Facts to Remember:
- Alabama became a territory in March/August 1817.
- Alabama became a state in December 1819.
- The first federal census for Alabama occurred in 1830, there is an Alabama state census for 1820 that includes Shelby County, St. Clair County, and approximately 6 other counties.
April 3, 1820
The Census Approach– Who was Joseph’s Dad using the Federal and State Censuses?
This approach will try to see if we can narrow down who the father of Joseph Phillips was through the Censuses because Joseph is born in a time when Alabama had no birth records. According to the 1850 and 1860 U.S. Federal census, he was born in Alabama. This is not 100% certain, but certainly is a good place to start looking. So for this approach, we will assume that he was likely born near where he lived, and most likely in the same state. Therefore, for this analysis, we will assume that the father of Joseph had to be (1) living in Alabama during or before 1820, (2) had to have a child under 29 in 1830 and (3) had to have a child under 21 in 1820. This assumes that the 1820 state census was taken after Joseph’s birth. However, even if Joseph wasn’t born before the census taker arrived, the father would still have to be living in the state in 1820. This approach has a few issues: I don’t think its likely Joseph was born and traveled when he was a baby, but it is a possibility. The Alabama state census also doesn’t include all the counties, but it is fortunate that both Shelby and St. Clair counties are accounted for.
Specific Facts:
- According to the Alabama Census taken in 1820 of which records from 8 counties exist (Baldwin, Conecuh, Dallas, Franklin, Limestone, St. Clair, Shelby and Wilcox), There are 7 “Phillips” and 5 “Philips” living in Alabama during 1820. Most likely Joseph did not move very far from where he was born because in this time, major moves were rather unusual. Usually they were the result of land developers, murders, crop failure, etc . Some additional facts:
- Joseph is married in 1840 in St Clair County, Alabama. This is the earliest record I have found that says the name Joseph Phillips (or Anna Copeland). He likely was born near where he married, because during this time and geography marriage was more of a “who’s available” than a “who do I love” situation.
- Joseph is born on April 3, 1820 according to his will.
- The enumeration date for the US Federal Census was August 1820 but I have been unable to find the enumeration date for the Alabama census. Until I learn otherwise I will assume its August 1820 as well.
If Joseph were to be born before the census taker arrived, there should be at least 1 “under 21 white male” living with a Phillips in 1820 and one “5-9” or “10 to 14” year old male in 1830 (because he was 10). When you search for Phillips’ in the census, there are two major spellings: “PhiLLips” and “PhiLips”. Rumor has it that the Phillips families in Ashville spelled their last name “PhiLips”. One fun goal might be to prove that. Either way I will group the different spellings for this analysis.
Conecuh, Wilcox, and Dallas are in south Alabama and Franklin and Limestone are in north Alabama.
Therefore, we have a list of 7 potential dad candidates: Stephen (Conecuh), Samuel (Limestone), Anthony (Limestone), Littleton (Limestone), John (Franklin), and Thomas (Wilcox). and William* (Shelby County).
When you look at the most likely candidates, it appears that William is the most likely with 3 children in 1830 that meet the criteria out of 10. William has children in 1820 as well. Since William is the only Phillips/Philips in central Alabama and he ends up in the same county that Joseph gets married in, it is likely this is how the family lore began that believes that William and Sarah were Joseph’s parents. William’s record indicates there is one man and one woman living in Shelby County that are over 21 (likely William and Sarah) with 5 boys under 21 and 1 girl under 21. This is where the family lore that Joseph Phillips was born in Shelby County, Alabama began. The only mention of a William Phillips as an original land owner was in 1824 in Shelby County, which is likely the same William. The land purchased is the East ½ of the Northwest ¼ of Township 13 South, Range 1 West Section 28. The general location of this purchased land is outlined in purple. And in red. Here’s an overlay of what the counties looked like in relation to how they look today.
This William Phillips purchased the land on January 16, 1822 and the land patent was granted in 1824. The GLO records a “Job Mason” and “David Overton” as purchasing adjacent tracts to William Phillips and both names are listed in the 1820 census. This should confirm that this William Phillips in the 1820 census is the same William who purchases the land patent. However, I cannot find the sale of this parcel. A search through the early Shelby County deed records shows that there is only one or two Phillips around before 1840, and William isn’t the first name of either. David Overton is still in Shelby County in 1830 (Pg. 18 Shelby County), but Job Mason and William Phillips are noticeably absent.
What did we learn? William is the most likely candidate for being Joseph Phillips’ father. But this isn’t conclusive…
NorthEast Alabama Families 
