Just got back from St Clair county. I can’t thank Charlene Simpson (from the Ashville Museum and Archives) enough for her help. So, having talked to her about the property owned by Joseph and William, I have determined the following:
-The William Phillips in Shelby County was most likely the same William I’m related to. Shelby County was a part of St Clair county before 1821ish, and that would be why William has no other records other than the jury roll call in Shelby.
- On 2 Jan 1829, Golder Fields sells a piece of land to Samuel Boyd for $570. The property is described as having half of a creek, a Black Oak, and a White Oak as part of its borders.
- On 28 September 1835 Samuel Boyd sells the property, referring to a White Oak in the description, to William Phillips for $500
- On 29 March 1839, William sells the property to Brazil Wooley for $800. Brazil was likely a tax collector, and this could have been for a debt owed to the government.
- On 28 August 1846, Pinckney Woolley and Minor Woolley sell the same property to a William D. Washburn for $400. Both would have been children of Brazil (Basil).
- On 12 August 1856, William D. Washburn sells the property to James Phillips (who married Dorcas Crawford) for $500.
- On 12 August 1856, James Phillips takes out a mortgage for $814.41 on the property, and on this we get a reference to Canoe Creek, giving a better idea where this property is located today
- On 14 September 1857 James Phillips and Dorcas Crawford (his wife) sell the property to Joseph Phillips for $1200. A huge sum of money, but with enough interest could have been used to pay off the debt.
What does this mean? Likely William bought the property, lived there for a while, and Joseph ended up with it. Seems like Joseph would have to be William’s son to be willing to do that.
NorthEast Alabama Families 