THE FAMILY OF MARK PHILLIPS & NANCY SHEFFIELD
The 1790 US Census for North Carolina (Moore Co) lists the household of Mark Phillips as follows:
1 free white male 16 and upwards
2 free white males under 16
2 free white females
0 all others
0 slaves
The 1810 US Census for North Carolina (Moore Co) lists the household of Mark Phillips as follows:
0 males 0-10
0 males 10-16
2 males 16-26
0 males 26-45
1 males 45+
0 females 0-10
2 females 10-16
1 female 16-26
0 females 26-45
1 female 45+
Based on these listings, I have little doubt that Mark Phillips was born in Moore Co, NC.
Mark was said to have been of Irish descent and some researchers lists his father's place of birth as Ireland.
Mark Phillips married Nancy Sheffield about 1812, probably in Franklin Co, GA where her family was living about that time. She was the daughter of Adam Sheffield and wife, Priscilla (possibly Smith). The Sheffield family was also from the Moore Co, NC area.
Nancy was born about 1794 in Moore Co, NC.
Mark and Nancy remained in Georgia long enough to have their first child, born in 1813, but by 1816, the family had moved to what is now Northeast Alabama. Alabama didn't become a state until 1819, so Mark and Nancy were definitely some of the original settlers of the area.
The 1820 and 1830 US Censuses of Alabama lists Mark Phillips as a head of household in St Clair Co and in 1840, he was listed as a head of household in Benton (now Calhoun) Co.
The Phillips and Sheffield family were some of the original members of Old Harmony Baptist Church, which is located (now) in Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL.
Nancy Sheffield Phillips is said to have been a doctor who took care of many people in the area.
The Mark Phillips family was enumerated in Cherokee Co, AL in 1850. They lived in the area that is now known as Hokes Bluff/North Gadsden, Etowah Co, AL.
At the time of the 1860 US Census, Mark and Nancy were enumerated living in Peaks Hill, Calhoun Co, AL. The area where they lived was the Southside/Green Valley area of what is now Etowah Co, AL. At that time, Mark was listed as age 76, a farmer with $5500 in real estate and $40,000 in personal property. Nancy was listed as age 64.
Mark Phillips died 3 Nov 1861 in Calhoun Co, AL at about the age of 77. He is buried at a small family cemetery, now known as Phillips-Smith Cemetery, which is located just of Matt Smith Road in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
Nancy Sheffield Phillips died 2 Nov 1867 in Calhoun Co, AL. She was said to have been thrown from her horse, crossing the mountain, while out on a housecall. Can you imagine? She would have been in her 70's!! If the horse incident is true, she would have been a heck of a woman to have been riding a horse across that mountain in the winter at her age! I will tell you from personal experience, the roads of today going up and across that mountain are very steep and rugged.
Nancy was buried beside her husband at Phillips-Smith Cemetery.
CHILDREN OF MARK PHILLIPS & NANCY SHEFFIELD:
1) Synthia/Cynthia Phillips, b. 11 Jun 1813, GA, d. Nov 1867, AL. She married 1) Edmond Clayton Jones, Jr 31 Oct 1833, St Clair Co, AL. He was born abt 1823, AL and died 1853, AL. He is buried at Old Harmony Bapt Cemetery, Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL. He was the son of Edmond Clayton Jones,
Sr & Nancy Croxton. She married 2) Greenberry Taylor 24 Dec 1855. He was born about 1804 in North Carolina.
In 1860, Greenberry and Cynthia Taylor lived in Ashville, St Clair Co, AL.
2) Mary Elizabeth Phillips, b. 24 Sept 1816, (the area later known as) St Clair Co, AL, d. 1858, St Clair Co, AL. She married Hugh Jones 5 May 1835, St Clair Co, AL. Hugh, son of Edmond Clayton Jones, Sr & Nancy Croxton, was born about 1815 in Georgia and died 1863 in St Clair Co, AL. Both are buried at Old Harmony Bapt Cemetery, Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL.
Their family lived in St Clair Co, AL in 1850.
3) Fannie Phillips, b. Nov 1817, (the area later known as) St Clair Co, AL, d. 1910, Etowah Co, AL. She married Samuel E. Metcalf 12 Sept 1839 in Benton (Calhoun) Co, AL. Sam was born in 1818 in Hamilton Co, TN and was killed 30 Nov 1859 in Peaks Hill, Calhoun Co, AL.
In 1840, the family lived in Benton Co, AL. In 1850, they lived in St Clair Co, AL. They had moved back to Benton/Calhoun Co before Sam's death. Fannie remained in the same area (Calhoun/Etowah Co) until her death. Both are buried at Old Harmony Bapt Cemetery, Rainbow City, Etowah Co, AL.
4) Lydia Phillips, b. 11 Jan 1821, St Clair Co, AL. Lydia married 1) ____ Bowlin, and 2) Cornelius Cannon about 1848. Cornelius was born 14 Dec 1814 in Christian Co, KY and died 25 Aug 1894.
Cornelius and Lydia were in Benton Co, AL in 1850, lived for a time in Pike Co, IL, but by 1880, were living in Mingo, Bates Co, MO.
5) John William Phillips, b. 18 Jan 1823, St Clair Co, AL, d. 8 Aug 1872, Lamar Co, TX. John married Emily Jones, daughter of Edmond Clayton Jones, Sr & Nancy Croxton, 9 Mar 1843 in St Clair Co, AL. Emily was born Oct 1823, AL and died 1901, Charleston, Delta Co, TX.
John is said to be buried in an unmarked grave at Roland Cemetery in Sylvan, Lamar Co, TX.
In 1860, John and Emily were living near Mark & Nancy Phillips in Peaks Hill, Calhoun Co, AL.
6) Mark Phillips, b. 11 Nov 1825, St Clair Co, AL. I have seen some conflicting information on Mark. I would appreciate any concrete information anyone could provide.
7) Mary Ann (Polly) Phillips, b. 18 Jun 1827, St Clair Co, AL, d. aft 1910, Etowah Co, AL. She
married Anderson Brannon 18 Apr 1845. He was born Nov 1824 in Georgia and died 9 Apr 1874 in Etowah Co, AL.
8) Charles P. Phillips, b. 13 Sept 1831, St Clair Co, AL, d. bef 1860. He married Parilee Best about 1853. She was born about 1837 in Alabama. Charles is buried at Phillips-Smith Cemetery, Southside, Etowah Co, AL. Parilee and their son, Oliver, were living with Mark & Nancy Phillips at the time of the 1860 census.
9) Amanda M. Phillips, b. 14 Jan 1833, St Clair Co, AL, d. 8 Dec 1853, St Clair Co, AL. She never married and is buried at Phillips-Smith Cemetery in Southside, Etowah Co, AL.
10) Eliza Phillips, b. 6 Mar 1835, St Clair Co, AL. She married Elijah Hampton about 1855.
11) James M. Phillips, b. 27 Jul 1837, St Clair Co, AL, d. 3 Mar 1862. He married Sarah (Jennie) Sturkie. She was born about 1843 in Alabama. James and Sarah are shown on the 1860 census in Peaks Hill, Calhoun Co, AL, living very close to Mark & Nancy Phillips.
12) Nancy Elvira Phillips, b. 4 Jan 1840, St Clair Co, AL, d. 8 Dec 1927, Etowah Co, AL. Nancy married 1) Joshua Anthony Smith, son of Henry & Susannah Smith, about 1855. Joshua was born about 1831 and died while serving in the Conferderate Army in the Civil War 9 Apr 1863 in Richmond, VA.
Nancy married 2) Elihue Haulby Griffin, Sr 7 Jan 1864 in Benton Co, AL. He was born 26 Jan 1838 in AL and died 20 Jun 1914 in Etowah Co, AL. Elihue and Nancy lived their entire married life in what is now the Southside, Etowah Co, AL area. Both are buried at Pilgrams Rest Bapt Cemetery in Southside.