Elizabeth Greer (1751 - 1825)

Born 6 Oct 1751 in Lunenburg County, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of James Greer — married before 1774 in Bedford County, Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1825 at age 73 in Franklin County, Virginia, USA

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This profile is part of the Greer Name Study.

Biography

Elizabeth Greer was born in 1751 Lunenburg County, Virginia. She was the daughter of William Greer and Sarah Freeland. She passed away in 1825.^[1]

She married James Greer,

Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Isaac 1774, so let us assume they married first. and probably in Bedford Co., VA.

He was the son of Benjamin Greer and Rachel Lowe. Elizabeth and James were first cousins - their respective fathers were brothers. The couple had at least 9 known children.

James and his father both lived in Bedford, most likely on the south side of Staunton River, prior to 1786. Both men signed a petition in Bedford Co. in 1779 for a division of the county, ultimately resulting in the formation of Franklin Co. in 1786. Both men are also found in land tax records as owning land in the part of Bedford that became Franklin. Property tax records confirm residence in Bedford before 1786 and Franklin afterwards. Land and estate records suggest James had a primary residence on Gills Creek, as his widow, Elizabeth, was assigned a dower tract there after James' death which included the 'mansion house'.

When James died, Elizabeth was assigned 80 acres on both sides of Gills Creek and three slaves as her dower right. The land included the Greer's 'mansion house'.

James is reported to have been buried on the family farm near Taylor's Store in Franklin County. Elizabeth is thought to be buried in the same place.

Research Notes

This profile also formerly indicated Elizabeth 'followed the Quaker faith'. While there were Quakers in Bedford County, Virginia and there is evidence earlier Greer's may have been Quakers, there is no evidence Elizabeth participated in Quaker Meetings. In addition, her husband was a slave owner and Elizabeth herself owned three slaves as part of her dower arrangement. By the time of the American Revolution, Quakers were disowned if they owned slaves. Therefore it is considered highly unlikely Elizabeth had any involvement with Quakerism, at least as an adult.

This profile formerly suggested James Greer and Elizabeth Greer were married in St. John's Parish 7 July 1773. No source was provided. The only St. John's Parish in Virginia at that time was in King William County. There was also a St. John's Parish in Prince George Co., Maryland. Neither of these locations make sense for individuals then living in Russell Parish in Bedford Co.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115678371/elizabeth-greer

We need to be able to LINK to these sources................

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, page 701; 1 March 1795, James Greer to John Blybourn (sic - Plybon), 100 acres on a Branch of Black Water adjoining Blybourns line on the Road side, Sink, and McKinsey. Elizabeth Greer relinquished dower rights.

• Last Will of Wm. Greer, Jr. probated 1802 named wife Sarah & children, Shadrack, Aquilla, Elizabeth. Rachel, Sarah & Hannah.

• Franklin County, Virginia Court Order Book, 1811-1817, p. 362; 4 November 1816, Ordered that Skelton Taylor, Abraham Taylor, Lewis Turnbull and Samuel Helm, or any three of them, be appointed Commissioners to lay off and to assign to Elizabeth Greer widow of James Greer decd her thirds or dower in the said Decedents Estate, both real & personal, who are to make Report thereof to the Court.

• Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 2, p. 154-159; 6 November 1816, A Inventory of the property of James Greer decd late of Franklin County, Virginia which was sold on Wednesday the 6th day of November 1816; [List of items and buyers, including Isaac, Ezekiel and Elizabeth Greer, Dillon’s, John Plybon and many others; Total value $999.99.]; Isiah and Moses Greer named as administrators. At a Court held for Franklin County the second day of December 1816 this Account of Sales of the Estate of James Greer, deceased, was Returned and ordered to be recorded.

• Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 2, p. 187-188; 29 November 1816, Agreeable to an Order to us directed from Franklin November Court 1816, we Skelton Taylor, Abram Taylor and Samuel Helm have this day proceeded to lay off to Elizabeth Greer widow of James Greer Decd her thirds in the said Decd Estate both real and personal, Viz., to 1 Negro man Ned 24 years of age, to 1 Negro man Sam 20 years of age, to 1 Negro girl Jin 10 years of age (Value $1700.00); To a certain parcel of Land lying in the County of Franklin on both sides of Gills Creek bounded as followeth, Viz., Beginning at a white oak corner on Valentine Oyler Sr./Jr. (?) line thence a strate (sic) line to a Cross fence at some fodder stacks thence with the said Cross fence and thence a state (sic) line to the back line of the said Land purchased on Taylor & Fowler thence with the said side line to the left to the beginning so as to include the mansion house. Given under our hands this 29th day of November 1816. [Signed] Abram Taylor, Skelton Taylor, Samuel Helm. At a Court held for Franklin County the third day of June 1817 this Assignment of Dower to Elizabeth Greer widow of James Greer deceased in her Husbands Estate was returned and ordered to be recorded.

• Franklin County, Virginia Court Order Book, 1811-1817, p. 400; 3 June 1817, Inventory &c of the Estate of James Greer decd retd & ORd. Also an assignment of Dower to Elizabeth Greer the widow of the said James Greer decd and a Division of his Estate both real & personal between his Distributees was returned and ordered.

• 1820 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia; Elizabeth Greer, 1 female 26-44, 2 slaves. Note: May not be Elizabeth as age is a poor match.

• Greer-Ferguson Family Bible owned by Ms. Hattie Holland.

Acknowledgments

• Frazier-839 was created by Mike Ormsby on 17 July 2013.

• WikiTree profile Greer-939 was created by Mike Petry through the import of Sarah's Family Tree_2013-08-31.ged on 31 Aug 2013.

• WikiTree profile Greer-3182 was created by James Real on 07 Sep 2017.