Person:Elizabeth Blair (34)

Information on Elizabeth Blair

Caution! Some sources claim that this Elizabeth Blair was the daughter of Alexander Blair and Jane Preston Scott, but the following records prove that she was a daughter of James Blair:

A. Alexander Blair did not name a daughter Elizabeth in his will.

B. James Blair DID name a daughter Elizabeth in his will:

• Page 171.--7th May, 1789). James Blear's will--To wife, Jean; to 3 daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Jean, after marriage or death, of wife Jean; to daughter, Margaret; to son, John; to son, James. Executors, wife and son John. Teste: John Campbell, Samuel King, Thos. Bleakely. Proved, 15th September. 1789, by Campbell and Blakely. Executors qualify.

Elizabeth Blair seems to have been married twice, first to Samuel Anderson and second to Joseph Byers, based upon the following records:

1. The first record in 1788 shows part of her father's land being sold by Elizabeth and her sister Jane with their husbands, and lists her husband as Samuel Anderson:

Page 265.--16th December, 1788. William Anderson and Jane, and Samuel Anderson and Elizabeth, to Henry Dill, part of patent to James Blair, 10th March, 1756.

Supporting records:

This record shows John Blair (Elizabeth's brother who died in 1789) and Samuel Anderson witnessing Isaac Carson's will in 1776:

Page 354.--22d March, 1776. Isaac Carson's will--To wife, Rebecca, and children; to son, Abraham; to 3 daughters, Agnes, Jane, Mary; to child of which wife is now pregnant. Executors, Capt. George Moffett, Wm. Young. Teste: John Bleir, James Scott, Samuel Anderson. 19th August, 1783, Col. Geo. Moffett deposes that 3, 4, days before Carson's death Carson showed him above will and stated he wished it altered because it cut out two children, that he wished them to be made equal with the others. John Poage deposes ditto.

This record shows two Samuel Anderson's listed in Isaac Carson's appraisement (one listed as "The Big" and the other listed as "The Less":

• Page 118.--Isaac Carson's (Corson) estate in account with Wm. Young, executor--1787, paid; 1787, received from Mary, Jane, and Agnes Carson, Samuel Anderson (the less), Samuel Anderson (the big), John Vanskiver, Marcus Cupps, Jno. Gaurner, Geo. Hood, Rebeccah Hannah, relict to ye deceased. This balance in my hands ready to be divided amongst the legatees when it can be legally done, as the two youngest children, owing to the will not being renewed after them two were born, they are not mentioned, and this executor wishes equity to them to take place also.

This record of William Anderson's will lists Elizabeth and her husband Samuel Anderson: (Note: William Anderson was Samuel Anderson's Uncle)

• Page 114.--27th August, 1792. William Anderson's will--To wife, Elizabeth; to son, John, tract whereon James Black lives, 244 acres; to son, George, tract known as Burnt Cabbin whereon George now lives, adjoining John, Robert, and Jacob Baylor; to son, Robert, 149 acres whereon Ro. now lives; to son, Alexander, home plantation, 290 acres; to sons-in-law and their wives, viz: James Clendenning and wife Margaret, Wm. Skillings and wife Mary, James Grigsby and wife Rebecca, Samuel Anderson and wife Elizabeth; to daughter, Jean Anderson. Executors, son John and David McNare. Teste: Edward Breadin, Sr. and Jr.; George Breaden. Proved, June Court, 1794, by all the witnesses.

2. The second record in 1799, shows her receiving 50 acres from her brother John, who had died in 1789, and that she was then married to Joseph Byers:

Page 288.--5th September, 1799. Wm. Chambers et als., to Hugh Donaghe,  50 acres on Naked Creek devised to Elizabeth Blair by her brother,  John Blair, by will 15th April, 1788. Elizabeth has married Joseph Byert and he gave deed of trust to grantors here.

The record of her marriage bond to Joseph Byers in 1791:

• Marriage Bond - 1791--September 24, Joseph Byers and Elizabeth Blair, daughter of Jane Blair (consent); surety, Michael Hermon. (Note: Elizabeth's father, James Blair had died in 1789)

This record affirms her marriage to Joseph Byers:

• Vol. 1 - COUNTY COURT. ORIGINAL PETITIONS AND ORDERS. - Arbitration bond between Joseph Byers, William Long, and Jane Blair, dated 1796. Report of Commissioners dividing land sold by Robert McCutchan to John Blair, and by him devised to his three sisters, Elizabeth, Mary and Jane. Elizabeth married Joseph Byers, Mary married William Long.

It is assumed that Elizabeth's first husband, Samuel Anderson most likely died in the Revolutionary War.