William Greer (1766 - 1839)

Born 30 Jun 1766 in Bedford County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Harkrider — married 30 Apr 1791 in Franklin County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 14 Jul 1839 at age 73 in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jean Sobota [send private message]

Biography

William Greer was born in 1766. His birth location may have been Bedford County, Virginia but no documentation is available to support that. He was a son of Moses Greer Sr]. and Nancy Bailey.

William first appears in Franklin County records with the 1787 property tax list, very consistent with his reported date of birth. With the exceptions of 1788, 1789, 1792 and 1796, he is recorded every year through 1803. In at least 7 of these years, he paid his taxes on the same day as his father (Moses) or brother (Moses, Jr.).

William married Elizabeth 'Betsy' Harkrider in 1791 in Franklin County, Virginia. She was a daughter of Conrad Harkrider. Her birth date has been reported as 18 June 1770 (unsourced?).

William and Elizabeth appear to have Franklin County shortly before the 1810 census and moved to Davidson County, Tennessee, a popular destination for many Greer and related families.

children

1. Moses Greer, b. 13 Feb 1792; he m. his 1st cousin Catherine Pollard, daughter of Chattin D. Pollard and widow of a Mr. Charlton.
2. Mary Bailey Greer, b. 10 Jul 1793
3. Elizabeth Greer, b. 8 Dec 1794
4. Walter Talley (Watt) Greer, b. 8 Sep 1796
5. William Fitch Greer, b. 7 May 1798
6. A. Fitch Greer, b. 15 Feb 1800

Sources

• Franklin County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1786-1803, Binns Genealogy, 2007; William Greer on tax lists 1787 -1803, except for the years 1788, 1789, 1792, 1796.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 301-302; 2 January 1792, Thomas Arthur and Sarah his wife to Moses Greer, 304 ½ acres on both sides of Little Creek of Blackwater River, part of a tract purchased by William Rentfro of James Cole adjoining Doggett, Maid (Mead?). Wit: John Kelly, David Morgan, Aquila Davis, William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 302-303; 29 October 1791, Thomas Arthur to Moses Greer, 112 acres adjoining Spencer and Doggett. Wit: John Kelly, Aquila Davis, William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 309-310; 28 January 1792, James Callaway of Bedford Co. to William Greer, 80 acres on both sides of Little Creek adjoining Good, the Waggon Road and Cole. Wit: P. Hughes, Thomas Crutcher, Moses Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 311-312; 28 January 1792, Moses Greer to Daniel Barnhart, 188 acres on both sides of Back Run. Wit: P. Hughes, Thomas Crutcher, William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 325-326; 7 October 1791, Deed of Trust, Thomas Arthur to Moses Greer, 4 slaves, for debt. Wit: Stephen Smith, William Crump, James Callaway, Jr., William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 336-337; 28 January 1792, Moses Greer to Joseph Floary, 282 acres on Back Run. Wit: P. Hughes, Thomas Crutcher, William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 441; 8 October 1792, Jury Verdict; William Greer and Moses Greer, Jr. among jury to assess damage that may result from Patrick Slone’s mill on Blackwater River.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 523-524; 6 October 1793, Mark Cole of Liberty Co., GA to Moses Greer, Senr., 328 acres on a branch of Little Creek. Wit: Stephen Lee, Chattin Pollard, Charles Creback, William Greer, Moses Greer, Jr., Abraham Rowland.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 2, p. 526-527; 6 October 1792, Mark Cole of Liberty Co., GA to Moses Greer, Senr., 245 acres on a branch of Little Creek. Wit: Stephen Lee, Chattin Pollard, Charles Creback, William Greer, Moses Greer, Jr., Abraham Rowland.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 22-23; 3 December 1792, John Hartwell of Montgomery Co. to John McMillion, 179 acres on Merryman’s Run adjoining Greer’s line. Wit: Stephen Lee, Chattin Pollard, Charles Creback, William Greer, Moses Greer, Jr., Abraham Rowland.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 261; 21 February 1795, Jacob Good of Rockingham Co. to Fedrick Hayns, 200 acres adjoining Long. Wit: Moses Greer, Jr., William Greer, illegible.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 261; 21 February 1795, Jacob Goode of Rockingham Co. to Fredrick Hayns of Franklin, 200 acres adjoining Long. Wit: Moses Greer, Jr., William Greer and 2 illegible signatures.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 281; 24 February 1795, Abraham Rowland to Joseph Nave, 200 acres on Little Creek adjoining Moses Greer, Jr., and Hartsel. Wit: Chattin Pollard, Moses Greer, Jr., William Greer.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 281; 24 February 1795, Abraham Rowland to Joseph Nave, 200 acres on Little Creek adjoining Moses Greer, Jr., Hartsel, Fox Branch. Wit: Chattin Pollard, Moses Greer, Jr., William Greer, illegible name.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 338; 6 April 1796, William T. Hodgson to Abraham Hartzell, 23 ½ acres being land adjoining William Greer formerly the property of Cap. Moses Greer. Wit: William Greer, Valentine ___, Elijah Wray, David Goode, Thomas Raynor.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 715; 29 September 1799, Moses Greer and William Greer to Isaac Nave, 160 acres on both sides of Little Creek, being part of Callaway’s order and Coles old survey adjoining Ikenberry, Good and Morgan. Nancy, wife of Moses Greer relinquished dower.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 99; 9 May 1805, Moses Greer, Sr. and William Greer to Wilson Turner, 150 acres on both sides of Little Creek adjoining Moses Greer, Jr., Waggon road, Sibert, Nave, Myers, Cole’s old line and crossing Buck Run. Not wit. No dower.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 476; 22 February 1808, William Greer to James Callaway, Jr., 300 acres on Blackwater River adjoining James Callaway, Sr. and old Doggett’s line. Wit: Moses Greer, Henry Williamson, James Williamson.

• 1810 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia: not enumerated. Tennessee census lost.

• 1820 Federal Census, Davidson County, Tennessee, Nashville; William Greer; 1 male <10, 1 male 16-25, 1 male >45, 1 female 16-25, 1 female >45.

• O'Quin, Bertie. The Descendants of Aquilla Greer, Sr. 1719-1790 (August 2005)