James Johnston KIRK, Sr.

Other Events:

• _UID: DBBA6D20E8AC421BBF3C98AE5A52578AE11F

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1830 Census

Name: James Kirk
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Clarke, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 6
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored: 8

1840 Census
Name: James Kirk
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Wilcox, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 3
Free White Persons - Under 20: 9
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 11
Total Slaves: 1
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 12


LAND RECORDS

Name: James J Kirk
Issue Date: 10 Apr 1848
Place: Wilcox, Alabama, USA
Land Office: St. Stephens
Meridian: St Stephens
Township: 11-N
Range: 4-E
Section: 36
Accession Number: AL1480__.083
Document Number: 9294
https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL1480__.083&docClass=STA&sid=1hw2vqp5.r2j

MEMOIRS

From W. R. Kirk Journal, 1866

He came to Ala. in 1818, when he was 24 years old. lived several years on Pigeon Creek in Clark County Ala. Father moved to Wilcox County in ___ and bought land on Bear Creek, engaged in farming until his decease.

My father was a man of very limited education. He had a good mind. Nature did much for him in this respect - had a strong memory. He studied no book but the Bible, much of which he had committed to memory. He delighted in the Psalms of David and Proverbs of Solomon. I have met very few ministers who could quote from the Bible so appropriately and readily as he could.

His father and mother were old Seceders "after the strictest sect." It was from them he learned to memorize Scripture. All through his childhood and youth his Sabbaths were employed in the catechetical exercises and he venerated the Sabbath to his last day.

He was always thoughtful, never spoke at random - would rarely speak harshly of anyone before his children. Was kind and obliging to all, and devoted to the interest of his children. There never was a more self-denying, self-sacrificing father for the sake of his children in everything save education. He always seemed to think that to read and write - and a knowledge of the primary rules of arithmetic was sufficient. I have always been astonished at his views on this subject when I think of his good and sound judgment in every thing else. He was decidedly in favor of an educated minister. He was always peaceable, rarely had any difficulties. I never new (sic) him to have a violent personal enemy. He had but little to do with the world outside his own private matters. He never saw the courthouse of his county save as a juror.

He was proverbially honest, frugal and industrious and always had friends. He lived in the Methodist Church the last eighteen years of his life but always favored Calvinism. This was owing to early training by his parents, who as I have already said were rigid Seceders. A more industrious and energetic hard working man never lived. No man was tried harder to moddle (sic) his children after himself than he did.

Buried:
Grave location:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188025915

James married Jane WALKER 1823. Jane (daughter of Andrew WALKER and Elizabeth MOORE) was born 1796, South Carolina; died Sep 1835, Wilcox Co. AL. [Group Sheet]

1. Matthew KIRK was born Abt 1823, Clarke Co. AL.
2. James J. KIRK was born ca 1824, Clarke Co. AL; died 21 Dec 1863, Rock Island, IL Prisoner of War Camp; was buried , Grave No. 44, Rock Island, IL Prisnor of War Camp.
3. John M. KIRK was born ca 1825, Clarke Co. AL; died 27 Mar 1865, Camp Chase, Franklin Co. OH; was buried , Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, Columbus, Franklin Co. OH.
4. William R. KIRK was born ca 1829, Lower Peach Tree, Wilcox Co. AL; died 1893.
5. Andrew KIRK died 3 Nov 1848.
6. Grace KIRK
7. Jane KIRK
8. Mary KIRK

James married Margaret Drury 5 Nov 1837, Wilcox Co. AL. Margaret was born ca 1805, North Carolina; died aft. 1880, Wilcox Co. AL. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
Name: James Kirk
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1837
Marriage Place: Wilcox, Alabama
Spouse: Margaret Southall
FHL Film Number: 1290214

1. Oliver Hazard Perry KIRK was born 18 Feb 1842, Wilcox Co. AL; died 20 Nov 1882, Wilcox Co. AL; was buried , Liberty Methodist Church Cemetery, Hestle Wilcox Co. AL.
2. Calvin Cellars KIRK was born ca 1845, Wilcox Co. AL.
3. Joseph Marshall KIRK was born 05 May 1848, Wilcox Co. AL; died 27 Jul 1931, Wilcox Co. AL; was buried , Lower Peach Tree Cemetery, Wilcox Co. AL.

Other Events:

• _UID: 6B5088E3E49E4419B4ED7455831EF930395E

Notes:

MEMOIRS

W. R. Kirk Journal, 1866.

He emigrated to America in 1773 when he was thirteen years old: He was the youngest of the four sons of James Kirk. He came through the port of Charles Town, SC as it was known in those days. Most likely were members of the Rev. William Martin's group of Seceders. These brothers arrived with the group of protestant settlers brought over by the Rev. William Martin, probably on the Lord Dunluce. They landed in Charles' Town (Charleston), the winter of 1772-3. There is no passenger list but there is a record of persons receiving land grants from the Colonial Council. John was the only one old enough to receive land in his own name.

According to the book, "Scotch-Irish Migration to South Carolina, 1772 (Rev. William Martin and his five Shiploads of Settlers)" John Kirk's [probably Matthew's older brother] land grant of 100 acres is recorded in Platt Folder 1040; 11 Dec. 1772; in Colleton Co., on the northwest fork of Long Cane Creek; bordering John Tynes, Andrew McAlaster, John Hunt, as vacant land; surveyed 25 March 1773, probably in Abbeville County, S.C. The warrants for the land were prepared on Dec. 11, but not issued, and were held until the arrival of Rev. Martin. John Kirk declared himself a "poor Protestant" unable to pay the 5 pounds filing fee for the land. The land was thus, given free.

Since the land was assigned to John on 11 Dec. 1772, he probably arrived on the ship, 'James and Mary' on October 22, 1772. Because of smallpox on board the ship, they had to lay in quarantine off Sullivan's Island for 6 weeks. This would put him ashore in the first week of December. His land warrant was assigned on 11 Dec. The December 1, 1772 issue of the Council Journal (Charleston) notes the arrival of immigrants from Ireland, and although no ship was mentioned, it was the James and Mary by all accounts. All other Irish immigrants having been accounted for at that time. The other ships arrived after Dec. 11: The Pennsylvania Farmer on Dec. 19 - Belfast; the Lord Dunluce (with Rev. Martin) on Dec. 20 - Larne; the Hopewell on Dec. 22 - Belfast; and the Free Mason on Dec. 22 - Newry. The James and Mary sailed from Larne on Aug. 25, 1772.

It is possible the family was originally from the Dumfriesshire or Ayrshire areas of lowland Scotland.

CENSUS RECORDS

1790 United States Federal Census
Name: Math Kirk
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Lancaster, South Carolina

1800 United States Federal Census
Name: Matthew Kirk
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Lancaster District, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 7
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 10

1820 United States Federal Census
Name: Mathew Kirk
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Lancaster, South Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 14: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 4
Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total Slaves: 2
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 11

1830 United States Federal Census
Name: Matthew Kirk
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Lancaster, Lancaster, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 70 thru 79: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69: 1
Slaves - Males - Under 10: 1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 10: 1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
Total Free White Persons: 3
Total Slaves: 4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 7

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46914457

Matthew married Grace JOHNSON 1787. Grace was born 1769, Lancaster Co, SC; died 1858, Lancaster Co, SC; was buried , Shiloh Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster Co. SC. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 46C76E02D134453CAA1309B5DFAD42C81460

Notes:

Was of Irish descent.

Buried:
Grave location and tombstone photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46914453

Other Events:

• _UID: 35480ECD4552406990DBECA8758B9F6EA416

Notes:

of Scotch descent was born and raised in Antrim Co. near Ballemoney, Ireland.

This James Kirk is NOT the one from Augusta County Virginia whose wife was Mary Edmiston. According to his will, this James Kirk did not have a son named Matthew.

Merrill Hill Mosher was a certified genealogist and the great-grand daughter of W. R. Kirk, whose journal is the primary source of information on this branch. Her article,
"Origin of the John, Mathew & Robert Kirk Families," The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. XXIII Spring 1995, No. 2, 76 sets the record straight, refuting many earlier errors in Kirk family history.