Thomas “Jim” Redd, my great-grandfather, 1849-1930. He was a farmer, store keeper, and Justice of the Peace. In 1880, he married Kate Carter Taylor, and their first son was Llewellyn Carter Redd who survived a little more than a month. Sadly, Kate died from complications of childbirth. Jim’s second wife was Addie Warren Walton. Wed in 1885, they would have a son Andrew Walton, “A.W.”, in 1888. In 1900, they were living at Lespedeza Farm in Hanover County. Jim would die at 81 years of age of chronic kidney disease.
Thomasia Temple, “Little Thomasia”, came along in 1851 but would die at age 5. She was buried at Topping Castle, her mother’s home place.
A set of twins, Lucy Edmonia and Elizabeth Barbara “Lizzy” was born on March 6, 1853, at Locust Grove in Caroline County. Lucy survived almost four months and was also buried at Topping Castle cemetery. Lizzy would go on to marry Alexander Lee "Sandy" England and, with him, would parent four children.
Frances Cornelia, “Fanny” was the next child, born in 1855. She would marry George Preston Smith and would succumb to pneumonia at the close of 1913.
Fanny was followed by her sister Linnae Bates “Ninny” Redd, 1857-1935. Ninny married farmer Byron Southworth in 1905 and would die in the same area where she was raised, of cerebral hemorrhage.
Elethia Pendleton “Lethia”, the next daughter, was born on October 14, 1859, but, at age 5, died of croup and was buried alongside her siblings at Topping Castle.
The last of the thirteen children was Gwynette Wentworth “Angie” Redd, born in August 1865, just after the end of the Civil War. She married Robert Walker Christian and gave birth to daughter Gwynette Walker Christian in 1889. The family would move to Washington, D.C. where Robert worked as a printer. She was buried in Howard County, Maryland.