John's will establishes the names of his children, or at least those who were alive in 1776. By 1800 son Patrick was deceased as a settlement record notes that James was the only surviving executor. The will identified John's daughter Martha as the wife of John Buchanan.
Son Robert is believed to be the same Robert Buchanan who married Jane Beattie and lived in Washington County. Robert died within a year or two of his marriage; his widow then married Mathew Ryburn.
Son John is believed to be the same person as the John Buchanan who also settled in Washington County, where he married Ann Ryburn, Mathew Ryburn's sister.
The younger children all migrated to Green County, Kentucky [possibly now Taylor Co.]. There James wrote a will in July 1809 leaving his estate, including his share in the estate of their deceased brother William, to his sisters Mary and Catherine. The will was recorded in March 1814.
David wrote his will in December 1821. It mentions a wife Sarah, son James, daughter Jane Abell, and daughter Mary. The will was probated in November, 1822.
Mary and Catherine both wrote their wills in Green County on May 30th, 1826. They left their estates to each other, stipulating that after they were both deceased their nephew John Buchanan, son of their brother Alexander, was to receive 1/3 of their estates. The remaining 2/3 was to go to their slaves, whom they decreed were to be emancipated. Both women also referenced their claim on the estate of Alexander St. Clair deceased. It was Alexander St. Clair who purchased their father's land in Augusta County after his death. Mary's will was produced in court in Dec. 1829; Katherine's in July 1837.
There is also a will for a John Buchanan in Green County. It was dated September 16, 1834 and produced in court on October 20th of the same year. It mentions wife Jane and daughter Mary M., son Henry, son Thomas G., daughter Darcus Hazard (wife of John Hazard) and John H__. It indicated there were unmarried children. This may be John, son of Alexander. It cannot be John Buchanan, son of John and Margaret of Augusta County as census records indicate the Green County John Buchanan was a younger man.3 |
