Return to Lineage Page Some more Weir Lineage Return to Reuben Payne
The early records of Augusta Co., VA are replete with the name Weir and Wear. The names seem to have been used interchangeably. Augusta Co., VA covered a large area and later other countries and parts of counties were formed from it. Today most of the records of Old Augusta County are found in Rockbridge Co. In 1912 Lyman Chalkley wrote three Volumes entitled "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia". The books summarize the early court records of this region. As in most all cases, original records should be referred to whenever possible, books on genealogy should be used as guidelines only.
They families of Hugh and Robert were closely connected as evident
by the
similarities or location and family ties.
A study of these records reveal that there were several Weir families
living in Augusta Co., Va in the century from 1700 to 1800 - they were
very
early settlers of the region. We find on Aug 19, 1752 where Robert
Weir
and John Cunningham, both of Augusta, are Grantees from Richard
Cousart of 333 acres.
Witnessed by Samuel Houston ( This Samuel was most probably the son
of
John
Houston
and Margaret McClung), Thos. Eakin, Andrew Lockridge.
In 1789 a Thomas Stuart of Augusta Co. died and a list of
debts owed
to the estate was filed with the court. The various people mentioned
were
identified in some way. There were five Weirs, three of whom
were
named John:
Jon Weir (Smith's cousin), John Weir (Hughs brother),
John Weir (Roberts son), James Weir (Jeremiah
Telford's
father in law), Hugh Weir (Smith) - reference fround in
Chalkley's Chronicles Vol. III Page 189. This list gives us a
great
many clues. The word Smith, no doubt was used for blacksmith or
silver
smith since many in the list of 75 men were identified by their trade.
Although
there were many Weirs living in Augusta Co. all have not been
divided
into families with certainty.
In this text we are concerned with the Hugh Weir who owned a plantation in Rockbridge Co., VA and who died in 1779. He left a very interesting will, it is not punctuated and the spelling in phonetic - also it contains workds we are not familiar with today. Some punctuation has been added for clarity. One item is where Hugh speaks of his grandchildren to wit the Hughes. In studying the grandsons named Hugh we do find that daughter Elizabeth McCutcheon had a son Hugh who was born Feb 22, 1773, daughter Susana Buchanans son Hugh was born about 1775 and son Josephs son Hugh was born 1770-1780, according to the 1830-40 Blount Co., TN Census. Then of course Hugh states my Grandson Hugh to wit my son Johns son. All other grandsons named Hugh, that we have record of, were born after the date of old Hugh's will of Mar 31, 1779.
Will of Hugh Weir Rockbridge co., Va March 31st 1779
In the name of God Amen. I Hugh Weir of the County of Rockbridge and
Colony
of Virginia Calling to mind that mortality of my body though sound in
Memory
knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die as also believing
that
God is able at the Resurrection to Raise this same Body and to unite it
to
the soul again do make and constitute this my last Will and Testamnt.
That
is to say first and principally I give my soul to God who gave it and
my
Body to be Bruied in a Christian and Decent like manner at the
Direction
of my Executors and as Touching such wordly Estate as it hath pleased
God
to Bles me with I give and Bequeath in Manner following. First I give
and
bequeath to my Beloved wife my old bay mare two best Cows and four
sheep
her bed and furniture her Chest and also all Dressing furnishing my
Dwelling
House with a sufficient Maintinance from my plantation during her life,
as
also my Negro wench during her life and then I order her to my son Abrahm
Jonathan likewise I order my plantation to my son Abraham
and
allow him to pay to my son James the sum of Two Hundred pounds good and
lawful
money of Viginia if Money stands at the same value it now goes at if it
alters
I leave my Executors Judges in that Alteration. Likewise I give and
Bequeath
to my son Abraham my Sorrel Colt paying to my son George and
Hugh each fifty pounds leaving the Alteration as aforesaid to
the
Direction of my Executors the several sums I order Abraham to
pay
at the expiration of two years after my Decease. Also I give to my sons
John, Joseph and Samuel to each Twenty Shillings
likewise I
give to my Daughters Jean Cunningham, Margret Montgomery, Mary
Walker,
Susanna Buchanan, Elizabeth McCutchen to each Ten Shillings
likewise
I give and bequeath to my Grandson Hugh to wit my son Johns son
the sum of Twenty pounds. Also I allow my son Abraham to
provide and
lay in a sufficient Quantity of food for the aforesaid Stock willed to
my
wife yearly. Item I give to my Grandchildren to with the Hughes to each
forty
Shillings and the Remainder of the thick Cloath after Abrahms
suit
to be equally Divided betwixt my three youngest sons and all the
Remainder
of my Estate to my wife to pay debts and to be at her Disposal and
lastly
I constitute John Weir Junior and George Weir my
Executors
and Revoke all former wills witnes my hand and seal this 31st Day of
March
in the year above Mentioned.
Hugh Weir (Seal)
Signed Sealed and published in presence of us
Saml. Weir
Mathew Houston (This would the
Houston
family
of Gen. Samuel Houston)
George Weir
desc-henry: Descendant report for Hugh Weir Generated by the LifeLines Genealogical System on 27 Jan 1997.
(Again after some research after this was
posted it
seems that the John Wear born 12JAN1741 was from Bucks Co., PA and was
the
son of Robert
Wear and Rebecca Carrell. The lineage below is correct as George
Wear
was a son of John Wear who died in ca 1800 in Washington Co., TN and
Reuben
Payne did witness his Will. The John Wear who served in the
Revolution
died Jan 17, 1835 in Sevier Co., TN)
1. Hugh Weir d: ABT 1779, ,Rockbridge CO,VA Will probated 3 AUG
1779.
His wife was living when the will was written but no name was
given.
He named 13 children, eight sons and five daus. John was the 6th son.
1.s. <SPOUSE>Margaret
1.1. John Wear b: 12 JAN 1741(incorrect), ,,VA d: ABT
1800,
,Washington CO,TN Will written 1800. (Reuben Payne
witness) Probably born in
Rockbridge
Co., VA.
Had 11 children, George was
the
7th. Served in American Revolution and received a land grant of
150
acres in TN for his services.
1.1.s.
Agnes
Blackburn b: 1757 d: BEF 1835 Called Ann or Nancy too.
1.1.1. George Wear b: 2 FEB 1777,
,Rockbridge CO,VA d: 5 DEC 1865, Baldwyn,,MS bur:
Geeville,Johnson CO,MS Buried in Old
Lebanon
Cemetery. Had eleven children, Margaret was oldest.
Served in War of 1812 and received at
least
80 acres of bounty land for his services. He and Sarah left
Washington CO., TN after 1801 and by 1813 had
moved
to Madison CO., AL. From there, by 1840,
they had first moved to Cooper CO., MO and then to
Johnson
CO., MO.
1.1.1.s. Sarah Rhea b: 1781, ,,VA m:
30 SEP
1800, ,KnoxCO,TN d: 1850/1860 Probably died Johnson CO,
MO. Also probably dau. of Margaret
Campbell
(1735-aft 1781) and her cousin, Archibald Rhea Sr,
first tavernkeeper of Knoxville, TN, who died in
1794.
All of the Rheas both in VA and TN in early days
were related and according to Zella
Armstrong,
in her "Notable Southern Families", descended from
Matthew Campbell who was imprisoned on
the Isle
of Man, Peel Castle. He fled to Ireland and changed
his name to Creagh, Reagh, Reah, and what
finally
became Rhea. Much more here on a
RHEA
WEBSITE
Some descendents changed the name to RAY,
and
one of these was the noted genealogist and historian,
Worth S. Ray.
1.1.1.1.
Margaret
R. Wear b: 10 AUG 1801, ,Washington CO,TN d: 4 OCT
1874, Baldwyn,,MS
"Family legend says she was first
married
to Sheriff William Trimble, who disappeared shortly after
their wedding day, his horse,
still
saddled and completely equipped being found wandering in the
forest.
The sheriff was never
seen again..."
1.1.1.1.s. Richard
B.
Clayton b: 15 MAR 1790, ,,NC m: 10 MAR 1829, ,JacksonCO,AL d:
27
DEC 1867,
Baldwyn,,MS First
marriage
produced four daughters and one son. 'It is not known why Richard
was usually
referred to as
"Colonel"
and I have never been able to get his military record but he would
have
been of the
right age to
serve
in the War of 1812. His parentage and county of his birth are
also
unknown. After the Civil
War he operated a
hotel in Baldwyn, MS, the "Forrest House", and it was there that
he
and his second wife,
Margaret Wear,
died.', Jopling book, pg. 460. They had seven daughters and 2 sons, one
of
whom was
killed fighting
for
the Confederacy. Richard B. Clayton served as County Clerk
of
Jackson Co., AL from
1828 to 1836. In
1836
they moved to the now extinct town of Carrolville, MS where he took
charge
of the
village tavern.
He
also had a drygoods store there, in partnership with his
son-in-law
Porter Walker. When
the RR bypassed
Carrolville, they all moved to Baldwyn.
1.1.1.1.1.
Eliza Jane Clayton b: 11 DEC 1829, ,,AL d: 14 SEP 1895, ,,MS bur:
Baldwin,,MS
1.1.1.1.1.s.
Porter Walker b: 13 DEC 1812, ,,NC m: 25 SEP 1846, ,TishomingoCO,MS d:
15
MAR 1875,
Baldwyn,,MS
Had 10 or more children (Jopling book notes, Lucille Adams)
1.1.1.1.2.
Louisana A. B. Clayton b: ABT 1831
1.1.1.1.3.
Harriet Clayton b: ABT 1833
1.1.1.1.4.
Richard E. Clayton b: ABT 1836
1.1.1.1.5.
Margaret A. Clayton b: ABT 1838
1.1.1.1.6.
Mary C. Clayton b: ABT 1840
1.1.1.1.7.
Martha F. Clayton b: ABT 1842
1.1.1.1.8.
Julia Driver Clayton b: 25 AUG 1843, ,TishomingoCO,MS d: 21 NOV 1911,
Baldwyn,,MS
1.1.1.1.8.s.
William Simonton Bowdry b: 4 SEP 1836, Lawrenceburg,,TN m: 23
OCT
1867, ,Tishomingo CO,
MS d: 17 OCT 1899,
Baldwyn,,MS
WSB served as 2nd Lt. of Infantry, 3rd MS. Regt., in the Civil
War.
He
was
taken
prisoner at Battle of Ft.Donelson, TN, spent 7 months in prison on
Johnson's
Island, OH, was
exchanged,
re-enlistd and continued to serve for the duration of the war. His
regiment
at Ft. Donelson was
commanded
by his first cousin, Col. John Simonton. WSB was the 4th child of 5
sons and 3 daughters.
Benjamine Wear, another son of John Wear married Nancy
Agnes Duff, daughter of William Duff and Agness. Nancy
Duff is named in her fathers will of 1819 recored in Washington
Co.,
Va Book 4 Page 314.
The children of Benjamine Ware and Nancy Agnes were:
1. Mariamme WEAR-born 3 Feb 1806
2. John Calvin WEIR-born 17 Oct 1808
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End of Report