Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
NameJames Hathcock , 5G Uncle
Birth1743, Brunswick Co VA
Death1838, Chatham Co NC Age: 95
FatherWilliam Hathcock Sr. (ca1720-1787)
MotherNancy Ann (1726-1795)
Spouses
ChildrenPatrick (ca1777-1857)
Notes for James Hathcock
JAMES HATHCOCK (ca. 1743-1838)2444

James Hathcock was born atout 1743, no doubt in Brunswick County, Virginia. James was most probably the son of William Hathcock. Sr. and the grandson of Joseph and Elizabeth Hathcock, of Brunswick (later Greensville) County, Virginia. His wife was named Elizabeth but her maiden name remains unknown. (It could have been Sexton) James moved to Northampton County, North Carolina about 1777 during the Revolutionary War, enlisted there, and after the war, removed to Chatham County and lived there for the remainder of his life.

The first record of James Hathcock appears in Deed Records of Northampton County, North Carolina, in 1778.

Northampton County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract, 1778
Book 6, Page 320

Henry Meacham to James Haithcock 160 acres in Northampton County on Rocky Branch ... down to a corner pine thence along a line of marked trees to a corner in Charles Gee's line, thence along Gee’s line to James Thompson's line to the first station .... Witnesses: Francis Mearver and Henry Hencock. Dated 28 January 1778 and recristered 23 July 1779.

James Hathcock was about 34 or 35 years of age in 1778, when he must have moved to Northampton County, North Carolina, from Brunswick (later Greensville) County, Virginia, while his father, William was still living in Brunswick County, adjacent to the plantation of his father, Joseph Hathcock. William Sr., however, did eventually move to Northampton county around 1785; and so did John Hathcock, believed to have been James' brother, who was in Northampton County by 1778.

Northampton County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract, 1778
Book 6, Page 344

"Dated November 18, 1778. William Cato to John Haithcock both of Northampton County for 330 pounds 160 acres on Jack's Swamp. Witnesses: William Smith and Ceqeman Crocker. J. Dancy, Register. August 8, 1779"

John and his wife Martha soon sold this land for a small profit.

Northampton County. North Carolina, Deed Abstract 1779
Boak. 6, Page 339

"Dated 4 January 1779. John Haithcock and his wife Martha, of Northampton County to William Sanders, for 375 pounds 160 acres, on Jack’s Swamp. Wit: William Smith and Kezekiah Reames."

James Hathcock appears on a 1780 tax list of Northampton County with a Meshach Hathcock, of Brunswick County, Virginia. During this Revolutionary War period, James Hathcock was drafted into the militia under the command of a Captain Peterson. His pension application record reveals that he was marched to the Northampton County Courthouse and there attached to a regiment under the command of a Colonel Hawkins and a Major Wood. This regiment was marched across the Roanoke River and toward South Carolina and stationed near Drowning creek. The regiment was then marched to Halifax, thence back to Northampton County Courthouse, whereupon James Hathcock was discharged after a three month tour of service. His discharge was signed by Captain Peterson. James later volunteered in Northampton County and served under a Captain Duprey. He was marched to Halifax where he joined a company under the command of Colonel Linton and Major Wood. He was then marched across the Cape Fear River toward Drowning Creek in pursuit of Tories, then back across the Cape Fear River to Kingstown where he was stationed. Afterwards. he was marched back to Halifax and discharged by Captain Duprey after serving another three months.

The pension application of James Hathcock has the name spelled Heathcock, and it is witnessed by Calvin Heathcock, and dated in 1834, in Chatham County, North Carolina. Calvin and Patrick Hathcock are believed to have been the sons of James Hathcock. In Volume 8 of the deed books for Northampton County, James Heathcock appears as the Administrator of the Estate of James Sexton in December of 1786, and, sold as Administrator, the land of James Sexton in April of 1787. James Sexton had been granted 190 acres of land on the south side of Fountain creek, 10 July 1745 in Brunswick County, Virginia, but he must have later removed to Northampton County. Revolutionary War pay vouchers show that James Heathcock was paid on 6 June 1782, in the Halifax District of North Carolina, for his service, and that he had enlisted in Northampton County. He later removed to Chatham County. It cannot be explained why James is not enumerated on the 1786 Northampton County tax list. Notice that John and Neuman Hathcock are enumerated on the Tax List. A Neuman Hathcock appears in the Fairfield County, South Carolina, census of 1820, and a Meshach Hathcock was living in the Sumter District of South Carolina in 1795. Also. a John Hathcock is shown on the Fairfield County court records as selling personal property there in 1785, and the document was witnessed by William Cato. This was most likely William Cato Sr. from Brunswick County, Virginia. and Northampton County. North Carolina (Drowning creek area) who had sold land to John Hathcock in Northampton County in 1778. This provides some evidence that the South Carolina Hathcocks migrated to South Carolina from Northampton County, North Carolina.

Tax List of Northampton County, North Carolina, 1786
(Captain William's District)

William Hathcock, Senior, 1 white male, 21-60 years, 1 white male, under 21 years, 2 white females.

William Hathcock, Junior, 1 white male, 21-60 years. 3 white males, under 21 years. 2 white females.

Neuman Hathcock, 1 white male. 21-60 years, 2 white females.

John Hathcock, 1 white male, 21-60 years, 2 white males, under 21 years.

Northampton County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract, 1787
Volume 8, Page 184

"6 April 1787. James Hathcock, Administrator of the Estate of James Sexton deceased of Northampton County to James Benford of Greensville County, Virginia for 82 pounds. 2 shillings, 100 acres adjacent to Rowland Ellis, Jack Swamp and Jane Merimoon 's Iine. Witnesses: Aaron Smith, John Benford (affirmed), Rebekah Anderson. James signed by mark."

James Hathcock may still have been living in Northampton County in early 1790, because he sold land there in January of 1790. However, it was not unusual for one to live in one county and sell land in another county where he had previously lived. As seen below, James was living in Chatham County in 1790.

Northampton County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract 1790
Volume 8, Page 299

"2 January 1790. James Hathcock and Elizabeth his wife, of Northampton County, North Carolina to William Woodrough of Greensville County, Virginia for 45 pounds current money of Virginia, 100 acres adjacent to Isaac Edwards corner, Weaver's line, Gee's line Henry Hencock’s line, Rocky Branch and Mark Morgan's line. Witnesses: James Daniel, .John Morgan, Thomas Ladd. Registered 25 December 1790. James and Elizabeth signed by a mark."

It would seem that some of the Hathcock families of Northampton County including James and his mother Nancy (or Ann) Hathcock, removed to Chatham County, North Carolina, about 1790. It has already been suggested that these Chatham County families were sons of William Hathcock Sr. The 1790 census of Chatham County contains five Hathcock heads of families with a total of 31 Hathcock persons.

1790 Census of Chatham County. North Carolina

James Hathcock, one head of family, 3 white males under 16 and 3 females

Hosea Hathcock, one head of family, 4 white males under 16.

William Hathcock, two heads of family, 1 white male under 16 and 8 females.

John Hathcock, one head of family, 2 white males and 5 females.

The Chatham County court minutes of this period offer some information on James, William and John Heathcock during this time. For example, in August of 1791, the court ordered that Thomas Adams be appointed overseer of road work from Patterson's Foard to Thomas Adams' land, and the hands were to be William and James Heathcock. In February 1794, the court ordered that James Heathcock and son (unnamed) work on the road from Cyprits Bridge to the Newbern Road, under John Kilby, overseer. In February 1795, the court ordered Francis Jones be appointed overseer of the road from his line to James Seller's line with the hands including James Heathcock. Durirq this period, the court also ordered John Heathcock to work on the road from Beaver's Creek to the county line.

Chatham County. North Carolina. Deed Abstract 1793
Boak. H, page 142

John Hogan sold 300 acres of land to James Heathcock near Bryant’s Corner and along Sander's Iine on the north side of Beaver's Creek. Dated 3 October 1793.

In 1795, James Hathcock sold two parcels of his land in Chatham County in separate transactions on the same day.

Chatham County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract 1795
Book H, Page 355

James Hathcock to Reuben Sanders of Johnson County, on the north side of Beaver's Creek on Bryant' s former corner and near Joshua East? Signed by James C. Hathcock and witnessed by Dempsey Hathcock. Dated 11 February 1795.

Chatham County, North Carolina, Deed Abstract 1795
Book K, Page 363

James Hathcock to Hosea Hathcock, 180 acres for $200 on Haw River near Herny Bishop's land and near Griffith's land. Signed by James C. Hathcock and dated 11 February 1795.

In 1799, James Hathcock received a warrant from David Sellers for 150 acres of land on the east side of the Haw River near Isaac Hathcock's land. The survey, dated 19 February 1799, indicates that the surveyor's chain carriers were Hosea Hathcock and James Hathcock, Jr. A careful examination of this transaction seems to indicate that James Hathcock originally owned the warrant as a result of his Revolutionary War service, but that he sold or assigned the warrant to James Sellers, and later bought it back from Sellers.

Chatham County land records clearly show that James Hathcock lived near Hosiah Hathcock and it is believed that Isaac and James Jr. were the sons of Hosiah Hathcock. Hosiah Hathcock and his family moved to Elbert County Georgia, in 1800, but but James remained in Chatham County, where he died between 1834 and 1840.

Since there is no proof of the names of the sons of James Hathcock, or his parents, it is necessary to examine other evidence which includes tradition in family of Patrick Hathcock, and records of other Chatham County Hathcocks this period. The descendants of Patrick Hathcock have been told by older members of their family that Thomas Alfred Hathcock, son of Patrick, was born the day that his parents arrived at their new place of settlement; that there were brothers but their names were not remembered (one was a biblical ) other than William who moved to Georgia. [Note 1] Careful analysis of this tradition will show that a generation has been skipped in the tradition and the brother mentioned, was not a brother of Patrick, but a brother of his father. And it was probably Patrick who was born on the day his parents moved their new place of settlement in Northampton County, North Carolina.

As to the father of Patrick Hathcock, only strong evidence can be offered that James was his father. It is known from the 1850 census records that Patrick was born in 1777 or 1778. By examining other census records, it is observed that Patrick does not appear on the 1800 Census of Chatham County, whereas James Hathcock does appear as the head of a household, with a son age 16 to 26 years. The only other Hathcock on this census is that of John Hathcock (b.1755-1765) with no sons over the age of 16 years. Patrick would have been 22 or 23 years of age in 1800. John Hathcock is believed to be a brother of James Hathcock and an uncle of Patrick Hathcock. It is noted that Patrick first appears in the census of 1810, and James is also listed on that census. Further, throughout the generations of the descendants of Patrick Hathcock, the name James is found as the most repeated name even down to today. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that James' son was Patrick and that James had a brother, William, who moved to Georgia. The 1790 census of Chatham County enumerates James, John, William and Hosea as heads of households. It is shown in Section 2.1.2 on William Hathcock Sr., that his son was William. Hence, it follows that James, being the brother of William, are both sons of William Hathcock Sr., and grandsons of Joseph and Elizabeth Hathcock of Brunswick County, Virginia. Speculating, it also follows that the William, James, Hosea and the John Hathcock enumerated on the 1790 census of Chatham County are all sons of William Hathcock Sr. and that William and Hosiah moved to Elbert County, Georgia, about 1800.

In 1800 a census of Chatham County contains only two Hathcock families: James and John Hathcock. The full data are given below.

1800 Census of Chatham County, North Carolina
(Hillsboro District)

James Hathcock.
2 Males 45 years or older
1 Male 16-26 years (Patrick)
1 Male 10-16 years
1 Female 16-26 years
4 Females 10-16 years
3 Females 0-10 years

1800 Census of Chatham County, North Carolina

John Hathcock
1 Male 26-45 years
2 Males 10-16 years
1 Male 0-10 years
1 FemaIe 26-45 years
2 Females 16-26 years

In 1810, the family of James Hathcock and his son Patrick appear on the 1810 census as follows:

1810 Census of Chatham County, North Carolina

James Hathcock
1 Male over 45 years
1 Female over 45 years
3 Females 16-26 years
10 Slaves

Page 195

Patrick Hathcock.
1 Male 26-45 years (Patrick)
3 Males 0-10 years*
1 Female 26-45 years (Rhoda)
1 Female 0-10 years

* Includes Thomas Alfred born ca. 1805 - Later sons were Pleasant and John Macklin.

1810 Census of Chatham County, North Carolina
Page 210

John Hathcock
1 Male over 45 years
1 Male 16-26 years
3 Males 0-10 years
1 Female over 45 years
1 Female 16-26 years
1 Female 0-10 years
3 Slaves

Page 200

Tatum Hathcock (probably son of John)
1 Male 16-26 years
3 Slaves

Steven Hathcock (See Section 2.3)
6 free colored persons
Last Modified 29 Nov 2022Created 3 Jul 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
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