DAVID LAIRD

"Pioneer Settler of Southwest Virginia"

Floyd L. Owsley
6185 Oilskin Drive

Ooltewah, Tennessee 37363

(423) 910-0058

Hello. I am descended from David Laird. David Laird was born about 1725 in probably Ireland. He died in 1803 in Washington County, Virginia. David and his family lived in Pennsylvania and Virginia. I am presently trying to verify James Laird and his wife, Jean, as the parents of David Laird. James and Jean lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The will of James Leard (Laird) was dated 1740. His wife was listed as Jean. His children were listed as David and Mary.

This site is an attempt to share with others what I've learned about my Laird family history in my many years of research. I hope my information will be helpful to others in their search for their ancestors. If you have any questions concerning my Laird family information, please feel free to contact me.

David Laird lived in Pennsylvania and is believed to be the son of James Laird and his wife, Jean, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. (NOTE: David Laird "Lard" was listed as paying taxes in Cumberland Township, York County, Pennsylvania in 1762.) Around 1770, David Laird and his family moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia in the vicinity of Augusta County, now Rockbridge County. Around 1779, David Laird moved to Washington County, Virginia and settled in the Green Spring area. According to David Laird's will, he was the father of eight or more children. James Laird, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of King's Mountain, South Carolina on October 7, 1780, is believed to have been a son of David Laird. (NOTE: James died a few days after the Battle of King's Mountain.)

On October 8, 1778, David Laird gave permission for his daughter, Anne Laird, to marry William Alexander in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Anne and William were married on October 13, 1780

In Washington County, Virginia, David Laird's land bordered the land of his son-in-law, William Alexander, husband of Anne Laird. Living nearby were David's daughter's Mary Laird (wife of Robert Ferrill) and Hannah Laird (wife of James Gilliland).

William Alexander and James Gilliland served in the King's Mountain, South Carolina campaign during the Revolutionary War in September and October of 1780. James Gilliland fought in the battle. William and James also went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians in December of 1780 under the command of Colonel's Arthur Campbell and John Sevier. William Alexander started receiving a pension in 1833 in Knox County, Tennessee for his Revolutionary War service. James Gilliland started receiving a pension in 1834 in Washington County, Virginia for his service in the Revolutionary War.

James Gilliland was born in 1745 in York County, Pennsylvania. He married Hannah Laird (daughter of David Laird) around 1765 in Pennsylvania. After the birth of their first child, David Gilliland, James and Hannah moved from Pennsylvania to Augusta County, Virginia. It is almost a certainty David Laird and his family moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia at the same time as the Gillilands.

David Laird died in 1803 in Washington County, Virginia. He was probably buried at the Green Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery as were many of his neighbors.

*Washington County, Virginia*
Revolutionary War (King's Mountain) Soldiers - October 7, 1780
David Laird, James Laird (Killed), William Alexander, James Gilliland

1787 Washington County, Virginia Tax List
District of John Lathim:
William Alexander, David Laird, Letitia Laird (widow of James Laird), James Gilliland, Robert Ferrill

*Washington County, Virginia Records (Deed Book I, page 286)
August 16, 1791
David Laird purchased (for 130 pounds) 165 acres of land from James Duff. The land was located on the west side of the middle fork of the Holston River.

September 27, 1792
David Laird sold 165 acres of land to his son-in-law, Robert Ferril, in consideration of maintaining him during his life in clothing, boarding and other necessaries. (NOTE: Robert Ferril was married to Mary Laird, daughter of David Laird.)

THE WILL OF DAVID LAIRD

In the name of God Amen that I David Lard of Washington County, State of Virginia, being in my common state of health understanding judgement and memory calling to mind the motality of the body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my executors, and as for what worldly estate goods and chattels it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I do order and bequeath them in the following manner to wit:

To my oldest son David Lard seven shillings
To my son-in-law Joseph Caldwell seven shillings
To my son-in-law Edward Wilson seven shillings
To my son William Lard five pounds
To my grandson David Lard ferall five pounds
To my son-in-law William Alexander seven shilling
And to my daughter Elizabeth McCune twelve pounds and my bed and furniture and the remainder of my estate to be equally divided amongst my daughters Mary Feril and daughter Hannah Gilliland.: and appoints Moses McSpadan to execute this my last Will and Testament and do revoke and disanul all former Wills and Testaments and do confirm this to be my last Will and Testament this twenty ninth day of November the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred sealed, signed and delivered in the presents of us
Witnesses: Adam Hope, Robert Feril Signed: David Lard
At a court held for Washington County the 15th day of February 1803
The last will and testament of David Lard deceased was proven in Court by the oath of Robert Feril a subscribing witness thereto, and the handwriting of Adam Hope another witness thereto now deceased was proven by the oaths of James Hope and James Wilson and there upon it is ordered to be recorded.

At a court held for Washington County the 19th day of July 1803
Moses McSpadden the executor named in the last Will and Testament of David Lard deceased, appeared in court and relinquished the Executorship. And on the motion of Robert Feril who claimed the administration of the estate of the said David Lard with the will annexed and entered into and acknowledged a bond with Robert Craig providing security in the penalty of three hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs and having taken the oath of an administrator with the will annexed prescribed by law a certificate is therefore granted him for the administration of the said estate with the Will annexed in due form.

Attest D. Campbell

DAVID LAIRD'S FARM IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

DIRECT DESCENDANT CHART
(David Laird to Floyd Owsley)

* David Laird b. ABT 1725 probably Ireland d. 1803 Washington County, Virginia

* Anne Laird b. ABT 1760 d. BEF 1830
m. William Alexander m. 13-Oct-1778 Rockbridge County, Virginia b. 1749 Pennsylvania d. 15-Jun-1838 Hamilton County, Tennessee

* David L. Alexander b. ABT 1791 Washington County, Virginia d. -Mar-1860 Hamilton County, Tennessee
m. Elizabeth Conn m. 28-Nov-1815 Blount County, Tennessee b. ABT 1792 Tennessee d. BEF 1870 Hamilton County, Tennessee

* Martha C. Alexander b. 1-Oct-1832 Knox or Roane County, Tennessee d. 15-May-1898 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee
m. William Foster Capps m. 25-Dec-1862 Hamilton County, Tennessee b. ABT 1845 Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 12-Mar-1864 Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee

* Sarah Elizabeth Capps b. 28-Mar-1864 Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 26-Oct-1922 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee
m. George Oliver McDaniel m. 18-Aug-1881 Tennessee b. 4-Mar-1862 Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 26-Jul-1941 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee

* Eva Ealine McDaniel b. 20-Oct-1904 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 5-May-1970 East Ridge, Tennessee
m. Chester S. (Buck) Hogan m. 25-Jun-1921 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee b. 7-Oct-1900 Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 19-Feb-1955 Ooltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee

* Frankie Marie Hogan b. 31-Jul-1932 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 7-Dec-2004 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee
m. Eugene Berry Owsley m. 1-Aug-1950 Rossville, Catoosa County, Georgia b. 3-Aug-1928 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee d. 16-Jul-1994 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee

* Floyd Leroy Owsley b. 16-Nov-1953 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee
m. Karen Bowman m. 20-Jun-1981 Harrison, Hamilton County, Tennessee b. 25-Oct-1959 Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tennessee

MY FAMILY DATABASE

My Family Database at RootsWeb WorldConnect

(This database contains a large amount of information on my ancestors and their families.)

LAIRD FAMILY RELATED LINKS

The Will of James Leard (Laird) of Lancaster County, PA

The Will of James Laird of Washington County, VA

PHOTOGRAPHS

LINKS

WILLIAM ALEXANDER

LAIRD FAMILY GENEALOGY FORUM

LAIRD AT ROOTSWEB

LAIRD MESSAGE BOARD (ROOTSWEB)

LAIRD FAMILY ASSOCIATION

GUESTBOOK

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