Genealogy Report: Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer
Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer
6.DAVID3 MCBRAYER (WILLIAM2, FATHER '1ST GEN'1) was born 1745 in Williamsburg, Hamilton Twp, Lancaster Co., PA, and died October 19, 1816 in Mt. Pleasant Twp, Westmoreland Co., PA.He married (1) AGNES DICKSON Abt. 1771 in PA, daughter of ANDREW DICKSON and AGNES ?.She was born February 25, 1749/50 in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., PA, and died January 22, 1793 in Chambersburg, Franklin Co., PA.He married (2) AGNES 'NANCY' ? Abt. 1794 in PA.She died 1832 in PA.
Notes for DAVID MCBRAYER:
In 1816 David McBrayer, son of the Immigrating Ancestor, William McBrayer and his wife, Rebecca (Rebekah), died in Westmoreland County, PA. For some reason, after his death, his children elected to use the surname "Brier" and in later documents were all registered as such.
It could be that in previous years David, himself known by the varied surnames - McBrayer, McBryer, McBrier, McBryar, Bryar, and Brier - chose 'Brier' because of its simplicity and because so many of the old documents carried it this way. There have, of course, been other rumors as to why the name change, but no definite motive has ever been discovered. A more in-depth discussion is contained further in the text. Regardless the variation in spelling, David and his descendants are members of this family of "McBrayer" and are listed in the following pages.
Some earlier researchers have confused this David as being the progenitor of a line of McBrayers in North Carolina. It has been proven, however, that David never left Pennsylvania. Each year of his existence there can be accounted for. Heapparently did leave his home in Franklin Co. in the late 1790s and move to Westmoreland Co., PA, for a short time to take up land, but evidently, when his father became ill, he moved back to Franklin Co. to be near him and to help out. He did manage his father's estate after his death as proven by the documentation covered elsewhere in this book.
Most of the lineage contained in this section is the direct work of the late Charles Templeton Brier, who co-authored a book in 1956 with the late Ethel Brier Koller of Berkeley, CA, and the late Gleason Brier of Pittsburgh, PA, which is covered herein. Additional data has come from the files of Gleason Brier, Pittsburgh, PA, while other information has been submitted by other members of the line.
Lancaster Co, PA is now Franklin Co., PA.
David was a Revolutionary War soldier and was carried on many of the rolls of the Pennsylvania Militia. He was first shown to as a private fourth class on the rolls of the Sixth Battalion and served under First Lt. JOHN EATON in Oct 1777 (PA Archives, 5th Ser., Vol. 6, p 373). He was still shown to be serving on 1 Jul and 1 Aug 1781 as a private 4th class under CAPTAIN PATRICK JACK'S Sixth Co., 4th Battalion of the Cumberland Co. Militia, commanded by LT. COL. SAMUEL CULBERTSON (PA Archives, Vol6, 5th Ser., pp 292, 296; Vol XXIII, 3rd Ser., pp 749, 761).
(ed note: Captain Patrick Jack was a close neighbor of the McBrayers. In "Indian Wars of Pennsylvania", p 880, C. Hale Sipe, author, states, "The real Captain Jack of the Cumberland Valley, sometimes referred to as the 'Half-Indian', on account of his swarthy complexion, lived on Back Creek in what is now Hamilton Township...and it is well established that he offered (General) Braddock the services of a band of rangers, which offer the General declined...")
The final entry listing David as a soldier was on 24 Oct 1782 (PA Archives, Vol 6, 5th Ser, p 313; Vol XXIII, 3rd Ser, p 449). He was the only son of William McBrayer to serve in the Revolutionary War.
The 1790 census of PA (Franklin Co., Hamilton Twp.) lists David "BRIER" as having eight sons - 7 under 16 years of age and one over 16, and 1 daughter. The 1800 census, Westmoreland Co., PA, carries David, which will bear out some of the information yet to be presented. It will show that, instead of moving his family to North Carolina, as reported by some researchers, he did, indeed, move to the western part of Pennsylvania.
On 22 Apr 1794, David "McBryar" received Warrant #144 for 180 acres of land in Hamilton Township, Franklin Co., PA. The land was contiguous to that of his father's on Back Creek and the Conococheague River and he called it "Greenhill" (Patent BkP, Vol 31, p 336, Land Records of PA, Franklin Co., PA). He was taxed in 1779 on 100 acres of land in Cumberland Co. During the following year he increased his wealth and land holdings and in 1780 was taxed on 170 acres of land, 2 horses and 3 cattle. He is again listed during the years of 1781 and 1782 in the Transcript of Taxables with 170 acres of land for both years.
When David's father died in 1795 his mother petitioned to name David administrator of the estate (Will Bk B, p 2, FranklinCo.), and on 29 Oct 1795, he assumed that duty and responsibility and named the appraisers for the estate.
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"Personally before me appeared OLIVER V. DAWL and (AND ?) ADAM CASMER who are appointed by David Briar to appraise the personal estate of Wm Brier, dec. And on their solume (sic) oaths do swear that they will appraise all the goods and chattles of said dec. that is shown them by said David or that comes to their knowledge. Drawn and subscribed before me this 29th day of Oct. 1795.
/s/ John Scott
/s/ Oliver Dawl
/s/ Adam Casmer
(See sketch on William and Rebecca for additional data and information on various receipts relating to David's administration of the estate.)
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In 1796 David purchased from his brothers, William and Samuel, who had moved to the Carolinas in the 1760s, their shares of their father's estate. The courts in PA had determined the property and the estate "would not divide to and among the widow and children" and set a 'fair' price of 332 pounds and seven shillings 'lawful money of Pennsylvania' on the estate. David bought it at the set value and paid his mother,Rebecca, and his sister, Sarah and her husband, Andrew Taylor, for their shares. This would have given David a total of 317 1/4 acres of land - his original patent of 180 acres and his father's estate of Williamsburg, another 137 1/4 acres - and in 1797 the Record of Valuation of Franklin Co. shows the following:
David McBrier
300 acres of land
1 log house
5 horses
5 cows
A curious land deed, dated 28 Oct 1801, located in Franklin Co., shows that David and his wife, "Nancy" sold 57 acres of land to their son, William (Records of Deed, Vol. 5, #259, Franklin Co., PA). Some researchers suggest the 'Nancy' listed in this deed was actually "Nancy Agnes" or "Agnes Nancy" or that Agnes could have been an early corruptive of Nancy.
After his mother died in 1805 David sold the property in Franklin County on 31 Mar 1806 to DANIEL LEEMAN and moved the family to Westmoreland County, PA. According to the census records of 1800 for Westmoreland Co., David may have moved there about the time of his father's death and returned to Franklin Co. to handle the settlement of the estate. The land he sold in Franklin Co. was the original 'homestead' of William and Rebecca McBrayer.
As a Revolutionary War veteran he was entitled to land grants and after moving to Westmoreland Co., he began to exercise those rights by pre-empting land in the Mt. Pleasant Twp. of that county, where he appeared in the taxables in 1807.
A Franklin Co. record shows that David Brier of Westmoreland County made a final payment or settlement with his brother-in-law, Andrew Taylor, on 30 Aug 1813; this apparently was the final settlement on the estate of David's father, which he had bought in 1796.
He died and is buried in Westmoreland Co., PA.
The Orphans Court records attest that four of the children were minors at the time of David's death.) David's farm in Westmoreland Co. was finally sold in 1830 and final distribution of his estate was made at that time.
There have been many rumors as to the reason, but none substantiated, as to why, after the death of David, his children changed the family surname to "Brier". One son, Henry, continued to use "McBrier", while the rest were known as Briers, dropping the 'Mc' entirely. It is only plausible to reason that during the formative years of our country, spelling was done on a 'phonetic' basis - that is to say, the recorders (tax, census, etc.) usually spelled a name as it was pronounced and sounded to them. This would account for many of the early records which carried the name "McBrier" or "Brier". Through the years first one and then another would fail to pronounce the 'Mc' fully, which resulted in even more recordings of 'Brier' and as time passed, most of the family members, sensing the simpler method of spelling the name, and, possibly because all their friends and neighbors knew them by this name by now, adopted the shortened version. This is, of course, only one of many possible explanations; there are many others.
One such rumor says that this portion of the family were embarrassed that another group were 'makers of whiskey', and to distinguish themselves separately, they changed their name.
The following is the last will and testament of David McBrayer/Brier as recorded in Will Book #1, page 400, Office of Register of Wills, Westmoreland Co., PA.
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I David M'Brayer of the County of Westmoreland, Township of Mount Pleasant and state of Pennsylvania being weak of body but of sound mind memory and Understanding Blessed by God for the Same but considering the certainty of Death do make and Publish this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and form Viz Principally and first of all I Commend my Immortal Soul into the Hands of God who gave it and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner and as to such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give and Dispose of the same in the following manner
Viz First of all I give and Bequeath to my dear wife Agnes M'Brayer one thousand Dollars in Cash.
Item to my Eldest son William M'Brayer I give and Bequeath one Hundred and Eighty Dollars in Cash.
Item To my son Andrew McBrayer I give and Bequeath one Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars in Cash.
Item to my son Samuel McBrayer I give and Bequeath Two Hundred Dollars in Cash.
Item I give and Bequeath to my son James McBrayer one Hundred and Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Item To my Son John McBrayer One Hundred and Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Item To my son David McBrayer I give and bequeath One Hundred and Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Item To my Daughter Hannah Kilgore I give and Bequeath One Hundred and Thirty Five Dollars in Cash.
Item To my son Isaac McBrayer I give and Bequeath Two Hundred Dollars in Cash.
Item to my son George McBrayer I give and Bequeath One Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars in Cash.
Item in Addition to the above named share to my Son William McBrayer I Bequeath my Wearing Apperal.
Item To my son Hennery McBrayer I give and Bequeath the Sum of Three Hundred Dollars in Cash.
Item To my daughter Betsy McBrayer I give and Bequeath One Dollar in Cash.
Item To my Son Robert McBrayer I give and Bequeath Three Hundred and Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Item To my Daughter Rebecca McBrayer I Give and Bequeath Four Hundred Dollars in Cash.
Item To my Son Matthew McBrayer I give and Bequeath Four Hundred Dollars in Cash.
Item To my youngest Daughter I give and Bequeath Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars in Cash.
My desire is that any of my youngest Children by my Last Wife Die in a State of Minority that their share or shares be Equally Divided Between their Mother and their own Brothers and Sisters. Likewise my Desire is that my Sons Hennery (sic) Robert and Matthew McBrayers (sic)is (to) have my Waggon and Geers and when they think proper to dispose of her the price to be Equally Divided among them. Likewise I give to my son Hennery McBrayer my books with my Large Family Bible and to my son Robert McBrayer my Rifle Gun. Likewise my desire is that my Dear Wife Agnes McBrayer Shall have her Choise (sic) of two beds in the house and two Milch Cows and Six Sheep and my Horse Known by the Name of Ned and my Large Cupboard with all its Furniture and all the furniture that my House contains and all my personal property that is not named in the will To be Exposed to Public Sale and the Money to be divided among the Legatees in proportion to the Shares Nominated to Them Likewise What real property may bee (sic) To be Divided in the Same Manner after my Doctors Bill and Funeral Charges is Defrayed.
And Lastly I Nominate Constitute and Appoint John Lobinger and Doctor James Estep To be the sole Executors of my Last Will And Testament Hereby Revoking all other Wills Legacies and Bequests by me Heretofore made and Declaring this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the Said Testator as his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of Us who in his presence and at his request have Subscribed as Witnesses this Fourteenth Day of September 1816.
Testis /s/ Saml Coyle
/s/ David McBrayer (seal)
Daniel Mathias
Westmoreland County
Be it remembered that on that (sic) 31st day of October 1816 came before me the Register for the Probat (sic) of Will in & for said County Samuel Coyel (sic) and Daniel Mathis (sic) & being sworn according to Law deposeth and sayth that they were present and saw David M'Brier who is now decsd sign seal and publish the within instrument of writing to be his last will and testament and at the time of his so doing he was of Sound and ----- mind and memory and that he signed in his presents and in the presents of each other and at the Request of the man now decsd and that the signatures of these Depositions is in their own proper Handwriting sworn and subscribed before me October 31st 1816.
/s/ James McJamesy Regt /s/ Sam Coyle
I David McBrier make this codicil to my testament and last will I give to my beloved wife the full use of my Farm for the full term of two years commencing after my decease as also my Silver Watch. 2ndly I give and Bequeath to my Son Henery a bay mare now rising three yearsold. Also I desire that there be as much grain and meat reserved for the use of my family as will supply them until the next harvest. Also I give to my sons Henery, Robert and Matthew my waggon and Geers to their own use. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of October 1816.
/s/ David McBrayer (seal)
Signed published and declared by the above named David McBrier as a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us.
/s/ James Estep
Andrew Farrell
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More About DAVID MCBRAYER:
Date born 2: 1745, PA
Burial: Westmoreland Co., PA
Fact 1: 1790, Census for Hamilton Twp, Franklin Co., PA
Fact 2: 1800, Census - Westmoreland Co., PA
Notes for AGNES DICKSON:
According to the family bible of Rev. W.W. Brier, Agnes Dickson McBrayer, died 22 Jan 1793. It is presumed that she was buried at the old burial grounds near Brown's Mill, PA. (Chambersburg, PA)
More About DAVID MCBRAYER and AGNES DICKSON:
Marriage: Abt. 1771, PA
More About DAVID MCBRAYER and AGNES ?:
Marriage: Abt. 1794, PA
Children of DAVID MCBRAYER and AGNES DICKSON are:
i. | WILLIAM4 BRIER, b. Abt. 1773, Cumberland Co., PA. |
Notes for WILLIAM BRIER: WILLIAM BRIER was a rather elusive individual and very little is actually known of this son. Only bits and pieces of data have been located. This information includes: 29 Nov 1796, Militia Officers to supply vacancies in Franklin County, William BRYER, Cap't, 1st Co., 1st Bn, 1st Reg.; 8 Oct 1801, parcel of land deeded to William by his father; 24 Apr 1806 - William McBrayer of Hamilton Twp., appoints his 'trusty, loving friend, James McBrayer' (evidently the son of Nathaniel), to act as attorney to dispose of land in Hamilton Twp., adjoining lands late of David McBrayer; 9 Apr 1807, James McBrayer, attorney of Hamilton Twp., sold some land for William McBrayer, late of the same place, to Henry Rosen; Received a tract of land by Patent from the State of PA on 3 Apr 1807; On 7 May 1812 he sold this property to Henry Rosen through his attorney, James McBrayer; 22 Jan 1814 - Ezekiel Kilgore of Cincinnati, Ohio, (husband of Wm's sister, Hannah) appoints William Brier of Cincinnati as his attorney in the matter of the estate of David Kilgore of Mt. Pleasant Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. |
27. | ii. | ANDREW DICKSON BRIER, b. Abt. 1774, "Greenhill", Cumberland Co., PA (later Franklin Co., PA); d. August 1860, OH. | |
28. | iii. | CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRIER, b. June 25, 1777, "Williamsburg", Hamiton Twp, Cumberland Co., PA; d. 1858, Fountain Co., IN. | |
29. | iv. | JAMES MALCOLM BRIER, b. August 04, 1779, "Williamsburg", Hamilton Twp, Cumberland Co., PA (later Franklin Co., PA); d. December 1838, Shawnee Twp, Fountain Co., IN. | |
30. | v. | JOHN BRIER, b. Abt. 1781, "Williamsburg", Hamilton Twp, Franklin Co., PA. | |
31. | vi. | DAVID BRIER II, b. Abt. 1783, "Williamsburg", Hamilton Twp, Cumberland Co. (Franklin Co.), PA; d. February 25, 1842, Warren Co., IN. | |
vii. | HANNAH BRIER, b. Abt. 1785, Franklin Co., PA; m. EZEKIEL KILGORE; b. of Mt Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA. |
Notes for EZEKIEL KILGORE: They left Westmoreland Co. and were living in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 22 Jan 1814, when Ezekiel appointed his brother-in-law, William McBrayer, of Cincinnati, OH, as his attorney in the matter of the estate of hisfather, David Kilgore. They later migrated to Kentucky. |
32. | viii. | ISAAC BRIER, b. June 29, 1787, Franklin Co., PA; d. November 27, 1853, Warren Co., IN. | |
33. | ix. | GEORGE BRIER, b. 1790, Hamilton Twp, Franklin Co., PA; d. January 25, 1859, Warren Co., IN. | |
x. | HENRY BRIER MCBRIER, b. Abt. 1792. |
Notes for HENRY BRIER MCBRIER: Very little is known of this son also. According to the will of his father, David, Henry inherited his father's "old Family Bible" and $300 in cash. He opened land alongside his father in Westmoreland County. In the census of 1820, Westmoreland Co., Mt. Pleasant Twp., he was listed as "Henry McBrier", had 2 males between the ages of 12-26 and 1 under the age of 10. Also listed was his wife, aged 16-26. In 1830 "Henry Bryer" had 1 male 0-5, 1 10-15, himself 30-43, 1 female under 5, 2 between 5-10, and his wife of 30-40. He was said to have been a dentist in Columbus, OH. |
Children of DAVID MCBRAYER and AGNES ? are:
xi. | BETSY MCBRAYER4 BRIER, b. 1795, Franklin Co., PA. |
Notes for BETSY MCBRAYER BRIER: She was evidently disinherited by David as he left her only one dollar in cash according to his will. |
34. | xii. | ROBERT BRIER, b. Bet. 1803 - 1804, Franklin Co., PA. | |
xiii. | REBECCA BRIER, b. Abt. 1800. | ||
35. | xiv. | MATTHEW BRIER, b. 1811, Mt. Pleasant Twp, Westmoreland Co., PA. | |
36. | xv. | NANCY BRIER, b. 1813, Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., PA.. |