There can be no doubt that William Hays of Campbell County, Tennessee, and Whitley County, Kentucky, is the son of John Hays and Mary Ragen. His age, birthplace, and wife's name match what is recorded in John's diary.[1] No other candidate families have been identified.
Very shortly after William's birth his parents moved from Virginia to Limestone Creek in Washington County, Tennessee.[1]
William moved west to Claiborne County where we find him one of 110 men signing an 1806 petition to the state Assembly to create a new county with a more conveniently located county seat.[2] (The result was Campbell County.) Shortly after his marriage to Susie Lay on 17 Sep 1807[1] his parents and younger siblings stopped to visit while on their way to Warren County, Ohio. In August 1809 William traveled to Ohio to visit them and his father returned to Tennessee with him. In late 1810 John convinced William and Susan to move to Ohio and they did, but in late 1811 they made a trip back to Tennessee and decided to remain there because of Indian uprisings in Ohio, "and his father in law setled him in a pice of Land by his paying one Horse towards the price of it." [1]
Whitley County, Kentucky, and Campbell County, Tennessee, are neighboring counties. William lived on the Elk Fork in Campbell and then moved to Marsh Creek in Whitley (now McCreary).
William and Susan were the parents of:
The above assignments are in agreement with the census record 1830-1850. Children Hannah, Joel and Andrew are found in William and Susan's household in the 1850 census. Sons James and William are living next door. Jesse and Jerry also lived on Marsh Creek where William lived. Their ages match perfectly with William's census record. Daughter Nancy is assigned to the family because she is otherwise unaccounted for. John is somewhat uncertain-- he lived on Young's Creek which is far from Marsh Creek but his birth prior to 1810 matches the census and we'd expect there to be a son named John in the family.
9 Mar 1815 - At Campbell County Court in the case of "State vs. William Hays" on a charge of A.B. (assault and battery), Hays pleads guilty and is fined 85 cents plus prosecution costs. Robert Whitton states that if Hays fails to pay he will do it for him.[3]
10 Jul 1816 - William Hays is granted 15 acres of land on the south side of Little Elk Fork in Campbell County.[4]
14 Sep 1820 - For $60 Jesse Lay Sr. sells 40 acres on the Little Elk fork to William Hays. Lay recently got the land by Tenn. grant #6498. Campbell Co., Tenn. [5]
1820 to 1827 - Campbell Co. deed books show William in a number land transactions, buying and selling land on the Elk fork.
c. 1828 - He moves to Whitley Co., Ky., but seems to have held on to his Tennessee land.
1829 to1850 - William is on the tax list of Whitley Co., Ky. He lived in several places in the county over the years. His first home is given as on the Clear Fork. It was purchased from Rhodes Nuckles. He then moved to Young's Creek prior to 1835, and settled on Marsh Creek (now McCreary Co.) prior to 1850. [6]
1830 - Census of Whitley County.[7]
21 Oct 1832 - At Harrodsburg, Ky., William Hays is made an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Certificate signed by John Emory, Bishop. [8]
3 Mar 1836 - William Hays, Nathan Cox, and William Perkins, administrators of Jabez Perkins, sign the estate appraisal. [9]
1840 - Census of Whitley County.[10]
30 Dec 1847 - Daniel Morgan names William Hase "to see that my plunder is taken care of" in a non-cupative (oral) will witnessed by John K. Martin and William Higginbotham.[9]
5 Jun 1848 - William Hays "of Whitley Co." sells 100 acres on the Clear Branch of the Clear Fork to William Waldon of Campbell Co. [11]
6 Aug 1849 - William and Susannah sell 150 acres on Rock Creek, Whitley Co., to William Wason for $150.[12]
1850 - William gives his occupation as Methodist Clergyman in the federal census.[13]
1 May 1852 - The estate sale of Elizabeth Holt, widow of Drury, was held. William Hayse was one of the purchasers.[9]
22 Mar 1858 - William and Susannah Hays sell two tracts on Marsh Creek to John Neal, 30 acres and 45 acres, for $126. This deed was not recorded until 15 May 1876.[14] It was common for sales to not be recorded until someone's estate was being settled. In this case it implies that either William or Susan died c. 1876. (Court records could be searched to confirm this.)
1860 - Wm. and Susanah Hayse are in the federal census of Rockholds, Whitley County, Ky., age 74 and 72 respectively. They are living with son Joel and family. William's occupation is Meth. Preacher.[15]
3 Nov 1875 - William Hays's license to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church is renewed. Signed by E.L. Shepherd at Barbourville, Ky.[8] Since neither William nor Susan are found in the census of 1870 or 1880 it seems doubtful that this record pertains to him. Yet, some accounts say he died in 1883 at the age of 98.
William was born about 1785. William Hayes ... He passed away about 1883. [16]
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