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Rebecca Yates Hiers

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Household and family

Rebecca Yates Hiers is documented in Lowndes and Brooks counties from 1850 through 1900. The 1850 census reports an implausible age of seventeen for Rebecca because daughter Nancy was already five. Later censuses place Rebecca's birth about 1827–1830.

Two daughters' death records independently preserve her Yates surname. Nancy J. Rogers's 1932 death certificate names David Hires and Rebecca Yates as her parents. Serena Hall's 1921 death record names David Hires and a mother surnamed Yates. Nancy married Joseph J. Rogers in Brooks County on October 21, 1866.

By 1880, Rebecca was the widowed head of a Quitman-district household. In 1900, she was living in Barney with her son Sim Hires. Her death date and burial place remain unknown.

Land records

On May 13, 1864, Owen Yates sold David Hiers Lot 233 and ninety acres of the east half of Lot 274—about 580 acres—for $3,000. The deed states no relationship.

David's transfer to Rebecca was previously reported incorrectly as four deeds dated October 7, 1875. The original record is one deed dated October 27, 1875. For $2,500, David conveyed four adjoining tracts totaling about 545 acres: 245 acres in the south half of Lot 234, 100 acres in the northwest corner of Lot 235, 125 acres in the northeast corner of Lot 273, and 75 acres in the southeast corner of Lot 274. The deed describes the property as the place where David lived. It conveys the land to Rebecca and her heirs but does not identify her as his wife or state any family relationship.

Proposed Yates parentage

Rebecca was a strong-probable daughter of William and Elizabeth Yates, but the relationship is not verified. She fits the only girl age 10–14 in William's 1840 household and was already married before William's named 1850 household. Owen Yates—William's strong-probable son—dealt directly with David Hiers in 1864.

William's 1874 estate vouchers strengthen the family-network case. They include purchases for “Mrs Hiers” and “Miss Hiers” and a $1,496.96 debt to David Hiers, paid by administrator Owen Yates in February 1875. The inventory contains no heir list, however, and no inspected record calls Rebecca William's daughter. A separate note explicitly calls Catharine Smith “my daughter,” showing that relationship language was preserved when it appeared.

Barney connection

Rebecca has documented connections to two Barney households through her daughters. Nancy Jane Hires married Joseph J. Rogers on October 21, 1866, and the Rogers family appears in Barney's later record. Serena Hires married William M. Hall on January 4, 1870; William and Serena were enumerated as Barney household #138 in 1900. Rebecca herself was enumerated in son Sim Hires's Barney household that year.

Rebecca's motherhood of Nancy is verified by Nancy's death certificate. Serena's death certificate names David Hires and a mother surnamed Yates, while Nancy's certificate supplies the full name Rebecca Yates; Serena's identification as Rebecca's daughter is therefore strong probable rather than parent-naming verified. Only the earlier William-to-Rebecca link remains strong probable rather than verified.

Evidence assessment

  • Rebecca's Yates surname: verified through two daughters' records.
  • Marriage to David Hiers: verified by the continuing household and land record; exact marriage date unknown.
  • Daughter of William and Elizabeth Yates: strong probable, not verified.
  • Mother of Nancy J. Hires Rogers: verified.
  • Barney residence in 1900: verified.
  • Death and burial: unresolved.

Sources

  1. 1840 U.S. census, Lowndes County, William Yates household, one female age 10–14.
  2. 1850–1900 federal census entries for David, Rebecca, and their continuing Hiers/Hires household in Lowndes and Brooks counties.
  3. Nancy J. Rogers death certificate, 1932, naming David Hires and Rebecca Yates; Serena Hall death record, 1921, naming David Hires and mother Yates.
  4. Brooks County marriage return, Joseph J. Rogers and Nancy J. Hires, October 21, 1866.
  5. Brooks County marriage return, William M. Hall and Serena Hires, January 4, 1870; 1900 U.S. census, Barney precinct, Brooks County, household 138.
  6. Owen Yates to David Hiers deed, May 13, 1864.
  7. David Hiers to Rebecca Hiers deed, October 27, 1875.
  8. William Yates inventory and appraisement, 1874.
  9. William Yates estate vouchers: Hiers accounts and note and additional vouchers.