Dicey (Greer) Marcum (abt. 1768 - aft. 1830)

Born about 1768 in Bedford County, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of John Nathan Marcum — married 19 Dec 1789 in Franklin County, Virginia

Descendants

Died after 1830 after about age 62 in Deer Lick, Clay, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carole Taylor [send private message]

This profile is part of the Greer Name Study.

Biography

Dicey Greer was born about 1775 in Bedford County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Thomas Greer and Ann MNU. Dicey's birth date is estimated based on her being at least 14 when she chose her guardian, Thomas Demoss, in 1789. However, Dicey also married in 1789, so the birth date may be a few years earlier.

Dicey's father died about 1782. Her mother "Ann Greer (now Hudson)" refused administration of Thomas Greer's estate and nothing more is known of her. It is almost certain that Dicey was raised by her grandmother, Ann Lowe Greer, and her husband Thomas Demoss. Demoss was named Dicey's guardian in 1789 and provided surety for Dicey's later marriage.

Dicey and her sister, Sarah, are the only known children of Thomas Greer. Around 1783, they and their 'next friend' John Ferguson, filed suit in Bedford County Chancery Court against the estate of Joseph Greer, their deceased grandfather. The relevant documents are transcribed below, as best as possible given the poor image quality.

Chancery Case of Dicey and Sarah Greer

Library of Virginia Chancery Court Case # 1789-017, Bedford Co., Dicey & Sarah Greer by Etc vs Lucy Haynes Etc

Document #1: “To the Worshipful Court of Bedford County sitting now In Chancery Humbly complaining show unto your Worshipful Court that Dicey Greer & Sarah Greer Infant Daughters of Thomas Greer Deceased who was eldest son & Heir of Joseph Greer Decd and John Ferguson their next friend that Joseph Greer departed this life …. Sundry estate the 19th day of October 1766 …. his Estate in Manner following …. my will is that my best gun I leave to my son Thomas Greer, and as for the rest of my estate both real & personal that be equally divided amongst all my children after all my just …. of a considerable Estate both real & personal …. Of your Orator’s the following children …. Lucy married to George Haynes, Nathan, Amie (?) married to Farley Hatcher, Greenberry, Joseph, Jemima, Priscilla, Temperance and Teagie & Annie who your Orator’s …. may be made Defendants to this …. Your Orator’s further …. that after the death of your Orator’s Grandfather Joseph Greer Probate was made of his will and Administration …. By his widow & your Orator’s grandmother Anne Greer since intermarried with Thomas Demoss …. May be also made Defendants and your Orator’s will …. That in Pursuance …. The will …. Estate whereby your Orator’s might be Benefit…. Your worships that the said Defendants Thomas Demoss and Anne his wife combining & considering with …. Defendants how to deficit your Orator’s just …. Have deposed…. Your Orator’s have just Reason to believe, the Testator owed no Debts at the time of his Decease…. Consideration whereof and for a …. Your Orator’s are entirely without Remedy in the ….”

Document #2: (See attached image) The Common Wealth of Virginia to the Sheriff of Bedford County Greeting We Command you that you Summon Thomas Demoss and Anne his Wife who was widow and Ecx of Joseph Greer George Haynes & Lucy his wife; Farley Hatcher & Anne his wife; Nathan Greer, Greenberry Greer, Joseph, Jemima, Priscilla, Temperance, Tequay and Anne Greer to appear Before the Justices of our said County Court at the Court House on the fourth Monday in this month to answer a Bill in Chancery Exhibited against them by Dicey Greer and Sarah Greer Infant Daughters of Thomas Greer, who was Eldest son of Joseph Greer deceased by John Ferguson their next friend and this they shall in no wise omit under Penalty of one Hundred pounds and have then there this Writ Witness James Steptoe Clerk of our said County Court at the Court House aforesaid the third day of October 1783 in the Eighth year of the Common Wealth.

The relationships of the various named individuals are best described in the profile for Joseph Greer.

Note also that the term "Infant" was used in the legal context to mean anyone under age, not necessarily babies.

Marriage

Dicey married John Marcum in 1790 in Franklin County, Virginia. The bond was dated 19 December 1789 but apparently the marriage happened in 1790. He was probably the son of Thomas Marcum.

Franklin Co., VA property tax lists for 1786-1803 include several Marcum's (and several spelling variants) but the appearance of John and his probable father, Thomas, are sporadic. Both are there in 1786, 1787 and 1791. Thomas appears alone in 1788. John appears alone in 1790 and 1793. Neither is present from 1794-1803. Most likely this means Thomas left the area before his son. However, if the John Marcum in the 1786 list is Dicey Greer's future husband, he was born sometime between 1765-1770, not "about 1780" as his profile suggests. These dates are much more consistent with a man who married in 1789.

By 1810, Dicey and John were living in Stokes County, North Carolina. His father had moved there before 1797 and had land on Beaver Island Creek (Stokes Co. DB 3:313, 3:132, 4:82, 4:151, 4:153). The 1810 census records John Markum on Beaver Island Creek, with a wife 26-44, which is likely to be Dicey Greer Marcum. In 1815, John and Dicey, "of Stokes County, North Carolina", sold off the land Dicey apparently inherited from her father in Franklin Co,VA. Thomas Greer had received a posthumous land grant in 1790 and the land was divided between Dicey and her sister. There are, of course, no deeds recorded transferring the land from Thomas' estate to Dicey and Sarah but such a transfer must have occurred for them to sell the land. By 1820, John and Dicey had probably moved to Clay County, Kentucky.

Dicay Greer married John Marcum in 1790 in Franklin, Virginia. The surety on the marriage bond issued on 19 Dec. 1789 was Thomas Demoss. They were married by Thomas Douglas. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "Virginia, Vital Records, 1715-1901", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JB5-959K : 21 June 2023), Dicay Greer in entry for John Marcum, 1789.

• Franklin County, Virginia Court Order Book, 1789-1793, p. 35; 7 December 1789, Dicey Greer, daughter of Thomas Greer, Decd came into Court and chose Thomas Demoss her Guardian whereupon the said Thomas Demoss came into Court and entered into Bond with Security conditioned as the law directs for the faithful Performance of his Duty therein and acknowledged the same according to law.

• Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 1, p. 46; 7 December 1789, Know all men by the Presents that we Thomas Demoss & Robert Napier are held and firmly Bound unto Jonathan Richeson, Moses Greer, Swinfield Hill, Thomas Hale, Benjamin Cook & George Turnbull, Gentlemen Justices Now Sitting, in the Sum of one hundred Pounds for which Payment we bind ourselves our Heirs &c to the said Justices and Their Successors firmly by these Presents sealed with our Seals and Dated this Seventh Day of December 1789. The Condition of the above Obligation is Such that if the Above Bound Thomas Demoss is Appointed Guardian of Dicey Greer, orphan of Thomas Greer Deceased shall at the Next Court held for the said County Exhibit a True Account & all such Estate of said orphans as Shall Come to his hands and also Render Annually by his Guardian Account as the law Directs and otherwise Justly and Truly Demean himself in the office of Guardian of the said Dicey Greer Agreeable to Law then the Above Obligation to be Void otherwise to remain force. [Signed] Thomas Demoss, Robert Napier. At a Court held for Franklin County on Monday the 24th Day of December 1789 this Bond as acknowledged by the parties thereto & ordered to be recorded. [Signed] Stephen Smith ClC.

• Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bond Index, Females; FHL Film # 75789670; Bond # 2598, Dicey Greer and John Marcum, 12/19/1789; Surety: Thomas Demoss; Married by Thomas Douglas; Married 1790.

• Franklin County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1786-1803, Binns Genealogy, 2009

• 1810 Federal Census, Stokes County, North Carolina, Beaver Island Creek; John Markum, 3 m <10, 1 m 10-15, 1 m >45, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 26-44.

• 1820 Federal Census, Clay County, Kentucky; John Marcum, 1 m <10, 1 m 10-15, 2 m 16-25, 1 m >45, 1 f <10, 1 f 10-15, 1 f 16-25, 1 f >45.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 7, p. 362, 4 September 1815, John Marcum of Stokes Co., NC to Nathan Greer, 145 acres on Blackwater River and Gills Creek, adjoining Standifer’s old line and the mouth of Gills Creek. Signed: John Marcum, Dicey Marcum. Note: This is one-half of the 291 acres granted posthumously to Thomas Greer in 1790 and most likely inherited by his daughters, Dicey and Sarah. Nathan Greer sold the same land 1 June 1822 to Littleberry Saunders (Franklin DB 10,p.112).

• Find A Grave: Memorial #127266860

• As per familysearch.org-- submitted by: riamantia3820949 "Notes" Dr. John J. Dickey Dairy, Fleming Cnty, KY; AMERICA MARCUM LINDEN: "I was born....." it goes on to say that "John Marcum and Dicy Greer married 19 Dec. 1789 Franklin cnty. VA.""1820 Clay County census pg. 114 John Marcum."