Daniel Lindsey FORBES

HAIRSTON.org ID#3339, b. about 1764
Father*Alexander FORBES1
Mother*Jane "Janet" Jenny HAIRSTON1 b. a 1742
Birth*Daniel Lindsey FORBES was born about 1764 in Virginia.2,3 
He was the son of Alexander FORBES and Jane "Janet" Jenny HAIRSTON.1 
WillIn Peter HAIRSTON's will dated 14 June 1779 in Bedford, Virginia, Daniel Lindsey FORBES was named as an heir; On 14 Jun 1779 Bedford County, Virginia, Peter Hairston left a will in which he mentions his uncle Samuel Hairston, John Rosser and his cousin Daniel Forbes (under 17). The will lists Charles Caffery Sr., Sarah Caffery and Samuel Hairston as witnesses. Peter signs document. In Virginia a male aged 14 or more could make a will, but had to be over 21 for the will to include land.

Daniel Forbes is the son of Alexander Forbes and Jane "Janet" Hairston Forbes. Jane "Janet" Hairston Forbes is Peter Hairston's sister, which makes Daniel Forbes his nephew.

----------------------------------------
The following is a transcript of a letter by Carl Greenway 3 April 1966 (transcribed by Ed. Bregenzer, 1997)

"Now to the 1779 will of Peter Hairston Bedford County Will Book #1 , page 362 :

June 1779, Left with Saml. Hairston 150 dolers and 77 dolers in the hands of John Rosser in all 227 dolers , and if I never return I allow after my Debts is paid , the remainder to be paid to Daniel Forbes as also one Rifel Gun or the Price of it which he chuses, the Money to be paid when he arrives to the Age of seventeen Years as also all my land Given under my hand this fourteenth day of Jun 1779
                                   s/s Peter Hairston
Witness Present     Charles (by X) Caffery (Senr.)          Sarah (by X) Caffery
I acknowledge I received the money and Gun Agreeable to the above Writing I say recved Pr me
                                   s/s Saml Hairston

This would surely strike me as the will of a young man as he headed off to the Revolution, not knowing whether he would return, and seemingly he did not, poor fellow. The inventory of his personal property filed with the Court on 5 February 1781 by Stephen Perron, Samuel Fleming and Daniel B. Perron, showed only a rifle gun, shot bag and bullet molds, with total estate value 475 shillings [Bedford County Will Book #1 , page 389].

The will was proved in Court on 27 March 1780. There not having been an executor named, the Court appointed Samuel Hairston Gent. as administrator, with James Callaway and William Leftwich his securities.

Two things here suggest a definite tie of this Peter with Andrew. He mentions the $77 dolers left in the hands of John Rosser. One of the inventory takers of Hugh Hairston (whom I believe son of Andrew) was Jonathan Rosser, and another Joseph Rosser. Also, Peter’s sole legatee was Daniel Forbes, then under age 17. I believe this would have been his nephew, since Andrew’s daughter Jane/Janet “Jenny” Hairston married Alexander Forbes. I was puzzled as to why Samuel Hairston, who I believe was this Peter’s uncle, applied for letters of administration instead of Andrew, until I found that Andrew could not write. Since there are no further deed etc records of this Peter, I assume he died unmarried and without issue. In that instance, then there were no known sons of Andrew’s or their issue who could have “gone South”. Since even if Andrew’s daughters might have gone down they would not have carried the male name, I then assume that this tradition would apply to some other member of the family, and I believe him to have been the brother Peter, heretofore thought to have died unmarried and without issue."

Carl Forrest GREENWAY (1917-1974) was a genealogist and wrote many letters regarding the Hairston family history. His great grandmother was Mary Josephine Hairston (1848-1904).

-----------------------------------------.4,1,5
County Name*1781 - Campbell County from Bedford. 
Property400 acres - Daniel Forbes inherited a Land Grant from his cousin Peter Hairston, deceased, for 400 acres in Campbell County on Seneca Creek. Surveyed on 9 November 1768. - Virginia Land Grants No. 14, 1787, p. 120 FSL #8570387, image 156-158.
Deed*On November 14, 1798, Daniel Linsey Forbes sells 75 acres to John Ratekin, Jr. for $50. This is the land Daniel L. Forbes inherited from his cousin Peter Hairston. Campbell County Deed Book 4, page 502. Family Search Library Film #7894512, image 283.
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S247] Greenway, Carl Forrest - letters relating to Hairston genealogy dated 1965-1966 to various people - Carl Greenway (1917-1974) was a Hairston relative and family genealogist, more information about Carl Greenway can be found here: https://www.hairston.org/p4445.htm, Personal Collection - copy.
  2. [S46] Vic Hairston and Edward J. Bregenzer, The Hairston History, February 12, 1998. Personal Collection - copy.
  3. [S149] McAllister, J T. Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War: Mcallister's Data. Hot Springs, Va: McAllister Pub. Co, 1913. Print. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/njp.32101013939630, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  4. [S3063] Will of Peter Hairston - 14 June 1779, Bedford County, Virginia, Will Book 1, page 362. Family History Library, Film #007645309, image 234., Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  5. [S27] Early, R H. Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches: Embracing the History of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1926. Lynchburg, Va: J.P. Bell Co, 1927. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3624083, Personal Collection - printed book.
Last Edited3 May 2024