The Climer Family

Part 1

Isaac and Sarah Jane Climer around 1900

Isaac Denny Climer was born in Guilford Co., North Carolina on June 15, 1845. Most family trees name his parents as William Climer (or William Waggoner Climer) and Mary (Polly) Climer. This conjecture arose from the 1860 census (see below) which placed William Climer, age 70, as the head of household with Polly Climer, his presumed wife, age 40, as the second person listed in the household. After that, members of the household included Julia Climer, age 32, Isaac Climer, age 17, Lotty Climer, age 23, Jenkins Climer, age 8, and Jonathan R. Climer, age 1. Relationship to head of household was not a feature of the 1860 census; however, the last will of William Climer, written in 1863 during the height of the Civil War, named Mary as his daughter and Isaac Climer and William Jenkins Climer as his grandsons. So, where did the name Waggoner come from? In October 1873, Isaac Climer and Sarah J. Hill were married in Pittsylania Co., Va. On the marriage register, Waggoner Climer and Mary Climer were listed as the parents of Isaac Climer and William and Martha Hill were named as the parents of Sarah J. Hill. As is often the case, this led some researchers to merge the two names, William and Waggoner, into one person in order to make the known facts match the narrative. We now know that Waggoner Climer was the actual father of Isaac Denny Climer and William Climer was Waggoner's father. The use of the term "daughter" in William Climer's last will to describe Mary Climer was not uncommon in those times. It could denote a biological daughter or a daughter-in-law.

Very little is known about Waggoner Climer. Some sources indicate he married Mary in 1844 and died the same year. If this is true, he could have been the father of Isaac Denny Climer, but not of William Jenkins Climer who was born in October 1854 according to the 1900 census. By the 1870 census, Mary Climer was living with just Isaac and Jenkins, but there was still no relationship column. In the 1880 census, William Climer was named as the son of Mary Climer. In his marriage license recorded in Guilford Co., North Carolina in 1886, W. J. Climer indicated that his mother was Mary Climer, living, and the father's name field had X's in it. The fact that William Jenkins Climer did not know the name of his father at a time when his mother was still living suggests an out-of-wedlock birth, particularly when there was no husband in her 1860 and 1870 census records and she was Widowed in the 1880 census.

Mary Climer's maiden name is not known at this time; however, there were many Denny's living in Guilford Co. Because her son Isaac's middle name was Denny, it's possible that Mary Climer was born Mary Denny. There were also many Waggoners in Guilford County. Waggoner Climer's name suggests he may have been related to one of these Waggoner families, perhaps through his mother.

The 1860 and 1870 census records have some interesting details and inconsistencies. There's a twelve year difference in Mary's age which is not too unusual, but there's a seven year difference in Isaac's age which is more significant. Since Isaac was born on June 15, 1845 and each census was supposed to reflect conditions on June 1, his age in 1860 should have been 14 and in 1870 was appropriately listed as 24. In 1860 Julia Climer is listed as a male. There were a number of male Julias in the North Carolina census, so this may be accurate. His relationship to William and Mary Climer is not known at this time. Lotty and Jonathan (Jno) Climer are listed as mulatto. Again, their relationships to William and Mary Climer are not known.

William Climer's last will, signed by him on August 14, 1863, had one poignant provision inserted regarding his grandson Isaac Climer. He had bequeathed to him one shotgun and one scythe and cradle, but went on to say that if his grandson "dies in the army or gets killed in battle and never gets home, I then leave these things to William Jenkins Climer." At the time this will was written, Isaac Denny Climer was in the Confederate Army. The roster for the 2nd Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry, Company F, shows that Isaac D. Clymer enlisted in Guilford Co. on May 24, 1862. Isaac would have been three weeks shy of his 17th birthday at the time. On Nov. 10, 1862, just a month before the Battle of Fredericksburg, the 2nd Regiment was assigned to General W.H.F. Lee's Brigade under General J.E.B. Stuart in Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The 2nd Regiment rode with J.E.B. Stuart around Meade's army during the Gettysburg campaign. During an encounter with the enemy at Hanover, Pa., the 2nd Regiment was encircled and had to fight their way out. Most of their men were either killed or captured that day. The regiment continued to be attached to Lee's army through the defense of Richmond and Petersburg and the retreat to Appomattox Court House. Only 7 members of the 2nd Regiment surrendered at Appomattox. Like men from other units, many likely just rode off or walked away rather than surrender. According to official records, Isaac D. Clymer was paroled at Greensboro, N.C. on May 9, 1865. We can be sure that Isaac Climer spent more time with his grandfather after his parole and was around to receive his shotgun and scythe when William Climer's last will was recorded in Guilford County in the February Term, 1867.

Sarah Jane Climer

Sarah Jane Hill was born on May 9, 1845. Her parents were William Hill and Martha (Seamster) Hill. William Hill, a farmer, married Martha Seamster on Jan. 17, 1842 in Pittsylvania Co., Va. Sarah Jane (Hill) Climer's 1915 death certificate indicates her father was Wesley Hill, but their marriage record and the 1850 census record for her family indicate that her father's name was William. There is some question about Sarah Jane's year of birth and place of birth. In the 1880 census (see below) her age is listed as 32, which would make her year of birth 1848. The Pittsylvania Co., Va. record of her marriage in 1873 indicates her age was 22, which would make her year of birth 1851. Finally, her death certificate, which was signed by her daughter Martha Stahley and is consistent with the 1850 census record, gives a birth date of May 9, 1845. The 1850 and 1870 censuses indicate she was born in Kentucky while the rest of her family was born in Virginia. The 1910 census also indicates she was born in Kentucky. The 1880 and 1900 censuses and her death certificate say she was born in Virginia. We tend to believe the 1850 census since it was compiled only five years after her birth and is confirmed by the 1870 and 1910 censuses. Therefore, it would appear that the Hill family moved to Kentucky for a few years in the 1840s before moving back to Pittsylvania Co., Va.

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