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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.
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.
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.
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.
'"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.
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]
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)".
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.
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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..................."
edited by Carole Taylor