HAYS

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 1 December 2005

 

 

HAYS

 

 

Reverend William Hercules Hays

 

The Reverend William Hercules Hays was born circa 1750 in Edinburgh Scotland.  After migrating to America, he met and married Mary Slack.  In 1779 he moved his family to Kentucky, settling at Harrod’s Station, near Harrodsburg.  Around 1785 the family moved to Washington Co KY.  He and David Burcham, the father of Eleanor Burcham (see below, she married William Hays, Jr) moved to Hardin Co KY in the early 1800s.  He died circa 1821/1822 in Hardin Co KY and is buried in the Mill Creek Cemetery, Hardin Co KY.  He was a Methodist Episcopal minister, a circuit-riding preacher and a pioneer farmer.  Reverend Hays was the founder of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church (approximately 4 miles from both Mooresville and Chaplin KY)…where many ancestors of ours are buried.

 

Mary Slack is the daughter of Randolph and Sarah (Penn) Slack.  No information has been uncovered on her ancestry or her vital statistics.

 

The children of William and Mary were:

 

1.       William, born 18 Mar 1778 VA, married Eleanor Burcham 21 Nov 1797 Washington Co KY, died circa 1866 Washington Co KY, buried Mt. Zion Cemetery, Washington Co KY.

2.       William Hercules, born 8 Jan 1786, married Elizabeth Lusk 6 Mar 1809, died 4 Mar 1855, buried Mill Creek Cemetery, Hardin Co KY.

3.       Elizabeth, born 6 Dec 1789.

4.       James, born ????, married Letitia Brian 4 Feb 1805.

5.       Randall P., born 1794, died 1883, buried Salt River, Hardin Co KY.

6.       John Porter, born 1 Jan 1798, married Evaline _________, died 16 Jan 1868, buried Hays Cemetery, Hardin Co KY.

7.       Sallie, married DeCord Calvin, buried Hays Cemetery, Hardin Co KY.

8.       Susan, married Jesse Woldridge, died Missouri.

9.       Mary, married Henry Burcham (a brother of Eleanor who married William above).

10.   A daughter, married Stephen McMurtory.

 

 

William Hays

 

William was born in VA (another source says Maryland) in 18 Mar 1778 and was brought to Kentucky when he was 18 months old.  When he was seven, William’s family moved to Washington Co KY.  William married Eleanor Burcham on 21 Nov 1797 in Washington Co KY.  They settled and built a log home on land granted to William’s father, the Reverend William Hercules Hays.  William Jr died circa 12 May 1866 in Washington Co KY and is buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Washington Co KY. 

 

Eleanor Burcham was the daughter of Rebecca VanVactor and David Burcham Sr, a Revolutionary War soldier.  David Burcham and William Hays, Sr. moved to Hardin Co KY where they both died.  Rebecca was born 16 Mar 1779/1781 in PA and died 20 Mar 1863 in Washington Co KY.  She is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Washington Co KY.

 

William and Eleanor’s marriage bond (recorded in Book #1, page 17) was signed by William Hays, Sr and John Litching, and consented by David B. Burcham.

 

A “Wm H. Hays” served in the House of Representatives of the Kentucky Legislature as a Representative from Washington County for the term 1861-1863 – although records indicate that he resigned in December 1861 and was succeeded by Richard J. Browne for the remainder of the term (1862-1863).  As both William Hayes (above) and William’s son William (born 1805) were both alive in 1861, I am uncertain as to which of the two the “Wm. H. Hays” mentioned is.

 

Eleanor’s father David Burcham was born in May 1754 in PA, married Rebecca VanVactor between 1770/1780 in PA, and died after 1842 in Hardin Co KY. Eleanor’s mother Rebecca VanVactor, who was born circa 1756 and died circa 1835 Hardin Co KY, was the daughter of Benjamin VanVactor.  David and Eleanor had several children (not all have been confirmed): (1) Eleanor, (2) Henry B. (married Mary Hays, the sister of William Hays), (3) Rebecca (married John A Anderson), (4) David, (5) Benjamin (married Judith), (6) Mary (married William Dowdell), (7) Cassandra (married David Carr), (8) Sarah (married John Cowley) and (9) Margaret (married Josiah Berry).

 

William witnessed and was one of the signatories of his granddaughter Elizabeth Lewis’ marriage bond in 1854.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Mary and Berry Lewis.  As Elizabeth’s father Berry had died in 1836 when she was only 4 years old, William was asked to witness and post bond on her marriage.  He signed the certificate “W.H”. Hays”.

 

The children of William and Eleanor (Burcham) Hays were:

 

1.       Mary, born 22 Sep 1798 Washington Co KY, married Berry Lewis 8 Mar 1821 Washington Co KY, died 8 Dec 1885 Washington Co KY, buried Hillsboro Cemetery, Washington Co KY.  For more information on this union and their descendants, please see the Lewis chapter.

2.       Rebecca Vanvactor, born 24 Sep 1800, married William G. Short, died 11 Jul 1889, buried Hillsboro Cemetery, Washington Co KY.

3.       Nancy, born 25 Mar 1803 KY, married Dennis Ray 17 Oct 1821 Washington Co KY, died 12 Jan 1884 Hickman Co KY, buried Clinton Cemetery, Clinton KY.  Dennis Ray was born 25 Aug 1798 Marion Co KY, and died 18 Aug 1874 Hickman Co KY.

4.       Hercules, born 12 Oct 1805, married Anna Isabel Ray, died 1868.  Anna born 1814, died 1892.

5.       Sally, born 16 Feb 1808, married Joseph Shaunty, buried “Croakes Place”.  Another source indicates she was born April 1807 and died 11 Dec 1874.   They had 10 children.

6.       John J., born 13 Nov 1810/11 Washington Co KY, married Susan U. Stone, died 26 Dec 1862, buried Edison Hays Farm.  Susan was born 25 Nov 1811, died 17 Feb 1870 and was the daughter of  Billy and Susan Urath Hobbs Stone.  John J. weighed over 400 pounds and had to have his buggy pushed up the hill to his home by his slaves.  He could also eat three dozen scrambled eggs at one sitting.  He owned 700 acres of land in the Mt. Zion (Washington Co KY) area.  John J’s daughter Amelia (1838-1907) married Jetson Moore’s son Thomas Parker Moore.

7.       Dr. Alfred B., born 18 Jan 1813 in Washington Co KY, married Annabelle/Annabella ____?___, died 8 Oct 1854 in Plaquemine Parish LA of yellow fever, buried Mt. Zion Cemetery, Washington Co KY.  According to the 1850 Hickman Co KY census, Alfred was born in Washington Co KY and Ann, age 22, was born in Nelson Co KY.  They had 3 children: William Thomas Lumley (or Lundy) (born 1850), George, and ___?___.  The family was apparently baptized in the Episcopal Church in Plaquemine Parish, LA in 1854.

8.       Teneriffe, born 25 Dec 1815, died in infancy.

9.       Dr. Cyrus Wayne, born 17 Feb 1818 KY, died 31 Jul 1891 “at 11:30am”, buried Mt. Zion Methodist Cemetery, Washington Co KY.  Unmarried.

10.   William Hercules, born 26 Aug 1820, buried in Springfield KY.  Unmarried.

11.   David Randall, born 15 Jan 1823, married Mary McMakin 12 Jun 1849 Nelson Co KY, died 31 Jul 1891, buried Pleasant Grove Cemetery.  David was elected Judge of the Washington Co Court in 1870 – a position he held for four years.  He was later elected President of the 1^st Nat’l Bank of Springfield in 1880.  An extensive biographical sketch appears on Judge D. R. Hays on page 883 of the History of Kentucky, Illustrated, Edition 4, F.A. Battey and Co, Louisville, KY and Chicago, IL, 1887.

12.   Eleanor J., born 1 Jul 1825, died in infancy.

13.   James Benjamin, born 6 Sep 1827 KY, married Sidney Anna Neal, died circa 1913, buried Mt. Zion Methodist Cemetery, Washington Co KY.

 

 

 

Federal Census Records

 

 

1810 Federal Census, Hardin Co, KY  (Page 303)

(Rev) William (Hercules) Hays

Males                           2 between 10 and 16

                                    1 45 and older (Rev. William H. Hayes, born 1750)

Females                        2 under 10

                                    1 between 26 and 45

                                    1 45 and older (Mary)

 

1810 Federal Census, Washington Co, KY  (Page 310)

William Hays (son of Rev. Wm H. Hays)

Males                           1 under 10 (Hercules)

                                    1 between 26 and 45 (William, born 1778)

Females                        3 under 10 (Rebecca, Nancy and Sally)

                                    1 between 10 and 16 (Mary, born 1798)

                                    1 between 26 and 45 (Eleanor Burcham, b 1781)

 

1820 Federal Census, Hardin Co, KY  (Page 30)

(Rev) William Hays (Sr)

Males                           2 between 18 and 26

                                    1 45 and older (probably Rev. Wm Hays Sr)

Females                        1 between 10 and 16

                                    1 between 16 and 26

                       

1820 Federal Census, Washington Co, KY  (Pages 47A)

William Hays (son of Rev. William H. Hays)

Males                           1 under 10

                        1 between 10 and 16

                        1 between 18 and 26

                                    1 45 and older (probably William Hays)

Females                        1 under 10

1 between 10 and 16

                        1 between 26 and 45

                                    1 45 and older (probably Eleanor Burcham Hays)

 

1820 Federal Census, Hardin Co, KY  (Page 56)

David Burcham (Eleanor Burcham Hays’ father)

Males                           1 between 18 and 26

                                    1 between 26 and 45

                                    1 45 and older (probably David Burcham)

Females                        1 between 10 and 16

                                    2 between 16 and 26

           

1830 Federal Census, Washington, Co, KY  (Page 121 -- 10 houses away from John R. Moore)

William Hays (grandfather of Elizabeth Lewis, who married Milton, son of John Moore)

Males                           1 under 5

                                    2 between 5 and 10

                                    1 between 10 and 15

                                    2 between 15 and 20

                                    1 between 20 and 30           

                                    1 between 50 and 60 (William)

Females                        1 between 20 and 30

                                    1 between 30 and 40 (Eleanor Burcham, his wife)                        

Male Slaves                   2 under 10

                                    1 between 10 and 24

                                    1 between 24 and 36

Female Slaves               3 under 10

                                    2 between 10 and 24

                                    1 between 24 and 36

                        20 Total

 

1840 Federal Census, Washington Co, KY  (Page 100 (next door to John R. Moore)

Wm Hays (grandfather of Elizabeth Lewis, who married Milton Moore, son of John Moore)

Males                           1 between 10 and 15

                                    2 between 15 and 20

                                    1 between 20 and 30

                                    1 between 60 and 70 (William)

Females                        1 between 60 and 70 (Eleanor Burcham, his wife)

Total Employed              6 in Agriculture                              

Slaves-Males                 10 under 10

                                    2 between 10 and 24

                                             4 between 24 and 36

                                             1 between 36 and 55

Slaves-Female               2 under 10

                                    6 between 10 and 24

                                    2 between 24 and 36

                                    1 between 36 and 55

                                    Total 34

 

1850 Federal Census, Washington Co, KY  (Household 869)

 

1850 Federal Census, Hardin Co, KY  (Page 378)

Rebecca Burcham (mother of Eleanor Burcham Hays, wife of William Hays)

 

1860 Federal Census, District No. 2,Willisburg PO, Washington Co, KY  (Household 397)

 

 

HAYS SOURCES

 

·         Genealogical and historical research I conducted.

·         Robert P. Moore, 176 Valley Rd, Lexington KY  40503 (1991-1994).

·         Washington County Kentucky History Book, published by the Washington County History Book Committee, 1991, Turner Publishing Company, Paducah KY.

·         Kentucky Genealogy and Biographical Sketches [G929.1769.K4193 v. 5, Denver Public Library, Denver CO].