Tracing the Life Events of William Phillips

I think it may be a little helpful to get a timeline of the events in William Phillips’ life that we can prove.  This means we can’t really count Shelby County records to his name as we have no real way of knowing it’s the same William Phillips, although I believe this to be my William…

Lets start off with his birth:

• The William Phillips living in Shelby County is shown as being “over 21” which means his birth happened on or before 1799.
• William starts to live in St Clair County by 1830 as an early probate record from 25 Jan 1830 shows that William promised to pay Peyton Worthy $65.43 but failed to.  The 1830 Census shows one male between the ages of 40-49, which puts his birth year between 1781 and 1790.
• The 1840 Census shows one male between the ages of 50-59, which puts his birth years between 1781 and 1790.
• The 1850 Census shows William Phillips as a 62 year old father, which puts his birth year at about 1788.
• The 1860 Census shows William Phillips as a 74 year old father, which puts his birth year at about 1786. 

1787 – We can reasonably assume that his birth year was probably between 1786 and 1788, or about 1787.

The map of the US in 1787 looks like this.  William would have been born in either Georgia or North/South Carolina.  Based on DNA analysis, we know William is of the Georgia Phillips  (Group 08) branch likely from the Wilkes County area, so its most likely Georgia or South Carolina.  The census in 1860 even puts his birthplace was in Georgia.

1809 – The next major event would have been the birth of their first child, James Phillips (Abt. 1809-After 1860).  We know that James’ father was William by the mortgage papers discovered by Vickey Kirksey.   The 1850 Census record for James has his birthplace as Tennessee (Map of Tennessee in 1809).  The 1850 Census indicates he was also born in Tennessee (He’s living next to William in this census record from St Clair County).  James is married and out of the house by 1830.

1811 to 1815 – The second child  was likely Zachariah Phillips.  We believe he was a child of William as William and James are both involved in the probate of his estate after his death and due to the proximity of William’s land to Zachariah’s land.  Zach purchased the NE quarter of the NE quarter of Section 26, Township 12, Range 3 East on 25 July 1835.  There are three age groups in the 1830 Census living with William that match: two 10-14 year olds (1816-1820) and two 15-19 year olds (1811-1815).   His likely brother John would have been born around 1817 (more later) and Joseph would have been born around 1820.  With those brothers taking up the youngest spots, that means Zac would have been born between 1811 and 1815.

1817 – John Phillips (Married Celia Brothers) is born!  Per his Census records, he was born in Alabama.

The 1820 Alabama Census shows a William Phillips living in Shelby County with 1 male over 21 (William), 5 males under 21 (Presumably James, Zachariah, Unknown Male , John, Joseph), 1 Female over 21 (Sarah), 1 Female under 21 (Presumably Mary Ann, although I have no proof so I will call her unknown Female).  Unfortunately, the Alabama Census (at least the records we have) only cover 8 counties (Baldwin, Conecuh, Dallas, Franklin, Limestone, St. Clair, Wilcox, and Shelby)!  Based on the BLM, by 1825 there are about 25 different Phillips that owned land in Alabama. The two closest to St Clair county were Mark Phillips and William Phillips.  When you look at the map, it’s pretty evident that it’s a two-person race between Mark and William.  Per the 1820 Alabama Census, Mark has no son’s living at home in 1820, which must be a strike against him as the father of Joseph.

1820 – Obviously my Grandfather Joseph’s birthyear is pretty important!

1822 – Daughter Charity is born.

1823 – Male Phillips is born

1826 – Thomas Carroll Phillips is born

1827 – Elizabeth is born

The next record we have for William is in the US Census in 1830.  The ages in the household was (names cross referenced with 1850 census):

Sex	Age	Years	Count	Name?
Males	Under 5	1825-1830	1	Carroll
	5 to 9	1821-1825	1
	10 to 14	1816-1820	2
	15 to 19	1811-1815	2
	40 to 49	1781-1790	1	William
Females	Under 5	1825-1830	2	Elizabeth, Unknown
	5 to 9	1821-1825	1	Charity
	15 to 19	1811-1815	1
	50 to 59	1771-1780	1	Sarah

There is one female who is unknown as well.

1832- Rachel is born

1834 – Milberry is born

As we travel further in time, you can see the Phillips clan expanding!  William is living next to his son John (Married Celia Brothers) in this census.  As I mentioned in the “Where is Joseph in 1840?” post, Joseph Phillips is living with his father in law Joseph Copeland who is located a few names down on the same census page!

1840 Census –

Sex	Age	Years	Count	Name?
Males	10 to 15	1825-1830	1	Carroll
	50 to 60	1780-1790	1	William
Females	5 to 10	1830-1835	2	Rachel, Milberry
	10 to 15	1825-1830	2	Elizabeth, Unknown
	15 to 20	1820-1825	1	Charity
	50 to 60		1	Sarah

1850 Census – William moves to Blount County. At this point, he no longer owns land. It appears he is renting, which makes some sense because he was older, and flipping farm land probably didn’t appeal to him as much!

1860 Census – William is back in St Clair, living next to James and Dorcas Phillips.  They purchased the land next to the land that William purchased in 1831.  My understanding is that this land was called “the Phillips land” in later deeds.