William James (1771-1832)

Merchant, of Albany, New York

He was born into comfortable enough circumstances in Ireland, one mile east of Bailieborough in County Cavan, and came to America at the age of eighteen in 1789. He worked at a dry goods store in Albany before setting up on his own account in 1795. His business grew and not before long he had a chain of dry goods stores plus a shipping company, salt company and tobacco factory, becoming known as "William of Albany". Having made the basis of his fortune in business, he turned to land speculation and soon held the mortgage for Union College and owned almost the entirety of the City of Syracuse which he'd purchased for $30,000. He was an early promoter of the Erie Canal and was one of its chief financiers. He died in 1832, leaving a fortune of $1.2 million which placed him among the state's wealthiest men. In 1830, there were reputedly only five millionaires in New York City: John Jacob Astor, John G. Coster, Stephen Whitney, Nathaniel Prime, and Robert Lenox. William lived at 70 North Pearl Street, Albany, and James Street in Albany is named in his honor. He was married three times and had twelve children (listed). He is the grandfather of the novelist Henry James and the Philosopher, William James, who was a godson of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Parents (2)

William James

of Corkish, near Bailieborough, Co. Cavan

1736-1822

Susan McCartney

Mrs Susan (McCartney) James

1746-1824

Spouses (3)

Elizabeth (Tillman) James

Mrs Elizabeth (Tillman) James

1774-1797

Mary Ann Connolly

Mrs Mary Ann (Connolly) James, died in childbirth

1778-1800

Catharine Barber

Mrs Catharine (Barber) James

1782-1859

Children (12)

Robert James

of Albany, New York

1797-1821

Rev. William James

D.D., of Albany, New York

1797-1868

Ellen (James) King

Mrs Eleanor "Ellen" (James) King

1800-1823

John Barber James

John Barber James, died in infancy

1805-1806

Augustus James

Augustus James, of Albany, New York

1807-1866

Henry James

Henry James Sr., of New York City and Vernon Street, Boston

1811-1882

Jeannette (James) Barker

Mrs Jeannette (James) Barker

1814-1842

John Barber James

John Barber James, of "Linwood" Rhinebeck, New York

1816-1856

Edward James

Edward James, died unmarried

1818-1856

Catharine (James) Temple

Mrs Catharine Margaret (James) Temple

1820-1854

Ellen (James) Van Buren

Mrs Ellen King (James) Van Buren

1823-1849

Howard James

Howard James, of Albany, New York

1828-1887