The basic root of our Kirkland family tree can be traced to the year 1821 with the birth of Jeremiah (Jerry) Kirkland. Jerry was born a slave in South Carolina and owned initially by Joseph Kirkland. Upon Joseph Kirkland’s death, his probated will bequeath slaves to his wife, Mary and his children. Jerry was willed to John P. Kirkland sometime about 1850. It is unknown at this time how Jerry met Letha Drakeford, but what is known is that she and Jerry had four children, Adeline, Polly, Frank, and Seaborn. Jerry also had a son, Adam, from an unknown woman. The 1870 census indicated Jerry, aged 49, married to Caroline, aged 40, and the 1880 Census revealed that Jerry and Caroline had a nephew, Sterling Kirkland, aged 11, and a niece, Margaret Rutledge, aged 12, living with them. The nephew suggests that Jerry had a brother or perhaps an unmarried sister. The niece presents a different picture – if she is Jerry’s niece by blood it would have to be a sister married to a Rutledge, or it could be his wife's, Caroline, niece. Jerry purchased 200 acres of land from Mary Kirkland, widow of Joseph Kirkland, for $600 on March 15, 1881 and also purchased land from Jesse Kilgore. His total land ownership consisted of 754 acres by the time Jerry died. This tract became the Kirkland homestead. Jerry died about 1897 without a will. His property was divided initially between his wife, Caroline, and his 4 children, Adeline, Polly, Frank and Seaborn. Initially, Adam did not receive any of his father’s property and contested the original division of property through the Kershaw County Court of Common Pleas. The judgment was in his favor and the land was redistributed, according to a survey completed December 27,1895, to the five children and surviving spouse. The court judgment provides proof of Jerry Kirkland’s descendants.