"Collyer" in Franklin Cty, Indiana
Can anyone give background for various "Collier, Collyer or Colyer" families which are recorded in Franklin County, Indiana from 1830 on?
On Feb. 28, 1830 Thomas Collyer of Butler County, Ohio was granted 80 acres of land in or near the township of Blooming Grove, Franklin County.It is described as "E 1/2 - NW 1/4 of Section 17" Township 12N, Range 13E." Lt. Thomas was a Rev. War veteran, b. about 1744 in New Jersey, and is likely the individual born in or near Basking Ridge, NJ, of the "Colliers of Mass." lines. He died, apparently in Butler County, August 24, 1834, as a will is on file in Butler County.I have not yet seen the will.Thomas was married twice, and probably had children by his first marriage, but I only have names of children from the second marriage to Mary McAdams: Mary, and Ira M., b. January 8, 1817,KY; d. after 1880. About 1839 Ira was in Hamilton, Butler Cty, Ohio and was in 1870 and 1880 Census records a merchant of Carroll County, KY.
I do not know whether Thomas actually lived in the Blooming Grove area, as he seems to have been still in Butler County in 1831-32, when he applied for and received a Rev. War Pension.
There WERE "Colliers" in Franklin County in the period: An 1830 census index for Franklin County shows a John "Collier," and David, Rachael and William "Colyer." In 1840 the county had Benjamin "Collyar," and David, two Johns, and two Williams with surname "Colyer."Townships are not indicated in the listings I have seen. The John is said to have been a Rev. veteran, so he is probably NOT of the "Colliers of Mass." lines.
Intriguingly,I see in cemetery records of Blooming Grove Township, Franklin County, that a Winnifred Collyer, Winnifred Collyer, aged 77yrs, d. October, 26, 1866, w/o Thomas Collyer, is buried at Duck Creek Stone Church cemetery, outside of Blooming Grove. No record of burial of a Thomas Collyer there seen.
Would appreciate any hints or facts on any of these individuals of Butler County, Ohio or Franklin County, Indiana.
Wade Collier
"Colliers of Massachusetts" Project