Individual Details
John GREER
(Abt 1688 - Aft 15 Sep 1750)
John was born about 1688 based on a deposition he gave in 1738 stating that he had been "bitten by a rattlesnake in the woods about 30 perches above the mouth of the Long Green River" and that he was "50 years old" at that time of the incident.
In 1704, John married Sarah Day and they had 10 children together. It appears that John was a land speculator as his name appears quite often in the land records of Ann Arundel and Baltimore Counties. In 1747 Sarah's signatures stopped appearing in deed releases with no explanation other than "wife did not join in Deed." Apparently she was still alive, but had gone to live with her son Aquilla at Chilimara Plantation. This could have something to do with John having fathered four children out-of-wedlock between about 1730 and 1736. The children were Rebecca, Alexander, Martha, and Mary and their mother was most likely Chloe Jones who John had been admonished for "co-habitating with unlawfully" by the church, as appears in Baltimore County vestry records.
In 1748 John moved to Virginia and bought 250 acres in Goochland County from King George III. He died a couple of years later in Augusta County leaving his four teenaged children orphans. His will, dated September 15, 1750, appears as follows in Augusta County records.
"John Greer lying sick and low orders his son Alexander to be bound to a trade, orders one child to Jno. Mitchell, another to S.D. [Samuel Doak], the oldest girl to go to some decent (it might be Irish) woman to learn housewifery, this for small wages at first.
Orders that all his debts and funeral charges to be paid & what remains to be equally divided amongst the children & put to interest for their use. Allows John Mitchell and Samuel Doak, as executors. Ordered by the said John Greer the day & year above written in presence of: James Cowin John Mitchell, Samuel Doak & Francis Beatey."
In 1704, John married Sarah Day and they had 10 children together. It appears that John was a land speculator as his name appears quite often in the land records of Ann Arundel and Baltimore Counties. In 1747 Sarah's signatures stopped appearing in deed releases with no explanation other than "wife did not join in Deed." Apparently she was still alive, but had gone to live with her son Aquilla at Chilimara Plantation. This could have something to do with John having fathered four children out-of-wedlock between about 1730 and 1736. The children were Rebecca, Alexander, Martha, and Mary and their mother was most likely Chloe Jones who John had been admonished for "co-habitating with unlawfully" by the church, as appears in Baltimore County vestry records.
In 1748 John moved to Virginia and bought 250 acres in Goochland County from King George III. He died a couple of years later in Augusta County leaving his four teenaged children orphans. His will, dated September 15, 1750, appears as follows in Augusta County records.
"John Greer lying sick and low orders his son Alexander to be bound to a trade, orders one child to Jno. Mitchell, another to S.D. [Samuel Doak], the oldest girl to go to some decent (it might be Irish) woman to learn housewifery, this for small wages at first.
Orders that all his debts and funeral charges to be paid & what remains to be equally divided amongst the children & put to interest for their use. Allows John Mitchell and Samuel Doak, as executors. Ordered by the said John Greer the day & year above written in presence of: James Cowin John Mitchell, Samuel Doak & Francis Beatey."
Events
| Birth | Abt 1688 | Gunpowder, Baltimore, Maryland |  | ||
| Marriage | 4 Mar 1704 | Joppa, Harford, Maryland - Sarah DAY | | ||
| Death | Aft 15 Sep 1750 | Augusta County, Virginia | |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah DAY (1686 - 1758) |
| Child | James Greer (1709 - 1742) |
| Child | William GREER (1710 - 1785) |
| Child | John Greer (1714 - 1782) |
| Child | Moses Greer (1716 - 1777) |
| Child | Aquilla Greer (1719 - 1790) |
| Child | Sarah Greer ( - ) |
| Child | Ann Greer ( - ) |
| Child | Thomas Greer (1723 - 1793) |
| Child | Joseph Greer (1727 - 1781) |
| Child | Benjamin Greer (1727 - 1788) |
| Father | James GREER (1627 - 1688) |
| Mother | Anne TAYLOR (1662 - 1716) |
Endnotes
1. Defunct Greer Website of Ralph Terry of Coleman, Texas.
2. Defunct Greer Website of Ralph Terry of Coleman, Texas.
3. Defunct Greer Website of Ralph Terry of Coleman, Texas.