I'm still looking for a solid connection between my Elizabeth Greer and her
parents. What I've got is largely circumstantial, but here goes my evidence
for a connection:
1) Elisha Greer and Hannah Cabiness were married in Oglethorpe Co GA in 1799.
She is the lady referred to in her father George Cabiness' will as Mrs Elisha
Greer. My ggggreat-grandmother Elizabeth was born about 1800.
2) John B. Todd's grandfather owned land near Elisha Greer in 1813 in
Putnam/Jones Co GA (they are listed next to each other on the 1813 tax list).
3) In 1819 John B. Todd married Elizabeth Greer in Jones Co GA.
4) The Todds had come to Georgia from Rowan Co NC along with the Buckner/Avery
family (with whom they intermarried) before 1800. Part of the Cabaniss line
descends from a female Avery in Rowan Co NC in the early 1700s.
5) John Todd's father and grandfather were active in Greene, Wilkes, and
Oglethorpe Co before settling down in Jones Co. The Cabaniss line was very
active in these same places at the same times. The Greers were also active in
Wilkes and Oglethorpe. John and all his siblings were born from 1799 to 1815
in Wilkes county.
6) George Cabaniss (Hannah's father) lived in 1805 literally just a stone's
throw from Devil's Half Acre (The Todd home), in the Cabaniss House just off
Hungerford Road (21 miles north of Macon).
7) John Todd and Elizabeth Greer had five children who survived to adulthood:
Elijah G. Todd, Mary A. Todd, Henry Mitchell Todd, John Mason Todd, and Samuel
J. Todd. Although the names Elisha and Elijah are common in the Greer line, I
think the sons were named for Elizabeth's Cabiness relations rather than her
Greers (Henry is not common to either the Todds or the Greers, but very
important in the Cabaniss family, as is Elijah).
8) Additional proof that Elizabeth must have remained close to her Greer
relations is that in 1850 John and Elizabeth Todd are keeping a 5 year old
named Rebecca Greer (not a granddaughter - their daughter married a Ross).
9) An old family bible belonging to John Todd and Elizabeth Greer Todd's son
and daughter-in-law, Samuel Todd and Biddie Clower Todd, had the following
listed:
Elizah Greer died Jan 5 1838
Elizabeth M. Greer died Mar 9 1833
Ann B. Greer died Jun 4 1831
Though Biddie had over ten siblings the only one with notations of births,
marriages and deaths is the one who also married a Greer: Richard M. Greer
married Mary A. E. Clower Jun 29 1854, he was born Jan 13 1833, and they had a
daughter named Lucy A.E. Greer born Feb 13 1856.
Samuel Todd was working in Monroe Co GA (just a couple miles from home,
actually) when he married into the Clower family. All his siblings married
neighbors or cousins, as well as all his Aunts and Uncles following the same
pattern of marrying in proximity, so I think that the Richard Greer who
married Biddie's sister Mary Clower was probably his mother Elizabeth's
nephew. Samuel and Biddie married six months after Richard and Mary.
Now, the next step -- a Cabaniss researcher toldl me that this Elisha and
Hannah Greer probably removed to Muscogee or Chathoochie Counties (GA). I need
to find a will for this fellow, 'cause if he died before Elizabeth he will
surely have mentioned her.
I believe that Elizabeth Greer Todd was the daughter of Elisha Greer and
Hannah Cabiness Greer, but still need some proof. Does anyone know of a will
or estate record for Elisha or Hannah? Is there a bible listing somewhere of
their children? All of these facts above are just tantalizing hints -- nothing
firm or so leading that would constitute a preponderance of evidence. Help?