Individual Details

John Hicks

(ABT, 1760 - ABT, 1836)

Events

MiscellaneousJohn Hicks Family - Autauga County, Alabama
BirthABT, 1760
Miscellaneous1769Onslow County, North Carolina List of Taxables - Onslow County, North Carolina
MiscellaneousFrom JANUARY, 1778 to MARCH, 1780Revolutionary War Service - North Carolina and South Carolina
MiscellaneousJANUARY 29, 1778Land Tiltle Cleared - Onslow County, North Carolina
Miscellaneous1779Land Bounty - Onslow County, North Carolina
MiscellaneousFEBRUARY 15, 1779Land Purchase - Onslow County, North Carolina
MiscellaneousChildren of John and Mary Hicks
Miscellaneous1781Onslow County, North Carolina Tax List - Southwest District, Onslow County, North Carolina
Census1784 - 1787Onslow County -Hugh Thompson's District, Onslow County, North Carolina
MarriageBef 1788North Carolina - Mary Shepard
MiscellaneousJUNE 10, 1791Slave Purchase - Onslow County, North Carolina
Miscellaneous1798Tax List - Abercrombie's District, Warren County, Georgia
Miscellaneous1801Tax List - Wm. Chapman Abercrombie's District, Warren County, Georgia
Miscellaneous1802 - 1805Georgia Land Lottery - Georgia
MiscellaneousFrom APRIL 30, 1803 to MARCH 30, 1805Appraiser-Darby Lary Estate - Hancock County, Georgia
Miscellaneous1805Tax List - Oguchee Watershed, Warren County, Georgia
MiscellaneousAUGUST 15, 1959Hicks Family Letter - Pensacola, Florida
Census1820Warren County, Georgia
Miscellaneous1826 - 1834Alabama Land Grants - St. Stephens Meridian, Autauga County, Alabama
MiscellaneousMARCH 2, 1826Land Purchase - Autauga County, Alabama
MiscellaneousMAY 5, 1826Land Purchase - Autauga County, Alabama
MiscellaneousMAY 5, 1826Land Purchase - Autauga County, Alabama
Census1830Autauga County, Alabama
Census1830Warren County, Georgia
MiscellaneousJANUARY 24, 1834Will Recorded - Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama
DeathABT, 1836Autauga County, Alabama
MiscellaneousJANUARY 17, 1836Autauga County, Alabama Probate Records - Autaugaville, Autauga County, Alabama
Census1840
Miscellaneous1842Estate Settlement - Autauga County, Alabama

Families

SpouseMary Shepard (1760 - 1840)
ChildWilliam C. Hicks (1790 - )
ChildJohn H. Hicks (1795 - )
ChildComfort Hicks (1798 - )
ChildChristopher Thomas Hicks (1785 - )
ChildZephaniah Peter Hicks (1787 - 1838)
ChildAsa Hicks (1788 - 1840)
ChildJames K. Hicks (1790 - )
ChildCharity Hicks ( - )
ChildMary Hicks ( - )
ChildFrancis Hicks (1787 - )
FatherDaniel Hicks Jr. (1731 - 1762)
MotherComfort Hicks (Maiden Name Unknown) ( - )
SiblingRobert Hicks ( - 1792)
SiblingSarah Hicks ( - )
SiblingElizabeth Hicks ( - )

Notes

Miscellaneous

"Two miles from Vernon on a little creek called Yellow-water there lived an old, white headed man named, Jerry Lary. He was frpm Georgia and everybody loved him and called him Uncle Jerry. He had a fertile farm and several negroes, was a good farmer, but was satisfied with just enough to keep everything fat and sleek about him. He had no family except his wife Martha, both "Uncle Jerry" and Aunt Martha were large and fleshy. "Uncle Jerry" had one weakness that followed him to his grav-- he would go to Vernon and get drunk on cheap whiskey. While in this condition he was perfectly happy and seemingly harmless; he would sit sti11, pat his foot and laugh and, call the name of his wife Martha. He always brought with him his favorite negro man, Lunna, who would take care of him qnd see him safe in the arm of his Martha. Uncle Jerry had a half brother by the name of John Hicks. He was called "Uncle John".
He had four sons and two daughters that were handsome laddies, neat, tidy, and prudent in their deportment. Uncle John was well to do in the world and was a good farmer. His sons all had farms, servants, and families except the youngest, Jack Hicks. He was more intelligent than the others and the only one of the family that did not imbide two freely[sic].
The Hicks family were honest, industrious, kind, hearted, and good neighbors; the only thing they lacked of making the very best material for giving character to a new County was education and culture. They had not been rightly trained in their youth and had received no religious training whatever except from a Hardshell Baptist now and then. They have a good many children and grandchildren now living in this county who are superior to the olser set in point of intelligence and religious training, if not in wealth. The young people of the present generation have had a poor chance to make money, most of them young men of any patriotism having served four years in the war and those who did not fall in battle, upon reaching home finding their parents stripped of almost evevy thing but their lands, had to commence life anew under the most embarrassing circumstances. ..."

Note:
The comments about the character of John Hick and his family led me to believe that John Hicks came from a background of some wealth and was raised in the culture of early American slaveholders, who forged plantations from unpopulated areas where the benefits of education and religious organizations were mostly unavailable.
With this picture of John Hicks in mind, the construction of his family was based on the probability that his ancestors were likely from the mid-Atlantic states of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia, rather than the more popular belief that John Hicks was descended from the Hicks family of Plymouth Colony.

The mention of Jerry Lary being a half-brother of John Hicks formed the other basis for constructing the John Hicks family. While no marriage record was found to substantiate this relationship, census, land and tax records, and military service records show a close and constant association between John Hicks and several members of the Lary family. These Lary family members are associated with at least two generations of a Darby Lary. The Jerry Lary mentioned in the above article was determined to be Jerimiah Lary, who most likely was a brother rather than a son of the Darby Lary, who died in Hanover County, Georgia in 1803.

Miscellaneous

The 1769 Onslow County, North Carolina Tax List shows no Hicks listed. John Hicks' father Daniel died in 1762 and his family probably was living with Daniel's mother Edith and her second husband Abraham Kibble. John would have been about 9 years old in 1769.
The list does show:
Jeremiah Lary-listed as 1 white male with no slaves
Darby and Butler Lary (one listing)-2 white males, no slaves

Miscellaneous

On the NARA Card File images, John Hicks is listed as follows:
1. Private, 2nd NC Reg't., Cap't. Benjamin Williams Co., Commander Col. John Patten, enlisted for 2 1/2 years, record for January 1778 was reported as sick or absent.

2. Drummer, 3rd SC Reg't., 1st Co., record for March 1780 as in garrison (during siege of Charlston.)

3. Drummer, 6th SC Reg't., enlisted August 1, 1779, recorded Vol. 1, page 157.

On Payroll Images John Hicks is listed as follows:
1. Pay Roll for August 1779, 3rd SC Reg't., Cap't. Field Farrer, Commander Col. William Thomson.

2. Pay Roll for December 1779, 3rd SC Reg't., Cap't. William Thompson
Note: a William Hix is also listed.

3. Pay Roll for March 1780, Drummer, 3rd SC Reg't.,in garrison.

Darby Lary is listed as serving in the 2nd SC Reg't. under Lt. Col. Marion (Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox".
From the website www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/home.html:
The 2nd SC Reg't. was combined with several other units during the war and in February 1780 the unit combined with the 6th SC Reg't. in which John Hicks served and this reg't. was captured in May 1780 at Charleston. This is another association of the two men and helps confirm the Revolutionary War records as the correct John Hicks.

From the website www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/home.html:
John Hicks is listed as a known Revolutionary War soldier serving as a Drummer in the First Company, dates unknown.  1779, reenlisted in SC 6th Regiment.  Transferred to SC 1st Regiment Feb. 1780.  1780-1782, in Militia, unit(s) unknown.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks received clear title to land in Onslow Co., NC:
Lewis Williams to William Wilikin’s land which Williams bought of Thomas Parker’s heirs and Wm Wilkins sold to Daniel Hicks deceased, and he to his two sons John and Robert Hicks, and since neither I the sd Williams nor Wilkins have a clear title to sd land, we deed to John Hicks the land in Stephen Williams line and on a branch which formerly divided Theophulis Williams and Thomas Parker dec’d.
29 Jan 1778.
Tests: Ephriam and Ann Battle.
p. 58. John and Robert Hicks, sons of Daniel Hicks, receive above deed from Lewis Williams
29 Jan 1778. This is clearing a title.
From Book K, p. 58, Abstracts Onslow V.1 p 264.


Miscellaneous

John Hicks sold land in Onslow Co., NC in 1779:
Willeby Shepherd, Assignee of John Hicks. 100 adjoining Abraham Jaret.
Grant not completed and patent not issued.

Doralyn Hicks Short comment: Possibly John Hicks served in French & Indian War for his bounty warrant, which he transferred to Shepherd.

Note: Possiblly Revolutionary War Bounty and John made Willeby Shepard his agent while he was serving in the war.
From NC Land Grants online.

Miscellaneous

Robert Hicks sold land to his brother John Hicks in Onslow Co., NC:
Robert Hicks to John Hicks for 75 lbs 58 ½ ac ... SW branch New River which was willed to Robert by his father Daniel.
Test: James Foy, Abraham Haney, William Wood.
15 Feb 1779.
From Book M, p. 53. Abstracts Onslow V.2 p 282.

Miscellaneous

The following children of John and Mary Hicks were determined from information found by Janis Hicks McIntosh, a descendant of David Elbert Hicks, in the final settlement of John and Mary Hicks' estates in Autauga County, Alabama; the listing of Hicks heads of households in the 1830 Autauga County, Alabama, Census; and the finding of the same names listed as land grant recipients in the St. Stephens Meridian of Autauga County, Alabama in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management records:
Christopher Thomas Hicks
Zephaniah Hicks
Asa Hicks
William Charles Hicks
John Hicks
Comfort Hicks Norsworthy (only in the estate settlement of John and Mary Hicks)

Miscellaneous

The 1781 Onslow County, North Carolina Tax Lists shows:
John Hicks-value 2999, money 400 pounds
Robert Hicks-value 1795, money not given
Darby Lary-value 1450, money 2 pounds
Lary Lary-value 313, money not given

Census

Onslow County, 1784-1787 North Carolina Census, Hugh Thompson's District shows:
Page 1.
Robert Hecks (John Hicks' brother)-1 Male 21-60, 1 Male <21 >60, 1 Female, 2 slaves
Darby Laray-1 Male 21-60, 4 Males <21 >60, 4 Females, no slaves

Page 2.
John Shepard- 2 Males 21-60, 1 Male <21 >60, 7 Females, 3 slaves
John Hicks-1 Male 21-60, 3 Males <21 >60, 1 Female, 5 slaves
Willeby Shepard-1 Male 21-60, 1 Female, no slaves
Smith Shepard-1 Male 21-60, 2 Males <21 >60, 1 Female, 2 slaves
Others listed in other parts of Onslow County:
William Shepard, George Shepard, Benjamin Shepard, Joseph Shepard, Daniel Shephard, Lary Lary, and Thomas Horne.

This census shows the close association of John Hicks, the Lary family, and the Shepard family. Thomas Horne may be a family member of Simeon Horne (Horn) whose daughter Sarah (Sally) was the first wife of Asa Hicks.

Marriage

Date is based on Asa Hicks birth date.
Location is based on Green Hicks indicating his father was born in NC on the 1880 Coryell Co.,TX Census.

Miscellaneous

Robert Hicks sold a slave to his brother John Hicks:
Robert Hicks to John Hicks for ... a slave.
Test: Cemp. Orrell.
10 Jun 1791.
From Book R, p. 31, Abstracts Onslow V.1 p. 418.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks is listed in the 1798 Abercrombie's district of Warren County, Georgia, Tax Records as owning 9 slaves.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks is listed in the 1801 Warren County, Georgia, Tax Records for Wm. Chapman Abercrombie's District as:
1 poll; 11 slaves; 147 acres of land; land value $110.25

Miscellaneous

The 1805 Georgia Land Lottery records serve as a census. All heads of households age 21 or older who lived in Georgia by May 1802 were automatically entered in the drawing. To be eligible to claim land the entrant had to pay 12.5 cents per draw.
There are 4 John Hickses listed. None were granted land.
These Lary family members were among 10 Lary entrants:
Darby, George, Jeremiah, Lary Lary, Kinchey Larey [Hinchey Lary].
None were granted land.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks was one of the appraisers appointed for Darby Lary's estate.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks is listed in the 1805 Warren County, Georgia Tax Records as:
1 poll; 9 slaves; 147 acres; land grantee-Folsome; 2 carriage wheels; Oguchee watershed; adjoins J. B. Flournoy; tax paid $4.00.

Miscellaneous

The following is an excerpt from a letter believed to be written by Anlouisa Pearson, granddaughter of Asa Hicks’ son John William Hicks and great-great-granddaughter of John and Mary Hicks.
The letter is copied as written.

“619 10th St., E F H., Pensacola, Fla.,  Aug.15, 1959                    page 1

Dear Fletcher and Edward,
In your last letter you asked me to write you what I know about our ancestors.
Well not much more than you know, but we will begin with the Hicks family.  Sister has the Hicks family Bible so you better check with her about names, how to spell them and dates, most of mine is guessing.  The Hicks graveyard is very near where Edward lives
the next time you are there go over and see it, you may get some names and dates. This grave yard is in what once was the garden of our grand-pa Hicks grand-pa.  I do not know his given name. Though I think it was William; Well, this grate-grate-grand-pa Hicks
moved to Autauga County about 1810, more or less. He came from one of the Carolinas I think South Carolina.  It was near the line between the states, Judgeing from what I remember hearing Grand-pa Hicks say. He brought with him five sons, never heard of any daughters. They all settled around him, in a radius of two miles, and when he wanted one of them he walked out in his yard and called the son he wanted. His wife died while he lived in Autauga County. Her grave is in the garden I have been told. 
After his wife's death he and 4 of his sons moved to Arkansas. When grand pa Hicks was about 18 years old he went out there to visit his kin folks. That is the last I ever heard of them.  Though Sister may have letters from them to some of the Faulkner kin. 
This left Grand-pa Hicks father, Acey Hicks, however you spell it, the only one left in Alabama. When he all the other first settlers moved to Autauga they lived in log houses”….
 
Note:  There is no evidence that John Hicks and four of his sons moved to Arkansas.  Asa Hicks had several sons who did move to Arkansas and this may be what the author is remembering.

Census

Index of 1820 Warren County, Georgia census lists John Hicks, no further information.

The 1820 Warren County, GA US Federal Census, Capt. Harman Hubbert's District shows the John Hicks household as:
Males: 1 (<10); 1 (10-16); 1 (16-18); 1 (16-26); 1 (26-45); 1 (over 45)
Females- 4 (<10); 1 (10-16); 1 (16-26); 1 (26-45); 1 (over 45).
It appears that at least one of John and Mary Hicks' adult son and their wife are living in the household and some of the children may be grandchildren of John and Mary Hicks.

Miscellaneous

The following land grants, all in St. Stephens Meridian of Autauga County, Alabama, were issued to:
John Hicks-1826-1834
Christopher Hicks-1837
J. H. Hicks-1826
James K. Hicks-1834
William C. Hicks-1833-1837
Zephaniah Hicks-1826-1837
James H. [K. ?] and John Hicks-1826
Asa Hicks-1825-1834
Green Hicks-1840

Miscellaneous

John Hicks, assignee of Seaborn Mims, on 3-2-1826 purchased 160.45 acres in Autauga County, Alabama, description: NW quarter, section 24, township 17, range 14.

Note: Shadrack Mims wrote an article describing the John Hicks family in "Sketches of Alabama Towns and Counties."

Miscellaneous

John Hicks and James K. Hicks, as tenants in common-not joint owners, purchased 79.9 acres on 5-5-1826 in Autauga County, Alabama, described as:
W half of NW quarter, section 9, township 18, range 13.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks and James K. Hicks, as tenants in common-not joint owners, purchased 159.8 acres on 5-5-1826 in Autauga County, Alabama, described as:
SW quarter, section 9, township 18, range 13.

Census

Note: John Hicks and his son James K. Hicks bought property in Autauga County in 1826 as tenants in common. John Hicks may have lived part of the time in both Autauga, County, Alabama, and Warren County, Georgia.

The 1830 Alabama State Census shows A. Hicks [Asa Hicks], J. Hicks [John H. Hicks], Z. Hicks [Zephaniah Hicks], C. Hicks [Christopher Thomas Hicks], J. K. Hicks [James K. Hicks] all in the Capt. Womack's District of Autauga County.

Census

In the 1830 Warren County, Georgia U.S. Federal Census the John Hicks household is listed as:
1 male (60-69); 1 female (10-14); 2 females (15-19); 2 females (20-29);
1 female (50-59); and 5 slaves.

Note: Asa, Christopher, Zephaniah, James K., John [H.] Hicks are listed in the Autauga County, AL census for 1830.

Miscellaneous

According to Susan Lloyd Family Tree, John Hicks' will and probate proceedings are recorded in Autauga County, Alabama, Will Book 3, p. 32, 87, and 173.

Death

John Hicks' will was probated on 1-17-1836 in Autauga County, Alabama.

Miscellaneous

John Hicks' son Zephaniah Hicks was appointed administrator of John Hicks' estate.
Final settlement was not accomplished until 1842 when the estate of John Hicks' wife, Mary, was settled.
Some delay was due to the sale of cattle in Georgia on 1-20-1836. The cattle were part of John Hicks' estate.

Census

John and Mary Hicks are not found in the 1840 Warren County, GA or Autauga County, AL census reports.

Miscellaneous

Final settlement of John Hicks' estate was part of the settlement of Mary Hicks' estate in 1842.
The following persons inherited Mary Hicks' estate as heirs of both John and Mary Hicks:
Thomas Hicks, children of Zephaniah Hicks, children of Asa Hicks, children of William C. Hicks, John Hicks, and children of Comfort Hicks Norsworthy.

Endnotes

1. Various, Sketches of Alabama Towns and Counties (N.p.: Alabama Genealogical Society, n.d.), Volume 3, pages 55-56, author Shadrach Mims.

2. Evelyn Johnson Lawrence, Family History, Recipient: Sherry Lawrence, Author Address: Gatesville, TX, Recipient Address: Gatesville, TX (2002), Family History Compiled by Evelyn Lawrence from personal communications, family bibles,etc..

3. Onslow County, North Carolina, "List of Taxables," Transcription, Lary Records; U.S. Gen Web Archives Website, www.usgwarchives.net.

4. "U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2014), Digital Image, "U.S. Revolutionary War Pay Rolls, 1775-1783," ; NARA Microfilm Images.

5. "U.S. Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2014), Digital Image, "U.S. Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records, 1775-1783," ; NARA Card File Microfilm Images.

6. American Revolution in South Carolina. Carolana Website. www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/home.html. Accessed 2014..

7. Doralyn Hicks Short, Compiler, A Story of Hicks, email version (N.p.: Unpublished, 2017), .

8. Doralyn Hicks Short, Compiler, A Story of Hicks, email version (N.p.: Unpublished, 2017), .

9. Doralyn Hicks Short, Compiler, A Story of Hicks, email version (N.p.: Unpublished, 2017), .

10. Janis Hicks McIntosh -John Hicks Family, between 1961 and 1967, Gary D. Hill Family Records, photocopy, E-Mail Attachment.

11. 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: Microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com..

12. Bureau of Land Management-General Land Office Records, Record Type: Internet Website Database, www.glorecords.blm.gov.

13. Onslow County, North Carolina, "1781 Tax List," Transcription, Hicks and Lary Records; U.S. Gen Web Archives Website, www.usgwarchives.net.

14. 1784-1787 State Census of North Carolina. Ancestry.com Website. North Carolina Records. www.ancestry.com..

15. Evelyn Johnson Lawrence, Family History, Recipient: Sherry Lawrence, Author Address: Gatesville, TX, Recipient Address: Gatesville, TX (2002), Family History Compiled by Evelyn Lawrence from personal communications, family bibles,etc..

16. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com., Transcription of Coryell Co., TX. Green Hicks indicates his father was born in NC..

17. Janis Hicks McIntosh -John Hicks Family, between 1961 and 1967, Gary D. Hill Family Records, photocopy, E-Mail Attachment.

18. Doralyn Hicks Short, Compiler, A Story of Hicks, email version (N.p.: Unpublished, 2017), .

19. "Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2015), digital images, "Georgia Property Tax Digests," Georgia Records.

20. "Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), , .

21. 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. Website. www.1805georgialandlottery.com., Transcription.

22. Hancock County, Georgia, Hancock County Wills and Administration Records, 1794-1807 Vol. AAAA, page 176-180; Vol. A, page 1, Darby Lary Estate, Court term not given, "Darby Lary Estate Records," from 30 April 1803 to 30 March 1805; digital images, Family Search, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : accessed, 2014).

23. "Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), , .

24. Hicks Family Letter. Possible Author-Anlouisa Pearson. PMB Tree-2013-02-05. J P Paula owner. www.ancestry.com..

25. "Index to U. S. Census, Georgia 1820," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2015), transcript, "Index 1820 U. S. Census, Georgia 1820," Georgia Records.

26. 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: Microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com..

27. U. S. Bureau Of Land Management. Digital Images and Transcripts. www.glorecords.blm.gov.

28. U. S. Bureau Of Land Management. Digital Images and Transcripts. www.glorecords.blm.gov.

29. U. S. Bureau Of Land Management. Digital Images and Transcripts. www.glorecords.blm.gov.

30. U. S. Bureau Of Land Management. Digital Images and Transcripts. www.glorecords.blm.gov.

31. 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: Microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com..

32. 1830 Alabama State Census. Autauga County. Ancestry.com Website. www.ancestry.com.

33. 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: Microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com..

34. "Hicks", database, Susan Lloyd, Roots Web-World Connect (http://wc/rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db : Viewed 2014), "Hicks-Susan Lloud Tree," John Hicks Family; submitted by Susan Lloyd.

35. Evelyn Johnson Lawrence, Family History, Recipient: Sherry Lawrence, Author Address: Gatesville, TX, Recipient Address: Gatesville, TX (2002), Family History Compiled by Evelyn Lawrence from personal communications, family bibles,etc..

36. RootsWeb, Url: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com, From U.S.Genweb Autauga Co., AL website: his will was probated 1-17-1836..

37. "Hicks", database, Susan Lloyd, Roots Web-World Connect (http://wc/rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db : Viewed 2014), "Hicks-Susan Lloyd Tree," John Hicks Family; submitted by Susan Lloyd.

38. 1840 U.S. Federal Census, Record Type: Microfilm image, Ancestry.com Website, www.ancestry.com..

39. Janis Hicks McIntosh -John Hicks Family, between 1961 and 1967, Gary D. Hill Family Records, photocopy, E-Mail Attachment.