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Reply to Lois Ross on the James Family Genforum
Re: Message from H.C. Shelton to D. Hedgpeth
http://genforum.genealogy.com/courtney/messages/815.html
Hello H.C. Shelton and Lois,
I’ve been busy and am late in responding to your May 22, 2000 letter.
1. Betty does not claim the Zerelda Cole James Samuells and Diana Andruss Courtney Haun are the same person. She does claim that Zerelda was the natural mother of the Blevins Texas James L. Courtney who was AKA Jesse W. James. That means there were two James L. Courtneys. If you don’t know the story, I’ll bet Mae does. Anyway she’s 90 and not talking to Betty. Aren’t you at least curious enough to go to and ask her yourself for the truth? If there is doubt about your genealogy, don’t you want to know the rest of the story? I would think so for the sake of your family and history. Oh the family secrets. People all over the US are trying to prove kinship to Jesse and some of you guys think such a thing would be shameful. Come on, lighten up.
2. In your viewpoint if Travis Barron is in the picture that matches Jesse James, then …oh no, not another claim! Don’t worry all is well. Professionals have examined the photos and state that the pictures on the cover, early historically accepted pictures of Jesse James, and pictures of James L. Courtney are the same. Is it true? It is at least worth some serious thought.
3. You said, “On pg. 6 of your reply to Kathy Reynard, you tell of a letter Max Courtney wrote regarding a letter Irene Short wrote to me in which she said, and I quote: "there was a family secret about Grandpa knowing something about Jesse James..." If you read the entire letter, you will not find anything revealing except Irene's errors concerning JLC's birthplace, his military record, etc.” So why was Jesse James mentioned and why has there been denial on your side of the issue that there was ever any claim or indication that James L. Courtney was Jesse James? Probably the confusion that Irene had is that the records did not match the James L. Courtney in Blevins. There was good reason for the confusion. Also keep in mind that JLC’s daughter Ida had her father’s place of birth as Missouri and not Tennessee on her death certificate.
4. So it is just a coincidence that you had a wanted poster of Jesse James in your art studio. OK.
5. You said, “Following the probate hearing, the three sisters and other descendants divided personal items from Grandpa's trunk, including the diaries (which at that time I was not aware of) and correspondence that Grandpa had kept. This is speculation, but it seems plausible that the three daughters divided up the diaries. The diary, as Max transcribed it, included parts from Aunt Ida and Aunt Louisa. If each daughter took a portion of the diary, then we would seem to be missing a portion from Aunt Lillie. As far as I know, NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS OF AUNT LILLIE'S CHILDREN. So, if there was another portion, where it might be is anyone's guess. IN ANY EVENT, NOTHING IS COVERED UP.”
First of all I thank you for that bit of history. You have my apologies if I have assumed too much. What you say about the diaries sounds probable. Due to the fact there is a major historical and family question here; has there been a serious effort by everyone to find descendants of your Aunt Lillie? Has everyone pooled their clues together and tracked them? There are ways to find people. One start would be to do a Social Security check. At one time she was married to Joe M. Yarborough and moved to Arlington. Heck I can check on some of this myself. Could use everyone’s help, though.
6. There are sensitive emotions on both sides of the issue. It is too bad that everyone cannot lay aside his or her feelings and work together for conclusion. I would organize a meeting of all concerned if there were a mutual interest. Time for truce?
There are evidences that the Blevins, TX James L. Courtney was not a union soldier. If this could be shown to you would you reconsider your position? There are various descriptions of Jesse by the historians.
The “Big Four” picture? Well what if the Courtney/Haun boys accompanied James L. (AKA Jesse W. James) to see his mother, Zerelda? Humm.
I do agree that the whole and not the part need to be considered. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
7. Mr. Shelton, you are a noted artist. I do believe you have a better than average knowledge of what corresponds and what does not. Betty has subjected her pictures to four different professionals and they do support her claim. I will not try to match wits with them or you. The pictures are good evidence but not all the proof. Betty’s upcoming book will have other non-family and historical support to her claim. In fact there is so much that I doubt that anyone can just casually dismiss it. Then I say to Lois and you, please look at the bigger whole. There is more to the story.
I do hope you do not leave me with the last word. We need to talk about how we can use available resources to get to the bottom of all this.
David Hedgpeth
Mldv@juno.com
Note to readers: You may review all the past and present correspondence on the Jesse James/James L. Courtney Debate at
<http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~ivyplace/index.html> or
<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ivyplace/hedgpethg.html>
Also you may contact David Hedgpeth at mldv@juno.com to be added to (or deleted from) the e-mail list ("Dave's Updates") or for direct comments/questions.
Followups:
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