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William Yates

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Identity and early record

William Yates was established in the Lowndes–Thomas border region by 1840 and later became a Brooks County landowner. A locally preserved tax index places him in District 12, Land Lot 463 by 1835, but the original tax page has not been inspected. Folks Huxford's claim that he arrived in 1824 or 1825 also remains secondary evidence.

Census indexes trace an elder William, born about 1807 or 1808, from Lowndes County in 1840 through Thomas County in 1850 and Brooks County in 1860 and 1870. A separate William R. Yates, born about 1838, was already an adult by 1860. Records for the younger man, including likely Civil War service, should not be assigned to the pioneer without a direct identity bridge.

Washway, mill, and estate

An 1869 road notice placed “William Yates' Wash Way” on the Quitman–Tallokas Road. Notices in 1875 called the site Yates Mill and described the road over the mill dam and a bridge across the mill wasteway. The records establish a Yates road-and-mill landmark in northern Brooks County, but they do not place William at the later Barney townsite or connect the site to modern Yates Road.

William died before August 3, 1874. Owen Yates and James W. Yates were appointed temporary administrators. Both are strong-probable sons based on earlier household associations, but the bond states no relationship.

The October 1874 inventory valued William's estate at $12,073.80 and names Owen as administrator. It contains no heir list. Estate vouchers show that William owed David Hiers $1,496.96 on a November 1, 1873 note; Owen paid the balance in February 1875. A store account also charged purchases for “Mrs Hiers” and “Miss Hiers” to William. Another note explicitly calls Catharine Smith “my daughter,” verifying her relationship while leaving Rebecca's unstated.

Rebecca Yates Hiers

Rebecca Yates Hiers is William and Elizabeth's strong-probable daughter, not a verified daughter. Rebecca fits the only girl age 10–14 in William's 1840 household and was already married before the named 1850 household. On May 13, 1864, Owen Yates sold Rebecca's husband, David Hiers, about 580 acres for $3,000. The original deed is an ordinary cash sale and states no relationship.

On October 27, 1875, David conveyed Rebecca four adjoining tracts totaling about 545 acres for $2,500. Earlier compiled work incorrectly described this as four deeds dated October 7. The original record is one deed dated October 27 and does not identify Rebecca as David's wife or William's daughter.

Rebecca's daughter Nancy J. Hires married Joseph J. Rogers, creating a documented Hiers–Rogers line into Barney. The proposed William-to-Rebecca link is supported by chronology, household composition, land dealings, and estate associations, but no inspected record explicitly names Rebecca as William's daughter or heir.

Evidence assessment

  • Roster: supplemental early settler, strong probable identity.
  • Antebellum regional residence: well supported.
  • 1835 Lot 463 ownership: derivative lead; original tax page needed.
  • Catharine Smith as daughter: verified by William's note.
  • Owen and James W. as sons: strong probable.
  • Rebecca as daughter: strong probable, not verified.
  • Direct residence at Barney: not proved.

Sources

  1. Folks Huxford, The History of Brooks County, Georgia, 1858–1948 (1948), early-settler, jury, political, lodge, and family sections.
  2. 1840–1870 federal census entries for the elder William Yates in Lowndes, Thomas, and Brooks counties.
  3. Quitman Banner, August 27, 1869, road notice naming William Yates' Wash Way.
  4. Quitman Reporter, August 26 and November 11, 1875, Yates Mill road and bridge notices.
  5. Brooks County administrator bonds for William Yates, August 3 and October 5, 1874.
  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, October–November 1874.
  9. William Yates estate vouchers, 1873–1875: Hiers accounts and note and additional vouchers.
  10. Nancy J. Rogers death certificate, 1932, naming David Hires and Rebecca Yates; Brooks County marriage return for Joseph J. Rogers and Nancy J. Hires, October 21, 1866.