William R Kirkland (abt. 1786 - bef. 1864)

Born about 1786 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eudicia (Helton) Kirkland — married about 1804 in South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died before Mar 1864 before about age 78 in Henry, Alabama, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Kirkland Name Study.

William R Kirkland was the sixth, and last, son born to Benjamin Kirkland d. 1805. He was recognized in the will of his father as “...my youngest beloved son William Kirkland...”. The will was written 13 March 1796 and proved in the Court of Barnwell District, South Carolina 06 January 1806.^[1] William was born in 1786, based on U. S. Census records for 1790-1860. His age on these records consistently reflects that birth year. His birthplace appears to have been the Kirkland Family home site on the headwaters of the South Edisto River, as has been reported for his older brothers.

William married Dicey Helton. Her maiden name is known from an extant letter in the Probate Office of the Decatur County, Georgia Court House. The file is titled “Miscellaneous Papers of Estates and Other (word illegible)”. This particular letter is labeled “Letter to Dicey Kirkland”. It is datelined Covington County, Alabama. The year is very faded, but appears to be 1849 or 1859. The letter was addressed “to my sister Dicey” and was signed by M. Helton. The substance of the letter was to inquire of his sister’s health, suggest the family should move back to Alabama where she would have better health, and express the wish that he would see her at the next “family meeting” in the Fall. Further, the writer sent word to “Ward” that he should not “worry about the money yet”. Ward may have been William H. Ward, a son-in-law of William d. 1864, and the man appointed to administer the estate of his father-in-law in 1864, as cited earlier. Note that M. Helton addressed the wife of William Kirkland as his sister and had the same surname as the 88 year old Elizabeth Helton in this Kirkland household in 1850.^[2] M. Helton was Membrance Helton, as the name appears in a number of official Henry County records.^[3]

William and his wife Dicey were the parents of at least twelve children. All are identified as his heirs in the probate records. Birth and death dates are from U. S. Federal Census records, grave markers, and family records. Marriages are from Henry County Marriage Books, unless noted otherwise. Some marriages are identified in the probate records; others are from family records. The children were:^[4]

1. Martha - born ca. 1805, died before 07 October 1836, married Ephriam Hutto 20 July 1826;
2. Mary - born ca. 1808, died January 1899, married 1) Bryant Sholar 19 February 1829, 2) James Ward 18 March 1853;
3. Lovina (Vicey/Viney) - born ca. 1810, married David L. Hutto;
4. Benjamin - born 28 January 1811, died 1864, married Harriett Powell 06 February 1834;
5. Armstead - born 20 July 1814, died 29 April 1880, married 1) Mary Nancy Ann Whiddon 14 November 1846, 2) Julia Ann Wells 16 May 1857;
6. Cynthia -born ca. 1815, married 1) Hugh Bright, 2) Wade Armstrong 01 March 1837, 3) William H. Ward 11 October 1844;
7. Sarah - born ca. 1817, died a. 1880, married Martin Armstrong;
8. Dicey - born ca. 1820, died before 15 May 1839, married Asa Kirkland 03 September 1837;
9. Artemus - born ca. 1822, died ca. 1888, married Caroline Lawson 26 May 1845;
10. Nicey -born ca. 1823, no record of marriage;
11. Harriett - born ca. 1825, died ca. 1854, married Josiah Hendrix 12 Jan 1841;
12. Wilson William - born 15 August 1830, died 08 September 1911, married Darcas Ann Elizabeth Whiddon 02 November 1849. The name of the last child is reported in family records as William Wilson Kirkland. The County Commission Minutes in the 1860s, and census records, report him as Wilson William Kirkland.

1850 Census Details^[5]

The U. S. Census return for Henry County, Alabama in 1850 reports the household of William Kirkland to include him - age 64, Dicey - age 63, their unmarried daughter Unicey - age 25, their recently married son Wilson William Kirkland - age 20 and his wife Darcas - age 17, one person named Elizabeth Helton - age 88 and born in Virginia, and an orphaned grandson William R Kirkland - age 10 years. Consideration should be given that Elizabeth Helton was the mother-in-law of William Kirkland d. 1864.

William R Kirkland in the U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015 includes the letter "R" as a middle initial. While some have concluded that this stood for "Ransom" there is no basis in records for that conclusion.^[6]

Death

He died in Henry County, Alabama before 21 March 1864, when William H. Ward was appointed administrator of his estate.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Will Book A, pages 23-24
2. ↑ William Kirkland in the 1850 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/18468433:8054
3. ↑ Kirkland Family Roots, by Dr. J. E. Peacock, publ. 2002, p. 279
4. ↑ Kirkland Family Roots, by Dr. J. E. Peacock, publ. 2002, p. 284
5. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census; Year: 1850; Census Place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M432_6; Page: 382A; Image: 278 https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=8054&h=18468433&indiv=try
6. ↑ William R Kirkland in the U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1893685:1246
7. ↑ Orphan Court Records (OCR) Book O, page 168.