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

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Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer

22. SAMUEL⁴ MCBRAYER, JR. (SAMUEL³, WILLIAM², FATHER '1ST GEN'¹) was born January 15, 1771 in Tryon Co., NC, and died August 07, 1846 in Daviess Co., MO. He married ELIZABETH ANN ABEL³¹ Abt. 1801 in Buncombe Co., NC, daughter of THOMAS ABEL and KATHERINE WOODFIN. She was born June 1785 in VA, and died 1866 in Daviess Co., MO.

Notes for SAMUEL MCBRAYER, JR.:
Samuel grew up on the family farm on the banks of the French Broad River in Tryon, later Rutherford Co., NC., neglecting the lure of married life until about the age of 30.

According to land grants recorded in the archives in Raleigh, NC, and in Buncombe Co., NC., Samuel was granted land, 300 acres, "lying and being in the County of Buncombe on the North Fork of Cane Creek", on 7 Jul 1794. This land had been surveyed for him on 5 Oct 1792 (entered 20 Aug 1792 - Bk 85, pg 1)

Samuel apparently moved from Rutherford Co. to Buncombe Co. alone, leaving his family on their property in Rutherford Co. It is said "When he first came into the valley he settled on the land and began putting in his crops. During that first period he lived alone on the land, staying under the shelter of a rock overhang on the side of the mountain. After he had his first crops in he went back to Rutherford Co. for his family. By living under the overhang of rocks he gained the nickname of "Samuel Rooter" McBrayer."

It may have been Samuel Jr. who persuaded his father to purchase land "over the mountains" and move from Rutherford Co. in about 1797. Samuel entered a claim and was granted another parcel of land, 100 acres "lying and being in the County of Buncombe on the East side of French Broad River, on a branch that Samuel McBrayer now lives including a school house". This land was also adjoining that of his father's, "Samuel McBriars", and his brother, James. This land, entered 2 Jan 1799 (file #837, Grant #818), was finally recorded on 4 Sep 1800.

On 23 Jun 1800 Samuel was recorded as a witness to a land grant of 100 acres "on Rocky Mountain at the head of Roaring Branch, it being a branch of Shaw's Creek, Buncombe Co.", to his brother, John McBrayer.

The 1800 census of NC. indicated that Samuel was still living with his father

In the 1810 census Samuel, Jr. is shown to be living on his land - the farm on the North Fork of Cane Creek.

Samuel was again recorded as a witness when his father sold land in Rutherford Co. on 6 Jan 1794.

On 29 Apr 1803 Samuel Jr. bought for $16.00 a lot in the town of Burr, Rutherford Co., NC, from the Commissioners, one of which was his brother, William McBrayer.

Samuel was apparently in the militia during the War of 1812 as records indicate he was attached to (1st) the "Fifth Company, detached from the 2nd Rutherford Regiment, 10th Brigade, John C. Elliot, Captain, William Porter, First Sergeant. He was next listed with the 12th Company, detached from the 2nd Rutherford Regiment with Epperson Davidson, Brig. Gen., 2nd Brigade, 8th Regiment, Nathan Horton, Lt. Col. commanding. Merritt Burgess was the 1st Major and Samuel Davidson was the 2nd Major. Samuel was the only Samuel McBrayer in Rutherford Co., NC at this time who was old enough to serve in the war (UNLESS it was Samuel, son of William and Elizabeth Marvon McBrayer, who was only 21 years old.)

In August of 1982 Carl McBrayer of Midwest City, OK, in the company of James Earl McBrayer of Morehead, KY, was taken to the site of Samuel's cabin on Cane Creek, NC, by Daintry Allison (Her husband was a descendent of Samuel). After a short climb up a steep hill, which provided a panoramic view of the valley, the site was reached. The cabin was gone, but an old log barn which could possibly have been built in the early 1800s still stands. It has been added to, but the old logs are still definitely visible. Also remaining on the property is a Siberian Iris which was planted by Ann Abel in the front yard. It is still healthy and growing. Toward the back of the property stood a large apple tree reportedly planted by Samuel.

In about 1834 Samuel and all his children, with the exception of the three oldest, packed their belongings and moved to Daviess Co., MO, where sons Solomon and John had settled a year or so before.

      (From a biographical sketch about David Crockett - "The McBrayer family tell a story about their ancestor's encounter with David Crockett during one of his trips through here. They believe it was Samuel McBrayer (1771-1846) who was out hunting one day near his home on the present Old Fort Road in Fairview. He saw a wild turkey, raised his gun and fired, but just as he fired, he heard another shot. David Crockett had also spotted the same turkey at the same time. Since the men could not determine whose shot had brought the bird down, the decided to split it.")

Samuel was buried in the McCrary Cem., Daviess Co., MO.

      (Some historians and researchers have confused two of the younger daughters of Samuel McBrayer, Sr., (#360) as those of Samuel Jr. These were Martha, b 1791, and Jane (confused with James), b 1 Jun 1793.) (Material contributors for Samuel and descendants include: Myrtle Coulson Hatala, June Harlow Thomson, Brian McBrayer, among others.)

The following is an article from the Fairview, N.C., Town Crier March 2001. It was provided by Dianne Crawford via email on 14 March 2003.

Samuel McBrayer, Jr.

Samuel McBrayer Jr. was one of the first settlers of Fairview. He was born January 15,1771, in what was then Tryon County, North Carolina. (It later became York County, South Carolina.) Samuel was the son of Samuel McBrayer Sr. and his first wife, Elizabeth. His father had moved from near Chambersburg in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to the Carolinas around 1765. By 1782 Samuel McBrayer Sr. was living in Rutherford County. He is listed on the Rutherford County 1782 tax list under Captain Hugh Beaty's Company as owning 222 acres of land, 5 horses, and 14 head of cattle. The McBrayers lived on White Oak Creek in the section of Rutherford County that later became Polk County.

In 1792 Samuel McBrayer Jr. applied for a state land grant in Buncombe County, and in 1794 he was granted 300 acres "lying and being in the County of Buncombe on the North Fork of Cane Creek." Samuel was 23 years old and not yet married when he moved to Fairview. His land was located between Spring Mountain Church and Echo Lake. The Robert and Daintry Allison house is located on this property.

Samuel moved to Buncombe County alone. He did not build a cabin or any kind of shelter; instead, he lived under the shelter of an overhanging rock on the side of the mountain for a year or longer. This gained him the nickname of "Samuel Rooter." Samuel drained the swamps and cleared the surrounding land to put in his first crop by himself. He was able to persuade his father to move to Buncombe County in late 1796 or early 1797. Judging by the deeds, it appears Samuel McBrayer Sr. first settled on Shaws Creek in what became Henderson County. The 1800 census appears to indicate Samuel Sr. was living in Fairview, although he continued to own land in what is now Henderson County.

Samuel McBrayer Jr. entered a claim for another parcel of land of 100 acres "lying and being in the County of Buncombe on the east side of French Broad River, on a branch that Samuel McBrayer now lives including a school house." This land, entered January 2, 1799, (file #837,Grant #8180) and recorded September 4, 1800, is the earliest mention of a school in Fairview that I have ever located.

In 1802 Samuel Jr. married Elizabeth Anna Abel, daughter of Revolutionary soldier Thomas H. Abel and Katherine Woodfin, who moved to Buncombe County from Virginia in the 1790s. Anna Abel was born in June 1785 in Virginia according to most sources, although the 1850 Davies County, Missouri, census says she was born in East Tennessee. The home of Samuel and Anna Abel McBrayer stood near the Robert and Daintry Allison home on Old Fort Road. The remains of the house were still visible as late as 1921. Siberian Iris planted by Anna Able McBrayer are still alive and healthy in front of where the old house stood.

Samuel bought a lot for $16 in the town of Burr in Rutherford County on April 29,1803, from the Rutherford County Commissioners. One of the County Commissioners was Samuel's uncle, William McBrayer. At the time, Rutherford County was trying to promote navigation of the Broad River from Columbia and Charleston in South Carolina, and the town of Burr was laid out to be the county's port city. The town failed, however, because the Broad River was too small and shallow.

Samuel and Anna Abel lived at their farm on Old Fort Road for 30 years. Then in 1830 there began a second wave of migration from the community to Missouri. (Earlier, between 1808 and 1818, there had been a big migration from Buncombe County to central and western Missouri.) This time the migration to northwestern Missouri seemed to be a strictly Fairview phenomenon. In the 1830-32 period, the McCrarys, Whitakers, Gallimores, and other Fairview families moved to Davies County, Missouri.

Samuel and Anna Abel McBrayer joined in this movement. They and eight of their eleven children moved to the McCrary Community south of Gallatin in Davies County. The couple's two oldest children, Lavina and William, stayed in Buncombe County. (William, the oldest son, remained on the old Samuel McBrayer farm.) The third child, Martin, moved to Georgia.

Samuel and Anna Abel lived in Davies County the rest of their lives. Samuel died there August 7, 1846, at age 75. He was buried in the McCrary Cemetery. Anna Abel was living with her son Andrew J. McBrayer according to the 1850 census. She outlived her son by eight years, dying in 1866 at age 81. She was buried in the McCrary Cemetery next to her husband of 44 years.

Samuel and Anna Abel McBrayer had eleven children:

1. Lavina (1805-76) was born in Fairview. In 1823 she married John Reed, son of Eldad and Aeshia Lanning Reed. They moved to Gashes Creek, then to the Grassy Branch section of Swannanoa. Both are buried in Berea Baptist Church Cemetery in Swannanoa.

2. William (1808-79) was born in Fairview. He married Elizabeth Fortune, daughter of Richard and Mary Lavender Fortune. William lived at his father's old home place on Old Fort Road. He and Elizabeth are buried in Cane Creek Cemetery in Fairview.

3. Martin M. (1810-?) was born in Fairview. He married Nancy M. Perkins in Rutherford County. They lived in Fairview several years before moving to Lumpkin County, Georgia.

4. Soloman S. (1812-93) was born in Fairview. He married Sarah Ann Edwards in Davies County, Missouri. Both are buried in Davies County.

5. Carleton (1814-90) was born in Fairview. He married Dorothy (Darthy) Jones in Davies County, Missouri. Both are buried in Davies County.

6. John Abel (1816-1901) was born in Fairview. He first married Elizabeth Wood in Davies County, Missouri, and later married Adelaide L. Clark Williamson in the same county. He and his first wife are buried in the McCrary Cemetery in Davies County.

7. Ransom M. (1819-74) was born in Fairview. He first married Melissa Murray in Davies County, Missouri, and later married Alvina M. Murray. He is buried in Davies County.

8. Eliza Ann (1821-92) was born in Fairview. She married John Gallimore (who had also been born in Fairview) in Davies County, Missouri. Both are buried in Civil Bend, Missouri.

9. Andrew Jackson (1823-58) was born in Fairview. He married Nancy McCrary (who had also been born in Fairview) in Davies County, Missouri. Andrew died of typhoid fever (called McCrary Fever because it was so widespread in that family). Both are buried in Davies County.

10. Alford was born in Fairview in 1826 and apparently died young.

11. Elizabeth Jane (1829-1912) was born in Fairview. She married David Henry Coulson in Davies County, Missouri. She died near Leeton in Johnson County, Missouri.

More About SAMUEL MCBRAYER, JR.:
Burial: McCrary Cem., Daviess Co., MO

Notes for ELIZABETH ANN ABEL:
When her parents died she went to live with her uncle, Captain Woodfin, whose land adjoined that of Samuel, Sr.

Anna was still living with her son, Andrew, in 1850. She is also buried at the McCrary Cem, Daviess Co., MO. Her stone cannot be located.


More About ELIZABETH ANN ABEL:
Burial: McCrary Cem., Daviess Co., MO

More About SAMUEL MCBRAYER and ELIZABETH ABEL:
Marriage: Abt. 1801, Buncombe Co., NC

Children of SAMUEL MCBRAYER and ELIZABETH ABEL are:

105.	i.	LAVINIA⁵ MCBRAYER, b. July 01, 1805, Buncombe Co., NC; d. Buncombe Co., NC.
106.	ii.	WILLIAM MCBRAYER, b. March 16, 1808, North Fork of Cane Creek, Buncombe Co., NC; d. October 04, 1879, Fairview, NC.
107.	iii.	MARTIN M. MCBRAYER, b. January 25, 1810, Buncombe Co., NC; d. Aft. 1860, GA.
108.	iv.	SOLOMON S. MCBRAYER, b. February 08, 1812, NC; d. April 10, 1893, Daviess Co., MO.
109.	v.	CARLTON MCBRAYER, b. September 02, 1814, Buncombe Co., NC; d. December 18, 1890, Daviess Co., MO.
110.	vi.	JOHN ABEL MCBRAYER, b. September 22, 1816, North Fork of Cane Creek, Buncombe Co., NC; d. January 06, 1911, Daviess Co., MO.
111.	vii.	RANSOM M. MCBRAYER, b. March 18, 1819, Buncombe Co, NC; d. October 09, 1874, Daviess Co., MO.
112.	viii.	ELIZA ANN MCBRAYER, b. June 17, 1820, Buncombe Co., NC; d. October 23, 1892, Gallatin, Daviess Co., MO.
113.	ix.	ANDREW JACKSON MCBRAYER, b. November 08, 1823, Buncombe Co, NC; d. September 01, 1858, Daviess Co., MO.
	x.	ALFORD B. MCBRAYER, b. April 05, 1826, Buncombe Co., NC.
114.	xi.	ELIZABETH JANE MCBRAYER, b. February 08, 1829, Buncombe Co., NC; d. April 03, 1912, Leaton, Johnson Co., MO.

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