George Washington Greer (1798 - 1859)

Born 1798 in Monroe, Overton, Tennessee

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth (Benton) Greer — married 1811 in Monroe, Overton, Tennessee

Descendants

Died 1859 at about age 61 in Wood, Texas, United States

Biography

George was born in 1798. George Greer ... He passed away in 1838.

Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850

Name: George Greer

Marriage Date: 17 Sep 1811

Marriage Place: Ohio, Kentucky, USA

Spouse: Elizabeth Benton

1820 United States Federal Census^[1] Name: George Greer Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Overton, Tennessee Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820 Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1 Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1 Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 1 Free White Persons - Under 16: 2 Total Free White Persons: 4 Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 4

1850 United States Federal Census^[2] Name: G W Greer [George W Greer] Gender: Male Race: White Age: 52 Birth Year: abt 1798 Birthplace: Tennessee Home in 1850: Van Zandt, Texas, USA Occupation: Farmer Industry: Agriculture Real Estate: 1900 Cannot Read, Write: Yes Line Number: 29 Dwelling Number: 119 Family Number: 119 Household Members (Name) Age

• G W Greer 52
• Elisabeth Greer 54
• J N Greer 17
• N G Greer 15

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63319596/george-washington-greer^[3]

Name: George Washington Greer Sr

Birth Date: 1798

Death Date: 1859

Death Place: Wood County, Texas, United States of America

Has Bio?: Y

Father: Walter Greer

Mother: Priscilla Ann Greer

Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth Greer

My ggg grandfather, George Washington Greer, raised a large family consisting of six sons in Overton County, Tennessee. In 1831, migrated to Wayne County, Missouri. In 1834, he migrated to Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas. In 1841, the Republic of Texas was giving 640 acres to a family and 320 acres to single settlers. He sent his sons Adam, Walter C., Gaines W. and Samuel Greer to Nacogdoches (now Wood County) County Texas to claim their land. On 10 Nov 1841, they were each awarded fourth class headright grants for 320 acres. In 1847, he moved the remainder of his family moved to Wood County. In 1848, he paid taxes on a 320 acre tract #108 that was the Gaines Greer headright. In 1850, he paid taxes on 1280 acres of land in four tracts. The tax records indicate that George W. Greer settled his family on Gaines W. Greer's headright and then transferred the land back to Gaines W. Greer in 1859. On 5 Feb 1850, the Legislature of Texas passed bill #3931 creating Wood County, Texas. The bill appointed Gilbert Yarborough, Joseph Fisher, George W. Greer, Henry Stout and Reuben Elledge as commissioners with the authority to select three locations for the county seat and to hold elections for the first county officials. On 5 Aug 1850, the commissioners held an election under a large post oak tree on Gaines W. Greer's farm (headright #108). About twenty five men voted in the election and selected Quitman as the county seat of Wood County. The large post oak tree became known locally as the Charter Oak. The Charter Oak survived until 1950 when it was killed by lightning. A historical marker was dedicated to the Charter Oak on 15 Dec 1973. The marker is located on FM 49, Hainesville Highway, about three and one half miles east of Mineola, Texas. He is buried at an unknown location on Gaines Greer's headright.

Sources

1. ↑ 1820 United States Federal Census; 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Overton, Tennessee; Page: 251; NARA Roll: M33_122; Image: 214
2. ↑ 1850 United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Van Zandt, Texas; Roll: 916; Page: 222b
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63319596/george-washington-greer: accessed 26 October 2022), memorial page for George Washington Greer Sr. (1798–1859), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63319596, ; Maintained by: Find a Grave Burial Details Unknown, who reports a Buried on family farm.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Mike Ormsby for creating Greer-829 on 14 Jul 13.