Individual Details
William Greer
(January 21, 1772 - 1862)
1800 census: William GREER: 1 male under 10; 1 male 10-26; 3 females under 10; 1 female 10-26.
1820 Ashe County, North Carolina census: William GREER: 1 male 16 to 18; 1 male 18 to 26; 1 male over 45; 2 females under 9 years; 4 females 10 to 16; 1 female 16 to 26, 1 female over 45.
1860 Ashe County, North Carolina census, North Fork Post Office, Dwelling/Family # 520/520: William GREER, 92, m, farmer, NC; Hannah GREER, 91, f, NC, cannot read or write.
William and Hannah Greer lived near the mouth of Big Elk Fork of New River.
"William (Greer), born 21 January 1772; listed on the Ashe County tax of 1815 with lands including 50 acres "joining Saml. Wilcoxon's old house." Married Hannah Cartwright. Died in 1879 but does not appear on the census in Ashe County after 1820. William and Hannah had the following children: Isaac Greer, born 18 March 1798, married Nancy Morris 14 April 1823; Sallie Greer, born 20 May 1793, married Levi Blackburn, died 23 March 1869; Nancy "Nan" Greer, married ____ Walker; Cynthia Greer, married Jim Parsons; Ola Greer, killed by lightening, never married." (OUR GREER FAMILY HISTORY, 1983, by Thomas H. Greer, 335 Miramontes Avenue, Half Moon Bay, California 94019, page 42.)
"William and Hannah Greer moved to Pike County, Kentucky. Fannie Greer was their daughter." (Mary Floy Katzman, Framingham, Massachusetts, maryfloy@mkatzman.tiac.net>.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Did William die in Ashe County, North Carolina?)
"To give you some info we have found regarding our gr.gr.gr.great-grandmother, Fanny Greer Willcockson. Several sources have cited her as the daughter of William and Hannah (Cartwright) Greer, b. 1799/1800 Ashe Co NC. Our first lead was in the volume, THE HISTORY of CARTER CO Ky. "Wilcox" family. We have a couple of family record sheets from different places which list her among the children. Here's our list: William & Hannah Cartwright Greer's children; Saran "Sallie" Greer (1793--1862), w/o Levi Blackburn, 11 children; Isaac Newton Greer (1798--1872), h/o Nancy Morris, 12 children; Mary "Polly" Greer (1799-1892), -- , 3 children; Francis "Fanny" Greer (abt 1800--1866) 1st w/o Isaiah Wilcox, 12 children; Nancy Greer ((1800--aft1880), w/o John Walker; Charlotte Greer (1802-- ?), w/o Elijah Younce/Yonts, 6 children; Elizabeth Greer (abt1803--abt1850) w/o Larkin Owens, 9/10 children; Mahale "Ola" Greer; Jacyntha "Cynthia" Greer (1812--?) w/o Wm Hardin Parsons, 13 children. This sums up what we have been able to piece-together for our Greer line. We've been helped more with info because our Isaiah Wilcox(son) was the grandson of John & Sarah (BOONE) Wilcoxson. I do have names, dates, places, etc for some of the desc. named in the above list." (Bonnie Phelps Sweatman, sweatman@meol.mass.edu>.)
"William Greer, born 21 Jan 1772 in NC, died 1862 in Ashe Co., NC, Father: Benjamin Greer, Mother: Nancy Wilcoxsen. Information about William and Hannah Greer is from: Census: 1800, 1820, 1840 and 1850 - Ashe Co., NC; 1860 - North Fork, Ashe Co., NC.. Some information about the family of Jesse Greer is from the Jesse Greer Notebook now in the possession of one of the descendants of Jesse and Mary (Polly) Morris Greer. According to the Francis Marion Wilcox Journal written in 1897, the family moved to what is now Owsley Co., KY until 1821 or 1822 they moved back to Ashe Co., NC. He always longed for Kentucky and believed it to be the 'promised land'. Francis Marion attended his and Hannah's funeral which was preached by Uncle William Wilcox in the summer of 1862. "A Journal Written by Francis Marion Wilcox - 1897" from Bill Howe, 464 South Ogden, Denver, CO 80209." (Mary Floy Katzman, 57 Leigh St., Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, 508-877-1530, 1998.)
"William married Hannah Cartwright, born 1 Jul 1772 in NC, died 1862, in Ashe Co., NC, buried: Ashe Co., NC, in Cemetery near Henry Millers, Staggs Crk., Father: Joseph Cartwright, Mother: Eve Miller. Census: 1850 - Ashe Co., NC; 1860 - North Fork, Ashe Co., NC. Wilkes Co., NC Will Book I, 10 Dec 1778-Apprentice Bond-Hannah Cartwright aged 6 yrs 1st day July last, dau. Joseph Cartwright, decd, bound to James Gray til age 18 to learn to sew & spin & other housework necessary for a girl." (Mary Floy Katzman, 57 Leigh St., Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, 508-877-1530, 1998.)
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: The death date of 1862, given by Mary Katzman, seems to be more accurate than 1879 given by Thomas H. Greer.)
"... Grandfather [Isaiah Wilcox, son of Samuel Wilcox/Wilcoxen and Anna Jordan] , while hunting and roaming over the hills of this new country, became acquainted with one William Greer, whose wife was a relative of the eccentric Peter Cartwright, being herself the mother of several young ladies among whom was Jacintha, who afterward married one Hardin Parsons, and one named Fannie. Isaiah became "all broken up" on the latter. He courted, wooed and won her hand and about the year 1817, they as before stated, were married and settled on New River in Ashe County, North Carolina.
"On or about the year 1820, William Greer with his family, also Isaiah Wilcox, his son-in-law, concluded to migrate to the Three Forks of the Kentucky River in the State of Kentucky, what is now called Owsley County, Kentucky. They made the trip like the Boones on horseback and pack mules and after crossing many high hills and precipitous mountains, they finally arrived at the end of their journey and made another addition to the few then comprising the settlement at the Three Forks of Kentucky River (where now the town of Proctor is located). Here for a short time they devoted their attention principally to hunting and farming and blazing out new lines of travel and while here in this wilderness home, on the 7th of March 1821, Isaiah's second son was born whom he named after his father, calling his son Samuel.
"The small colony became homesick and as the Indians quite often made dashes into the wilds of Kentucky in search of game and generally decorated their belts with more or less white scalps. This magnified their horrors and made them long for the flesh pots more than ever and on or about the fall of 1821 or in the spring of 1822, they pulled up stakes, packed their horses and mules and after a long, yet successful journey they arrived in Ashe County North Carolina where all settled anew. Some of those who returned to lament their choice, while others were only to remain, gather fresh courage and be off again.
"William Greer remained on the waters of New River until removed by death during the spring of 1862, being near ninety seven years old. He always longed for Kentucky and believed it to be the "promised land". His wife Hannah also died there in the same year being up into ninety. He [Francis Marion Wilcox, author of the Journal] heard their funerals preached by Uncle William Wilcox in the summer of 1862." [William Wilcox was a son of Isaiah Wilcox and Fannie Greer]." (Abstract from a journal written about 1897, by Francis Marion Wilcox, as per Mary Floy Katzman Framingham, Massachusetts, email: maryfloy@mkatzman.tiac.net>.)
1820 Ashe County, North Carolina census: William GREER: 1 male 16 to 18; 1 male 18 to 26; 1 male over 45; 2 females under 9 years; 4 females 10 to 16; 1 female 16 to 26, 1 female over 45.
1860 Ashe County, North Carolina census, North Fork Post Office, Dwelling/Family # 520/520: William GREER, 92, m, farmer, NC; Hannah GREER, 91, f, NC, cannot read or write.
William and Hannah Greer lived near the mouth of Big Elk Fork of New River.
"William (Greer), born 21 January 1772; listed on the Ashe County tax of 1815 with lands including 50 acres "joining Saml. Wilcoxon's old house." Married Hannah Cartwright. Died in 1879 but does not appear on the census in Ashe County after 1820. William and Hannah had the following children: Isaac Greer, born 18 March 1798, married Nancy Morris 14 April 1823; Sallie Greer, born 20 May 1793, married Levi Blackburn, died 23 March 1869; Nancy "Nan" Greer, married ____ Walker; Cynthia Greer, married Jim Parsons; Ola Greer, killed by lightening, never married." (OUR GREER FAMILY HISTORY, 1983, by Thomas H. Greer, 335 Miramontes Avenue, Half Moon Bay, California 94019, page 42.)
"William and Hannah Greer moved to Pike County, Kentucky. Fannie Greer was their daughter." (Mary Floy Katzman, Framingham, Massachusetts, maryfloy@mkatzman.tiac.net>.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Did William die in Ashe County, North Carolina?)
"To give you some info we have found regarding our gr.gr.gr.great-grandmother, Fanny Greer Willcockson. Several sources have cited her as the daughter of William and Hannah (Cartwright) Greer, b. 1799/1800 Ashe Co NC. Our first lead was in the volume, THE HISTORY of CARTER CO Ky. "Wilcox" family. We have a couple of family record sheets from different places which list her among the children. Here's our list: William & Hannah Cartwright Greer's children; Saran "Sallie" Greer (1793--1862), w/o Levi Blackburn, 11 children; Isaac Newton Greer (1798--1872), h/o Nancy Morris, 12 children; Mary "Polly" Greer (1799-1892), -- , 3 children; Francis "Fanny" Greer (abt 1800--1866) 1st w/o Isaiah Wilcox, 12 children; Nancy Greer ((1800--aft1880), w/o John Walker; Charlotte Greer (1802-- ?), w/o Elijah Younce/Yonts, 6 children; Elizabeth Greer (abt1803--abt1850) w/o Larkin Owens, 9/10 children; Mahale "Ola" Greer; Jacyntha "Cynthia" Greer (1812--?) w/o Wm Hardin Parsons, 13 children. This sums up what we have been able to piece-together for our Greer line. We've been helped more with info because our Isaiah Wilcox(son) was the grandson of John & Sarah (BOONE) Wilcoxson. I do have names, dates, places, etc for some of the desc. named in the above list." (Bonnie Phelps Sweatman, sweatman@meol.mass.edu>.)
"William Greer, born 21 Jan 1772 in NC, died 1862 in Ashe Co., NC, Father: Benjamin Greer, Mother: Nancy Wilcoxsen. Information about William and Hannah Greer is from: Census: 1800, 1820, 1840 and 1850 - Ashe Co., NC; 1860 - North Fork, Ashe Co., NC.. Some information about the family of Jesse Greer is from the Jesse Greer Notebook now in the possession of one of the descendants of Jesse and Mary (Polly) Morris Greer. According to the Francis Marion Wilcox Journal written in 1897, the family moved to what is now Owsley Co., KY until 1821 or 1822 they moved back to Ashe Co., NC. He always longed for Kentucky and believed it to be the 'promised land'. Francis Marion attended his and Hannah's funeral which was preached by Uncle William Wilcox in the summer of 1862. "A Journal Written by Francis Marion Wilcox - 1897" from Bill Howe, 464 South Ogden, Denver, CO 80209." (Mary Floy Katzman, 57 Leigh St., Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, 508-877-1530, 1998.)
"William married Hannah Cartwright, born 1 Jul 1772 in NC, died 1862, in Ashe Co., NC, buried: Ashe Co., NC, in Cemetery near Henry Millers, Staggs Crk., Father: Joseph Cartwright, Mother: Eve Miller. Census: 1850 - Ashe Co., NC; 1860 - North Fork, Ashe Co., NC. Wilkes Co., NC Will Book I, 10 Dec 1778-Apprentice Bond-Hannah Cartwright aged 6 yrs 1st day July last, dau. Joseph Cartwright, decd, bound to James Gray til age 18 to learn to sew & spin & other housework necessary for a girl." (Mary Floy Katzman, 57 Leigh St., Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, 508-877-1530, 1998.)
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: The death date of 1862, given by Mary Katzman, seems to be more accurate than 1879 given by Thomas H. Greer.)
"... Grandfather [Isaiah Wilcox, son of Samuel Wilcox/Wilcoxen and Anna Jordan] , while hunting and roaming over the hills of this new country, became acquainted with one William Greer, whose wife was a relative of the eccentric Peter Cartwright, being herself the mother of several young ladies among whom was Jacintha, who afterward married one Hardin Parsons, and one named Fannie. Isaiah became "all broken up" on the latter. He courted, wooed and won her hand and about the year 1817, they as before stated, were married and settled on New River in Ashe County, North Carolina.
"On or about the year 1820, William Greer with his family, also Isaiah Wilcox, his son-in-law, concluded to migrate to the Three Forks of the Kentucky River in the State of Kentucky, what is now called Owsley County, Kentucky. They made the trip like the Boones on horseback and pack mules and after crossing many high hills and precipitous mountains, they finally arrived at the end of their journey and made another addition to the few then comprising the settlement at the Three Forks of Kentucky River (where now the town of Proctor is located). Here for a short time they devoted their attention principally to hunting and farming and blazing out new lines of travel and while here in this wilderness home, on the 7th of March 1821, Isaiah's second son was born whom he named after his father, calling his son Samuel.
"The small colony became homesick and as the Indians quite often made dashes into the wilds of Kentucky in search of game and generally decorated their belts with more or less white scalps. This magnified their horrors and made them long for the flesh pots more than ever and on or about the fall of 1821 or in the spring of 1822, they pulled up stakes, packed their horses and mules and after a long, yet successful journey they arrived in Ashe County North Carolina where all settled anew. Some of those who returned to lament their choice, while others were only to remain, gather fresh courage and be off again.
"William Greer remained on the waters of New River until removed by death during the spring of 1862, being near ninety seven years old. He always longed for Kentucky and believed it to be the "promised land". His wife Hannah also died there in the same year being up into ninety. He [Francis Marion Wilcox, author of the Journal] heard their funerals preached by Uncle William Wilcox in the summer of 1862." [William Wilcox was a son of Isaiah Wilcox and Fannie Greer]." (Abstract from a journal written about 1897, by Francis Marion Wilcox, as per Mary Floy Katzman Framingham, Massachusetts, email: maryfloy@mkatzman.tiac.net>.)
Events
| Birth | January 21, 1772 | Surry County, North Carolina | |||
| Birth | January 21, 1772 | Zionville, Watauga County, North Carolina | |||
| Marriage | Abt, 1792 | Hannah H. Cartwright | |||
| Death | 1862 | Ashe County, North Carolina |
Families
| Spouse | Hannah H. Cartwright (1772 - 1862) |
| Child | Sarah "Sallie" Greer (1793 - 1869) |
| Child | Isaac Newton Greer (1798 - 1871) |
| Child | Mary "Polly" Greer (1799 - 1892) |
| Child | Frances "Fanny" Greer (1800 - 1866) |
| Child | Nancy "Nan" Greer (1800 - 1880) |
| Child | Charlotte Greer (1802 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Greer (1803 - 1850) |
| Child | Mahale "Ola" "Allia" Greer ( - ) |
| Child | Cynthia "Jacintha" Greer (1806 - ) |
| Father | Benjamin Greer (1746 - 1816) |
| Mother | Nancy Wilcox (or Wilcoxson) (1745 - 1790) |
| Sibling | Rachel Greer (1768 - 1840) |
| Sibling | John Greer (1770 - 1850) |
| Sibling | Benjamin Greer Jr. (1774 - 1800) |
| Sibling | Nancy Ann "Anna" Greer (1776 - ) |
| Sibling | Jesse Greer Sr. (1778 - 1869) |
| Sibling | Vincent David Greer (1781 - 1850) |
| Sibling | James Greer (1783 - 1844) |
| Sibling | Samuel Greer (1785 - 1872) |
| Sibling | Joshua Greer (1788 - 1860) |
| Sibling | Thomas Greer (1790 - ) |