Biography

 William York

Family

 

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William York, Son of Joseph York
(b. abt. 1758, Colonial Orange County, NC
- d. June 1830, Carroll County, GA)
(Revolutionary War Veteran)

About 1790, William York came to Washington County, Tennessee. He was about 30 years old and had served in the
Revolutionary War. No records have been located to identify the wife of this William York. We know she was not Margaret
‘Peggy’ Crabtree, daughter of John, as the dates simply do not fit, and a marriage record shows that Margaret ‘Peggy’
Crabtree marriage married William Newcomb 22 May 1813, in Orange County, N.C. Equally, we are certain our William

York was not the William York who married Elizabeth Crabtree, daughter of James Crabtree, nor received land from

James Crabtree. It is far more likely that his first cousin William York, a son of Thomas York (brother of Joseph

 York) and Elinor Fruit married Elizabeth Crabtree. Yet another contemporary William York, born about 1755
living in Drake and Preble County, Ohio who died in Cass County, Indiana in 1839 has been confused with our William
York. The William York of Ohio is most likely a descendant of Jeremiah York, Jr. of Kentucky, and is known to be a
descendant of Jeremiah York Sr. through DNA testing of family descendants.
Our conclusion is that our William York, b. abt 1758, NC d. June 1830, Carroll County, Ga. was still married at the time
of his death since I find him as ‘head of household’, and the only other member of the household is a female between
50 and 60 years of age – name unknown. Popular consensus is that her name was Elizabeth if name trends were followed,
however the child named for the wife could have died young with no more females born after the death. In other words,
William’s oldest daughter is named Martha; perhaps the name of his wife’s mother, according to tradition; the 2nd
daughter is named Mary ‘Polly’, perhaps the name of his mother; and the 3rd daughter, Elizabeth, perhaps the name of
his wife. A lot of ‘perhaps’, or "likely." In all fairness, we truly have to admit we have no idea who she was!
Although family legend has him ranked a captain, Pvt. William York enlisted in Major Wynn Dixon's Company of First
North Carolina Regiment, and on October 14, 1783, received 162 pounds, 15 shillings and 533 acres of land for having
served six years. On August 16, 1796, he signed an affidavit appointing Daniel Wheaton, attorney, to represent him in
obtaining title to land and pension due him for serving as a "soldier in the service of the United States of America on
Continental establishment... during the war with Great Britain. Despite claims that William’s wife died in Tennessee, census
records show that either he remarried, or indeed his wife was living at the time of his death. A will would hopefully
prove one or the other, however, none has been found, nor a registered deed for the land in Carroll, now Haralson
County, Georgia.


William and the mysterious Mrs. York had four living sons - one William, one Thomas, plus Josiah Cowan, and Allen. There
are four daughters, Martha, Mary 'Polly', Elizabeth, and Delilah, the daughter, Susan, often linked with this William
cannot be proven. No gravesites for either William or Mrs. York have been located in either Carroll or Haralson County,

and they were perhaps buried on the land of their son-in-law, William Philpot, who married their daughter, Elizabeth. There are
several unmarked graves in the Philpot Family Cemetery.

1779 Randolph Co, NC tax rolls as son of Jos. York.
Lived in Washington Co, TN by 1790/91.
1801 Washington Co, TN tax list.
White Co, TN by 1809.
1830 Carroll Co, GA Census William York 70-80.
This includes The Cherokee land lottery: containing a
numerical list of the names of the fortunate drawers in said
lottery, with an engraved map of each district:
William York
26th District, Second Section, Cherokee
William York, Whisenhunt's, Carroll


References re: Rev. War service is as follows:


1) US Federal Government, 1850 - Seventh United States Federal Census -
NARA Microfilm Publication - M432, Reel 63, Page 120A.


2) Abstract of NC Continental Line Soldiers
Revolutionary War Rolls M246-79
National Archives & Records Administration
Transcribed & Abstracted by Billy Markland
Transcriber's Notes:
Please remember this is a transcript of a transcript.
Secretary Hill's clerks used original muster rolls to compile this list and as in all transcripts, the
interpretation of the transcriber may have been different from the original. In addition, I am calling this an
abstract because I have standardized some abbreviations, as well as formatted the given dates into an mm/dd/yy format.
This version has been sorted by Surname then by given name, ascending alphabetically.
York Wm.Pt.1stDixon's 1777 War

 

3) The Cherokee land lottery: containing a numerical list of
the names of the fortunate drawers in said lottery, with an engraved map of each district." Author: Smith, James F.,
19th cent. City of Publication: New York. Publisher: Printed by Harper & Bros. in 1838


4) William York found in 1830 Census, Carroll County, Georgia, with sons, Thomas, Allen, and Josiah, living
nearby, plus sons-in-law, James and William Philpot. All the men are listed on the first jury lists of Carroll County,
Georgia. Only one William York is granted land in Carroll County.


5) Petition signed by a Captain Brantley, in re: moving the courthouse in Randolph County, N.C. William York appears
several times. Dated during the time of enlistment. A Wynn Dixon is listed as ‘Lt.’ on the same petition.

Other References:
1) 1779 Tax Rolls, Randolph County, N.C. – son of Joseph York
2) 1800 U.S. Census, Washington County, Tenn. – William York
3) 1809 Jury List, White County, Tenn. – William York
4) Court Records, White County, Tenn. – 15 Aug 1809 thru 16 Aug 1810
5) 1810 U.S. Census, White County, Tenn. – William York
6) 1810 U.S. Census, Hall County, Georgia – William York*
7) 1820 U.S. Census, Carroll County, Georgia – William York
8) 1827 First Jury Lists of Carroll County, Georgia – William York,
Josiah C. York, Thomas York, Allen York, William Philpot, James Philpot
* Although a William York is listed on the 1810 Census records transcribed, there are too many illegible names to
verify on the original census on Ancestry.com It is possible that William, engaged in a court battle in White County,
Tennessee in re: the roads, that was not dismissed until 16 Aug 1810, was in Hall County, Georgia during the census,
contacting an attorney in order to collect his pension, and was ‘rooming’ in Gainesville, thus was listed in the census,
but not as head of household. He is listed in White County, Tennessee, as Head of Household. It is also possible he was
‘establishing residence’ in Georgia.

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