Is-fonds 165-625. - Commander Horatio James, RN,

Born 9 March 1789, at Rhaeadr, the son of Lt John James and Mrs Jane James, he was little more than a year old when his father died. Educated perhaps at a naval school (Woolwich?), the navy became his life, marrying his wife, Sarah Margaretta Symonds at St James's Church (now the Cathedral), Bury St Edmunds, on 28 Feb. 1833, while on shore leave. Horatio served as a midshipman on the Jason (1804-1808); as a master mate on the Ethalion (1808-1810), Marlborough (in 1810), Donegal (1810-1811), Poictiers (in 1811), Foudroyant (1811-1812); as a lieutenant on the Royal Sovereign (1813-1814), as first lieutenant on the Saracen (1814-1815), as lieutenant on the Antelope (1815-1819), as first lieutenant on the Eden (1822-1823), and the Surinam (1823-1825), as lieutenant on the Hyperion (1828-1830); then, as lieutenant-commander took command of the Surly cutter (1830-1831), the Viper schooner (1831-1834), and the Tartarus steam vessel (1834-1837). In 1841, he was given a sinecure, command of the sloop Blossom, enabling him to be promoted to the rank of commander. Praised for bravery in 1830, HJ was an accomplished artist and had a keen interest in politics. He died in London on 9 October 1850, and was buried at Rhaeadr on 14 October. (For a detailed account of the life and career of Horatio James, see no. 165). Mrs Sarah Margaretta James (1802-1889) was born in Bury St Edmunds on 16 April 1802, baptised 6 Sept. 1803 (at St James's Church). She was the daughter of John Symonds 'the younger' and Margaretta, née Twight (who married 30 April 1786, also at St James's). Sarah married HJ on 28 Feb. 1833, and died at Penralley on 29 Sept. 1889, aged 87. She was buried in Rhaeadr churchyard. (See also no. 1081). Arranged into papers relating to his naval service, 1795-c.1862 (166-504), family matters and personal affairs, 1790-1888 (505-530b), local affairs, 1758-1849 (531-559), the Gloucester, Aberystwyth & Central Wales Railway Co., 1845-1846 (560-570), political matters, 1758-1846 (570a-611), and Mrs Sarah James, 1757-1878 (612-625).