Zeralda James

Zeralda James Samuel born Zeralda Elizabeth Cole, previously Zeralda Cole James and Zeralda Simms(29 January 1825 - 10 February 1911) was the long suffering mother of outlaws Frank James and Jesse James.

Related Topics:
29 January - 1825 - 10 February - 1911 - Frank James - Jesse James

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born Zeralda Elizabeth Cole in Woodford County, Kentucky her parents were James Cole and Sarah "Sallie" Cole (nee Lindsay) she had one younger brother, Jesse Richard Cole, he was a year younger than her and committed suicide in 1895.

Related Topics:
Woodford County, Kentucky - 1895

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She married Robert Sallee James on the 28 December, 1841 at the home of her uncle James Madison Lindsay in Stamping Ground, Scott County, Kentucky.

Related Topics:
Robert Sallee James - 28 December - 1841 - Stamping Ground - Scott County, Kentucky

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Robert was a pastor and the two moved to Kearney, in Clay County, Missouri Zeralda bore him four children.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Alexander Franklin James (born 10 January 1843)
• Robert B. James (19 July - 21 August 1845)
• Jesse Woodson James (born 5 September 1847)
• Susan Lavenia James (born 25 November 1849)

Shortly after the birth of his daugter Robert moved to California to preach to the gold miners, there he caught a disease and died on the 18 August, 1850.

Related Topics:
California - 18 August - 1850

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Not long afterwards Zeralda met Benjamin Simms, they were married on the 30 September, 1852, in Clay County, Benjamin wasn't a very nice husband he was violent towards Zeralda and abusive towards her children, finally Zeralda decided to divorce him, however, before she had a chance too Benjamin Simms died in an accident. It was the 2 January, 1854.

Related Topics:
30 September - 1852 - Clay County - 2 January - 1854

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite this Zeralda married a third time, to Dr. Reuben Samuel on the 25 September, 1855, this marriage prooved to be a lot more succesfull, and Zeralda and Reuben had four children.

Related Topics:
Dr. Reuben Samuel - 25 September - 1855

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Sarah Louisa Samuel (born 26 December 1858)
• John Thomas Samuel (born 25 December 1861)
• Fanny Quantrill Samuel (born 18 October 1863)
• Archie Peyton Samuel (born 26 July 1866)

During this time Reuben had an affair with a slave girl, their child Perry Samuel (born 1862) is often documented as Zeraldas child.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Her eldest sons involvment with the guerrilas took its toll on Zeralda, as she constantly fretted over her children, on many occasions the Samuel farm was raided and Zeralda would be assaulted, she also had to witness Frank and Jesse be beat up severely.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The worst of these attacks came on January 26 1875, detectives, hoping to track down Frank and Jesse came to the Samuel farm and threw a bomb threw the window, 9 year old Archie Samuel was sitting by the fire, he believed the bomb was a log so he threw it into the fire, it exploded, killing him and ripping his mothers hand off.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Soon afterwards Reuben Samuel went insane, and spent the last years of his life inside a mental asylam, he died on the 1 March 1908.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shortly before her death, her son Jesse's body was relocated, she was present when his body was dug up and uncovered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She died on a train travelling to San Francisco, California 20 miles outside Oklahoma City, she was 86 years old.

Related Topics:
San Francisco - California - Oklahoma City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~