William Hough (1810 - 1859)

Born 18 May 1810 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Doster) Hough — married 2 Jan 1831 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 23 Aug 1859 at age 49 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Billy Huff [send private message]

Biography

William Hough was born in Chesterfield County.

William HOUGH (18 May 1810 SC - 22 Aug 1859 SC, bur White Plains Bap. Ch. Cem, Jefferson, Chesterfield Co, SC) on 2 Jan 1831/32 md Sarah DOSTER (24 Dec 1814 Buford twp, Union Co, NC - 23 June 1902 Landsford, SC, bur Elmwood Cem, Highway 21, near Fort Lawn, SC), dau of Obadiah and Lea (WINCHESTER) DOSTER.

They were farmers in Chesterfield Co, SC.

After William died, Sarah lived most of the remainder of her life in Chesterfield Co, but she spent some time in her final years with her son and grandsons in Pike Co, MS.

Children:

1. Minor Jackson (29 Jan 1833 SC - 20 Oct/Nov 1894) was a lawyer in Cheraw, SC, in 1860. He had a distinguished record as a Confederate officer as Captain of Comp. K, 6th SC Cav. He later became Solicitor for the 6th Judicial District of SC, which office he held at his death. In 1866 he md Esther Adeline CLIFTON (23 Feb 1843 - 14 Sep 1926), of SC parents. Their 10 ch incl William Clifton; Jessie Walker; Minor James; Mary Gaston; Sara Eva; Paul Moore; Lenora Elizabeth; Nell A.; and Inez Lamar "Bonnie".

2. Joseph Charles (19 Jan 1835 SC - 8 May 1913) in 1854 md Ellen EVANS (July 1841 SC - 13 Mar 1913) and lived at Mt Groghan in 1880. Their 10 ch, 9 living in 1900, incl Frances G.; William J.; Thomas T.; Mary Effie; John Calvin; Martha J.; Walter H.; Edward B.; Samuel Tilden; Charles H.; and Dixon H. Sons Walter and John C. were in Pike Co, MS, in 1900.

3. Eliza Jane (20 Feb 1837 SC - 7 Mar 1879 TX) md Solomon JOPLIN and moved to TX. Ch:

4. James Madison "Matt" (10 Jul 1840 SC - 5 Feb 1916) served as Lt in Butler's Cav, SC Volunteers, and Lt in Comp. B, 8th SC Cav. He md Martha Ann CLYBURN (8 May 1847 - 2 Feb 1916 Lancaster Co, SC), dau of Stephen F. and Harriet (HILTON) CLYBURN. Their 13 ch, 10 living in 1900, incl Hattie; Benjamin C.; Sarah C.; Virginia E. (d. young); Thomas C.; Stephen William; Henrietta A. (d. young); Lilly A.; Esther May; James M.; Nellie; and Samuel Dewitt. James M. was a farmer and politician.

5. William Thomas (10 Oct 1841 SC - 1861, killed on Sullivan's Island while in Confederate service, unm).

6. Henrietta Victoria (10 June 1844 SC - 10 Apr 1887) on 17 Jan 1867 md J. Pickett LANEY (17 Apr 1844 - 24 Oct 1908), of Monroe Co, NC. Ch: Frank; Elizabeth (Mrs. J. C. EDWARDS); and Sally. A descendant was Robert Fletcher BIGGS.

7. Amos (1846 SC - believed to be the Amos who was killed 2 Feb 1865 as a pvt in Comp E, 22d SC Inf). Unm. When Amos enlisted on 15 Sep 1864, he was due bounty of $50 because he was under 18 years of age. His enlistment was confirmed at Petersburg, VA, on 18 Oct 1864. He was present with his unit until he was killed. The age of this Amos suggests he was son of William and Sarah.

8. Francis M. "Frank" (29 Mar 1850 SC - after 1920) was a dry goods merchant wo in 1875 md Virginia M. RAMSEY (Jan 1881 SC - ), of SC and NC parents, and lived at Fort Lawn in Chester Co in 1900 and later. Ch incl William Thomas; Virginia W.; Rosa E.; George C.; and Frank M.

9. Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" (15 May 1854 SC - ) after 1880 md Tom B. EVANS and moved to Bowie, TX.

10. John Howard (31 Aug 1856 SC - 1939 Indianola, MS) about 1887 md Ellen W. HEATH (Aug 1867 GA - 1952 MS) and moved to Pike Co, MS, by 1900. He was a druggist and farmer. Ch incl Frank; Eugene; Ernest P.; John Howard, Jr; and possibly others. In 1900, there had been 5 ch and the four above were living. In 1920, there were two additional ch, both born in VA while the family was at Brandy Station, VA. They were Margaret and Elizabeth S.

Hough lineage is William and Sarah (Doster) of SC; Joseph and Susannah (Williams) of NC and SC; Amos and Sarah (?Bivens) of NC and SC; Joseph Hough of Anson Co, NC;

Reference Notes:

• p 79, The Doster Genealogy.

• pp 90, 140, Guy B.Funderburk, Lineage and Legacy, 1944. (discusses Laney family.)

• Research by Mrs. Harold Hough

• Research by Barbara Roesch

• 1810 Lancaster or Chesterfield Cos, SC, listed with one of the Joseph Hough families

• 1820 Chesterfield Co, SC, p 123A, listed with one of the Joseph Hough families.

• 1830 Chesterfield Co, SC, p 243, with Joseph Hough 1011001-10111

• 1840 Chesterfield Co, SC, p 350, William Hough 120001-10001

• 1850 Chesterfield Co, SC, p 162, William & Sarah fam.

• 1851-1859 Lancaster County Courthouse records of Guardianship for twin stepbrothers, Joel and Nathaniel.

• 1853 pp 13-14, "Minutes of the Thirty-Eighth Anniversary of the Moriah Baptist Association” microfilm held at Furman University, SC

• 1872 Chesterfield Co., SC Deed Book 3 pp556 J M Hough buys land adj. Sarah Hough shows plat.

• 1860 Chesterfield Co, SC, Old Store, p 161, William & Sarah fam. (The mortality schedule for 1860 shows that William died during the year preceding 1 June 1860, and that is confirmed by the gravestone. The census taker made a mistake.)

• 1870 Chesterfield Co, SC, Old Store, p 363, Sarah Hough hh.

• 1880 Chesterfield Co, SC, Old Store, 8-8-42-40, Widow Sarah Hough hh.

1900 Pike Co, MS, Magnolia, Beat 5, 42-115-19-48, Sarah Hough with fam. of son John H. Hough.

• 1916 Obituary, 8 Feb 1916, "Death of Capt. J. M. Hough," The Lancaster News, giving info on three surviving children.

• 1934 Dar file 286,152 for Mrs. Bess McManus McCown of Lancaster Co, SC. She referenced the cemetery records for White Plains, Chesterfield Co, SC, and the family bible held by her aunt, Mrs. Lilly (Hough) Vanlandingham. There were some differences between the dates in the bible and those on the gravestones.

Misc

William, the first born son of Joseph and Susanna HOUGH, lived in the NC/SC border in 1850, known as Dudley Community along Dead Pine Creek. Joseph and brother Moses, et all lived along the border before it was finalized. The first known property purchased by father Joseph was in 1838 (the same year he administered his mother Sarah’s estate) along Big Sandy Run in lower Chesterfield District near the Kershaw line. It may have been this time when Joseph moved away from Dead Pine creek near Dudley. Lavinia, his new wife had family in that area.

Our subject, William is buried at White Plains Baptist Church in Jefferson (est. 1832) near the same Big Sandy Run. We cannot be sure where his father is buried; but refer to his profile for a strange picture that emerges when White Plains cemetery is viewed from a distance. William’s marker is out of view to the upper left. There is a large area nearly empty of markers except for one Annie Eliza Hough, a granddaughter of Joseph's brother Moses. The smaller fieldstone with an "H" could easily be for Joseph or Moses.

William HOUGH [[1]] on 2 Jan 1831 married Sarah DOSTER, dau of Obediah DOSTER and Leah WINCHESTER of Union Co., NC. Bear in mind William's grandfather, Joseph Hough, Sr. of Anson County, NC, was brought up in the Quaker Society of Friends. Not far removed from early family culture. William was not a slave owner, per se, although his father was and William did manage the slaves of his father's estate.

Their home was very near the border of NC, in fact, when he was born, the border had not been quite finalized. See his great grandfather Joseph Hough for a map showing landmarks of his and his ancestor's seminal areas. Old Joseph of Anson owned land on Lane's Creek, just north of William.

Their farm was in or near the community of Dudley, Chesterfield Co., SC on or near Dead Pine Creek where his grandfather Amos Hough first purchased SC land in 1794. William left no photo of himself but did leave a legacy of documents painting a portrait of a compassionate, responsible and dependable man.

They had nine children, six boys and 3 girls, all who lived into adulthood. Sadly, two of the middle boys died during the civil war ~ out of five who joined the Confederacy.

Community

On 24 Aug 1849 he was the executor for the will of Elijah LANEY, a neighbor and brokered the sale of some property to John Hunter for the heirs of Laney. ^[1]

In 1850 lived neighbor, Evan PLYLER, who is buried not far away in Buck Cemetery with ARANTS, McMANUS’ and SNIPES individuals. This is likely the general area of the 1820 Arant Journal keepers, around Hill's Creek and north, just to the east of Dudley.

In 1851 his father, Joseph Hough died leaving him as co executor with his step-brother John of the estate. William managed the estate and education and care of his minor step-brothers for eight years before his sudden death in 1859.

In 1855 he transferred the guardianship records from Chesterfield county to Lancaster county, thereby saving them from the destruction of Chesterfield by Sherman in March 1865. Found by the writer in 2000, copies were made of most of them. Some that were not copied are now online at the LDS Family Search website thanks to volunteers at the Lancaster County courthouse in 2006. ^[2]

Signature of William Hough

Spiritual Life

William’s spiritual beliefs were a large part of his life represented by the following document:

Moriah Baptist Assn Ministers

At the 38th anniversary session of the Moriah Baptist Association, held at Sand Hill Church in Kershaw District on October 1st, 1853, William HOUGH was elected Clerk and delegate from Liberty Hill Church where he held membership. It was located at the Hickory Head post office, the original name of Taxahaw, SC. Liberty Hill was closer to Dudley, it seems, but used the same PO.

On September 30th, 1854, the association held its 39th anniversary session hosted by Providence Church at Hickory Head. William had been appointed to a committee with the purpose of bonding a unified faith among the Baptist churches of the region. There is history of an upheaval among the Baptist churches in the area as described in the early records of Spring Hill Meeting House of Tradesville, SC. This church has been thought to be the first meeting house of the original Lanes Creek Church at Upper Forks of Lynches.^[3] Another historical source for this church was discovered by Perry Belle (Bennett) Hough in the 1930s and were transcribed by Attorney Harold Funderburk in this excerpt from his transcription:

A Brief History of Spring Hill Baptist Church

Following the minutes for October 19, 1850 and immediately preceding the minutes for June 18 1853, appear the following entries;

From October 1850 to June 18, 1853, Church in an Unorganized State’ and, to protect the legacies of all ^[4] church members Resolved, that we record none of the proceedings of either party from the time of the split to this date.

This is confirmation of the seriousness of the dissension among sister churches. William and the committee, prepared a response to the challenge given them by the Association to bring the churches back into a common union.

Dear Brethren – We, your committee, appointed at your last meeting to write an essay on the ‘great importance of union amongst us, as conducive to our prosperity, beg leave to submit the following:

In the outset we would say, that the subject is one of vital importance, and requires a much abler pen than ours to do it justice. But such thoughts as suggest themselves to us, we lay before you. In the first place, we will endeavor to show what we think will be productive of union in our denomination. We, as a denomination, profess to be distinct from all others; not that we claim more righteousness or holiness than they, but that we worship God, and administer his ordinances more in accordance to the instruction given in his holy word, and here we have renounced the traditions of the fathers. Now, to bring about that union which is so desirable, we think we should, as much as possible, be of one mind – as in understanding, and of one heart. It may be asked, how is that to be brought about? We would answer, by a more strict adherence to the doctrine in the Bible. We said in the outset, that we, as a denomination, were distinct from all others; if so, as a natural consequence, we have our distinct doctrines; and as Baptists we should never be ashamed of them, even if they are Calvinistic or predestinarian for in tracing the history of the Baptists back, some two hundred years, we find they never mingled their doctrines and ordinances with the preconceived opinions and notions of other denominations, but strictly adhered to the doctrine taught by Christ and his apostles. Oh, Brethren! Let us take a retrospective view of our past acts, and see if we are walking in the footsteps of the primitive Christians, or not; for it was said in their day “behold how they love!” Brethren, is that pure, unadulterated, undefiled love amongst us, or not? It is lamentable to say, we fear it is not. Are we now laboring for the good of each other, and trying to assist our brethren in the great work which we profess to be engaged in? If we are remiss in this, we fear there is but little union, real brotherly love amongst us; and indeed it seems that it is the case, when recently there have sprung up prejudices, difficulties and divisions, scarcely ever before known in the Baptist Church; for this Church, of all others, has always been distinguished for the uniformity of its religious sentiments. Why is it, then that there is such a difference in the religious opinions of the Baptists at present? We would answer, one cause is throwing open our church doors and receiving in a heterogeneous mass of every creed and persuasion, which has brought on us difficulties, trials and perplexities of no ordinary nature, and which threaten to sever our denomination. But say you, how are those evils to be remedied? The anser (sic) is plain and easy to be comprehended by every intellect: 1st let all those who come to seek fellowship with us, be well instructed in the doctrine of our church, before admitted as members; and to bring about that union, without which, we hardly can be termed a denomination, we must have some platform to stand upon; some standard as a denomination to rally round. Oh, but, says you, we have the Bible in the broadest of all platforms, the highest of all standards. Admitted; and if we were all the denomination that existed, it would be all sufficient; but lamentable to say, there are denominations beyond denominations, and religious systems almost innumerable, and doctrines not a few.

Consequently, we see very clearly, how important it is, that we, as a denomination, should let each and all understand what is our system of religion, and what construction we put on the leading doctrine of the Bible. It is then, we will act in perfect constancy to our profession. It is then, if the Pedo-baptist becomes convinced that immersion is the only scriptural mode of baptism, we will be taught we have principles and doctrine equally as essential as Baptism, which he must conform to, or he cannot be admitted to our fellowship. Then it will be, that none will be admitted or received by our churches, only such as we can hope and trust have been taught in the school of Christ; none but such as are not only Baptist by profession, but Baptist in deed and in truth; such as will see as we see, and understand as we understand. It is then, we will have “one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism; and then, we “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, whose leaf, also, shall not wither.” We will then put on our beautiful garments of Salvation, and robes of Righteousness, and Union with alloy shall abound amongst us, and we shall prosper abundantly.” Wm. Hough, Chairman

Death and Legacy

William was strong in character and honest in beliefs, whether within his family or his religion. His legacy has lasted over 175 years. When his father Joseph died in 1851, Sarah had given William eight children with two as late as 1856, all strappingly healthy. William was not so blessed and after being ill for 3 months, he died unexpectedly of an "Unknown" cause.^[5] [[2]] He is listed as head of household on the 1860 census because he died within the census year 31 May 1859 to 30 Jun 1860.

William is buried at White Plains Baptist Church in Jefferson, Chesterfield Co., SC [ Find A Grave: Memorial #29804405 ] somewhat further south than where he lived. No reason is known why but we do know that his father moved further south along Big Sandy Run in 1838, near the Kershaw County, Line and raised his second family there.

At the church, when approaching it from the front right, one sees a large cemetery with many, many markers. Right at the edge, however, is a very big area that is virtually empty of markers, save a small field stone and a child named Hough. See, also, his father's Findagrave memorial for a photo of this area. [ Find A Grave: Memorial #61511402 ] It strongly suggests a family burial ground from very early, or at least since Joseph Sr.'s second marriage.

Sources

1. ↑ SC Lancaster Co., DB:A pg. 515. Signed 24 Aug 1849 Recorded 6th Feb 1854
2. ↑ SC Lancaster County Courthouse Probate Office, loose papers copied in 2000 before digitization.
3. ↑ Baptist Churches in South Carolina before 1805, SC Baptists 1670-1805, copied from edition 1915, reprinted 1910. This book was located at Pomona Library, Pomona, CA in about 2002
4. ↑ Baptist
5. ↑ 1860 SC Mortality Index Chesterfield, pg. 3