James Dyer was born about 1808 in Ireland. Family story is that he was from County Cork, Ireland. He was the son of Unknown Parents. His father was possibly named William Dyer.
Mary Ann Bolton was born about 1809 in Ireland. She was the daughter of John Bolton & Mary.

THE FAMILY OF JAMES & MARY ANN DYER

James & Mary Ann Dyer

James Dyer married Mary Ann Bolton before 1832, probably in Ireland. There are immigration records for a James Dyer, age 29, and Mary Dyer, age 26, both born Ireland, who arrived in Passamaquoddy, Maine in 1832 that is probably this couple. James & Mary Ann had at least 9 children. From the birthplaces of their children, James & Mary Ann were living in Canada from 1836 to 1846, and they moved from Canada to Illinois by 1848. Their son Samuel lists his birth place on one census as Canada West, which was Ontario. In Illinois, James & Mary Ann Dyer settled in Randolph County, in an area known as "The Irish Settlement". They possibly joined Mary Ann's sisters Margaret and Elizabeth who were married and living there. James 7 Mary Ann are listed with their family is listed on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. James Dyer died about October 1851. There is a probate document for James Dyer dated October 21, 1851 that states: "I Mary Ann Dyer, widow of James Dyer deceased, do hereby relinquish my right to administer on the estate of my deceased husband, provided that James Thompson be appointed administrator." On Sept. 22, 1853, Mary Ann remarried a widower named William E. McCord in Monroe Co., IL. (His first wife Mary Ann McDonald died April 17, 1853. With his first wife he had 8 children, born between 1825 and 1843.) William & Mary Ann are listed on the 1860 & 1870 censuses of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. William McCord died in 1872, and his probate was still going through the court system in the spring of 1874. Most of William McCord's children had moved to Texas by then - one of his son's, Samuel, had fled from Illinois in September 1853 after killling his father-in-law in an argument. Probate documents indicate that Mary Ann bought 33 acres of William's land at an estate sale on June 27, 1874. A McCord family story indicates that both William & Mary Ann died in "the mid 1870's", and I do not find her on the 1880 census at this time. Mary Ann (Bolton?) Dyer McCord died about 1875, probably in Randolph Co., Illinois. An estate document for William McCord dated May 1876 states that Mary A. McCord, widow of William McCord "is now also deceased". Her son Bolton, who was the administer of William McCord's estate, moved to Lawrence Co., Missouri about 1880 based on birth places of his children. He joined his brother Samuel Dyer, who had moved there with his family in 1875. Notes for James Dyer Notes for Mary Ann Dyer Records for James & Mary Ann Dyer

The children of James & Mary Ann Dyer:

	William J. Dyer	William J. Dyer was born about 1836 in Ireland or Canada. His parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848 when he was about age 12. He is age 14 on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL with his parents. His father died in 1851 when he was about age 15 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he was about age 17. There is a William Dyer who is age 24, born Ireland, on the 1860 census of St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO who may be this William. He is single and listed as one of several boarders in the household of Jas. Delancey, who was also born in Ireland. I have not found William on any other census records. I do not know when or where William J. Dyer died.
	James Dyer Jr	James Dyer Jr was born in about 1837 Canada. His parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848 when he was about age 11. He is listed as age 13 on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL with his parents. James' father died in 1851 when he was about age 14 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he was about age16. He is listed as age 24 on the 1860 census of Twp. 5, South 6 W, Randolph Co., IL in the household of John Beattie Bratney. On June 25, 1861, James and his brother Samuel both enlisted in Company H., 22nd Illinois Infantry of the Union Army. James Dyer was killed in the Civil War on May 9, 1862 in Farmington, Mississippi. There is a James Dyer who was born October 31, 1837 and died October 21, 1900, with wife Eliza A., who is buried in the Preston Cemetery, Randolph Co., IL, but it is not this James and I have not been able to determine who it is. Notes for James Dyer Jr
	Mary Jane Dyer	Mary Jane Dyer was born about 1839 in Canada. Her parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848 when she was about age 9. She is listed at age 11 with her parents on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. Her father died in 1851 when she was about age 12 and his mother remarried in 1853 when she was about age 14. Mary Jane married James W. Anderson on April 16, 1857 in Randolph Co., IL. I have not found any record of children from this marriage. James & Mary Jane are on the 1860 census of Twp. 5 South Range 6 W Randolph Co., IL, living with two of her younger brothers and 3 other men. Mary Jane Dyer Anderson died between 1860-1866, probably in Randolph Co., Illinois. James Anderson was married second to Mary A. Malone on April 16, 1866 in Randolph Co., IL, and they had 6 children. The family is listed on the 1870 census of Raccoon, Marion, IL, on the 1880 census of Rome, Jefferson, IL, and on the 1900 census of Haines, Marion, IL. Jamaes died between 1900-1910, and Mary Malone Anderson is listed as widowed on the 1910 census of Haines, Marion, IL. Notes for Mary Jane Dyer Anderson
	Samuel Dyer	Samuel Dyer was born July 3, 1841 in Canada West (Ontario). His parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848 when he was about age 7. He is listed at age 9 with his parents on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. Samuel's father died in 1851 when he was about age 10 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he was about age12. Samuel is listed at age 19 on the 1860 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL as a farm laborer in the household of Newton Bratney. In 1861, Samuel enlisted as a private in the Union Army. He was honorably discharged when he was accidentally shot in the leg in 1862 by someone in another regiment while he was guarding supplies at Shilo, TN. Samuel married Sarah Jane Mann Oct 29, 1863 in Randolph Co., IL, and they had 5 children there. They emigrated to Lawrence Co., MO in 1875, and had 3 more children. Samuel's leg injury made his leg weak for the rest of his life. He accidentally cut his foot with an axe while chopping wood in 1886, and he died two weeks later from the infection. Samuel Dyer died on April 10, 1886 in Mt. Vernon, Lawrence Co., MO. His widow Sarah Jane later remarried Wilford H. Canady and Frank Wilson. Samuel & Sarah Jane Mann Dyer are buried together at the Ozark Prairie Brick Church Cemetery in Lawrence Co., MO. The family of Samuel Dyer & Sarah Jane Mann Notes for Samuel Dyer
	Joseph Dyer	Joseph Dyer was born on July 23, 1843 in Canada. His parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848. He is listed at age 7 with his parents on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. Joseph's father died in 1851 when he was about age 8 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he was about age 10. Joseph is listed at age 17 on the 1860 census of Town 5S Range 6W, Randolph Co., IL, living with his sister Mary Jane and her husband James W. Anderson. Joseph Dyer died on April 19, 1864 in Randolph Co., IL. He is buried in Walsh Cemetery, Preston, Randolph Co., IL - birth & death dates are from his tombstone. Notes for Joseph Dyer
	Archibald Dyer	Archibald Dyer was born about 1846 in Canada. His parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL about 1848 when he was about age 2. He is on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL with his parents. Archibald's father died in 1851 when he would have been about age 5 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he would have been about age 7. He is not listed on the 1860 census with his mother and her second husband. I do not know when or where Archibald Dyer died, but assume it may have been between 1850-1860 in Randolph Co., IL.
	David Dyer	David Dyer was born about 1848 in Illinois, probably shortly after his parents emigrated from Canada to Randolph Co., IL. He is listed as age 3 on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL with his parents. David's father died in 1851 when he was about age 3 and his mother remarried in 1853 when he was about age 5. David is listed at age 11 on the 1860 census of Twp. 5 South Range 6 W Randolph Co., IL living with his sister Mary Jane and her husband James Anderson. He is listed as David McCord, age 26, with his mother and stepfather on the 1870 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL. David married Martha Bratney on Sept 10, 1874 in Randolph Co., IL, and they are on the 1880 census of Town 4 Range 3 Beaucoup Pct, Perry Co., IL with 3 sons. Martha was the daughter of Joseph Bratney & his second wife Margaret Bolton - Margaret was probably Mary Ann's sister, so David and Martha were probably first cousins. Joseph Bratney was married first to Eleanor Beattie, and their son Robert Newton "Newt" Bratney owned the farm where David's brother Samuel Dyer was working as a farm laborer in 1860. Samuel Dyer later married Sarah Jane Mann - one of her stepmothers was Henrietta Bratney, another of Martha's half-siblings. David & Martha Dyer are listed on the 1900 & 1910 censuses of Pinckneyville, Perry Co., IL. In 1900 Martha is listed as having 9 births with 3 surviving children, and in 1910 she is listed as having 9 births with 2 surviving children. David's occupation was Day Laborer in 1900 and House Carpenter in 1910. David Dyer died on August 28, 1910 in Pinckneyville, Perry Co., IL. Martha is listed as widowed on the 1920 census of Pinckneyville, Perry Co., IL. Martha died on March 24, 1922 in Perry Co., IL. Notes for David Dyer
	Martha E. Dyer	Martha E. Dyer was born about March 1850 in Randolph Co., Illinois. She is on the 1850 census of Town 5S Range 7W, Randolph Co., IL with her parents at age 8 months. Martha's father died in 1851 when she would have been about age 1 and her mother remarried in 1853 when she would have been about age 3. She is not listed with her mother and stepfather on the 1860 census. I don't know when Martha Dyer died but it was probably before 1860 in Randolph Co., IL.
	Bolton B. Dyer	Bolton Biggert Dyer was born about 1852 in Randolph Co., Illinois. His father died in 1851, probably before Bolton was born. His mother remarried in 1853 when Bolton was about age 2. He is listed at age 8 on the 1860 census living with his mother and stepfather, and on the 1870 census of Randolph Co., IL living in the household of Robert Thompson, both in Twp. 5 South Range 7 west Randolph Co., IL. Bolton's stepfather, William McCord, died in 1872, and Bolton was listed as being the administer of the estate in probate papers that were being processed in the spring of 1874. Bolton married Elizabeth Senn on March 25, 1875 in Randolph Co., IL, and they had 9 children. Based on birthplaces of their children, the family moved from Illinois to Lawrence Co., MO about 1880. They are listed on the 1880 census of Mt. Vernon, Randolph Co., IL. Bolton Biggert Dyer died in August 1894 in Lawrence Co., MO of inflammation of the liver. He was 42 years old when he died. He is buried in the Old Mt. Vernon City Cemetery. The Family of Bolton Biggert Dyer & Elizabeth Senn Notes for Bolton Biggert Dyer