Thomas Hicks (Hix) Workpage- pre1850 VA NC SC
[Workpage Thomas Hix/Hicks]
1. Thomas MA to NC/Thankful Weeks
Other possible children:Thomas
Abigail
Hannah
THOMAS HICKS (1667)
Thomas Hicks was born 4 September 1667 in Scituate, Barnstable, Massachusetts. He married Abigail Bliffin, 30 December 1706 in Taunton, Massachusetts. The record of their marriage was recorded in the journal of Maj. Thomas Leonard, who had performed the ceremony. They resided for a time in Swansea, Massachusetts, which was founded in 1667 at the head of Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays. It is in the vital records there that we find the birth dates for the children of Thomas and Abigail.
Thomas had sold his Swansea land by 1732, and there is nothing more in the records concerning him and his family. It is felt that members of his family migrated to the Bogue Sound area of Carteret County, North Carolina, possibly with the Benjamin and Mary Chase Weeks family. He may have died in Carteret County, North Carolina, although I have found nothing in the records concerning probate or settlement of an estate for property belonging to Thomas.
It may be that the sons, David, John and Thomas went to the Carteret area of North Carolina preceding their parents.
The earliest mention of a Thomas Hicks in Carteret is in 1743. He is noted on Bogue Sound, very near to where the Weeks family settled. There is also notation of a David Hicks purchasing 300 acres of land in Carteret from James Lafitte in 1742; and a John Hicks appeared before the court September 1744 and made oath that he had in his family three white persons. Often people lived in an area for years before deeds for property were registered, so it may be that they were in the county prior to the 1742-44 dates.
Thomas and Abigail were parents of the following children, all recorded in the Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts records:
1) Martha Hicks. B. 26 Jan. 1707.
2) Mary Hicks. B. 15 July 1709.
3) Michael Hicks. B. 29 Jan. 1712/13.
4) John Hicks. B. 6 Apr. 1716. John married Hannah, surname unknown, and the first mention we have of him, at least in what was then Carteret County, NC, was when he appeared before the September 1744 term of court and made oath that he had three white persons in his family. By 1749 John is deceased. He mentions his wife, Hannah, and his brothers David and Thomas in his will. David is to be the executor of the will, but he apparently declined to do so, as we find that John's widow, Hannah, seems to be handling the claims for the estate. Since David would appear to be the youngest of the brothers, the fact that he is listed as the executor was probably because Thomas had moved from the area and was located in Duplin County by 1749, whereas David was nearer Carteret County.
5) *Thomas Hicks. B. 19 Feb. 1719. He may have married prior to, or after arriving in Carteret County, NC. No record for a marriage has been found in either Massachusetts or North Carolina, but he married Thankful Weeks, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Chase Weeks, of Massachusetts.
6) David Hicks. B. 3 July 1722, Swansea, Massachusetts. d 1778 NC m/ Martha Lewis Children Alexander, David, Fanne, Frederick, martha, Moses, Solomon
In her record of the Hicks family of Carteret, North Carolina, Mary Faison Hicks, who apparently didn't have access to the birth records for Swansea, indicated that the David Hicks of Chowan County, who died in 1732, was most likely a son of Thomas and Abigail. Inasmuch as David of Swansea wasn't born until 1722, this would have to be incorrect. David purchased land near Bogue Sound also, in 1752.
Apparently David cared for his mother, who died about 1763. In that year David Hicks, as the greatest creditor, requested that he be allowed to administer the estate of Abigail Hicks, "widow and relict" -- meaning surviving spouse -- of Thomas Hicks. Her estate was settled by 1764 when an account of sales was delivered to the court. I have not yet found if David Hicks married.
SOURCE: Walter Rounds Genealogy:
"Thomas was apparently born between 1666-1673 at Scituate. He appears to have been of age when he joined his mother and brothers in selling his father's land on Feb 21, 1694 (BCM Deed 3:400) He sold his Swansea land before 1732 and moved elsewhere. Has not been traced. (Hodge, p. 14)His family (wife & some children and maybe Thomas also) are thought to have been found in Cartaret Co, NC about 1743, but the connection has not been absolutely proven."
Will of David Hix (Son of Thomas MA) born in MA died Onslow
Will of David Hix Senior of Onslow County, North Carolina. To Son Solomon, that part of my plantation on Bogue Sound in Cartwright County where he now dwells. To son Alexander the other part of my Bogue Sound plantations. To the two sons 400 acres. To wife Martha Hix during widowhood remainder of estate. To son Moses one negro. To son David negros. To son Fredrick negros. To daughter Martha negros. To daughter Jane negros. Signed 13 Sep 1778, David (x) Hix. [Original Wills of Onslow County, North Carolina, FHC Film #1,577,755.]
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Thomas died Duplin NC
From Sons of the American Revolution Application
Thomas Hicks was a man of wealth, inheriting large estates of land from his father, Thomas Hicks. He was an influential citizen, highly thought of, a contemporary of James Kenan, William _______, and Richard Clinton with whom he was frequently associated working for the welfare of his immediate community and the public interest of the state. He represented his county of Duplin in the Provincial Assemblies from 1774 to 1779. The colonial records tell us that he was a delegate to the First Provincial Assembly at Newborn, N.C., August 1774. It was the first assembly ever called in Noth Carolina without Royal Authority, indeed in open defiance of the same. He was a delegate at the Second Provincial Assembly held at Newborn, N.C, April 3, 1775, and again at Hillsboro, August 1, 1776. He was also a member of the House of Commons, State Legislature at Newborn, N.C., April 14, 1778.
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This from SC archives indicates that this Thomas Hicks was dead by 1786. (poss. Col. George4 to SC son of George3 Captain Robert2)
Series: S136002
Box: 124B
Item: 0014A
ignore: 000
Date: 1786
Description: HICKS, BENJAMIN, ADMOR. OF THOMAS HICKS VS ROBERT BATES, JUDGMENT ROLL.
Names indexed: BATES, ROBERT; HICKS, BENJAMIN; HICKS, THOMAS
Document type: JUDGMENT-ROLL
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Will of Robert Hicks (1746-1801) Northampton County, North Carolina
Legatees ~
1. wife, name not given
2. son, James Hicks
3. son, John Hicks
4. son, Thomas Hicks
5. granddaughter, Molly Hicks
6. "my four daughters" - two are not named
7. daughter, Peggy Meriman
8. daughter, BECKY TARVER
Exrs. Sons, Thomas, James, and John
/s/ August 22, 1800
/p/ March Court, 1801
Wits. John M Binford, William Hicks, and David Marrimoon
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State of North Carolina
Northampton County
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROBERT HICKS
Abstract
... to my son THOMAS HICKS the land and plantation he now lives on, the sd
land to contain 1/3 of all my land
... to son JAMES HICKS plantation whereon he now lives so as to contain
one-third of my land and sd. JAMES to pay my Extrs. 10 pounds Va. Money
... lend son JOHN HICKS 1/3 of my land, it being the Plantation whereon I
now live and at his death I give it to his Child or Children
... if sons cannot agree on division of my land, each son to choose a man
who will choose another man and sd. land to be laid off for my sd. sons
... to all my sons and daughters (names not given) and
... MOLLY HICKS, daughter of my son THOMAS, cattle each
... to my wife (name not given) use of my Plantation whereon I now live
for her lifetime and she is not to interfere with my son JOHN's interest
... to daughters PEGGY MERIMON and
... BECKY TARVER 20 shillings each
... residue of estate at wife's death to go to my 4 daughters and my
sd. grand daughter
Extrs.: my sons THOMAS, JAMES, and JOHN Wits.: JOHN M BINFORD, WILLIAM
HICKS, DAVID MARRIMOON.
SOURCE
Northampton Co., NC WB 2, 1792-1808, Will 489, p. 215.
Abstract transcribed from Northampton County, North Carolina 1759-1808,
Genealogical Abstracts of Wills, by Margaret M. Hofmann (1975, reprint
1984, Weldon, NC: Roanoke News Company), p. 112.
NOTES
Rebecca Hicks, b. circa 1778 in Viginia, married MICAJAH WELLS TARVER, son of Billison Tarver and Selah (Salley) Vassar.
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Mary Jane Hicks was not born in Onslow County to Thomas Hicks (Hix) and Elizabeth Williams.
That Thomas Hicks stayed on the east coast and is buried there. He never moved West and he never left anything in his will to a Mary Jane or Lucinda. Several of his children moved to Tennessee and most of this family is well documented.
There were many men named Thomas Hicks (Hix) living in the United States during this time period. Several in Virginia, in South Carolina and North Carolina.
The Thomas Hicks, father of Mary Jane and Lucinda, is definitely not the Thomas Hicks (Hix) from Onslow and Duplin counties who fought in the American Revolution for the Patriots and married Elizabeth Williams.
Also, some folks have the father of Mary Jane and Lucinda dying in Henderson County. First, there was no Henderson County at the time of his death. Henderson County was not formed until 1837 from Buncombe and Rutherford counties. Also, there is no grave for him in the area of today's Henderson County. Family tradition indicates that he died in today's Rutherford County.
Research indicates that he never lived on the land that he purchased in today's Henderson County. He sold and/or gave the land to daughters and their husbands and a son, William Hicks (Hix).
Submitted by Jennie Jones Giles
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Thomas Hicks purchased land in 1788 on Little Hungry Creek in today's Henderson County. At the time he purchased the land, this was Rutherford County.
He had at least two daughters, and most likely a third, that are documented: Lucinda, who married Thomas Jones; and Mary Jane, who married John Jones Sr. He also had a son William Hicks.
William Hicks and three of the Jones brothers, John Sr., Thomas and Robert, with their wives, settled on the land of Thomas Hicks in what is today Henderson County.
Thomas Jones later sold his land to John Jones Sr. and moved to the Mud Creek section of present-day Henderson County.
William Hicks and Robert Jones left the area and moved to Tennessee.
There is a Susan Hicks who married Reuben Stepp. This Susan would have been close to the same age as Lucinda and Mary Jane. Most researchers believe she is a sister of Lucinda and Mary Jane, and a daughter of Thomas Hicks.
It is believed Thomas Hix (Hicks) came into Rutherford County from South Carolina.
The Hicks family seemed to use the spelling variations Hix and Hicks interchangeably.
Family tradition from the Thomas Jones line says our Thomas Hicks was a Tory in the American Revolution.
1782
HIX, JAMES
Rutherford Co.
NC Early Census Index
1782
HIX, THOMAS
Rutherford Co.
NC Early Census Index
HIX, WILLIAM was in 1790 Rutherford County Census. More than one. One in 12th Co. and one in 14th Co.
John Hix in 1810 Rutherford County census.
HIX, THOMAS
Rutherford County
362
No Township Listed
NC 1820 Federal Census Index
Note: A Thomas Hicks signed as a witness to the will of Isaac Arledge Sr. in 1790 in Fairfield County, S.C. Two members of this family moved to Rutherford County by 1810.
Some researchers indicate that Thomas Hix (Hicks) born 1758 who lived in Rutherford County in the 1780s and 1790s was a son of Richard Hix. This could not be the father of Mary Jane and Lucinda, unless there is an incorrect birth date for this Thomas Hix.
Submitted by Jennie Jones Giles
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Several family trees have Thomas Hix and William Hix (Hicks) born in the 1750s in Rutherford County. This is impossible as Rutherford County did not exist in the 1750s.
Rutherford County was formed in 1779 from Old Tryon County. A search of records in Rutherford County prior to 1779 will produce no results.
Old Tryon County consisted of land in today's North Carolina and a small portion of South Carolina. The North Carolina section was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768.
Some researchers indicate that Thomas Hix or Hicks lived in the section of Old Tryon County that is today in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Spartanburg County was not formed until 1785 from the Ninety-Six District.
Following is the North and South Carolina areas today that were in Old Tryon County.
County seat was in town of Tryon, located between present-day Cherryville and Bessemer City in Gaston Co. Upon dissolution, land and court records were turned over to Lincoln Co. which at that time occupied area now divided between Lincoln and Gaston counties.
The 1768-1772 map shows that Tryon County NC included all or parts of
presentday NC counties: Burke, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston
and presentday SC counties: Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Lancaster, Greenville, Laurens, Union, Newberry, Chester.
The 1768-1772 map shown is 81 miles wide at its widest point, and approximately 83 miles high. The boundaries given in Governor Tryon's description differ somewhat. The portion in presentday South Carolina would have been limited to including almost all of presentday York and Cherokee counties and the upper half of presentday Spartanburg County.
In 1772, the state line in Tryon County NC was resolved as being in its present location. The county was abolished in 1779. Other portions of the NC/SC state line were not resolved until 1782. The location of the southern boundary of Tryon Co. in 1772 appears confirmed in a 1779 South Carolina state map.
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Granville District, North Carolina, Bk L Pg 208 - Robert Hicks to son Thomas Hicks if sd Thomas should die with out heirs property to go to Robert Bell, s/o Thomas Bell and his wife Sarah Bell, and grandon of sd Robert Hicks Feb 1, 1778.
Granville District, North Carolina, Deed Bk S, Pg 305 - Robert Hicks deed of gift to his son Thomas Hicks Feb 1, 1778:
Robert Hicks to Thomas Hicks [his son]. "...also a Negro man named Primus & a Negro boy named Boston..." (Deed-1778, pp. 305-306, book S)
Robert Hicks to Thomas Hicks [his son]. "consideration of the love and affection... Negro man named Primus -?- Negro boy named Boston... track of land and Negroes to remain to the use of Robert Bell, son of Thomas Bell & Sarah Bell & grandson of the said Robert Hicks..." (DIT-1778, p.208, book L)
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From the Book, "Revolutionary War Records of Duplin-Sampson Counties." By Virginia and Oscar Bizzell
HICKS, Daniel, Private, NC Militia
HICKS, Thomas, Captain during the Spanish Alarm, Musician and Lieutenant in the Duplin Militia.
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Thomas Hicks (1710-1755) moved from NC north to Lunenburg Co, VA about 1745; lived on Modest Creek just south of Nottaway County line. Thomas was a Ranger during the French and Indian War. Sometime around 1759-1761 he moved the family a few miles southwest to Charlotte Co., VA where they lived on Sandy Creek. Several families from this vicinity started moving south to Montgomery Co., NC in the middle 1760's so many of them were neighbors in NC as well as VA. Thomas may have married Elizabeth Jordon (1710 -1779), daughter of Charles Jordan (1684-1736) about 1735 in Chowan, NC.
It was Mr. Beeler's theory that Charles Jordon was also the father of John Jordon who went to Montgomery Co, NC around 1754. John and Francis had sons, Francis and Reuben Jordon. Francis was father of Sarah Jordon who married Robert Hicks. He may also have had a daughter, Agnes Jordon, who married Littleberry Hicks. If this theory is correct then Robert and Sarah would have been second cousins, as would Littleberry and Agnes. Also suspect that Reuben Hicks was named for his uncle Reuben Jordon.
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Colonial Wars and the Southern Frontier: Defining a New People
by George Williams Hicks
Both Robert and Thomas Hicks, in 1715, had deeds for land along Bear Creek, just south of modern Lynchburg. Other early settlers appeared along the Dan and Staunton Rivers, but apparently not involved in Indian Trade.