| Notes |
- From the book by Al Metts Jr., Metts Family in America
born before 1790 - died 16 May 1842
Phillip Mitts was born at the old homestead on Heller's Creek. He was born on a farm and died on a farm, following a plow all the days of his short life - less than sixty years. He married a strong and capable woman, Rebecca Suber, about 1814. Her family lived near the Metts homestead on Heller's
Creek. The story of Rebecca's family will be discussed in a separate chapter on the Suber surname. The U.S.Census of 1790 shows four sons in father Henry's household. Phillip was one of them. He helped build Henry's estate and must
have saved his own dollars for the day when he would buy his farm.
No document remains to show the settlement of Henry's estate when he died in 1812. Rebecca's father died in 1813, leaving her one hundred dollars. Older brother, John must have taken control of the Mitts homestead. Regardless, Phillip married and started his family. David William Metts was born in 1815, the first of seven children. David s descendant, George Pierce Metz, of Louisville, MS, is a student of the family history and will write a book about the family in Winston County, MS. David served as a Colonel in the Confederacy.
Our ancestor is Phillip's son, Michael Albert Metts, and his life will be covered later. He was born in 1825. The other five children are not discussed in their order of birth. Martha Caroline was born 13 Jun 1817. She married Giles C. Linch, a lawyer who would take a leading role in all family business.
Lemuel P. Mitts was another son. Susannah Mitts married Thomas Carroll.
Elizabeth G. Metts married John C. Doss. One of her descendants is Mrs. E. G. (Sarakay) Jordan, of Austin, Texas, former Librarian of the Texas State Genealogical Library. The seventh child was Rebecca A. Metts.'She died young, about one year after the death of her father, Phillip.
Finally, with a wife and family, Phillip was able to buy his own land. The year was 1830. On January 16th, he paid Thomas Boyd $375 for 93 acres on Cannon Creek. The next day he paid David Chalmers $660 for 100 acres joining the 93 acres. aAlso, he acquired 425.4 more acres for a total of 618.4 acres.
The land is several miles east of the town of Newberry. This land had much better soil than the farm on Heller's Creek. A copy of the plat is on the next page.
Several years ago, cousin George Metz, of Louisville, MS, mentioned earlier, went to Newberry with his wife researching family history. They went to the farm that Phillip had owned. .An old man pointed to an old abandoned
house and said that it was called "the Metts Place". They stored hay in the old house. It had been struck by lightning and was partly burned.
In 1835, Phillip's brother, Adam died. As stated earlier, he had not married, so he left his estate to his brothers and sisters. Phillip received his share, $358.81 3/5. Dollars were valuable in those days so pennies were divided into fifths.
It seems that, in the old days lawyers were no better or worse than they are today. Family problems were taken to court and lawyers got their money. In 1835, we see David Lightsey, Henry Mitts, Phillip Mitts, and George Metts
versus Lemuel Glymph, administrator of John Mitts, deceased. Glymph was the guardian7of John's children. Teamed with Glymph were Andrew and Barbara Wicker (Phillip's brother-in-law and sister) and John A. Wicker and wife. (Box 20,
Bill 1835/Box 38-Newberry). Remembering that the old Metts homestead was sold in 1835, there is little doubt about the subject at stake.
Later, in 1842, in court again (Bx 28, Bill 1843/Bx 41, Order 1883/Bx 89) we see David W. Mitts versus Rebecca, Lemuel, Susannah, Michael aAlbert, Elizabeth G., Rebecca A., and Martha Caroline Linch. This is the year that Phillip died . David has his entire family on the other side. He was the first to make the move to Mississippi.
The farm of Phillip Mitts
The Phillip Mitts family were Lutherans, members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Pomaria, SC, in Newberry County. This church is near the old Metts homestead. My wife, Betty, and I visited the church and cemetery on
our way to Heller's Creek. Of course, the church is rebuilt. The S.C. Magazine of Ancestral Research, Winter, 1977, pp.16-24, has some early records of the church. Phillip's sister, Barbara and husband, Andrew Wicker, were very active
members. Several of Phillip's in-laws were active. The records are for 1815-1832. On page eleven is the entry, "Martha Caroline, Daughter of Philip Metz and wife Rebekah born 13th of June 1817. Sponcers A. Wecker & wife.". The
spelling is bad, but there is no doubt about who they are.
When Phillip died on 16 May 1842, Giles C. Linch, the lawyer and son-in-law took over. There are about 15 pages of detailed handwritten documents to handle the business. Rebecca sold the farm on 20 Nov 1846. She sold it to Job Johnston for $1,855. She signed the document with an "X".
Phillip's estate was settled in 1845. Each child received $570.29 and his wife, Rebecca got $1,924.42. The total was $3,848.85. When daughter Rebecca A. died in June 1843, her share of Phillip's estate was divided among the family.
The sums above may seem small in these inflated times, but Phillip died a very wealthy man. In addition to the 618 acres of good farming land, he owned 20 slaves, horses, hogs, cotton, corn, tools, and many household items. A small
part of the inventory is below:
(Listed in the book)
Phillip was the last ancestor with the Metts name that signed his name with a mark.
The family was left with decisions to make for the future. Legal action forced division of the estate. The farm was sold. There is an interesting point to make, here. We see the changing times. In old England, then Virginia and with the move west, there was the old English law of "primo genitor" which left all of the inheritance to the oldest son. The intention was to keep estates intact. Wives got next to nothing. Now, here, we see Rebecca taking her place as the head of the family. She had a lawyer son-in-law on her side.
The oldest son, David, set out for Winston County, Mississippi. The family planned to follow him, so plans were made for the wagon train to leave in 1847. Other families joined the Metts family for the big move. Our ancestor,
Michael Albert Metts, was to "pilot" the convoy. Wagons, slaves, animals, food, and money were organized and Phillip's wife, Rebecca Suber Metts would
head westward.
The story will return to South Carolina to give the family history of the Saeber-Suber- Weyman-Miller- Glymph ancestors of Rebecca. (Please see the chart). Later, the story goes back to South Carolina again for the Nash and Hodges ancestors. Then, the Kaiglers will be the last of the South Carolina kin. This is an appropriate time in the story to recognize and express appreciation to four South Carolina friends who are great genealogists and generous contributors to this history.
Glenda Bundrick of Newberry and Betty Bundrick of Columbia have searched and found every paper with any spelling of Metts and sent them to me with their expert interpretation and evaluation. Dr. .Andy Suber, of Columbia, is the head of the Suber clan. When his book comes forth, we will have a great reference. Carol Speers is the Probate Clerk in the Abbeville Courthouse.
That's where the Old 96th District was administered. Carol knows where the papers are and has helped greatly. Let me thank each of you before taking the Mitts-Metts convoy to Mississippi!
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Bef 1790 - 1842 (> 52 years)
