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Archiver > PACAMBRI > 2001-05 > 0989700591


From: "Max A. James" <>
Subject: Re: [PaCambri] more on the James Gang/Gallitzen feud
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 15:49:51 -0500


Hi Tony:

It's been some time since we visited. Below is a portion of your writeup
about Edward Victor James. EVJ was my GG-Grandfather. Several of us in
the family have been researching his life. You say ".............E.V.
apologized
but nonetheless left for Sportman's Hall, where he remarried in July of
1807." We have believed that EVJ remarried but have not seen an
accounting of it, nor do we know who he married. We suspect that her
name was Mary from statements made in his will. Do you have any
supporting information regarding EVJ's second marriage? We will
appreciate anything you might have in this regard.

Max James
=====================================================
On Sat, 12 May 2001 (Tony Bentivegna) writes:
> This is a complicated subject.

> I believe he was a friend to E.V. James, having succeeded him as
prothonatary for
> Cambria County. The entire uproar in 1806-7 seems to begin and end with
Mr.
> James' short but unforgettable stay in the mountains. Some of his
descendants are
> on this discussion list (in fact all the players in the 1806-07 drama
seem to be represented
>on the list, and so perhaps an reenactment will be proposed). He came to
Loretto in 1804
>from Lancaster at Gallitzin's invitation and set about subdividing
present day Munster, seeing an
> opportunity to capitalize on the turnpike route. Nothing wrong there.
The problem was that he
>could not attract buyers. E.V. James was sued and a judgment for $400
entered against him
> before the year was out. Welcome to the neighborhood.
>
> Highly ambitious, E.V. became prothonatary and began luring settlers
from Loretto (actually
>"Clearfield" according to most of the residents; Gallitzin was actively
calling it Loretto since
>1801 but it hadn't caught on yet). Not illegal. Problem was, Gallitzin
was in financial straights and
> facing uncertainty with the death of his mother in 1806. Things got
worse for E.V. in that year too,
>when his wife died and he was left to raise 7 children. E.V. encouraged
a rebellion against
>Gallitzin to avoid his own ruin. During these first years of
Gallitzin's pastorate at Loretto,
> Gallitzin had not yet established perfect respect in his congregation
-- he was vulnerable.
>E.V. incited the Widow White, James Meloy, Jacob Burgoon and others at
Munster to make
>accusations. E.V. also wrote directly to Bishop Carroll. But the
petition by JAMES C. McGUIRE
> -- probably orchestrated by E.V. -- brought the rallying cry. When the
rebellion failed, E.V. apologized
>but nonetheless left for Sportman's Hall, where he remarried in July of
1807. He then relocated at
>Harrisburg. He died in 1814 at the age of 43.
>
> Tony Bentivegna

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