William Wicker was among the more than 1,200 individuals who served in the Revolutionary War and later had ties to Alabama.
Wicker was born in 1760 in Hanover, Virginia. When he was about five, his family moved to North Carolina. His family later moved to Chesterfield, South Carolina, where he lived until he entered the service.
Wicker was drafted into the war at age 17 and served alongside his father, Robert Wicker, in Captain Johnb Blakeney’s militia. This regiment was part of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, commanded by Colonel William Moultrie. In 1781, this unit became part of the militia commanded by the Swamp Fox, General Francis Marion. Throughout this time, Wicker participated in many skirmishes with the British.
In 1781, Wicker’s regiment joined General Nathanael Greene’s army at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. Colonel William Washington, a distant cousin of George Washington, also fought in the battle. This engagement was one of the bloodiest of the Revolutionary War. The battle lasted at least four hours, and many later recalled that “blood ran ankle deep in places.” At the conclusion of the battle, Wicker was discharged home with his brother-in-law, Thomas English, who was wounded.
Wicker and his family moved to Pike County around 1832. He was appointed Justice of the Peace and served for several years. He and his wife, Jane, joined the Old Ramah Primitive Baptist Church in Pike County in 1842. Wicker died in 1852 and is buried at Ramah Primitive Baptist Church.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these Americans for their commitment and service during the Revolutionary War. In 2008, the Wiregrass Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution dedicated a marker honoring his service.