Happy Birthday!
WILLIAM WICKER
BIOGRAPHY and GENEALOGY
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
(1760-1852)
Barbour and Pike County, Alabama
William Wicker was born Dec. 22, 1760 in Hanover, Louisa Co., Virginia, son of Robert Hester Wicker and Hannah Simmons Wicker .
William’s father Robert Wicker was born in 1738 in Hanover Co., Virginia. He died Jan. 2, 1821 in Cape Girardeau. County, Missouri. Robert Wicker was named for his Uncle Robert Hester. Robert Wicker’s father was Thomas Oscar Wicker (b. Aug. 11, 1717 in St. Peters, Kent Co., Virginia. Thomas married Mary Hester in 1735 in New Kent, Virginia. He died Jan 7, 1784 in Hillsboro District, Chatham County, NC. .
They had six children.
- Robert Hester Wicker (1738-1821)
- David Wicker (1741-1784)
- Benjamin Wicker (1742-1809)
- James Wicker /Whicker (1744- 1784)
- John Wicker (1749-1749)
- Temperance Wicker (1751)
The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Wicker was dated 4 Aug 1781 and proven Feb 1784 in Chatham County, NC.
Thomas Oscar Wicker was the son of Benjamin Wicker (1695-1778) and Elizabeth Benton (1696-1720)In 1786, 1789 and 1795 Robert Wicker received large land grants for Revolutionary War service and through the headgrant system totaling some 2,000 acres in northern Washington County, Georgia. Robert Wicker and part of his family were received into Bethlehem Baptist Church in Washington County, Georgia in 1784 and most of the family were given letters of dismissal in 1806 showing that they were in Washington Co for about twenty-two years. The family finally settled in Cape Girardeau Co., MO and were received into Bethel Baptist Church on 12 Sep 1807. Both are buried in Old Bethel Baptist Church, Jackson, Cape Girardeau County. They were received, by letter, into the Bethel Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri in 1807 showing their move west. Although Robert Wicker and his wife, Hannah Simmons Holly are both supposed to be buried in the Bethel Church cemetery, no gravestones remain to mark their final resting place.
William Wicker married Jane Gilmore? He moved with his father Robert Wicker to Anson Co., SC around 1765 and to Chesterfield Co., SC in 1777. In Jan. 1777, he enlisted in Captain John Blakeley’s company, along with his father. In the summer of 1778, he served several tours against the Tories. He re-enlisted June 1, 1781, in Captain Claudius Peques company, Col. Richardson’s SC Brigade and fought at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina. Casualties on both sides were extremely high and it was reported that “blood ran ankle deep in places.” The battle broke the hold of the British in the South and six weeks later, Cornwallis surrendered to Washinton at Yorktown. His brother-in-law, Thomas English was wounded in the battle and William Wicker took Thomas home with him.
The following information provides some information about his relationship with Thomas English and his sister Jane Wicker.
“About 1769 at the age of 15 left Virginia and went to live with a sister somewhere near Macon, GA. Family tradition stated that Thomas was in the Revolutionary War, his son, Thomas, being born in some fort to which the women were taken for protection when the British invaded the South. Thomas English was said to have been wounded in the battle of Eutaw Springs. (William Wicker. Declaration taken in 1837 regarding this matter. Battle took place in 1781, and William Wicker claimed that his brother-in-law Thomas English was wounded).”It is recorded that a band of Tories wearing masks came to their home in Georgia and destroyed the feather beds by ripping them open, he being away from home at the time. His wife, Jane (Wicker) English, snatched the mask from the face of one and found him to be a near neighbor. It was after he entered the army that Thomas’ wife was taken to one of the American forts nearby where her child was born.
“In 1804 Thomas English and his family settled in Cape Girardeau Co., MO within four miles of its capital city. This being the next year following the Louisiana Purchase, many hardships had to be endured.”
Thomas English, Sr. b: 13 Oct 1754 Chatham Co., NC d: 1836 Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co., MO and Jane Wicker b: 27 May 1761 Virginia d: 5 Apr 1842 Jackson, Cape Girardeau Co., MO m: ca 1774 Chatham Co., NC. Twelve children listed.
From this information about Thomas English, it appears that William Wicker had a sister named Jane Wicker married to Thomas English.
William moved to Georgia about 1789 where he received bounty land and headrights. He was living in Washington Co., Georgia in 1791 and then moved to Wilkinson County, Georgia and on to Barbour County, Alabama. He was granted a pension in Barbour County and he died in Pike County, Alabama in 1852. His children were born in Georgia and some moved to Autauga Co., Alabama while others moved to Arkansas. He also owned land in Bullock County, Alabama. He was a member of the Ramah Baptist Church in the 1840’s. According to church records on December 17, 1842, BRO. William Wicker and JANE Wicker were received into membership of this church by letter. On a later list of male members of the church, the word “Dead” was written by the name of WM. Wicker On the list of female members, the notation found was that Jane Wicker was “Dismissed by letter on October 1, 1853”
Possible children of William and Jane Wicker were
- Matthew Wicker (b. 1788 d. 1872) married Catherine McIver and Fanny Riddle
- Thomas Wicker (b. 1809 Georgia d. 1853 Columbia, Arkansas) married Tempia Lovinia Avera
- John M. Wicker (b. 1810 Washington Co., GA.d. June 20, 1877 Nevada Co., AR) married Mary Fitzhugh 1832
- George WashingtonWicker (b. Jan. 31, 1812 Washington Co., GA d. Aug. 12, 1876 Henrietta, Clay Co., Texas) married Apr 1837 Penelope Ann Horn-resided in Bullock Co., AL 1870
- Henry M. or I Wicker (b. 1816 Georgia) married Nancy M. ca.1840.
William Wicker’s obituary is included below but it appears that his age may have been listed incorrectly.
Wicker. William . “Died in Pike county, Ala., on Sunday, the 20th December last, Mr. William Wicker. The deceased was aged 106 years. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He was in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was engaged in several skirmishes with the British and Tories under General Marion of South Carolina.”—Spirit of the South.—The Southern Advocate, Huntsville, March 9, 1853. As a private, particular service not being shown, he was enrolled for pension under act of Congress of June 7, 1832, payment to date from March 4, 1831; annual allowance, $20; records do not show that any payment was ever made.— Pension Book, State Branch Bank, Mobile.
Additional information on William Wicker includes the following
Wicker, William (b. 12/22/1760 VA; mvd ae 5-6 with Robert to Anson Co., NC, for 10-12 years, then moved with f to Chesterfields, SC, where esf 1777 in SC company; later esf in SC regiment; served at Battle of Eutaw Springs, where bro-in-law Thomas English wounded, & son took him home; son res there 3-6 years after RW, then to Barbour Co., AL; PN there 1837; last PN payment in file dated 1844; OLF 1931 from desc. Mrs E. E. Stevens of West Point, MS says son dd AL c1852 a3 106. F-S11853 R2570
A marker was placed on William Wicker’s grave in Pike County, Alabama in 2008.
More Information from his third great grandson Jesse Suttles
William Wicker, Born 22 Dec 1760 in Virginia or Carolina. He moved with his family to Anson County NC about 1765-66, then to South Carolina about 1774-76. 3–6 years after the Revolution. He then moved to Columbia County Georgia for one year. Then to Washington County Georgia, where he lived for 17 years. (p.128, 1820 census, Wash. Co. list him; appears his son and son’s family was living with him then) He received a Military Bounty Land Warrant in Washington Co. in 1791. Here he was also placed under censure on Nov 16, 1799 by the Bethlehem Baptist Church. (Washington County, Georgia) for the vices of drunkenness and fighting. He then moved to Wilkinson County, Georgia. Then on to Barbour County, Alabama Approximately 1826-27, Where he applied for a pension in 1837. William is listed in “South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution” p990. Enlisted January 1777 in Chesterfield district South Carolina: served under Cpt. John Blakeney. Also under Cpt. Theodrick Webb of North Carolina. June 1, 1781 enlisted under Cpt. Claudius Peggus & Col. Richardson, He fought in the battle of Eutaw Springs.He was a soldier in the NC and SC line. His pension number is S11853. Mentioned that his Father, Robert Wicker, was drafted with him and served in the Revolution. He is also listed in “Roster of Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama. (Louise M Julich, ed Alabama DAR. 1979, p. 615) as well as “Genealogical Abstract of Revolutionary War
Pension Filed. “vol. 111, PP. 3817-8 He was married to Jane Gilmore. William Wicker died 20 Dec 1852 in Pike County, Alabama. His Parents were Robert Hester Wicker, & Hannah Simmons Holey.
Located on HWY 29 in the Josie Community, Pike County Alabama. GPS Coordinate 31-51.677 N and 85-43.662 W. William Wicker
“Died in Pike County , Ala. on Saturday, the 20th December last. Mr. Wicker the deceased was aged 106 years. He served as a soldier ion the Revolutionary War. He was in the battle of Eutaw Springs and was engaged in several skirmishes with the British and Tories under General Marion of South Carolina. ” The Southern Advocate, Huntsville, March 9, 1853.
It does appear that the orbit writer may have reported a slightly exaggerated age for William Wicker. By the 1850 census of Pike County, the patriot noted his age as 95 while other records place his birth year in 1760.
Fought at Eutaw Springs, S.C. on 8 September 1781 the Battle of Eutaw Springs was the last important battle of the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas. Casualties on both sides were extremely high and it was reported that “blood ran ankle deep in places”. This engagement broke the hold of the British in the South, and only six weeks later, Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown and American Independence was assured.
SOURCES
- Ancestry Trees
- “The New Wicker/Whicker Family”, by Richard Fenton Wicker, Jr., Parish Register, St. Peter’s Parish, Will of Barbara Levermore
- Rootsweb
- Gleanings in the Family Field” by Rev Carlos Jones Tyler. Compiled, Edited and Privately Published by Mary-Helen (Sears) Foxx. Glendale, AZ. Aug 1977
- Nan Beavers” [email protected]
- John Wallace” [email protected]
- Virginia and West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension …By Patrick G. Wardell, p. 132
- Jesse Suttles (3rd great grand-son)
