According to ths account, Henry Buzzard [my 5th GGF] and his wife, Elizabeth Alt, were the ancestors of all the Buzzards and allied families in Pocahontas Co. The Buzzards "were from either Switzerland or Palatinate, Germany." [Genealogical research indicates they were from Germany.] The family's surname has seen many forms in its 250 years here -- Bussard, Busard, Bossert and Bosshard among them. Henry came from Pennsylvania with a large group to what was then Hampshire Co. (now Hardy) to form a German settlement on the waters of the South Branch of the Potomac. Henry was given a grant of 69 acres in 1770 on Mill Creek. he was listed in the 1782 Hampshire County census as head of household of 11 and in 1784, of 12.
Henry, Elizabeth and their children migrated southward in 1787 to Wimer Run opposite Crab Bottom in what was then Pendleton Co. (now Highland). Henry's name is on Pendleton Co. records as having served on the grand jury in 1789 and having been appointed to examine a new road near Dry Run in 1788. His name and that of Michael Buzzard are on the list of presidntial voters of 1790. Henry died intestate in Highland County (Pendleton) prior to May 2, 1791, when his estate was inventoried, with Michael and Elizabeth Buzzard, administrators.
About 1800, the surviving family moved to Pocahontas Co. (at that time it was Bath). Two sons, Reuben [my 4th GGF] and Solomon, settled on Sitlington Creek.
Reuben is the third of Henry and Elizabeth's children and was born about 1772. When Reuben Buzzard arrived in Pocahontas County about 1800, he took up land on Sitlington Creek near Dunmore and acquired a vast piece of property. According to his will of 1842, it began at a lane belonging to heirs of Benjamin Arbogast, included all the land up to the middle fence of the brier field, extended from each end of the fence in a straight line to Arbogast's survey, continued on the west side of the fence in a straight line to a white oak by the old barn, back in a straight line to the original line at the Peach pen, and from there to the Mills place. That was the home place for Reuben and his family. In addition, he owned property adjoining on which his son, Peter, lived, which included the Mills and three other surveys.
According to "Historical Sketches of Pocahontas Co." by Price, Reuben's land was particularly well suited to fruit raising and one of the largest apple trees in Pocahontas County and maybe even in WV was near the Buzzard home. The trunk measured 3' 6" in diameter and the branches were almost 40 feet long. Seventy-five bushels had been gathered from that tree at one time.
Reuben was married and the father of at least two children by the time he arrived in Pocahontas. He was about 15 when his parent removed to Wimer Run in present Highland Co. (At the time it was Pendleton.) He was married there in 1797, his wife being the daughter of neighbors, Peter and Catherine (Hohl) Sicafoose. She was Mary Susannah Sicafoose [4th GGM], born probably about 1775.and went by the name Susannah.
Hester was Reuben and Susannah Buzzard's fourth child. Her father called her "Hessey" in his will. She was born in 1804 and maried Henry Grimes, son of Arthur and Mary (Sharp) Grimes. They lived in the Hills. Their children were Peter, Franklin, Zane, Hugh, David, Jane Bowyers and John who died as a soldier in the Civil War.
