William R. KIRK

Other Events:

• _UID: 12539D04E8FA4BC49DEBBCA6624C282CE31A

Notes:

These three half brothers were delivered up to my charge by father on his death bed, hence I have more than a brotherly feeling for them. Owing to the very poor educational facilities in the community where we lived and the extreme hard times I have been unable to educate them. All my brothers and sisters received but little training mental, but their moral training was very good, better than most of others etc.

I was the youngest of my mothers children, born in Wilcox County, Ala. six miles from Lower Peach Tree, was as I have already stated, left without a mother at the age of thirteen months. I had a hard time all through my childhood and youth. Perhaps God was disciplining me for the hardship and privations of an itinerant life. Father learned me to be a farmer an a small scale, but never sent me to school much. Educational facilities were thus and are still sparse in our old neighborhood. We never had a school nearer than 2 1/2 or 3 miles of us, and then I could get to go to school only a few months or weeks at a time, then quit and work awhile, then go to school a little while, then work a little while. And what was worse than all teachers were constantly changed, and they kept on going over the same book and the same thing again and again, without advancing me any at all. So I found a distaste to study the effects of which I feel to this day. Besides this, our teachers were generally ignorant and unskillful and needed being taught themselves. But they proposed to teach Christ, and with many in that country that was the prime qualification of a first rate school teacher.

To look on the farm however was my lot until grown. I embraced religion and joined the M.E. Church South when about twelve years of age. Religion and the ministers of the gospel had much to do with my desire for knowledge. I being little the ministers paid no attention to me, never talked to me, never advised me but still I loved them and always thought it an honor to get to feed the preachers horse when he came to fathers. But I thought then that they were all learned and wise and I wanted to be on (one) too. I worked on without ever receiving any encouragement to acquire an education. But any purpose was fixed sometimes however. In my twenty sixth year I resolved to go to school two years longer and accordingly made my arrangements and in October 1859 went to Summerfield and entered school there which was under the control a Rev. D. C. Bloomsly. I studied hard took but little exercise and consequently my health failed - but I continued the session out studying Latin and mathematics. While there on the 24th of March 1860 I applied for and obtained a license to preach the gospel. An ignorant preacher I was. I tried to preach only three or four times during the session. My first text was "leave thou and all thy house into the ark." I have never tried to preach from it since. During the vacation I went with Bro. G. Garrett on the Camden District. In the fall of sixty I went back to Summerfield and spent another session in studying Latin, Greek, and mathematics. Preached but little during the session. When the school was out went home and taught a small school some four miles from home and boarded with my old and tried friend Jno H. Pate Esqr. I also filled 9 appointments for Bro. Ewing on the Peach Tree Circuit every month for three months. Meanwhile intending to go to Greensboro in Oct., and take a regular collegiate course. But Secession had taken place, war was upon us. Money was not to be had, and I had to succumb. The people for whom I had been preaching during the fall would not pay me neither would the people for whom I had been teaching. So I gathered some pios (pious) and I would become discouraged and try to arrange some other place in my mind to make money or something else. And again I would fall back on my old purpose to go to school and try to make something of myself.

I the meantime father had given me a colt - and when in my twenty-first year having never looked into our English grammar to study it - did not know a noun from an article. Knew but little of arithmetic or geography, did not know the different pauses in reading - my pronunciation not good, and my handwriting hardly legible or intelligible. I sold my colt and went of some twelve miles to a boarding school at Choctaw Corners, in Clark County, Ala. There I stayed six months and got a smattering of Grammar, Arithmetic Geography and composition. I might have learned and improved more but I had no habits of study and I was lazy. After this, I taught a small school at old Bear Creek Church and then at a school house near where Bro. John lived. In my teaching I gained notoriety only in a degree perfecting what I had gone over education wise imperfectly at school. There was no money in the schools that I taught.

I then felt it my duty to go home and stay with my father on the farm and take care of him until his death to which I did and on his deathbed he requested me to settle up his estate and I did so the best I could.

Accepted 18 bushels of potatoes from bro. John and brother in law Brasell. Sent them to Mobile, got about ten dollars for my fees and potatoes and started for Greensboro not to enter college but to join the Ala. Conference which I did and was appointed to Grove Hill circuit. I continued on my circuit until about the last of March 1862 and then joined a company of Militia for which Gov. Shorter had called for coast defense, and went to Mobile. From there we were ordered to Halls Mills, where we stayed about five weeks. While there I received the appointment of Chaplain to the regiment. We were then ordered back to Mobile where we stayed until our three months expired. I then returned to my circuit where I was willing to stay the balance of the year.

At the close of the conference year I attended conference at Auburn Ala. and was appointed to Choctaw Corners Circuit for 1863. At the end of the year I attended conference at Columbus, Miss. where I was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Andrew. I was reappointed to same circuit. The next conference was held at Tuskeegee Ala. and I was appointed to the Snow Hill Circuit. The next conference was held at Lowndsboro where I was elected to Elders Orders and I was stationed at Jacksonville Ala. for the year 1866.

From Lownsboro I went home and spent the month of December with my relatives and first friends. I left home a few days before Christmas to make my way to my new field of labor in the mountainous regions. I passed through Camden and called to bid bro. Ramsey and family farewell at Oak Hill. They know exactly how to entertain a Methodist preacher. I shall never forget them. I then went on to Snow Hill and found my host and hostess with whom I had been staying during 1865, well and preparing for the Christmas festivities. I left them on the 26th and stopping one day and night in Selma with Bro. J. A. Clement arrived at Jacksonville on the 29th Dec. 1865 at about 10 P.M.

I put up at the Hotel and Saturday evening late I was introduced to Bro. M. J. Turnley, with whom I spent the month of January very pleasantly indeed. I soon became acquainted with the members of my charge and was kindly received by all. I soon became attached to the good people of Jacksonville. At the close of my first month I was put at Bro. Grants to stay during the month of Feb. I remained there about six weeks and while there fell in Love with Nora, but concealed it from her as best I could.

Being thus satisfied at boarding round, I was put back at Bro. Turnleys to stay during the year. So I spent two months and twenty days more with. During the latter part of March and the first part of April we had a most gracious revival of religion about 50 souls professed religion and about twenty backsliders professed to be reclaimed. I still found my love for man increasing.


He (William R. Kirk) volunteered in Militia. Was chaplain of his regiment.

He was at the time of his death in charge of First Methodist Church in Avondale.

Dearly beloved throughout the conference where he was so well known - A man of the highest type. A statesman said of him most truly, "A more gentle spirit never lived, a more generous hand never gave, a more honest hear never lived."


CIVIL WAR INFORMATION

Source:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wb4kdi/Military%20Service/Confederates/index.html

Chaplain, Clarke Co. Guards
90 day Volunteers

Joined March 1862
Stationed at Halls Mills and Mobile.

William married Margaret Lenora GRANT Jacksonville, AL. [Group Sheet]

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• _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]

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• _UID: 2CB5B76831094BC3AC95C11310A3292D661D

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


MEMOIRS

W. R. Kirk Journal, 1866

She was born South Carolina I think.

My mother! Thoughts of her always make me sad. She died when I was but thirteen months old. From what father and my brothers and sisters have told me, I realize she had every qualification of a mother save an education. I have often thought that she must have been in some respects superior to all other women, Is it wrong for me to say this? She had a large family of children, some of whom were self-willed and head strong - and yet I have heard that she was never known to manifest the least impatience towards us, and I have nay heard my dear father with tears in his eyes, for he used to tell me "of mother, that she never spoke and unkind word to him in her life." I said in some respects I have thought that she must have been superior to all other women. I have been mixing and mingling among all classes of men for eleven years, and have not found the man that could say as much for his wife or the wife that could say as much for the husband.

I never new my father to utter a falshood (sic) nor even the semblance of falshood (sic). Therefore I believe he literally spoke the truth when he told me that Mother never spoke an unkind word to him. His tears verified it.

But little did he think that. That short sentence made an indellible (sic) impression on my mind, and that I would record it in the future in honor of her precious memory to transcribe to generations unborn. I would not have that sentence blotted from my memory for all this world.

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• _UID: 6B5088E3E49E4419B4ED7455831EF930395E

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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]

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• _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

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• _UID: 18BF193C89264D7F8AFAFB15070772B06BD8

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1800 Census
Name: Andrew Walker
Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Lancaster District, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 4

1810 Census
Name: Andr Walker
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Lancaster, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 5
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Number of All Other Free Persons: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 6
Number of Household Members Over 25: 3
Number of Household Members: 10

1830 Census
Name: Andrew Walker
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Clarke, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1
Slaves - Males - Under 10: 1
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 11
Total Slaves: 4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 15

MEMOIRS

W. R. Kirk Journal, 1866

He was of Irish descent. lived for several years on Pigeon Creek, Clarke County, Alabama but afterward bought land in Bear Creek Wilcox Co and moved to it where they spent the remainder of their days.

Andrew married Elizabeth MOORE 8 Oct 1800. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 399C163A08DF4EEFB388514B269B01AE9008

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• _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.