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James Greer was born about 1738 in the Gunpowder River area of Baltimore County, Maryland. He was the son of Moses Greer and Mary Bayley. Some have reported a middle name, Joseph, but none of the available records use that name. Note that James' birth date is an estimate based on the marriage record for his parents (January 1737).
Marriage QUOTE from St. John's Parish Register "Jas. Greer & Elinor Hughs were marr'd Mar. 24th 1768." [1] This is fairly strong evidence that James, as well as his father and siblings, did not move to Virginia before 1768. And that is supported by the absence of those men from the 1767 Pittsylvania Co., VA tax lists. However, several of James' uncles and cousins did move into Virginia by about 1750. And among this group were other James Greer's who can be confused with the subject of this profile. There was a James Greer (c. 1747-1816, Greer-938) who was the son of Benjamin Greer. And there was a James Greer (c. 1742-1825, Greer-2084) who was the son of Aquilla Greer. All of these men left records in the Bedford, Henry, and Franklin County area. Matching those records to specific individuals is problematic. However, a series of records outlined below are likely to be those made by the James Greer, the subject of this profile.
All the land records currently available suggest James and family lived on Pigg River in what is the southern part of Franklin County today. They owned some land near the confluence of Pigg River and Chestnut Creek, very likely their primary residence. At the time James wrote his will (1806) he owned over 430 acres. We don't know if that land was contiguous.
James' will names wife "Ellender" or Eleanor and two sons, James and Charles. If there were other children, they remain unidentified. Interestingly, the Rebecca Henson who witnessed the will became the wife of Charles Greer just a few months later.
We know that Eleanor was still living in 1812, when she sold 78 acres on Chestnut Creek. This is the last reference found to date.
Henry County formed from Pittsylvania County in 1777. Tax Lists for 1778-1780 record several Greer's in 1778 including Moses, but no James. The same lists for 1779 and 1780 record both a Moses and James Greer, possibly father and son.
Henry County tax lists for 1782-1785 record several Greer's, including James Greer (see sources below). The Moses Greer recorded in 1782 is likely an older man, exempt from personal tax and probably James' father. This may be the last record for him. By 1786, no Greer's are recorded in Henry Co., because the areas in which they lived now fell into Franklin Co.
Franklin County formed in 1786 with the southern portion of the new county taken from Henry County. In 1786, the only James Greer (son of Benjamin?) recorded was in the northern part of the county. But from 1787-1803, multiple James Greer's are recorded. Information within those tax lists allow differentiation. From 1787-1792, we find one James Greer in the northern district (son of Benjamin) and one James in the southern district (son of Moses). In 1790, Charles Greer (son of James) is recorded for the first time, in the southern district.
Beginning in 1793, either the tax districts shifted boundaries or the James Greer formerly recorded in the southern district moved a short distance north. From 1793-1803, the tax lists for the northern district clearly differentiate 3 James Greer's - one on Gills Creek, and two (James and James, Jr.) on Pigg River. The lists use the abbreviations "GC" and "PR" to differentiate the men. Charles Greer is recorded each year from 1794-1803. James Greer, Jr. is recorded each year from 1798-1803. Property tax lists for years after 1803 are available at FamilySearch or the Library of Virginia.
Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 1, p. 339; 11 March 1806 (written), 6 October 1806 (proven); In the name of God amen, I, James Greer of Franklin County and State of Virginia being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament and as touching such Worly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, I give and bequeath to my son Charles Greer a sertain Tract of Land whereon he now lives containing Two hundred and Seventy Six acres adjoining Nicholas Cassells Tract. I also give and bequeath to my son James Greer a Tract or parsel of Land he now lives on containing one hundred and fifty six acres adjoining Peter Youngs Tract. Likewise I will and bequeath to Ellender my dearly beloved wife all other lands together with my affects debts and household property and all my personal Estate to beat her free Will and disposial. I also appoint Isaiah Willis together with my wife Executors of my Estate, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 10th day of March 1806. [Signed] James (his mark) Greer. Signed Sealed & delivered in preasants of us Nicholas Cassells, Joseph Willis, Rebecca Henson. At a Court held for Franklin County October 6th 1806, This Last will and Testament of James Greer deceased was proved by the oath of Joseph Willis and Rebecca Henson two of the Witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of Isaiah Willis & Ellender Greer the Executors herein named who took the oath prescribed by Law and gave bond and security conditioned as the Law directs Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form. [Signed] James Callaway, C.F.C
In addition to the potential confusion with other James Greer's, county boundary changes add complexity. James, Eleanor and sons Charles and James are found in several records on or near Pigg River. Currently in southern Franklin Co., this area was part of Henry Co. before 1786, part of Pittsylvania Co. before 1777 and part of Halifax Co. (and others) before 1767.
Some researchers have reported that James Greer obtained a land patent in Bedford County in 1780 (290 acres on Staunton River, Land Office Patents E, p. 90-91). Other land records in that area make it likely this was the James Greer who was a son of Aquilla Greer.
GREER FAMILY: ORIGINATING IN MARYLAND by Robert M. Torrence, page 13. [Some] "confusion seems to have came about through an error in Torrence's writings, who passed the information on the Edna (Greer) Porter Hatfield, who passed it on the Ellen (Greer) Rees. The information attributed, by most past researchers, to this James Greer, will be found under James Greer (who married Eliner Hughes), son of Moses Greer, as presented by Billie Lewis in ACROSS THE BLUE RIDGE".
Thank you to Mike Ormsby for creating Greer-855 on 16 Jul 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Mike and others.
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Categories: United States, Greer Name Study | Greer Name Study | Gunpowder Falls, Maryland