Sarah Taylor1

d. 1899
Father(?) Taylor
Marriage License26 Mar 1842 Sarah Taylor and William B. Byars obtained a marriage license on 26 Mar 1842 in Smyth County, Virginia.2 
Land-Buy21 Aug 1843  Shortly after his marriage William purchased 335 acres of land from David and Nancy Beattie for $5,000.3 
  The land had originally belonged to David's grandfather, John Beattie (who was also William's great grandfather). William and Sarah most likely lived in the David Beattie home when they first acquired the property. 
Cens-18504 Sep 1850  Here they were enumerated in 1850 when the first census to record all members of a household was taken. William was 34; Sarah was 32. William's property was valued at $8,000. Also living with the couple were two young girls: Sally Taylor, 5, and Louisa Taylor, 3.4 
  They were the children of Charles Taylor, probably Sarah's brother. William and Sarah Byars did not have children of their own but raised Sally and Louisa. 
Residence  In the mid 1850s William built a beautiful brick home on his property. It fronted on what is now Evergreen Lane (Rt 609) on the eastern edge of present day Glade Spring (see link below to view separate page with pictures and additional information). 
Cens-18601860  By 1860 William's land was worth $42,850 and he owned personal property worth $24, 640.5 
Cens-1860- Slave26 Jul 1860  The latter number reflects the 17 slaves who lived in 2 slave dwellings on the property. Stories circulated in later years that William and Sarah were stern taskmasters who did not always treat their slaves well.6,7 
23 Nov 1864  In November 1864, 18 year old Louisa Taylor married Thomas Nelson Cobbs, a 34 year old widower from Bedford County. She gave birth to a son a few years later whom she named William Byars Cobbs. Louisa died in 1869.8 
Cens-187016 Aug 1870  Thomas Cobbs remained with William and Sarah Byars and looked after their home and farm. Young William Cobbs, like his mother, was raised in the Byars household [William and Sarah may have formally adopted him]. The 1870 census for Washington County indicated that William Byars owned land worth $30,000 and personal property worth over $8,000.9 
  In 1871 Thomas Cobbs married Sarah Taylor, the elder sister of his first wife Louisa. She is believed to have given birth to a son Charles Cobbs, but like her sister, did not live to raise her child.10 
Cens-1880Jun 1880  Additional tragedy struck the family in the late 1870s when William was confined to the Western Lunatic Asylum hospital at Staunton (Augusta Co., VA). By the summer of 1880 he had been a resident of the institution for 7 months. William was also enumerated as the head of his "usual" household in Glade Spring which included his wife Sarah, along with the thrice widowed Thomas Cobbs and 13 year old William Cobbs [his son] and 7 year old Charles Cobbs [probably also his son]. Several servants lived with the family.11,12 
Migration1883  A few years later, probably around 1883, William and Sarah moved to the Ft. Worth area of Texas.1 
Widowed16 Apr 1895  William died on 16 Apr 1895. He left his entire estate to the couple's adopted son William B. Cobb. 
Will24 May 1895  The following month, while again living in Glade Spring, Virginia, Sarah wrote her own will. She also left her entire estate to William Cobb.13 
1897  However William died in 1897, two years before Sarah. He left an infant daughter Marion. 
Death1899 Sarah probably died in 1899.13 
Will-Recd22 May 1899  Her will was recorded in Washington County on May 22nd of that year. William Cobb's widow, Augusta Cobb served as administratrix.13 

Related Links and Images:

John and Sarah's home, now known as Woodburn, photographed in 200614
Sarah and William lived for some time in Texas, settling in Tarrant County. See the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
Last Edited10 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 160.
  2. [S45] John Vogt and William Kethley Jr., Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1832-50, p. 14.
  3. [S2301] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 16: 437. David and Nancy Beattie to William B. Byars, 335 acres for $5,000, dated 21 Aug. 1843, recorded 23 Apr 1844.
  4. [S367] Wm B. Byars household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 137 stamped, dwelling 1003, family 1003, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2008, image 139 of 289. Household includes: Wm B. Byars, 34, farmer, real estate valued at $8,000; Sarah C. 32; Sally Taylor 5; Louisa Taylor 3; all b. VA.
  5. [S234] William B. Byars household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 455 (added script), dwelling 647, family 632, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 93 of 361. Reported data includes: William B. Byars, 43, farmer, owns land valued at $42,850 and personal property of $24,640; Sallie, 42; Sallie Taylor, 15 and Louisa Taylor, 13; all b. VA.
  6. [S1308] William B. Byars, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 8 (original script), line 7, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 17 slaves including 12 males and 5 females.
  7. [S1199] Victoria Gilliam, "Keys Home", 1937, digital image, Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>: viewed 2010. Sources: Mrs. Samuel Keys, Mr. Ed Hutton, Tom B. Porterfield, Mr. McClelland who was the caretaker of Woodburn in the early 1900s, Miss Williams - daughter of Joseph Williams, age 90, who was guardian of Mrs. Byars before her death.
  8. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 64. Thomas Nelson Cobbs, 34, wid, b. Bedford Co. VA, resid WCV, Soup. RR, s/o John L. & Judith Cobbs marr L. Byars Taylor, 19, sgl, b. Smyth Co., VA, d/o Charles C. & Ellen Taylor; 23 Nov. 1864.
  9. [S635] Wm B. Byars household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 1 (p. 54 stamped), dwelling 1, family 1, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2008, image 1 of 49. Household includes: Wm B. Byars, 56, farmer, owns land val at $30,000 and pers. prop. of $8,115; Sarah A.P., 55; Thomas Cobbs, 38, Super in Tendant [sic]; Sally Tayler, 23; Wm B. Cobbs, 2; also 2 servants; all b. VA.
  10. [S2619] Anne Leyden, "William B. Byars," e-mail to D. Powell, 15 Jan. 2011.
  11. [S163] Wm B. Byars household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring district, ED 94, p. 24D, dwelling 212, family 213. March 2011. Household includes: Wm B. Byars, 64, insane; Sarah, wife; Thomas Cobbs, 48, farmer, wid; William Cobbs, 13, nephew; Charles Cobbs (no relation stated), 7; Frances Meeks, black female, 20, servant; Amelia Meeks, black, 8; William Meeks, black, 3; Lula Meeks, black, b. Oct.; William Sales, black servant, 15; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S2620] William B. Byars entry, 1880 U.S. Nonpopulation Census, Washington Co., VA, Defective, Dependent and Delinquent Schedule, Glade Spring District, p. 898, line 1, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March, 2011. The entry noted that Mr. Byars entry on the population schedule was on p. 24, line 45 (Glade Spring, VA). He was a resident of the Western Lunatic Asylum and had been for 7 months. He was 64 when his "attacks" began. This was his second attack; it had lasted for 7 months. He had spent a total of 8 months as a resident and at times was confined to a cell or apartment under lock and key.
  13. [S853] Sarah E. P. Byars will (1899), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 26: 227. The will was recorded 22 May 1899 and proved on the oaths of J.S. Buchanan and J. Wright. Sarah had designated Willie B. Cobb as her executor, but Mrs. Augusta H. Cobb took the oath of admintratrix.
  14. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.