The earlist record of James that I have found is in 1860 U.S.F.C. Head of Household William Worthington 44, wife Rebecca 40, Margarett 21, Wm Best 12, and James McCane 26.

(Now could this be his father ?? I haven't had any luck on finding anything on William Worthington.)

Then I found him in the 1870 census showed he was married to Mary E 22, and two children Clinton 3, John 1, in Mason Co. Ky.

1880 census home in Pine Grove, Rowan, Kentucky, James 44, Ellen 32, William C. 12, John J. 11, Georgia 9, Mattie 9, Amilia 8, Josephine 6, Oscar 3, (Henry) Scott 1,

I believe that is all of the children. I hope this was some help.

Information provided by fellow F.A.G. member Faye McCane Jackson.
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James and Ellen had eleven children: William Clinton (1867), John Irwin (1869), Georgia & Matilda (Twins - 1872), Amelia (1873), Josephine (1876), Oscar Abraham (1877), Henry Scott (1878) (My Line), Chester Perry (1882), Amanda (1884), Cecil Grover (1889).

There are a lot of stories about James and his parents. The facts that I have are: His mothers name was Nancy. She appeared to die at his birth. He appeared, by court records, to be living with Joseph McCane, until his death in 1838. James then became a ward of the court and was passed between different well to do farmers. No record indicates who his father was, just his mother. In 1860 a James McCane is listed with William Warthington (Weatherington) -- I have assumed this is our James based on other census records. James married in 1865 to Mary Ellen Sanks, daughter of John V and Mary Tennis Sanks. Her best birth year is 1848. By speculation and no other indication that she is living, she died in Rowan county about 1892.

Information provided by R. David McCane.
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Oscar is the son of James McCane. James married Nancy Ellen Sanks (1862-1900). Ellen's father and mother were both doctors and lived in Washington, KY near Maysville and came from London, England.

James McCane carried his mothers name because of getting pregnant to a wealthy man of the community named Withington who refused to marry her until she began to show at which time James's mother, refused Withington.

James' mother died a few years after. James was born in Augusta, KY in December of 1832 and both families were people of culture and wealth.

James & Ellen had eleven children.

(Some of the above information was provided by the Rev. Odis J. Polley, 6005 Bay Pine Drive, Louisville, KY 40219 on December 23, 1977 and sent to Debra J. (Morris) Carnine (1961-2004), Willard D. McCane's granddaughter.)
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"United States Census, 1880," James Mccane, Pine Grove, Rowan, Kentucky, United States
name : James Mccane
event: Census
event date: 1880
event place: Pine Grove, Rowan, Kentucky, United States
gender: Male
age: 44
marital status : Married
occupation : Farmer
race or color (original) :
ethnicity (standardized) : American
relationship to head : Self
birthplace : Kentucky, United States
birthdate : 1836
spouse's name : Ellen Mccane
spouse's birthplace : Ohio, United States
father's name :
father's birthplace : Kentucky, United States
mother's name :
mother's birthplace : Kentucky, United States
page : 457
page character : B
entry number : 3373
nara film number : T9-0441
gs film number : 1254441
digital folder number: 004241278
image number: 00119
Household Gender Age Birthplace
self James McCane M 44 Kentucky, United States
wife Ellen McCane F 32 Ohio, United States
son William C. Mccane M 12 Kentucky, United States
son John McCane M 11 Kentucky, United States
daughter Georgia McCane Polley F 9 Kentucky, United States
daughter Mattie McCane Polley F 9 Kentucky, United States
daughter Amilia McCane F 8 Kentucky, United States
daughter Josephine Mccane F 6 Kentucky, United States
son Oscar McCane M 3 Kentucky, United States
son Scott McCane M 1 Kentucky, United States