Jane GRAY

HAIRSTON.org ID#2222, b. about 1790, d. 14 October 1853
Marriage*Jane GRAY married James HAIRSTON, son of William HAIRSTON and Ann S. (surname unknown).1 
Birth*Jane GRAY was born about 1790.2 
Census 1810She listed in the household of James HAIRSTON in 1810 in Abbeville, South Carolina; James Hariston - males <10 2, 10-15 3, 26-44 1, females 16-25 3, 45+ 2, slaves 1. Neighbors were Brown Herston, Nathaniel Rowland, Sarah Roland and Samuel Moseley. - FSL #4185992 image 47.3
WillIn James HAIRSTON's will dated 5 July 1827 in Abbeville, South Carolina, Jane GRAY was named as an heir; Mentions his wife Jane, but no children are mentioned. John J. Kellar is an executor, he is the husband of Cynthia Lomax, the daughter of George Lomax, a witness. - Abbeville Will Book 2, page 343. FSL #4752968, image 197.1,4
Death Spouse*Her husband, James Robert HAIRSTON, died about December 1833.5,4 
Census 1840*She appeared on the census of 1840 in Abbeville, South Carolina, Jane Herston - Females 15-19 2, 50-59 1, Slaves 4.6

Survey*Jane Hearston is listed as an adjacent land owner to Paschal D. KLUGH on a survey dated December 17, 1844 in Abbeville District. - South Carolina Archives S213192, V54, page 167. 
Census 1850 Slave*She was listed as a slave owner in the 1850 Slave Inhabitants census on 26 October 1850 in Abbeville, South Carolina, Jane Heirston - 6 slaves - males aged 14 and 7, females aged 32, 16, 3 and 1. Jane's will of 1853 lists the following slave names, Rebecca (Becky), Jane, T. George W., John B., Mary Ann, Rhody S. and Edney Frances. All children were Rebecca's. The will states that Rebecca's family is to stay together.7 
Census 1850*She appeared on the census of 26 November 1850 in Saluda regiment, Abbeville, South Carolina. Jane Heirston, 60 living alone.2 
Census 1850 Agri*She appeared on the census of 1 December 1850 in Saluda, Abbeville, South Carolina, Jane Hurston, 25 acres improved, 179 acres unimproved, worth $600, $35 machinery, 2 horses,3 milch cows, 10 other cattle, 15 sheep, 25 swine, $235 value of live stock, produced during year - 20 bushels wheat, 100 bushels indian corn and 30 bushels of oats. 
Will*She left a will on 4 June 1853 in Abbeville, South Carolina, Heirs: Nephew James Wesley Johnson, (son of Tolivar & Jane Johnson of Panola, Misssissippi), Thomas Johnson, Rachel Martin (wife James H. Martin of Tippah, Mississippi), William Gray (son of John Gray deceased), William Gray (son of James Gray deceased), Mary Ann Thompson, Sarah Jane Lomax (daughter of John W. and Elizabeth B. Lomax).

Executor: David Keller, Esq. (his wife is Nancy Lomax, daughter of William Lomax and Nancy Hairston)

Witnesses: John W. Lomax, Garlington Owens, Elizabeth B. Lomax.

Thomas Johnson, Allen Gray, James Gray, William Gray, Johnson Gray, Polly Ann Thompson and others objected to the will.

Notes:
1. The 1850 census indicates that James Wesley Johnson (1844-1862) would have been a minor when this will was written in 1853.
2. If James Wesley Johnson was Jane Hairston's nephew, it would appear to make Tolivar Johnson (1813-1890) or his wife Jane J. (1820-1880) a brother or sister to Jane Hairston. However, the age difference between Jane Hairston and Tolivar is over 55 years and is too much for a brother and sister. James Wesley was probably a Great Nephew, most likely the grandson of Jane's sister.

PDF copies of will are attached here:.8
Death*She died on 14 October 1853 in Abbeville, South Carolina. Date given in 1853 probate records, Abbeville, South Carolina Box 131, package 3799. FSL #4752842 image 100-137. 
Probate*Her estate was probated on 25 October 1853 in Abbeville, South Carolina.4 
NOTE*GENEALOGY NOTES: One of the probate letters states that Jane Hairston did not have any children and that she may have had a brother in Texas. Jane Hairston mentions her nephew James Wesley Johnson in her will. However, a witness in the probate court documents states that Jane is the aunt of Tolivar Johnson (1813-1890). Another witness states Jane's only relatives were nephews & nieces - the Johnsons - Tolivar, Ben & Tidence and some nieces of same name and the children of her deceased brothers Gray.

Another letter has a list of Jane Hairston's next of kin: - (It is very hard to read.) states - "Next of kin of Jane Hairston dec'd. - Children of John Gray dec'd. George - Children of James Gray dec'd. George, Allen Gray, James Gray, William Gray, Johnson Gray, Polly Ann Thompson husband not known, Rachel Williams husband name not known, not whether living. - ____ Gray or his children
Andrew Gray Texas - Children of Elizabeth Johnson ____ , Tolivar Johnson, Thomas Johnson, B_____ Johnson, Anna Whit husband not known nor whether living, Rachel Martin husband name not known. ______"

The following from census records, wills, etc.: - Children of John Gray and his wife Elizabeth are son William A. Gray and grandson A. G. Boyd. Children of James Gray - sons George, William and James, daughters Anne Beatty and Margaret Gilmore, grandchildren Elizabeth Gray, William Gray, Mary Gray, Margaret Gray, Sarah Gray, James Beatty and Thomas Beatty. Child of Tolivar Johnson (1813-1890) and wife Jane J. (1820-1880) was son James Wesley Johnson (1844-1862) - all born in South Carolina.

Putting the above information together produces the following: - Jane Hairston's maiden name was Gray. She had a sister named Elizabeth Gray that married a Mr. Johnson and their children were Tolivar, Thomas, B_____, Anna and Rachel. Jane also had brothers named John Gray, James Gray and Andrew Gray.

Family

James HAIRSTON b. 2 Mar 1766, d. a Dec 1833

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S263] Will of James Robert Hairston - July 5, 1827, Abbeville County, South Carolina Will Book No. 1, Page 406, South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
  2. [S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  3. [S1810] 1810 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  4. [S61] Young, Willie Pauline. Abstracts of Old Ninety-six And Abbeville District Wills And Bonds, As On File In the Abbeville, South Carolina, Courthouse. Abbeville, S.C., 1950 - https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uva.x000162661 Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  5. [S57] U. S. Revolutionary War Pension Application, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Ancestry.com.
  6. [S1840] 1840 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  7. [S10] 1850 Slave Census - National Archives and Records Administration.
  8. [S276] Will of Jane Hairston - 4 June 1853, Abbeville County Will Box 131, Pack 3799, South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Last Edited8 Sep 2024