Person:William Covington (15)

Research done by early aspirants for membership in patriotic societies appears to have conflated two different William Covingtons. The William Covington who served in the Revolutionary War was born in Maryland, a member of an extensive community that had migrated from Queen Anne's County, Maryland to Anson County, North Carolina, which bordered South Carolina. The William Covington who died in Lincoln County, Georgia appears to be a son or grandson of Thomas Covington and Mary Newbill of Virgina. (Note the name of his son Newball. Newball/Newbill is not known name among the Maryland/North Carolina Covingtons.) Given the dates of birth of his child and he may be the brother, rather than the father of the Ursula Covington who married John Walker.

1. ↑ Vol. K, p. 1019; FHL #0202628, in Georgia. Superior Court (Lincoln County). Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1909; general index to deeds & mortgages, [1796-1905]. (Mann Film Laboratories, 1960).

   [Extract]
   Indenture 3 October 1806
   Between William Covington and Mary his wife of Lincoln County, Georgia
   and James McCord of same place
   who paid $700
   for land by the Waters of Little River
   containing by estimation 300 acres
   Bounded as follows:
   at a new corner that was made by William covington and Zeanow Parker, then on Parkers line to his corner pine then along Parkers line again to his corner Water Oak then on Benjamin Bussey line to his corner Post Oak then on Robert Jackson line to his corner Post Oak then along Jackson line again to Samuel Averys line then along Avereas line to his corner Hickory by the beg branch then down the sd Branch to where Bolers line comes on the sd Branch then along Bolers line to his corner post oak then along the sd Bolers line again to Marshalls Corner Post Oak thence along Marshalls line to a new corner Red Oak then along that new line to the Beginning Corner
   Being part of a tract of land granted to Daniel Longstrut on 21 March 1787 Secretaries Office Book N.N.N., folio 206, 9 April 1787
   Signed William x [his mark] Covington, Mary Covington
   Witnessed: Robert Walton JJC, Robert Walton Jr.

2. ↑ Perryman, Clinton J. History of Lincoln County, Georgia. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1960)
   Appendix B.
3. ↑ National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. , in National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
   Member #43042.

   William Arthur Selmon, gg-grandson of William Covington (1753-1816) of South Carolina
   Sources:
   South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, July 1901
   p. 168
   Pay Bill of Captain Samuel Wise's Co. 1 Sep -1 Oc 1775, Regiment of Rangers: William Covington
   p. 174
   Non-Commisioned Officers and Privates: William Covington - Dates of Commissions and Attestations, 10 July 1775; age 22; size 6x1 [6 ft 1 in]
   [This Information regarding Revolutionary War service appears to be for a different William Covington, b. in North Carolina]
   ---
   Lincoln County [Georgia] Counrt House: William Covinton, appling 1815 for Land Warrant containing 300 acres on Head Rights. Issued
   ---
   Will of William Covington: names "my daughter Betsy Silman"
   ---
   No. 0699 Book of Claims against the State of SC growing out of the War of the Revolution
   ---
   DAR [Member] #97237, #39400

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Will (photocopy) of William Covington, Kines-Miles Family Tree (owner Paul Kines); citing Georgia Department Archives & History,Wills pages 58,59,60
   accessed 15 Aug 2022.

   William Covington, of Lincoln County, Georgia
   To my beloved wife Molly Covington, two negro women Hannah and Dorcas during her life time, then Dorcas to my son Newbell Covington and Hannah to my son Marshall Covington
   To my son David Covington, 2 negro children named Betty and Jack
   To Milly Walton one negro girl named Peg
   to Alley Miles my daughter one negro girl named Mary her life time and then to Polly Miles Alley Miles daughter
   To my daughter Fanny Miles one negro girl named Chaney
   To my grandson Thomas Covington one negro boy named Isaac, that is if he is not sold to pay my son Thomas Covingtons debts
   To my two grandchildren Tild Covington and Selwin one negro girl named Jinny to be divided between them equally
   To Fanny Dennis one sixty Dollar Horse
   My Stock of all kinds to be sold to pay my debts or if not sold to be divided among my children equally
   Signed 6 February 1816, William x his mark Covington
   Witnesses Wm Covington Jr. Executor
   William P. Selman [Solomon?] Executor
   Newbell Covington
   To my daughter Betsey Selman [Solomon] one negro girl named Sal
   To my son John Covinton one negro boy named Joe
   To my son William Covington Jr one negro boy named Jacob
   To my son Edward Covington one negro boy named Isom
   Witness Wm B[uder], Edward Covington
   My land to my two youngest sons Newball Covington and Marshall Covington to be equally divided between them after the death of my wife Molly Covington
   Witnesses Pleasant Walton, Thos B[eeder], Abram Ayres
   1 July 1816 - Pleasant Walters, William Reeder and Abram Ayres proved will in court

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Lincoln County, Minutes, 1799-1852, in Georgia, United States. Georgia, Probate Records, 1742-1975
   Vol. N, p. 56.

   Monday 1 July 1816
   Ordered that the last will and testament of William Covington sen decd be proven and recorded and letters testamentary be granted to the Executor William Covington Executor in and by said will named and appointed.

6. ↑ Lincoln, 1818, in Georgia, United States. Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011).

   Captain Graves District
   Covington, William, 3 slaves, no land
   ditto Ex for Covinton, William, 4 slaves, 223 acres of 2nd quality land, adjacent to Eubanks [neighbor], Little River water course
   ditto Admin for Covington, Thomas, 4 slaves, no land
   Covington, David, 2 slaves, no land