1864 Civil War papers indicate James F. Hill was age twenty and born in Bradley Co, TN (1844--plus or minus a year). He enlisted in 1863 in Catoosa Co, GA, the same location of his marriage to Nancy Newton that same year. She is the daughter of Jesse and Abigail Newton who had moved to Ringgold, Catoosa, Ga from McMinn Co, TN.

I have been unable to locate him on the 1850 or 1860 Census--anywhere. On the 1870 Census, in addition to himself, wife and three daughters, a Sarah Hill, one year younger than James is living with them.

On the 1840 Census in Bradley Co, TN, there are four men with the surname hill: Burton, Barney, and two named James. I've eliminated Burton and Barney as possible candidates.

Exploring the possibility that James and Sarah were orphaned.

What happened to orphans in Bradley Co, TN in the 1840s? I did not find them on the Chancery Court records, but it did say the transcript was not complete.