Elizabeth (Guyer) Buckner (abt. 1815 - 1902)

Born about May 1815 in Burke, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jessica Hammond [send private message]

Biography

Elizabeth Guyer was born in the month of May, about 1815, in Burke County, North Carolina.^[1][2]

The names of her parents are not yet known. But she had at least one sister, Susan, who was also born in North Carolina, in 1830.^[3]

Elizabeth is referred to as Rebecca Elizabeth Guyer in some records, and her proper first name may have been Rebecca.^[1][4] But she went by Elizabeth for most, if not all, her life.

Biographical information in the Mandie books

Her great-granddaughter, Lois Gladys Leppard, wrote the Mandie series, a Christian-focused historical and mystery series for children, popular with young girls in the 1980s and 1990s.^[5] In the introduction to one of her books, Mandie and Her Missing Kin, Leppard wrote about her mother, grandmother, and great-grandparents.

My mother's people - with the names Wilson, Duvall, Buckner, Guyer, Roper, Downs, Frady, Bryson, Pittman, and many more - came from these counties back in Revolutionary War days, before the land was divided into the present counties.

My mother, Bessie Addiavenia Wilson Leppard, was born in a log cabin at Charley Gap on the present site of Nantahala Inn in Swain County. Her grandfather, Abel Buckner, who owned property and raised his own family at Rose Creek near Franklin, was the first white man to cross the Nantahala Mountain. He bought land from the Cherokee Indians in Swain County. He and his family were among the founders of Maple Springs Baptist Church, and my grandmother, Amanda Elizabeth Buckner Wilson, is buried there. Mandie in my books was named after her and patterned after my mother.

...

My grandmother Wilson was born at Rose Creek. Her father and mother, Abel Buckner and Rebecca Elizabeth Guyer, were married in 1815 in the Guyer home near Franklin, and the marriage was recorded in the old courthouse records."^[6]

Some of what Leppard wrote in her introduction has been corroborated by records; some has not.

Marriage and children

Elizabeth married Abel Buckner.^[1] According to her great-granddaughter, they were married near Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, in the home of Elizabeth’s parents. But she also states that they were married in 1815, which can't possibly be true, since Elizabeth and Abel were both born around 1815.^[6]

Elizabeth and Abel had eight children together, although only six lived long enough to be recorded in any records.^[2] Their first known child was born in 1845, so the marriage likely occurred in the early-to-mid 1840s, when Abel and Elizabeth were in their twenties.^[1][7]

Swain County and Yancey County, North Carolina

Elizabeth and Abel’s great-granddaughter claimed that Abel bought land from the Cherokee in Swain County.^[6] This may very well be true. When he wrote his will in 1890, he gave to his son "all the land that I now own in Swain County in North Carolina."^[8]

Elizabeth and Abel spent the first part of their marriage in Yancey County, North Carolina. Their two oldest known children were born there. Sometime between 1847 and 1850, they moved to Macon County, where their third child was born.^[1]

Macon County, North Carolina

In 1852, Abel purchased his first tract of land in Macon County, in Burningtown township on Rose Creek near Saldeer Gap. By the end of his life, he owned 234 acres of Macon County land.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][6]}

This is a map of the very approximate location of Abel Buckner’s land. Go here or click the image to navigate around the location on Google Maps.

Elizabeth and Abel were farmers. Like most small farms in the area, most years they probably produced just enough to feed the family. The mountains were not ideal for large-scale farming. The farms in the area grew corn, oats, potatoes, wheat, and rye, as well as livestock - cattle, sheep, and swine. They may have grown tobacco too. By 1870, Macon County was western North Carolina’s leading tobacco producer.

To make a little extra money, families sold and traded the things they made - jams, honey, apple butter, woven fabric, and, especially, moonshine. Moonshine made a good profit, and it was easy to transport, and easy to store.^[15]

Neither Elizabeth nor Abel could read and write.^[1]

Middlefork Church

Before 1861, Abel and Elizabeth probably attended a church called Middlefork Church. In 1862, When Abel applied for membership to the Burningtown Baptist Church in Macon County, the records make note of his previous church. The text here is very faint and difficult to read, but part of it states, "Buckner had a letter...Middlefork Church…"

Abel Buckner's initial application to Burningtown Baptist Church, mentioning Middlefork Church

When Abel was finally received into membership of the Burningtown Baptist in August 1863, the records state:

"A. Buckner had made proper application for over 2 years to the church in which his membership had been before he removed hither, to obtain a letter of dismission, but had thus far absolutely failed, concerning which the church was well informed; also had the declaration that Mr. Abel Buckner, setting forth that he was, when he left there, in full fellowship with that church."

Abel Buckner's acceptance into Burningtown Baptist Church

Burningtown Baptist Church and possible baptism

Elizabeth and Abel attended Burningtown Baptist Church from about 1861 until at least 1878, and possibly to the end of their lives. Abel first appeared in the Burningtown Baptist Church records in 1862, contributing 10 cents to the church. On 12 August 1862, he applied for membership in the church.

The same day Abel applied for church membership, Elizabeth may have been baptized. The church minutes note, “This day 12th Jasper Poindexter was baptised; also Elizabeth Buckner was baptised."

Elizabeth Buckner's baptism is recorded at the bottom of page one and the top of page two in the minutes below.

A church meeting was held at Elizabeth and Abel’s property a month after Abel applied for membership. He was received into membership of the Burningtown Baptist Church a year after he applied, on 9 August 1863. Three of their children - Susie, Sarah, and Amanda - joined the church as well as young adults.^[16]

According to their great-granddaughter, Elizabeth and Abel were among the founders of Maple Springs Baptist Church.^[6] There is a Maple Springs Baptist Church about 8 miles northwest of Abel and Elizabeth’s home, and it was established in 1881. The records from the early days of the Maple Springs Baptist church have been lost in a fire.^[17]

It’s possible Elizabeth and Abel left Burningtown Baptist Church near the end of their lives to help establish this new one. But the Burningtown Baptist Church records give no indication that they ever transferred their membership. The records note their deaths, not their dismissal.^[16]

Burningtown Baptist Church membership roll, noting Elizabeth Buckner's death

End of life

In 1880, Elizabeth and Abel lived with Elizabeth’s unmarried sister, Susan Guyer, who is listed as "insane" on the census.^[3]

Abel died in 1891.^[16][18] He had dictated a will, but it was never proved, and Abel died intestate. This led to a drawn-out legal dispute between his heirs that ultimately went to the North Carolina Supreme Court.^[8][19][20]

Elizabeth outlived Abel by eleven years. In 1900, she still lived in Burningtown, but now with the family of her daughter, Susie.^[2]

She died 26 April 1902.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSC-8TD?cc=1473181&wc=7QSN-6Q1%3A1589432691%2C1589422369%2C1589433032 : accessed 11 June 2021), North Carolina > Macon > Burningtown District > image 6 of 12; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSBM-C7C : accessed 31 July 2020), Joseph K Duvall household, Burningtown Township, Macon, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60, sheet 8A, family 126, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,204.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCXW-YGG : accessed 17 July 2020), Abel Buckner, Burningtown, Macon, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district ED 120, sheet 528C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,971.
4. ↑ "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3DQ-YLD : accessed 31 July 2020), Susie E. Dunall [Duvall], 23 Feb 1930; citing Burning Town, Macon, North Carolina, reference fn 1366 cn 188, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,943,014.
5. ↑ "Mandie," Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandie : accessed 9 July 2021)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Lois Gladys Leppard, Mandie and Her Missing Kin (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House, 1995), author's introduction. "
7. ↑ "Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DCFQ-GTM?cc=1320969&wc=MJ93-K6D%3A954801301 : accessed 17 July 2020), 004178814 > image 1048 of 1513; Department of Archives and History, Atlanta.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-817P-94SX?i=69&wc=Q6W5-4R7%3A183208601%2C183209202%2C183969801&cc=1911121 : accessed 14 May 2021), Macon County > B > Buckner, Able (1899) > images 70-72 of 222; State Archives, Raleigh.

   Images of the will and a transcription are available at this free-space profile for the Will of Abel Buckner

9. ↑ "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-917P-9W7V?cc=1911121&wc=Q6W5-4R7%3A183208601%2C183209202%2C183969801 : accessed 14 May 2021), Macon County > B > Buckner, Able (1899) > images 66-67 of 222; State Archives, Raleigh.
10. ↑ "North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60621/ : accessed 14 May 2021) > Macon County > certificate range 1712-1895 > images 92-96 ; certificate 1728
11. ↑ "North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60621/ : accessed 14 May 2021) > Macon County > certificate range 1896-2112 > images 186-198; certificates 1925-1927
12. ↑ "North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60621/ : accessed 14 May 2021) > Macon County > certificate range 2284-2396 > images 292-297; certificate 2333
13. ↑ "North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60621/ : accessed 14 May 2021) > Macon County > certificate range 4108-4275 > images 177-181; certificate 4130
14. ↑ "North Carolina, U.S., Land Grant Files, 1693-1960," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60621/ : accessed 14 May 2021) > Macon County > certificate range 4581-4748> images 190-195; certificate 4608
15. ↑ Jennifer Martin, "Historic and Architectural Resources of Macon County, North Carolina, ca. AD 600-1945," National Register of Historic Places, Multiple Property Documentation Form, 1998 (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/64500368_text : accessed 2 July 2021).
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3} Burningtown Baptist Church (Franklin, N.C.) records, Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ca. 1862-1902. A librarian at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library looked through the microfilm for me and sent me images referencing the Buckner family.
17. ↑ Facebook Messenger conversation between Maple Springs Baptist Church and Jessica Hammond, April 2021
18. ↑ "Our Macon Letter," letter dated 3 February 1891, Asheville (North Carolina) Democrat, 15 February 1891, page 2, column 1."
    
    Complete text of the obituary: “Mr. Abel Buckner, one of our oldest and most respected citizens, died yesterday and will be buried to-day. He was a faithful member of the Baptist church at Burningtown, and his daily walk in life was a most exemplary one."
19. ↑ "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-917P-9W7V?cc=1911121&wc=Q6W5-4R7%3A183208601%2C183209202%2C183969801 : accessed 14 May 2021), Macon County > B > Buckner, Able (1899) > images 66-67 of 222; State Archives, Raleigh.
20. ↑ Supreme Court of North Carolina, Davis v. Duval, 16 S.E. 471 (N.C. 1892), 1 September 1892; at Casetext (https://casetext.com/case/davis-v-duval-1 : accessed 2 July 2021).