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William A. Barland
Born 1750? ?NC or Scotland?
Died Jan 30, 1816 Adams Co. MS
SPOUSE CHILDREN
Elizabeth "Eliza" "Iler"

unm.
Natchez Dist.
b. by May 1765
Colonial America
d. ?Mar 22, 1823
?Adams Co. MS
Andrew John

b. Sep 9, 1785
Natchez Dist.
d. Mar 25, 1850
Jefferson Co. MS
Margaret "Peggy" (twin)

b. Feb 20, 1787
Natchez Dist.
d. Oct 12, 1854
Lauderdale Co. MS
Elizabeth "Vechy" (twin)

b. Feb 20, 1787
Natchez Dist.
d. 1839?
James

b. Apr 9, 1789 - May 9, 1790
Natchez Dist.
d. after 1833
?Claiborne Co. MS
William A. (Jr.)

b. 1792
Natchez Dist.
d. after Nov 1, 1817
?Adams Co. MS
Adam

b. 1795
Natchez Dist.
d. 1833?
Nancy Agnes

b. Oct 22, 1796
Natches Dist.
d. Nov 21, 1877
Dallas TX
David

b. Jan 2, 1799
Adams Co. MS
d. after Jan 17, 1845
?Natchez MS
George

b. 1801
Adams Co. MS

Alexander

b. 1804
Adams Co. MS
d. 1833?
Susannah

b. 1807
Adams Co. MS
d. 1879?
John

b. 1810
?Adams Co. MS

A "Wm. Barler" was a private in the NC 1st Regiment commanded by Capt. Tilghman Dixon, when it was formed in 1777. This regiment was camped near Halifax NC on Aug 15, 1777. It fought at Brandywine PA on Sep 11, and at the Battle of Germantown outside of Philadelpia PA on Oct 4. Barler was imprisoned, possibly near White Plains on the Hudson River NY, Apr 14, 1779 and was mustered out in Nov 1779 [docsouth.unc.edu, website, vol 16, p. 1009].
A "Jno. Ethridge" was a private in the NC 1st Regiment commanded by Capt. Tilghman Dixon, when it was formed in 1777. Unlike Wm. Barler, John served a total of seven years according to a pension application dated Oct 20, 1818. He received a military warrant for 640 acres as a result in TNTN, as did another Ethridge (Corp. Daniel) who enlisted the same year, deserted in Oct 1777, rejoined Dec 1, 1777, and died Jan 19, 1778. There is a private "Thomas Aldridge" who enlisted in Michael Quinn's company on Jul 20, 1778 for 9 months service which would have ended Apr 20, 1779 [docsouth.unc.edu, website, vol 16, pp. 1009, 1049, 1052].
Capt. Tilghman, became Captain of the 1st NC Regiment on Feb 15, 1777. After several NC regiments suffered losses, the 1st Regiment was consolidated into the 2nd Regiment. He was taken prisoner in the fall of Charleston, exchanged on Jun 14, 1781 and retired on Jan 1, 1783. In 1782, Capt. Tilghman Dixon was one of three NC Continental officers elected to accompany a party, commissioned by the NC Assembly, to survey "bounty lands for it's soldiers along the Cumberland River". If William Barland and Thomas Ethridge were members of that party under their former company commander surveying lands west along the Cumberland River after William Barland was imprisoned, it would explain why William Barland and Thomas Ethridge were both in the area of the Cumberland Settlement by early 1782 when they both left there on the flatboat voyage to Natchez.
Map of the Cumberland Settlement in 1780.
In May 1782, William Barland arrived at Natchez without family or slaves under the name "Guillermo Barland" [Natchez Court Records]. A total of 13 families were recorded by Spanish authorities as arriving, and the record was signed by Commandant Carlos de Grandpré on Jul 6, 1782.
On Mar 8, 1783 Cato West, one of many who came with William to Natchez in May 1782, sold to William, a lot in the town of Natchez, "being 39 ft in front by 102 ft in depth, bounded on one side by Thos. Green and on the other side by the street, on which is erected a dwelling house of squared timber, about 20 ft square; for $100" [McBee, Book A, p. 18].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
On Jan 18, 1787 a Census of the Natchez District was reported to the commandant, Charles de Grand-Pré:
There were 1,926 Individuals; 25 male births, 20 female births, 4 male deaths, 3 female deaths, and 356 were able to carry arms.
In Saint Catherine [St. Catherine's Creek section] 10 individuals were counted in the family of "Mark Oiler":
3 white males in age group 1 [Mark Iler, Jonas Iler, William Barland];
1 white male in age group 2 [Andrew Barland];
2 white females in age group 1 [Elizabeth, aged 21, and Anne Marie, wife of Jonas];
1 white female in age group 2 [?dtr of Jonas' wife nee Miller];
2 male mulatoes in age group 1 [slaves but children of William and Eliz.];
1 female mulatoe in age group 1 [slave but child of William and Eliz.];
and 12 cattle; 3 horses, 30 hogs [Baker, wiki website].
On Mar 19, 1789, "Having received notice from Jonas Hailer of the death of his father, Marcus Hailer, commandant [Grand-Pré] and others repaired to his plantation, 1 mile from Fort, to take an inventory of the deceased Marcus Hailer who died interstate [without a will], whereupon Jonas Hailer was interrogated and he made the declaration that his father had no children but the deponent and that he left no wife" [McBee, Book B, pp. 247-8].
Historians of the Hope Farm off of Homochitto Street in Natchez believe the back part was built by Mark Iler about the time he arrived there in 1774-5 "while the city was under British rule; the front wing was added by Carlos de Grand-Pré" [Historic Houses of America, American Heritage Books, 1971], after he purchased it from Jonas on Mar 21, 1789 for $100 a "parcel of land ... my father Marcus Hailer, purchased" [McBee, Book B, pp. 247, 581].
The Will and Testament of William Barland, Adams Co., MS, written Jun 19, 1806, proven in Apr 1816. In it he states that on Apr 7, 1789 he "did purchase my friend and companion Elizabeth Barland and her four children of Jonas Eiler, then of the City of Natchez, of whom the said Jonas Eiler then put me in possession, and furnished me with a legal Bill of Sale..." [Historic Natchez Foundation, Miss. St. Univ., website].
On May 17, 1790, "Jonas Eiler" son of Marcus Iler sold to William "a mulatto woman 'Elizabeth', aged 25, nat. of America, with her four children, for $700 specie, paid" [McBee, p. 78].
On Jul 2, 1791, William was the highest bidder at $210 for a "negro boy, Sterling" who was appraised at $300 by Joseph Ford and Joseph Harrison, both appointed by Gayoso de Lemos to be the appraisers in the estate sale of the deceased Alexander Turnbull. William immediately sold him to the executor of the estate, John Scott, for the same price [McBee, Book B, p. 84].
According to a translation of the 1792 Spanish Census for the Natchez District, there is no Barland household, but there is an "Oiler, the Gentleman" household with 8 White members, and one black, living on 800 arpents of land. This would have to be William, Elizabeth, their five children, and Jonas Iler, the heir of the estate. The translator may have confused "Gentleman" for the Spanish word for widow [Adams Co. Gen. Hist. Network].
On Apr 15, 1794 William sold to Christopher Miller, son of William Miller and Anne Marie Miller, who was now the wife of Jonas Iler, Lot no. 2, Sq. no. 21 in the "new town of this Post [Natchez] ... part of the ground granted to [William] by Miro, said lot 150 feet square, for $30" and Miller sold it on Apr 22, 1803 [McBee, p. 412, Book C, p. 101].
In the Will and Testament of William Barland, Adams Co., MS, written Jun 19, 1806, proven in Apr, 1816, he states that "on or about" Dec 27, 1792 his house was burned, losing the 1789 bill of sale and manuscription from Jonas Eiler in the fire. On Jun 6, 1797 he "did confirm the freedom or manuscription" [Historic Natchez Foundation, Miss. St. Univ., website].
William was given as a witness in the petition of a slave of Jacob Leaphart, named "Molly". Before Jacob died in 1793, he told William that he intended to give her her freedom, at her "advanced age, being near 70 years old". William declared to the court that "a day or two before the death", Jacob sent for him to tell him the above. [McBee, Book E, p. 169-70].
On Dec 2, 1796, a William Kirkwood was ordered "to pay the amount of his notes to John Smith, Esq. and William Barland" [McBee, Book F, p. 289].
On Mar 22, 1798, William Barland, taylor "of St. Catherine's Dist.", sold Lot No. 1, Square No. 21 in the city of Natchez to a Lewis Davis of Mason Co. KY [McBee, Book C, p. 412].
Will and Testament of William Barland, Adams Co., MS, written Jun 19, 1806, proven in Apr, 1816 [Historic Natchez Foundation, Miss. St. Univ., website].
William's children owned several plantations in what became Jefferson Co. (in 1796) and Claiborne Co. (in 1802), both created from Adams Co., Mississippi Territory. Present day maps of Jefferson Co. and Claiborne Co. show the location of the town of Barland south of Bayou Pierre in Claiborne Co.
On Sep 5, 1805, a signed agreement between "Abraham Iler" and the sons of "Mark Iler" was submitted to the Adams Co. Court. A transcription of the agreement which was signed by Abraham Iler, "Jacob Eiler", and "Job Routh". The "believed" death of Jonas Iler is mentioned. The Ilers' eldest stepbrother, Christopher Miller, also signed the aggreement on the same day "to lend myself as surety that the above named Jacob Iler shall comply" [Adams Co. Chancery Court file, "Estate of Mark Iler (or Eiler) deceased", box no. 49, item 4].
Daughter Margaret married William Henderson Mar 24, 1808 in Adams Co.
Daughter Elizabeth married Asa Germain Jan 17, 1809 in Adams Co.
In the 1816 Adams Co. MS Census, page 19 (line 22), there was a household headed by "William Barland" with:
2 males over 20 [sons William A. Jr., and James or Adam],
no males under 20,
no females over 20,
1 female under 20 [daughter?],
and 2 slaves.
Next to him, on line 21, was the household of his mother "Eliza Barland" with:
4 males under 20 [sons Andrew & James Barland, and William & Abram Iler, sons of deceased Jonas Iler]
1 female over 20 [Elizabeth Iler],
2 females under 20 [daughters Nancy, Susannah],
and 15 slaves.
Son William Jr. wrote in his will dated Nov 1, 1817 as being "William Barland of the County of Adams State of Mississippi" [Lantern Project, Historic Natchez Foundation, website].
Son James Barland was listed in the 1823 Tax Roll of Claiborne Co., on page 3, line 48, with 1 poll owning 213 acres and 2 slaves in "South Fork Bayou Pierre" [Kohler, 1823 Claiborne Co. Tax Roll].
About 1824 son Andrew petitioned the Mississippi State House of Representatives to remove his restrictions of race and stated that he was the "offspring of a white man by a mulatto woman" born in "Adams County" and "now about thirty-nine years of age" - received a "decent education" and had married a white woman, owned slaves, served on a jury, testified in court, and voted [msgw.com, Jefferson Co. History].
Son David became wealthy, planting on 300 acres south of Natchez, owning 16 slaves, 75 head of cattle, and $12,000 worth of furniture [Jan 17, 2021 post on Facebook, Natchez National Historical Park].
Sources:
Adams Co. Chancery Court file, "Estate of Mark Iler (or Eiler) deceased", box no. 49, item 4.
Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census.
Baker, Anne, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Eiler-186, last updated Mar 23, 2024.
"George W. Humphreys Bible", Claiborne MS Bibles, photostat of original bible, recorded 1957 by May Wilson McBee, in Mississippi Genealogy Trails, website.
Clayton, Prof. W.W., History of Davidson County Tennessee, reprod. 1971 by Charles Elder, Nashville TN.
Claiborne Co. MS, Genealogy Trails, 1823 Tax Rolls, website, transcribed by Lee Kohler, updated May 9, 2018.
Cumberland Compact, original document signed May 13, 1780, Washington County NC, website.
Drake, Doug, Jack Masters and Bill Puryear, Founding of the Cumberland Settlements, The First Atlas, 1779-1804, Warioto Press, 2009, pp. 23, map E7.
MS Dept. Archives & Hist., Will Book Vol. 1, Adams Co. Courthouse, Natchez MS, microfilm, Apr 1816.
Historic Natchez Foundation, "William Barland Sr. and William Barland Jr. Probate File", Box 2, Adams County Probate Records, Miss. St. Univ. website].
Imbert, J. Leopold, map maker, Carte des Possessions Angloises... 1777, reprinted by the Museum of the American Revolution from map image at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.
McBee, May Wilson, comp., "Land Claims", in Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Book F, p.21.
McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, numerous ref.
MS Dept. of Archives & History (MDAH), Jackson MS, rootsweb, Americans Arriving in Spanish-Held Natchez 1780-1790.
MDAH, Adams Co. MS 1816 Census, Territorial Census 1801-1816 website, microfilm.
MSGenWeb, Natchez District 1792 Census Index, comp. by Ellen Pack, website, transcribed and translated from Spanish.
North Carolina Land Grants, vol. 2, at Morganton NC Library, p. 6, #1476, transcribed by Lisabeth M. Holloway Oct 9, 1987.
Potter, Dorothy Williams, Passports of Southeastern Pioneers 1770-1823, Gateway Press, Baltimore MD, 1982, p. 342.
Tuller, Roberta, "1777 Petition of Holston Men", in An American Family History, website, Amazon Services, 2020.
Univ. of NC, Colonial and State Records of North Carolina, "Roster of the Troops in the Continental Army", vol. 16, on website, 1st Regiment, pp. 1006, 1009, 1049, 1052.
Wells, Carol, Natchez Postscripts 1781-1798, Heritage Books, pp. 101, 144-5, 151,
White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, 1982.
Veach, Damon, "Louisiana Ancestors", article in Sunday Advocate Magazine, Baton Rouge LA, Feb 21, 1982.