Sarah Strother

Sarah Bayley is an ancestor of President Zachary Taylor,12th US President

Sarah Bayley

• AKA Bailey, Bayly, Bagly
• Gender: Female
• Birth: before 1717/ about 1720 - Urbana, Middlesex, Colony of Virginia
• Death: Dec 22 1774 - Orange County, Virginia
• Spouse: William (of Orange) Pannill, Jr. - married 1735
• Spouse: William Strother - Feb 20 1752

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bayley-81

The profiles for Samuel Bayly and Elizabeth Baker as parents have been detached. Please do not re-attach without evidence and appropriate citation.

Sarah Bayley, Bayly, or Bailey

Birth date is a guess, based on her marriage in 1735.

Questionable Name and Parents

In "A history of Henry County, Virginia : with biographical sketches of its most prominent citizens and genealogical histories of half a hundred of its oldest families", by Judith Parks America Hill, all of the families, Bayley, Pannill and Strother are covered in detail.

1. In the Bayley section, Samuel is covered in detail with no mention of a daughter named Sarah.
2. in the Pannill section (page 237),* it discusses William, the son of Thomas who married a Sarah Bayley. The issue is that Thomas fled to the colonies after the Battle of Naseby, in 1645, which means that Thomas probably born in 1625, so his son, William would have been born no later than 1675, which does not align with the dates for this Sarah Bailey. *Please also see Research Notes below.
3. In the Pannill section (page 241-242), the wife of William Pannill, who marries William Strother is Sarah Bagley.

Note: An article published in The William and Mary Quarterly (1908) reports that the William Pannill who married Sarah Bayly was probably a son of the William Pannill (living in Richmond County in 1698) and his wife Frances, the granddaughter of William Mills, formerly of Rhappahannock County.[1] Mills' land descended to his two daughters, Ann (Mills) who married John Burkett and Elizabeth (Mills) who was the mother of Frances. This Frances was her mother's sole surviving heiress in 1698. Unfortunately we do not know the married name of Elizabeth (nor the last name at birth of Frances).

William Pannill (father of this William) made his will on December 13, 1715, and it was proved on 1 August 1716 at Richmond County, Virginia. In it, he mentioned his wife and his children: William (evidently William Pannill of Orange, husband of Sarah here profiled), David, George, Elizabeth, Frances, Katherine, and Mary.[1]

Origin

Very little is known about Sarah's origin. She was probably born in Virginia, as were her husbands. Her parents are unknown. She is called "Sarah Bayly of Urbana, Middlesex County."[2] She may have been born about 1715, as her first marriage is assumed to have taken place in 1735 (derivative source).[2]

Marriages

Sarah married twice.[3]

She married in 1735 to William Pannill, Jr, and they settled at Orange County, Virginia.[2][4] William's will was executed on 25 November 1749.[2]

She married by 1752, as her 2nd, to William Strother,[2] son of Francis of St. Marks (69).[4] Records show that on February 20, 1752, Culpeper County, dower was assigned Mrs. Sarah Strother, widow of William Pannill.[2] At this time, her husband William Strother qualified as guardian of "orphans" Pannill: Samuel, William, John, Joseph, Frances, and David Pannill.

Children of Sarah and William Pannill (first 5 children mentioned in will, and David born after death):[2]

1. Samuel Pannill,
2. William Pannill,
3. John Pannill,
4. Joseph Pannill,
5. Frances Pannill; m Unknown Farrish and removed to NC,[2] or "must have died in infancy, as there was another Frances"[2]
6. David Pannill, b after his father's death

Children of Sarah and William Strother:

1. William Dabney Strother, killed in battle of Guilford Courthouse
2. Francis Strother; mar Gerard Banks
3. Sarah Strother; mar Col. Richard Taylor and their son was President Zachary Taylor
4. Susanna

• Please see Children in Research Notes.

Death and Legacy

Sarah died in 1774 at Orange County, Virginia (p 96).[5][2]

In her will, Sarah mentioned her Strother children, but not her Pannill children.[5] Her surviving Strother children were: Susannah, William Dabney, Frances Banks, and Sarah. She did mention some of the grandchildren: Her executors were son, William Dabney Strother, and her friend, Charles Bruce; executrix was daughter, Frances (Pannill) Banks.[5]

This profile reports the specific death date 22 December 1774 (without documentation or citation).[citation needed]

Research Notes

Unfortunately, A history of Henry County, Virginia ... (1925) by Judith Hill (like so many of the county histories written early in the century) includes no sources. In fact, it seems Ms Hill relies on the research of others (Preface).[6]

Nevertheless, A history of Henry County, Virginia ... (page 237) actually reports that William (2), son of William (1) and grandson of Thomas Pannill, married to "Sarah Bailey of Urbana, Middlesex Co., Va."

The same A history of Henry County, Virginia ... (page 241) cites the William and Mary Quarterly by David H. Pannill which reports "William Pannill in 1735 married Sarah Bayly, of Urbana in Middlesex co., Va."[2] The "Bagly" spelling is obviously a typographical error.

Children *The number of children of Sarah and William Strother are uncertain. The article by David H. Pannill (Oct., 1897) published in The William and Mary Quarterly reports the four children above.[2] However, the article by William Edward Railey (1903) published in the Register of Kentucky State Historical Society reports only three children: William Dabney, Susanna, and Sarah.[1]

The will of Sarah (Bayley) Pannill Strother (proved in 1774) is assumed to mention only the children of Sarah and William Strother. Reported by the Register of Kentucky State Historical Society (Sept 1903) as "their children" were: William Dabney, Frances, Gerard Banks, Sarah, and Susanna.[4] Similarly their four children are reported as: William Dabney, Frances Banks, Sarah, and Susannah.[2]

Were there two daughters named Frances, one a Pannill (with no further record) and the other a Strother, or was there only one Frances who married to Gerard Banks? What if Sarah did not confine her bequests to her Strother children, but also mentioned one of her Pannill children - Frances?

Note: Gerard Banks married to Frances Pannill. The will of Gerard Banks, Jr, dated 9 Apr 1767, left his estate to his wife, Frances, and their unborn child. If they died, estate to go to mother-in-law Sarah Strother. One of the witnesses was "W. Pannill."[7]

Note: Culpeper Co., Virginia, will book A, pp. 55-56. 1751, Aug 15: Sarah Strother's dower in the slaves of her late husband Wm. Pannell, dec'd, Estate and a lawful share of his personal estate for Wm. Strother, her present husband, dated 20 Feb 1752.

Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, by Kentucky Historical Society. (Publication date 1903). Page 67-68. < Archive.Org >

William Strother of "Orange," whose name appears in the table above was one of the sons of Francis Strother of "St. Mark's Parish" and Susanna Dabney. He was twice married, his first wife being the widow Pannill, whose maiden name was Sarah Bailey, a relative of the Banks and Dabney families. Those who knew her said that she possessed unusual intellectual powers and many other charms that gave her a commanding position among her friends and acquaintances. By this marriage were three children, viz. :

1. "William Dabney Strother
2. Susanna Strother and
3. Sarah Strother.

William Dabney Strother was a young man of splendid intellectual attainments who cast his lot with the Revolutionary forces and became an officer in the regiment commanded by his brother-in-law, Col. Bichard Taylor, and lost his life at the battle of Guilfords Court House.

His sister, Susanna Strother, married Captain Moses Hawkins, March 3, 1770, who lost his life at the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777. Their names appear in the table above and they were the great-grandparents of Wm. Edward Bailey.

Sarah Strother, sister of Susanna and youngest of the children of William Strother of "Orange" and Sarah Bailey Pannill, married Col. Bichard Taylor of the 9th Virginia regiment and they were the parents of General Zachary Taylor, who became President, 1849. General Zach Taylor had a son who was famous in the cause of the Confederacy and wrote a history of the Civil War that was very popular. He also had a daughter who was the first wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. Col Bichard Taylor and his son, Hancock, were the executors of the will of William Strother of "Orange," who died on his farm in Woodford Co., Ky., ami his will is of record in the county clerk's office at Versailles. He came to Kentucky to reside about 1800 or soon thereafter, in the company of his second wife, Anna Kavanaugh and his daughter, Susanna, with her four Hawkins children.

As the given names of so many of the Strothers were the same, for the purpose of distinguishing them, especially as regards business relations, they were designated as William of "Stafford," William of ' * Orange, ' ' Francis of ' ' St. Marks, ' ' &.C., giving their county or country seat as the case may be. William of "Stafford" was a brother of Francis of "St. Marks," who was the father of William of "Orange," &c.

Will

• A DIGEST OF ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA WILL BOOKS 1734-1838 {Sparacio}
• STROTHER, Sarah
• 1. 489-490. Will made 28 Aug 1774 rec 22 Dec 1774.
• EXS. Son William Dabney Strother, Dau Frances Banks, Charles Bruce.
• WIT. Moses Burt, Hanah Burt, Aaron Reynolds, Mathew Hughes.
• CH. Joseph Pannill, William Dabney Strother, Frances (wife of Gerrard Banks); g-son William Pannill son of David Parnill; Sarah Bailie Morton Pannill, dau of William Pannill; Sarah Runnolds dau of Tabitha Runnolds. BN. Joseph Spencer, Matthew Hughes, Thomas Barbour.
• 2. 494-495. Est inv made 24 Dec 1774; rec 23 Mar 1775

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• 1744-1778 Orange County, Virginia Will Book 2: [John Frederick Dorman]: Pages 489-90.
• Will of Sarah Strother of the County of Orange being sick and weak, dated 28 Aug. 1774.
• All my lands, slaves and other estate be sold as soon after my death as my executors can make it convenient, who I desire will give eighteen months credit to the purchasers. The money arising I bequeath in the following manner:
• To my grandson William Pannill son to David Pannill £20 current money to be delivered to David Pannill untill he arrive to the age of twenty one years. David Pannill may put the money to usury and bestow the interest on him annually.
• To my granddaughter Sarah Bailie Morton Pannill daughter of William Pannill £20 current money to be in the care of my son William Pannill who 1 appoint to put the money to usury and the interest arising to bestow on his said daughter untill she arrive to the age of twenty one, at which time she may receive the £20.
• To my grandson Gerard Banks son to my daughter Frances Banks £20 current money to be put to interest untill he arrive to the age of twenty one years and the interest to be bestowed on him annually by his mother who I appoint to manage the said money. If Gerard Banks should die my will is that my daughter Frances Banks should heir the money.
• To my granddaughter Sarah Bailie Hawkins £20 current money to remain in the hands of my executors until she arrive to the age of twenty one years, to put the money to interest and bestow annually.
• To Sarah Runnolds daughter to Tabitha Runnolds £10 current to remain in the hands of William Dabney Strother who I appoint to put said money to interest and bestow annually until she arrive to the age of twenty one years. If Sarah Runnolds should die before she arrive to the age of twenty one years my desire
• is that my daughter Frances Banks heir the £10.
• To the first child that my son Joseph Pannill may have born £20 current money to be in the care of Frances Banks who I desire to put the money to interest until the child arrive to the age of ten years and then to receive the £20. If Joseph Pannill should never have a child, my daughter Frances Banks have the £20.
• All the remainder of my estate equally divided between my son William Dabney Strother, my daughter Frances Banks and my daughter Sarah Strother.
• My son William Dabney Strother, my daughter Frances Banks and Charles Bruce executors.
• Sarah Strother
• Wit: Moses Burt, Hannah Burt, Aaron (X) Reynolds, Matthew Hughes.
• 22 Dec. 1774. Presented into Court by William Dabney Strother and Charles [sic]. Proved by Moses Burt and Matthew Hughes. Executors with Joseph Spencer, Matthew Hughes and Thomas Barbour entered into bond in the sum of £1000 current money.

• 1744-1778 Orange County, Virginia Will Book 2: [John Frederick Dorman]: Pages 494-95.
• Sarah Strother. Inventory. 24 Dec. 1774. Made pursuant to order of 22 Dec. 1774. Total valuation £136.7.6-1/2,
• including two slaves valued at £85.
• Thomas Welsh
• Isaac George
• Uriel Mallory
• 23 March 1775. Returned.

• Title Pannill [Pannil], William.
• Publication 1750
• Gen. note Part of index to Culpeper County Wills and Administrations (1749 - 1800)
• Note p. 52-55. Inv. & Appr. rec. 20 Feb. 1752.
• p. 55-56. Inv. & Appr. of Sarah Strothers, relict of William Pannill part of estate rec. 20 Feb. 1752.
• p. 25-27. Will pro. 16 Aug. 1750.
• Note Will Book A, 1749-1770 (Reel 31)

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Notes

References

1. WikiTree contributors, "Sarah (Bayley) Strother (abt.1720-1774)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bayley-81 : accessed 04 October 2024). cites
   1. (Apr., 1908) "Historical and Genealogical Notes." The William and Mary Quarterly. Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture JSTOR.org accessed 3 October 2016 (Vol. 16, No. 4, p. 290).
   2. Pannill, David H., (Oct., 1897) "The Genealogy of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and of His Collateral Relations on his Mother's Side--Pannill, Strother, Banks, Bruce, Etc." The William and Mary Quarterly. Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture JSTOR.org accessed 3 October 2016 (Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 113-116).
   3. Hawkins Miles, Annie, "Hawkins." Register of Kentucky State Historical Society. (Vol. 3, No. 9 (SEPTEMBER, 1905), pp. 93-94) Kentucky Historical Society, JSTOR.org accessed May 30, 2015
   4. (Sept, 1903) "The Strother Family." Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, , Kentucky Historical Society, JSTOR.org accessed 4 October 2016 (Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 67-70)
   5. Railey, William E., "The Strothers." Register of Kentucky State Historical Society. (Vol. 16, No. 46 (January, 1918), pp. 93-106, Google 99-112) Kentucky Historical Society, GoogleBooks.com accessed May 30, 2015
   6. Hill, Judith Parks America, (1925) A history of Henry County, Virginia : with biographical sketches ... [unknown, unknown] ancestryheritagequest.com accessed 4 October 2016 (Preface, Pages 237) Note: mentions no sources.
   7. Banks, Ray, (21 June 2015) "Gerard Banks." Compilation Project ... accessed 15 Dec 2016.
   8. A source for this information is needed.
2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154700260/sarah_strother shows parents as Samuel Bailey (1691-1725) & Elizabeth Baker without citations.
3. Register of Kentucky State Historical Society, by Kentucky Historical Society. (Publication date 1903). Page 67-68. < Archive.Org >
4. https://colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I113332&t...
5. http://sites.rootsweb.com/~pinnell/html/fam00425.htm calls the wife Sarah Bagly and the husband William Pinnell d. 1774, with 7 children.