John Phillips in 1830 & 1840
Who is the 1840 John Phillips?
Who is the 1830 John Phillips?
Was John the father of William?
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
BACKGROUND
William Phillips (Abt 1785 – Abt 1865) was living in St Clair County, Alabama in the 1830 and 1840 federal census (underlined in yellow below). In both records, he is living next door or in the neighborhood of a John Phillips (underlined in red below). While no document or last will has been found for William Phillips, one of his sons was named John Phillips (Abt 1817 – Abt 1864) and it is believed that William and his son John are living next door to each other in 1840. The John Phillips living near to William in the 1830 census has been misapplied to both William’s son John, and even as William’s father John. No record has been found naming William’s father, but family lore believes that his father’s name was John and his mother was Elizabeth Ann Drewry. This project will attempt to identify and separate these John Phillips’.
Figure 1 1830 U.S. census, St. Clair Co., Ala., p. 227; M19, roll 4.[i]
Figure 2 1840 U.S. census, St. Clair Co., Ala., p. 223; M704, roll 14.[ii]
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this report will be to resolve the identity conflict involving two men named John Phillips living in St. Clair County, Alabama in the 1830 and 1840 Federal censuses by demonstrating that they are different individuals. This report will also attempt to show that the 1830 John Phillips cannot be the father of William Phillips (Abt 1785 – Abt 1865) due to age and household structure, while the 1840 John Phillips aligns with the expected age and household position of William’s son.
FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
Separating John from John
The John Phillips in the 1840 census is not the same John Phillips in the 1830 census. Starting with the 1830 census, John Phillips would be born between 1800 and 1810. To account for a transcription error, the range can be expanded to 1790-1810 just in case his age was confused with his wife’s age (1790-1800).
| 1830 U.S. Federal Census[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Locality (Town/City, County, State) St Clair County, Alabama | |||||||||||||||
| Page | Line | Head of Family | Free white persons, including heads of families | ||||||||||||
| 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 30-40 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 70-80 | 80-90 | 90-100 | 100 + | ||||
| 227 | 13 | John Phillips | Male | 1 | |||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 227 | 17 | William Phillips | Male | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
John’s inferred daughters would have been born between 1815-1820 and 1825-1830. It would be expected that his youngest daughters would be living at home in the 1840 census.
The 1840 John Phillips is younger than the 1830 census. This John Phillips would have been born between 1810-1820 and his wife would have been born between 1820-1830. There are no children living in the household, likely this would be a young married couple just starting to create a family.
| 1840 U.S. Federal Census[2] | |||||||||||||||
| Locality (Town/City, County, State) St Clair County, Alabama | |||||||||||||||
| Page | Line | Head of Family | Free white persons, including heads of families | ||||||||||||
| 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 30-40 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 70-80 | 80-90 | 90-100 | 100 + | ||||
| 223 | 11 | Wm Phillips | Male | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 223 | 12 | John Phillips | Male | 1 | |||||||||||
| Female | 1 | ||||||||||||||
These two John Phillips cannot be the same person. The 1830 John Phillips household shows a (possibly blended) newly formed family with multiple daughters. The 1840 John Phillips is younger than the 1830 John, and the family has no children that should be listed if this were the same household.
Who is the 1840 John Phillips?
It is inferred that the household of John Phillips is a newly formed marriage due to the age of the male and female in the household. John would be born between 1810 and 1820 and his inferred wife would be born between 1820 and 1830. The marriage would have likely occurred in the late 1830’s and nearby St Clair County, Alabama.[3] Fortunately, there happens to be a marriage on 20 Jul 1837 between a John Phillips and Celia Brothers in St Clair County. [4] The 1850 Census for St Clair County includes John (Born abt. 1817) and Celia Phillips (Born abt. 1822)[5] with his inferred children Sarah (Abt. 1843), Rebecca (Abt. 1845) and John W. Phillips (Abt 1849). The ages of John and Celia in 1850 are consistent with the age ranges in the 1840 Census record for John Phillips, and the children in 1850 are all born after 1840 so they would not be in the household then.
The John Phillips living next door to William in the 1840 census is the John Phillips that married Celia Brothers.
No deed record of a sale of the land next door to William Phillips to John Phillips has been found. This implies that John would have been living on William Phillips land, and likely a son or nephew based on their ages. DNA evidence can be used to show that William and John were likely father/son in a later report.
Who is the 1830 John Phillips?
The John Phillips in the 1830 census is living in the neighborhood of William Phillips, not next door or adjacent to William. This John Phillips would have been born between 1800 and 1810, and his wife would have been born between 1790 and 1800. There are 2 inferred daughters born between 1825 and 1830 and 1 girl born between 1815 and 1820 living in the household.
This older girl living in the household could be a niece, helper, or even a stepdaughter to John. If this girl was the daughter of John and his wife in the 1830 census, John would have been married around 1815, meaning he would have been between 5 and 15 years old and marrying a woman between 15 and 25 years old. While possible, this would be very unique for the time period.
The ages of the girls in the household give a rough estimate for marriage records. There should be a John Phillips marriage record around 1815 or around 1825. There is a record from Morgan County, Alabama (just north of St Clair County) in 1822 for a John Phillips who married an Anna Lawrence in 1822. According to the 1850 Census, John would have been born in 1801 and Anna in 1809, which is a mismatch for the wife of John Phillips in 1830. There would be one male (James) under 5 years old, which is not a match for the 1830 John Phillips record.
More likely than not, the John Phillips that marries Anna Lawrence was not the John Phillips in the 1830 Census.
There is another potential John Phillips who married an Elizabeth and lived near the St Clair County/Benton (Calhoun) County border. According to the 1850 census, John would have been born around 1775 and Elizabeth would have been born around 1803. There is a probate of his will on 6 August 1855 listing his heirs as Elizabeth Phillips (Wife), Susannah, Sally, Pheby, Nancy, Summerfield (over 14, not of age), John, Jake, William, Elizabeth, Hannah Runely & John Runely, Daniel James Phillips. The age of John is not a match with the 1830 Census record, as he would have been 50-60 in 1830.
More likely than not, the John Phillips that marries Elizabeth was not the John Phillips in the 1830 census.
There are land records of John Phillips buying and selling land near to William Phillips around 1830. The first is the purchase of the east ½ of SE ¼ section 1 township 14 range 3 east from Robert Weems on 25 Dec 1832.[6] Not long after on 18 Jun 1833, John Phillips sold that parcel to Mark Phillips.[7] Unfortunately, no dower release was included which could be used to determine the spouse of that John Phillips.
Was John the father of William?
Some researchers have applied this record to the father of William Phillips. Based on the 1830 record, William would have been born 1790-1800 and John would have been born 1800-1810. There’s no chance that John would be the right age to be the father of William.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION
- The John Phillips in the 1830 Census record is NOT the same John Phillips in the 1840 Census record.
- The John Phillips in the 1840 Census is likely the son of William Phillips due to the ages and John likely living on William’s land in 1840.
- The John Phillips in the 1830 census was NOT the father of William Phillips because John is younger than William.
- Likely candidates for John Phillips in 1830 were shown not to be matches.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
- Track down the land deeds and map out each John Phillips in the 1840 Census.
- Use DNA analysis to show that John Phillips and William Phillips are related.
- Research other possible Phillips that would fit the family of John Phillips in 1830 in later census.
Appendix
1830 Census Record
1830 Census Record Transcribed
| 1830 U.S. Federal Census[8] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locality (Town/City, County, State) St Clair County, Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page | Line | Head of Family | Free white persons, including heads of families | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 30-40 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 70-80 | 80-90 | 90-100 | 100 + | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 227 | 13 | John Phillips | Male | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 227 | 17 | William Phillips | Male | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1830 U.S. Federal Census, continued | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line | Slaves | Free Colored Persons | Total | White persons | Slaves and colored persons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deaf & dumb | Blind | Aliens | Deaf & dumb | Blind | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0- 10 | 10- 24 | 24- 36 | 36- 55 | 55- 100 | 100+ | 0- 10 | 10- 24 | 24- 36 | 36- 55 | 55- 100 | 100+ | 0- 14 | 14- 25 | 25+ | 0- 14 | 14-25 | 25+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1840 Census Records
1840 Census Records Transcribed
| 1840 U.S. Federal Census | |||||||||||||||
| Locality (Town/City, County, State) St Clair County, Alabama | |||||||||||||||
| Page | Line | Head of Family | Free white persons, including heads of families | ||||||||||||
| 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | 30-40 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 60-70 | 70-80 | 80-90 | 90-100 | ||||
| 223 | 11 | Wm Phillips[1] | Male | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 223 | 12 | John Phillips[2] (Wm son) | Male | 1 | |||||||||||
| Female | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 228 | 29 | John Phillips[3] (Anna Lawrence?) | Male | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 229 | 6 | John Phillips[4] (Summerfield) | Male | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Female | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 51 | 4 | John Phillips[5] (Benton County) | Male | 1 | |||||||||||
| Female | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 1840 U.S. Federal Census, continued | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line | Slaves | Free Colored Persons | Total | White persons | Slaves & colored persons | ||||||||||||||||||
| Deaf & dumb | Blind | Alien | Deaf & dumb | Blind | |||||||||||||||||||
| 0- 10 | 10- 24 | 24- 36 | 36- 55 | 55- 100 | 100+ | 0- 10 | 10- 24 | 24- 36 | 36- 55 | 55- 100 | 100+ | 0- 14 | 14- 25 | 25+ | 0- 14 | 14-25 | 25+ | ||||||
| 11 | Male | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Male | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Male | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Male | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Male | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Female | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[1] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 223; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[2] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 223; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[3] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 228; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[4] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 229; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[5] Year: 1840; Census Place: Benton, Alabama; Roll: 3; Page: 51; Family History Library Film: 0002332
1852 Marriage Rules[iii]
[1] Year: 1830; Census Place: St Clair, Alabama; Series: M19; Roll: 4; Page: 227; Family History Library Film: 0002331
[2] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 223; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[3] Alabama, The Code of Alabama. Prepared by John J. Ormond, Arthur P. Bagby, and George Goldthwaite; headnotes and index by Henry C. Semple (Montgomery: Brittan & De Wolf, State Printers, 1852); digital images, Internet Archive (ark:/13960/t5cc1ss6g).
[4] Ancestry.com. Alabama, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1805-1967 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.Original data: Marriage Records. Alabama Marriages. County courthouses, Alabama.
[5] The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: District 40, St Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 136b
[6] “St. Clair, Alabama, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVB-J2BX?view=explore : Jul 7, 2026), image 36 of 200; Alabama. County Court (St. Clair County).
Image Group Number: 008134415
[7] “St. Clair, Alabama, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVB-J2B8?view=explore : Jul 7, 2026), image 55 of 200; Alabama. County Court (St. Clair County). Image Group Number: 008134415
[8] Year: 1830; Census Place: St Clair, Alabama; Series: M19; Roll: 4; Page: 227; Family History Library Film: 0002331
[9] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 223; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[10] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 223; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[11] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 228; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[12] Year: 1840; Census Place: Saint Clair, Alabama; Roll: 14; Page: 229; Family History Library Film: 0002335
[13] Year: 1840; Census Place: Benton, Alabama; Roll: 3; Page: 51; Family History Library Film: 0002332
[i] 1840 U.S. census, St. Clair County, Alabama, p. 223; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1327605:8057 : accessed 8 July 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M704, roll 14, Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29.
[ii] 1830 U.S. census, St. Clair County, Alabama, p. 227; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1888887:8058 : accessed 8 July 2026); citing National Archives microfilm publication M19, roll 4, Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29.
[iii] Alabama. The Code of Alabama. Prepared by John J. Ormond, Arthur P. Bagby, and George Goldthwaite; headnotes and index by Henry C. Semple. (Montgomery: Brittan & De Wolf, State Printers, 1852); digital images, Internet Archive (ark:/13960/t5cc1ss6g : accessed 8 July 2026).
NorthEast Alabama Families 
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