Born around 1811, Zachariah lived a short life. According to court records, he died before June 1836 and his likely brother James administered his will.
My current theory is that William Phillips, his likely father, traveled to Alabama after staying in Warren County, Tennessee. We have no census or other record that indicates where Zach was born. We do not even know where he thought he was born. However, it likely would have been in Tennessee. William sold land to Thomas Lowry on 20 August 1814, and the next record I have is a Jury summoning on 20 August 1819 in Shelby County, Tennessee.
1830 Census
One of the first records I have found for Zach is a “Z Phillips” buying 10 barrels of corn and 1 stack fodder from the estate of Thomas C Bradford (St Clair Estate Ledger 1828-1837 Pg 85). I have not found any other individuals named Z Phillips/Philips in the area, so this is likely him.
Analysis:
It can be assumed Zach was in the general St Clair/Blount border area by 1830. There are 8 Phillips or Philips in the Blount county or St Clair county, which covers the northeastern portion of the state! The red circle is roughly the area Zach would have been living. The yellow area is controlled by Native Americans, and the counties are how they looked in 1830:
While Zach could have been living at ANYONE’s house in 1830, I think a reasonable theory is that he was living at home with his parents at the age of 19. Other options would be staying at a relatives house, or being an apprentice. I generally think a relative would be unlikely. I have yet to show a family link to other Phillips’. I have not been able to prove if they moved down with Sarah’s (Zach’s mom) family. Apprenticeship is another angle that I should look into, but this is a farming area.
I’ve numbered the Phillips’ in the area to make it easier to keep up with.
- John Philips: Not a candidate because there is only one female child in the house.
- John Philips: Not a candidate because there are only female children in the house.
- James Philips: Not a candidate because the male child in the house is under 5.
- Britain Philips: Not a candidate because the male child in the house is under 5
- Mark Philips: Not a candidate because the male children are (2) under 5 or (1) 5 to 9
- Reuben Phillips: Not a candidate because the male children are (1) under 5 or (2) 10-14
- William Phillips: A candidate because 2 white males 15 to 19 are in the household!
- Newson Phillips: Besides the location, not a candidate. (2) males under 5, (2) 5-9.
Of the families, the most likely family of Zachariah Phillips is William Phillips and that is where he likely is living in the 1830 census.
12 July 1832: Marriage to Nancy Glover
After some research, I believe that Nancy’s father was likely George Glover. He has 2 females living in his house between 15-20 in 1830. James and John Bynum are located a few houses down on the census – I have not been able to find a deed associated with George Glover.
John Roden is also on the same page with George Glover and James Bynum.
They were both located very close to Zachariah (William) in the 1830s. So my money is on George Glover as her father.
Probate records before Zach’s death
After Zach got married, he shows up in various probate records.
12 August 1833 Road building: Zach is appointed overseer of a road from Coleman’s old mill to the County Line (Orphans Court Minutes 1827-1836, Pg. 223)
15 December 1833 Zach is noted in the Accounts Due on the books of William Sloan’s estate record. (Alabama Probate Records 1809-1837; Estaet 1828-1837 Pg 263)
26 Nov 1834 Colt: Zach buys a brown colt for $95 at the estate of Silas Crump (Estates 1828-1837, Pg. 205)
25 Nov 1835 Coffee: Zach buys 1 sack of coffee for $29.15 (Estates 1828-1835 pg. 341)
Children
The only record we have of children are from later census’. Nancy remarries after Zach’s death to William Hollingsworth (Calhoun County Marriage Records, Pg 159 – please note this is actually in Benton, Alabama, but ancestry.com has it as Calhoun)
Looking to the 1850 census, we see 3 kids
- William (17 years – 1833)
- Sarah (14 years – 1836)
- Zachariah (12 years – 1838, but must be 1837)
Analysis: Looking at the naming patterns, it appears that the children were named after Zach’s parents, William and Sarah. It also appears that Zachariah Jr. was named after his father, who died while he was being born.
William C Phillips appears to be William Carroll Phillips, likely named after his uncle as well.
Zach’s Land and Death
Zach decided to purchase land in around 1834. According to the land patent, he inspected and wanted to move forward with the purchase on 1 June 1834
| Zach (purple) wants to buy land near William Phillips (red) |
By 20 July 1835, Zach made the final payment for the property.
It appears that Zach Dies in June 1836. When combined with his child Zach being born in 1837, it appears that he died while Nancy was pregnant!
His likely brother James is appointed as his administrator, with neighbors Burwell McClendon, Roland Crump and Nathan Samuels as appraisers of his property. (Orphans Court Minutes 1827-1850, Page 104)
5 August 1837: Zach receives the patent for the NE quarter of the NE quarter of section 26, Township 12S, Range 3E
12 Oct 1837 – James Phillips purchases 80 (+/-) acres from John Washburn as administrator of Zach’s will (St Clair Deed Book B, Pg. 324)
28 Nov 1837 – James Philips petitions the court to sell the land Zach got a patent for (East 1/2 of the SE 1/4 Section 23, Township 12S, Range 3E) (Orphans Court Minutes 1827 – 1850, Page 155)
8 Jan 1838: James later petitions the court to sell Zach’s land because his personal property won’t cover his debts ( Orphans Court Minutes 1827 – 1850, Page 164)
20 Feb 1838: James sells 40 acres (+/-) land to Rowland Crump as administrator of Zach’s will (St Clair Deed Book , Page 545)
19 July 1838: James sells the final 100 acres (+/-) to William Phillips as administrator of Zach’s will (St Clair Deed Book , Page 448)
11 Feb 1839: William later sells Zach’s land for $300 to A & AW Byers. (St Clair Deed Book B, Page 503).
Analysis: Unfortunately, Sarah does not give her dower when the land is sold in 1839. William purchasing Zach’s land is NOT proof that they are related, however it appears that William would be a viable candidate to be his father as the only Phillips head of household with a male in the right age range in the house.
Zach’s family must have had a hard time in general. To lose a father at 25 years old must have been devastating!
Following the children
After Zach’s death, the family was in a difficult spot! It seems that they moved back in with Nancy’s father for a time, based on the 1840 census.
As noted earlier, Nancy married a William Hollingsworth in 1842 in Benton County.
3 Feb 1846: Uncle Carol finds apprentices for the children
According to Blount County records, their likely uncle Carrol Phillips (full name Thomas Carrol Phillips) found the children apprenticeships.
This day com Carrol Phillips who makes suit to this court to have found apprentices the children of Zachariah Philips, deceased, to wit: William C Philips who is age thirteen years old the 13th day of July, Sarah Philips whose age is 11 years old next March, Zachariah Philips aged 9 years. Past unto Wm Philips and it appearing to this court that it is necessary to bind said children it’s therefor ordered by the court that Uriah Nesmith overseer of the Porr in Company B No. 7 bind under and according to the statue in such case made and provide unto Wm Philips the afore said orphaned Children.
Followup research should include figuring out the Porr laws of Alabama and what this record means. I interpret it to mean that the children need to be put in apprenticeships, but I have no clue what that really means.
William C Phillips appears to be William Carroll Phillips, likely named after his uncle as well.
William Carrol Phillips
The first record after the apprenticeship is for a marriage license. (Alabama, US, County Marriage Records, 1805-1967, Page 398)
And wouldn’t you know it, his likely grandfather William pays for the wedding bond! (Alabama, US, County Marriage Records, 1805-1967, Page 398)
Grandfather William is living in Blount county at the time of this document.
I’m going to work on the kids of Zach for my next project. If you are a male Phillips and descend from Zachariah Phillips, please comment on this post!
NorthEast Alabama Families 
My great grandfather was Zachariah Phillips who married Mary Cochran.There daughter Julie Ann was my grandmother. She was buried in Chinchuba Cemetary in Louisiana. Could it be the same Zachariah. I think his Father was William A. Phillips (Billy Bowlegs). I wander if this is true because I can’t find another Father for Zachariah.
My Great Grandmother was Julia Ann Phillips, she was the daughter of Zachariah A. Phillips. Zach’s dates were 1813-1873. I know this to be accurate. Zachariah married Mary Cochran. I have looked high and low and cannot find Zachariah’ Father and Mother..The cemetery records at Chinchuba Cemetery in Mandeville,Louisiana shows this. Can someone try and help me? Glen Shoultz