Lair Family
THE LAIR FAMILY
Newspaper, August 21, 1936
by Mrs. Ethel Bridgefarmer.
(First Installment)
In 1788, Matthias and Catharine Lair came to America from the Rhineland Central Europe, and settled in the state of Virginia. They had eight children as follows: Catharina Lair; John Lair, 1762-1829, married Sara Hunter; John Liar, married Catherina Lair, Joseph Lair, died in infancy; Elizabeth Lair; Matthias Lair, Jr., 1872-1795; Margaret Lair and Andrew Lair, 1750-1828, who was married to Lady Frances Hubbard of Scotch nobility.
In 1776, Andrew and Catherine Lair came with Boone and Logan to Kentucky and settled. Then, in 1896, Matthias and John came over the Buffalo Trace brining their families, slaves and livestock to found their homes on the grown lands. They were met by their brother and sister near the current site of “The Cedars,” the ancestral home of the Lair family, which is situated at Lair, Kentucky, four miles from Cynthiana, in Harrison County.
According to history, in March, 1775, Capt. John Hinkson, who had led a party into Kentucky built a fort near the Buffalo Trace, at a point, where “The Cedars” now stands. The following year the Indians drove the Hinkson party from the fort, and it was unoccupied until 1780 when a party led by Capt. Isaac Ruddle [sic] settled there and rebuilt the structure. The fort was hereafter known as Ruddle’s fort. Also, according to the history within a short time after occupation of the fort. Capt. Ruddle’s group was attacked by a large force of British ad Indians commanded by Capt. Henry Bird from the Royal Garrison in Detroit. After a struggle, in which twenty members of the Ruddle group were killed, the fort was surrendered to the British. Captain Bird also captured Martin’s Fort. The occupants of the two forts, who were not killed – about 470 in number, were taken prisoners and marched to the British Garrison, in Canada, arriving there, in October, 1780. The group was held prisoners until 1794 and finally was released.
As before state, John and Matthias Lair came from Virginia, in 1792. They were met by a party led by Andrew Lair and Jonathan Newman from Logan’s Fort, which was situated in Stanford.
The family of Andrew Lair and wife, the former Lady Frances Hubbard were: Elizabeth Lair, who was the second girl baby born in Logan’s Fort. Her family later moved to Missouri. She lived to be 104 years old.
The other child was William Lair, 1775-1875, making his age 100. He was married to Mary Graham. To this union was born ten children:
1. Thurza Lair, 1804-1805, married to Horatio Wilson. [sic]
2. Almira Lair, 1805-1875, married Simeon Yearky.
3. Thomas Lair, 1805-1885, married Kittie Anderson.
4. Margaret Graham Lair, 1811-1891.
5. Elizabeth Lair, 1812-1850, married Oliver Coffey.
6. Enoch G. Lair, 1815-1908, married Lucy Stapp.
7. Martha Jane Lair, 1820-1899, married Dr. Prather Buster.
8. John Lair, 1816-1860, married Harriet Owens.
9. Emily Lair, 1822-1911, married Edward Tiller.
10. William Dixon Lair, 1814-1887, married Maria Haynes, Narcissus Boryer and Sallie Jane McWhorter.
Elizabeth Lair and Oliver Coffey were the parents of Salathial Coffey, who was the father of Sterling P. Coffey of McKinney.
Martha Jane Lair and Dr. John Prather Buster were the parents of Miss Evelyn Buster. She married W. G. Strother of Anna and to this union was born one child, a daughter, Mrs. T. A. Parris of McKinney.
Newspaper, August 21, 1936
by Mrs. Ethel Bridgefarmer.
(First Installment)
In 1788, Matthias and Catharine Lair came to America from the Rhineland Central Europe, and settled in the state of Virginia. They had eight children as follows: Catharina Lair; John Lair, 1762-1829, married Sara Hunter; John Liar, married Catherina Lair, Joseph Lair, died in infancy; Elizabeth Lair; Matthias Lair, Jr., 1872-1795; Margaret Lair and Andrew Lair, 1750-1828, who was married to Lady Frances Hubbard of Scotch nobility.
In 1776, Andrew and Catherine Lair came with Boone and Logan to Kentucky and settled. Then, in 1896, Matthias and John came over the Buffalo Trace brining their families, slaves and livestock to found their homes on the grown lands. They were met by their brother and sister near the current site of “The Cedars,” the ancestral home of the Lair family, which is situated at Lair, Kentucky, four miles from Cynthiana, in Harrison County.
According to history, in March, 1775, Capt. John Hinkson, who had led a party into Kentucky built a fort near the Buffalo Trace, at a point, where “The Cedars” now stands. The following year the Indians drove the Hinkson party from the fort, and it was unoccupied until 1780 when a party led by Capt. Isaac Ruddle [sic] settled there and rebuilt the structure. The fort was hereafter known as Ruddle’s fort. Also, according to the history within a short time after occupation of the fort. Capt. Ruddle’s group was attacked by a large force of British ad Indians commanded by Capt. Henry Bird from the Royal Garrison in Detroit. After a struggle, in which twenty members of the Ruddle group were killed, the fort was surrendered to the British. Captain Bird also captured Martin’s Fort. The occupants of the two forts, who were not killed – about 470 in number, were taken prisoners and marched to the British Garrison, in Canada, arriving there, in October, 1780. The group was held prisoners until 1794 and finally was released.
As before state, John and Matthias Lair came from Virginia, in 1792. They were met by a party led by Andrew Lair and Jonathan Newman from Logan’s Fort, which was situated in Stanford.
The family of Andrew Lair and wife, the former Lady Frances Hubbard were: Elizabeth Lair, who was the second girl baby born in Logan’s Fort. Her family later moved to Missouri. She lived to be 104 years old.
The other child was William Lair, 1775-1875, making his age 100. He was married to Mary Graham. To this union was born ten children:
1. Thurza Lair, 1804-1805, married to Horatio Wilson. [sic]
2. Almira Lair, 1805-1875, married Simeon Yearky.
3. Thomas Lair, 1805-1885, married Kittie Anderson.
4. Margaret Graham Lair, 1811-1891.
5. Elizabeth Lair, 1812-1850, married Oliver Coffey.
6. Enoch G. Lair, 1815-1908, married Lucy Stapp.
7. Martha Jane Lair, 1820-1899, married Dr. Prather Buster.
8. John Lair, 1816-1860, married Harriet Owens.
9. Emily Lair, 1822-1911, married Edward Tiller.
10. William Dixon Lair, 1814-1887, married Maria Haynes, Narcissus Boryer and Sallie Jane McWhorter.
Elizabeth Lair and Oliver Coffey were the parents of Salathial Coffey, who was the father of Sterling P. Coffey of McKinney.
Martha Jane Lair and Dr. John Prather Buster were the parents of Miss Evelyn Buster. She married W. G. Strother of Anna and to this union was born one child, a daughter, Mrs. T. A. Parris of McKinney.