The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Gary Baldwin Parriott
William Garrard was born about 1715 in England and he died in 1787.
The exact date of his immigration to the Colonies is unknown but a record of the land he lived on was published in the "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800”. These records were extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County by Lyman Chalky. Williams' farm was quite large as he donated land for construction of the original Stafford County courthouse. William Garrard was also the County Lieutenant of Stafford County, in charge of the local militia, an organization of local men who were frequently called upon to put down Indian attacks or slave uprisings.
William married Mary Lewis (1727-1755) and they had three children. After Mary's death William married Elizabeth Moss and they had four children.
At the outset of the Revolution, local militia regiments fought against the English forces after which William was promoted to Colonel His son James Garrard also served in the Stafford County militia and rose to Colonel in 1782. James' distinguished career won him the office of Governor of Kentucky serving two consecutive terms from 1796-1804. Several of William's descendants participated in the war of 1812, served in various government offices, and others became generals in the Union Army during the Civil War. Garrard descendants who served in the War of 1812: William Garrard (1771-1838) James Douglas Garrard (1773-1838) John Montjoy Garrard (1778-1838) Daniel Garrard (1780-1866) Garrard descendants who served in the Civil War Union General Kenner Garrard (1827-1879) Union General Theophilus T. Garrard (1812-1902)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ LtC Gregory Ormand Bodge 177162 Virginia Society George Washington chapter William Gerrard P-164333 William Garrard (c.1715-1787) was the son of Nathaniel Garrard of Westmoreland County. William’s first wife was Mary Lewis (c.1721-c.1748). of Westmoreland County. He married secondly Mary Naughty (c.1721-c.1762) and thirdly Elizabeth Moss (died after 1787). For many years Stafford’s courthouse was located on the south side of Potomac Creek near Belle Plains. In the 1750s, William conducted an ordinary (tavern) right next to that courthouse. When the court moved up to its present location, he bought land there and opened a tavern right across the road. William held licenses to operate an ordinary in 1752, 1753, 1754, and 1783 (and possibly during the intervening years, as well, though he seems to have rented out his tavern near the present courthouse). William served in the 45th regiment of Virginia militia (Stafford County). He also held the following offices in Stafford: Under Sheriff 1752-1755 Tobacco Inspector at Cave’s Warehouse (Potomac Creek) 1753, 1772, 1773, 1777 (and possibly during the intervening years, as well) Magistrate from at least 1774-1787 Sheriff 1781, 1783 County Lieutenant 1785, 1786 Vestry of Overwharton Parish 1785 Commissioner of the Revenue 1786
In March 1780 William Fitzhugh (1741-1809) and William Garrard (c.1715-1787) deeded to the county land upon which to build the courthouse. Both men were paid a small sum of money for the land because no one was certain which of them actually owned the parcel under consideration. This was the same land on which stands the present courthouse. From c.1777 to 1783, the justices met in a building next to William Garrard’s ordinary near the present day Fas-Mart across U. S. Route 1 from the courthouse. Three years later, the new brick courthouse and freestone jail were completed and in use. William owned some 600 acres in the vicinity of the new courthouse. This land was bounded by Hope Road (Route 687) on the north and by Potomac Church Road on the south. It included what are now the Stafford County School Board offices as well as the new hospital. He also owned several hundred acres on the north side of Garrisonville Road. This was called Apple Grove and is now occupied by Apple Grove subdivision. The Poppin family purchased this farm in the mid-twentieth century and tore down the old frame farmhouse. In the chimney was a brick inscribed with William Garrard’s name. I don’t know where William was buried. Most folks were buried at home. Although William owned two large tracts of land, the Apple Grove property is listed first in the land tax records, suggesting that this was his residence. Since this has been destroyed for the subdivision, I doubt any trace of his or any other burials could be found there. William’s son, James Garrard (1749-1822), also served as a colonel in the 45th regiment during the Revolution. After the war, he moved to Kentucky and became that state’s second governor. Garrard County, Kentucky is named for him.
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