Mary HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#1036, b. about 1770, d. 16 September 1822
Father*Robert HAIRSTON1,2 b. b 1724, d. b 2 Jun 1791
Mother*Ruth STOVALL b. a 1731, d. 3 Mar 1808
Birth*Mary HAIRSTON was born about 1770. 
She was the daughter of Robert HAIRSTON and Ruth STOVALL.1,2 
Marriage*Mary HAIRSTON married Gideon SMITH about 27 April 1784 in Henry, Virginia. Security and witnesses were Obediah Bennet and John Loyd. - Henry County Register of Marriages, 1778-1849, page 7. FSL 7578991-128.3
Death Spouse*Her husband, Gideon Smith, died in July 1788.4 
WillIn Robert HAIRSTON's will dated 26 May 1790 in Franklin, Virginia, Mary HAIRSTON was named as an heir; Robert's daughter Sarah "Sally" Hairston died before his will was written.1,5
Death*She died on 16 September 1822.2 
Probate*Her estate was probated on 3 September 1829 in Franklin, Virginia.2 
Court Record*The sale of slaves by Mary Smith to Samuel Saunders in 1813-1815 was contested in the Franklin County Court in 1851. The court records mention that Mary Smith had two children named Gideon and Ruth and that Ruth married a man named Finney (both still living in 1847).
The Mary Smith vs. Samuel Saunders court case was about whether Mary Smith was sound of mind and able to make financial decisions when she sold the slaves she inherited from her father, Robert Hairston. It appears from most of the depositions that she was borderline capable of making financial decisions.
At a Circuit Court continued and held for Franklin County at the Courthouse on Thursday the 15th day of May 1857. Siting as a Court of Equity. - Joseph Peters Administrator of Mary Smith deceased (Plantiff) - Against Samuel Saunders     (Defendant): This court this day came on to be heard upon bill of the plaintiff, the answer of the defendant, the replication there to, the exhibits, the testimony of witnesses and was argued by counsel on consideration whereof the court doth adjudge order and decree that the plaintiffs bill be dismissed, and that he pay to defendant, and of the estate of his intestate, his costs expended in defending this suit. - Franklin County Virginia Chancery Court Order Book B 1851-1856, page 9, FSL 8141193, 287.2 

Family

Gideon SMITH d. a Jul 1788
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S121] Will of Robert Hairston 26 May 1790, Franklin County, Virginia Will Book #1, pages 70-71. Family History Search Film #7644994, images 69-70. Inventory & Appraisel record February 1793. Will Book #1, pages 85-87, 1786-1812. Family Search Library Film #7644994, images 77-78. Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  2. [S3511] Mary Hairston Smith vs Samuel Saunders, Franklin County Chancery Records, 1851-022
    https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp, Library of Virginia - http://www.lva.virginia.gov
  3. [S3076] Virginia Marriage Records, From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly; Indexed by Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore 1984, Ancestry.com.
  4. [S3078] Wingfield, Marshall. An Old Virginia Court. Memphis, Tennessee, 1948 HATHI Trust - https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000423708, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  5. [S3131] Salmon, John S, and Emily J. Salmon. Franklin County, Virginia, 1786-1986: A Bicentennial History. Rocky Mount, Va: Franklin County Bicentennial Commission, 1993. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
Last Edited1 Sep 2023