Biography: William Hays, Sr, - 1 Jan 1998 - Macoupin County Illinois
©1997-2001 Gloria Frazier

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Descendants of William Hays, Sr

submitted by Gloria Frazier

A “First Family” of Macoupin County IL.

WILLIAM HAYS , SR was born Abt 1780 in NC [1], and died June 26, 1853 in Macoupin Co IL [2]. He married (1) ELIZABETH UKNOWN Abt 1798. Elizabeth died 23 Apr 1844 in Macoupin County IL He married (2) SARAH PROCTOR [3] 07 Apr 1846 in Sangamon County IL, daughter of Simon PROCTOR and Jane SCIFERS Sarah was born 05 Feb 1815 in Nelson County KY.

Notes William lived in NC, SC, and Martin Co IN before coming to IL about 1830. William and Elizabeth are buried in Union Chapel Cem, N Otter Twp, Macoupin Co IL. There are two more sons on the 1820 Martin Co IN census. Daughter Betcy's age at death was 16yr/11m/15da. She is buried in Union Chapel Cem. Stone reads that she is the daughter of William HAYS. Betcy's burial was the first burial in Union Chapel Cemetery. Evelyn FREY, in her research, questioned if Betcy's death year might not have been 1836 "because the family did not come to IL until 1830 and it was common to use the earlier year for awhile after a new year," she wrote. If the age of 16 yrs is on the stone then might the birth year be 1819? William's stone reads that he was 73 years old at death.

Marriage date is about 1798.
Elizabeth's stone reads that she was 64 years old at death.

Children of William HAYS and Elizabeth are:

i. CHILD ONE OF WM HAYS.

ii. ELI HAYS (2), b. January 20, 1799, NC [4] 3; d. December 17, 1878, Macoupin Co IL;
m. (1) ELLEN "NELLIE" HURLEY, June 30, 1823, Martin Co IN;
m. (2) MARY "POLLY", 09 Sep 1869. Polly died 1912 OK.

iii. Hiram D HAYS b. 1801-1802 ?SC [5] Died: 10 Jan 1850, Girard Macoupin Co IL
m. Nancy Agnes STEWART 11 Mar 1834 in Macoupin Co IL

iv. William HAYS, Jr b. Aft. Jul 1802 [6] d. 16 Oct 1874
m. (1) Mary probably REEVES 05 Nov 1825 in Daviess County IN;
m. (2) Louisa A. TAYLOR 20 Oct 1850, Christian Co IL

v. Martha Sarah "Sally" HAYS [7] b. 1804 d Bef. Jun 1830
m. Elihu HALBERT 23 Sep 1824 in Martin Co IN

vi. Nancy HAYS b. Abt. 01 Oct 1805 [8] d 29 May 1883
m. (1) Aaron HALL, [9] Sr 10 Feb 1825 in Martin Co IN
m. (2) William DODD 06 Jul 1852 in Sangamon Co IL

vii. Joseph HAYS [10] b. 01 Oct 1805 South Carolina, d 17 Feb 1888
m. Elizabeth DOBSON 03 Aug 1830 in Martin Co. IN

viii. David HAYS b. 18 Jan 1807 SC [11] , d. 23 Jul 1886
m. (1) Polly STEVENS 04 Dec 1828 in Martin Co IN
m. (2) Nancy HALL 24 Dec 1834 in Sangamon Co IL

ix. Eliza Jane HAYS [12] b. 02 Nov 1809 NC d. 02 Feb 1874 IL
m. Elihu HALBERT 24 Jun 1830 in Martin Co IN

x. Samuel HAYS [13] b. 05 Jul 1812 Martin Co IN, d 1886
m. Rebecca MOLEN 11 Nov 1838 in Macoupin Co IL

xi. Betcy D. HAYS b. Abt. 06 Feb 1813 d. Abt. 12 Jan 1830 Macoupin Co IL

xii. James P HAYS [14] b. 11 Mar 1816 Martin Co IN
m. Sarah W HUTCHINSON

xiii. John HAYS [14] b. Abt. 1819 IN
m. Henrietta SPROUSE 26 Dec 1839 in Macoupin Co IL

xiv. Andrew "Andy" HAYS, Sr [15] b. 26 Jun 1820 Martin Co IN, [16] d. 25 Jul 1891 Christian Co IL
m. Sarah Ann "Sally" HALL 26 Sep 1839 in Sangamon Co IL

Information on Andrew Hays from Barbara Hays Clayton. Andrew Hays, born June 26, 1820 in Martin County, Indiana, was the son of William and Elizabeth (?) Hays, who settled in Macoupin County, Il approx 1830. Andrew Hays married Sarah Ann Hall on September 26, 1839 in Sangamon County, Il. Marriage license is on file in Springfield, Il. Andrew and Sarah (Hall) Hays were parents of seven boys and three girls, those known were Henry, David, Tom, George, Andrew and Ulysses. Andrew died July 25, 1891 and his wife Sarah died July 26, 1901, both in Christian County. Both are buried in the Hays Family Cemetery in Moweaqua, Il. Andrew and Sarah are listed in the 1850 Christian County Census, taken on October 19. A daughter Sally is also named on the census and is listed as 7 years of age, along with a daughter named Milda, listed as 2 years of age.

Andrew's brother John is on the same census, with his wife Henrietta, both listed as 31 years of age. Henrietta's place of birth is listed as Germany. John and Henrietta's children listed in 1850 were Elizabeth, 9 years of age, Leah, 8 years of age, Sarah, 2 years of age and Nancy, 1 year of age.

Andrew's brother David is also listed on the same census, his age is 43 and place of birth is listed as South Carolina. His wife is Nancy, she is listed as 48 years of age, born in Virginia. Their children listed are Louisa, age 28 years, Gennette, 14 years of age, Melinda, age 12, Susanna, age 9 and Emily age 7.

William Hays, I suspect Andrew's brother as well, is listed, place of birth is Indiana, age 25, wife is Eliza, age 23, born in Indiana and daughter Eliza age 1.

Henry Hays, the son of Andrew and Sarah (HAll) Hays, was born March 13, 1841 in Sangamon County, Il. He was first married to a Ruth A. Tilley on February 20, 1862 in Christian County, Il. Wedding license is on file in Christian County. His second wife was Elzirah Catherine Irwin, whom he married on August 7, 1873, also in Christian County, Il. Marriage license on file in Christian County. Elzirah was born in 1853 in Grant County, Indiana. After Elzirah'e death on July 11, 1908, Henry married Mary Evans on November 24, 1909 in Decatur, Il. At the time of Henry's death on May 18, 1914 in Christian County, Il, the following children survived: Sarah Engeline Hays, born October 27, 1866 and died March 23, 1875, Eudora Emaline Hays, born January 5, 1885 and died July 1, 1886, Thomas Dudly Hays, William Henry Hays, born August 21, 1875 George Thompson Hays, born September 11, 1877 and Mrs. John Winters. On Elzirah's obit two children are listed as step children, those being Andrew David Hays, born September 8, 1870 and Mrs. Jennie Clark, born March 24, 1863 and died March 23, 1922. Both Andrew and Jennie had to be the children of Henry and Ruth (Tilley) Hays. Barbara (Hays) Clayton owns a page from the Henry Hays Family Bible, that reveals all the dates of birth/death of some of Henry's children and marriage to Ruth and Elzirah. Henry Hays served in the Civil War, with Company E, 32nd Illinois Infantry and was a member of JV Clemens Post No. 363 GAR. Both Henry and Elzirah (Irwin) Hays are buried in the Hays Cemetery in Moweaqua, Il, along with some of their children. Henry's Civil War records are on file with the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Barbara (Hays) Clayton, also owns a copy of Henry's military and pension records along with a photo of Henry and Elzirah (Irwin) Hays.

xvi. MARY ANN HAYS, b. April 10, 1824, IN [17], d. August 19, 1877;
m. JOSEPH ENGLAND, December 19, 1839, Macoupin Co IL.

Endnotes

1. Janet Hays, Evelyn Frey
2. Cemetery StoneJanet Hays
3. 1850 Census and Early Settlers of Sangamon County IL.
4. Janet Hays, Evelyn FreyCemetery InfoCourthouse records
5. Yvonne StedmanE. 80 Fir CtShelton, WA 98584360-427-8873
6. Early Settlers of Sangamon CountyJanet Hays
7. Judith Boutelle.
8. Janet Hays, Evelyn Frey Early Settlers of Sangamon County
9. Early Settlers of Sangamon County IL.
10. William E. Hayes, Jr..
11. Early Settlers of Sangamon CountyJanet Hays
12. Judith Boutelle.
13. Information on Samuel Hays family from Janet Hays.
14. Janet Hays, Evelyn Frey
15. Barbara Clayton
16. Janet Hays, Evelyn FreyEarly Settlers of Sangamon County
17. Janet Hays, Evelyn FreyCemetery InfoCourthouse records

For more information on this family, contact:

Yvonne Stedman (Hiram Hays Descendant)
E. 80 Fir Ct
Shelton, WA 98584

Evelyn Alexander (Hiram Hays Descendant)

Eric Adcock (Eli Hays Descendant)

Frank and Carolynn Bettis (Frank is Eli Hays Descendant)
28290 Jones Rd.
Girard, IL 62640-9706

Gloria Frazier (Eli Hays Descendant)

Barbara Hays Clayton (Andrew Hays Descendant)


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