Individual Page

Person Info

• Name: Samuel BYERS
• Sex: M
• Birth: 1719 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania ^b
• Death: Apr 1796 in Washington Co, Pennsylvania ^d
• Burial: Byers Burial Ground, East Finley Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania ^u


Parents:

• Father:
  
• James BYERS Birth: Scotland

Family:
Marriage:

• Jane WHITE on Abt 1750 at Chester Co, Pennsylvania .^m1
  
• Jane WHITE Birth: 1727 in Northern Ireland or Pennsylvania Death: Nov 1801 in Washington Co, Pennsylvania

Children:

1. William BYERS Birth: Feb 1751 Death: Abt 1822 in Portsmouth, Scioto Co, Ohio
2. Samuel BYERS Birth: Abt 1753 Death: 19 Jan 1828 in Washington Co, Pennsylvania
3. James BYERS Birth: 1755 in Pennsylvania Death: 7 Sep 1835 in East Finley Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania
4. Thomas BYERS Birth: 7 Sep 1757 in Chester Co, Pennsylvania Death: 30 Aug 1825 in East Finley Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania
5. Agnes BYERS Birth: Abt 1759
6. Rachel BYERS Birth: Abt 1761
7. Ebenezer BYERS Birth: 1763 in York (now Adams) Co, Pennsylvania
8. Andrew BYERS Birth: 1766 Death: 30 Dec 1815 in Belmont Co, Ohio

Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

date:

[Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p8, Bell BYERS-95 p101, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34, Craig WHITE p3]

abt 1719 [Ref: Bell 101Fam p6],

place:

[Ref: Beers WashingtonCoPA p233, Bell 101Fam p6, Bell BYERS-87 p8, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34],

father:

likely James BYERS [Ref: Bell BYERS-95 p101]

Sources with Inaccurate birth and parent Information

date:

1709 [Ref: Eagleson BYERS p1]

abt 1708-09 [Ref: Craig BYERS p69]

abt 1709, d 1786 age 77 [Ref: Taylor BYERS p23]

d 1786 age 77 years [Ref: Boss BYERS p193],

place:

Northern Ireland? [Ref: Craig BYERS p69]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: Bell 101Fam p6, Bell BYERS-87 p8, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34]

1796 [Ref: Craig WHITE p3],

place:

[Ref: Bell 101Fam p6, Bell BYERS-87 p8, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34, Craig BYERS p69, Craig WHITE p3]

Sources with Inaccurate death Information

date:

Apr 1786 [Ref: Boss BYERS p193, Eagleson BYERS p1]

Apr 1786 age 77 [Ref: Taylor BYERS p23]

Apr 1788, age 77 [Ref: Borkowski ByersBurialGround p27, Craig BYERS p69]

Sources for burial Information

place:

[Ref: Boss BYERS p193, Craig WHITE p3, Taylor BYERS p23]

E Finley Twp [Ref: Eagleson BYERS p1]

Washington Co, Pennsylvania [Ref: Craig BYERS p69]

Sources with Information about marriage to Jane WHITE

date:

abt 1750 [Ref: Bell 101Fam p6, Bell BYERS-87 p7, Bell BYERS-95 p101, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34, Craig WHITE p3],

place:

[Ref: Beers WashingtonCoPA p233, Bell 101Fam p6, Bell BYERS-87 p7, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34, Craig WHITE p3],

names:

[Ref: Eagleson BYERS p1],

child:

[Ref: Beers WashingtonCoPA p233, Bell 101Fam p6, Bell 101Fam p7, Bell BYERS-87 p10, Bell BYERS-87 p11, Bell BYERS-87 p1, Bell BYERS-87 p2, Bell BYERS-87 p8, Bell BYERS-95 p101, Bell BYERS-95 p103, Craig AmAncestrySupp4 #34, Craig BYERS p69, Craig BYERS p70, Eagleson BYERS p2, Eagleson BYERS p3, ShannonD SHANNON p32, Taylor BYERS p23]

Research Notes:
county records do not show that Samuel BYERS took up or located any land prior to his death [Ref: Eagleson BYERS p2]

...Samuel Byers, who was born in Chester Co, PA, where the connection had resided for generations [Ref: Beers WashingtonCoPA p233]

by 1763: in York (Adams) County [Ref: Bell 101Fam p6]

Pension application of Ebenezer says the family lived in York (now Adams) County, PA, where he was born in 1763. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

by 1765: They were in York (Adams) County, PA [Ref: Craig WHITE p3]

1779: Likely lived in Cumberland Township, because a John Byers was taxed there. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

came to Washington Co at very old age to live in wilderness [Ref: Taylor BYERS p23]

1777: came to what is now Washington County, PA, to the part that was then Ohio County, Virginia. [Ref: Craig WHITE p3]

1777: moved to Washington Co PA [Ref: Bell 101Fam p6]

1777: came west from Chester County, and located on a farm near Canonsburg. He was a stanch Presbyterian and did good work in planting the church in that region. [Ref: Beers WashingtonCoPA p233]

In 1777, likely in the spring, Samuel Byers, Sr, ... settled in what is now East Finley Township, Washington Co, PA, about 3 miles south of Claysville. This area was then part of Ohio County, Virginia, and was until Washington County was created in 1781. By 1777 the good bottom land had been taken up. Samuel Sr moved up into the headwaters of Buffalo Creek. Here, he and Samuel Jr lived. James and Thomas staked out the next land to the west, farther up the stream. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p1]

All of what is now southwestern Pennsylvania and the adjoining parts of (West) Virginia had been thrown open for settlement in 1769. The Buffalo Creek section began to fill up in 1773. Virginia and Pennsylvania both claimed the territory. Where Samuel Sr first settled was claimed by Westmoreland County from 1773 and by Ohio County, Virginia, from 1776. The western boundary of Pennsylvania was not finally settled until a compromise was accomplished in 1785 between these two states. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

Pennsylvania issued no land warrants in the Buffalo Creek area of Washington County until 1784. Most were issued in 1785 and 1786. Many settlers had been on their land for a number of years before receiving a warrant. As part of the settlement of the Virginia-Pennsylvania border dispute, it was agreed that Virginia could issue certificates in 1779 and 1780 to persons who thought they were in Virginia and could prove settlement before Jan 1 1778. The Pennsylvania authorities then recognized these certificates and issued land warrants to those (a) who had Virginia certificates and (b) who applied directly to Pennsylvania. Patents were issued after the warrant and survey - often many years later [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p4]

1777: Samuel BYERS, wife and all his children except William, settled in what is now East Finley Twp, Washington Co, PA. They had originated in Chester County, PA, and had lived for a while in what is now Adams Co. Samuel's brother Andrew was then living in Fayette Co, just east of Washington. Indian attacks drove Samuel and family to Fayette Co in 1782. The sons returned to Washington Co before the father [Ref: Bell BYERS-95 p101]

First record of this family in SW PA is in October 1777, when Samuel Sr, and sons Samuel Jr, James, and Thomas took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Virginia. The oath was administered by a neighbor, Thomas Waller, and was required of all white males age 16 and over. Sons Ebenezer and Andrew were then too young. Eldest son, William, had not yet joined them there. The townships of Donegal and East Finley were under the jurisdiction of Ohio County, VA, between 1776 into 1781, when Washington County was erected. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

On the 1778 tax list for Ohio County, Samuel Sr has 4 taxables listed. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

1778: "taxed 4 males, Ohio Co" [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

On Mar 1 1779 Samuel was an appraiser of the estate of a neighbor, James Leiper [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

1781: in Donegal Township, Washington County. Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, vol 12, page 726, shows that Samuel Byers and Thomas Byers were taxed in Donegal Township, Washington county in 1781 [Ref: Craig BYERS p18]

The Buffalo Creek settlers were under threat of attack from Sep 1777, when the Indians attacked the fort at Wheeling (now West Virginia), until Sep 1782, when they again attacked Wheeling and also Rice's fort, which was about 6 miles north, and even later, intermittently, for years. The Byers lived about 20 miles east of Wheeling. We know of at least three documented events which caused alarm to the Byers:
On Saturday, Aug 25 1781, the Indians attacked the cabins of Edward Gaither, Thomas Peek, and William Hawkins on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek four miles northwest of the Byers cabin. The Indians appeared first at Peek's, where Hawkins was visiting. Presley Peek, a young man, was captured and held for 15 months. He was freed at Quebec, Canada, on Nov 2 1782. Hawkins was captured and killed a few hours later. Some of the Indians went up the creek to Hawkins' cabin and captured Elizabeth, a young girl ill in bed. Mrs. Hawkins had heard the shots at Peek's. She was able to take the other children and hide in the bushes. They escaped discovery. Other Indians went down the creek to attack the Gaither family. This family had heard the shots and had fled to Miller's fort, about 1 1/2 miles north. The Gaithers had been eating a meal and left it unfinished. It was finished by the Indians.
On Sunday, Mar 13 1782, the Indians attacked Miller's fort. Jacob Miller and John Hupp were out looking for a colt and were killed. The fort survived the attack and was not captured. Inside were the families of Gaither, Miller, and Hupp. Mrs. Hupp helped defend the fort.
In August 1789, the Indians attacked the John McIntosh family several miles west of the Byers. The father, mother, and 6 children were killed. A seventh, a daughter, was in a nearby field and escaped. Tradition says Thomas Byers took his wife and children to her mother's in Strabane Township on at least one occasion. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p3]

The first tax list of Washington County, dated 1782 but made up the previous fall, lists Samuel Byers with 150 acres and 1 horse in Donegal Township [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p4]

Because of British sponsored Indian attacks, Samuel Byers Sr left in 1782 and moved east into Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, PA (now Dunbar Township, Fayette Co), where his brother Andrew lived. About 5 years later, he returned to Washington Co and bought land on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek,a bout two miles west of Claysville. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p1]

1783: Samuel Sr was living in Fayette County, with 10 members in his household. Pennsylvania Archives III, 22, referenced in [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p2]

1783: 2 horses and 2 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

1783: Samuel Sr was listed in tax lists of Franklin Township, Fayette County [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p4]

1786: Taxed in Fayette County, listed 2 horses and 2 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

1789: Returned to Washington County, and with sons James and Andrew, bought land from Presley Peek. Presley had bought from Thomas Peek, likely his father. Samuel Sr. sold this land in 1795. In the deed are these words, "it is the same land where Samuel Byers now lives...lieth next to the land whereon the widow Hawkins now lives." This is where the Indians attacked in August 1781. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p4]

1788: Samuel Sr is listed in Donegal Township tax lists from 1788 until his death in 1796 [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p4]

1788: Taxed for 2 horses and 2 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

1789: Taxed in Donegal Township for 2 horses and 2 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

Sep 21 1789: purchased (with sons James and Andrew) 177 acres from Presley Peck. noted in [Ref: WashingtonCoPA Deeds 1L-561]

1789: in Donegal Township, Washington County, Samuel Sr. bought 143 acres, jointly with his sons, James and Andrew. The 143 acres were on the main road from Washington to Wheeling. This land, originally Thomas Peek's, was between the Waskins and Gaither tracts. Thomas Peek sold the land to Presley Peek on Jul 3 1789. Presley sold it to Samuel Sr, James and Andrew 80 days later. Thomas Peek had no patent or warrant, just a 1785 survey. James Byers sold his interest in this land in 1793 to the other two, his father and brother. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p5]

1790 census of Washington County, page 197, shows 1 white male over 16, 2 white males under 16, 3 white females [Ref: 1790 PA Washington 29]

1790 census (page 257) shows 1 white male over 16, 4 males under 16, 4 white females, no slaves [Ref: Craig BYERS p18]

1791 Donegal tax lists: 300 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

1793 Donegal tax lists: 100 acres, 1 horse, 3 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

1794 Donegal tax lists: 100 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p13]

Sep 15 1795: (of Donegal Township) with Andrew Byers, son, sold to Thomas Ashely 177 acres for 100 pounds, land obtained from Presley Peck on 21 Sep 1789 jointly with John Byers [Ref: WashingtonCoPA Deeds 1L-561]

In 1795 "Samuel Byers Sr and son, Andrew Byers, both of Donegal Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania" (quoting a portion of the wording in the deed) sold the land to Thomas Stokely, who warranted it 6 weeks later. Thomas Stokely died on this land in 1824, age 69. It is located 2 miles west of Claysville at Coon Island, and is crossed by highway I-70. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p5]

Both Byers men are identified as "of Donegal Township" but they were in Fayette County when they both swore their acknowledgements of this deed. Their oaths were given before one of the Assistant Judges of Fayette County. One of the witnesses was Elizabeth Lawson. She was a sister of Agnes Lawson, wife of Samuel Byers Jr, and of Catherine Lawson, wife of Andrew Byers. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p7]

Tombstone contains some incorrect information. The stone for Samuel Byers says he died in April 1786, aged 77 years. Raymond Martin Bell determined true date is April 1796. [Ref: Bell BYERS-87 p5, Craig WHITE p3]

Tombstone in Byers Family burial ground inscribed "In memory of Samuel Byers who departed this life Aprile ___ 1786 A.D." [Ref: Borkowski ByersBurialGround p28]

---------- Washington Co deeds 1L-561, dated 15 Sep 1795:
This Indenture made the fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five by and between Samuel Byers Sr and Andrew Byers, (son of the said Samuel Byers) both of the Township of Donegal in the County of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania of the one part and Thomas Ashely of the Town and County of Washington the State aforesaid of the other part, Whereas Presley Peck late of said County by his deed dated the twenty first day of September Anno Domini seventeen hundred and eighty nine did convey all that tract of land situate in the said County adjoining lands of James Stevenson Edward Yates and others to the aforesaid Samuel Byers Andrew Byers and James Byers and whereas the said James Byers did by deed dated the twnety first day of July A.D. seventeen hundred and ninety three convey his right and title of the aforesaid land to the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers by reason thereof they the said Samuel and Andrew became the absolute proprietors of said tract of land. Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers for and in consideration of one hundred pounds specie(?) to them in hand paid before the execution of this Deed by the said Thomas Ashely the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and him the said Thomas Ashely and his heirs thereof forever acquitted and discharged, we the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers have granted, bargained, and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain, and sell release enfeoff convey and confirm unto the said Thomas Ashely all that tract of the before described tract of land it being that part which was surveyed and laid off by James Stevenson Esquire for William Read who after professing to purchase the hereby conveyed lands and premises declined to take the lands or confirm a contract for the same so the proceedings and expected sale for said land to said Read became null and void, it is the same land whereon the said Samuel Byers now lives and does include all that bottom fields which lieth next to the lands whereon the widow Hawkins and Robert Stevenson now lives and doth contain at least one hundred and seventy seven acres strict measure and the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers doth hereby for themselves and their heirs covenant and agree to and with the said Thomas Ashely his heirs and assigns that they the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers and James Byers nor either of them have done committed or suffered any act or acts or done anything whatever whereby the aforesaid one hundred and seventy seven acres of land with the Improvements and Appurtenances can or may be impeached or incumbered in any way whatsoever, the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers doth for themselves and their heirs covenant and agree that they respectively will forever warrant and defend the before mentioned one hundred and seventy seven acres of land with the buildings fences improvements and appurtenances to the said Thomas Ashely his heirs and assigns and as the afsd land is now held by Improvement the said Thomas Astley doth agree that he will take on himself the expense of procuring a warrant and will pay the surveying and patenting fees if the same will be received by the offices of the State legally appointed for that purpose. In Testimony whereof the said Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers have to these presents interchangeably set their hand and affixed their seals the day and year first above written. Samuel Byers. Andrew Byers.
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of John Aldridge, Elizabeth Lawson
Received of Thomas Astely one hundred pounds specie it being the full consideration money for the within and above described land 5th September AD 1795. Samuel Byers, Andrew Byers. Attest John Aldridge.
Fayette County. On the fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five personally came the within and above named Grantors Samuel Byers and Andrew Byers and respectively did acknowledge the within and above instrument of writing as and for their acts and Deeds and desired the same to be entered of record. Witness the hand and seal of the Honorable James Findley Esquire, one of the Assistant Judges in and for the said County of Fayette. James Findley.
Recorded and Compared with the Original the 12th December 1795. James Clarke, Recorder. [Ref: WashingtonCoPA Deeds 1L-561]



Pedigree of Samuel BYERS
          /-----Thomas BYERS
 /-----James BYERS
Samuel BYERS



Descendants of Samuel BYERS

2nd generation


3rd generation


4th generation


5th generation