Stephen Autry Hurd, Jr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution Ancestor #: A053876

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There appears to be some conflicts in the will of Stephen Heard, 1748-1815 as to just who his children are and how many. Helen Wasson in her book "Kith and Kin", page 29-32 presents a copy of the will and sets forth some children from a marriage prior to Margaret. She says that the children of the first marriage are:
# Elizabeth (Betsy) who married Major Downs,

1. Lucy who married a Mr. Clark,
2. John who married Nancy Keys, and
3. George.

She then goes on to say that
# Polly Faulkner Heard who married George Pollard Butler ,

1. Parmelia who married William Furlow (her line),
2. Gency who married John Butler,
3. Sally who married a Durham,
4. Nancy,
5. Stephen,
6. Francis who married Sarah Matthews,
7. Jesse,
8. Lucia, and
9. Thomas

are from the second marriage to Margaret.

Her lists, therefore, show four children by the first marriage and ten children by the second marriage which totals fourteen and nowhere does she list Samuel who is named twice in the will by his father and again in the will of Margaret, his mother.
The will itself lists nine children in one place, twelve in another, eight in another, and two separately apart in yet another place. Stephen specifically says that he has seven sons and five daughters which are:
# Gency Butler,

1. Sally Heard,
2. Lucia Heard,
3. Parmelia and
4. Nancy Heard,

and sons

1. John,
2. George,
3. Stephen,
4. Francis,
5. Jesse,
6. Samuel and
7. Thomas Heard.

Lucy Clark and Polly Butler are named in the will but not specifically as his children although that is the appearance that seems inferred.

Margaret sets forth in her will the names of daughters
# Sarah Durham,

1. Susannah Furlough,
2. Ann Curry,
3. Pamela Furlough.

She then names as sons:

1. Sen. Stephen F. Heard,
2. Francis I. Heard,
3. Samuel S. Heard,
4. Thomas Heard, and
5. Jesse F. Heard.

She mentions her grandson Stephen Heard, Jr. who is the son of Stephen F. Heard.

Some of the children of Margaret could be dead by the time she made her will in 1826 in Amite Co., Miss.
Who, though are daughter she mentions as Susannah Furlough and Ann Curry? They are not mentioned by the names Susannah or Ann in the will of her husband Stephen? Pamela is no doubt Parmelia and Sarah is Sally.