Peyton William Bristow

Note: aka Thomas Payton Bristow on another tree

PEYTON BRISTOW was a native of Virginia, born in Loudoun County, the 29th of August, 1778. His father died when he was but a boy, and soon after his mother started with the family, consisting of herself and ten children, for Kentucky. Though he was fourth in the family, he was the practical head, the older ones having left to work for themselves. In the wild arrests of Kentucky, he had but little or no chance for educating himself, and very little education did he have.

He was married on the 16th of November, 1802, to Miss MARY PRICE. After his marriage, he settled on a "claim" in Green County, Kentucky, afterwards Adair County, and remained there until the fall of 1809, when he sold out and went to Preble County, Ohio.

He was a soldier of the War of 1812, though he was not engaged in any battles.

In the fall of 1821 he sold out, and, coming to Perry township, Marion County, Indiana, entered 320 acres of land. He returned to Ohio to get the two oldest boys, who were to help him build the cabin, which they nearly completed, when the father and the younger son again returned for the family, leaving the older son to finish it; but when they returned, they found that he had been seriously injured by a falling tree, a day or two after they had left, and the cabin was no nearer done than they had left it. This was about the 1st of February, 1822. Soon after this was the first township election, at which there were himself and four others - Henry Riddle, Peter Harmonson, William Stallcop, and Elias Stallcop.

He served as justice-of-the-peace, from November 3, 1829, to July 4, 1834, from which he acquired the title of "Squire." He lived a householder for over 66 years, and died February 10, 1869. He was sternly and strictly honest, and liberal in his views.

He was politically a Democrat and religiously a Universalist. His own death was the first under his roof.

His wife survived him some 18 months, and died in 1870. He had 13 children: WILLIAM, JAMES, LUCY, MARGARET, SALLY, EVANS, CORNELIUS, ELIZA, MARY, MARTHA, POWELL, HENRY, and ALFRED, of whom four or five are dead.

SOURCE: B. R. Sulgrove. History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana. L. H. Everts & Co., 1884, page 583.

ADDENDUM: "PEYTON BRISTOW, who had been here in the summer and put up a cabin, now returned (it being in the first part of December) and settled permanently on what was called Bristow's Hill, six miles south of the city (Indianapolis), on the east of the Bluff road, which had just been laid out." [Ibid., page 577].

Parents: William W Bristow & Margaret Powell

Married: Mary Price, 16 September 1802, Adair county Kentucky

Children: 1. William H P Bristow 1803-1880 2. James Bristow 1805-1855 3. Lucy Bristow Neighbors 1806-1847 4. Margarette E Bristow Smith 1808-1838 5. Evans Bristow 1810-1864 6. Sarah H Bristow Smith 1812-1892 7. Cornelius V Bristow 1814-1906 8. Mary P Bristow Clary 1817-1880 9. Eliza B Bristow Booker 1819-1902 10. Peyton P Bristow 1821-???? 11. Martha Bristow Messersmith 1823-1902 12. Henry Bristow 1825-1904 13. Alfred H Bristow 1828-1870

NOTE: I searched Bell Cemetery for his tombstone in July 2003, but was unable to find it. He is listed in a cemetery reading by Mrs. Ransom Griffin, ca. March 1941, listed on the Genealogical Society of Marion County website. Thank You Donald Claeys for adding your photos! Inscription: Payton Bristow Born Aug. 29, 1778 died Feb. 10, 1869 90 yrs 5 mos 11 ds

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 26 2018, 18:10:46 UTC