Individual Details
Lt. Aquilla Greer
(January 5, 1782 - January 18, 1843)
"Aquilla Greer was born January 1782 in Bedford County, Virginia. He married Martha (Patsy) Arnold in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. According to family records, the date was 1 May 1810, but they applied for the marriage license January 10, 1808 which Oglethorpe County records do not show as being returned. On 31 May 1809 Zachariah Arnold sold 100 acres to Aquilla Greer on the road leading from Lexington to Washington near Richard Hayne's. Zachariah Arnold had a daughter named Martha, named in his Bible Records and to whom he left a slave in his will, but no other information on his daughter and who she married. James Greer, Aquilla's father was in Clarke County by this time. An Aquilla is found there by the 1820 census listed on index as Aquilla Green.
"He may be the Aquilla Greer found in the list of infantrymen who fought in the War of 1812 from Clarke County. He is described as age 30, 6 ft tall with blue eyes and light hair. His father, Lt James Greer died in 1825, leaving Aquilla much land, and Aquilla was there on the 1830 and 1840 census.
"In 1816 Aquilla was named guardian of his sister, Delilah George's children, after the death of her husband, Bailey George. Ho also was named executor of his father's estate along with mother and brother-in-law, Robert Stuart.
"In 1842 Aquilla prepared to leave Georgia and named David H. Griffith, his attorney. Griffith sold land for him then in 1844 and may have prepared his will. A copy of the will has never been found, but there are estate records in both Marshsall County, Mississippi and Clarke County, Georgia which named his heirs. He died before August 26, 1844 when "The last will and testament of Aquilla Greer, late of Marshall County, Deceased was this day exhbited and duly proven open court by the oath of Ephraim Hollowell, one of the subscribing witnessed thereto and ordered to be filed for further proof." (Marshall County Court Minutes Book Z, page 290.)
" "Patsy Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer Executor of the last Will and Testament of Aquilla Greer Deceased this day returned into court an Inventory of the goods, chattels and personal estate of said Testator made out by the appraisers heretofore appointed for such purpose which ----- and ordered by the court and ordered to be recorded." (Marshall County Court Minutes Book Z, page 300.)
"Tuesday Jan. 27, 1846 - Patsy Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer, Executor of the last will and Testament of Aquilla Greer Deceased, having filed and presented for audition and allowances on the lst day of September last and the court having since audition and examined the same, and caused to be properly stated and being now satisfied that the same is in all things correct, and that all the charges therein contained for which they crave allowance are fully supported by proper and valid vouchers; it is thereupon ordered that the said account be and the same as hereby allowed and ordered to be recorded.
"On April 27, 1846, Aquilla and Jabez Greer, wards infant children of Aquila Greer Dec'd. Upon reading the inventroy of the real and personal estate of Aquilla Greer and Jabez M. Greer filed in this court being satisfied that the same is made and sworn to in strict conformity to the estate in their behalf does thereupon order that the said inventory be approved, confirmed and recorded. (Here, for the first time is proof that Jabez M. is a child of Aquilla and Martha Arnold.)
" "In the Matter of the Settlement of the Estate of Aquilla Greer Dec'd --- Patsey Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer Executor of the last will and testament of said Aquilla Greer deceased this day rendered a final account of their administration for audition and allowances, and upon opening the matter thereof it appears to the court that Patsey Greer the Executrix, Delila Ann Vanderford, wife of Allen C. Vanderford, Elizabeth Stuart, wife of David D. Stuart, William A. Greer, James Greer, Emily Cook, wife of John W. Cook, Martha Jackson, wife of William Jackson, Aquilla Greer & Jabez M. Greer, the last two named being minors and the said Robert S. Greer, Executor, their Guardian are all the legatees under the will of the said Aquilla Greer Dec'd and it appearing to the court from the affidavit of the said Executor and Executor that the said James Greer, Emily Cook, John W. Cook, Martha Jackson and William Jackson are non residents of the state of Mississippi and reside beyond the jurisdiction of the court so that the process thereof cannot be served on them. It is ordered by the court that publication be made in the Holly Springs Gazette, a newspaper published in the town of Holly Springs in the State of Mississippi, citing said absent legatees to be and appear before this court on the fourth Monday of March next to then show cause why the said account should not be allowed and a ---- made themselves accordingly and because it appears to the court ----- "
"Such a publication did appear in the paper dated December 1846. There are also court records pertaining to the land that the older children received which included land in Georgia that Aquilla had including some he inherited from his father and also lands in Mississippi which he had gotten from his brother, James. It would be interesting to find out what estate he left Aquilla, Jabez and his wife, Martha. On the 1860 census after Martha's death both Aquilla and Jabez have real estate valued at $2000 or more and Personal estate at $8,000 to $9,000, probably slaves. On the 1880 census there are quite a number of blacks named Greer following Jabez who were probably still living on the land.
"Martha "Patsy) Arnold Greer was evidently the Martha listed in the household next to William A. Greer, the next older son with his wife and family and her two younger sons, Jabez and Aquilla on 1850 Marshall County Mississippi census, age given incorrectly as 36. Records of a granddaughter, Annie Lou Houston give her birth date as 4 September 1790, but the records of Duke Wright Greer give her birthdate as 1793. The birth record of Zachariah Arnold's daughter was October 23, 1892. This would make you age 58. On the 1859 (sic) Marshall County, Mississippi Mortality schedule she is listed as having died June 1860 of cholera at age 56. However, family records state she died 27 November 1859. It is not known where the gravesites of either she or Aquilla are. Family records of Annie Lou Houston state Aquilla died in 1843, and Duke Wright Greer states he had a son named Robert, maybe called Book, but there is nothing is estate records to prove this." (MY GREER LINEAGE, 1992, by Mary Lee Barnes, pages 57 - 59, this information and information about the families of the children Aquilla Greer was based on: Estate Records of Aquilla Greer from Mississippi Archives, Jackson, Mississippi and Court and Deed Records from Clarke County, Georgia; 1820, 1830 and 1840 Clarke County Georgia Federal Census; 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 Marshall County, Mississippi Federal Census; Interview with Duke Wright Greer, Potts Camp, Mississippi; ALABAMA RECORDS, GREEN COUNTY, ALABAMA by Jones and Gandrud; ALABAMA NOTES by Flora D. England; Clarke County, Georgia Marriage Records; Marshall County, Mississippi Marriage Records; DAR Records of Anna Lou Houston and Ruth Cain; Estate Notice of Aquilla Greer published in Holly Springs Gazette.)
"The will of Aquilla Greer is recorded in Marshall County, Mississippi and in Clark County, Georgia. There is an indenture in Deed Book T, page 64 in Clarke County, Georgia which is dated December 30, 1845 between James, William A., Delila Ann Vanderford, and Elizabeth Stuart of the State of Mississippi and with Emily Cook and Martha Jackson of Clarke County, Georgia. Son Aquilla is not mentioned." (Information of Aquilla Greer's family from the research notes of Mr. L. L. McNees of Ebenezer, Mississippi; "Mississippi Revolutionary Soldiers," page 129; "Greers That Got to Georgia (1987)" by Julian Greer.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: this appears to be contridictory to the above Settlement of the Estate of Aquilla Greer Dec'd.)
"There is evidence in the estate records of Job Smith of Walton County, Georgia in 1840 that Aquilla Greer, his son, Wm A. Greer, and his father-in-law, David Griffeth owed the estate money, probably for milling, as Job owned a mill. Aquilla paid the debt in 1842. How far was it from Davis Creek in Clarke County to Marbury Creek in Walton County? Job Smith was the maternal grandfather of Louisa Whaley." (MY GREER LINEAGE, 1992, by Mary Lee Barnes, page 82.) LDS records show the birth date of Aquilla Greer to have been 5 January 1782, and his date of marriage to have been 10 January 1808.
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Some sources show that Aquilla Greer was killed at Richmond, Virginia, but this could not have been during the Civil War, as he died in 1843. These sources say he died in Mississippi.)
"He may be the Aquilla Greer found in the list of infantrymen who fought in the War of 1812 from Clarke County. He is described as age 30, 6 ft tall with blue eyes and light hair. His father, Lt James Greer died in 1825, leaving Aquilla much land, and Aquilla was there on the 1830 and 1840 census.
"In 1816 Aquilla was named guardian of his sister, Delilah George's children, after the death of her husband, Bailey George. Ho also was named executor of his father's estate along with mother and brother-in-law, Robert Stuart.
"In 1842 Aquilla prepared to leave Georgia and named David H. Griffith, his attorney. Griffith sold land for him then in 1844 and may have prepared his will. A copy of the will has never been found, but there are estate records in both Marshsall County, Mississippi and Clarke County, Georgia which named his heirs. He died before August 26, 1844 when "The last will and testament of Aquilla Greer, late of Marshall County, Deceased was this day exhbited and duly proven open court by the oath of Ephraim Hollowell, one of the subscribing witnessed thereto and ordered to be filed for further proof." (Marshall County Court Minutes Book Z, page 290.)
" "Patsy Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer Executor of the last Will and Testament of Aquilla Greer Deceased this day returned into court an Inventory of the goods, chattels and personal estate of said Testator made out by the appraisers heretofore appointed for such purpose which ----- and ordered by the court and ordered to be recorded." (Marshall County Court Minutes Book Z, page 300.)
"Tuesday Jan. 27, 1846 - Patsy Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer, Executor of the last will and Testament of Aquilla Greer Deceased, having filed and presented for audition and allowances on the lst day of September last and the court having since audition and examined the same, and caused to be properly stated and being now satisfied that the same is in all things correct, and that all the charges therein contained for which they crave allowance are fully supported by proper and valid vouchers; it is thereupon ordered that the said account be and the same as hereby allowed and ordered to be recorded.
"On April 27, 1846, Aquilla and Jabez Greer, wards infant children of Aquila Greer Dec'd. Upon reading the inventroy of the real and personal estate of Aquilla Greer and Jabez M. Greer filed in this court being satisfied that the same is made and sworn to in strict conformity to the estate in their behalf does thereupon order that the said inventory be approved, confirmed and recorded. (Here, for the first time is proof that Jabez M. is a child of Aquilla and Martha Arnold.)
" "In the Matter of the Settlement of the Estate of Aquilla Greer Dec'd --- Patsey Greer Executrix and Robert S. Greer Executor of the last will and testament of said Aquilla Greer deceased this day rendered a final account of their administration for audition and allowances, and upon opening the matter thereof it appears to the court that Patsey Greer the Executrix, Delila Ann Vanderford, wife of Allen C. Vanderford, Elizabeth Stuart, wife of David D. Stuart, William A. Greer, James Greer, Emily Cook, wife of John W. Cook, Martha Jackson, wife of William Jackson, Aquilla Greer & Jabez M. Greer, the last two named being minors and the said Robert S. Greer, Executor, their Guardian are all the legatees under the will of the said Aquilla Greer Dec'd and it appearing to the court from the affidavit of the said Executor and Executor that the said James Greer, Emily Cook, John W. Cook, Martha Jackson and William Jackson are non residents of the state of Mississippi and reside beyond the jurisdiction of the court so that the process thereof cannot be served on them. It is ordered by the court that publication be made in the Holly Springs Gazette, a newspaper published in the town of Holly Springs in the State of Mississippi, citing said absent legatees to be and appear before this court on the fourth Monday of March next to then show cause why the said account should not be allowed and a ---- made themselves accordingly and because it appears to the court ----- "
"Such a publication did appear in the paper dated December 1846. There are also court records pertaining to the land that the older children received which included land in Georgia that Aquilla had including some he inherited from his father and also lands in Mississippi which he had gotten from his brother, James. It would be interesting to find out what estate he left Aquilla, Jabez and his wife, Martha. On the 1860 census after Martha's death both Aquilla and Jabez have real estate valued at $2000 or more and Personal estate at $8,000 to $9,000, probably slaves. On the 1880 census there are quite a number of blacks named Greer following Jabez who were probably still living on the land.
"Martha "Patsy) Arnold Greer was evidently the Martha listed in the household next to William A. Greer, the next older son with his wife and family and her two younger sons, Jabez and Aquilla on 1850 Marshall County Mississippi census, age given incorrectly as 36. Records of a granddaughter, Annie Lou Houston give her birth date as 4 September 1790, but the records of Duke Wright Greer give her birthdate as 1793. The birth record of Zachariah Arnold's daughter was October 23, 1892. This would make you age 58. On the 1859 (sic) Marshall County, Mississippi Mortality schedule she is listed as having died June 1860 of cholera at age 56. However, family records state she died 27 November 1859. It is not known where the gravesites of either she or Aquilla are. Family records of Annie Lou Houston state Aquilla died in 1843, and Duke Wright Greer states he had a son named Robert, maybe called Book, but there is nothing is estate records to prove this." (MY GREER LINEAGE, 1992, by Mary Lee Barnes, pages 57 - 59, this information and information about the families of the children Aquilla Greer was based on: Estate Records of Aquilla Greer from Mississippi Archives, Jackson, Mississippi and Court and Deed Records from Clarke County, Georgia; 1820, 1830 and 1840 Clarke County Georgia Federal Census; 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 Marshall County, Mississippi Federal Census; Interview with Duke Wright Greer, Potts Camp, Mississippi; ALABAMA RECORDS, GREEN COUNTY, ALABAMA by Jones and Gandrud; ALABAMA NOTES by Flora D. England; Clarke County, Georgia Marriage Records; Marshall County, Mississippi Marriage Records; DAR Records of Anna Lou Houston and Ruth Cain; Estate Notice of Aquilla Greer published in Holly Springs Gazette.)
"The will of Aquilla Greer is recorded in Marshall County, Mississippi and in Clark County, Georgia. There is an indenture in Deed Book T, page 64 in Clarke County, Georgia which is dated December 30, 1845 between James, William A., Delila Ann Vanderford, and Elizabeth Stuart of the State of Mississippi and with Emily Cook and Martha Jackson of Clarke County, Georgia. Son Aquilla is not mentioned." (Information of Aquilla Greer's family from the research notes of Mr. L. L. McNees of Ebenezer, Mississippi; "Mississippi Revolutionary Soldiers," page 129; "Greers That Got to Georgia (1987)" by Julian Greer.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: this appears to be contridictory to the above Settlement of the Estate of Aquilla Greer Dec'd.)
"There is evidence in the estate records of Job Smith of Walton County, Georgia in 1840 that Aquilla Greer, his son, Wm A. Greer, and his father-in-law, David Griffeth owed the estate money, probably for milling, as Job owned a mill. Aquilla paid the debt in 1842. How far was it from Davis Creek in Clarke County to Marbury Creek in Walton County? Job Smith was the maternal grandfather of Louisa Whaley." (MY GREER LINEAGE, 1992, by Mary Lee Barnes, page 82.) LDS records show the birth date of Aquilla Greer to have been 5 January 1782, and his date of marriage to have been 10 January 1808.
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Some sources show that Aquilla Greer was killed at Richmond, Virginia, but this could not have been during the Civil War, as he died in 1843. These sources say he died in Mississippi.)
Events
| Birth | January 5, 1782 | Bedford County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | February 10, 1808 | Oglethorpe County, Georgia - Martha "Patsy" Arnold | |||
| Death | January 18, 1843 | Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi |
Families
| Spouse | Martha "Patsy" Arnold (1790 - 1859) |
| Child | James R. Greer (1810 - ) |
| Child | William Arnold Greer Sr. (1815 - 1880) |
| Child | Delilah Ann Greer (1818 - 1883) |
| Child | Emily Greer (1820 - 1887) |
| Child | Martha Greer (1822 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Jane Greer (1824 - 1865) |
| Child | Aquilla Greer Jr. (1828 - 1894) |
| Child | Buckner Greer ( - ) |
| Child | Jabez Marshall "Jabe" Greer (1830 - 1893) |
| Father | Lt. James Greer (1742 - 1825) |
| Mother | Ann Nancy "Nannie" Haynes (1744 - 1832) |
| Sibling | Parsha "Persha" Greer (1767 - 1825) |
| Sibling | Henry Greer (1769 - 1849) |
| Sibling | David Greer (1772 - 1840) |
| Sibling | James Greer Jr. (1774 - 1851) |
| Sibling | Diana "Dinah" Greer (1776 - 1845) |
| Sibling | Nancy Ann Greer (1777 - 1846) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Greer (1779 - 1845) |
| Sibling | Sarah "Sally" Greer (1780 - 1825) |
| Sibling | Priscilla Greer (1783 - 1852) |
| Sibling | Lucy Greer (1784 - 1825) |
| Sibling | Delilah Greer (1786 - 1856) |