Contributed by: Carroll Pearsall

James Pearsall Sr was born in 1750 in New Hanover County on the banks of 
Lewis’ Creek a western tributary of the NE Cape Fear River near present day 
Watha. His father, Edward Pearsall died in 1762.  The widow Catharine married 
Thomas Routledge and the family moved to Golden Grove, the present site of 
Kenansville.

James Pearsall served in the North Carolina Militia (voucher number 1007), 
Wilmington District, during the Revolutionary War. He was with his 
step-father, Col Thomas Rutledge in the "Battle of Moore's Creek," and saw 
duty as a Lieutenant at the “Big Bridge” in New Hanover County on the 
northwest side of the NE Cape Fear River in 1781.  Other historical accounts 
reflect that he was a Captain in the Militia.

Continuing with public service, James Pearsall was the auditor for public 
claims for Wilmington District in 1782; one of three special tax 
commissioners for Duplin Cpunty in 1785. In a deed he gave to the County 
Commissioners of Duplin County, a tract of land containing five acres square, 
in which the county commissioners appointed to build the court house and 
prison. The present, 1977, court house is located on the same tract of land 
in the center of Kenansville, North Carolina. It is dated 17 January 1785, 
Duplin County, North Carolina; Deed Book 1, page 114.) He was Sheriff of 
Duplin County in 1784, 1788, 1789. He was a member from Duplin County to the 
State Constitutional Conventional at Fayetteville, North Carolina on 21 
November 1789. He was a member of the House of Commons from Duplin County in 
1791 and 1793. He was a member of the Justices of Duplin County for a number 
of years, an inn keeper, and a coroner. 

James Pearsall was first married to Zilphia Uzzell of Lenior County, daughter 
of Thomas Uzzell.  Four children were born of this marriage.  His second 
marriage was to Feraby Whitfield, daughter of Constantine Whitfield and 
Barbara Williams.  There were no children of the second marriage.  Lastly, he 
married Anna Dickson, daughter of Joseph Dickson and Jane Moulton.  Seven 
children were born of this marriage.  James Pearsall died on November 12, 
1812 and is buried in the Routledge Cemetery, Kenansville, NC.

The four children of the first marriage were:  Elizabeth, thought to have 
married an Edward McGowan; Edward Pearsall (1780 – 1836), who married Ann 
Guy; James Pearsall (1785 – 1859), who married Ann Carr; and Mary Pearsall 
who married William McGowan (1772 – 1860).

The children of the third marriage were:  His third wife was Anna Dickson 23 
July 1775-4 November 1837).  Her parents were Joseph Dickson and Jane Moulton,
who died in Dickson County, Tennessee.  Anna is buried in the James Pearsall 
cemetery near Pearsall Chapel.  By her, he had Feraby Pearsall (1809-21 
August 1859), who married 1 May 1854, Dr. David Gillespie, widower of her 
sister, Lucy Jane Pearsall, and died in Leon County, Texas; Anne Pearsall (19 
August 1797-14 August 1873) who married John Oliver 15 June 1817; Jeremiah 
Pearsall (21 January 1800-7 August 1871), who first married 10 July 1821, 
Katherine Middleton, then 10 February 1857, Jemina Haywood Middleton; Joseph 
Dickson Pearsall (1803-28 August 1828); Hugh Pearsall (1805-15 August 1839), 
who married Margaret E Maxwell; Lucy Jane Pearsall (1808-8 November 1848), 
who married, 18 February 1835, Dr. David Gillespie; and William Dickson 
Pearsall (12 November 1812-2 April 1892), who married 26 January 1841, Sarah 
Whitaker.



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