WILLIS HODGES

(1747 -1841)

Willis Hodges was born in Norfolk County, Virginia in the year 1747 and moved with his family circa 1750 to Edgecombe County, North Carolina, later divided to form Halifax County. He was the son of James Hodges Sr. of will 1758 in Pasquotank Co., North Carolina. He married Lucy Killebrew on June 6, 1776 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina by Jeremiah Nelms - Justice of the Peace. From the family bible used in Willis' application for his RW pension they had the following children: William born July 21, 1778, Martha born April 19, 1781, Sarah born September 6, 1783 and Alice born November 9, 1785. From "We Cousins, Vol. II" - Two of his daughters, Sarah and Hannah, never married and on November 19, 1857 made idential wills which were also recorded at the same time. They named their sisters: Lucy, Mary Parrott and Nancy Ashworth; their brothers, William Hodges, Willis Hodges, James Hodges and David Hodges. They made their cousin David P. Hodges, executor (Smith Co., Tn. WB 7, pg. 128).

In the February 1786 Halifax County tax list for District 3 he was living next to James and Robert Hodges. Listed in his houshold was 1 white male 21-60 years, 1 white male under 21 & above 60 years, and 4 white females all ages. On November 17, 1789 he bought 180 acres in Edgecombe County along Gum Branch from Edmund Dicken (Edge Co. DB 5). His neighbors included Presley Sprinks, Benjamin Champion and Thomas Terry. Witnesses to this transaction were Kinchen Killebrew, Robert Hodges and Tully Biggs.  He was listed as a resident in the 1790 Edgecombe County census and was last listed in the Edgecombe County deed records on January 21, 1791 when he sold 130 acres of the original 180 acres to William Parker of Martin County. He soon after removed from Edgecombe County to Kershaw, South Carolina where he lived for about 10 years. He then moved to Smith County, Tennessee circa 1806 where he and Lucy were listed as members of the Hogan's Creek Missionary Baptist Church (Wm. and Lucy Hodge) and he was ordained a deacon of that church in 1808. He resided in Smith County near the Cumberland River until his death on December 6,1841.

Note: I do not know the exact blood relationship between Henry Hodges and Willis Hodges. They both resided in the same area of Edgecombe and Halifax counties. Both born in Virginia and came to North Carolina when young. They both knew Jeremiah Nelms and resided near some of the same families that later moved to Livingston County, Kentucky circa 1804.

 

Willis Hodges Application for his RW Pension

 

State of Tennessee         

Smith County              Sess.      On this 28th day of August

1832 personally appeared in open court being a Court

of Record for the county aforesaid, having a clerk and

County Seal, Willis Hodges a resident of Said

County, aged 85 years, oath being first duly

Sworn according to law, doth on his oath make

the following testimonial in order to obtain the bene-

fit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

______ the service of the United States under

the following officer, and served as herein after stated

To wit  In the year (blank) he volunteered against

the tories, and served three months the name of the

Captain not annotated - he went from Halifax County

No Carolina - He again volunteered and joined the

Company of Capt Grisham Coffield in the Regiment

Commanded by Col. James Hogan. He marched from

Halifax County No Carolina to Wilmington, where

he remained during the time for which he was en-

gaged, which was three months, and was discharged

by Col. Hogan, but has lost his discharge

He again volunteered against the indians and _____

_______ for three months, and served about two

months, but does not remember the name of the

Captain he served under – He volunteered again

against the tories and served about 15 days

       He was drafted in the year 1781 and was

attached to the company commanded by Capt. Mad-

der from Northampton County No Carolina

and marched from Halifax County to Guilford

Ct. House and was in the battle at Guilford the

Regt. he was in, was commanded by Col. Senton

From the Battle at Guiford he returned home.

After he went home, he was called upon by Col. Sen-

ton to rejoin the service, and done so, and was atached

to Capt William Lytles Company in the Regiment

Commanded by Col. Archd Lytles, and was

and was marched to several places in South Carolina and had

an engagement at ______ fort in So. Carolina with

British and tories, and received a musket shot wound

upon the left shoulder. From there he marched

to Kingston from there to Augusta in Georgia

where the army was Commanded by Gen. Greene

he was at that attack made upon two forts in the

town of Augusta called Brown and Grayson forts.

from there he was marched to 96 and was ________

the fort was besieged. After the siege at 96 was over

he was marched to Eutaw Springs, was in the engagement

at the Eutaws and wounded in the right arm

from there he was marched to several places in

South Carolina and finally to Barans Bridge

Where he was discharged by Col. Lytle having

served 12 months during this time. His disch-

arged at last. He has no documentary evidence

and knows of no person whose testimony he can find

and who can testify to his service _____ the following

Quest  1.  When and what year where you born

Ans. I was born in Norfolk County in the State of

         Virginia about the year 1747

Quest 2. Have you any word of your age, if so, where is it

Ans.  I have no word of my age, nor do I know where

          It is.

Quest 3. Where did you live when called into service. Where

               have you lived since the Revolutionary War

               and where do you now live

Ans. I lived in Halifax County No. Carolina when called

         into the service. I lived there 40 or 50 years then moved

         So. Carolina and lived there 9 or 10 years. I then

         moved to Smith County Tennessee and have

         lived there since – The answer to the

4. 5. & 6 questions _____ ______ in this proceeding

Part of this declaration – He  ______________

is any claim whatever be a pension or annuity

_____ the present and declares that his name is not

or the pension Roll of the agency of any state or

Territory of the United States or in to him.

Sworn and subscribed in open

Court the 28 day of August              

1832                                    his

                                    Willis x Hodges

J. Bickett clk                       mark

 

Present the _______ John Chambers, Solomon

Delany, and William C. Garrison Esquires

 

 

 

State of Tennessee

Smith County               _______ Phillip Pope appeared

in open court and made oath that he was ________

________ Willis Hodges the above named applicant

for a pension during the Revolutionary War

he knows of his own knowledge that

he was at the battle of Guilford and ______ _____

served in the Revolution as stated in

his declaration. affiant and he Said Willis Hod

ges ____ raised in the same neighborhood and

now neighbors, and have been acquaintances

ever since affiant can _______, and he ______

Said Hodge to be a man of truth.

Sworn to in open court

The 28th day of                                 his

August 1832                           Phillip x  Pope

J. Bickett clk                                    mark

                       **************************************************************

State of Tennessee

Smith County            On this 26 day of

                         February 1842

personally appeared before me Thomas W.

Wooten  a Justice of the peace in

and for the county aforesaid Lucy

Hodges a resident of the county of Smith,

and State of Tennessee aged eighty four

years who being first duly Sworn accor

ding to law doth on her oath

make the following declaration in

order to obtain the benefits of the

provision made by the act of Congress

passed July the 4th 1836 and

the Joint Resolution of July 7th 1838.

   That She is the widow of Willis

Hodges who was a Pensioner of the

United States at the rate of Seventy Dollars

per annum and drew his Pension in

Nashville State of Tennessee. She further

declares that She was Married to the Said

Willis Hodge on the Sixth day of June

in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy

Six    That her husband the aforesaid

Willis Hodges died on the 6th day of December

1841 and that She has remained a widow

ever since that period as will more fully

appear by reference to the proof hereto

Annexed she also refers to the record of her children ages

      Sworn to and Subscribed on the

day and year above written

         before                            her

          Me                       Lucy   x    Hodge

                                          mark

Thos W. Wooten JP

For Smith County

State of Tennessee   I Thomas W Wooten one

                      of the acting Justice of the

peace for the county aforesaid do hereby certify

that the annexed record containing the ages in part of

Willis and Lucy Hodges was cut out of the family

Bible in my presence. I further certify that the

Word “Sixth and December in the above declaration was

Erased and the word June” inserted before signed or sworn

to       In testimony whereof I have hereunto set

          My hand and affixed My Seal this six

          Day of February 1842 /s/ Thos W. Wooten

                                       Justice of the peace

 

State of Tennessee

Smith County   I Thomas W. Wooten one

                         Of the acting Justices of

the peace for the county aforesaid and do hereby

certify that I am well acquainted with Mrs

           Lucy Hodges who has made the

foregoing Declaration before me that she

is a women of truth and veracity and

that full faith and credit are due her

Statements

                  I further certify that from

old age and bodily infirmity She can-

not appear in open court to make

this declaration

                         In testimony whereof

                         I have hereunto set

                         My hand and affixed

                         My Seal this 26th day

                         of February 1842

                           Thos W Wootten JP

                            For Smith County

 

State of Tennessee

Smith County           On this day personally appeared

                                  Philip Pope aged eighty

years before me Thomas W Wooten one of the actin

-ng Justices of the peace in and for the county

Aforesaid and made oath in due form of law

that he was well acquainted with Willis Hodges

And Lucy Kilebrew before and after their interm

-ariage which took place during the war of the

Revolution he lived at that time in Halifax

and his wife Lucy Kilebrew lived at her fathers

in Edgecomb This affiant lived in Edgecomb

about five miles from said Willis Hodges at the

time of his marriage with Lucy as above This

affiant was not present at the marriage of course

but they were legally married. This affiant saw

Said Willis Hodges in the Service the Spring when

The battle of Guilford was fought This affiant

Knew at that time that Willis Hodges was married

and had left a family at Home say a wife and

child several mixed with Hodges who were

in the same situation having left families

at home This was in March Seventeen hundred

and eighty one This affiant knows of his own

knowledge that Said Willis Hodges was in Service

before the battle of Guilford and after that battle

served twelve months This services were perfor

performed after the marriage. This affiant lived

after the War close neighbors to Willis Hodges

but in eight ot ten years he moved to South Carolina

and when This affiant moved to Smith county

in 1810 he settled close by Hodges who had

moved to Smith county Tennessee previously

This affiant knows they are the same and

This Willis Hodges departed this life on

The 6th day of December 1841 leaving his

wife Lucy his widow who lives about one

half mile from the affiant where she and the

said Willis Hodges has lived for the last twenty

seven years  This affiants wife knows more

about the marriage of Willis Hodges than he

does and as her affidavit will be taken in

this matter will add no further as he is advised

it will be unnecessary

               Sworn to and Subscribed before

               me this 26th February 1842

                                                 his

 Thos W Wootten JP          Philip  x   Pope

 For Smith County                      mark

                                          

State of Tennessee

Smith County     on this day personally appear

                        -ed Elizabeth Pope aged eighty

years who being duly sworn according to law

doth make oath that she was well acquainted

with Willis Hodges and his wife Lucy  They

were married in the early part of the Revolu

tion say in Seventeen hundred and Seventy

six  She was at the weding and saw them

married her name before her marriage

was Lucy Kilebrew  She has known

them ever since She thinks they were

married by a Justice of the peace whose

name was Jeremiah Nellems. This

affiant ______ distinctly that she lived

in about a half mile of Willis and Lucy

Hodges after they were married and when

Willis Hodges went out in the Service This

affiant stayed with Mrs Hodges then first

child was named William their next Martha

was born while Willis Hodges was in the

Service in the Revolution

                 Sworn to and Subscribed this 26th

                  Day of February 1842

                                                    her

Thos W Wootten JP       Elizabeth  x   Pope

 for Smith County                         mark

 

LAND RECORDS

  • Edgecombe Co DB 5, pg 243: William Kitching of Halifax Co to David Pender of Edgecombe Co. 17 Feb 1789. 150 £. 150 acres, part in Halifax and part in Edgecombe, joining Marsh Swamp, Kitchen Killebrew, John Biges, sd Kiching, Willis Howard, WILLIS HODGES, Jethro Kitching. Wit: Francis L. Haynes, Heney Kea. Nov Ct 1789. Edward Hall CC
  • Edgecombe Co DB 5, pg 521: Willis (x) Howard of Edgecombe to John Owens of same. 12 Jan 1791. 30 £ specie. 50 acres in Edgecomb & Halifax counties, on Marsh Swamp. Wit: Presley Sprinks, WILLIS HODGES. Feb Ct 1791. Edward Hall CC
  • Edgecombe Co DB 5, pg 570: Edmund Dicken of Edgecombe Co to WILLICE HODGES of Halifax Co. 17 Nov 1789. 140 £ NC.  180 acres, joining Gum Branch, Presley Spinks, Benjamin Champion, Thomas Terry. Wit: Kinchen Killebrew, ROBERT (x) HODGES, Tully Biggs. Feb Ct 1791. Edwd Hall CC
  • Edgecombe Co DB 6, PG 76: WILLIS HODGES of Edgecombe Co to William Parker of Martin Co. 21 Jan 1791. 70 £ VA. 130 acres on the north side of Gum Branch, joining Presley Spinks, Benja Champion. Wit: Presley Spinks, Jos Nelms. May Ct 1791. Edwd Hall CC
  • Edgecombe Co DB 6, pg 79: Edmund Dicken of Edgecombe Co to William Parker of Martin Co. 20 Jan 1791. 151£ VA. 265 acres on the north side of Deep  Creek, joining Deep Creek at the mouth of Mash Branch, Mrs Biggs, Webs Branch, WILLIS HODGES, Gum Branch, P. Spinks. Wit: Presley Spinks, John Bailey, Jos Nelms. May Ct 1791. Edwd Hall CC

WILLIS HODGES SR., b. 1747, Norfolk Co.,Va.; d. Dec. 6, 1841, Smith Co., Tn.; m. Jun. 6, 1776, Halifax, NC., LUCY KILLEBREW (b. ca. 1750 ; d. ca. 1844, Smith Co., Tn.)

Known issue:

 

1.       WILLIAM HODGES, b. Jul. 21, 1778, Halifax Co., NC.

 

2.     MARTHA HODGES, b. Apr. 19, 1781, Halifax Co., NC.

 

3.      SARAH HODGES, b. Sept. 6, 1783, Halifax Co., NC.; d. Nov. 19, 1857, Smith Co., Tn.

 

4.       ALICE HODGES, b. Nov. 9, 1785, Halifax Co., NC.

 

5.       HANNAH HODGES, b. 1790, Edgecombe Co., NC.

 

6.       JAMES HODGES, b. ca. 1794

 

7.       WILLIS HODGES JR., b. 1797, Kershaw Co., SC; d. bef. 1880, Pope Co., Ark.; m. Sophia ________ (b. 1805, Tn.)

 

8.       DAVID HODGES, b. ca. 1798

 

9.       LUCY HODGES, b. ca. 1805, Smith Co., Tn.

 
 

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