The youngest male child of William and Sarah, Carroll has a special place in my heart. He’s the only male actually listed in the 1850 census, and if I can show that we share DNA we can prove that William was the father of Joseph and John. I believe that Carrol got the traveling bug from his dad – his branch moved to Texas and beyond!
Early Records
Carroll is born in 1826, making him 4 years old in the 1830 census.
He’s also living in the same household in 1840
In 1850, we see that Carrol is 24 years old and still living at home. Noted as born in Alabama. William is renting – he does not own any land.
Marriage
Carrol Marries Martha Ellen Reid on 22 Oct 1851 in DeKalb County, Alabama.
Carroll and Bery Reed/Reid put up $200 bond for the marriage bond. The marriage is solemnized on 22 Oct 1851
Final years in Alabama
In 1860, Carroll is living with Martha, his son William C. (8), Sarah E. (6), and Maryann M (1). Carroll is living next door to his brother John and Celia (Brothers) Phillips, and has a real estate value of $320.
According to the Agricultural Census, he owned about 160 acres of land and it appears that he didn’t quite have as big a farm as his brother. He had about 200 bushes of Indian Corn and 25 pounds of Butter.
Travels to Tennessee
According to the 1870 census, Carroll left for Lincoln County, Tennessee. Future research should look into others that may have moved with him. I am unaware of any family members that are living in the area, and the rest of his immediate family moved to Warren County, Tennessee. Carroll is living with Martha, and kids William Carrol (17), Sarah E. (16), Mary A (11), John T. (7), Jon W. (3)
Time in Georgia
According to the 1880 Census, Carroll moved his family to Franklin County, Georgia. Future research should look into who else moved with him here. Some extended family would be living around Wilkes County, Georgia, but I don’t know of anyone specifically in Franklin County. Carroll is living with his children – it appears that Martha has passed away. William Carrol appears to be out of the house as well. Sarah E (24), Mary F (22), James T (18), Hannah J. (15), John W. (12), Kizzie (10), Lucy (8) and Benjamin (6). Based on the response to the census taker, I am betting that it wasn’t Carroll that answered the door!
This is not the correct family. After more research, I was able to find this family in the same location, but in 1870, which would mean this is a different family with similar names and ages.
New Hints Help Fill In Gaps
Looking through some Ancestry hints, I stumbled into a Family History Book (Genealogy History: Devoted to American Family and Local History, and Allied Interests-V 5, No 9 (15 Jan 1945)) which included a Query about Carroll Phillips, Milberry Sofley, Reed, and others! These are names I’m familiar with. From the source:
We are Scotch-Irish via the Carolinas. Our earliest known anc., William Phillips (a race-horse man), md…(must have been b c.1780 as she d. aged 95 in 1875) & they raised 5 sons (John, James, Joe, Zack & William Carroll) & 2 dau’s (Charity, never md; Milbrry), John, James, Joe & Zach d. abt the time of the Civil War (1861-4) but left fam’s. Milberry (“Millie”) md Enoch Sofley & when Wm. Carroll Phillips was moving fam. to Tex in 1875 they visited the Sofleys at Sofley (on Caine R., Lincoln Co. Tenn)
William Carroll Phillips was b. (where?) Oct 29, 1824 or ’27; served in Civ War (U.S. Army) to ’64, part of time as shoe-maker; d. Mar 21, 1899 Poolville, Parker Co., Tex; md (where?) Marthey Reed (b. Dec 22, 1826; d. July 31, 1875) & they had 4 ch’n who d. young & these 5: (5) Wm. Carroll jr., b Aug 27, 1852; d. Sep 19 1936 McLean, Gray Co., Tex; md. Sally Suflett; (6) Sarrah Elizabeth b. Jan 1, 1854; d. 1891; md. W.H. Stogner; (7) Mary Milberry, d. Bay City, Matagorda Co. seat, Tex.; md. W.W. Grimes; (8) John Thomas, b. May 29, 1863 Collinsville, DeKalb Co., Ala; d. May 20, 1942 (fa. of querist who was b. June 12, 1885 Rising Star, Eastland Co., Tex); (9) Joseph Nathaniel (only living child & can’t help me any).
My fa. left me the above info. which I have been unable to supplement. Want data on this line particularly anc – XCP (Alaska)
What an excellent breakdown! It both adds in a new child of William Carroll Phillips Sr. but also gives great analysis on the family of William and Sarah Phillips. While they were wrong that Zach died in Civil War times, the number of males is correct with one possible male son not accounted for. There is one male living at home in 1820 and 1830 census’, likely born in 1813, but I do not have a good candidate for him. He would have married around 1835 or died before 1840.
Charity did not ever marry, and Milberry married a Enoch Safley, just a typo really! There was no inclusion of other girls, of which I know Elizabeth Phillips (1827-1888) was buried in Smyrna next to her mother.
This also gives reason for the move up to Lincoln County, Tennesseee as it would be “on the way” to Texas.
Each child of William Carroll Phillips has been confirmed through DNA connections. There are 5 children in XCP’s list: William Carrol Jr, Sarah Elizabeth, Mary Milberry, John Thomas and Joseph Nathaniel. Joseph Nathaniel is still alive in 1945, the rest passed away by that point.
All of the children have 1 or more DNA connections through ThruLines, and at the correct range of cM for 4th cousins.
Based on that, I give that write up/query a lot of credibility. I’ll be interested to see who is likely XCP from Alaska.
I’m still looking for the 1880 census with the family. Martha Reed will have died in 1875 in Madison County, Alabama. The children should still be with William Carroll.
The hunt continues….
Off to Texas!
The 1890 Census is effectively missing, save for some counties. Fortunately, I have contacted with a descendent of Carroll, and found a whole new move to Texas (and beyond!). It looks like Carroll moved over to Parker County, Texas and married an Amanda J. (Holman) Ray in 1891. This was neither person’s first marriage – Amanda married a Joseph Benjamin Ray.
Union ties?
One interesting tidbit – hat tip to Pat for this! The obituary for Amanda lists her death date, and facts about her previous two marriages. One of those fact was that Carrol fought for the Union!
More research into this is necessary to prove the link, but there does appear to be a Carroll Phillips that fought in Company G, 1st Cavalry of Tennessee. He would have joined in Jan 1864. Carrols son, John Thomas, was born in 1863 and his next child Hannah is born in 1865. With the war ending in Spring of 1865, there is a chance this is the right Carroll!
DNA Evidence Connecting My Line to Carroll Phillips (1826–1899)
As part of confirming that William Carrol “Carroll” Phillips is genetically connected to my Phillips line, I reviewed all DNA matches that Ancestry’s ThruLines associates with his children. The goal is simple:
If multiple descendants of Carroll’s children share DNA with my dad’s kit, then Carroll is almost certainly part of our direct Phillips line.
Across Carroll’s descendants, my dad matches more than 20 individuals, with shared DNA ranging from 66 cM down to 9 cM. For 4th‑cousin–level relationships, this is exactly the range expected.
NorthEast Alabama Families 