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

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]

Descendants of Father '1st Gen' McBrayer

24. JOHN B.⁴ MCBRAYER (SAMUEL³, WILLIAM², FATHER '1ST GEN'¹) was born Bet. 1774 - 1775 in Family farm, Broad River, Rutherford Co., NC, and died 1863 in Paulding Co., GA ³³. He married SARAH 'SALLY' MARGARET ASHWORTH Abt. 1800 in Buncombe Co., NC, daughter of JOHN ASHWORTH and NANCY WOOD. She was born March 01, 1780 in Rutherford Co., NC, and died 1865 in Paulding Co., GA ³⁴.

Notes for JOHN B. MCBRAYER:
In 1797 he moved with his father and the rest of the family from Rutherford County across the mountains to the Shaw's Creek area of Buncombe Co., NC.

About three years later, in 1800, he was married in Buncombe Co. to SARAH "SALLY" MARGARET ASHWORTH, who was born 1 Mar 1780 in Rutherford Co. She was the daughter of JOHN and NANCY WOOD ASHWORTH. (Nancy Wood was b 18 Sep 1745, d 17 Feb 1833. The Ashworth's lived on Ashworth Creek and it is said that the town of Asheville, NC, was named for the family.)

(Ed note: Some researchers and authors have stated that John was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but a study of the records will show that he was not old enough to have served.)

About the time of his marriage he began to acquire land. On 23 Jun 1800 he made application for a patent of land in the same vicinity (Shaw's Creek) as his parents and brothers. He eventually was granted this land on 21 Dec 1809 (File # 1844, Bk 125, pg 169, entered 23 Jun 1800, Raleigh, NC.)

On 7 Jan 1808 he sold to his father-in-law, John Ashworth, for $130, 100 acres of land "on the bank of Broad River in Rutherford County". Another tract of land (100) acres was granted to him in Buncombe County on 24 Dec 1813: application had been made on 14 Aug 1813. This land was located on "Millses Creek and waters of Cane Creek".

In 1816 John sold his original grant, the 100 acres on Roaring Branch of Shaw's Creek, to his half-brother, Andrew, for the sum of $100. This deed was signed by him as "John B.", the only time this initial has ever appeared in any documents.

Other land transactions show that on 29 Sep 1818, John sold to "William Edmundson of Buncombe Co., for $300, 2 tracts of land", one containing 129 Acres on the north side of Flat Creek and the second containing 71 acres (which was part of the original grant of 200 acres to William Young, dtd 17 Oct 1796.)

It is evident that it was about this period of time that he began making plans to move. It is assumed that he moved with, or shortly after, his brother, David and his family, to the Greenville District of South Carolina. (It is thought to have been during the latter part of 1818.) To date no records have been located to substantiate this theory.)

It is possible that John and his family, David and his family, and possibly a step-brother, John Young, left South Carolina in ox-drawn carts and traveled into Tennessee, where they were supposed to have spent the winter of 1818-19. From here they supposedly made their way down the Tennessee River (aboard flat-bottomed boats) to a point near Guntersville, AL.

John spent about a year in the Huntsville, AL, area before moving north across the border into Tennessee to a "farm within sight of Winchester, Tennessee", where he spent another two years. From here he made his way via oxcart to Gilmore Co., GA (now Hall Co.), where he settled on Indian land which had just been opened for settlement by the Federal Government. It is said the family lived in a tent until land could be cleared and a house built.

The first record of John in Georgia was the 1830 census of Hall Co. (p 71), which lists a "JNO MCBREER". The record shows 2 males 20-30, 1 male 50-60 (his age in 1830 would have been 56), 1 female 10-15, and 1 female 50-60.

In 1831 he moved to Paulding Co., GA, where he was listed in the 1840 census. John has not been located in the 1850 census of GA, however, a record from Upshur Co., TX, enumerates a "JNO MCBREYER" with an A.M. McBreyer, and his wife Matilda. It is thought that John may have been visiting with his son Alfort or Alfred (A.M.) at the time. (Note the 1830 census for Hall Co., GA, which carried the spelling as "JNO", and the TX. census, which carried it the same.)

KIRBY WATKINS, Arlington, TX, in a letter in 1987 supplied the 1850 census records of Pontotoc Co., MS, for JOHN MCBREER (John's son). Shown living with him at that time was SARAH MCBREER, age 70, born in NC. (see files)

A letter from Beth C. Cooper relates the following:

      "... a question was raised as to the possibility that John McBrayer went to Texas around 1850. My paternal grandmother was Sarah Anne Elizabeth McBrayer, daughter of John McBrayer and Susan B. Leathers." (granddaughter of John B.)
      "When I was a small child my grandmother Campbell ...told me about going to Texas with her parents and other members of the family when she was quite young. My grandmother stuck her foot in a knothole and lost her shoe on the ferry while crossing the Mississippi River, so her father made her another one when they reached the other side. The family didn't like Texas and returned to Georgia after a year."
      "A young colt born in Texas was frightened while crossing the river on the return trip, jumped off and swam the rest of the way (I do not know how far or where they crossed.)."

This information supports the theory of a short stay in Texas.

From the above information it appears that when John went to Texas he left Sarah in Mississippi with their son John.

John was back in Georgia in 1860, where he died at the age of 89 in 1863. He is thought to be buried in Paulding Co., although his grave has not yet been located. Sarah, who was living with her son, John and his family in Pontotoc Co., MS, in 1850, died in 1865 at the age of 85.

One final deed record has been located in Book 20, p 324, Buncombe Co., NC., dated 21 Sep 1836 in which John McBrayer and his wife, Sally, "of Georgia", sold her interest in her father's estate on Ashworth Creek, NC.

More About JOHN B. MCBRAYER:
Fact 1: 1810, Rutherford Co., NC census, pg 275
Fact 2: 1830, Hall Co., GA census
Fact 3: 1840, Paulding Co., GA census
Fact 4: 1850, Pontotoc Co., MS census (Sarah was living with John H. McBreer)
Fact 5: 1850, Upshur Co., TX census

More About SARAH 'SALLY' MARGARET ASHWORTH:
Date born 2: 1770 ³⁵

More About JOHN MCBRAYER and SARAH ASHWORTH:
Marriage: Abt. 1800, Buncombe Co., NC

Children of JOHN MCBRAYER and SARAH ASHWORTH are:

ASHLEY 'SLEY'⁵ MCBRAYER, b. Bet. 1800 - 1802.

Notes for ASHLEY 'SLEY' MCBRAYER:
No dob known. - He was older than John and died before John. He is buried in the Friendship Prim. Bapt. Ch. Cem., Paulding Co., GA.

123.	ii.	JOSEPH RUSSELL MCBRAYER, b. February 06, 1802, Buncombe Co., NC; d. January 16, 1880, Franklin Co., AL.
124.	iii.	ASHWORTH W. 'WILLIAM' MCBRAYER, b. 1805, near Horseshoe, Buncombe Co., NC; d. Aft. 1870, GA.
125.	iv.	ANDREW ERWIN MCBRAYER, b. June 28, 1807, Family farm, near Horseshoe, Bumcombe Co., NC; d. October 29, 1889, Draketown, Paulding Co., GA.
126.	v.	SARAH MCBRAYER, b. Bet. 1805 - 1809.
127.	vi.	A.M. 'ALFORT M.' MCBRAYER, b. Abt. 1810, Buncombe Co., NC; d. Aft. 1860, TX.
128.	vii.	JOHN H. MCBRAYER, b. February 13, 1812, Family farm, near Horseshoe, Bumcombe Co., NC; d. October 20, 1900, Paulding Co., GA.
129.	viii.	JAMES HENRY MCBRAYER, b. Abt. 1815, Buncombe., NC; d. Aft. 1870.

25. ICHABOD⁴ MCBRAYER (SAMUEL³, WILLIAM², FATHER '1ST GEN'¹) was born 1780 in Rutherford Co., NC, and died Bef. May 16, 1838 in Floyd Co., KY. He married MARY STRATTON³⁶ Abt. 1800 in Buncombe Co., NC, daughter of SOLOMON STRATTON and JANE WHITTEN. She was born Abt. 1782 in VA or SC, and died in Floyd Co., KY.

Notes for ICHABOD MCBRAYER:
He married in about 1800 in Buncombe Co., NC, and according to deed records of his father, moved into a cabin on some of his father's land in Buncombe Co. near Horseshoe. No records have been located in North Carolina to indicate he ever owned land there, although he is listed as a witness on several deeds and land transactions for his father and brother, Samuel Jr. One land transaction indicates 'improvements made by Ichabod' was on land owned by his father.

The 1800 census for Buncombe Co., NC, is the first recorded listing for Ichabod and Mary. They are listed with no children: Ichabod-age 16-26, Mary-age 16-26. They moved to Kentucky about 1808-1810. The family next shows up in the 1810 census of Floyd Co., KY, where one son under 10; 2 daughters under 10; 1 male 26-45; and one female 26-45 are enumerated. Where Ichabod was during this 10-year period (1800-1810) is not known. There are some family rumors that he traveled into the Virginias before going to Floyd Co., where he settled on the Big Sandy River near Prestonburg, KY.

He served as one of the first peace magistrates of the community from 1817 until his death. He was active in community affairs after his arrival in KY and held public offices, other than that of sheriff, as shown by the numerous court records. In addition to Sheriff he held the offices of Road Surveyor, general surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and magistrate.

He also bought and sold much land in the area. These records commence in 1813 and continue until Oct 1836.

Ichabod died between Oct 1836, when he made sheriff of Floyd Co., and 16 May 1838, when his heirs were sued for some sort of damage and had to pay the sum of $60 in this action.

"Andrew Rule and Samuel P. Davidson, plaintiffs-vs-James McBrayer and William McBrayer, Administrators"...filed 16 May 1838, Order of B.D., pg 446."

Thomas I. Sanders and William Frasure (his sons-in-law) were also named in the suit as defendants. The suit speaks of a will of Ichabod, but none has yet been located.

His land is Floyd County was sold 13 Dec 1838 after which the sons moved to Carter Co. (later Boyd Co.), KY.

Many of his descendents were miners in KY, OO, and IN Many were also railroad workers who helped build the lines through Northern Kentucky and especially Carter County.

A couple of interesting facts have come to light concerning Ichabod: From "INDEX OF KENTUCKY SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812", located in the Johnson Co., Kansas, library, and discovered by the late Brian T. McBrayer, states, "Captain John Walker's Company of Infantry, Kentucky Militia...ICHABOD MCBRAYER, private...day of mustering 4 Mar 1813". Until now it has been assumed that he had never served in any military unit. Additional research is being conducted on his service record.

The late Peg Kitchen, a descendent of Ichabod through his son William, discovered a deed from the heirs of "Solomon Stratton" of Floyd County, Kentucky, to a Benjamin Lewis. The deed was dated in 1821 and carried "JAMES MCBRAYER", as one of the legal heirs of age. Since James, the eldest son of Ichabod and Mary was the only James in Floyd County in 1820-1821, there is a strong supposition that he could be the grandson of Solomon Stratton, and that Mary, his mother and the wife of Ichabod, was the daughter of the said Stratton. This is further supported by the fact that James later named a son 'Solomon'. The above is strictly supposition at this time and bears much additional research, but is mentioned at this time to offer the possibility as to the maiden name of Mary, and to point the direction for future research.

Concerning the Stratton family, Hoyt Mullins wrote in a letter on 27 Oct 1983, "In the Floyd County Sesquicecentennial Publication (1800-1950, July 1-2-3-4) published at Prestonburg, KY, I found the following:
pg 27...concerning early arrivals of settlers in 1796 - "...came, too, Solomon Stratton, Veteran of the Gen. George Rogers Clark Illinois Expedition, as did Richard Stratton, his son."

There was a Col. Harry Stratton (who) settled at (the) mouth of Toms Creek... also a Tandy Stratton who married into the Layne family from which the "Betsy Layne" community was named. Harry Stratton was an early Justice of the Peace.

pg 9..."as late as the first quarter of the next century (1825), stealthy Indians came and attempted plunder, but the symbolic end was in Red Bush Gap of Big Blaine Creek (1810 - near Flat Gap, KY), when the old Cherokee chief who had helped carry away Jennie Wylie died under the knife of James Skaggs (Hoyt's 6th great uncle), a pioneer. Disemboweled and dying after a treacherous attack upon Skaggs, he chanted his Death Song, emploring the Great Spirit to retain the valley (Big Sandy) for his people. Perhaps no other valley in America was surrendered by the Indians with as much regret. Tradition in the Wylie family states the Cherokee chief was Captain John." (from "Kentucky's Last Frontier", by Henry P. Scalf)

pg 106..."..., Solomon Stratton, agents for the adventurers on Sandy under Col. John Preston's Grant."

pg 116..."The Stratton and Layne settlements - 1796" -"in 1796 Solomon Stratton, with several of his sons, Tandy, Richard, Harry (Col.).."

Mary and Ichabod had issue, according to the census records, a third daughter (##) for which no records are known. She was listed with Elizabeth (a total of 2 daughters under 10 years of age) in the 1810 census, while in the 1820 census another daughter was enumerated with the family and her age was shown as under 10 (this would account for Susan), and no other daughters were listed. Elizabeth had already married, which would account for one, but the other daughter, listed in the 1810 records, should now have been carried as between the age of 10-20. None is shown. It is possible that she, too, could have been married by this time or she may have died in the years between.

More About ICHABOD MCBRAYER:
Burial: KY
Fact 1: 1800, Buncombe Co., NC census
Fact 2: 1810, Floyd Co., KY census
Fact 3: 1820, Floyd Co., KY census
Fact 4: Bet. 1817 - 1837, Surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and Magistrate, Floyd Co., KY

Notes for MARY STRATTON:
      After Ichabod's death and the settlement of his estate, Mary married EDWARD BRANHAM. They were married by WILLIAM TACKETT, MG, in Pike Co., KY.

      THIS IS TO CERTIFY to the Clerk of the Pike County Court that I wish you to issue license for me and Edward Branham to marry in holy wedlock and oblige. June 22nd, 1840.
      /s/ Mary McBrayer
      Attest:
      Thomas J. Sanders
      Elisha Johnson

      "Know all men by the presents: that we, Edward Branham and Elisha Johnson are held and firmly bound with the Common wealth of Kentucky in the sum of 50 pounds good and lawful money of Kentucky for the term and payment thereof now and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs and, etc. This 22nd day of June, 1840.
      The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage anticipated to be solemnized between Edward Branham and Mary McBrayer and if there shall be no lawful reason to prevent said marriage then the above obligation is to be free, else remain in full force.
      Given under our hands, etc.
      /s/ Edward Branham
      Elisha Johnson

      Though married in Pike County, Mary and Edward removed to Carter County where they were found in the 1850 census: Edward Branham, 77, b in VA; Polly, 69, b in SC; sons ... Wiley, 24, b in KY; Riley, 20, b in KY; Edward, 10, b in KY.

More About ICHABOD MCBRAYER and MARY STRATTON:
Marriage: Abt. 1800, Buncombe Co., NC

Children of ICHABOD MCBRAYER and MARY STRATTON are:

	i.	DAU⁵ MCBRAYER, b. Bet. 1800 - 1810.
130.	ii.	ELIZABETH C. MCBRAYER, b. Bet. 1801 - 1802, Buncombe Co., NC (Wilkes Co., NC); d. Abt. 1884, KY.
131.	iii.	JAMES R. MCBRAYER, b. August 08, 1803, Horseshoe, Buncombe Co., NC; d. June 04, 1880, Rowan Co., KY.
132.	iv.	SUSAN MCBRAYER, b. March 21, 1806, Floyd Co., KY.
133.	v.	WILLIAM G. MCBRAYER, b. Bet. 1814 - 1815, Floyd Co., KY; d. Bef. March 1852, Carter, Floyd or Boyd Co., KY.

[ Home Page | First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page ]