Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer

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Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer

9. WILLIAM³ MCBRAYER (JAMES², FATHER '1ST GEN'¹) was born Abt. 1754 in Cumberland Co., PA, and died January 05, 1820 in Anderson Co., KY. He married (1) JANE PHILLIPS October 05, 1782 in Lincoln Co., KY. She was born Bet. 1760 - 1770. He married (2) JANE WALKER December 28, 1785 in Lincoln Co., KY, daughter of ? WALKER and NANCY ?. She was born Bet. 1760 - 1770 in KY, and died February 1839 in Anderson Co., KY.

Notes for WILLIAM MCBRAYER:
As a young man William experienced the natural callings of the wilderness and eventually succumbed to that call when he joined some of the early-day parties which were beginning to drive into the newer regions to the west. It was in March of 1775 that he joined the party of surveyors and hunters led by JAMES HARROD, and headed into the wilderness of Kentucky to establish the first permanent settlement in that remote land, a fort begun some 10 months earlier by Harrod but which had to be hastily abandoned because of severe Indian troubles in the area. After Fort Harrod was completed, sometime during the winter of 1775, William returned to his father's home in VA for a short period of time, as records indicate he attended a wedding of a friend in Botetourt Co.

("The Wilderness Trail had not yet been blazed, and the hardships of the journey from the seaboard settlements was a test of manhood, endurance, and courage." Collin's History of Kentucky, Vol 2, p 19)

It was probably William's description of the Bluegrass country which eventually lured his father and the rest of the family to KY in the fall of 1779.

William and his father were both active from the outset in the political and economic standpoint of their adopted community. They immediately became involved in producing a "quality" community, and one of their first acts was to join the local militia.

From the Illinois Papers in the State Archives, Richmond, VA, were located the following records:

      William McBrayer, enlisted as a Sgt., (5 Jul 1780)(Date should be March), discharged 21 May 1780, served 47 days, WILLIAM MCAFEE, CAPT.; SAMUEL MCAFEE, LT.

      William McBrayer, enlisted 1 Apr 1781, disc. 22 Apr 1781 as a private, served 22 days for the defense of Lincoln Co., by order of COL. JOHN BOWMAN, JOHN COWANS, CAPT.

      Wm McBrayer, enlisted as a private on 20 Apr 1782, disc. 20 May 1782, served 31 days at the Falls of the Ohio under the command of WM. MCBRIDE, CAPT. of the Militia of Lincoln Co.

      Wm. McBrayer, enlisted as a private 22 Oct 1782, disc 23 Nov 1782, served 32 days under GENERAL CLARK, SAM MCAFEE, CAPT., Lincoln Co. Militia.
      (note: The General Clark mentioned above was the General GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

Records from the report of the Virginia State Libraries, which contains the "Illinois State Papers", include the records of Gen. Clark. They state that Wm. McBrayer served in "the 92 Illinois Dept and the 87th Illinois Dept of the       Virginia Troops".)

William began to settle into a new life after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown on 1 Oct 1781. As pointed out previously, he had a brief service during this period, but for the most part, he served as a community leader and developer of the country he loved.

In Feb of 1781 he was appointed a deputy surveyor under JAMES THOMPSON, the first surveyor of Lincoln Co., KY. (This is the office DANIEL BOONE held two years later.)

He was still living in Lincoln County on 22 Jan 1788 when he was appointed deputy surveyor of Mercer Co., which had been formed from Lincoln Co. three years previously.

With the division of Lincoln Co. William was left with much land in both counties and he appears in the records of both for many years. When the military organization of Lincoln County was established on 18 Jun 1781, he was assigned as constable, or sergeant, in Samuel McAfee's Company, under the command of Col. JOHN BOWMAN, County Lieutenant (Register of the KY State Historical Society, May 1922, p 171).

The first court of the county of Mercer was organized on 1 Aug 1786 and within the first order book, second day of the session, we find mention of William McBrayer. He appears as road overseer, appraiser, Juror, witness, and examiner in records entered on 5 Dec 1786, 30 Aug and 29 Nov 1787, 22 Jan 1788 (when he became deputy surveyor), 26 Feb and 26 Mar 1788, 30 Apr 1789 and later sessions.

A deed recorded on 16 Dec 1789 shows he sold land in the county of Lincoln on that date, but no county of residence is recorded. Other deeds in Lincoln County, from 23 Jul 1792 to 3 Dec 1795, state that he "was of Mercer County" and a deed made 26 Jun 1798, and recorded in Mercer Co., contains the first statement that he was of "Franklin County".

The act establishing Franklin County was effective 10 May 1795 and a portion of its territory was taken from Mercer. According to Order Book "A", pg 2, Franklin County Court, William was named the first surveyor of the county and in 1797 was appointed the Justice of the Peace. In 1801 he was appointed to a committee to contract for the land on which the new court house was to be built.

In Jan 1802 William McBrayer is listed as "County Lieutenant of Franklin Co." in court records referring to him as the executor of his father's estate, while on 19 Jan 1809, he became the ninth sheriff of Franklin County. (L.F. Johnson, "History of Franklin County, Kentucky", p 513)

For his service during the Revolutionary War he was granted much land in the area and during the late 1770's conflicting land claims caused the Virginia Assembly to establish a land commission to hear proof of the pioneer's claims to Kentucky lands taken up before 1779. The original book of this commission shows that the commission, holding court at Harrodsburg on 26 Oct 1779, granted to William McBrayer his pre-emption of 1400 acres "on the waters of Salt River, on the west side of Chaplin's Fork, on a small branch about 1/2 mile from the head of said branch by improving the said land and raising corn in the year of 1776". The grant for this land was issued on 21 May 1781 and was located in Lincoln County. (This land was contiguous to that of James Harbeson - see note below.)

On 10 Oct 1781 he was granted 600 acres of land - the grant being signed by one "PATRICK HENRY, Governor of Virginia" (Bk R, p 225. Land Grand, Richmond, VA). Other land grants were issued to him during the ensuing years of 1781 to 1786 and totaled 2570 acres.

William McBrayer was married (1) on 5 Oct 1782 in Lincoln Co., KY, to JANE PHILLIPS. "Both of this Parish..." is the statement on their marriage bond, which was signed by WILLIAM and JEREMIAH TELFORD. Nothing is known of Jane Phillips or of any issue by this union.

He married (2) to JANE (JANET, JANNET, JENNET) WALKER on 28 (24?) Dec 1785 (She d in Feb 1839.) (Lincoln Co., KY, marriage records - verified by Cathie Hargreaves) Jane was the daughter of JOHN and NANCY "AGNES" WALKER and the step daughter of THOMAS HARBISON, who was the person to authorize the clerk to issue the license "to my daughter, Jennet Walker and William McBrayers". The records of marriage are located in the clerks office in Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY. (Nancy Walker married (2) on 19 Apr 1783 to Thomas Harbison. Family tradition states that John Walker started back to VA (from KY) to check on an inheritance, apparently about 1778, and was never heard from nor seen again. *data from the records of Catherine Hargreaves, Saginaw, Mich. - Mar 1984.)

(NOTE: "The records of Mercer County show that Thomas Harbison was a friend and neighbor of William McBrayer; that he was the son of James Harbison, who was dead before 9 May 1783, and his wife, Rachel Harbison, whose will was dated July 18, 1811, and probated at the November court in that year. James Harbison's pre-emption was granted June 1, 1782, by GOVERNOR BENJAMIN HARRISON of Virginia, and adjoined land of William McBrayer, according to the Mercer County records, which contain the will of Thomas Harbison, probated at August Court, 1799, mentioning his wife, Nancy, but no daughter, Jane or Jennet." -McBrayer Genealogy - 1926, Dr. L.B. McBrayer-

"...The Harbisons moved from Chester Co., PA, to Botetourt Co., VA, and owned land there before going on to KY. James Harbison raised his first corn crop in KY in 1775. I don't know how soon he moved his family to KY, but apparently it was very early. They sheltered in a cave while they built their fort around the area that included the depression leading to one of the entries. That's now in the back yard of an old home that has been made into a museum of sorts in Perryville, KY".

"James Harbison was killed by the Indians. According to family tradition, when a search party went out they found his severed head but not his body. Rachel Porter Harbison, his wife, was said to have wrapped it in a linen cloth and put it in a chest, while they searched unsuccessfully for the body, before burying it." *Cathie Hargreaves.)

"Jennet must have been very young when she married William. Her brothers, Alexander and Robert (Harbison), were born 8 June 1772 and 13 Oct 1774 and I doubt that she was much older than Alexander since her mother had a child by Thomas Harbison as late as 23 Sep 1789." *Catherine Hargreaves.

William died 5 Jan 1820. "Departed this Life the 5th day of January 1820 in the 66th Year of his Age. An Honest Man the Noblest Work of God" reads his tombstone in the old McBrayer Cemetery near Lawrenceburg, KY. Jane died in Feb 1839 in Anderson Co., KY.

The following document was recorded in Feb 1820, pg-72, record book not known. It has been submitted for inclusion by Dee Merritt.

                        - - - - - - -

      "On the motion of Jane McBrayer, widow of William McBrayer, dec'd, it is ordered that Robert Blackwell, Jeremiah Buckley, --?-- Hogshead, and Edward Mountjoy or any three of them who being first ---- appointed Commissioner (sic) to lay off and set apart to said Jane McBrayer her Dower in and to the real estate and Slave, of which the said William Seized and ---- of and that they make report to the next Court."
/s/ John Walker

More About WILLIAM MCBRAYER:
Fact 1: February 1781, Appointed deputy surveyor of Lincoln Co., KY
Fact 2: January 22, 1788, Appointed deputy surveyor of Mercer Co., KY

More About WILLIAM MCBRAYER and JANE PHILLIPS:
Marriage: October 05, 1782, Lincoln Co., KY

More About WILLIAM MCBRAYER and JANE WALKER:
Marriage: December 28, 1785, Lincoln Co., KY

Children of WILLIAM MCBRAYER and JANE WALKER are:

40.	i.		ALEXANDER⁴ MCBRAYER, b. KY; d. January 1828, KY.
	ii.		CLARK MCBRAYER, d. Aft. 1820, KY.

Notes for CLARK MCBRAYER:
His will was probated in 1835. He is buried in Anderson Co., KY.

iii.

HIRAM MCBRAYER, d. 1835, KY.

Notes for HIRAM MCBRAYER:
He never married. His will was probated in Anderson Co., KY, 13 Jul 1835 (extract in file of William McBrayer).

iv.

LEWIS MCBRAYER, b. KY.

Notes for LEWIS MCBRAYER:
He never married.

ROBERT MCBRAYER, b. KY; d. October 1831, Ky; m. MARY 'POLLY' CARR, June 21, 1824, Franklin Co., KY.

Marriage Notes for ROBERT MCBRAYER and MARY CARR:
One date given for marriage is 24 Jun 1824.

More About ROBERT MCBRAYER and MARY CARR:
Marriage: June 21, 1824, Franklin Co., KY

vi.

WALKER MCBRAYER, d. Bef. 1820.

Notes for WALKER MCBRAYER:
He was killed by lightening.

41.	vii.	JAMES MCBRAYER, b. May 08, 1787, Anderson Co., KY; d. January 14, 1855, Lawrenceburg, Anderson Co., KY.
42.	viii.	CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. MCBRAYER, b. Abt. 1800, KY; d. Bef. 1850, KY.
	ix.	MARTHA A. MCBRAYER, b. December 07, 1802, KY; d. October 18, 1831, Anderson Co., KY.

Notes for MARTHA A. MCBRAYER:
Her will was probated 12 Dec 1831 in Anderson Co., KY.

43.

NANCY MCBRAYER, b. Bef. 1808.

10. ANDREW³ MCBRAYER (JAMES², FATHER '1ST GEN'¹) was born October 20, 1778 in VA or KY, and died May 16, 1839 in Anderson Co., KY. He married MARTHA BLACKWELL June 14, 1805 in Anderson Co., KY ⁶, daughter of ROBERT BLACKWELL and MARY WHITE. She was born March 22, 1789 in Hanover Co., VA, and died April 30, 1861 in Anderson Co., KY.

Notes for ANDREW MCBRAYER:
(The birth in KY is more reasonable as his father was about this time moving from the Botetourt Co., VA, area.).

Andrew was one of the more prominent individuals of Anderson County, KY. He served as the county sheriff in 1835, Justice of the Peace in 1833, and held the position of the Justice of the Peace in Franklin Co., KY, in 1828. He served in the lower house of the legislature from Anderson Co. in 1828-38.

He lived on the old 'James McBrayer' home place on the Glenboro Road. A will for Andrew was recorded in Anderson Co. on 21 Jul 1833, naming his sons (the two oldest), Sanford and Robert as heirs. He died in 1839 and his will was probated there on 10 Jun 1839. His date of death is recorded as 16 May 1839.

More About ANDREW MCBRAYER:
Burial: Lawrenceburg City Cem, Lawrenceburg, Anderson Co., KY
Fact 1: 1810, Franklin Co., KY census, pg 144
Fact 2: 1820, Franklin Co., KY census, pg 146
Fact 3: 1830, Anderson Co., KY census, pg 87
Fact 4: 1840, Anderson Co., KY census, pg 101
Fact 5: 1850, Anderson Co., KY census, pg 249

Notes for MARTHA BLACKWELL:
She is also listed as 'Mary Patsey Blackwell'.

More About MARTHA BLACKWELL:
Burial: Lawrenceburg City Cem, Lawrenceburg, Anderson Co., KY

Marriage Notes for ANDREW MCBRAYER and MARTHA BLACKWELL:
LDS A170709-0170 - License located in Franklin Co., KY. Bondsman was John Lightfoot.

More About ANDREW MCBRAYER and MARTHA BLACKWELL:
Marriage: June 14, 1805, Anderson Co., KY⁶

Children of ANDREW MCBRAYER and MARTHA BLACKWELL are:

44.	i.	SANFORD⁴ MCBRAYER, b. May 10, 1806, KY; d. May 15, 1870, La Cross, WI.
45.	ii.	ROBERT CLAIRBORNE MCBRAYER, b. May 10, 1809, KY; d. September 10, 1843, KY.
46.	iii.	MARY MCBRAYER, b. March 30, 1812, Salt River, Franklin (now Anderson Co.), KY; d. July 22, 1857, Lawrenceburg, Anderson Co., KY.
	iv.	JANE MCBRAYER, b. December 14, 1812, KY; d. October 31, 1865; m. WILLIAM SHERMAN, February 15, 1859, Anderson Co., KY.

Notes for JANE MCBRAYER:
She is buried in the McBrayer Cem., Lawrenceburg, KY.

Notes for WILLIAM SHERMAN:
William Sherman was a widower. He and Jane had no issue.

Marriage Notes for JANE MCBRAYER and WILLIAM SHERMAN:
Another DOM given is 14 Feb 1859.

More About WILLIAM SHERMAN and JANE MCBRAYER:
Marriage: February 15, 1859, Anderson Co., KY

47.	v.		SARAH MCBRAYER, b. October 05, 1815, KY; d. March 21, 1838.
	vi.		DR. JOHN ALLEN MCBRAYER, b. October 03, 1817, KY; d. March 23, 1850.

Notes for DR. JOHN ALLEN MCBRAYER:
He studied medicine with Doctor Dixon Dedman, his brother-in-law, and established himself at Mt. Eden, and later practiced at Harrodsburg, KY. In 1846 he went to Cuba for his health and lived for awhile in Mexico. He became assistant surgeon in the US Army and in May 1840 the Western Journal of Medicine and Surgery gave an account of an operation performed by him on wounded intestines. He died, unmarried, on 23 Mar 1850. He suffered for some time with tuberculosis. He is buried in the old McBrayer Cemetery on the Glenboro Rd. near Lawrenceburg, KY.

More About DR. JOHN ALLEN MCBRAYER:
Cause of Death: tuberculosis

	vii.	JAMES MORTIMER MCBRAYER, b. October 25, 1820.
48.	viii.	WILLIAM HARRISON MCBRAYER, b. December 10, 1821, KY; d. December 06, 1888, Lawrenceburg, Anderson Co., KY.
	ix.	ANDREW JACKSON MCBRAYER, b. December 13, 1823, KY; d. 1823, KY.
49.	x.	KATHERINE MCBRAYER, b. February 24, 1825, KY; d. April 29, 1856.
50.	xi.	FRANCES MCBRAYER, b. March 02, 1827, KY; d. October 28, 1851, KY.
	xii.	MARTHA A. MCBRAYER, b. January 25, 1832, KY; d. March 02, 1853.

Notes for MARTHA A. MCBRAYER:
She died at age 21 years, never married and is buried in the McBrayer Cemetery, Lawrenceburg, KY.

51.	xiii.		ELIZABETH ANN MCBRAYER, b. November 14, 1834, KY; d. July 27, 1889, TX.
	xiv.		ANDREW JACKSON MCBRAYER, b. March 29, 1829, KY.

Notes for ANDREW JACKSON MCBRAYER:
This Andrew was named for his younger brother who died in infancy six years earlier. The was a common practice in those times - to name a later child for one who had died earlier.

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