Jasper and Mary Moore Byerley

Jasper Byerley was the eldest son of Caspar Byerley and his first wife (name unknown).  His birth year and place of birth is unclear and a point of discussion among his descendants.  Some believe he was born in Germany and immigrated with his father to America.  Others believe he was born in South Carolina several years after that.

While not providing conclusive proof, the following records offer a clue as to when and where Jasper was born.

  1. All records thus far found relating to the Ship Caledonia indicates that Caspar Byerley, father of Jasper, arrived alone in late October 1752.
  2. Jasper Byerley fought in the Revoluntionary War and filed an indent for his service in December of 1785.
  3. The 1800 census has his age between 26 and 44 giving him a birth year range of 1756-1774.
  4. The 1830 census has his age as being between 80 and 89 giving him a birth year range of 1741 and 1750.
  5. His age in the 1850 census was listed as 104.

All things considered, until there is proof discovered that he immigrated with his father, I believe that Jasper was born in South Carolina circa 1756.

Jasper served under Captain William Housel and Major John A. Sumner in the Revolutionary War. Ironically his father supported the British and is listed as a refugee in South Carolina during the war.  Jasper’s name is included on a marker located on the lawn of the Blount County, Tennessee courthouse along with other pioneers of that county that served in the Revolutionary War.

Jasper is included in his father’s household in the 1790 Census of South Carolina.  By the time that the 1800 census was taken, he has his own household in Fairfield County, South Carolina.  Tradition has him marrying Mary Moore circa 1790 in South Carolina. I have been told by other researchers that there is a family Bible for one of his children that provided proof of this.  I have not seen the Bible and have yet to find a marriage record.  Census records of 1850 do bear out his wife’s name being Mary.

At the time of his father’s death in 1804, Jasper resided in South Carolina.  He is included as a son in his father’s will.  On April 2, 1804 he was appointed as a guardian to his younger half brother John.  On the 27th of October in 1807, Jasper sold his land in South Carolina and moved his family to Tennessee.  He next surfaces in land records in Sevier County, Tennessee where on the 7th of December 1807 he purchased 183 acres of land on Boyd’s Creek from Elizabeth Blackburn.

Jasper died in 1850 and is buried in the Byerley Cemetery in Louisville, Tennessee.

The known children of Jasper and Mary are as follows:

David Byerley, eldest son of Jasper and Mary, was born circa 1790 in South Carolina.  He married Mary M. Johnston on 22 November 1817 in Knox County, Tennessee.  David died on 23 October 1873 and is buried in Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Knox County, Tennessee.  Ten children of David and Mary have been identified.

  1. Nancy Byerley was born circa 1919 in Knox County, Tennessee.
  2. Michael Byerley was born 1820 in Knox County and died 1901.  He married twice, first to Nancy Brown on 23 November 1848 and second to Samira Jane Chumley on 12 August 1852. Both marriages took place in Knox County, Tennessee.  Michael is buried in Lenoir City Cemetery in Loudon County, Tennessee.
  3. Lucinda Byerley was born circa 1825 in Knox County, Tennessee. She married William Ashbury Enos on the 12th of February of 1846.  Lucinda died circa 1855 in Illinois.
  4. Elizabeth Byerley was born circa 1827. She married David Booth Keener on the 28th of August 1851 in Knox County, Tennessee. Her husband, David was a soldier in the Union Army who was died in a Confederate prison in Andersonville, Cherokee, Georgia.
  5. Mariah Byerley was born on the 25th of August 1830 and died on the 5th of February 1900 in Loudon County, Tennessee.  Mariah married James Gaius Ragains on the 6th of December 1866 in Monroe County, Tennessee.
  6. Ruth A. Byerley was born circa 1835 in Tennessee.
  7. Rachel B. Byerley was born the 23rd of May 1839 in Knox County, Tennessee. She married Anderson D. Simpson on the 22nd of January 1868 in Monroe County, Tennessee. Rachel died on the 19th of October 1920.
  8. Martha A. Byerley was born on 17 April 1842 in Knox County, Tennessee. She married William Harmon Early on the 1st of August 1867 in Monroe County, Tennessee. Martha died on 18 March 1900.
  9. William E. H. Byerley was born circa 1855 in Tennessee.
  10. Sarah Byerley was born circa July 1833. She married Thomas J. Early on the 23rd of October 1856 in Roane County, Tennessee.

Michael Byerley, second son of Jasper and Mary, was born circa 1798 in South Carolina.  On 22 August 1828 Michael married Sarah Smith in Blount County, Tennessee. Sarah was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret McCutchan Smith.   Sometime after 1850 Michael moved his family to Rhea County, Tennessee where he first shows up in court records in August 1857.  His brother Jacob had migrated to Rhea County some 20 years earlier in 1836.  Michael died shortly before the 3rd of October 1881 in Rhea County. His estate was administered by his daughter Martha Romines. Nine children were born to Michael and Sarah.

  1. Mary Ann Byerley was born circa 1828. Nothing more is known about her.
  2. Sarah Jane Byerley was born circa 1830 in Tennessee.  On the 5th of May 1848 she married Christopher Story in Knox County, Tennessee.
  3. William M. Byerley was born circa 1832 in Tennessee.  He married Sarah Ann Grammer on 29 August 1852 in Roane County, Tennessee.
  4. Isabella Byerley was born circa 1834 in Tennessee. She married twice, first to Edward Smith on 30 August 1853 in Roane County and then second to Barrister Smith in Rhea County on 29 November 1867.
  5. Malissia Ann Byerley, born circa 1837, married Jasper Byerley on 22 June 1857 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
  6. George W. Byerley was born circa 1841.  Nothing more is known about him.
  7. Martha R. Byerley, born circa 1843, married Zachariah Romines on 22 December 1863 in Rhea County.
  8. James Byerley was born circa 1845. Nothing more is known about him.
  9. Amanda Parthena Byerley, born 18 October 1852 in Tennessee married William Nelson Morgan on 1 August 1869 in Rhea County.  Amanda died 18 March 1919 in Rhea County, Tennessee.

Jacob Byerley, third son of Jasper and Mary, was born circa 1800 in South Carolina.  He married Sarah (Sally) Brown on 3 November 1824 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Jacob and Sarah moved their family to Rhea County, Tennessee circa 1836.  The church records from Salem Baptist Church in Dayton, Tennessee indicate that Jacob died in September of 1880.  Sarah had died sometime before then. Eleven children were born to Jacob and Sarah.

  1. Jasper Byerley was born circa 1826 in Tennessee and married Malissia Ann Byerley on 22 June 1857 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
  2. Elizabeth J. Byerley was born circa 1839 in Tennessee.  Elizabeth married Harvey Roddy on 14 June 1860 in Rhea County, Tennessee. One daughter, Sarah E. Roddy was born to Harvey and Elizabeth.  Sarah was born circa 1867, married James Harrison Cox and died 10 April 1919 in Daisy, Tennessee.  It is not clear when Elizabeth died.
  3. Unknown child born circa 1830 – 1835.
  4. Mariah Byerley born 1831 married William Hardy Chumley on 24 November 1860.
  5. Margaret Byerley born in October 1833.  Nothing more is known about her.
  6. William D. Byerley was born March 1836 in Tennessee.  He was married twice, first to Hester A. Chumley on 19 July 1860 and second to July Harris on 24 June 1894.  Both marriages took place in Rhea County, Tennessee.
  7. Lucy Byerley, born April 1837, married Henry Franklin Matherly on 25 April 1866 in Rhea County, Tennessee.  Lucy died in December of 1905 and is buried in Spence Cemetery in Dayton, Tennessee.
  8. James C. Byerley was born circa 1839. He married Matilda Morgan on 4 February 1871 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
  9. Sarah Byerley was born December 1842. On 13 October 1866 she married James M. Blye in Rhea County, Tennessee.
  10. Nancy Emaline Byerley was born 13 December 1845.  She married James Alexander Housley on 7 November 1874 in Rhea County, Tennessee.  Nancy died on 29 December 1921 and is buried along with her husband in Spence Cemetery, Dayton, Tennessee.
  11. Samuel Byerley was born April 1848 and married Sarah Housler on 1 Feb 1872 in Rhea County, Tennessee.  Samuel died before 1920.

Lucy Byerley, second daughter of Jasper and Mary, was born circa 1804, probably in South Carolina. She married Samuel S. Watkins on 18 March 1826 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Seven children were born to Lucy and Samuel.

  1. Ann Watkins born circa 1827.
  2. James Watkins born circa 1828.
  3. Marten Watkins born circa 1833.
  4. Mary Watkins born circa 1835.
  5. William Watkins born circa 1838.
  6. John Watkins born circa 1842, he was a sheriff of James County, Tennessee.
  7. Margaret Watkins born circa 1845.

Issac Byerley, fourth son of Jasper and Mary, was born in May 1807, probably in South Carolina.  Issac married twice, first to Mary Hobbs on 25 Feb 1834 in Knox County, Tennessee and second to Malinda French on 18 October 1840 in Blount County, Tennessee.  Four children were born to Issac and his first wife Mary and 6 children were born to Issac and his second wife Malinda.

Children of Issac and Mary Hobbs Byerley:

  1. Nancy  Byerley
  2. Marcus Layfette Byerley was born 25 October 1831 in Tennessee.  He married Rachael Catherine Clark on 27 February 1855 in Roane County, Tennessee.  Marcus died on 27 March 1824 in Knox County, Tennessee.  He is buried in Middlesettlements Methodist Church Cemetery, near Friendsville, Tennessee in Blount County.
  3. Sophy J. Byerley was born circa 1836.  She married twice, first to William A. Moore on 22 February 1857 in Blount County, Tennessee and then second to John W. Ballard on 4 September 1879 in Knox County, Tennessee.
  4. Sarah A. Byerley, born 16 September 1822 in Tennessee married Joseph French on 2 January 1844 in Blount County, Tennessee. Sarah died on 14 January 1914 in Lenoir City where she was buried in Crandell Cemetery.

Children of Issac and Malinda French Byerley:

  1. Mary Elizabeth Byerley was born 8 August 1841.
  2. Margaret Catherine Byerley was born 28 February 1843.  She may have married James H. Hunt on 3 August 1866 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Marriage is probable but not proved it was her.
  3. James Madison Byerley was born 6 June 1844.  He married Hannah L. Maxwell in Knox County, Tennessee on 4 October 1868.  James died on 29 October 1923.
  4. William Jasper Byerley was born 15 March 1846. He married Jane Eliza Craig on 4 February 1866 in Knox County, Tennessee.  He died on 26 October 1914 in Knox County where he is buried in Grace Cemetery.
  5. Lucy Byerley was born circa 1848.
  6. Martin S. Byerley was born circa 1853 and died 29 October 1923 in Blount County, Tennessee.
  7. Martha S. Byerley – Nothing more is known about her.

James E. Byerley, fifth son of Jasper and Mary, was born on 12 June 1809 in Tennessee.  James was married twice, first to Hallelujah Yarnell on 9 December 1830 in Knox County, Tennessee and second to Elizabeth Scaggs. James died in July 1881 and is buried in Union Cemetery in Rita, Knox County, Tennessee. Seven children were born to James and Hallelujah. One child was born to James and Elizabeth.

Children of James and Hallelujah Yarnell Byerley

  1. Martin Byerley was born circa 1833 and married twice, first to Margaret E. Davis on 29 August 1853 and second to Phidelia Goins on 22 January 1871.  Both marriages took place in Grainger County, Tennessee.
  2. Susan Byerley born circa 1834.
  3. Mordica Byerley born circa 1837.
  4. Thomas Byerley married Martha Jane Yearout on 25 August 1859 in Knox County, Tennessee.  He was born 8 March 1835 and died on 26 June 1864.  He is buried in Union Cemetery, Rita, Knox County, Tennessee.
  5. Deborah Maria Byerley born circa 1840.
  6. James Sterling Byerley was born 2 July 1842. James married Mary Cordelia Shipe on 25 January 1866 in Knox County, Tennessee. James died on 19 October 1910 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Rita, Knox County, Tennessee.
  7. Newton J. Byerley was born 10 July 1844.  On 11 May 1865 he married Sarah J. Troutman in Knox County, Tennessee. Newton died on 14 July 1913 in Grainger County, Tennessee.

Child of James and Elizabeth Scaggs Byerley

  1. Henry Edward Byerley was born 29 August 1849 in Grainger County, Tennessee.  On 30 Janurary 1872 he married Martha A. Luttrell in Knox County, Tennessee.  Henry died on 17 April 1890 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Rita, Knox, Tennessee.

Margaret Byerley, third daughter of Jasper and Mary, was born on the 27th of April 1811.  Margaret married William Watkins on 21 March 1827 in Blount County, Tennessee. Margaret died on 21 January 1898.  Five children were born to Margaret and William Watkins:

  1. Nancy Watkins was born 20 July 1828.
  2. Mary A. Watkins was born 12 February 1834 and died 8 March 1907 in Loudon County, Tennessee.
  3. Lucy Watkins was born 27 November 1836.  She married Orville Bealls Simpson on 8 May 1860 in Monroe County, Tennessee. Lucy died on 7 December 1922 in Loudon County, Tennessee.
  4. Samuel S. Watkins was born 10 November 1840.  He married Sarah E. Plumlee on 10 April 1862 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Samuel died in Louisville, Kentucky on 18 January 1863.
  5. William Douglas Watkins was born on 9 November 1843. On 5 June 1870 in Monroe County, Tennessee he married Nancy Brown Hart. William died on 9 September 1931 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Mary Ann Byerley, fourth daughter of Jasper and Mary, was born circa 1812 in Tennessee.  Nothing more is known about her.   I now believe Mary Ann Byerley is the Mary Ann who married John N. French on the 28th of March 1848 in Knox County, Tennessee.  Her birth year fits the census records for this family.

Martin Byerley, youngest son of Jasper and Mary, was born 10 March 1816 in Tennessee.  Martin married Mary M. Roop on the 6th of December 1836 in Knox County, Tennessee. Martin and his family moved to Goodrich, Linn County, Kansas by way of Missouri, where he shows up in the 1865 Kansas State Census.  Martin died on 23 September 1891 in Goodrich, Linn County, Kansas.  Mary died on 6 February 1892. Twin sons were born to Martin and Mary.

  1. Jasper Byerley who married Marinda Wooten. Jasper was born 16 November 1837 in Tennessee and died in Kansas on 10 October 1909.  He is buried in Goodrich Cemetery.
  2. John Byerley who married Margaret Walker.  John was born 16 November 1837 in Tennessee and died in Kansas on 17 March 1916.  He is buried in Goodrich Cemetery.

Sources  (Details provided upon request)

  1. Caledonia passenger lists by Gartman and Hicks. British Council Records.
  2. Estate records of Newberry County, South Carolina.
  3. Various Tennessee United States Census Records.
  4. Cemetery records, online and personal visits.
  5. Salem Baptist Church Records (Dayton, Tennessee – on microfilm)
  6. Research of other Byerley family members.
  7. Tennessee Vital Records.
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