William Byrd (1752 - 1829)

Born 1752 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 31 May 1829 at about age 77 in Elk Creek, Grayson, Virginia, United States

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Biography

William Byrd was born in 1752, probably in Virginia. He is believed to be the son of John Byrd and his wife Sarah, though this is undocumented. His father is believed to have died in 1775 in Prince Edward Co., his mother to have married William Bunch sometime shortly thereafter, and the family removed to Montgomery Co. before 1780.

Research Notes

Disambiguation

Most genealogies cite Prince Edward Co., Virginia as William's place of birth. In fact his place of birth is unknown. It is believed to be Virginia, but his presumed father John Byrd was in Spotsylvania Co. in 1763 and in Prince Edward Co. thereafter. It is unknown where the family originated.

1776

His pension statement suggests he served with the Fourth Virginia Regiment on the continental line, though he likewise was drafted for limited duration service from the Prince Edward Co. Militia.^[1]

1781

He is explicitly tied to Prince Edward Co. in 1781 in a Continental Army record related to the Fourth Virginia Regiment:^[2]

...Additional names in the roll for July 28, Aug. 28: Charles Davis, Thomas Williams, and Mescheck Boaz. Additional names appearing the Company subsistence accounts: William Bird, William Hord, Alexander Garratt, Nathaniel Cunningham, Charles Leigh, John Woodson, Jacob Edmunds. In the pages under the caption "John Morton to the Public." (forage and subsistence) Mar. 22, Dec. 20, 1781. 437 names occur, many of them still familiar in Prince Edward Co.

1793

A road viewed out from Flower Gap to John Stender's. William Jones, surveyor from John Stender's to the ford of New River at George Jones's, thence to William Bourn's, Surveyor William Byrd. From William Bourn's to lower end of Dennis Fielder's meadow. George Jones lived down the river from Flower Swift (Eli Delp place). [This road must have passed via present Providence Church through Spring Valley.]^[3]

William was also listed in the Wythe Co. Personal Property Tax List in the section that became Grayson Co., showing one male over 21 years old in his household and two horses.^[4]

1800

He appeared in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax Lists in 1800 with two males over 21 years old in his household and two horses.^[5]

1805

He appeared in the Grayson Co. Land Tax list in 1805 with 100 acres.^[6]

1808

The party had viewed the road from Jacob Stealy's meadow, thence by William Byrd's and from there to the top of the mountain and marked it, and that they found it to be a good ground for a wagon road and believe it to be of great advantage to the public. And it is therefore ordered that the same be opened and that Samuel Byrd be appointed surveyor of the same. And that the hands of Daniel Fielder, William Byrd, Isaac Moore, James Adkins and Timothy Rowark assist in clearing out the same.^[3]

The order made yesterday for a public road from Jacob Stealy's to the top of Iron Mountain at Gleave's Gap recended and the court being of the opinion that the road applied for will be convenient, proceeded to ordered summonses to be issued to Jacob Stealy, Martin Dickenson, William Byrd, and Jesse Vaughan, proprietors of land through which the same is to be constructed, to appear here at next court to show cause why said road shall not be opened. The other proprietors of land through which the said road shall not be opened. The other proprietors of land through which the said road is proposed to be conducted, do not reside in the county, nor have they any agent therein.^[3]

1810

He appeared in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax List in 1810 with two males over 21 years old in his household and four horses. ^[7]He likewise served as a Grand Juror, returning a bill of indictment for murder against a defendant.^[8]

1813

He was listed in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax List in 1813 with three males over 21 years old in his household and three horses.^[9]

1816

He served as a Juror in 1816.^[8]

1817

He was listed in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax List in 1817 as the only male over 21 years old in his household and two horses.^[10]

1818

On this nineteenth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the General Court of Virginia alloted by law to the thirteenth Circuit, which comprehends the County of Grayson, personally appeared William Byrd aged sixty five, resident in the county of Grayson in the state aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war.” That he the said William Byrd enlisted with Lieutenant John Holcombe as a private for the period of two years, in the month of March seventeen hundred and seventy six and belonged to Captain John Mortins [sic: John Morton’s, pension application S9035] company of the fourth Virginia Regiment on continental establishment commanded by Colonel Adam Stevens [sic: Adam Stephen]: that he continued in service upwards of twelve months, when he was, on account of his extreme debility, produced by long, and severe illness, discharged by his before named Colonel but has long since lost his discharge: that he was never present in general action with the British enemy and was only in a skirmish on James River in Virginia: that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for his support. And I do farther certify, that John Fielder [pension application R3533], a credible and respectable witness, made oath before me, at the time & place abovementioned, that the fact of the said William Byrd’s enlistment with Lieutenant John Holcombe, for two years, is within his knowledge, & recollection; and that the said William Byrd was absent from home in military service of the United States about eighteen months, and returned home, so extremely emaciated, that there was then little prospect of his surviving long.^[11]

1820

He is enumerated in Grayson Co. in the 1820 Federal Census with one male over 45 years old, one female under 10 years old and two females over 45 years old.^[12]

1821

At a Court held for Grayson County on Tuesday the 27th day of February 1821. On this day appeared in open Court (being a Court of Record) William Byrd aged sixty seven years resident in the County of Grayson who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as followeth. He enlisted as a regular soldier in Captain Mortons Company of the 4th Virginia Regiment on continental establishment commanded by Colonel Adam Stephens at Prince Edward County Virginia about the year 1777 as near as he recollects, and served twelve months. That he was in no Battle and that he was discharged on account of sickness at Suffolk Town on James River by the said Colonel Adam Stephens which discharge is lost; and the said William Byrd made oath and subscribed to the following affidavit viz. “And in pursuance of the Act of 1st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “an act to provide for certain person engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, which Schedule is as followeth ToWit: “Schedule of William Byrd. ToWit. One mair 19 years old, one Small Horse, 2 Cows and Calves, four Sheep, 2 Hogs. nothing else except clothing and bedding (signed) William Byrd”

The declarant states his occupation to be Farming but being almost unable to persue it on account of age and infirmity: His family consists of himself, his wifes mother aged 99 years entirely unable to contribute to her support and a Grand Daughter Matilda Byrd, aged about Eight years
(signed) William Byrd^[11]

1824

He appeared in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax List in 1824 as the only male over 21 years old in his household and one horse.^[13][14]

1828

He appeared in the Grayson Co. Personal Property Tax List in 1828 as the only male over 21 years old in his household and two horsse.^[15]

1829

He died on 31 May 1829 and was buried in Grayson Co.^[16][17]

• Fact: Burial Samuel Byrd Cemetery, Spring Valley, Grayson, Virginia, United States
• Fact: Wife's Name Although some state he married a Jane "Alley" - Alley was her given name, perhaps for Alice. It was not her surname = see deed in Sources.
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Rev War Military Service Prince Edward Co. VA

This cemetery was surveyed by: Imogene Acker & Ginger Ballard on 4 Oct 2005. "The large family marker is tilting at a precarious angle and will soon fall if it is not repaired. Information is taken from that single monument."

Parents: John Byrd 1725–1775 Sarah 1729–1810 Siblings: John Byrd 1749–1824 Mary Byrd 1757–1805 Samuel Byrd 1758–1820 Benjamin Byrd 1758– Henry Richard Byrd 1764–1859 Luke Byrd 1765– Milard Byrd 1765– Elizabeth Byrd 1767–1837 Jane Byrd 1776–

Brother to Samuel Byrd Sr (1758-1820) who was the great great grandfather of Joseph Fred Byrd 1892-1964

Family links: Parents: John Byrd (1725 - 1775)

Spouse: Jane Alley Byrd (1766 - 1821)

Sibling: William Byrd (1752 - 1829) Samuel Byrd (1758 - 1820)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Samuel Byrd Cemetery Spring Valley Grayson County Virginia, USA

Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]

Created by: RF Record added: Feb 12, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 33779473

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG2M-5K7F : 1 March 2021), William Bird, ; citing Military Service, , Citing various published state rosters, United States; FHL microfilm 101711079.
2. ↑ "Virginia Military Records from The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly," Clearfield (2007), p. 680.. See Google Books.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "Grayson County Transportation and Roads: You Cain't Get That From Here." New River Notes.
4. ↑ "Wythe Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax List" New River Notes.
5. ↑ "The 1800 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
6. ↑ "The 1805 Grayson County, Virginia Land Tax List New River Notes.
7. ↑ The 1810 Grayson Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Grayson County, Virginia Superior Court Order Book 1809-1821 New River Notes.
9. ↑ The 1813 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
10. ↑ The 1817 Grayson County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Pension Application of William Byrd S39266 Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLC-N1W : accessed 13 January 2022), William Bird, Grayson, Virginia, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
13. ↑ The 1824 Grayson Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
14. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 March 2019), memorial page for William Byrd (1752–31 May 1829), Find A Grave: Memorial #33779473, citing Samuel Byrd Cemetery, Spring Valley, Grayson County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by RF (contributor 47076918) .
15. ↑ The 1828 Grayson Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax List New River Notes.
16. ↑ "Samuel Byrd Cemetery New River Notes
17. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 08 March 2019), memorial page for William Byrd (1752–31 May 1829), Find A Grave: Memorial #33779473, citing Samuel Byrd Cemetery, Spring Valley, Grayson County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by RF (contributor 47076918) .

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 13 July 2023, 19:37), entry for William Byrd (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LYJC-F1N ); contributed by various users.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Byrd-381 created through the import of Adamson for Wiki.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Kay Haden.