May 24th

183 Years Ago
May 24, 1826 - April 13, 1897

Mary Jane (Daugherty) Gregory, my 2nd great grandmother was the oldest of four children born to John L. and Nancy (Ward) Daugherty in Tazewell County, VA.

1. Mary Jane Daugherty (Footstone MJG - Daniel Gregory Cemetery)
2. Isaac W. Daugherty (Jeffersonville Cemetery - Tazewell, VA)
3. George C. Daugherty
4. David Allen Daugherty (Marrs Graveyard - Falls Mills, VA)

Below is a scrapbook newpaper clipping regarding her death. I do not have an obituary.

Mary Jane was the granddaughter of David and Eleanor (Clancy) Ward, well-known pioneers who helped establish Tazewell County. Per Lee Pyle, a Ward descendant:

David Ward, the progenitor of the Ward family in Tazewell County, was the son of William Ward who came from Ireland about 1730. In the year 1769, David Ward located in Tazewell County, Va., in the "Cove" on the farm where his great-grandson, George Ward, lived. David Ward became a conspicuous figure among the frontiersman, because of his intelligence and courage. He was known as one of the best Indian fighters on the Clinch, and was a member of Captain Russell's company that participated in the battle at Point Pleasant. When the Revolution began he was member of the militia company of which William Bowen was Captain; and went to King's Mountain with Rees Bowen, where he fought with Campbell's rifleman from the Holston and Clinch valleys. After Russell County was formed, David Ward was made a justice of the peace for that county. When the county of Tazewell was erected he became, by operation of statute law, a justice of the peace of this county; and he was the first presiding justice of the county court. His son, John, was made the first county clerk of Tazwell. David Ward was chosen, along with Thomas Witten, Jr., to represent the county in the House of Delegates at the Sessions of 1801-01, and 1802-03; and represented the county again at the 1809-10 and 1810-11.

Thanks to Browne Hollowell, I have the following conjecture.
It is interesting to note the 1850 Census for Tazewell Co., Va., Western District, p. 179, 24 Sept:
Chas. H. Greever age 44 male Farmer Real Est. 4,000 b. Va
Eliza 28 female
Alexr 12 male
Blair 10 male
Chas 2 male
Mary Daugherty 20 female

Next door is:
33 Jno D Peery 62 male Farmer Real Est. 5,000 b. Va
34 Mary 20 female "
35 David P. 10/12 male "
Mary is Mary Clay Gregory, the younger sister of Daniel Parham Gregory.

I would say this is how Daniel and Mary Jane Daugherty met.

Mary Jane married Daniel Parham Gregory July 22, 1851.

And I would bet that living in Chas. H. Greever's house as probably a servant or helper to Eliza Greever, that Mary Jane named her next daughter after a woman who had been kind and a friend to her. Were they related? I don't know. Eliza Greever's maiden name was Harrison. In March of 1859, Daniel & Mary Jane Gregory's last child was born, a boy named Lewis H. Daniel's next brother was named Lewis Corder Gregory, I don't know who the H. was for.
Charles and Eliza are buried at the Greever Cemetery at Five Oaks in east Tazewell.
Eliza J., wife of Chas H. Greever, died Nov. 9, 1881, age 62 y & 7 D. I think that would make her born Nov. 2, 1819. So actually she was 31 (Lacking one month) in 1850. So a 31 year old married woman with three children, could have welcomed young 20yr old Mary Daugherty, and been a friend and mentor. As you know, it was very common in 18th and 19th centuries, for a young girl to leave her family and go live with another family, not necessarily as a servant but more as a mother's helper.

Mary Jane (Daugherty)and Daniel Gregory had five children before Daniel died at only 39 years old from Scrofula (tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands).

1. John K.L. Gregory
2. Elizabeth Holland Gregory
3. Nancy "Nannie" Ward Gregory
4. Elizabeth Greever Gregory
5. Lewis H. Gregory

209 Years Ago
May 24,1800 - June 7, 1886

My 3rd great grandmother, Elizabeth Holland (Corder) Gregory, shared the birth day with her daughter-in-law, Mary Jane (Daugherty) Gregory. Elizabeth is also buried at the Daniel Gregory Cemetery located on Rt 61,Clear Fork, opposite Chestnut Grove Christian Church at Shawvers Mill, (According to SOME OLD CEMETERIES by Betty Hollowell) If anyone visits the cemetery, please take photos of all stones, especially looking for MJG footstone, and also a picture of Chestunt Grove Christian Church which continues there today. send to sherrykelly@comcast.net

Yet another interesting note:

Deed Book, no 12, p. 483 Daniel P. Gregary and Mary J. Gregary, his wife, to Christopher Shawver, Daniel Gregory and Adam Britts, Trustees. "For the purpose of having a meeting house built on the land conveyed, free for the use of all denominations professing the Christian religion when not occupied by the Christian Church." The lot is situate on Clear Fork and contains about one and a half acres. This church is now known as Chestnut Grove Church and is still used by the Christian Church of the neighborhood. (ANNALS of Tazewell County, Virginia by John Newton Harman, Sr.1922 )