William S Kirkland (1798 - 1881)

Born 11 Jul 1798 in Edgefield, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rutha Kirkland — married 23 Aug 1821 (to 20 Feb 1850) in Henry, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1881 at age 82 in Woodville, Tyler, Texas, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Kirkland Name Study.

The third child of Caleb Kirkland d. p. 1830 was William S. Kirkland. The written family record identified him without the middle initial. The middle initial was also absent in his marriage record. Records to be cited are sufficient to prove this was the man identified in Henry County records as William S. Kirkland. No record was found to prove the name represented by the initial. it should be noted that his gravestone shows William B. Kirkland. This is an obvious error when his headstone was carved.

William S. Kirkland was born 16 July 1798, apparently in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He died 11 March 1881 in Tyler County, Texas and was buried at Bethany Cemetery. He married Ruth (Rutha in some records) Kirkland in Henry County, Alabama 23 August 1821. She was a daughter of Moses Kirkland d. 1848, a brother to Caleb d. p. 1830. He remarried late in life, in Texas, to Sarah (?). The last marriage was without issue. His widow remarried to Moses Summrall, Junior 29 May 1881 in Tyler County.

William S. was active in the records of Henry County. He was commissioned a Captain in the 25th Regiment (Henry County) of the Alabama Militia 15 December 1835, Military Register, State Militia; Alabama Archives. He was also a Captain in the Volunteer Rifle Company in 1835. He served in the Creek Indian War of 1836, in Alabama, and drew a pension for this service in later life.

He appeared on the 1842 and 1843 tax lists for Henry County, being assessed for one poll in 1842 and one poll and a city lot in 1843. He paid $00.37 in 1843. Deed books show he purchased four lots in the newly-platted town of Abbeville 03 July 1837, Deed Book A, page 224. They were Lots 50, 51, 52, fronting on Dees Street and Washington Street, and Lot 55, fronting on Washington Street and Williams Street.

Contrary to the report by earlier searchers of a plantation owned by William S. and Ruth, this research found no record of land ownership, other than the Abbeville Town Lots. Perhaps the land holdings of his father-in-law were available.

The family of William S. and Ruth suffered a marital crisis in 1849-1850. Readers should recognize this is one of the sensitive issues that must be recorded. Surviving records may or may not present the issues in their true light. The records are reported as they were recorded.

The will of Moses Kirkland d. 1848, father of Ruth, provided cautions that seem to have been overlooked. Moses devised considerable property, money and land, to Ruth. He instructed this inheritance, “:..will not be at the control of her husband, William S. Kirkland...or subject to any of his debts.” Note is made that he identified the husband of Ruth as William S. Kirkland. This is sufficient proof that the earlier records that recognized him as William Kirkland did pertain to William S. Kirkland.

The divorce is recorded in Chancery Court Final Book A. The proceedings appear intermittently on pages 161-194. Unfortunately, this series of records is among those stored in available space. In this case, they were originally found in the janitor’s closet of the courthouse annex. This book is severely damaged, apparently by water. Many pages cannot be separated, and some that can be separated are illegible. This is not to imply there is question to the information to follow. The writer was careful to avoid abstracts from illegible materiel. The information to follow is from legible areas of the cited pages. Ruth sued William S. for divorce 20 February 1850. She was represented by her “hext friend” Willis Kirkland, Junior. It is assumed this was her son, since he was the only man of record who was “Junior” to her brother name d Willis Kirkland. The record identified the property she had received from the estate of her father and reported it had been “wasted and squandered” by her husband. She reported her father knew him as “Wasteful and extravagant”, and had sought to place her legacy out of his hands. She now asked the court to place her remaining property in the trusteeship of her son-in-law, Moses Brackin. She also made charges of cruelty and alcohol abuse by her husband. William S. refuted the charges. He counter-sued for divorce, charging Ruth had abandoned his bed and board 12 July 1849, and said he had cared for her to the best of his abilities. Depositions were recorded from John Holland and Sarah Holland, Sarah Kirkland (probably the sister of William S.), Benjamin H. Kirkland (brother to Ruth), Elizabeth Kirkland (wife of Caleb Kirkland d. 1867), David Deese and others. Water damage to this area of the book was severe, but the tone was one of support for the interests of Ruth. The final decision of the court could not be read, but the court dismissed his counter suit. Deed Book G, pages 358-359 seems to indicate the Court’s decision. The sheriff sold the remaining town lot of William S. upon order of the Court for the benefit of Ruth. Ruth appeared in the household of her son, James Madison, on the U. S. Census for Dale County, Alabama in 1860. Two grandchildren, Matilda age 13 and Zachariah age 9, were also in the household. These children were the issue of Ruth’s son Zachariah. His first wife died before that census was enumerated. James Madison remained in Henry and Dale Counties until 1873, when he joined his father and brothers in Tyler County, Texas. This research found no record of Ruth after the 1860 census. She will be listed as died p. 1860. William S. was in Walton County, Florida for the 1860 census. Apparently, he had severed his ties to the Alabama Counties of Henry and Dale. He appeared in the household of James J. Kirkland, age 36. A Sarah Kirkland, age 35, is also listed, and seems to have been the wife of James. The identity of this couple is unknown at this time. Consideration was given that this could be Jason Jackson Kirkland, the youngest son of William S. This son was listed on the 1880 census for Tyler County, Texas as James J., and William S. was in his household. While records may be insufficient to resolve this issue, that identification does not seem probable. Jason Jackson was not 36 years old in 1860 and he had no wife, of record, named Sarah.

The descendants of William S. and Ruth settled in the area of Tyler County, Texas in numbers. They were in the company of others from Henry County. Jason Jackson was married there in 1861. Birth records report Zachariah had a son born in Shelby County, Texas ca. 1860, and Elzy had a daughter born in Tyler County in 1859. All but one of the living children of William S. followed the move to Texas. A daughter, Matilda, remained in Henry County.

The issue of William S. and Ruth are identified in KSB II, pages 452-453. These children and their birth dates were originally identified in the research of Clifford Knowles. His source was family records and information. Grave markers verify the birth dates. Searchers have scrutinized this information for years. It has been compared to a number of family records, cemetery records and other sources. Searchers such as Judy Maddox and Elza Oates have fine tuned some details. The files of the writer have added additional information. The identification to follow is from those sources and represents a true account of the issue of William S. and Ruth (Kirkland) Kirkland, in the opinion of the writer.

The children were born in Henry County, Alabama. Zachariah was born 31 December 1821, died 02 September 1890 in Tyler County, Texas, buried at Kirkland Cemetery; Shya (variant spellings are common) was born 02 June 1823, died young, no other information; Willis was born 25 August 1825, died 26 April 1906 in Tyler County, buried at Old Shilo Cemetery; Elzy was born 28 January 1827, died 18 February 1907 in Tyler County, buried Old Shilo Cemetery; Matilda was born 03 June 1830, died ca. 1863 Henry County; Mahalia Jane was born 24 January 1833, died 10 April 1905 in Tyler County, buried Old Shilo Cemetery; James Madison was born 25 January 1836, died 1916 in Cherokee County, Texas; Jason Jackson was born 28 November 1838, died 30 April 1900 in Tyler County, buried Kirkland Cemetery.

Name

Name: William S. /Kirkland/^[1][2][3][4]

Birth

Birth:

Date: 16 Jul 1798

Place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States^[5][6][7]

Residence

Residence:

Place: Abbeville, Henry, Alabama^[8]

Residence:

Date: 1870

Place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama, United States^[9]

Residence:

Date: 1860

Place: Walton, Florida, United States^[10]

Residence:

Date: 1850

Place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S-1555950925 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M432_6; Page: 430A; Image: 374 Note: Ancestry Record 1850usfedcenancestry #18472351 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1850 residence place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,8054::18472351
2. ↑ Source: #S-1553351698 Note: Ancestry Record almarriages_ga #2142872 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland marriage date: 23 Aug 1821 marriage place: Henry, Alabama, United States APID: 1,7838::2142872
3. ↑ Source: #S-1556177903 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Walton, Florida; Roll: M653_109; Page: 951; Image: 422; Family History Library Film: 803109 Note: Ancestry Record 1860usfedcenancestry #10691833 Data: Text: residence date: 1860 residence place: Walton, Florida, United States Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States APID: 1,7667::10691833
4. ↑ Source: #S-1556186054 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M593_19; Page: 387A; Image: 233; Family History Library Film: 545518 Note: Ancestry Record 1870usfedcen #13246881 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1870 residence place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama, United States residence place: Abbeville, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,7163::13246881
5. ↑ Source: #S-1555950925 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M432_6; Page: 430A; Image: 374 Note: Ancestry Record 1850usfedcenancestry #18472351 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1850 residence place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,8054::18472351
6. ↑ Source: #S-1556177903 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Walton, Florida; Roll: M653_109; Page: 951; Image: 422; Family History Library Film: 803109 Note: Ancestry Record 1860usfedcenancestry #10691833 Data: Text: residence date: 1860 residence place: Walton, Florida, United States Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States APID: 1,7667::10691833
7. ↑ Source: #S-1556186054 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M593_19; Page: 387A; Image: 233; Family History Library Film: 545518 Note: Ancestry Record 1870usfedcen #13246881 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1870 residence place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama, United States residence place: Abbeville, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,7163::13246881
8. ↑ Source: #S-1556186054 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M593_19; Page: 387A; Image: 233; Family History Library Film: 545518 Note: Ancestry Record 1870usfedcen #13246881 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1870 residence place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama, United States residence place: Abbeville, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,7163::13246881
9. ↑ Source: #S-1556186054 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M593_19; Page: 387A; Image: 233; Family History Library Film: 545518 Note: Ancestry Record 1870usfedcen #13246881 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1870 residence place: Precinct 9, Henry, Alabama, United States residence place: Abbeville, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,7163::13246881
10. ↑ Source: #S-1556177903 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Walton, Florida; Roll: M653_109; Page: 951; Image: 422; Family History Library Film: 803109 Note: Ancestry Record 1860usfedcenancestry #10691833 Data: Text: residence date: 1860 residence place: Walton, Florida, United States Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States APID: 1,7667::10691833
11. ↑ Source: #S-1555950925 Page: Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama; Roll: M432_6; Page: 430A; Image: 374 Note: Ancestry Record 1850usfedcenancestry #18472351 Data: Text: Name: William S. Kirkland birth date: 16 Jul 1798 birth place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States residence date: 1850 residence place: Southern District, Henry, Alabama APID: 1,8054::18472351

See also:

• Source: S-1553351698Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc APID: 1,7838::0
• Source: S-15559509251850 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Note: APID: 1,8054::0
• Source: S-1556177903 1860 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Note: APID: 1,7667::0
• Source: S-15561860541870 United States Federal Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Record Note: APID: 1,7163::0
• Kirkland Family Roots, by Dr J.R. Peacock, publ 2002