The following documents indicate that JONAS HILL 1787-1859 (married MARY MARCUM 1795-1875) was the son of JAMES HILL b/17?? d/1828 Wilkes Co., NC. and his first wife (unknown), and NOT the son of JONAS HILL b/1763 Granville Co., NC, d/1840 Franklin Co., TN and SUSAN MARCHBANKS.
JAMES HILL's will recorded 28 Dec 1821, probated Aug. 1828. Wife Nancy (m/2nd wife Nancy Padgett, 18 Dec 1811 Wilkes Co., NC). Youngest daughter Nancy Hill. All the rest of my children Reuben Hill, Mary Hill, Jonas Hill, John Hill, Cata Hill, Precila Hill, Volentine Hill, Candas Hill. EXEC. none. WIT. Wm R. Padgett, Martin Livingston. (Book 4, page 115, Wilkes Co., NC Wills).
MARCUM family researchers Charles E. Knight, Sharon McConnell, Marla Brubaker and others have thoroughly researched the descendants of BEVERLY MARCUM and ELIZABETH WARD. Children:
1. PETER MARCUM, b/1793 in Franklin Co., VA, d/1864 in Loundon Co. TN, married 1814 in Claiborne Co., TN to PRICILLA HILL b/1794 Stokes Co., NC d/1850 Claiborne Co., TN. Their children were Johathan W. Marcum 1816-1880; James M. Marcum 1819-1906; Mary Ann Marcum 1825-1899; Rhoda H. Marcum 1829-1866; and Comfort B.1835-1852. Note: Peter Marcum had other children by his second wife Abrigail Sutton.
2. MARY MARCUM, b/1795 in Franklin Co., VA, d/1875 in Miami Co., OH, married JONAS HILL. In "A Genealogical Index of Pioneers in the Miami Valley, Ohio" by Lindsay M. Brien (1970), Jonas Hill is shown to have been born in TN Feb. 25, 1787 and died in Ohio Feb. 18, 1859, wife MARY MARCUM, b/Feb. 8, 1795, d/Aug. 5, 1875, Union Township (Miami Co., OH). Their children were Nancy 1815-1861; Charlotte 1817-1861; Elizabeth 1819-1859; Martha 1821-1899; Temperance 1823-1895; Priscilla 1825-1869; Daniel 1827-1851; Nathan 1829-1833; Asa 1831-1833; Celia 1833-????; William 1835-????; and John M. 18391887.
Before she died in 1899, Mary Ann (Marcum) Hansard, daughter of Peter Marcum and Priscilla Hill, had compiled histories of the families living in the Tazewell area of Claiborne Co., TN in the 1800s. These documents were later published by Mary L. Hansard Wilson and titled "Old Time Tazewell" by Mary A. Hansard. The Marcum family bible and this book have been used by family descendants as sources for their research on Beverly Marcum. This book also was the document that supports my conclusions that Jonas Hill 1787-1859 was the son of the above James Hill of Wilkes Co., NC and his first wife. The following statements are taken from this book:
1. Mr. Aaron Cox came to this county (Claiborne Co., TN) in an early day and settled a few miles from Cave Srping. His wife was Miss POLLY (MARY) HILL, a very pious lady. She was a sister to my mother (Priscilla). They were natives of Stokes County, North Carolina. Their sons were William, Aaron, and Thomas. Their daughters were Cyntha, Nancy, Ollie, Priscilla, Polly Ann, and Margaret , commonly called Peggie.
2. Mr JOHN HILL, Sr., a brother of Mrs. Polly (Mary) Cox and Mrs. (Priscilla) Markham, came to this county in an early day. He was from Stokes County, North Carolina. His wife was Miss Rachel Hurst. Their children were Elick, Enoch, Bethena, Clarisa, Polly, Lucinda, Rachael and John Jr.
3. Mr. John McNealance came from Ireland in an early day and purchased a farm...south of Tazewell. His first wife was Miss CANDICE HILL of Stokes County, North Carolina. She was a sister of Mother's (Priscilla).
CONCLUSIONS: Five of the children listed in the will of James Hill in 1828 are also mentioned in the book by Mary A. Hansard. Although Jonas Hill is not specifically mentioned, he is connected to the Marcum family through the "Genealogical Index of Pioneers in the Miami Valley, Ohio." Also, Jonas Hill is found in Claiborne Co., TN in 1816 and 1817 where he made entries for land near Wards Spring on Powels River (Fifth Survey District of Tennessee, 1816-1823, Vol. C). He also is shown on a 1829 deed transaction in Claiborne Co., TN.
Based on the above sources, it appears that James Hill (1828 will, Wilkes Co., NC) was living in Stokes Co., NC prior to Wilkes County. There is a possibility that this James Hill was a brother to Jonas Hill 1763-1840, who entered the service (Rev. War) in 1781 in Surry County, NC. (Stokes County was created from Surry County in 1789). In his declaration for benefits, Jonas states that "he was born in Granville County, North Carolina about the year 1763, according to the account received from his parents." This seems to imply that his family moved to Surry County when he was very young and for this reason he had to rely on information he "obtained from his parents" as to his place of his birth. One could therefore speculate that Jonas' family moved to Surry County around 1770, which could have been the area that is now Stokes County. Also, the above James Hill had a son named Reuben. Jonas Hill lived near a Reuben Hill in Franklin Co., TN in 1830 and 1840. This is assumed to have been a son or brother of Jonas Hill. The perponderence of evidence begins to appear here.
Hopefully the above will open some new areas for research and lead to additional information on Jonas Hill 1763- 1840. I would appreciate any information from anyone that may serve to either prove or disprove anything I have referenced above.