SARAH BAIRD

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THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

Sarah (Sally) Baird was born January 7, 1762. She may have been born in New Jersey, but possibly it was Virginia. Her parents were Zebulon Baird and Lydia Hildreth
We do not have the source for her birthday.  I don't like it because we have the marriage date for her parents and it is in 1765.  There may be a family bible that provided the date and it was misread.  If anyone does have documentation please CONTACT US

Connecting her to Zebulon and Lydia Baird is easy.  They were often in the same place, and the known sons of Zebulon and Lydia were always near Sarah after she married. Also, the names of her children include Zebulon and Lydia. 

Fermine Baird Catchinos wrote Baird and Beard Families. A collection of Data. The family she wrote of had settled in Monmouth County NJ. The family had lots of Johns and Zebulons. They were very active in the community and served in the Revolutionary War. We know Sarah’s father, Zebulon migrated south with his family, stopping for time in Virginia, North Carolina, and then to Tennessee.

The NC State Census 1784-1787 places Zebulon Baird in Wilkes County in Captain Thomas Farguson’s District. The Goodspeed History of Tennessee Counties places Zebulon in Wilson County on Stoner Lick Creek in 1799.

Sarah Baird married William Henry Blackburn in 1782 in Stafford County, Virginia. A record of their marriage is found in the Overwharton Parish Register, page 81. William Blackburn served in the Continental Army from 1776 -1779. He headed west in 1781, seeking adventure. At Pittsburgh he volunteered and guarded public stores there for 7 months. It is possible that he met Zebulon Baird during the war.

The family tradition stated that the Blackburns, Bairds, McChesneys and Asherst moved together with their families to North Carolina and then Tennessee and finally Caldwell County Kentucky. Their paths must have crossed and one family may have encouraged another to move on to the next spot. However, a study of the census records shows the families in different spots. In 1790 the Blackburn and Baird families were in Wilkes County NC. The Ashersts and McChesneys were in Surry County NC just to the east of Wilkes. The Ashersts moved to western Kentucky as early as 1797. The Blackburns and Bairds moved to Caldwell county Kentucky nearly 20 years later. They may have known each other. More understanding of the history of those western NC counties may shed light on how neighbors related to one another.

While the Blackburns and Bairds lived in the same county, Wilkes in 1790, by the 1800 Census Zebulon Baird had moved on to Buncombe County, NC. Both families stayed put for 20 + years, but then they come together again as the 1820 Census finds both families in Wilson County Tennessee.

Sarah and William Blackburn had seven known children:
1. John Blackburn born 1787, married Cathy Carver
2. Margaret Blackburn born 1789 married Solomn Ray
3. Zebulon Blackburn born 1793, died 1863 married Lois Asher
4. Lewis Blackburn born 1799 died 1869, married 1^st Rosanna Laughlin, 2^nd Elizabeth Jane Street
5. Lydia Blackburn born 1803, died 1883, married Walter W. Asher
6 Harrison Blackburn born 1805 died 1874 wed 1^st Mrs. Jane E. Asher Wales, 2^nd Mahala Campbell,
3^rd Hester Ann Shirley
7, Washington Blackburn born 1808 married Levina Sullivan

To track just this family, the 1787 Census of Virginia has William Blackburn in Charlotte County, Virginia on Tax list A. All it tells us is that William was over 21 and had no horses or cattle. He also owned no slaves. Charlotte County is south central Virginia.

Three years later William Blackburn is listed in the NC Heads of Families 1790. He is in the Morgan district of Wilkes County along with Zebulon and Andrew Baird. His listed says the family consists of :
1 Male over 16 – (William-Head of Household)
1 Male under 16 –( son John)
3 females – (Sarah – his wife)
(Margaret – daughter)
( possibly another daughter who died as a child)

The 1800 NC Census page 28 shows the family of William Blackburn to still be in Wilkes County:
1 Male over 45 (William- Head of Household)
3 Males 10 & under (John must have been listed in this category for no other option is given)
(Zebulon)
(Lewes)
1 Female over 45 (unknown)
2 Females 26-45 (Sarah- Wife)
(unknown)
3 Females 10-16 (Margaret)
(2 Unknown)
1 Female under 10 (Unknown)

This implies the sad story of a number of children who died. It does fit better with the long gaps between children in the Known list. The bigger question is, who were the 2 unknown women living with the family at this time?

The 1810 NC Census for Wilkes Ct, page 271 has the family listed as –2211- 1-211
1 Male over 45 (William-head of household)
1 Male 26-45 (Unknown)
2 Males 16-26 (John)
(Zebulon)
2 Males 10-16 (Lewes)
(Unknown)
1 Female over 45 (Sarah – wife)
1 Female 26-45 (Unknown)
2 Females 16-26 (Margaret)
(Unknown)
Female under 10 (Lydia)

This does not included numbers for the 2 youngest sons who would have been under 10. Needs more checking.

The 1820 Tennessee Census for Wilson County, page 387 lists the family as 110201 01000
1 Male over 45 (William – head of household)
2 Males 18-26 (Lewes)
(unknown)
1 male 10-16 (Harrison)
1 Male 10 & Under (Washington)
1 Female 10-16 (Lydia)

Their son John had his own family living nearby at that time. Margaret was probably married at that time. The one missing is Sarah. Where is she?

Their son Zebulon Blackburn had moved to Caldwell County Kentucky by 1815. Eventually all their children would move to Caldwell County but John and Washington. Those two stayed in Tennessee

Family history says that Sarah died in Wilson Ct. Tennessee in 1826. It must have been before March because The March Term 1826 of the Wilson County Court, page 273 has the inventory of her estate returned by Lewis Blackburn. It lists 4 head of cattle, 2 beds, 7 hogs, 8 chairs, 5 books 3 hats and misc. Her husband then moved to Caldwell County Kentucky to live with their son, Zebulon Blackburn. It is not known where she is buried.

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Date created: 12/29/2000
Dated Edited 8/23/2014