Family:James Laird and Letitia Kerr (1)

Descendants of James Laird, Ensign

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES2 LAIRD, ENSIGN (JOHN1) was born 1735 in Ireland, and died 11 Oct 1780 in killed in battle of King's Mountain, Washington County, Virginia. He married LETITIA KERR Abt. 1765 in Augusta County, Virginia, daughter of JOHN KERR and LUCY PICKENS. She was born Abt. 1745 in Staunton, Orange (Augusta) County, Virginia, and died Aft. 1788.

Notes for JAMES LAIRD, ENSIGN: [LairdJohn.FTW]

DAR Vol. 98, pg. 122, #97389, Mrs. Mary DICKEY Landrum. Aunt Mary said he married Lucy Pickens in 1760.(Letitia Kerr is Correct)

Ensign James LAIRD, from Washington County, was killed in the battle at King's Mountain, 17 October 1780.

James LAIRD, realizing the gravity of the situation (going into battle) made his will before leaving home. This document is reproduced on pages 494-495 (Bicentennial History of Washington County, Virginia 1776-1976 (R975.5725 N341B) From "The Patriots at King's Mountain," by Bobby Gilmer Moss, copyright 1990: pg. 151. LAIRD, JAMES, Ensign.

              b. 1735, Ireland
              d. 08/12 October 1780
              m. Letitia Kerr, 1760.(Listed incorrectly as Lucy Pickens)
                   James LAIRD, of Washington Co., Virginia, served as an ensign under Col. William Campbell in the battle at King's Mountain, where he was mortally wounded.  Letitia LAIRD (1765-1834), his daughter, married William WITTEN in 1790.  DAR, XCVIII, 122-123; Heitman, p. 338; Logan, II, 67; Draper, p. 304; White, p. 216; Annals of Southwest Virginia, p. 1396; Roster and Soldiers, p. 979; DAR Magazine, 1914; 3DD208,231; 8DD18; 1880 Monument; 1909 Monument.

(James LAIRD was a Scotsman, born in Ireland, who migrated to America. The transcription of his hand-written will (I have a Xerox copy) is as he wrote it, bad spelling and all. I don't know what the "S.S." after his signature stands for, unless it's: Signed and Sealed.)

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 8. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 362 Page 373.--10th June, 1760. James Laird, yeoman, to James Craig, yeoman, £60, 400 acres purchased by James from Wm. Downs, Smith's Creek; 500 years; mortgage. Signed David ( ) Laird. Recital of deed and acknowledgment says James Laird. Teste: Isaiah Curry. Delivered: Craig, May, '61.

Alphabetical List of Officers of the Continental Army Fifteenth Virginia page 338 Laird, James (Va). Ensign Virginia Riflemen; mortally wounded at King's Mountain, 7th October, 1780, and died 11th October, 1780.

Mrs. Mary Dickey Landrum. DAR ID Number: 97389 born in Washington County, Va. Wife of Dr. S. H. Landrum. Descendant of Capt. John Dickey, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, Josiah Waterman, and Ensign James Laird, as follows: [p.123] James Laird (1735-80) served as ensign under Col. William Campbell at Kings Mountain, where he was mortally wounded. He was born in Ireland.

Notes for LETITIA KERR: Related to Lord Baltimore. LDS (AFN-9HTR-VK) says she was born ca 1741 in Scotland. Don't know their source.

From World Family Tree, Cd#12, #434: Christening date: 9/22/1745 in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia. Her death place is listed as Homeplace on Catnip Hill Rd, Jessamine County, Kentucky.

Children of JAMES LAIRD and LETITIA KERR are:

• i. JEAN3 LAIRD, b. WFT Est. 1765-1773, VA.
• ii. JOHN LAIRD, b. 20 Aug 1768, Virginia; d. Abt. 1831, Near Pisgah, Tazewell County, Virginia; m. ELIZABETH STRATTON, Abt. 1793, Virginia; b. 26 Dec 1769, Virginia; d. Virginia.

Notes for JOHN LAIRD: [LairdJohn.FTW]

FAMILY BIBLE SHOWING THESE RECORDS IS IN THE POSSESSION OF NORMA JEAN (HATHAWAY) McLELLAN, GDAU OF MARVIN MASON PRATT, WHO PRESENTLY LIVES IN OZAWKIE, JEFFERSON CO., KS JOHN LAIRD WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PETETIONERS TO FORM TAZEWELL CO., VAFrom "The Annals of Tazawell County, Virginia", pg. 477

John Laird, father of Samuel, was one of the most active and influential citizens of Tazewell County, following its formation; was one of the Justices on the county court from 1809 till his death in 1831. He was appointed Constable in 1803; Treasurer School Commissioners 1824; Commissioner of the Revenue for the county in 1829; and held various positions of trust. He was buried near Pisgah, only a few hundred yards from the site of the old fort built by Thomas Witten and others about 1773, known as "Craborchard Fort". The tombstone which marks his last resting place is in a fair state of preservation now.

• iii. JANE LAIRD, b. 20 Jan 1770, Virginia; m. SAMUEL WHITE, 29 Jul 1788, Tazewell County, Virginia; b. Bef. 1771.
• iv. LETITIA LAIRD, b. 07 May 1772, Washington County, Virginia; d. 24 Aug 1837, Roane County, Tennessee; m. WILLIAM STANLEY WITTEN, 07 Feb 1790, Tazewell, Montgomery County, Virginia; b. 07 Nov 1761, Frederick County, Maryland; d. 03 Nov 1824, Bledsoe, Tennessee.
• v. MARY LAIRD, b. 22 Mar 1776, Virginia; d. 1832, Logan County, Kentucky; m. (1) JOHN MARRS, 04 Apr 1791, Wythe County, Virginia; b. 10 Apr 1773, Augusta County, Virginia; d. 1801; m. (2) PETER POINDEXTER, 30 Jun 1802, Jessamine County, Kentucky; b. WFT Est. 1770-1779.

Notes for MARY LAIRD: From Elaine Marrs-Facklam (marrsfack@access-one.com):

Mary Laird was a daughter of James Laird and Letitia Kerr. She was born on March 22, 1776. She married John Marrs in Wythe County, Virginia on April 4, 1791. John was a son of Samuel Marrs who was the second husband of Letitia Kerr-Laird. Mary Laird-Marrs married Peter Poindexter on June 30, 1802 in Jessamine County, Kentucky. Mary's wedding bond was witnessed by Samuel Marrs and Lettice Marrs. Samuel Marrs was also a witness for Peter Poindexter for his bond to marry Mary.

Notes for JOHN MARRS: Another possible marriage for John Marrs was with Polly Fowler in 1789 in Virginia, Polly was born abt. 1777 in Augusta County, Virginia (Source: World Family Tree Vol. 12, Ed. 1, Tree #0053) If she was a first wife to John Marrs that later married Mary Laird, she would have died shortly after their marriage in 1789 in order to have John re-marry in 1791.

• vi. SAMUEL LAIRD, b. 07 May 1779, Virginia; m. ELIZABETH WATSON?.
• vii. JENNIE LAIRD, b. WFT Est. 1765-1773.