Chapter 5

THE ANCIENT WIER/WEIR FAMILY

de VERE/ WEIR/ WIER/ WYER/ of Normandy, England, and Scotland 

Last Updated

I want to thank Ray Isbell of Mobile, Alabama for sending me additions and corrections for this chapter

The de Veres were an ancient dynastic family seated at their ancestral village of Ver (from which they took their name), near Bayeaux and the River Vire, in Manche on the Normandy coast of present-day northern France. The name of the town itself came from the "ver," a Norse word meaning "fishdam" that the Vikings had introduced into Normandy, and etymologically akin to the Old English word "weir" meaning a " fish dam," and originally spelled both "Wier" and "Wear" also, hence the diverse spellings of the FAMILY name. The early power and influence of this large family is evidenced by the extent to which they spread out from Normandy to the British Isles and the Netherlands (Van Wieren, Van deVere, Vandiver, etc...); but, despite their wealth and noble blood, historians today have lost track of many branches.

In the "Doomsday Book" of A.D. 1086, 3 deVere contemporaries are listed in England: Alberic de Vere Sr. ("Aubrey") of County Cambridge and Essex; Baldwin de Ver of County Oxford ("Baltredus" ?) and Henry deVer of County Suffolk. How were Baldwin and Henry related to Alberic?

Alberic ("Aubrey") de Vere (died 1088), from Ver, Normandy, married Beatrix, the Countess of Ghisnes, was in the Battle of Hastings and owned Castle Hedingham. They had 5 sons: Alberic II ("Aubrey", who died 1141); Geoffrey (died by 1088); Roger; Robert, Lord of Twiwell in Northampton; and William de Vere. Aubrey de Vere II (died 1141) married Adeliza de Clare (traced to Charlemagne) and had: Lord Aubrey III (1100-94), Earl of Oxford in 1142; Reverend William (Chancellor of England), Geoffery, Robert, and three daughters. Aubrey III fathered: Aubrey IV, Robert, William (died 1199), Henry, Adeliza, and Sarah. This line produced Earls of Oxford, Marquesses of Dublin, and Dukes of Ireland, etc...

1. BALTREDUS deVERE (born circa 1100), witnessed a charter of King William the Lion of Scotland circa 1165. ("10 Tribes of Wier" by Wier incorrectly states he was a secretary to King Malcom IV); Baltredus was succeeded by his eldest son:

2. WALTER de VERE (born circa 1130); whose son:

3. RADULPHUS ("Ralph) De VERE (born circa 1154); witnessed charters for William the Lion; was captured with King William in 1174 in Battle; died at end of Alexander II's reign; whose son was:

4. THOMAS de VERE (born by 1246), from whom all the Weirs and Wiers of Scotland are said to descend; witness, 1266, for the monastery of Kelso; his son:

5. RICHARDUS (Richard) DE VERE who was proprietor of the lands and the barony of Blackwood, circa 1296; the baron of Blackwood is often called the ancestor of ALL Weirs and Wiers of Scotland; Richard's son:

6. THOMAS DE WERE, died in the reign of David Bruce; son:

7. BUAN WERE  born in the beginning of Robert III's reign, the son of Thomas de Were, and was the father of:

8. ROTALDUS WERE of Blackwood (had a charter for Blackwood 1398/1400); was the father of:

9. THOMAS WERE of Blackwood; father of:

10. ROBERT VEYR of Blackwood (Connections in the Netherlands?), died circa 1479; son:

11. THOMAS WEIR of Blackwood, (born circa 1465, died circa 1531), first in this direct line at Blackwood to use the WEIR spelling (unknown how many other Weir and Wier families had branched off earlier, though); married AEGIDIA SOMERSET, daughter of John, 3rd Lord of Somerset (and was a royal descent through the earls of Somerset, according to Burke's "Landed Gent. of Ireland", 1899, page 475; but Burke's "History of Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland", volume 3, page 320, lists her as daughter of John, 3rd Lord of SomerVILLE); eldest son and heir:

12. JAMES WEIR of Blackwood (born circa 1490, died 1595) married EMPHEMIA HAMILTON (ancient Norman-Scottish noble family kin to Stewarts); issue included:

13-A. JAMES WEIR married daughter of Lord Dalhousie, ancestors of the Veres and Weirs and Hope-Veres of Craigie Hall and Blackwood, Lanarkshire;

13-B. ROBERT WEIR of Craighead, on the River Clyde, founder of the Weirs of Hall Craig, County Fermanaugh, in Ireland.

- - - - - - - -

12-B. DUNCAN WIER, (born circa 1490, Blackwood?), lived at Wierholm, Lanarkshire, near Glasgow. (1st one to live there?)(son of Thomas Weir?)

13-C. REVEREND MALCOM WIER born circa 1516; died at Geneva, Switzerland; married Miss Wyseart, daughter of the Laird of Kirkcaldie and sister of George Wishart; reputed son (says William S. Wier in "10 Tribes" and "The Wier-Britt Genealogy").

14. DAVID WIER was a guildsman and his guildmark was the same as the crest of the Weirs of Blackwood; a hand holding a battleaxe. He was closely related to Ralph Weir/Wier of Blackwood. DAVID was the father of;

15. JAN VYER of Antwerp, circa 1645; father of:

16. Dr. JOHN WIER (not the one who married Miss Cleaves); (W. S. Wier says he was 1st-cousin of Reverend John Wier who went from Scotland to Northern Ireland, 1643) resided in Bruxelles; father of: Rev, John (below), James, Isabella W. BROWN:

17. REVEREND JOHN WIER, married 1653 in Edinburgh, JANE(T) FERGUSSON, daughter of Robert Fergusson; moved to Northern Ireland in 1664; son:

18. JAMES WIER born 1683. Married Margaret Agnes O'Marra (Malla);

19. THOMAS WIER born (said in some family records to have been born in) 1708. Married (probably about 1755-60) ELIZABETH FAULKNER born probably about 1740. She was the daughter of "Squire" (William?) Faulkner, "A farmer who lived at the Waterside of Londonderry." His given name is uncertain. These dates indicate that Thomas could have been born as late as 1740-40. It is possible that the original handwritten record said 1728 but was misread as 1708. The same early family source which said he was born 1708 said his father James was born in 1683. Some charts drawn by the family of Thomas Jr. in the 1860s seem to show Thomas Sr. as the first child of James. Others seem to indicate he could have been the youngest child.;

for more detailed information on this family go to;
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lgboyd/d427.htm

20-A. AGNUS NANCY WIER married JAMES BOYD; moved to South Carolina/Georgia. 

For more detail on this family click on the link here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lgboyd/d112.htm

20-B. SAMUEL WIER (Married 1st. Miss Alexander.  Married second Elizabeth Cherry?) moved to South Carolina/ Pennsylvania?

20-C. THOMAS WIER born 1763. Married Mary Withrow; Greenwood, South Carolina.

REFERENCE TO THE WIER INVOLVEMENT IN THE REFORMATION AND FOUNDING OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:

1. Barnette, T. Ratcliffe. "The Makers of the Kirk".

2. "The Book of Martyrs", (cited by Wier).

3. "Chronicles of Master Weavers", (published in Glasgow).

4. "History of Grenada County, Mississippi", by Barbara Daigre.

5. Lang, Andrew's history (cited by Wier).

6. Lee, Patrick L. article, Sylacauga, Alabama "Advance", January 15, 1981.

7. "Necrologie de Refugies Scotia", (published Geneva).

8. "Records of the Merchants' Gold", (published Amsterdam).

9. Reid's history (cited by Wier).

10. Walker, Patrick. "History of the Reformation".

11. also: Clannahan, Gregg, Kentucky, Morgan, Tuscaloosa, Wallace, Weir, Wier, and Hatter op. cit.

Our Wier Family

William S. Wier. author and publisher of the book "Ten Tribes of Wier", is a story and genealogy of the ten children of Thomas Wier II and his wife Mary (Withrow) Wier. They came to America in 1795 on the ship "Volunteer" with my g. g. g. grandparents James and Nancy (Wier) Boyd (Nancy was Thomas Wier II sister).

Mr. W. S. Wier writes the following in his book:

About 1645 John Wier (for business and political reasons using name-form Jan Vyer), lived at Antwerp and had shipping relations with Findlayson and Ferguson, Dundee, Belfast and Liverpool. His home was a refuge for Covenant ministers and one of his ships the "Grey Falcon", was condemned to the Crown for smuggling "malcontents from the Kings Justice". He had a son named John Wier who was a physician. An Encyclopedia Britannica sketches a Dr. John Wier who was adventurous in experimentation and enriched his profession with discoveries. In some Latin notes he is recorded as Dr. Johan Wierus. This Doctor had a son named John who studied theology at Edinburgh, living the while in the home of Rab Ferguson. He wedded Janet, a daughter of this house, "and they settled in Ulster, on Derry Road, three leagues from Lough Neagh".

About ten years before this youngster studied for the ministry, there was an elder Reverend John Wier, Covenant minister at Dalserf. This minister was imprisoned by Alistaire MacDonnel in Mingarie Castle, where he and other ministers of the Covenant died. His name is spelled variously in histories: Patrick Walker wrote it Wier; Reid wrote it Weir, and Andrew Lang writes it both ways. The Reverend John, with his own hand, using something like a hot knitting needle, burned it on the olive-wood cover of his pocket Bible.

We of the Ten Tribes descend from the Doctor Wier, whose father was the Antwerp ship owner. The Reverend Wier was the ship owner's first cousin. The grandfather of these cousins was Malcolm "Langshoon" Wier. This man was a co-worker with George Wishart, who was burned at the stake at St. Andrews, by order of Cardinal Beaton. Langshoon led a pony pack string among the Scots moors and hills ostensibly bartering Continental novelties for the products of home looms, but actually his business was to circulate and place Protestant Bibles among the heart-hungered common people.

There were a James and Isabella Wier noted in Scotch History. They were uncle and aunt of the James and Isabella of our Bible Record. James Wier served in the Netherlands in the troop of Captain Robert Faulkner, and in the Armies of William and Mary in Ireland.

John Wier and Janet Ferguson "wedded beyant Annan Waterand cam by home this day riding twaun, Janet muckle prood o' her mannie- the quean!" Thus wrote Nancy Ferguson in her Day Book, in year 1653, and Thomas Wier, of Greenwood, wrote to a granddaughter in 1864:

"My Great-grandmother was Jane Ferguson and her sister Nancy wedded Captain Robert Faulkner, to which ilk my mother, Elizabeth Faulkner, of Londonderry, belonged".

Of these statements and other circumstantial evidence I peg the first link of our Bible Records to the James (son of John and Jane Ferguson Wier), nephew of the historic James and Isabella Wier. He had other older brothers and sisters, but their names are faded from the records.

James Wier was born in Ulster in 1683 and he wedded Margaret Agnes O'Marra (or O'Malla), a daughter of a Roman Catholic family ruined by the religious intolerances of the times. Their children were; 1. James, 2. John, 3. William, 4. Robert, 5. Margarat, 6. Agnes, 7. Thomas. This Thomas:

Thomas Wier was born in 1708, and he wedded Elizabeth Faulkner, whose father was a Londonderry farmer. Their children were:

1. James, who settled in Pickens County, Alabama.

2. Samuel, who settled in Pennsylvania.

3. Nancy, who wedded Jimmie Boyd and settled in northern Georgia among the Cherokees. The Gaillards are her descendants.

4. Thomas II, who is to be known here as the Patriarch of our Ten Tribes.

FROM "THE WEST ALABAMIAN" NEWS PAPER DATED WED., JAN. 30, 1900

OLD FAMILIES OF PICKENS COUNTY, ALABAMA THE WIER FAMILY

The Wier Family has long been seated in the lowlands of Scotland. In the 17th century one branch lived in Lanarkshire, which lies between the Firths of Forth and Clyde, and in which is situated the town of Glasgow. Rev. John Wier in 1643 was the Presbyterian minister at Dalserf in this shire. The next year he was associated with other ministers in bearing the National League and Covenant to the officers, soldiers and Protestants in the Province of Ulster. After performing his mission, he set out to return home, when the ship on which he sailed was captured by the noted Alaster MacDonnell. He, with others was confined in Mingarie Castle, where "worn with long confinement, (he) fell sick, and being destitute of every necessary accommodation, his strength rapidly declined, and, after lingering a few weeks, he died". His wife survived him. It was at this period, during the reign of Charles I, that the Ulster Presbyterians were rigorously treated. It was not known that Rev. John Wier was the direct ancestor of this family, but his visit to Ireland, and his protestant connection doubtless led to the later establishment of the family in Ulster. The meaning and origin of the name are not now remembered. (See Reid's Presbyterian Church in Ireland, vol. 1, pp. 420-445).

I. James Wier, the earliest known ancestor of the family here traced, was born in 1683, probably in Ulster, was the son of one of those Scotch Covenantors, who migrated from his home in Scotland to the inviting province of North Ireland. He was a farmer in County Tyrone. The name of his wife is not known. The children of James Wier were seven in number: 1. Thomas Wier (see no. II below); 2. John Wier; 3. James Wier; 4. Robert Wier; 5. William Wier; 6. Margaret Wier; 7. Agnes Wier.

II. Thomas Wier (son of James), was born in 1708. His wife was Elizabeth Faulkner, whose father lived at the waterside of Londonderry. Like his father, he was a farmer. His home was also in County Tyrone, one of the central counties in Ulster. It was in the Township of Malmagila, Parish of Lyson, about three miles from the village of Cookstown. This was about fifteen miles from the far-famed Lough Neagh, the largest inland lake of the United Kingdom. Here Thomas Wier and wife in the midst of picturesque surroundings, lived and died. They had but four children, all of whom emigrated to America, settling in South Carolina, as follows: 1. James Wier, married Mary Hamilton; 2. Samuel Wier, married Alexandre ? ; 3. Nancy Wier, married James Boyd; 4. Thomas Wier, married Mary Withrow (see no. III below).

III. Thomas Wier (son of Thomas) was born in County Tyrone, North Ireland in 1763. He married in 1787 Mary, daughter of William Withrow of County Tyrone, Township of Waterfard and Parrish of Alidesert, two miles from the market of Pomeroy. The wife of William Withrow was Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Stuart, of the village of Rathfriland on Bann water, County Down. After the death of his parents, Thomas Wier and his brothers and one sister came to America, to which country, so many of their Scotch-Irish compatriots had been coming for fifty years.

In an old letter Thomas says: "In the year 1795 I emigrated to America and landed at Charleston, South Carolina, on St. Patrick's Day in the morning the 17th day of March." His three children were born in Ireland, and when they came over, Robert remained behind for some three years with relatives. Pushing up country, he located in the Laurens District, where he remained for a time. He then removed to Abbeville District, settling near Greenwood where he and his wife spent their remaining years. He was a farmer. She died January 1851 aged 84 years. He died July 1, 1851. Both are buried at the old Rock Church, of which they were members. The following extract from his obituary will indicated his character: "Mr. Wier was a member of the Presbyterian Church when he came to this country, and after he settled in this district, he was chosen a Ruling Elder in the Rock Church, which important office he filled with credit, till forced to desist, from the infirmities of age. In the month of January last, he was sorely afflicted in the loss of his aged consort. (About a month before his death he was confined to his bed, more from the infirmities of age than from any disease). On Sabbath previous to his death, he appeared even anxious to depart and be with Christ, --urged the necessity of prayer on all present-- had his servants called in, and admonished them with great Christian sympathy, reminding them of the worth of their souls, and the importance of the preparation for death". No likenesses are preserved of him or his wife. Their children are as follows:

1. Robert Wier, born July 17, 1788 in County Tyrone, North Ireland, came to South Carolina in 1804, in the same year with the arrival of members of the Boyd Family. He married Nancy Jane Boyd (daughter of William Boyd and Margaret Lyons Boyd from near Dungannon, County Tyrone, North Ireland). He lived in Newberry and Laurens Districts, South Carolina. Being an abolitionist, he removed to Sparta, Illinois, where he reared a large family. Descendants are now in St. Louis, Missouri;

2. James Wier born April 1, 1790 (see no. IV below);

3. William Wier born June 5, 1792 in County Tyrone, North Ireland and was brought by his parents to South Carolina. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Dabney Lipscomb (Note: She was actually a daughter of Joel Lipscomb. The 10 Tribes of Wier was incorrect. This information from Victoria Alexander [email protected] from the personal notebook of William Withrow Wier). He removed to Green County, Alabama and later to Columbus, Mississippi where he died in October 1854. He was a farmer and an itinerant Methodist preacher. His children were: i. Amanda, died young; ii. Mary, did not marry; iii. Lipscomb, died young; iv. William, married Abbie Helen; v. Thomas, married Mary Baker. He is a D. D. in the Mississippi Conference; vi. Howard, did not marry; vii. James Benson, killed in war. A physician; viii. Susan, married Dr. Parker (see story "The Last Gathering of the Clan"); ix. Ellen, did not marry; x. Dabney, married in Mississippi.

4. Samuel Wier born March 5, 1796 (see no. V below).

5. John Wier born July 18, 1798 was a merchant in Green County, Alabama. Died unmarried and buried at Rock Church, South Carolina.

6. Thomas Wier born July 8, 1800, was a physician. Married Nancy Long of Laurens District, where he lived and practiced his profession, raising a family of five sons and two daughters. Four sons and a son-in-law James Davis lost their lives in the war between the States. The surviving so  is Dr. Thomas Wier of Renno, South Carolina. His daughter Mrs Davis, remarried to Dr, G. W. Glenn. The other daughter died unmarried.

7. Elizabeth Wier born September 13, 1802. Married William Blake of Greenwood, South Carolina where they both lived and died. They had twelve children. All, except one, married and reared families. They constitute an eminently respectable and large connection in the community of Greenwood.

8. David Stuart Wier born September 17, 1805 who later moved to Pickens County, Alabama in 1830 where he married his first wife Ann, daughter of Dabney Puckett, one of the earlier settlers of the county. She bore him two children; 1. Thomas who died in Louisiana and; 2. Martha, who married Charles McCall of Choctaw County, Alabama where her children reside. David S. Wier later married Narcissa Winn of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He died at Evergreen, Louisiana. Descendants by the last marriage are in Louisiana and Texas.

9. Andrew Wier born May 19, 1808 (see number vi below).

10. Swanzy Wier born April 28, 1812. Married Reabecca Scott and removed to Griffen, Georgia where he raised a large family. After 1865 he removed to Wedowee, Randolph County, Alabama where he died. Some of his sons were killed in the late war. One son, Addison Wier, is a literary man of some reputation, his nom de plume being "Sarge Plunket". One daughter, Mary, married T. W. Speights, and resides with members of her family in Atlanta, Georgia.

IV. James Wier (son of Thomas), born April 1, 1790 in County Tyrone, North Ireland, and was brought by his parents to South Carolina. He grew to manhood in Laurens and Abbeville Districts. After marriage, he remained in the latter until January 1835, when he migrated to Pickens County, Alabama. Here he lived and died. His home was south of Carrollton. In South Carolina and in Pickens County, Alabama, he was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. It is written of him that "he was an honest man, a true friend, a kind neighbor, a good citizen, an affectionate husband and father, and for more than thirty-five years, a faithful Christian".

On May 27, 1818 he married Rebecca, daughter of John Smith of Abbeville District. Her mother was an Anderson. The Smiths and Andersons came from Virginia to South Carolina. Later John Smith and wife moved to Savannah, Tennessee where they died. He was a young man during the Revolutionary War, and disguised as a woman, he was often a bearer of dispatches. He and wife were Methodists. They had a large family, and other decendants are now in Jasper County, Mississippi. Mrs. Smith had a brother Gorgon Anderson, who reared a large family in South Carolina.

James Wier died June 3, 1861, and his wife died May 23, 1877. Both are buried at Carrollton, Alabama. Their children are:

1. Thomas Wier, born April 27, 1819. Died September 21, 1823.

2. John Smith Wier, born July 3, 1820. Died October 1822.

3. Mary Elizabeth Wier, born February 12, 1822. Married J. G. Longmire on February 27, 1839. Died April 1895. Resided near Union Chapel, Pickens County Alabama. They had five children. One son died in the late war, and the other in 1895. Two daughters reside in Jack County , Texas. Both married. Miss Sapronia Longmire, the third daughter, resides in Carrollton.

4. James Harvey Wier, born August 25, 1825. First marriage to Elizabeth J. Taylor on February 22, 1849. She was the daughter of Thomas Taylor and Anna Longmire (sister of J. G. Longmire). The Taylor family is of Green County Alabama, but originally from Pendleton District, South Carloina. They had three children: i. Son died young: ii. Samuel Wier who married E. M. Mattie, daughter of Dr. William Wilson and Rebecca F. Bostic. They reside

Temple, Texas; iii. Mary Wier, who married J. C. McCafferty, son of William McCafferty and Ann Gregory. They reside near Carrollton and have a large family. One being Eula McCafferty, who married Dr. Harvey B. Upchurch of Carrollton. James H. Wier second marriage was to Martha P. Archibald. He and first wife are buried at Union Chapel.

5. Levi Swanzy Wier, born March 1, 1827. Died January 6, 1838.

6. Robert Stuart Wier, born August 5, 1829. Removed to Enterprise, Mississippi. Here he raised the "Enterprise Guards", and was the first in Mississippi to volunteer in the late war. Died in camp near Bowling Green, Kentucky on January 6, 1862.

7. William Withrow Wier, born May 5, 1831. Died February 23, 1835.

8. Andrew Wier, born July 4, 1833. Died August 9, 1836.

9. Rebecca Ann Wier, born July 2, 1835. Died August 18, 1836.

10. Martha Jane Wier, born July 26, 1837. Married (1) G. A. Eastham on November 30, 1864; (2) Henry B. Latham on January 11, 1870, son of Anthony Latham. They reside at Carrollton and have several children.

11. Samuel Milton Wier, born June 3, 1839. Was a member of the "Pickens County Guards". Died at Manasas Junction on February 28, 1862.

V. Samuel Wier (son of Thomas), was born near Greenwood, South Carolina on March 5, 1796. In 1830 he moved to Carrollton, Alabama. In 1837 he was elected clerk of the Circuit of Pickens County Alabama. He went out of office in 1841. His wife was Jane V. Lusk, connected with the Lacey family. He died June 28, 1842 and his wife died July 30, 1842. They had thirteen children. Some of the children were: Dr. Swancy who married Francis daughter of Dr. William Owen: Ann Wier, who married John Chapman and lives in Butler County Alabama.

VI. Andrew Wier (son of Thomas), was born May 19, 1808. Moved to Carrollton, Alabama in 1832 where his first marriage was to Mary, daughter of Dabney Puckett. They had several children of which, two sons now live in Llano County, Texas. His second marriage was to Artemissa, daughter of Abram Ferguson. Her mother was a Hughs. To them were born three sons and two daughters. The sons died unmarried. Of the daughters, Evalyn married Henry Rodgers of Verona, Mississippi. Lizzy married W. F. Johnston, Esq. Son of Col. R. T. Johnston. They reside in Anniston, Alabama.

Andrew bore the militia title of "General" and died at Carrollton, Alabama on September 1864.

* * * * * * * * *

Since this article was written in 1900 by "The West Alabamian" newspaper, there has been quite a lot of research done on these families by numerous researchers. Two of the most outstanding of these researchers were Mr. William S. Wier who wrote, printed and published the book "The Ten Tribes of Wier in America", which is now in the archives of the South Carolina Library at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He also collected and transcribed a great number of letters which were written by a number of related Boyd and Wier families during the 1870's and 1880's. These letters are also preserved at the University of South Carolina.

The cause of all the letter writing was an article that appeared in the "Pittsburgh Commercial Gazet", a newspaper which stated that litigation was about to end concerning a two million dollar Boyd Estate. Part of it was in Ireland, and the other part in Philadelphia.

The other researcher was Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Creekmore Wallace who compiled "The Wier-Creekmore Genealogy". Mrs. Wallace was from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and compiled her research during the 1940's. Mr. William S. Wier compiled and printed his book in January 1940. He was a professional printer employed by an Atlanta, Georgia newspaper.

There was one other researcher who played a big role in the research of the Boyd family history. He started his research about 1912 and covered countries in Europe, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and France. His name was Arthur S. Boyd Jr. He wrote "The Boyd Family", which was published by Leland E. Dorothy of New York, in the year 1924.

So, by locating and obtaining old letters and papers written by former researchers which were scattered around in different locations, such as State Universities and county libraries, plus some state libraries, we can formulate a pretty good history of our Ancestors. Certainly, we can feel very fortunate that one of our passed relatives had taken the time and used his foresight to preserve all the material that has been written by and about our people.

For example, this letter which was written by Thomas Wier (a brother of my 3rd great-grandmother, Nancy Wier Boyd), to his son William Wier, brought out by his son Andrew Wier in July 1835. He writes:

"To come a little nearer home as respects our family and ancestors, I can trace no further back than my grandfather, James Wier. He was a steady, industrious and pious man. My father, Thomas Wier, after his marriage to Elizabeth Faulkner, whose father lived at the waterside of Londonderry, settled in the township of Belnagilla, County of Tyrone, Parish of Lyson in 3 miles of Cooks Town, Province of Ulster, Basmy of Laughen, Sheelin".

"My grandfather, James Wier, had several children, five sons and two daughters. Thomas was the oldest, the others were - John, James, Robert and William, the daughters were - Margaret and Agnus. Margaret was a woman well acquainted with history, both sacred and profane. The family were all pious and raised under the faith of the Presbyterian Church".

"In the year 1795 I emigrated to America and landed in Charleston, South Carolina on St. Patricks Day in the morning the 17 day of March. In the year 1787 I married Mary Withrow who was the daughter of William Withrow of the County of Tyrone, Parish of Alidesert, Township of Water and two miles from the market town of Pom Roy. His wife was Elizabeth Stuart, who was daughter of Robert Stuart of County Down, Rath Frilan on the Ban Water".

These were all of Scotch descent. After we were married I lived 4 years in the Township of Mullinase, where William was born and baptized by Rev. Thomas Dickson, a Seceder minister in my home".

"My father lived and died in the place where he first settled".

THE LAST GATHERING OF THE CLAN

James Harvey, Andrew and Samuel lived and died in Pickens County, Alabama. William moved to Columbus, Mississippi (married Elizabeth Lipscomb). They had a large family. Invitations were out for the marriage of Susan Jane Faulkner Wier and Dr. R. N. Parker. "Cousin Sue" was the daughter of William Wier, uncle of J. Harvey, and his aristocratic and wealthy wife, Elizabeth Lipscomb Wier. This was for January 16, 1857 (I think).

These Wiers were a lively crowd. They visited back and forth with the South Carolina relatives, usually going in carriages with a slave to drive. It was a common thing for these visits to last for weeks--even months at a time. There was great excitement when the news spread that Cousin Sue was to be married to a promising young M. D. (Dr. Redden Norflette Parker).

The little bride to be was popular among these hosts of cousins and she wanted them to come to her wedding. They needed no urging. The slave women who had been taught to sew got busy and the girl cousins "sat on cushions and sewed fine seems". (She, at the age of 86 years, was buried in some of the clothes in Butler, Alabama, and we still have a few pieces of underwear in the family, added by her grand-daughter, Leenette Wilcox Barbour).

As the time approached, the clan gathered. The "Liza Battle", a fine steamboat glittering with much glass and silver, brought the young cousins. They were; Stuart Wier noted for fun and wit; his brilliant sister Jane, who quoted much poetry (Halleck, I think); and their young brother Sammy (children of Uncle Jimmy). There was L. Ann Wier who was to be a bridesmaid and her sister Lucy. Their brothers George and Robert would come later (all children of Samuel Wier). William and Willis (sons of Andrew Wier), very musical, were there. Aunt Betsy Wier Blake had come from South Carolina. She was a dainty little lady. I forget how many sons and daughters came with her.

Some of the young men came on horseback. Negroes followed with their bags; broadcloth and fine linen filled these bags.

The little bride to be was wild with excitement when the cousins arrived. She showed them her wedding garments, all handmade embroidered chemise, pantlettes to be tied above the knees (all the young lady cousins had much hand work on their underwear). They had a happy time promising to exchange patterns, etc. They talked clothes when the gentlemen were no present. They had bonnets covered with many buttons. "Cousin Ann" (Mrs. Chapman), had three dozen buttons on her bonnet. The little bride thought that "Cousin Ann" had better taste in clothes than her other cousins, so she privately talked to her about the wedding gown and just before the momentous occasion, consulted her about her chignon (I am sorry I have forgotten the number of bridesmaids). Ellen Wier, the brides sister was a bridesmaid--beautiful complexion like a magnolia, a bit distant and dignified. Very sweet Ann Lusk Wier, like the bride, was noted for liveliness and quick repartee. A Lipscomb cousin, I think Cousin Laura Izard, much beloved. Cousin Jane may have been in it.

If I remember, the bride and her aids were dressed alike in "tatlton", a most beautiful soft material, trimmed in yards of ribbon. They wore wide hoop skirts, the dresses cut low, no sleeves or very little, for evening. There was a background of fine courtly gentlemen who bowed low at the approach of ladies. They quoted romantic poetry, but were full of wit and humor.

These gentlemen did not make much impression on MY youthful imagination. Later when they marched away to war---- Dock and Stuart, full of fun---- George, Captain of the Noxubee Rifles (the ladies made a flag for him--- it was his winding sheet) and he as Ann's brother; Stuart, a Captain, and when he died in Kentucky, his men marched around his body and each left a kiss on his brow (Stuart was Jane's brother). I do not know how many of these young men attended Sue's wedding, quite a number I think, and never again did so many get together. Thirty-three first cousins went to war in a few years and the girls were never so happy together again.

Now for the wedding feast. With no thought of unhappiness---when the wedding ceremony was over---they marched into the dining room and behold, silver shone! Tall wax candles in silver candlelabra lighted the scene of beauty and bounty. Elizabeth Lipscomb Wier, mother of the bride, knew how things should be prepared and served. For days the slaves had been cooking turkeys, chickens, lamb, beef, and home-cured hams. There were relishes, etc., also the finest of the fine cakes. Last was the sparkling foamy syllabub--made of whipped cream, beaten whites of eggs, and white wine served in tall goblets.

I have no recollection of my mother (Ann Wier Chapmen) telling me of the breaking up of this last gathering of the Wier Clan. I think they had "infairs", parties, etc. for a week. Willis played the flute, Ann played the flutina, and Ellen sang. Most of them danced the Virginia Reel, quadrilles and other contra dances. They sang; "Katie Darling", "Ben Bolt", and "Lornna".

In that land beyond, the little bride (I think my grandmother weighed 100 pounds), is again with the groom and her beloved cousins. We too, shall join them and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain for former things are passed away. The Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign forever and ever.

(Signed) Annie Wier Chapman Belden

As told to Annie Chapmen Belden by her mother, or the ideas of her mother's description of the "Last Gathering of the Clan", also known as "Cousin Sue's Wedding". Sent to Mrs. W. D. Wilcox

(Clemmie Parker) only living daughter of Sue Wier and Dr. Redden W. Parker and copied by Leenette Wilcox Barbour, older daughter of Clemmie Parker Wilcox, who gave this copy to Annie McCafferty Owings in 1941-- who gave to B.W.B.

THE BOYD FAMILY FROM KNOCKAVADDY ROCK

DUNGANNON, COUNTY TYRONE, NORTHERN IRELAND

IN THE YEAR 1804, ON THE SHIP "LADY WASHINGTON"

WILLIAM BOYD born circa 1747 N. Ireland. Married MARGARET LYONS born 1754 N. Ireland.

THEIR CHILDREN:

JOHN BOYD b. 1770 in N. Ireland. Married JANE (JEANE) MELAND (MILAND) (HOLLAND).

MARGARET BOYD b. 1772 in N. Ireland. Married ROBERT ST. CLARE (SINCLAIRE).

JAMES BOYD b. 1775 in N. Ireland. Married ?

SAMUEL BOYD b. 1777 in N. Ireland. Married NANCY VERNOR.

WILLIAM BOYD Jr. b. 1778 in N. Ireland. Married Elizabeth VERNOR (sister to NANCY).

JANE N. BOYD b. 1782 in N. Ireland. Married Robert Wier.

ELIZABETH BOYD b. circa 1784. Married (1)NICHOLS (2) ARCHIE McMILLAN.

* * * * * * * *

WILLIAM BOYD Jr. b. 1778 married ELIZABETH VERNOR b. 1778.

THEIR CHILDREN:

MARGARET BOYD b. 1801. Married ANDREW BEATTIE b. 1790.

ELIZABETH BOYD b. 1803. Married JOSEPH GUTHRIE.

JOHN BOYD b. 1805. Married M. RACHEL BEATIE.

WILLIAM BOYD b. 1808. Married JINCY THOMPSON b. 1813.

NANCY BOYD b. 1813. Married JOHN MILLER.

SAMUEL BOYD b. 1810. Married JEMIMA BAIRD b. 1820.

JANE BOYD b. 1816. Married JOHN MITCHEL BLAIR.

ROBERT BOYD b. 1818. Married ELLEN BLAIR.

MARTHA BOYD b. 1820. Married JAMES HARVEY CLENDENIN.

GEORGE BOYD b. 1824.

JAMES BOYD b. 1826. Married MISSOURI WRIGHT.

LUCINDA BOYD b. 1829. Married JOHN KELLY WRIGHT.

NOTE: This family all moved to Sparta, Illinois in the year 1821. They came by wagon train with the WIERS, WILSONS, WHITES and several other families. They all came from Abbeville, South Carolina.

* * * * * * * *

SAMUEL BOYD b. 1777. Married (1) NANCY VERNOR (2) MARGARET KELLY.

THEIR CHILDREN:

MARY VERNOR BOYD b.1818. Married JOHN STRAHAN.

SAMUEL BOYD b. 1817. Married JANE GIBSON b. 1823.

AGNES BOYD married WILLIAM MONROE.

MARGARET BOYD married SAMUEL WILLIAMS.

ABIGAIL BOYD b.1820. Married JOHN PARK GIBSON.

ELIZA BOYD married ISAAC BROWN.

REBECCA BOYD b. 1823. Married ROBERT MATHEWS.

JANE BOYD married ALEXANDER SMITH.

SARAH BOYD b. 1836. Married RUFUS EDMINSTON.

WILLIAM VERNOR BOYD b. 1838. Married MARTHA MATHEWS.

RACHEL BOYD b. 1840. Married ROBERT S. MATHEWS.

JOHN S. BOYD b. 1842. Married ?.

NOTE: This family also came to Randolph County, Illinois about 3 years after his brother William. They all came from Abbeville, South Carolina.

* * * * * * * *

JANE BOYD born 1782. Married ROBERT WIER.

THEIR CHILDREN:

WILLIAM WIER b. 1813. Married REBECCA RACHEL WIER b. 1818.

THOMAS WIER b. 1815. Married MARY A. TAYLOR.

JAMES BOYD WIER b. 1817. Married JANE HOLLIDAY.

MARGARET LYONS WIER b. 1820. Married JOHN HOLLIDAY.

SAMUEL WIER b. 1822. Married CATHERINE HOPKINS FARIS.

JOHN WIER b. 1825. Married JANE WILSON.

MARY ANN WIER b. 1828. Married WILLIAM MATHEWS.

MARTHA ANN WIER b. 1832. Married JOHN E. G. FELLERS.

NOTE: This family came with her brother William Boyd Jr. and family to Illinois from Abbeville, South Carolina.

* * * * * * * *

BOYD --- HAMILTON --- WIER

MARY HAMILTON born  1774 in Ireland, married JAMES WIER b. 1769 in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, brother of JAMES BOYD's wife NANCY WIER BOYD. Mary Hamilton was the daughter of  JANE BOYD HAMILTON and James or Robert HAMILTON.  Mrs. Jane Boyd Hamilton was a  sister to JAMES BOYD and WILLIAM BOYD Sr. 

THEIR CHILDREN:

JANE WIER b. 1793 in Ireland. Married JAMES FIFE (PHIFE).

ELIZABETH WIER b. 1795 in Ireland. Married JOHN McCORD.

MARY ANN WIER b. 1797 in Ireland. Never married.

THOMAS HAMILTON WIER b. 1800 in Ireland. Married NANCY McCORD.

JAMES WIER b. 1805 in South Carolina. Married THOMAS MEANS.

SAMUEL WIER b. 1807 in South Carolina. Married JANE MEANS.

NANCY WIER b. 1809 in South Carolina. Married Robert McCORD.

* * * * * * * *

JAMES WIER II b. 1802 in Ireland. Married ELIZABETH EVANS

THEIR CHILDREN:

MARY JANE WIER b. 1828 in Alabama. Died as infant.

THOMAS HAMILTON WIER b. 1830. in Pickens County, Alabama. Married MARTHA ANNE SPEARS,

JOHN F. WIER b. 1834 in Alabama. Married MARY FRANCES CREEKMORE.

ROBERT CHAMP WIER b. 1836 in Mississippi. Married Theresa ADELIZA HORTON.

SARAH E. WIER b. 1838. Married ?.

EVANS WIER died infant.

ANN ELIZA WIER b. 1840 in Mississippi. Married HIRAM CASWELL CREEKMORE.

CLARENCE WIER died infant.

VOLNEY WIER b. 1846. Married MARY C. TRUSSELL.

ROBERT FRANK WIER b. 1862. Married ?.

CORA WIER b. 1874. Married WILLIAM PEYTON HEMPHILL>

These are ancestors of Mr. Ray Isbell of Opelika, Alabama.

* * * * * * * *

THE WIER FAMILY

JAMES WIER b. 1683 in Ulster, County Antrim, North Ireland, near Carrickfergus. Married MARGARET AGNES O'MARA.

THEIR CHILDREN:

JAMES WIER

JOHN WIER

WILLIAM WIER

ROBERT WIER

MARGARET WIER

AGNES WIER

THOMAS WIER b. 1708.

* * * * * * * *

THOMAS WIER b. 1708 in County Antrim, North Ireland. Married ELIZABETH FAULKNER.

THEIR CHILDREN:

THOMAS WIER II b. 1763. Married MARY WITHROW b. 1787.

JAMES WIER b. 1769. Married MARY HAMILTON b. 1774.

SAMUEL WIER

NANCY WIER b. 1743. Married JAMES BOYD b. 1740.

NOTE: ELIZABETH FAULKNER's father was a farmer near the waterside of Londonderry. They settled in the township of Belnagilla, County Tyrone, Parish of Lyson in three miles of Cookstown, Province of Ulster, Basmy of Laughen Sheelin.

* * * * * * * *

THOMAS WIER II b. 1763 in County Antrim, North Ireland. Married

MARY WITHROW b. 1767.

THEIR CHILDREN:

ROBERT WIER b. July 17, 1788. Married JANE BOYD.

JAMES WIER b. April 1, 1790. Married REBECCA SMITH.

WILLIAM WIER b. June 5, 1792. Married ELIZABETH LIPSCOMB.

SAMUEL WIER b. March 5, 1796. Married JANE LUSK.

THOMAS WIER III b. June 8, 1800. Married NANCY LONG.

ELIZABETH WIER b. September 12, 1802. Married WILLIAM N. BLAKE.

JOHN WIER b. June 18, 1798. Never married.

DAVID STUART WIER b. September 17, 1805. Married ANNA E. PUCKETT.

ANDREW WIER b. May 19, 1808. Married MARY PUCKETT.

SWANZY WIER b. April 28, 1812. Married REBECCA SCOTT.

NOTE: MARY WITHROW was the daughter of WILLIAM WITHROW of the County Tyrone, Parish of Alidesert, township of Water and two miles from the market town of Pom Roy. MARY's mother was ELIZABETH STUART, daughter of ROBERT STUART of the County Down, Rath Frilan on the Ban Water.

This is the family of "The Ten Tribes of Wier", written by William S. Wier.

* * * * * * * *

THOMAS WIER III b. July 8, 1800 in Abbeville District of South Carolina. Married NANCY LONG.

THEIR CHILDREN:

ROBERT L. WIER.

THOMAS W. WIER (see note).

ELIZABETH WIER never married.

MARTHA L. WIER married Dr. G. G. GLENN.

PRESTON WIER.

HARRISON WIER.

SAMUEL WIER.

NOTE: THOMAS W. WIER was a physician in Renno, South Carolina. His father THOMAS WIER III was also a physician. His four brothers ROBERT, PRESTON, HARRISON and SAMUEL were all killed in the war of the States.

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