Samuel Hicks (b.1695) and Diana Willis CHART

Samuel Hicks (b.1695) and Diana Willis CHART- Goochland 1

[Samuel Hix (Hicks) Sr. b. 1695 and Dianah Willis were as far as we known born in Goochland Co., which was Henrico Co. before 1721. Hix and Hicks may be used interchangeably as the name appeared both ways in documents but it was usually Hix.

By looking at court records, land patents, marriages, births (baptisms) and wills we can learn about the Hix (Hicks) family, associated families and there interactions. This is the short list-- immediate family members (see details in CHART below).

Samuel Hix (Sr.) m. Diana Willis
David (Sr.) Hix m. (unknown)
Goulder Hix  (unknown - intestate)
Samuel Hix Jr. m. Elizabeth Woodall
Diana (Hix) Witlow m. Nathaniel Whitlow
Absolom Hix m Mary Harris
Agnes (Hix) Woodall m. Jacob Woodall


 

 

Introduction: The Hicks that came to Goochland, Virginia spelled their names Hix and eventually Hicks. From "The Hicks Family Journal" by Tom Keel: "On May 25, 1637, Samuel Hix arrived from England and stepped upon the shores of the Rappahannock River on the Potomac.  According to the information contained the 'The Hicks Families of Western North Carolina' by John Henry, Mattie Hicks and Barnabas B. Hicks, copyright 1991.  Samuel Hix was the first in the line of the Watauga River, North Caroline Hicks families.  This Samuel Hix was also the first of the line of Hicks who followed the migration routes from Virginia to North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and westward. By the time Samuel arrived, the population of the Virginia colony was approximately 5,000, including two or three hundred Negro slaves." 

So far no one has connected this Samuel Hix (Hicks) 1637 with the Samuel Hix (Hicks) that is kin to Ray Hicks and his pet groundhog. I suspect his father of Samuel Hix (b. 1695- 1772) is Henry Hix (Hicks) with brother named Stephen and that his grandfather also Henry came to the US in 1658 - I've identified him (or a likely candidate)  from The Bristol Registers of Servants: Sent to Foreign Plantation December 22 1658: Henry Hicks of Tytherington [Wilts], to same, 6 yrs Virginia, to John Morgan [upholsterer]. Henry would be born c.1638 and would have served about 4 years until 1662 and would be about 25 then.


                                                    Generation No. 1

[Line of SAMUEL HIX (HICKS), authenticated from SAMUEL[2] or [3] b. 1695 in Goochland, Virginia. SAMUEL b. 1695 could be 2nd or 3rd generation.]

1a. SAMUEL HIX (Hickes, Hicks) - b. about 1617 in England came to Virginia in 1637- which is documented. The name, Samuel, is right but there is no line connecting him to Samuel (b. 1695) or his son David (b. 1719), only conjecture. Some writers have said this Samuel is the father of the Hicks of Western North Carolina line that includes "Big Sammy" Hicks and Old Counce Harmon. Who was his Samuel Hix b. c. 1617 son? Did he live or die as over half of the indentured servants did?

1a[2] JAMES HICKS - A James Hicks also came to Virginia 1637 on the same ship!  He sponsored by Oliver Sprye  of the New Norfolk Co. His name is featured in the Captain Robert Hix line from Surry Co. Why wouldn't he be the father of the Hicks of Western North Carolina line?

[There's another Samuel Hicks from MA: b. about 1651 in Plymouth, Ma. d. 1764 married Ruth Haskins b: about 1653 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA married: Jan 9, 1678 in Plymouth-- moved at some point to Glocester, Co., Va.- undocumented. Another Samuel Hicks b. 1611 married Lydia Doane c. 1645 in MA, see on Early Hicks page for info on that line.]


1b. ROBERT HIX (Hicks) father of Captain Robert Hicks, was sponsored by Hugh Lee, and had a land holding awarded in 1654 (Surry Co. Virginia) from Lee when he arrived in Virginia. He was born c. 1636 and came into Virginia around 1654. The elder Robert is associated with John Evans (who owned land near Hix) and Robert son, Captain Robert, married Evan's daughter, Winnifred about 1609 in Surry Co. Virginia. Captain Robert was born c. 1658 and it's possible he had a younger brother named Henry or John who might be Samuel's father. In 1665 John Hicks, John Evans and John Harris left Bristol (England) Baptist Church for New England (which at that time meant America) with three sisters (last name Mogg). The name John Evan may be more than coincidental and this could be the same John Evan, father-in-law to Captain Robert. The Henry Hicks could be a brother or son of Robert.

1c. HENRY HIX; born before 1640 in Tetherington, England, immigrated to Virginia circa December 22 1658. Documented- see: The Bristol Registers of Servants: Sent to Foreign Plantation 1654-1686: "Henry Hicks  of Tytherington [Wilts], to same, 6 yrs Virginia, to John Morgan [upholsterer]." His age should be. c. 1638 and in Virginia an average of 4 years was served, so he would be free in 1662 and would be approximately 24 years old at that time. It seems likely that another generation would be between Henry and Samuel who was born in 1695. We can assume that this the grandfather of Samuel Hicks (b. 1695) of Goochland, VA. According to some sources online Henry has a brother, Stephen Hix (Hicks) who has a son Daniel. [This line is may be correct but is not documented] On Oct. 4, 1675, Henry Hicks lived at Varina Parish, north of the James River upon Gyllie's path, merridaes path, Mongoles run, west branch of Herring's Creek to the Chickahominy Also and John, more, Jeffrey Harris. Twelve years later, on April 20, 1687,  Henry Hicks still was at Varina Parish, Henrico Co,, south of Chickahominy River.

                                                     Generation No. 2

2a. HENRY HIX- The father of Samuel [3] b. 1695 would need to be born circa 1670. On possibility is the Henry Hix who received land  in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia on April 20, 1687. [Virginia Land Grant and Patent Book Seven, page 556]. Hix was transported by Thomas Cock, Junr., and received a land grant from Cock's 671 acres.

It's also possible that Henry came fro m the line of Robert Hicks of Surry Co. and was a younger brother. This is all speculative but looking is the first step of finding.

2b. JOSEPH HIX-- Joseph is mentioned in one chart line as the brother of Henry who has a son named Daniel.

[There is a Samuel Hix b. 1680 attached to the line of John Hixe (Hix) b. 1658 the doorkeeper of James City who married Sarah [Preston]. Another chart has Samuel Hix (should be John Hix) and Rebecca Reeves (should be Rives but it's spelled Rieves in his will). That is one of the John Hix from Surry Co. b. circa 1685. There is no Samule in that line, nor is there in the other John Hicks (possible father and son) who married Christina. Both have wills in the 1720-1740 time frame.]

                                            Generation No. 3

3. Samuel Hix (Hicks) 1695- c.1772 and his wife Dianah Willis. Samuel Sr.'s will was written March 17, 1770, and recorded November 1772. He died around 1772. In his will, Absolom [also Absalom] is his son and Absolom's son as Bishop, that Nathaniel Witlow married Diana (Hix) and their son is Solomon. That he has a grandson David, who is the son of Samuel Jr.; that Jacob Woodal married his daughter Agnes Hix and they had a son, James; And that the had a son Henry. Apparently David and Goulder were sons not mentioned in the will because they had moved (Goulder moved or died after 1751). The document by Solomon versifies that David was his brother. The children of Samuel Hix (1695-1772) and Diana were:

   i. David Hicks (Sr.) b. 1719 Goochland Va. – d, 1793 Valle Crucis, NC (see more of this NC line below)
        i. Big Sammy Hicks b. 1753 (moved to NC near his father circa 1777)

   ii. Goulder Hicks 1720? – He and apparently Goulder Davidson were named for Samuel Goulder who lived in Hanover and Goochland Counties. The Goulder name continued in the NC line. Only 2 references were found for Goulden/Goulder Hix; 1. Colonial tax records dated 1747 and 1751 where he appears as an adult in the Tuckahoe Creek area near his father, and 2, in March 1747, Goochland County Court record in which he was charged with "trespass", which was dismissed in court. No further records on him. He may have moved westward where new settlements were opening, or he may have died early in life. Several Hicks sons were named in his memory/honor. {Info from Donna Hanson on Rootsweb.com for the Roy Family}. {Note: sister, Diana Hicks Whitlow, named a son for him}.

    iii. Samuel Hicks Jr. b. 1732  m. Elizabeth Woodlock [Woodall] in 1751. Their son, David, was named in the will. Children David, 1754 and Frederick b. 1756
          a. David was born about 1754 in VA, USA, died in 1832 in Elbert Co., GA, USA about age 78. David married Jane (HICKS) in 1775 in Granville Co, North Carolina.   The child from this marriage was:
                   i. Jefferson Johnson HICKS (born on 15 Nov 1787 in Granville Co, North Carolina -died on 3 Dec 1860 in Tallapoosa County, AL, USA). Jefferson married Martha BOOTH. Jefferson next married Nancy Cook (or Good) REAGAN on 19 Jul 1832 in Madison County, Georgia. Nancy was born on 19 Jul 1832 in Granville Co, North Carolina, died Dec 1890 in Tallapoosa County, AL, USA, and was buried in Liberty Methodist Church, 9 miles East of Goodwater, AL, USA. David next married Mary JOHNSON, in 1775 in Granville Co, North Carolina. Children from this marriage were:
           b. Samuel HICKS
           c. John Wyatt HICKS
           d. Mary (Daughter) HICKS
           e. David (Jr) HICKS
            f. Frederick HICKS      b. Mar 12, 1756, Bapt. Jun. 7, 1756

    iv. Henry b. 1722 owned land in 1751 married Betty Willis- children:
            i. Henry b. October 20, 1756 and
            ii Harman b. March 5, 1760

    v. Diana m. Nathaniel Witlow [also sp. Whitlock, see: Douglas Regisiter] on Sept. 7, 1756
            a. Solomon
                i. Solomon Witlow Jr. b. August 20, 1800 (Granville Co. NC) m. Mary about 1820, moved from Granville Co. NC about 1817 with his father.

     vi. Agnes m. Jacob Woodall 1763
           a. Absalom
           b. James

    vii. Absolom Hicks b. 1733 m. on April 20, 1760 to Mary Harris (1742-1770), daughter of Sherwood Harris. [also spelled Absalom Hicks] was the youngest son of Samuel Hicks, Snr. and Dianah Willis. He was born in Virginia. He was under the age of 16 in 1747, so he was probably born around 1733.
         i.  Bishop  1756
         ii. Absalom Jr.
         iii. Harris- served in the Rev. War for David, he was a lieutenant in the Tennessee militia, who later moved to Christian County, Kentucky.
        iv. Jeannie b. 1760
        v. Dianah b. 1761
        vi. Agnes

In 1750 the tithe list of Thomas Starke includes Samuel, Samuel Jr. and Absolom. 1747 lists Samuel, Henry  and Sam Jr. three tithes and Goulder one tithe.

This document proves that David was Samuel's (not mentioned in the will) son:

Solomon Whitlow, aged 70 years on April 22, 1832 [thus born April 22, 1762], made an affidavit on September 11, 1832 in Orange County, NC Superior Court on behalf of his first cousin Harris Hicks, son of Absalom Hicks, regarding Harris Hicks' Revolutionary War service [Revolutionary War Pension Application W4989]. Solomon Whitlow stated:

"That at about the age of three years his parents removed from Hanover County in the State of Virginia and settled on Tabbs Creek in the County of Granville & State of North Carolina. That his mother was the sister of Absalom Hicks who had married and settled in the neighborhood of his father and within about a mile or mile and a half of him – That said Absalom Hicks died and left 3 sons, Bishop Hicks, Absalom Hicks, and Harris Hicks. . . he well remembers that said Harris Hicks, being a young active man without a wife or family or other encumbrance, he was, with but little or at least very short animation in service, almost in constant service in the Army either by draft or as a substitute – This affiant well remembers that he performed a tour of 3 months duty for Jeremiah Frazier Senior but where he was called in this service, he is unable to say but he knows that said Harris received of the said Frazier a mare and 2 cows and calves for taking his place in the Army. He also remembers that Harris Hicks performed part of another tour as a substitute for David Hicks his uncle – David Hicks was in service and desirous of going home to his family. A tour of Harris had just expired and he was prevailed upon to take his uncle's place and did so for some compensation but what this affiant cannot remember – The Term of service of Harris in this Tour this affiant thinks was for 2 months."

Solomon Whitlow was the son of Nathaniel Whitlow and Diana Hicks/Hix, and is named as Nathaniel Whitlow's son in the March 17, 1770 will of Samuel Hix of Granville County, NC (Proven November, 1772). His affidavit establishes that his mother Diana (Hicks) Whitlow was the sister of Absalom Hicks, who had sons Bishop, Absalom, and Harris Hicks. It also indicates that David Hicks was the uncle of Harris Hicks, and thus the brother of Absalom Hicks and Diana (Hicks) Whitlow.

4. David ("the Tory") Hicks, born ca. 1719 in Goochland Co., Virginia "on Tuckahoe Creek which is now within the City of Richmond." He died in 1792 or 1793 in Wilkes Co., NC. He married Sarah Dennis (1720-1790) in 1740, and was the father of at five children:
   1. Samuel, "Big Sammy" b. 1753-1835
   2. David (1756-1840) Jr.
   3. Catherine, (1758-1825) m. John Holzclaw.
   4. Sarah D. (b. 1760), 1st m. Charles Asher, Jr., and 2nd James D. Holzclaw.
   5. Dinah (b. 1764-1793), m. 1st Thomas Asher and 2nd Henry Heatley.

5. Samuel Hicks (Big Sammy) was born in 1753 in Goochland Co., Virginia. He came to the Watauga area in 1779 or 1780 (note that Avery Co. was not formed until the 20th century), and married Sarah Harmon. Big Sammy died about 1835 in Ashe Co., NC. He and Sarah had nine known children:

   1. David (b. 1782-83; living in 1870), m. 1st [Miss] Presnell (2 children- Hiram and John Wesley) and 2nd Susannah Asher (8 children Adam, David, Sally, Millery, Templa, Daniel and Luvenia). According to Smith, David fought in the War of 1812 (Battle of New Orleans). His oldest son was Hiram, whose son Ransome married Emoline (Emily) Harmon-- Ransome and Emily's daughter was Jane Hicks (Gentry), Cecil Sharp's finest informant.
   2. Goulder (b. 1790-95)
   3. Samuel (Little Sammy) (b. 1798-1800) M. Rebecca Harmon (1841-1919) Seven Children:
          1. Susie Hicks
          2. John Benjamin Hicks (Ben) 1870 –
          3. James Brownlow Hicks 1872 – 1949
          4. Alice Adelaide Hicks 1875 –
          5. Andrew Jackson Hicks (Andy)   1877 –
          6. Roby Monroe Hicks   1882 –
          7. Nancy L Hicks    1884 –
   4. Harmon (b. 1802)
   5. William (b. 1805)
   6. Sabra (b. ca. 1785), m. 1st Andrew Harmon (4 Children- Council, Goulder, Mathias, Rachel) and 2nd Duke Ward.
   7. Sallie m. Barney Oakes
   8. Fanny (b. 1788), died unmarried.
   9. Elizabeth (b. 1806) died unmarried.


6. Sabra (b. ca. 1785) Hicks married Andrew Harmon
    1. Council Harmon
    2. Goulder Harmon, 1807-1900 m Rebecca Louis Ford 1833
    3. Mathias
    4. Rachel