William Riley Eddins was born about 1793 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was a son of William Eddins and his first wife, Nancy [maiden name
unknown].In 1812, at the age of about 19, he served in the WAR of 1812. After released from the military he made his way to Conecuh County, Alabama by 1814. By 1820, when the Census was taken, he had moved to Wilcox County, Alabama. There he met and married his first wife, Nancy Manning, sometime before February 1826.
To this union was born four children before Nancy’s untimely death in March of 1840.
William Riley Eddins and Nancy Manning had the following children:
i. Abner W. Eddins, born 10 Feb 1826; married Christianna A. Jolliff; died 30 May 1865.
ii. James Riley Eddins, born Aug 1831; married Samantha W. Ellis, 20 Oct 1870, Butler County, Alabama; married M. F. Byrd, 16 Dec 1888, Monroe County, Alabama; died 2 Jan 1908, Wilcox County, Alabama.
iii. Christianna Eddins was born in 1831.
iv. John Rufus Eddins, born 15 Nov 1837; married Emeline Lucretia Beard, 12 Jan 1860, Wilcox County, Alabama; died 21 Dec 1921.
After the death of his first wife Nancy Manning in March 1840 William Riley married Nancy King on 29 Aug 1840 in Wilcox County, Alabama. Nancy King was born about 1818.She signed a sworn statement found in her husband’s pension file on 10 Mar 1879 and was counted in the Census for 1880. She died sometime after 1880 and her death date is currently unknown.
War of 1812, CLAIM OF WIDOW FOR SERVICE PENSION, Item 12 & 13--
“She further states that she was married to the said Rilah Eddins, at the city (or town) of near Pine Apple, Ala, in the county of Wilcox, and the State of Alabama, on the twelfth day of August, A.D. 1840, by on (10) John Dekel, who was a (11) Justice of the Peace; and that her name before said marriage was Nancy King; and she further states that (12) her husband had been married to Nancy Manning who died in March 1840 near Pine Apple, Ala and that her said husband (13) Rilah Eddins, died at near Pine Apple, in the State of Alabama, on the Fifth day of April A. D. 1878.”
http://www.fold3.com/image/309333812/
William Riley Eddins and Nancy King had fourteen children:
i. Francis Marion Eddins was born about 1841.
ii. Riley Harrison Eddins was born about 1842.
iii. Amanda M. Eddins was born about 1847.
iv. Isaac David "Ike/I.D." Eddins, born 29 Jan 1849, Wilcox County, Alabama; married Mary Temity Speirs, 19 Nov 1868, Pike County, Alabama,; married Bettie Anderson, 1909; married Sarah Jane Glenn, 1919; died 17 Apr 1933, Big Spring, Howard, Texas.
v. N. H. Eddins was born about 1851.
vi. Andrew Jackson Eddins was born on 1 Sep 1854. He died on 17 Apr 1907 at the age of 52.
Vii. William R. Eddins was born about 1857.
There may be other children not now listed and unproven.
William Riley Eddins is my 4th Great Grand Uncle.
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1. Ancestry, "War of 1812 Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/: accessed 3 May 2022), entry for Rilah Eddins, Private; Capt. Welch’s Co and Lieut. Duncan Campbell’s Company, SC Militia; United States.
2. 1840 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Wilcox, Alabama, Page: 333(Stamped); Line#04, Household of Wm. R. EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 3 May 2022); citing National Archives Microfilm M704 Roll 16.
3. Land Deed - Wm R. Eddins to Son, William Eddins; 22 December 1848; Deed Book #"J"; Page(s) pages 210 & 211; Register of Deeds; Butler, Wilcox County, Alabama; 3 January 2019.
4. 1850 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Wilcox County, Alabama, ; Page: 360A (stamped); Line 31, Dwelling 218, Family 218, Household of Wm J. EDINGS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 May 2022); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 16.
5. 1860 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Eastern Division, Wilcox, Alabama, Page: 1070 (stamped); Line 6, Dwelling 379; Family 418, Household of Wm R. EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com: viewed 3 May 2022); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_26.
6. 1870 U. S. Census, Wilcox County, Alabama, population schedule, Pine Apple, Wilcox, Alabama, Page: 410B(Stamped); Line 34, Dwelling 30, Family 30, Household of W. R. EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: viewed 3 May 2022); citing NARA publication M593_45.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com:accessed 2 May 2019); Memorial page for William Riley Eddins; (1793–5 April 1878); Find a Grave memorial # 135673379, Citing Eddins/Dees Family Cemetery; Mount Olive, Butler County, Alabama, USA.