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Although specific families seem to have been in Western North Carolina
since time began, common sense dictates otherwise. But
the gathering of information to prove first arrival times,
some of which is oral in nature but valuable to establish connections correctly,
takes time and accurate analysis. This article is the
second in a series presenting data to establish a baseline for future analysis
on the surname DYER. One specific DYER family entered
North Carolina in the mid-1700'sand, while quite a number of descendants
remain within the state, many others journeyed further
west. One particular DYER family emanated from the are
of early North Carolina called "Lincoln County."(1)
The
progenitor for this article is JEREMIAH DYER, c-1774-1805 who married Adrah
Collins, resided in "Lincoln County," and subsequently died there at a
very early age. Based on analysis of land records, the
specific area of "Lincoln County" from which this DYER
group emanated currently lies within Cleveland County, along the western
city limits of present day Kings Mountain.
Census records
indicate precious little information on Jeremiah Dyer. Based on other research
he probably was the son of Samuel Dyer who was listed on the 1790 Federal
Census for Lincoln County, North Carolina.(2)
Jeremiah was probably a number in Samuel Dyers 1790 census
listing but was actually listed by name on the 1800 Federal Census(3)
in Lincoln County as follows:
Jeremiah Dyer
- 1 - 1 - //2 - - 1 -
1 male under
10 years
1 male 26-45
years
2 females under
10 years
1 female 26-46
years
While no marriage
record was found for Jeremiah Dyer and Adrah Collins, his will contains
enough information to ascertain the marriage was the second for Adrah Collins.
The marriage to Jeremiah Dyer produced four children, all female . Those
daughters were named in Jeremiah's will in addition to delineation of a
step-son named Martin Collins. That will, dated the 6th of April
1805,(4) contained the following statement:
... daughters,
Elizabeth, Patsy, Hannah and Adrah ... and her (Adrah Collins) son Martin
Collins ...
The widow Dyer and
her children were among the initial DYER family members to encroach upon
the newly created (1808) Haywood County in Western North Carolina. Since
the original Haywood County encompassed present day counties of Haywood,
Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Clay and Cherokee, a specific destination
of their westward trek apparently was the Waynesville area of present day
Haywood County. They migrated after 1810 and before 1817 based on census
records for 1810(5) and a marriage record
for Mary Elizabeth who married Joshua Anderson in Haywood County on September
13, 1817.(6)
The 1820 Federal
Census for Haywood County listed Adrah Dyer as being 45+ years of age with
three females in the household between the ages of 16 and 26 years.(7)
Missing from the original group was the son, Martin Collins, and one daughter,
accounted for with the marriage of Mary Elizabeth and Joshua Anderson.
Subsequent marriages in the 1820's occurred in Haywood County as follows:(8)
Martha Patsy
Dyer married Clemmons A. Gaddy, 01 October 1823
Hannah Dyer
married William Cathey, Jr., 10 September 1825
Adrah Dyer
married Nathaniel Dever (Deaver). 05 April 1826
A marriage record
for Martin Collins was not found, but Collins was listed in the 1830 Haywood
Census(9)
Collins, Martain
[sic] 1 - - - - 1 // 2 2 1 - 1
suggesting he
had eight children, seven females, and one male. Based on the age of the
oldest "daughter," Collins probably was the first of Adrah Collins Dyer's
children to marry. Collins was not listed in the 1840 census for Haywood
County.
Some of the five
families continued to reside in the same area while others migrated yet
again. The matriarch of the family, Adrah Collins Dyer, was not listed
in the 1830 census by name, but, conveniently, the census listed one female,
age 50-60 years of age living with the Nathaniel Dever family. The age
noted would have matched Adrah Collins Dyer's general age.
These Dyer family
members, although not listed as DYER due to marriage, were the first generation
to enter Haywood County. A descendant of the same group of "Lincoln County"
Dyers arrived in Haywood County from Rutherford County about 1852. John
Henry Dyer, son of Archibald Dyer, married Rebecca Sorrels in Haywood County
on 12 February 1853.(10)
John Henry Dyer
continued to live in the Waynesville area until his death in 1909. A microcosm
of all other inhabitants of Haywood County, John Henry Dyer's life is the
subject of the next article.(11)
References:
1.
Jerry L. Dyer, "Tar Heel Born: A DYER Family Bible Record
from "Lincoln County," North Carolina." A Lot of Bunkum, Old Buncombe
County Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 1, p. 1
2.
Federal Census, Lincoln County, NC 1790. M637, roll #7.
3.
Federal Census, Lincoln County, NC, 1800. M32, roll #29,
family #900
4.
North Carolina State Archives, Original Wills for Lincoln
County, C.R. 060.801.9. Will dated April 6, 1805, signed by Jeremiah Dyer
5.
Federal Census, Lincoln County, NC. 1810. M252, roll #40,
p. 339
6.
Marriage Records, Haywood County, NC, Waynesville, NC Courthouse
7.
Federal Census, Haywood County, NC, 1820. M33, roll #80,
"Adrah Dyer"
8.
Banner Blue Software CD#4, "Marriage Index: Selected Counties
of MD, NC, VA 1624-1915." Copyright 1995
9.
Federal Census, Haywood County, NC, 1830. M 19, roll #121,
p. 361.
10.
Marriage Records, Haywood County, NC Loc. Cit. Waynesville,
NC Courthouse.
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