The Descendants of William Phillip Jourdan

This article documents the earliest known relative of my branch of the Jourdan/Jordan family, William Phillip Jourdan, and his children.

NOTE:  It appears that the name "Jourdan" became "Jordan" during the mid 1800's.  This article lists names as they appear most often on documentation. 

Beginning with Jake Albert Jordan (my grandfather) the Jordan family can be traced back without question to James S Jourdan of Hardeman County, Tennessee.  Many researchers on Ancestry.com list William Phillip Jourdan (born in about 1799 in North Carolina) as the father of James S Jourdan.  I have not found any documentation that specifically links William Philip and James S., but after doing my own research I agree that William Phillip Jourdan was most likely the father of James S. Jourdan.  Here are the facts as best I can present them:

• The researchers show William Phillip as being married to a woman named Sarah (no maiden name is known).  The names appear to come from a listing on the US Find A Grave Index designating them as the parents of Jane Mariah Jordan Macon.
• Jane was born in Wayne County, North Carolina and died in Hardeman County, Tennessee.
• There is a Phillip Jourdan in Wayne County, North Carolina on the 1830 Federal Census.  Names of family members are not listed; there is only a tally of male/female and ages.  Phillip is listed as living with two females and a male with ages that correspond to the ages of Sarah, James S.,  and Jane.  He also had three slaves.
• There is a Phillip Jourdan in Hardeman County, Tennessee on the 1840 Census.  Like the 1830 Census there are no names of family members; however, the ages of the family correspond with Sarah, James S., and Jane.  Also, three slaves are listed just like on the 1830 Census.
• There is a Phillip Jordan in Hardeman County, Tennessee on the 1860 Federal Census.  He was born in North Carolina, was married to a Sarah, and was the correct age to be the the father of James S. and Jane.
• Jane Mariah Jourdan and James S. Jourdan both married Macons.  There is a Macon-Jordan Cemetery in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

So...without further delay...here is what historical records tell us about William Phillip Jourdan and his children.



William Phillip Jourdan

William Phillip Jourdan was born in 1799 in North Carolina.  He married Sarah (maiden name unknown) and they lived in Wayne County, North Carolina.  Between 1830 and 1840 William Phillip and Sarah moved to Hardeman County, Tennessee.  From census records we know that they owned three slaves in 1830 and 1840.  It appears they were farmers.  William Phillip and Sarah were the parents of the following children:

1. James S, born about 1827 in North Carolina / died about 1867 in Hardeman County, Tennessee
2. Jane Mariah, born about 1830 in North Carolina
3. Unknown Daughter, born between 1831-1835 (A female between the age of 5-9 is listed on the 1840 Federal Census.  This could be a typographical error.)
4. Joel (?), born about 1838 in North Carolina

Sarah died between 1860-1868.  William Phillip remarried in May 1868 to a woman named Martha A Pipkin.  They had one child, named Sarah, born in 1870.  No other information about Martha Pipkin or her daughter, Sarah, is readily available after 1870.  The last record we have of William Phillip is the 1870 Federal Census which shows him living in Hardeman County, Tennessee with Martha and Sarah.

Below are summaries of the children of William Phillip Jourdan.

James S Jourdan

James S Jourdan was born in approximately 1827 in North Carolina.  James married Wincey Sarah Macon on 6 January 1848 in Hardeman County, Tennessee.  (The Macon family has a well documented history and will be explored further in a later post.)  James, Wincey, and a young daughter named Sarah are listed on the 1850 Federal Census in Hardeman County.  James was a 23 year old farmer and lived on what appears to be land owned by the Macon family.

James and Wincey Jourdan had at least four children:

1. Sarah, born abt 1849 in North Carolina
2. John T, born abt 1851 in Hardeman County, Tennessee / died after 1920 in Texas
3. Martha Jane, born abt 1854 in Hardeman County, Tennessee
4. James P, born 8 April 1858 in Hardeman County, Tennessee / died 8 February 1945 in San Angelo, Texas

After 1850 there are no further records of James until a legal notice of estate proceedings following his death in 1867.  The notice was in the Bolivar Bulletin (Hardeman County, Tennessee) and lists Bailey Macon and Wincey Jourdan as being involved in the settling of the estate.  There are also multiple records showing Phillip Jourdan being released as the legal guardian for the heirs of J S Jourdan which is further proof that William Phillip was James' father.

Jane Mariah Jourdan

Jane Mariah Jourdan was born on 27 September 1830 in Wayne County, North Carolina.  She moved with her family to Hardeman County, Tennessee before 1840.  On 7 February 1849 Jane married Whitson Macon.  Whitson was Jane's brother-in-law due to her brother, James', marriage to Wincey Sarah Macon the year before.  Jane and Whitson were farmers and lived in Hardeman County, Tennessee until their deaths.  Their children were:

1. Sarah Ann, born 8 May 1851 / died 6 April 1923 in Hardeman County, Tennessee; married James Grandville Vaughan in December 1958
2. Martha Jane, born 27 August 1853 / died 12 February 1921 in Hardeman County, Tennessee; married Samuel B Harris on 13 January 1876
3. William P. (Penn?), born 20 March 1857 / died 9 July 1935 in Jackson, Mississippi; married Tennie A Brooks on 29 December 1907
4. Mathis, born 1859 / died before 1870, no other information known
5. Julia Elizabeth, born 1863 / died 9 January 1942 in Hardeman County, Tennessee; married George W Breedon on 20 October 1895
6. Ida B. "Mary", born 10 June 1865 / died 27 November 1908 in Hardemn County, Tennessee; married J. L. McCracken in June 1907
7. David W., born 1 August 1868 / died 17 July 1934 in Dallas, Texas; married Martha D Lemons on 20 March 1897
8. John Gideon, born 4 January 1870 / died 15 May 1889 in Hardeman County, Tennessee
9. Wesley Albert, born 17 April 1872 / died 3 September 1952 in Hardeman County, Tennessee
10. Lillie Elizabeth, born 23 May 1875 / died 13 Oct 1953 in Hardeman County, Tennessee; married Henry Brewer in November 1899

Whitson Macon died on 19 January 1902.  Jane Mariah Jourdan Macon died on 21 February 1905.  Both are buried in the Macon-Jordan Cemetery in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Joel Jourdan

Joel Jourdan is listed on the 1860 Federal Census as living with Phillip and Sarah Jourdan.  He was born in about 1838 in North Carolina.  This is the only known record for Joel.  It is possible that he is the son of Phillip and Sarah, or he may be a distant relative.

Read more:
The Descendants of James S. Jourdan
The Descendants of Jane Mariah Jourdan Macon (coming soon)