Levi Hinds II (abt. 1766 - 1838)

Born about 1766 in Randolph, North Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Aug 1838 at about age 72 in Brazoria, Republic of Texas

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Biography

Levi Hinds was born circa 1766 in Randolph County, North Carolina, a son of Levi (born August 25, 1742, in Morris County, New Jersey, died in 1817 Wayne County, Kentucky) and Sarah (nee) Hinds.

On February 11, 1795^[1] Levi married Susannah Gerron. Levi and Susannah became the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. Ten in the family migrated to Brazoria County, Texas between 1820 and 1830. Their eldest son, James B. Hinds, born December 5, 1796, arrived in DeWitt's Colony February 24, 1830 with "five in the family." He was one of the "Old Eighteen" defenders of Gonzales.

Levi died August 7, 1838 Brazoria County, Republic of Texas.

Census

1810 Wayne Co., Kentucky; stamped pg 354
Levy Hinds 10102 -- 101
male female
1 <10 1
10-15
1 16-25 1
26-44
2 >45

1820 Wayne Co., Kentucky; stamped pg 544
Levi Hinds, Sen 420301 -- 11110; 7 in agriculture; 4 male slaves, 1 female
male female
4 <10 1
2 10-16 1
16-18
3 16-26 1
26-45 1
1 >45

His widowed sister-in-law, Mrs. Joseph Hinds, lives 10 entries away.

1830 Wayne Co., Kentucky; pg 239
Levi Hinds 2201001 -- 0011001; 3 male slaves, 1 female
male female
2 < 5
2 5-10
10-15 1
1 15-20 1
20-30
30-40
1 40-50 1

Land in Kentucky

The Kentucky Land Grants compiled by Willard Rouse Jillson indicates that a tract of 200 acres in Lincoln County on the Cumberland River was surveyed for Levi Hinds on December 29, 1798. Wayne County was formed in 1800 from Pulaski and Cumberland, and Pulaski County was formed in 1798 from Green and Lincoln.

In the Wayne Co. tax roll from 1801 onward, Levi is consistently the owner of 200 acres on the Cumberland River or on Meadow Creek. In 1801 and later it is patented in his name. On one occasion, in 1806, the tax roll says that it was entered and surveyed in the name of Levi Hinds, Sr. and patented in the name of Levi Hinds, Jr. Thus it may be that it was entered and surveyed in 1798 by the father and then transferred to the son in whose name it was patented. Generally the name that appears is simply 'Levi Hinds'.

On September 17, 1802 Levi sold to James S. Scaggs of Wayne Co. for £140 a tract of 105 acres out of the 200 acres "granted to said Hinds by Patent grant No. 297, dated September 27, 1800". On May 10, 1804 Levi repurchased it for £140. The land is said to be on the south side of the Cumberland River about one mile from the east fork of Meadow Creek. (Wayne Co. Deed Records, Bk A, pgs 40-41, pgs 97-98)

On July 13, 1802, Levi Hinds, Jr. purchased from his uncle Joseph Hinds, Sr. for $100 a tract of 300 acres out of a large grant of 5000 acres on both sides of the Duck River in Maury County, Tennessee made by the State of North Carolina to Joseph Hinds. See notes under Joseph Hinds, Sr. On July 7, 1804 he purchased for $200 an additional 466 acres out of the same 5000 acre grant which Joseph Hinds, Sr. had sold to Thomas Cowan of Wayne Co. for $100 on July 30, 1802. (Wayne Co. Deed Records, Bk A, pgs 112-14).

Beginning in 1819 Levi owns an additional tract of 19 acres, which is sometimes said to be patented in the name of Samuel Hinds and more often in the name of Levi. Since Samuel owned a tract of 17 acres patented in his name until 1817, but not afterwards, it seems likely that Levi purchased it from him, although such a transaction is not recorded in the Deed Records.

On December 28, 1835 Levi Hinds and Susan, his wife, of Wayne Co. sold to Andrew Lynch of Pulaski Co. for $600 "two tracts in Wayne Co where said Hinds now lives containing by survey 219 acres, more or less" (Bk G, pgs 29-30) He appears on the tax roll for the last time in 1835. They presumably moved to Texas in about 1836.

According to the tax roll Levi does not own slaves before 1815. Between 1815 and 1835 he generally owns 3-5. In 1824 he owns 7. He routinely has about 4 horses, and his net worth is generally in the range of $2000 to $4000. It is similar to that of his brother Joseph.

Land in Tennessee

On July 10, 1788 Joseph Hinds received a grant of 5000 acres from the state of North Carolina in the Middle District of Tennessee on both sides of the Duck River. See notes under Joseph Hinds II (1737 - ~1815) for details. In July 1802 Joseph sold the 5000-acre tract to 7 different individuals. On July 13, 1802 Levi Hinds, Jr. of Knox Co., Tennessee bought 300 acres in the NE corner. On July 30, 1802 Thomas Cowan of Wayne Co., Kentucky bought 466 acres in the SE corner. Then on July 20, 1804 Levi bought the 466-acre tract. Specifically,

On July 20, 1804 Thomas Cowan of Wayne Co., Kentucky sells to Levy Hinds of the said county and state for $200 to him in hand paid a tract of 466 acres lying in the Middle District on Duck River being part of a 5000-acre tract granted to the said Joseph Hinds, Senr. by a patent granted No. 83 dated July 10, 1788. The tract being sold is described by metes and bounds. Beginning at the SE corner of the 5000-acre tract, thence west 316.2 poles to a corner of William Maclin's land, thence north 235.8 poles, thence east 316.2 poles, thence south 235.8 poles along the east boundary of the 5000-acre tract. Signed by Thomas Cowan. Witnesses are Samuel Hinds and James Jacson. (Williamson Co. Tennessee Deed Records, Book A, pg 150, image 84/717)

In December 1808 Levi sells the 300-acre tract and the westmost 200 acres of the 466-acre tract. In one deed he is said to be of Wayne Co., Kentucky and in the other he is said to be of an unspecified county in Georgia. Specifically,

On December 15, 1808 Levi Hinds, Junr of the County ---- and State of Georgia sells to Henry G. Kearney of Maury Co., Tennessee for $400 to him in hand paid a tract of 300 acres, more or less, in the Middle District on Duck River, "being part of a large tract of five thousand acres, granted to said Joseph Hinds, senior, by a patent Grant No 83, dated July 10th 1788". The tract being conveyed begins at the NE corner of the 5000-acre tract, thence south 214 poles to another corner of the 5000-acre tract, thence S30W 20 poles to a stake, corner to Simeon Hinds, thence west 173 poles to a stake, corner to said Simeon Hinds, thence north 230 poles to a stake on the north boundary of said 5000-acre tract, thence east 212 poles to the beginning. Signed by Levi Hinds. Witnessed by Sam'l Long and J. Lindsay. (Maury Co., Tennessee Deed Records, Book D, pg 15, deed # D19, image 193/584)

On December 14, 1808 Levy Hinds of Wayne Co., Kentucky sells the westmost 200 acres from the 466-acre tract to Zachariah Martin of Maury Co., Tennessee for $400. (Maury Co., Tennessee Deed Records, Book J, pg 375, deed # J432, image 194/558; Book L, pg 178, image 78/528)

On March 28, 1814 Levi Hinds of Waine Co., Kentucky sells the eastmost 266 acres from the 466-acre tract to David Hamilton of Maury Co., Tennessee for $800 to him in hand paid. (Maury Co., Tennessee Deed Records, Book F, pg 325, deed # F217, image 317/744)

Which Levi Bought the Land on the Duck River?

There are several Levi Hinds. Joseph's son Levi might have been the purchaser, but the marriage locations of his children indicate that he and his family moved from Knox Co., Tennessee to Madison Co., Alabama in about 1813. His son Benjamin married in Knox Co. in 1809. Joseph's son Levi does not seem to have any connection with Wayne Co., Kentucky. In the deeds in which Levi sells his land on the Duck River, he is identified as being of Wayne Co.

For these reasons the purchaser of the land on the Duck River was most probably Joseph Hinds's nephew, Levi Sr.'s son Levi.

Joseph Hinds II had another nephew named Levi, a son of John Henry Hinds. That Levi does not seem to have any connection with Wayne Co.

Probate

Levi Hinds died 7 Aug 1838 in Brazoria Co., Texas. Almost immediately (August 1838) the probate court issued letters of administration to his son Gerron Hinds (Probate Minutes, Book B, pg 60), and in September a petition was submitted to the court by Gerron Hinds, Administrator of the estate of Levi Hinds, deceased, and by James, John B., Absalom, Susanna, Levi, Clarissa, Clemmons, Larinda, and Thomas J. Hinds, children of Levi Hinds, who represented "that their father died some time since intestate leaving beside the petitioners, Eli Hawkins and Rush Hawkins, children of Roday also a child of said Levi now deceased as his heirs". They say that the estate consists of a few Negroes and some other property and that the property cannot be divided without a sale. They ask that a curator be appointed for Eli and Ruth Hawkins, who are "absent from this Republic" and that a decree be rendered for a sale of all the personal property consisting of Negroes, etc. on a credit of 12 months for all sums over $20 and cash for all sums under that amount. The court appointed N. C. Pease as curator and ordered that the personal property be sold in accordance with the indicated conditions. (Book B, pg 70)

No land is involved. The surname of the children is Hankins, not Hawkins. The wording could be interpreted to mean that they are children of Roday, but in fact they are the children of an unnamed daughter Malinda, then deceased. Roday (Rhoda) is not deceased.

Apparently Gerron did not perform his duties with alacrity because on June 29, 1846 -- 8 years later -- Ruth Ward, formerly Ruth Hankins and husband John N. Ward petitioned the court to issue a citation to Gerron Hinds to settle his accounts with the court. (Book D, pg 250)

The court repeatedly (once in Book D, and 18 times in Book E) postponed resolution of the matter until May/June 1st 1849 (Book E, pg 238). The probate minutes for that date recount that John N. Ward and Ruth Ann Ward, his wife, filed a petition against Gerron Hinds June 29, 1846, that Gerron Hinds filed his accounts with the court January 27, 1847, and that Gerron Hinds has filed a petition indicating that Levi Hinds, deceased, left 12 children, who were his only heirs, namely,

1) James Hinds, who has since died, leaving 3 children named Levi, Manerva, and Martha residing in Gonzales Co., Texas,
2) Malinda married to John Hankins, both of whom are dead, leaving two children, viz., Eli, residing in Gonzales Co. and Ruth Ann Ward residing in Brazoria Co., Texas,
3) Rhoda Hart married to Robert Hart now residing in Missouri,
4) Susannah married to John Hale residing in Kentucky,
5) & 6) John B. and Abslom Hinds residing in Kentucky,
7) Levi, who has since died, leaving several children, whose names are unknown, residing in Kentucky,
8) Lorinda married to William Smith residing in Brazoria Co.,
9) Clarissa married to Hamilton West residing in Kentucky,
10) Clement Hinds residing in Gonzales Co.,
11) & 12) Thomas S. Hinds and the petitioner residing in Brazoria Co.

The wording of the list suggests that James and Levi were alive when their father died, and that Malinda died before her father died.

The court indicates that it is satisfied with the account of sales presented and states that the administrator Gerron Hinds is discharged from the further administration of the estate and released from all further liability. It appears to the court that each of the heirs, except Levi Hinds, has received their proportion of the estate. The minutes state that each heir except for Levi has received at least $500 and that he has received $215. The court orders Gerron to pay the heirs of Levi $285 when they legally demand it.

Almost 8 1/2 years have elapsed since the death of Levi Hinds.

Birth & Death Dates of Children

An article by Bernice Smith West entitled THE HINDS FAMILY appeared in the March 26, 2008 issue of the BLANCO COUNTY NEWS. It is online at http://www.blancocountynews.com/news/article/1928. It is a slightly enhanced version of an article on page 525 of HERITAGE OF BLANCO COUNTY, TEXAS (Blanco County News, 1987). See notes under Eli Clemmons Hinds for the text of the article. It contains specific birth and death dates. The source of the dates is not indicated.

Researcher's Notes

Levi's father was the son of Joseph (circa 1702 Morristown, New Jersey) and Ruth Higgins Hinds (circa 1720-1772 Gilford County, North Carolina). Joseph's parents were James (christened February 27, 1647 Salem, Essex, Massachusetts) and Mary Lee Hinds (will probated September, 1731 New Jersey), the daughter of Thomas Lee. ^[2]

"Old Eighteen" was a term used to describe the Gonzales men who, late in September 1835, delayed Mexican attempts to reclaim the town's cannon until militiamen from surrounding settlements could be summoned. Their efforts in large measure provoked the subsequent battle of Gonzales. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ The History of Gonzales County, Texas, Gonzales County Historical Commission, 1986
2. ↑ http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/1828census2.htm
3. ↑ Miles S. Bennet, "The Battle of Gonzales: The `Lexington' of the Texas Revolution," Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association 2 (April 1899)