James Gore Wilkinson

James Gore Wilkinson, a son of James and Sarah Gore Wilkinson, was born March 5, 1805, in Harding County, Kentucky. He married Lucinda Harriss on July 17, 1827, in Hardeman County, Tennessee. James and Lucinda had a son, David Brown Wilkinson, born April 7, 1828, and Lucinda died July 7, 1828, in Bolivar, Tennessee. In 1830, James G. Wilkinson sold his property and moved to Texas with his young son. His parents and at least three of his brothers, Livingston, Hardin G., and Warren Gall Wilkinson also moved to Texas and settled in what became Washington County, Republic of Texas.

James G. Wilkinson met and married Amanda Hope, daughter of James and Mary England Hope, in San Felipe de Austin in 1832. They were residing in what became Washington County, Republic of Texas on March 25, 1833, when their son Chriesman Bomar Wilkinson was born. James G. was First Sergeant in Captain William W. Hill’s Company at the Battle of San Jacinto. He enlisted in the Texas Army on March 1, 1836, and served until May 30, 1836. He received Donation Certificate for having participated in the battle.

James G. Wilkinson was a farmer and also an educated man. He held the office of Doorkeeper in the Second and Third Republic of Texas Congress. He was elected Justice of the Pease in Washington County in 1839. When Burleson County was formed from Milam and Washington Counties in 1846, he was appointed the Chief Justice. James served in that position until his death on August 15, 1848. His widow, Mrs. Amanda Hope Wilkinson, was appointed administrator of his estate. When Amanda died she was buried under a huge post-oak tree on a knoll overlooking Yegua Creek on their farm about five miles east of present Dime Box, Lee County, Texas. In 1936 the State of Texas had the remains of James and Amanda Wilkinson re-interred in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Travis County, Texas. A memorial service was sponsored by the William B. Travis Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

David Brown Wilkinson, son of James G. and Lucinda Wilkinson, married Barthenie Susan King on November 28, 1855, in Burleson County. On August 21, 1860, they were receiving their mail at the Sand Fly Post Office in far western Burleson County. When Lee County was organized in 1874, the Sand Fly area became a part of Bastrop County. They had two sons on the 1860 Census: James age 3 years, and an unnamed son age 1 year. On June 17, 1880, D.B. and Susan Wilkinson were living in Precinct #1 in Burleson County with their sons; James age 22, and John R. age 20, and their daughter Lucinda E. Wilkinson age 18.

Chriesman Brown Wilkinson, son of James G. and Amanda Wilkinson, married Eunice McLean Denison, daughter of Dr. George Henry Denson, on July 3, 1854, in Burleson County, Texas. On August 14, 1860, they were receiving their mail at the Caldwell Post Office and living with their two daughters; Mary age 4 and Lucy age 3.

Horatio Chriesman and his wife Augusta Ann Hope, sister of Amanda Hope Wilkinson, were living near present Deanville, Burleson County, Texas in 1848, about five miles east of James and Amanda’s burial site.

Bibliography

Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Patriot Ancestor Album, Turner Publishing, Paducah, KY, 1995.

Texas State Cemetery, Internet.

Index to Military Rolls of the Republic of Texas, Internet.

Marriage Records of Burleson County, Texas, Burleson County GenWeb, Internet.

Marriage Records W of Hardeman County, Tennessee, 1823-1950, Internet.

Wilkinson Family Genealogy Forum, GenForum, Internet.

1860 and 1880 U. S. Census of Burleson County, Texas.