Hicklin

The Hicklin family is believed to have come from Tyrone, Ireland in the mid 1700’s and later ended up in Lancaster County, South Carolina. There don’t appear to be many original records available on this family to connect them, so interaction with family tradition is necessary. The available records can serve to supplement and correct what has been handed down. There is a document compiled and certified by a notary public in 1931 which gives a history of the family by J. C. Hicklin, a copy of which is found in the files of the Fairfield Genealogy Society of Fairfield County, South Carolina.1 The first page of this document is a short summary of the history of the Hicklin family which states it was a record taken in 1870. It is reproduced here.

(From a sketch by J. C. Hicklin, son of Zachariah and Sarah Cloud Hicklin, and grandson of William Hicklin.)

Arthur Hicklin, from Tyrone, Ireland settled in Pa. —, thence to Lancaster County, S. C., between 1750 and 1761 - He was buried in the Hicklin grave-yard, now owned by Daniel Brown, about one mile from Brown's Ferry. He had five sons, VIZ: George, William, Arthur, Hugh and John. They served in the Revolutionary War. Arthur and John ware killed in the battle of Hanging Rock.

William was born in 1734 in Ireland, Died Oct. 10, 1819, aged 85 years - Sarah Isbel, wife of William Hicklin, died July 29, 1841. She lived to about 93 years old. The Sons of William and Sarah Isbel Hicklin were:
Jason, Hugh, Zachariah, William Arthur and Reubin.

NOT: This record was taken in 1870, from Hugh, the son of Zachariah and Sarah Cloud Hicklin, and their family record.
October 1870

Signed
J. C. Hicklin
Chester County, South Carolina

The second page which includes the certification statement from 1931 begins another section by L. M. Ford who married Jane Atwood Hicklin. This includes details which connect this family all the way down to the Cole family from which we descend.

This family is of Scotch origin. On account of persecutions received in Scotland, Arthur Hicklin left his home (Native land) and settled in Tyrone, Ireland, probably about 1730. After a residence here of more than 20 years the times were again stormy, so much so that he concluded to go to America where he might serve God in his own way, under his own vine and fig tree. Sometime in the decade of 1750-1760 which nearly desecrated Ireland, Arthur Hicklin brought his family over, and settled in Lancaster, Pa. It is not thought that he tarried long at this place. He came to South Carolina and settled in Lancaster County, taking up a large body along the eastern bank of the Catawba River at Browns Ferry.

The name of Arthur Hicklin's wife is not known. It is likely that he was married before he left Scotland. His children were: George, William, Arthur, Hugh, John and Elizabeth.

Some years of peace were spent in the forest, but "dogs of war" were turned loose, and the Revolution was on hard. Having some experience in the treatment by the Royal Government, the sons of Arthur Hicklin, one and all, soon decided on which side they would serve. So the Whigs were strengthened by the five sons of Arthur Hicklin. Arthur Jr., Hugh and John lost their lives in battling for their country. One fell at Hanging Rock, another at Eutaw Springs, and still another was so badly wounded in the latter battle, that he died. Arthur, Jr., left two daughters who were reared by their Uncle George Hicklin (his brother). One daughter married Henry Cole. The other daughter married a Williams. A daughter of Henry Cole, married Capt. Nathaniel Vanlandingham of Lancaster County, and left children. He was an ardent Methodist, and is said to have been the first Class leader in the up country.

His Bible and a hymn bock are still preserved among the decendants of Henry Cole.

While not every detail of this can be proven, some further details from other records will be discussed for these individuals in our line.

Arthur Hicklin

Arthur Hicklin Sr. and Arthur Hicklin Jr. received grants for land in Craven County, South Carolina the same day, 23 Oct 1765. Arthur Sr.’s land was 150 acres on a branch of Rocky Creek.2 Arthur Jr. got 100 acres bounded by other land, some of it already owned.3 Memorials for these pieces of land were recorded together.4 William Hicklin also received 100 acres the same date.

Arthur Hicklin lived in Lancaster County. In a 1787 deed, he gave fifty acres including “all the former improvements viz. houses buildings orchards cleared land &c whereon I the said Arthur Hicklin now live” to “my well beloved son John Hicklin.”5 William Hickling and Arthur Hicklin Jr. witnessed the deed. Note that this contradicts the above family history which states that John Hicklin died during the Revolutionary War.

Arthur Hicklin supposedly died soon after the time of that deed and it is claimed he was buried in the Hicklin family graveyard. This land was later the place of his son William Hicklin. There is a plaque placed at the cemetery which reads: “Home Place of William and Sarah Isbill Hicklin Circa 1785-1805 The burial site is believed to be that of Jane and Arthur Hicklin Sr. circa 1789 and several second generation Hicklins – This marker has been provided by Hicklin descendants 2011.”6

Arthur Hicklin Jr. and George Hicklin

As has been mentioned already, Arthur Jr. received a grant for 100 acres in Craven County on 23 Oct 1765, the same day has his father’s grant. Not much else is known for sure of Arthur Jr. It is claimed in the Hicklin document quoted above that Arthur Jr. lost his life along with Hugh and John in the Revolutionary War and that he left two daughters who were reared by his brother George. This is in conflict with what the document claims later. Later it states that he was born 7 Mar 1758 and died 19 Nov 1799. It claims he was married to Elizabeth Williams, born 1762 and who died 1803. And it states they had children Elizabeth, wife of Henry H. Cole, and Sarah, wife of William Cain. These would be the two daughters apparently reared by their uncle George. As will be seen, this presents a confusing contradiction of ideas and has yet to be resolved.

Elizabeth Hicklin

What we do know for certain is that we descend from Elizabeth Hicklin and that she was connected in some way to the above family. The Hicklin family Bible, printed in 1793, records information on some of the Hicklin, Cole and Crain families.7 Concerning the Hicklin family it states:

  • George Hicklin was born April 27th, 1754.
  • William Hicklin was born May 8th 1780
  • George Hicklin departed this life November 15th 1824
  • Rebecca Hicklin departed this life 26th June 1829
  • William Hicklin departed this life 1841

Given how early the date is, it would seem reasonable to conclude that George Hicklin born in 1754 is the same as George, son of Arthur Sr. It would also appear that he is the same one listed here as dying in 1824. The census would seem to agree with this as there is a George, appearing to be the same individual who is listed as a head of household in Lancaster District from 1790 through 1820, but not afterwards.8,9,10,11 It must be noted however that there were two George Hicklins listed in 1790 and it is not clear which is this one. It may be possible that Rebecca was George’s wife and William was their son.

The marriage of Elizabeth Hicklin to Henry Cole is recorded in the family Bible as well:

  • Henry H. Cole was married to Elizabeth Hicklin 21st day of Decr A.D. 1815

We do not know when Elizabeth was born, but given that her husband was born in 1792 and they married in 1815, she was probably born between 1792 and 1800. It would seem odd that her birth would be left out of the Bible if she were George’s daughter. Additionally, if William was a son of George and Rebecca and was born in 1780, that would put a bit of a distance between him and Elizabeth if she were his sister.

In addition to the Cole family, the births of James Crain in 1811, Alexander Crain in 1813, and the death of Sarah Crain in 1830 are recorded. This becomes significant when paired with Lancaster County Court records.

There is an Equity court case from July 1830 entitled Sarah Cole & others, minors by their next friend vs. Alexander Creyon that yields some tantalizing, yet confusing details.12 The case opens by stating that It appears that George Hicklin had a wife but no children. George Hicklin made and duly executed his last will and testament on – day December 1823 by which he devised and bequeathed his whole estate to his wife for life, and at her death to the complainants and the defendants who were his nephews and neices. It then quotes the will “And all the balance of said estate real and personal, It is my will and desire that it be equally divided between Henry and Elizabeth Coles’s children and Alexander Creyon viz – the offspring of said Elizabeth Coles body and no other; to be retained in the hands of my executors and executrix, until the age of 21 years or days of marriage; which should first happen; then to be made over then to them lawfully each legatee receiving their just ? of the same, which I will and bequeath to them and their heirs forever.” The case then states that “George Hicklin died leaving his said last will and testament in full force and leaving alive his said wife and said sisters Elizabeth Cole and Sarah Creyon – Henry Cole the husband of Elizabeth is also alive – the complainant and their children – the eldest of them about twelve years of age – and the defendant Alexander Creyon of the age of 17 years – the widow of the testator is dead.”

This case states quite clearly that this George Hicklin who left a will dated Dec 1823 had sisters named Elizabeth Cole and Sarah Creyon (Crain). The children of Elizabeth and Sarah are the complainants and the defendants who are described as his nephews and nieces in the introduction to the case. Given that this George wrote his will in late 1823, it would seem apparent that it is the same one recorded in the Bible as dying a year later on 15 Nov 1824. There were no other George Hicklins in Lancaster County at the time. How this is to be resolved is currently unknown. What is clear is that Elizabeth is part of the Arthur Hicklin family in some way.

Elizabeth’s death is also recorded in the family Bibe:

  • Elizabeth Cole departed this life May the 15th A.D. 1849

She had four known children: Mrs. Sarah H. Vanlandingham, Mrs. Jane C. Bell, our ancestor William A. Cole, and Jincie R. Cole.

See the Cole article for more on this line.

  1. Genealogy of the Hicklin Family, Cleo Clowney Hall Collection, Fairfield Genealogy Society ↩︎
  2. South Carolina Royal Grants Class 1, No. 13, p234, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-SSLM-W) ↩︎
  3. South Carolina Royal Grants Class 1, No. 13, p236, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-SS21-C) ↩︎
  4. Memorials of Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century South Carolina Land Titles, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS1L-93WK-J) ↩︎
  5. Lancaster County, South Carolina Deed Book B, p60, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-JGVL) ↩︎
  6. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192202054/arthur-hicklin: accessed 20 Aug 2026), memorial page for Arthur Hicklin (1710–1791), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192202054, citing Hicklin Family Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Robert Kringe (contributor 5637232). ↩︎
  7. Hicklin Bible Record transcribed by Perry Belle Hough and included in the Viola Caston Floyd Collection, Folder 1-1 BIBLE RECORDS, Lancaster County Library, Lancaster, South Carolina ↩︎
  8. “United States, Census, 1790”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-ZF9 : Wed Jan 15 17:43:39 UTC 2025), Entry for Geo Hicklin, 1790. ↩︎
  9. “United States, Census, 1800”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRH-BW7 : Fri Mar 08 06:54:49 UTC 2024), Entry for George Stickland, 1800. ↩︎
  10. “United States, Census, 1810”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2Y-MDC : Sat Mar 09 03:59:09 UTC 2024), Entry for George Hukland, 1810. ↩︎
  11. “United States, Census, 1820”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL7-7WB : Fri Jan 17 10:32:17 UTC 2025), Entry for George Hicklen, 1820. ↩︎
  12. Lancaster County, South Carolina, Minutes of the Court of Equity 1822-1834, Sarah Cole & others, minors by their next friend vs. Alexander Creyon, July 1810, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLK-X3CH-L) ↩︎