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William Greer Sr. (abt. 1710 - abt. 1785)

William Greer Sr.
Born about in Baltimore County, Province of Marylandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1732 in Baltimore County, Marylandmap
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 75 in Henry, Virginia, United Statesmap [uncertain]
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bob Wade private message [send private message] and Mary Yetter private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 25 Jan 2012
This page has been accessed 4,607 times.
This profile is part of the Greer Name Study.

Contents

Biography

William Greer was probably born about 1710 in the Gunpowder River area of Baltimore County, Maryland. He was the son of John Greer and Sarah Day-Greer. Historical biographies have suggested William was born in Ireland or England but records clearly indicate his father was already in the Province of Maryland at the time William was born.

The same historical biographies report that William came to Bedford County, Virginia between 1746-1750. But Bedford Co. did not exist prior to 1754, when it was created from Lunenburg County. While it is true that several of William's brothers were in Lunenburg County in the early 1750's, William does not appear on the same tax lists in which we find brothers John, Benjamin, Joseph and Aquilla. All of the Virginia records thought to belong to William are found in Henry County, formed in 1777 from Pittsylvania County. Since none of the Greer's were on the 1767 tax lists for Pittsylvania Co., it seems unlikely that William, or his brother Moses, arrived in Virginia before 1767. William would have been about 57 at that time.

William married Ann, or Mary Ann, Fitch about 1737 according to some sources. However, since two of their sons have estimated birth dates of 1733 and 1734, it's likely the marriage was earlier than 1737. Some reports indicate they settled initially in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She may have been the daughter of William and Sarah Fitch but there are some questions about that, reflected in the Future Research section below. Assuming that William did not arrive in Virginia prior to 1767, it's likely that all of his children were born in Maryland. Depending on the source, 8-10 children are attributed to William and Ann, although some serious questions remain about some of those children. This is noted as a top priority for future research below.

Another Historical Biography for Consideration

The Library of Virginia on-line database includes a historical biography not mentioned in sources below. Parts include: Library of Virginia; Survey Report, June 1 and 2, 1936; Biography collected by Works Progress Administration Historical Inventory by Alice Peak Hopkins of Rocky Mount, Virginia; In the home of Mrs.Cabell Smith in Hopewell, Virginia. Note: June 2 version appears to be a replacement for the June 1 version, with an added page. “Moses Greer was born in Ann Arundel County, Maryland, June 2, 1744. He was the youngest of seven sons. His father, William Greer, married Ann Fitch (sometimes written Finch) in England about 1720. Three sons William, James and Shadrock, were born in England. The family then came to Maryland where John, Aquilla, Benjamin (sometimes called Steve or Steven), Walter, Moses and one daughter, Rebecca, were born. The daughter married ___ Divers. William, the oldest son, remained netural (sic) during the Revolution, Shadrock joined the British Army causing great distress to the family. James, Aquilla, Walter and Moses fought under Washington. John emigrated to Bledsoe County, Tennessee and was the first settler in that remote region.” Note: In 1931, Mrs. Cabell Smith was appointed organizing Regent to form a chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution to be called the ‘Captain Moses Greer Chapter’…On account of the depression, the organization was not completed.

TENTATIVE List of Children (Errors possible)

  1. James Joseph Greer, born c. 1733
  2. William Greer Jr., born c. 1734
  3. Aquilla Greer, born c. 1738
  4. John Greer, born c. 1737
  5. Benjamin Greer, born c. 1740
  6. Walter Greer, born c. 1742
  7. Moses Greer, born 2 June 1744
  8. Mary Rebecca Greer (Divers), born c. 1746
  9. Elizabeth Greer, born c. 1751

Note: Questions about Mary Rebecca Greer are outlined below. Elizabeth Greer is currently shown as a daughter of William Greer, Jr. but if his birth date is correct, he was only 17 when Elizabeth was born. Aquilla Greer may also be a son of William Greer, Jr. Another possible son, Steven (Greer-859), has been removed from the list of children as he probably never existed, being confused with a nickname for Benjamin Greer.

Possible Child

Mary Greer (sometimes known as Mary Rebecca Greer) was most likely born about 1745, or shortly thereafter, in Baltimore County, Maryland. However, very little is known about her, other than the fact that she married John Divers in 1766, was the mother of several children, and spent the latter years of her life in Franklin County, Virginia.

Over the years, various researchers have been divided on her parents. All seem to agree that Mary was a granddaughter of John Greer and Sarah Day. But the available record sets for some of John and Sarah's sons are inadequate, at present, to assign a father for Mary. Some argue that Mary was a daughter of William Greer and Mary Fitch. Others argue that Moses Greer and Mary Bayley are more likely to be Mary's parents. William and Moses were both sons of John Greer and Sarah Day. There are arguments pro and con for each position, but we still can't definitively resolve Mary's parentage. The argument for William as father are largely traditional, as most compiled genealogies assign him as Mary's father. Arguments for Moses center around the fact that John Divers had two grandsons named Moses. More substantial evidence is necessary in order to make any conclusion.

Future Research

'"TOP PRIORITY is finding some record to confirm historical reports of the children of William Greer and Ann Fitch. St. John's Parish records in Baltimore County, Maryland might be one source. Records of Henry County, Virginia might reveal some probate or land records mentioning children.

Okay, how about this: The Greer Family "Being a Transcription of the Records of the First Court of Franklin County, Virginia 1786-1789, The manuscript for the present volume was completed.. by Dr. Wingfeild in 1936, a..................."
This "CLAIMS" to "being a Transcription of the Records of the First Court of Franklin County, Virginia 1786-1789,"
If that is true then we should be able to also pull up the original document and see it for ourselves.
Further, I wonder why he did not find a document for the parents of William Greer? That would be John Greer, and Sarah Day......

Ann Fitch may have been a daughter of William and Sarah Fitch. One Ann Grier is mentioned in William Fitch's will from 1787. But since William Fitch and William Greer were born about the same time, the Ann Grier in the will reference might be too young to be William Greer's wife.

Records seem to be telling us that William lived in Henry County, Virginia. Tax records confirm William was present there prior to 1786. But land, court and probate records for Henry County do not appear to have been studied in depth. A thorough search of those records would be a priority and Pittsylvania and/or Halifax Co. would be secondary targets, depending on when William arrived in this part of Virginia.

A William Greer left a will in Washington County, Virginia dated 17 September 1782 with an undated inventory (probably August 1785). The will mentions wife Sarah and sons Patrick, William and Thomas, with witnesses James Glenn and Gilbert Nelson (Washington Co. WB 1, p. 65 and 96). This William Greer is not likely to be the subject of this profile.

There are some sources indicating that a William Greer was accused of Loyalist tendencies in 1781 Henry County, Virginia. Since it is not clear which William Greer this involved, Henry Co. court records for the period of 1780-1785 need to be examined. William's brother, Joseph, was similarly charged in Bedford County in the same time frame.

The Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland library contains census and Revolutionary War pension records for Moses Sr. [citation needed]

Siblings

  1. James Greer, 1709-1742
  2. Moses Greer, 1712-1780
  3. Aquilla Greer, 1719-1790
  4. Anne Greer (Starkey), 1721-1791
  5. Sarah Greer (Armstrong), 1721-??
  6. Elizabeth Greer (Davis/Davice), 1723-1781
  7. Joseph Greer, 1727-1781
  8. Benjamin Greer, 1727-1788
  9. John Greer, 1750-aft. 1790 (half-brother, son of Chloe Jones Greer)

Death

The currently available record set for William suggests he died about 1785 in Henry County, Virginia. One undocumented source offers a date of 15 September 1790 in "Washington, Franklin Co., Virginia". However, there is no "Washington" in Franklin Co. Possibly this date and place has been confused with an unidentified William Greer in Washington County, Virginia (see sources below). Another source provides a date of 1802: "One source has death as being 1802 in Franklin Co., Virginia. Change Date: 8 MAR 2004 (the end of Hosbach's)".

FREE SPACE

DNA

Paternal relationship is confirmed by a triangulated group on GEDmatch consisting of Sherrie Mitchell, Louis Richardson, and Letia (Johnson) Simpson, who share a 14.9 cM segment on chromosome 9. The most-recent common ancestors shared by all three are John Greer and Sarah Day.

Research NOTES

Moved over to the FREE SPACE

Sources

  • Gedmatch DNA confirmation statement
  • The Sons of the Revolution office at Knoxville and Baltimore County Families, 1659 - 1759 both provide data that William was the son of John and Sarah Greer. [citation needed]
  • Baltimore County, Maryland Will Book 4, p. 284-286; Will of William Fitch, written 9 April 1787, proven 3 January 1788, includes: "... he my son Robert Fitch first paying my Daughter Anne Grier Eighteen Pounds in Gold or silver specie...". A William Greer witnessed the 2 January 1788 resignation of Sarah Fitch as administrator.
  • Will of father, John Greer, written 27 April 1752 in Onslow County, North Carolina, includes: "Item I Give and Bequeath to my Six Sons John Greer Moses Greer Aquilly Greer William Greer Benjamin Joseph Greer Each of them twelve Pence Sterling to the Paid by my Executrix Item and Likewise my three Daughters Sarah Armstrong, Anne Starkey Elizabeth Davis each of them twelve Pence to the Paid by Executrix as aforesaid." -- Craven County, North Carolina, Deed Book 5, p. 277-78, Will of John Greer; image, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898M-8SS : accessed 9 Jan 2024; FHL 18,641, DGS 7,513,331, images 296-297. Copy available here.
  • Greer Kinsmen of American Descendant, by J. B. Bell, Hernando, MS, 1986; FHL Film # 6048775 (digital version):contains Family Group sheet for William on p. 17. Source contains several errors.
  • The Greer Family "Being a Transcription of the Records of the First Court of Franklin County, Virginia 1786-1789, The manuscript for the present volume was completed by Dr. Wingfield in 1936, a..................." Pioneer Families of Franklin County, Virginia, by Marshall Wingfield, p. 85-86: contains summary of the family of William Greer, (also contains errors).
  • 1778-1780 Tax Lists, Henry County, Virginia, by Lela C. Adams, 1973, p. 13-14, 14 July 1778; List includes: Acquilla Greer, Thomas Greer, Moses Greer, Sr., Uriah Greer, William Greer, Shadrack Greer.
  • 1778-1780 Tax Lists, Henry County, Virginia, by Lela C. Adams, 1973, p. 20 & 24, "An alphabetical List of the taxes or pound rate imposed on the different persons property in the County of Henry and delivered to John Salmon, Sherif of the said County to collect for the year 1779". List includes: Shadrack Greer, “Treble Tax”; Moses Greer; James Greer; Thomas Greer; William Greer, “Treble Tax”; William Greer; Acquilla Greer.
  • 1778-1780 Tax Lists, Henry County, Virginia, by Lela C. Adams, 1973, p. 34 & 38, "An alphabetical List of Tax in the County of Henry for raising a supply of money for the Service of the United States. Delivered to Archaleus Hughes, Esquire, Sheriff of the said County to collect, due the 20th February 1780". List includes: Acquilla Greer, Moses Greer, James Greer, Moses Greer, Shadrick Greer, William Greer, Uriah Greer.
  • Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1830, FHL Film #2024587, DGS # 7849140, 1782 (no districts, not alpha; Tithes/Negroes/Horses/Cattle); James Greer, 1,2,3,1; William Greer, 1,5,5,9; Moses Greer, 0,0,3,6; Acquilla Greer, 1,6,5,18; William Greer, 1,3,5,12.
  • Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1830, FHL Film #2024587, DGS # 7849140, 1783 (multiple districts; Tithes, Tithes >21, Slave >16, Slave <16, Horses, Cattle); Rentfro Dist., James Greer, 1,1,0,0,3,5; Rentfro Dist., Uriah Greer, 1,1,0,0,2,3; Saunders Dist., William Greer, 3,1,2,2,3,5 (slaves Mike, Bonder, Cloe, Bane); Heard Dist., William Greer, 1,1,0,4,4,11; Heard Dist., Aquilla Greer, 4,1,3,4,4,15; Heard Dist., Vincent Greer, 2,1,1,3,3,4.
  • Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1830, FHL Film #2024587, DGS # 7849140; 1784 (multiple districts; Tithes, Tithes >21, White>16, Slave >16, Slave <16, Horses, Cattle); Rentfro Dist., James Greer, 1,1,0,0,0,2,6; Saunders Dist., William Greer, 3,1,0,2,3,2,5; Heard Dist., William Greer, 1,1,0,0,4,4,10; Heard Dist., Aquilla Greer, 4,1,0,3,4,4,11; Heard Dist., Asol Greer, 1,1,0,0,1,1,0.
  • Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1830, FHL Film #2024587, DGS # 7849140; 1785 (multiple districts; Tithes, Tithes >21, White>16, Slave >16, Slave <16, Horses, Cattle); Rentfro Dist., James Greer, 1,1,0,0,0,2,13; Hill Dist.; William Greer, 2,1,0,1,3,4,11.
  • Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1830, FHL Film #2024587, DGS # 7849140, 1786, No Greer’s enumerated, also no Rentfro or Hill Districts (Franklin Co. formed 1786).
  • Bedford County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1786-1805, Binns Genealogy, 2009; No William Greer was recorded.
  • Franklin County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, 1786-1803, Binns Genealogy, 2009; No William was recorded.
  • Library of Virginia Land Office Grants No. 14, p. 255; 2 October 1787, Land grant to William Greer and Thomas Greer, Washington County; 345 acres on south fork of Cedar Creek, a branch of the middle fork of Holstein River adjoining George Clark. William Greer remains unidentified. It is possible this was a posthumous grant.
  • Library of Virginia Land Office Grants G, p. 349; 30 August 1785, Land grant to Patrick Watson, Washington County' 264 acres on waters of north fork of Holstein River beginning on south side of Walker’s Mountain adjoining William Greer. William Greer remains unidentified.
  • Clayton Torrence’s Virginia Wills and Administrations indicates a will for William Greer, dated 1782, in Washington Co., Virginia with an inventory dated 1785 (Washington Co. WB 1, p. 65 and 96). This William Greer remains unidentified.
  • "Supplemental account for William Greer reference is made on page 5." What does this mean? FOUND IT:::"Maryland Historical Society Magazine. "Supplemental account for William Greer reference is made on page 5."" on-line Volumes
  • rootsweb.com copies from the rootsweb.com TREE of William Dodson. He has copied/pasted the entire history of William GREER SR.--married to Mary Ann FITCH
  • Penelope Johnson Allen, State Genealogist of Tennessee, THE CHATTANOOGA TIMES, May 3, 1934
  • Maryland Historical Society need the year or VOLUME #
  • findagrave.com/memorial/115712158.

Acknowledgements

  1. Bob Wade created William Shadrach Greer Sr (1710-1785). Jan 2012
  2. From the research and actually taking a trip to England to search for the LINK to the Grierson in England, Ralph and Judia TERRY..AND finding no PROOF..........
  3. From the research/hard work of our Cuz' Sue Wilcox-Hosbach rootweb.com Family TREE she has shared with us, her family. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wwofn&id=I142 --ID: I142
  4. Lance for bringing in the questions and the non understanding Profile




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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Images: 1
The Descendants
The Descendants



Comments: 5

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Technically, the relationship to William's parents based on the DNA triangulation described in the profile should be changed to "confident"-- with triangulation, the relationships up to but not including the ancestral couple are confirmed, but the relationship to the ancestral couple are "confident." That guidance page is here. I will fix it but wanted to make sure it was clear why I made the change.
posted by Scott McClain
Not sure this is NEW to us, I did scan the sources list and it is the * 6th, which says this has errors. However, I printed pages 85-93 and am going to match them to our wikitree profiles. And note that this is a manuscript of transcriptions from a highly respected person...........

Keep your fingers XX The Greer Family "Being a Transcription of the Records of the First Court of Franklin County, Virginia 1786-1789, The manuscript for the present volume was completed by Dr. Wingfeild in 1936, a..................."

posted by Carole Taylor
edited by Carole Taylor
Just for me, Wm Sr./MaryAnn Fitch had Wm Jr. who married Sarah Freeland, who had Elizabeth, who married James D Greer, s/o Benj/Rachel Lowe, who had Ezekiel Greer Sr.who married Jemima Saunders, d/o Phile.Saunders/Jemima GREER d/o Joseph Greer/Ann Lowe, and they had Ezekiel Greer Jr. SO, 3 brothers: Wm Sr/Benj/Joseph had kids that married each others kids.
posted by Carole Taylor
I have a DNA match with a cousin that has Mary Rebecca Greer 1746-1810 that married John Henry Divers. Their son is John Divers 1767-1846, then next generation Eli Divers 1790-1881. If correct I will add it. I am looking at the John Greer 1688-1750 and Sarah Day 1688-1700 line.
posted by April Rarick
Greer-853 and Greer-564 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, same wife, similar dates
posted by Bob Tonsmeire