James Hudson Weston (abt. 1921 - 2005)

Born about 16 Sep 1921 in Rich Square, Northampton, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Dorothy Inez (Sharp) Weston — married 15 Jun 1946 in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Aug 2005 at about age 83 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Wynn Herbert [send private message]

Biography

James, known as Jim, or Hudson, was born about 1921. He was the son of Branch Weston and Hattie Spain. Jim’s birth year is uncertain, as he received a delayed birth certificate, having asked a doctor to lie about his year of birth so he could join Navy. ^[1] All Jim’s formal records show his birth year as 1920, though it was likely 1921, or even possibly as late as 1922.^[2] He is recorded as being eight years old when living with his parents and siblings in Rich Square, Northampton, North Carolina in 1930.^[3]

James died at home, 7610 Woodstream Dr, Charlotte, North Carolina, while under hospice care. ^[4], ^[5]

He got a divorce before 1946 marriage to Dorothy Inez Sharp-Pinson so he was married before but have found no records of his marriage or divorce. ^[6]Do not know first wife's last name. Marriage license as shown in attached image gives a lot of information. James Hudson Weston, residence USS Fitch in New York, 25, born 9/16/1920 in NC, sailor, parents James Branch Weston and Hattie Elizabeth Spain, 2nd marriage, divorced in NC April 2 1946, remarried in Birmingham, Alabama by Rev W A Hendriex. Inez Sharp Pinson,24, residence 1st Ave South, born May 23 1922, in Jefferson County, Alabama, parents Samuel Edward Sharp and Katie Mae Timmons, 2nd marriage, divorced in Birmingham, March 13 1946.^[7] , ^[8]

When asking Inez Weston about all this surprising data about being divorced a few months before their marriage she (Sharp-11441)just said "he didn't know he was not divorced earlier" and she did not know where, when or who he was married to.^[9]

Research Notes

I received Jim Weston's(#265-77-96) Navy Record of Separation, Official Military Personnel File and Medical Records from National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, Missouri as a child of a deceased veteran. Below is summary from those papers and internet searches about ships he was assigned to: Enlisted April 11 1938 at Norfolk, VA. He was listed as married to Lorbe Charlotte Weston. Did training at Norfolk Naval base and USS Henderson. Nov 1938 until Feb 1941 assigned to USS Vincennes. While on Vincennes did Neutrality patrols as well as battles practice with other ships on east coast, Caribbean and Gulf of Yucatan. One trip to French Morocco in June 1940 to pick up shipment of gold. Left Vincennes in Feb 1941 due to illness(syphilis) which is fortunate because in March 1942 Vincennes left without him along with ships Hornet and Enterprise for the Pacific and Japan. Vincennes saw heavy fighting in Pacific and was involved in Doolittle Raid, Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal and sunk at Battle of Savo Island in Aug 1942. Jim Weston was reassigned to the USS Omaha, a light cruiser, for more training in communications. In Sept 1941 he was part of Cape Henlopen detail to fortify Delaware Bay against German submarines and destroyers. Probably had time on Bay Spring AT-60 tug off Delaware coast. It appears he was at Cape May station when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec 7 1941. Jan 1942 reported to NEWLY FORMED US Navy Armed Guard unit in Brooklyn, NY. Navy Armed Guard were gunners, signalman and radio operators given temporary duty to various merchant vessels. Shifted between Brooklyn and San Francisco Navy Armed Guard stations. USAT John Ericsson (Jan 1942-Aug 1943), USAT Argentina (Fall 1943), SS Robin Doncaster (Jan-Oct 1944). Nov 1944 transfer to Amphibious Communication School at Camp Pendleton, CA - Feb 1945 assigned to Waipio Amphibious Operations in Hawaii. Served on USS Rutland. Japan surrenders Aug 15, 1945. Cannot tell from records where he was in Dec 1945. Reported to Norfolk from San Diego and Jan 11, 1946 assigned to USS Fitch under Captain JJ Brown. Married Inez Sharp June 1946. Dec 1951 he was in Bermuda and then Alabama. In Oct 1949 received General Educational Development for HS degree. USS Algol out of San Diego Dec 1951-Jan 1952. USS Tortuga Spring 1952. June 1952 transfer to Beach Jumpers Unit #1 at Coronado, CA and stayed until July 1953. In July 1953 he became a Chief Petty Officer and re-assigned to CincPac Fleet in Honolulu (Sept 1953-July 1956). Nov 1956 Recruiting Station in Gastonia, NC and Jan 9, 1959 he began inactive duty.

Sources

1. ↑ Family stories as told to Wynn Weston by her parents, James Weston and Dorothy Inez Sharp.
2. ↑ see image of Delayed Birth Certificate
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch [(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3QX-2PN ]: accessed 16 March 2022), J Hudson Weston in household of J Branch Weston, Rich Square, Northampton, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 16, sheet 14B, line 92, family 254, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1710; FHL microfilm 2,341,444.
4. ↑ see image of Death Certificate
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images [(www.findagrave.com/memorial/11637155/james-hudson-weston ]: accessed 05 May 2021), memorial page for James Hudson Weston (16 Sep 1920–21 Aug 2005), Find A Grave: Memorial #11637155, citing Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Find a Grave (contributor 8) .
6. ↑ see image of Navy enlistment papers, April 1938
7. ↑ Photo of Jefferson County, Alabama Marriage License, 1946
8. ↑ Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch [(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-ZQNJ-K?cc=1743384&wc=3LJC-4WL%3A1586888701] : 16 July 2015), 004671276 > image 378 of 1000; County Probate Courts, Alabama
9. ↑ personal family stories as told to Wynn Weston by her parents James Weston and/or Dorothy Inex Sharp