1755, August 5 - Ann McCrarey researched the records in South Carolina for the McCrary family and found many in the Journal of His Majesties Honorable Council are petitions for land from John McCrarey. On this same date land grants were made to:
      John Hanna, 100 a waters of Santee
      John Greer (6 persons in family) on Duncan's Creek
      Timothy Reirday, South side of Saludy R.
      Alexr. Moorhead.
      [Microfilm reference at S. C. Archives, D532 1754-1756, D533 (CO 5/470, 471) Pro Reel 41]

The previous record seems to indicate a John Greer may have been one of the first recorded Greer in South Carolina as early as 1755. Joseph Greer (200 ac) had land sandwiched between Robt. McCrary (210 ac.) and Basil Prater(150 ac). John Greer had 300 acres next to Bazil Prater 55 acres. Jonas Greer(180 ac) and Jos. Greer (150 ac) is on the south side of Duncan Creek and borders Robt. McCrary's other 200 acres on Duncan Creek.

1761- The Bounty Act was broadened as an incentive to immigration.  It gave special benefit of these religious refugees.  All the applicants had to have certificates that showed that they were protestants and entitled to receive the benefits allowed by the new Bounty Act.  Many of the immigrants who came under this Act were protestants from what is now Northern Ireland. 

1764 - Land records of the colony of South Carolina show several Greer here as early as 1764, [Paul Sarrett, Jr. , US Genweb.com

GREER , Andrew      1764 Colony, SC Warrant for Land No Twp Listed
GREER , John           1764 Colony, SC Warrant for Land No Twp Listed
GREER , John           1779 Colony, SC Resident Old 96th DISTRICT
GREER , Joseph        1764 Colony, SC Warrant for Land No Twp Listed
GREER , Joseph        1779 Colony, SC Resident Old 96th DISTRICT
GREER , Josiah         1779 Colony, SC Resident Old 96th DISTRICT
GRIER  , David         1779 Colony, SC Resident Old 96th DISTRICT

The following record of early land warrants shows that the Greer family came from somewhere in Ireland, probably northern Ireland before 1764.  Although many records in this book list ships manifests of new immigrants, Joseph Greer and kin seemed to already be present before the Bounty Land Act started their records.   The McCrary family is not listed but McCrory is present about the same time and the spelling difference can be a mis-transcription. 

Council Journal 30, page 20-31
Meeting of 24th January 1764
       The following Petitions for Warrants of Survey of lands on the bounty were presented and read
                                                          Acres                                                                       Acres
Johnston Rainey                               100            David Read                                             300
William Lindsay                               350            Jane Read                                               100
Jane Read                                         100            Samuel Read                                           100
Daniel Gordon                                  100            St. John Smilley                                      450
John Gordon                                     100            Anne Smiley                                           100
Wm. McElwean                               100            John Smiley                                             100
Hugh McCulloach                            100            Wm. Dunwoodie                                     100
Archibald Strain                               100            John Lesslie                                             150
George Dowdell                               100            George Smith                                          100
Alexander Kennedy                         100            Henry Powell                                          100
John Martin                                      100            Elizabeth Powell                                    100
Samuel  Young                                 100            William Levinston                                 300
Arthur Read                                      100            Jean Levinston                                       100
John T -------------                             250           John Levinston                                        100
Jane Adair                                         100           John Greer                                            150
Hugh Fee                                           450           Joseph Greer                                          100
Sarah Fee                                           100           John Greer, Jun'r                                  100
Andrew Patterson                              250           Andrew Greer                                        100
Jane Greer                                        100           Samuel Frizzle                                        200
Sarah Greer                                      100           Hannah Cosby                                        100
William Adams                                  300           Hugh McConnel                                     100
Gilbert Lemmon                                100            Robert Corrough                                     100
James Orr                                           100           Robert McCrackan                                 400
John Frizzle                                        100           Mary McCrachan                                   100
        The Petitioners were respectively sworn to their family rights & produced Certificates under the hands of Ministers & Church
Wardens of Desenting Ministers & Elders of Congregation in Ireland of their being Protestants & sett forth that they were arrived in this Provice upon the encouragement & bounty allowed by the Act of the General Assembly of this Province pass'd 25th.  July 1761 & therefore humbly prayd an Order to the public Treasurer to pay the said Bounties and It appearing that they severally paid for their respective passages.
       ORDER'D that the Clerk do grant them Certificates to the public Treasurer to pay the said Bounties and that the Secretary do prepare Warrant of Survey to the Surveyor General  to cause the land prayd for to be run out to the petitioners in Boonsborough or               Township.
        [Petitions for Land 1763-1773, page 9-10]




Janice Craft lists Nell Orr of Chambers County stating:
"There was a Joseph Greer and George Greer who were neighbors of Bazil Prather's in Laurens County, SC in the 1770's. A James Greer lived nearby."

There are twelve Greer men listed in the South Carolina Roster of soldiers in the militia during the War for Independence. We are uncertain if any of these are related to our family.

James Greer m. Sarah ? R4277
Resided in York, enlisted in 1780, served for 42 days in 1782 as a sergeant and 37 days as a horseman under Capt. George Neely.
James Greer
Served in the militia during 1778, 1780, and 1782.
John Greer R4290
Served in militia under Col. Anderson 1778 to the end of the war.
Joseph Greer
enlisted in the Third Reg. on 8 Mar 1778. N. A. 853
Joseph Greer R5328
served as a captain under Col. Anderson and Gen Marion.
Josiah Greer R6802
Served as captain in the little River Ge. under Lt. Co. Robert McCrary and Ge. Williamsion in 1770, was on the Florida Expedition. Also served as captain under Col. Hayes and Gen. Pickens and was in the siege of Ninety Six.
Richard Greer S3416
Served in Penn. units. After moving to Laurens co., enlisted under Capt. Yarborough and Gen. Pickens, Anderson and Greene.
Robert Greer
Served in the militia during 1781 and 1782.
Thomas Greer
Served under Capt. Peter Burns and Gen. Sumter.
William Greer
Served in the militia under Capt. James Giles, Col. WilliamHill and Gen. Thomas Sumter.
William Greer
Served as horseman under Capt. Robert Thompson and Gen. Sumter during 1780 and as horseman under Capt. Henderson and Gen. Sumter in 1781. [Moss p 385]

In the following document we have a petition by members of the Little River Regiment to the Gov. of S. C. protesting the arrest of their Commanding Officer, l Colo. James Williams. It is transcribed from a document in the Manuscript collection of the Wm. R. Perkins Library, Duke University. #5767 "James Williams Petition. Several McCreary and Greer family members indicate that they were part of this regiment during the Revolutionary war. The docuement is undated and signed with legible signatures of all included. [document provided by Ann McCrary]

To His Excellency (torn) Esq. , Govenor & Commander in Chief in (torn) of South Carolina the Honourabel the pivy counsels, the honourable the Senate & House of Representatives in General Assembly; Whereas we the zealous friends to our country, and to all who love & distinguish themselves in her cause) do understand & are exceeding sorry to hear that there are false & (?) accusations either lying or about to shortly be laid against James Williams, our present Colo. in and over Little River Regiment of which we are a part representing him as distressing and very injurious to the Regiment, and designed (as we believe) by the private enemies of our country, to deprive us of so worthy a friend to his country. In general a good officer, to us in particular & thereby do a very singular piece of service to the common enemies of America. We do briefly and anziously remonstrate this: That we do experimentally know Col. james Williams to havfe been a zealous Patriot from the commencement of the America contest with Briten; and to have allways stood foremost in every occasion when called upon to defience of his country. W do further declare who voluntarily and judiciously when legally called upon and commanded to the field, have turned out in the defense of their Native rights & privileges together with that of their Country; and we do avow it from our knowledge, that whensoever Colo. James Williams either directly or indirectly executed any distressing things, it was upon the stuboorn and refractory, whose practices of obstinancy declare them inimical to their country: & that Hoyan & fellow citizens. without delaying you, we your humble petitions do earnestly beg that you will hear this our faithful remonstrance & proceed with our respected Colo. James your superior judgements may direct: only begging leave to conclude with this one remark, that doubtless you know that such clamours are frequently the necessary effects of disaffection to the country.

Robt. McCrery Lt. Colo. George Davis Capt. Matthew McCrarey Lieut. George Young Matthew Cunnigham Andrew McCrary James Greer James Dillard John Owens Samuel Exing William Davis Absolom Filby John McCrary Sener John McCrary Juner Robert Long Matthew McCrery William Bean John Williams Wm. Arther Capt

Josiah Geer Joseph Rammage John Robinson John Bourland John Greer Juner Isaac Adair JMS Adair Thos McCrery J: P: James Ones Andrew Ones John Watson Hughes Manford (?) David Watson Isaac Greer James Ralley John Glenn John Jones

Henry Atwood James Adair Sener Joseph Adair Juner Benjamin Adair Joseph Adair Sener James Adair Juner,, son of James William Adair John Finney John Adair John Adair Sener James Craige William Craig James Howerton Ameris Witten Phillip Whitten John Gray John Greer James Montgomery

Thomas Ewing William Blake James Gamble Edward Stapleton John Gamble William Huddleston James Huddleston Alexander Adair Benjamin Willson Benja. Goodman Daniel Williams


1779 Census, Old 96th Dist., S. C. lists residents in the large frontier county of Old 96th with was later divided into Edgefield, Abbeville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Newport, Greenwood, and Union. [records of Paul R. Sarrett, Jr., US Genweb South Carolina.

G660 GREER              John              1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
G660 GREER              Joseph           1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
G660 GREER              Josiah            1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
G616 GRFEER            James            1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
G660 GRIER               David             1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
M266 McCREARY     Alexander      1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
M266 McCREARY     Gilbert           1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed
M266 McCRERY        Robert           1779 Old 96th D SC No Twp. Listed


1783 - Joseph Greer Sr. apparently dies. Papers are filed to establish the administrators of the estate.

Est. admns. Mar. 12, 1783. by Thomas Murphy, Robt. Neel, Isaac Mathews, Benjamin Kilgore bound to John Ewing Calhoun Ord. 96 Dist sum 14,000 lbs. Inv. made May 23, 1783 by Andrew Cunningham, Jno. McClinton, Jno. Hall. [Old Ninty-six & Abbeville Dist. Wills , Box 40, Pack 886 / Young's Abstracts of Old Ninty-six]

1788, Oct- The history of the Duncan Creek church in Laurens County contains some interesting stories that may include some potential relatives. This Joseph Greer would have to be the Joseph Greeer Jr. since senior would have died by this time. According to this author John Duncan, first settled the area, was Scotch-Irish pioneer from Pennsylvania. He erge [Sellers]

Ordained  Oct 1788, by Rev. Joseph Alexander

---

Thomas McCrery,  Joseph Greer,  Samuel Laird, Robert Long
James Craig,  Robert Bell

1790- There are Six Greer heads-of-family in Laurens county but Joseph Greer was the only one who had two males over 16. [Craft]


[U. S. Census , p. 83 Ninety-Six Dist. / Pendleton]
names                          males        slaves
Greer, James                 2 1 4      -    1
Greer, Equilla               2 4 2      -    5
Greer, Solomon            2 -  4      -    1
[p. 84 ]
Greer, John                    2 4 5      -    -
[p. 75 ]
Greer, Robert                 1 1 2      -    -
Greer, James                  1 5 2      ç -    -

1799- Joseph Greer dies and Robert Greer becomes the administrator of the will. This says to me that Robert was probably the older of the children.
June 15, 1799. Recorded March 28, 1803. "Robert Greer of Spartanburg, administrator of the estate of Joseph Greer, deceased, to Joseph Greer for $261.50, 200 acres on Duncan's Creek originally granted to Joseph Greer deceased by Bull August 19, 1774. Bounded by John Greer. Witness: John D. Kern, Samuel McConahey. George Whitmore, JP. [Laurens Co., SC Deed Book G, p. 617.]

Feb. 15, 1803. Recorded March 27, 1803 "Robert Greer of Spartanburg, administrator of the estate of Joseph Greer, deceased, to Joseph Greer for $132, 60 acres originally granted to Joseph Greer deceased in 1790 by Pinckney on ridge between the Enoree River and Duncan Creek. bounded by John Prather and Robert McCrery. Witness: Andrew McCrery, Samuel McConahy. Note: the McCrery's here are certainly the related McCrary family. [Laurens Co., SC Deed Book G, p. 608.] [records of John Harrison on Genforum #3282]

1799 - Joseph Greer bought from Robert Greer 200 acres on Duncan Creek. Robert Greer Adm. of estate of Joseph Greer, Deceased. Located between Enoree and Duncan's Creek. Bounded by lands belonging to John Greer. witnesses: John D. Kern, Samuel McConahey [Laurens Co., Deed Book G, p 617. 15 June 1799 ]

1803 - Robert Greer sells 20 and 200 acres to Joseph Greer on Duncan Creek. This could only be to Joseph Greer Jr. born in 1770, his father died before 1799. This is probably part of the property that was originally own by John Greer "the immigrant". [Laurens Co., Deed Book G, p 608 and p 617]

1820- U. S. Census show the heads of households in Laurens and Spartanburg Co., SC

Greer, Benjamin [Spartanburg 249]    1 0 0 0 1 0    -    0 0 1 0 0
Greer, John        [Laurens 013]           2 1 0 1 1 0    -    4 0 1 1 0
Greer, John        [Laurens 014]           0 0 0 0 1 0    -    2 0 0 1 0
Greer, Joseph     [Laurens 013]           1 2 0 1 0 1    -    2 0 1 1 0
Greer, Joseph     [Spartanburg 239]    2 0 0 1 0 0    -    2 0 0 1 0
Greer, Robert     [Spartanburg 238]     2 3 0 1 0 2    -    0 1 1 0 1


Source:

Craft, Janice. Greer/Davis families personal research , privately published July 10, 2000. Janice Barnett Craft, 1166 Cloverdale Dr, Greenville, Miss 38701-8301, email - jrcraft@tecinfo.com
"James Williams Petition", item #5767, microfilm and transcript copies in the Manuscript Collection, Wm. R. Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham North Carolina.
McCrary, Ann. records provided by 2216 Parkside Ct., Virginia Beach, VA.
Moss, Bobby Gilmer. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, Gen. Pub. Co., Inc., 1983
United States census records
Revill, Janie.  A Compilation of the Original Lists of Protestant Immigrants to South Carolina 1763-1773. Clearfield. orig. pub. 1939, reprint 1981 Gen. Pub. Co., Inc., Baltimore.
Sellers, Hazel Crowson.  Old South Carolina Churches, 1941- Duncan Creek Prebyterian Church web page.     http://genealogytrails.com/scar/laurens/duncan_pres_church.htm
Abstracts of Old Ninty-six & Abbeville Dist. Wills & Records 1964, Georgia Genealogical Reprints, Rev. Silas Lucas. Vidalia, Georgia 30474

Regional History | Ancestoral Chart #17
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