Re: Byars or Byas or Bias or Bice or???

Hi Steve,

I wanted to share some information that was given to me by Marjorie Tucker (deceased). Marjorie has some postings on this forum and was a long time Byars researcher. She worked with Clovis Byars Herring on the Byars/Byers Family Enquirer. These ladies were tireless researchers and they were well aware of the possible connections between the Bias-Byas-Byars-Byers families.

The first document relates to Robert Byars, son of Nathan Byars and Drucilla Harralson. Robert Byars followed the same route as your Byas family—North Carolina/South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. Note the comments of Velda Byars Spillane regarding the change in the spelling from Byars to Byas in her family.

The second is the Revolutionary War pension file of James Byars, son of Jonas James Byars and Francis Collins. Please note the affidavit given by Robert Byars. This is the same Robert Byars we discussed in our earlier correspondence. Please let me know if you make a connection between the Byars family and your Byas family. I strongly believe there is a common connection

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ROBERT BYARS, b. ca. 1780-1784, Rutherford Co., NC

He married JANE HOUSTON, and was said to be in Madison Co., AL in 1830 (per Byers-Family Enquirer, Clovis Byars Herring, Editor, Vol. I, No. 1, March 1986, page 11).I made a thorough search of the Madison Co., AL records and found no mention of the Byars family.
Perhaps he passed through there and moved on.

The Census of 1810, Rutherford Co., NC lists:

Robert ByarsMales 1 26-45;3 0-10
Females 1 26-45;1 0-10

Robert came to Warren Co., Tenn., as did his brother, Harrell and sister, Martha Byars Womack.He sold his land to his brother, Harrell and then moved.

Children of NATHAN BYARS and DRUCILLA HARRELSON, cont'd.:

The following is from Warren Co., TN Deeds, Vol. B, 1812-1819, Part 2, pp. 459-60:

INDENTURE:Made Feb. 27, 1818 Between Robert Byars and Harrell Byars, both of Warren County, Tennessee, Witnesseth for $500.The said Robert Byars hath sold to the said Harold Byars a certain tract of land, one hundred acres in Warren Co., Fifth District, on Caney Fork, beginning at a hickory, west one hundred and twenty poles to a hickory, North 100 thirty three and one half poles to a post oak, East 120 poles to a stake, south 133 1/2 poles to the beginning, including Byer's Spring and improvement where he now lives.Grant No. 10774, dated Sept. 23, 1817.To have and to hold, etc.

his
Witnesses:Robert X Byars
mark
Abner Womack
James Womack
State of TennesseeJanuary Session 1819
Proven in open court
Warren County CourtFebruary 8, 1819

He was a member of the Bildad Primitive Baptist Church 1812-1816.He was received and dismissed by letter.If church records exist where we suspect Robert later lived, we should check them.Usually when a family received letters of dismission they used them to join another church.

As printed in the Byars/Byers Family Enquirer, Clovis Byars Herring, Editor, Vol. V, No.2, June, 1990, pp. 34-36, Velda Byars Spillane, 504 N.20th, Lamesa, TX79331 believes her ancestor, Robert Byas/Byars, was the son of Nathan and Drucilla.After studying what she knows about her Robert's children, it seems possible that she is correct. She gives:

1. Thadden W. Byas (Thaddeus W.?), b. ca. 1810
2. Martha Ann Byas, b. ca. 1814, TN
3. Abram Landres Byas, b. Mar. 8, 1815, TN, d. Sept. 26, 1882, Keller, Tarrant Co.,TX, m.1st. Permelia Logan, b. May 23, 1809, SC, d. ca. 1844, Bienville Parish, LA, dau. of William Logan and Joanna Cason.He m.2nd. Melvina Stephens.
4. Asa Harold (Harel?) Byas, m. Elizabeth Ann Logan, dau. of William Logan and Joanna Cason.
5. Rebecca Byas, b. in AL.
6. Permelia Byas, b. in LA.

Note: Velda's grandfather told her the original spelling of the name was Byars.

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James Byars
Pension File 15249

Know all men by these presents that I - ISAIAH BYARS a resident of the County of Pickens and State of Alabama, son of JAMES BYARS (a pensioner of the United States who was placed on the pension roll of the State of South Carolina and who died at his residence in Spartanburg District in the state aforesaid) and of his wife SARAH who removed after the death of said ISAIAH (note - should be JAMES - MST) to the County of Pickens and State of Alabama and who died at the residence of Isaiah Byars in the County of Pickens and State of Alabama on or about the 1st day of January 1838, do hereby Constitute and appoint CATHARINE BYARS (widow of JOHN BYARS) of Spartanburg District and State of South Carolina my agent to ask demand and receive from the Government of the United States the pension due me as son and heir of said SARAH BYARS decd widow of said JAMES BYARS decd hereby authorize her to employ an attorney or attorneys under her to ask and demand a Certificate of the pension due me to be sent in her name to her.

Hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said CATHARINE BYARS may do or her constituted attorney under her may do in the premises.

Witness my hand and seal
this 13 day of June - 1853
Signed and sealed in presence of
Isaiah Byars
M.L. Stansel
I.M. Bryan

State of South Carolina
Spartanburg District

At a court of Pleas and General Sessions held at Spartanburg on this 6th Oct. 1853 present and presiding The Hon. I.N. Whitner personally appeared in Open Court DR. I.G. GAFFNEY a resident of Spartanburg So. Carolina, who being duly sworn according to law upon his oath says that from an examination of Books in the possession of deponent’s Father, he is perfectly satisfied that JAMES BYARS a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States died in said District the 1st Jany 1835 and from evidence presented to said deponent he is perfectly satisfied that SARAH the wife of said pensioner died in Pickens County Alabama the 1st Jan 1838 — and is also satisfied that ISAIAH BYARS of Pickens Ala. is the only living child of said JAMES & SARAH BYARS dec d

State of South Carolina
Spartanburg District

Know all men by these presents that I., CATHARINE BYARS, widow of JOHN BYARS, decd - a resident of the District of Spartanburg and State aforesaid do hereby in Virtue of a power of Attorney made to me by ISAIAH BYARS of Pickens County State of Alabama which power is herewith sent, Constitute and appoint under me John Anderson of Burke County No, Car, my true and lawful Attorney and agent to prosecute the claim of SARAH BYARS dec’d widow of JAMES BYARS dec’d a pensioner of the U. States on the South Carolina Roll and who recd 96 Dollars per annum for any amount of Revolutionary Pension that may have been due said Sarah Byars dec’d widow aforesaid at the time of her death and I hereby authorize my said agent or Atty. to examine all papers and documents on file at Washington City or elsewhere in relation to said claim, and to receive the certificate which may be issued for said claim, Hereby ratifying and confirming all that said Atty or Agt may do lawfully in the premises, and I hereby revoke all former powers. Witness my hand & seal this 13th day of Octr 1853.

Signed & Sealed in presence
of William Lipscomb, Jr.
her
Catharine x Byars
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Sworn to and acknowledged before me, the day and year before written, by said Catharine Byars personally appearing before me William Lipscomb, Jr. a magistrate of Spartanburg District and state aforesaid, she acknowledging the foregoing power of Atty to be her act & deed for the purposes therein mentioned and I further certify that said Catharine Byars is a respectable resident of said District and State.

In testimony of which I have hereunto subscribed my hand the day and year before written; William Lipscomb, Jr., Magistrate.

State of South Carolina
Spartanburg District

On this 22nd day of June 1854 personally came before me William Lipscomb, Junr a Magistrate within and for the District of Spartanburg and State aforesaid ROBERT BYARS a resident of the aforesaid District and State aged sixty eight years last March who being duly sworn according to law, upon his oath says that JAMES BYARS decd of this district and who as deponent understood was placed on the pension roll of South Carolina was an uncle of deponent's, knowing his uncle from his deponent’s childhood, states that he is satisfied his uncle James was married before deponent’s father was from the fact that in the year 1794 or 1795 his uncle James and his wife Sarah removed from this district to Chester district in this state — at that time, they had the following children towit POLLY, BETSY, AMY, FRANKY & JOHN, that they returned back to this district in the year 1802 or 1803 bringing back REUBEN. SALLY & SUSAN in addition to those they took away. ISAIAH was born after their return, - and he further says that his uncle remained in this district until he died, after his death his wife Sarah removed to Pickens County, Alabama and as he understands and believes died, believes that his uncle James & SARAH PIGG, daughter of EDWARD PIGG were lawfully married never heard their marriage questioned, and am disinterested.

his
Robert x Byars
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Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of June 1854 and I certify that I am personally acquainted with Robert Byars who subscribed the foregoing affidavit, a respectable resident of this district and I further Certify that he is known amongst his acquaintances as remarkable for the retention of his memory, a man of strict veracity.

State of So. Carolina
Spartanburg District

On this 22nd day of June 1854 personally came before me William Lipscomb, Junr a Magistrate within and for the District aforesaid, Capt Michael Gaffney, a resident of Spartanburg District aged 78 years last September who being duly sworn according to law upon his oath says that he was acquainted with JAMES BYARS, a Revolutionary pensioner on the Roll of So. Carolina and also with his wife SARAH as far back as about the year 1804 that about that time one or more of their daughters were employed by him as nurses in his family that the girls were of the age at least 10 or 12 years, that said JAMES BYARS was a tenant of his up to his death, was acquainted with him and his wife and “family” for 30 years, knew them as man and wife “esteemed so by all who knew them, never heard it doubted.”

Mich Gaffney

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd day of June 1854 and I certify that I am personally acquainted with Captain Michael Gaffney who is a resident of the aforesaid District, whose character for intelligence and probity is far —far above the mediocrity of men.

William Lipscomb (Jr) Magistrate

State of South Carolina
Spartanburg District