4.2.1 THOMAS HATHCOCK JR.2437

A Thomas Heathcock appears in the records of Fairfield County, South Carolina, from about 1772 until 1798. From the evidence discussed in the section on Thomas Hathcock Sr. of Richmond County, North Carolina, (see Section 3.1.1) and facts from other records presented below, it is speculated that this Thomas Heathcock of Fairfield County was the son of the Thomas Hathcock of Richmond County.

The first mention of Thomas Hathcock Jr. is in a land qrant to Thomas Hathcock (Sr. )* [The use of Sr. and Jr. in parenthesls is onIy to assist the reader in distinguishing between the Thomas' where source material does not so distinguish.] in Anson County, North Carolina, dated 15 December 1778. [Note 1] The grant indicates that the chain carriers for the surveyor were Thomas Hathcock Jr. and Mark Johnson. The land is described as being 200 acres on the Northeast of the forks of Gum Swamp and Beaver Dam including the "improvements he now lives on." This would indicate that Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) was already living adjacent to the land grant in 1778 in Anson County. It further describes the land as being adjacent to lands of Mark Johnson. It was common for a chain carrier to be a son of the person to whom the land was granted, and it was also common that a neighbor would be a chain carrier. The chain carriers were required to provide a sworn statement as to the accuracy of their measurements; therefore, they were required to be at least 21 years of age.

Note 1. Land Grant #383 to Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) in Anson County, North Carolina, 15 December 1778, Book 30, Page 166.

On 28 January 1779, a few weeks later, Thomas Hathcock Jr. appears as a chain carrier on another document granting land to Thomas Hathcock (Sr.). [Note 2] This was another 200 acre grant described as being on the southwest of the Gum Branch adjoining the first grant on the northwest. Again, Mark Johnson was the other chain carrier. In 1779, Anson County was divided to form Montgomery County, and Thomas Hathcock is found on a petition prompting the division.

Note 2. Land Grant #527 to Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) in Anson County, North Carol ina, ed 28 January 1779, Book 30, Page 295.

The last record wherein Thomas Hathcock appears with "Jr." as part of the name is in a land grant in Richmond County. [Note 3] Again, Thomas Hathcock Jr. is found as a chain carrier along with one Jerry Woodel. This grant was number 476 and was entered 2 July 1793 and issued 16 July 1795. It is described as 50 acres being on Dismal Branch of Joe I s Creek adjoining the land of Isham Norton, son of James Norton Sr. The grants of land in Anson County were near or adjacent to the land above since Richmond County was formed from Anson County. There is abundant evidence that Isham Norton and Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) had migrated from Northampton County, North Carolina, and Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) was the son of Edward Hathcock of Northampton County (see Section 3.1). Although these locations where Thomas Hathcock lived appear to be in different counties, they are in fact in the same county because of the creation of new counties and new boundaries of some counties.

Note 3. Land Grant #476 to Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) in Richmond County, North ina, dated 2 July 1793, Book 86, Page 505.

The assumption that Thomas Hathcock Jr. of Anson and Richmond Counties was the son of Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) is not difficult to accept based upon the above; however, "to assume that the Thomas Heathcock of Fairfield County, South Carolina, was the son of the Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) is less certain and the speculation is more strained. The evidence to date however, does make a case that Thomas Heathcock of South Carolina was most probably the son of Thomas (Sr.) of North Carolina. The evidence is continued below.

South Carolina Colonial Land Grant records show that Thomas and Isaac Heathcock were granted land in Fairfield County on a branch of Little Cedar Creek in 1772. [Note 4] Thomas was granted 450 acres of land on 24 December 1772 and Isaac was granted 300 acres of adjacent land about the same time. This land seems to be in the same area where at least one Haithcock family lived some one hundred years later in southeast Fairfield County. It is noted that this land was granted to Thomas Heathcock some seven or eight years before Thomas Hathcock Jr. appears on the land grant of Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) as a chain carrier in Anson County, North Carolina. This fact disturbs the theory of the father and son relationship; however, Thomas of Fairfield County may have not have actually lived in South Carolina before 1780 for it appears that neither Thomas nor Isaac Heathcock permanently settled upon the granted land.

Note 4. Thomas Heathcock and Isaac Heathcock were granted lard by the South lina Colonial Government in 1772, Colonial Grants, Volume 27, Page 551.

Thomas Heathcock sold 168 acres of this land to John Alston on 14 Fepruary 1774 for 81 pounds. [Note 5] Witnesses were James Bowen, William Boyd and Mark David. It appears from the language of the Instrument of Sale and Release that John Alston had leased this land prior to his buying it. Records of any subsequent sale of the remaining 282 acres have not been located, but 98 acres of the 300 acre grant of Isaac Heathcock was sold by Steven Smith and his wife to Thomas Robinson in 1792.

Note 5. Thomas Heathcock sold 168 acres of this land to John Alston in 1773, M, No. 12. Page 193. The Memorial is in Book WWW at Page 132 of the leston Deeds, Book p, Page 5 - Register of Mesne Deeds, Charleston Court. Recorded 4 February 1775.

The Fairfield Loyalist Militia records indicate that Thomas Hathcock was a private in Colonel Robert Grey Regiment of the Georgetown Militia or the Little Pee Dee Militia in either Thomas Gibson's Company or Peter Tyler's company from at least 1 September 1780 until 6 October 1782. [Note 6]

Note 6. Loyalist in the Southern Campaigns of the Revolutionary War, Vol. I 1), by Murtie June Clark, Crofton, Maryland. It appears from this book Thomas Hathcock served in the Militia during the entire period of the Provisional Royal Government which began when Charleston fell to the British May 1780, until after the defeat of Lord Charles Earl Cornwallis and the cessation of hostilities which ended the Revolutionary War. However, under British occupation, militia men were required to be free males between the of fifteen and sixty years of age. Since Thomas Hathcock served at least consecutive six month-terms in the Militia and was paid for his service, it must be assumed that he was in the active Loyal Militia and not the "home guard.” According to the plan for "Pacification of the Back Country,” dated May 1780, to be carried out by Major Patrick Ferguson, Inspector of the Militia, he was to enlist young, unmarried men or men who had previously served in the Army. This plan also called for enlistment, of "men who have families, under their own officers (voted for by the men themselves), ready to assemble occasionally in their several districts ... " (which would have included Fairfield District). Without further study, it is difficult to determine if Thomas Hathcock was in the former or later group of militia. A reference on this general subject is Loyalists and Redcoats - A study in British Revolutionary Policy by Paul H. Smith, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill (1964). It is possible that more information might be found on Thomas Hathcock among the Colonial Office Papers in the Public Record Office, London, England. These papers have been published and are available in United states. Fellow soldiers who served in the same organization during same period are: Joseph Groves, William Coatney (or Courtney), Alexander John Price, James Taylor, Abraham Davis, Thomas Span, Bentley Groves, James Ashworth, Henry Gullich (or Gullick), William Sterling, Jeremiah Revels (RaveIs), Jacob Locklear, Joseph Locklear, William Thomas, Jacob Skipper or Joseph Skipper (or Scipper), and Major Churne (or Chum). Several of these soldiers have been identified as Indians.

On November 1795, Thomas Heathcock made a Deed of Gift to his son ,John Heathcock, also of Fairfield County. [Note 7] This gift consisted of no land rot "all my shoemaker tools" and various other household goods. The deed mentions that Thomas Heathcock lived “on the Old Muster Ground,” a place where the militia drilled and marched. It is possible that Thomas was a shoemaker for the iilitia, thus accounting for his place of residence. This deed might also indicate that Thomas was near death in late 1795 but in 1798 he was plaintiff in a lawsuit against one James Hoye in Fairfield County. A Thomas Acock appears on the Fairfield County census of 1800 and he could be the Thomas in subject here. [Note 8] No further record of Thomas Heathcock of Fairfield County has been found; however, on 9 April 1785, John Hathcock sold livestock and furniture for 5 pounds, 15 shillings to one Thomas Parrott Sr. and on 22 July "1785, John Heathcock of Fairfield County, undoubtedly his son, sold a Bill of Sundries to Thomas Parrott. The witnesses to this Bill of Sundries were William Cato and Smith Ogilvic. [Note 9] It is interesting to note that a William Cato had sold 160 acres of land situated on Jack’s Swamp in Northampton County, North Carolina, on 18 November 1778 to a John Haithcock. [Note 10] This John Heathcock of Northampton County may have been the son of William Heathcock Sr. and grandson of Joseph Hathcock of Greensville County, Virginia.

Note 7. Presumably Thomas Hathcock Jr. Deed of Gift recorded in Fairfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book K, Page 284, recorded 12 January 1796.

Note 8. 1800 Federal Census of Fairfield County, South Carolina, Page 235.

Note 9. Bill of sale recorded in Fairfield County, South Carolina. See: Fairfield County Minute Book 1785-1799, by Brent H. Holcomb.

Note 10. This area, near Jack’s Swamp in Northampton County, was populated heavily by Quakers. They had a Meeting House there in the early 1700's. (See Section 3.2.2.)

In Sumter County, South Carolina, in 1817, one Joseph Hathcock and apparently with no close heirs, died and left a small estate of personal gocds. [Note 11] The administration records of his estate, published at the Providence Church, indicate that Mark Johnson and Isaac Hathcock purchased items at the estate sale. It will be remembered that Mark Johnson was the chain carrier for Thomas Hathcock (Sr.) in Anson County of North Carolina, in 1778 and 1779, and that Isaac Heathcock had been granted land in Fairfield County at the same time Thomas Heathcock was granted land in 1772. Joseph Hathcock lived on the lands of General Thomas Sumter in northwest Sumter County near Big Rafting Creek at the time of his death. The Last Will and Testament of one Isaac Hethcock was written in 1815 and probated in Greenville County, South Carolina, in 1817. [Note 12] There were Hathcock families in Sumter County in 1795, including those of John Hathcock Sr., Samuel Heathcock and his son John Heathcock. John Heathcock Sr. owned land on Big Rafting Creek in the very northern part of Sumter County in 1795, and lived in adjacent Kershaw County in 1800. [Note 13] John Sr. and Samuel Hathcock are thought to have been other sons of Thomas Hathcock (Sr. ) of Richmond County, North Carolina (see Section 3.1.1).

Note 11. The 1817 Administration Papers of Joseph Hathcock of Sumter County, South Carolina, Office of Probate Judge. These papers imply that the son-in-law of Joseph Hathcock was one Newman Scott.

Note 12. Last Will and Testament of Isaac Heathcock dated 25 May 1815, Book A, Page 273, of Greenville County, South Carolina. Isaac was a soldier at the time of his death about 1818. (See Section 4.2.3.)

Note 13. John Hathcock deed to Nathan Norton. Deed Book CCC, Page 350 of Sumter County, South Carolina records.

There is only scattered evidence of the descendants of Thomas Hathcock of Fairfield County. South Carolina. The Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Freeman of Richland County, South Carolina, makes reference to one Sarah Hathcock in 1823 as a legatee. [Note 14] This will, dated 8 October 1823 in the Richland District and Probated there 29 November 1823, devised and bequeathed Benjamin Freeman's estate, both real and personal, to Sarah Hathcock and John Marlow in equal parts. Witnesses to the will were: Andrew P. Vinson, Joseph E. Reese, and William B. Crebor as executor. It was proven by Andrew P. Vinson. It is unfortunate that the relationship of Sarah Hathcock to Benjamin Freeman is not given. It is possible, however, that such relationship is mentioned in the estate papers or in the deed wherein the real estate - (if any) was transferred. It would seem that both John Marlow and Sarah Hathcock were closely related to Benjamin Freeman, since they received the totality of his estate. Perhaps Sarah was his married daughter.

Note 14. Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Freeman of Richland County, South Carolina, dated 8 October 1823, Will Book H. Page 19. Mentions friend and neighbor John Hopkins and other witnesses to the will. John Haithcock (b. 1794) of Richland County lived near John Hopkins in 1830 and named one of his sons Hopkins. Real estate transferred to Sarah Hathcock perhaps in Box 43, Package 1059-1/2 of the Richland County deed records or in the Grantee Index - Sarah Hathcock or Grantor Index - Benjamin Freeman Estate. It would seem that Sarah Hathcock and John Hathcock were somehow related. Sarah was old enough to have been the mother of John Haithcock.

A Sarah Hathcock is found on the rolls of membership of the 25 Mile Creek Church in Fairfield County on 5 February 1836. This church was formed in the earliest days of Fairfield County's history (ca. 1767) and was renamed Sandy Level Church in 1843. The Sandy Level Church was located in that part of Fairfield County which was annexed to Richland County about 1913. The grave site of Sarah Hathcock is located in the Wooten Family Cemetery about two miles north of Blythewood, South Carolina, and one-half mile from Highway 21 in Richland County. The grave marker gives the date of Sarah's death as 18 April 1836 at age 65 years. It is possible that she was in some way related to the family of Thomas Hathcock. This is the area where the descendants of Thomas Heathcock (Jr.) must have lived. If the Sarah in the will in Richland County and the Sarah in the church record of Fairfield County are the same person, then it suggests that Sarah may be related to both families.

The only person by the name of Hathcock or similar name appearing on the 1820 census of Fairfield County was Newman Hathcock, with the age group data omitted (page 155a). He also appears on the 1830 census at age 50 to 60 years and apparently with wife at the same age group and a son age 15-20 years (page 359). An N. Heathcock, who was probably Newman, appears on the 1840 census of Fairfield County at age 50-60 years with one son 10-15 years and another son 15-20 years of age, but with no female over the age of 40 years. There is no Hathcock person enumerated in the 1820 census of Richland County, but John Haithcock was enumerated there in 1830 (page 410). Later census records indicate that he was born in South Carolina about 1794 (see Section 4.5). Recent research suggests that Newman Hathcock was part-Indian, thus explaining the varying race classifications given in the census records.

This all suggests that Newman and Sarah Hathcock were the parents of George Washington Haithcock of Fairfield County and John Haithcock of Richland County. It is noted that there were few people by the name of Hathcock in this area at this time; that Newman and Sarah Hathcock were approximately the same age; that John Haithcock was about the correct age to have been an early son and that George Washington could have been a late son; that the areas in which these people lived were in close proximity; and that frequently the same unusual Christian names appear in the families of their descendants.

George Washington Hathcock, born 1818-1820, lived in the southeast section of Fairfield County for many years and raised a large family there. His name was recorded as Haycock in the 1850 census. A property map of Fairfield County in 1875 shows a Haithcock family living near a branch of Little Cedar Creek where Thomas and Isaac were granted land in 1772. Mrs. Julia Hathcock CampbelL 808 Ea.9t Victory Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31405, (in 1988) had traced her Hathcock line to George Washington Hathcock and is presently researching the South Carolina records for the parents of George Washington Hathcock.