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Weekly Ancestor Challenge - Week 1 - 2014
January 6, 2014 at 3:23pm
A challenge was issued by a genealogist to write about one ancestor per week in 2014.Zachariah Phillips
Week 1, year 2014, Ancestor Challenge:
Could this be "our" Zachariah Phillips"?
From: "The Collected Works of Benjamin Hawkins 1796-1810"
edited by H. Thomas Foster II
page 231
Cusseta, 12th November 1797
Came before me John Galphin and made oath that the horse that David
Walker has here now in possession is the same horse that he purchased of an
Indian of the Coweta town by the name of Emautly Haujo, son of the Coweta
Leader, and I believe, from the information I got from said Indian at the
time he was stolen, that he is the property of Peyton T. Smith, of Greene
County, between Zachariah Phillips and Green's Borough; and further saith
this deponent that he sold said horse to Joh Mulegan, of Savannah,and
Mulegan sold him to John Randolph, of Tensaw, and Randolph sold him to
Lachlin Durants, and Durants sold him to Benjamin Durants, his father.
John Galphin
Affirmed to be true before:
Benjamin Hawkins
NOTE: David Walker is mentioned in this letter by Benjamin Hawkins. There were two brothers in the Tensaw in the late 1700's named Jeremiah and George Phillips. George Phillips died in the spring of 1798. His widow, Elizabeth Collins Phillips remarried to a man named Wiseman Walker. Is there a relationship between David Walker and Wiseman Walker? More about George, Jeremiah, Elizabeth and Wiseman later.
Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 about Zachaiah Philips
Name: Zachaiah Philips Spouse:
Mip Elizabeth Rekard
Marriage Date: 15 Dec 1836
County: Monroe
State: Alabama
Source information: Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research
This record fits well because of location since the Little River Baptist Church is located in Monroe County, Alabama. Also, Zachariah's 1st daughter, Mary Anne Rebekah Phillips was born in Dec. 12, 1837.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1837-1838
WEDNESDAY, January 3, 1838.
On motion of Mr. Towns,
Resolved, That the Committee of Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing the claim of Zachariah Phillips, for property destroyed by the Creek Indians in the years 1817 and 1818; and that all papers relating to said claim be referred to said committee.
The rule being suspended for the purpose of receiving the same,
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, 1837-1838
WEDNESDAY, May 23, 1838.
Page 947
Mr. Stuart, from the Committee of Claims, made an unfavorable report on the case of Zachariah Phillips; which report was ordered to lie on the table.
Family lore tells us that Zachariah's father was either Zachariah or William. William was known by his Indian name of Billy Bowlegs, Chief. I have not been able to prove that there was a Billy Bowlegs who also went by the name of William/Billy Phillips. There was a Zachariah Phillips at the Battle of Burnt Corn in 1813. I have not proven any connection there either. In fact, I have not been able to find even a hint of who Zachariah's parents were. We have always believed we have Indian ancestry but have never been able to prove it. We do have some proof thru Zachariah's son, Zachariah, Jr. He married Mary Virginia Steadham. Mary claimed in an affidavit for her minor children, that her deceased husband was Creek and had always been Creek. She did not give information on his parents, grandparents or siblings.
Alabama entered the union as the twenty-second (22nd) state on December 14, 1819. Prior to that time, this area was part of the Mississippi Territory and Indian lands. Its earliest counties -- Washington, Madison, Baldwin, Clarke, Mobile, Monroe, and Montgomery -- were formed from the Mississippi Territory.
From AlGenWeb:
Formation of the State: From 1798 to 1819, a steady influx of Europeans into Alabama settled on land formerly occupied by several Native American tribes. Alabama became a part of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 after Indian cessions in north Alabama. Migration increased after the end of the Creek War in 1814. In 1817, the Alabama Territory was created, and Alabama became the 22nd in December 1819.
The Mobile area was settled even earlier. Founded in 1702 by French explorers, Mobile served as the capital of French Louisiana for 16 years. In 1763, Mobile and the Gulf area of Florida became a British colony. Control of Mobile and British West Florida changed hands several times between 1780 and the War of 1812.
We do not know who Zachariah Phillips actually is and where he came from. All census records say that he was born in Alabama in 1810. His tombstone give his date of birth as 1810 and there is a family Bible that gives a date of 26 July, 1810.
Family history says that Zachariah married Elizabeth Francis Callahan and there is a family Bible that records Zachariah married to Elizabeth Frances Callahan on 20 Feb, 1842 and makes note of the fact that this is a second marriage for Zachariah. I do not know who owns the Bible but other dates have proven accurate so I have no reason to doubt the accuracy. I have not found proof of this marriage although Callahan's lived next door to the Phillips family for generations. The Callahan household is always women only. There are at least four other marriages in the 1830's in Alabama for a Zachariah Phillips.
Is it possible that Zachariah was married to two women named Elizabeth? If so, which one is buried in Little River Baptist Church cemetery with him?
NOTE: I also found a marriage record for Elizabeth Phillips to John Callahan. So, Elizabeth Callahan, living next door, might be mother to Zachariah Phillips. Could Elizabeth Phillips be the widow of Zachariah Phillips of Burnt Corn, and therefore the mother of Zachariah Phillips born in 1810 who remarried to a John Callahan?
Phillips, Elizabeth
Comments: The gender of Elizabeth Phillips is female.
Spouse: John Callahan
Marriage Date: Dec 09, 1839
County: Mobile
Notes: This record can be found in the County Court Records, Film # 1294412 - 1294428 & 1550483 - 1550488
There are four marriages for Zachariah Phillips listed below:
Marriages for Zachariah Phillips
Zachariah Phillips married Mary Cochran 5/25/1831 Perry Co, AL
County Court Records, Film # 1290271 - 1290272 & 1290341 - 1290342
Zachariah Phillips and Mary Cochran took out a marriage license but never actually married. NOTE: Perry County is in the south central part of the state and relatively far from Baldwin county, especially given the conditions at the time.
Zachariah Phillips married Nancy Glover 7/12/1832 St. Clair Co. AL
County Court Records, Film # 1035441 - 1035445 NOTE: St. Clair County is in the north eastern portion of the state of Alabama. Again, this is a far distance from Baldwin County.
Zachariah Phillips married Elizabeth Brower 9/1/1834 Pike Co AL
County Court Records, Film # 1033193 - 1033202 NOTE: Pike County is in the south eastern portion of the state of Alabama, again, far from Baldwin.
Zachariah Phillips married Elizabeth Rikard 12/15/1836 Monroe Co., AL
County Court Records, Film # 1289610 - 1289612 Monroe County is an adjoining county to Baldwin and there are Rickard's living fairly close to Zachariah.
There are also numerous land patents for Zachariah Phillips and his descendants. It is interesting to note that our Zachariah is located centrally between all of the noted and noteworthy "wealthy half-breeds" of Little River, AL.
To the east of Zachariah's 160 acre property in Little River is 80 acres owned by Joseph James, 40 acres owned by William Sizemore, 160 acres owned by David A. Moniac. Other families immediately east of Zachariah are: Jeff Tarvin with 160 acres, Peter Sims owns 40 acres and Hardy Harris owns 120 acres. West of those properties is land owned by John B. Shipp and Charles T. Phillips.
To the west of Zachariah's property lies 80 acres owned by Richard Maiben and 80 acres owned by William Powell. West of that is 120 acres owned by Wm. H. Phillips (Zachariah's son) and 120 owned by Henry Staples.
North of Zachariah's property is land owned by Charles A. English, Richard Maiben, Wm. Boyles, and land owned jointly by Elizabeth Quarales and Susan Sizemore. I believe Elizabeth Quarles is the sister of Nancy Haw Gray/Grey. Susan is the daughter of Nancy Haw Graw/Grey and Joseph Stiggins and the wife of Absolom Sizemore.
Most of these families have known Indian ties and many intermarried.
Land Patents for Zachariah Phillips
6/20/1885
Land Patent, Accession/Serial #: AL4670_.071, Doc. #4251, Misc. Doc. Nr: 2832, 160.4 acres in Baldwin Co. issue date: 6/20/1885 to Zachariah C. Phillips. Authority: May 20m1862: Homestead entry-original (12 Stat. 392) Land Office: Montgomery.
This is the land in Little River where the Little River Church is located. Highway 59 runs through this entire quarter section of land.
While the following cannot be a record of this Zachariah (he was only three years old), the Zachariah mentioned below may be a relative. The location is very near where this Zachariah lived.
Military records for Zachariah Phillips:
The Battle of Burnt Corn
July 27 1813: In the morning, the command was re-organized, by the election of Zachariah Philips, McFarlin, Wood, and Jourdan, to the rank of major, and William McGrew, lieutenant-colonel. This unusual number of field officers was made to satisfy military aspirations. While on the march, the spy company returned rapidly, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and reported that McQueen's party were encamped a few miles in advance, and were engaged in cooking and eating. A consultation of officers terminated in the decision to attack the Indians by surprise.
I have not been able to document any Indian ancestry from Zachariah nor have I been able to document Zachariah's parentage. But, he is living in the midst of families of mixed blood. There are researcher's who believe the Zachariah of Burnt Corn notoriety is the father or uncle of our Zachariah.
Census Records for Zachariah Phillips:
1840 PHILLIPS ZACHARIAH Baldwin County AL 090 No Township Listed Federal Population Schedule AL 1840 Federal Census Index ALS4a2052410
PHILLIPS, Zachariah : 1
male under 5,
1 male 30-40,
1 female under 5,
1 female 20-30.
The female child under 5 could be Mary but William was not born until 1841 according to the records we have. So, who is the male child under 5 years old?
The family of Zachariah Phillips is found in the 1840 Federal Census in Baldwin County, Alabama. There are 4 people in the household, one male between 30-39, one female between 20-29, and two children under age 5, one boy and one girl.
I believe there was a male child born to Zachariah Phillips and Elizabeth Rickard before 1840 who died prior to the 1850 census. The next child born was William Phillips and he was born ca 1841-44 so he would NOT be the male child listed in this census.
1850 U.S. Census
Alabama, Baldwin Co. Div. 1, Roll 1, Book 1, Pages 82A & 82B
Dated: 29th Sept, 1850
House 36 Family 36
Z. Phillips 39 M Carpenter AL
Elizabeth 23 F SC Married within the year
Mary A. 13 F AL
William H. 9 M AL
Ann Elizabeth 8 F AL
Robert J. 6 M AL
John M. 4 M AL
Sarah J. 3 F AL
Liza E. 6/12 F AL
In the 1850 census, Elizabeth is 23 and "married within the year". Bible records tell us that Zachariah and Elizabeth married 20 Feb. 1842. Every woman on the census page has a check mark by "married within the year" so I suspect that this notation was used by the census taker to indicate the woman was married even though the actual question asked if the woman had "married within the year". Elizabeth is definitely too young to be the mother of the older children even if the "married within the year" notation is incorrect.
1860 U.S. Census
Alabama, Baldwin Co. Div. 1, Roll 1, Book 1, Page 208
Dated: 22nd June 1860
House 249 Family 187
Z. C. Phillips 50 M 0 20 AL
Elizabeth 42 F SC
Mary A. 22 F AL
William H. 19 M AL
Ann Elizabeth 17 F AL
James 16 M AL
John 14 M AL
Sarah J. 10 F AL
Zachary 8 M AL
Louisa 10 F AL
Thomas 6 M AL
Augusta 4 F AL
In the 1860 census, Elizabeth has aged by 19 years, not ten. Sarah and Eliza/Louisa are the same age. Many people, especially those who were illiterate, as Elizabeth was, did not know how old they were. Either they or the census taker often guessed at the ages of individuals.
1866 Baldwin County Alabama State Census
Pg. 22
PHILIPS, Zachariah, Sr. 57
Philips, Elizabeth 49
Philips, Mary 27
Philips, William 25
Phillips, Ann 23
Philips, James 20
Philips, John 19
Philips, Sarah J 17
Philips, Zachariah 15
Philips, Thomas 13
Philips, Augusta 11
Callahan, Elizabeth 72
Callahan, Sarah 42
Callahan, Jane 30
Sizemore, Nancy 19
1870 U.S. Census
Alabama, Baldwin Co. Roll 1, Book 1, Page 247B
Dated: 12th Aug, 1870
House 66 Family 66
Elizabeth 55 F SC
Mary A. 30 F SC
James 24 M SC
Ann 23 F SC
John 22 M SC
Zachary 15 M SC
Thomas 14 M SC
Augusta 12 F SC
The most interesting thing about this census is that Zachariah is not listed. His tombstone says he died in 1886, however, he has not been found on either the 1870 or 1880 census. I want to research the year 1866 to see if I can find a record of his death. (I have two different dates of death for Zachariah and will have to check the tombstone when I get back to Alabama. One date is 1/24/1870 and the other is 1886). Elizabeth has aged 13 years instead of 10 in this census record.
1880 U.S. Census
Alabama, Baldwin Co. Montgomery Hill, Roll 1, Book 1, Page 147A
Dated: 13th June, 1880
House 124 Family 131
Phillips, Isobel 65 F SC
Ann 30 F AL
Zachary 25 M AL
Thomas 24 M AL
Mc,Call Augusta 22 F AL
In this census, Elizabeth (if this is the same person...) would have aged correctly but now she is listed as Isobel. Is she Elizabeth Isobel or Isobel Elizabeth? Augusta has married Thomas McCall but is living with her mother and several siblings. T. N. White is living next door in the household of William Phillips, as is William's sister, Mary Boone who is divorced from John J. Boone. T. N. White will later marry Nancy "Ann" Phillips.
Elizabeth/Isobel Phillips is listed as a widow in the 1880 census. I believe Zachariah's tombstone is marked incorrectly and the actual date should be somewhere between 1866 and 1870 instead of 1886.
Zachariah Phillips is buried in Little River Baptist Church Cemetery, Chrysler, Monroe County, Alabama. There is a replacement tombstone and I think the death date is wrong. I had a photo years ago of the original tombstone but have misplaced it. Zachariah has not been found in the 1870 or 1880 census with his family. His tombstone says he died in 1886. I believe it was in 1868. Maybe someday we'll dig up the original tombstone.
Great Job Jackie!!
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