Peter Wilson HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#392, b. 25 November 1819, d. 17 February 1886
Father*Samuel HAIRSTON1 b. 19 Nov 1788, d. 2 Mar 1875
Mother*Agnes John Peter WILSON b. 22 Dec 1801, d. 12 Mar 1880
Birth*Peter Wilson HAIRSTON was born on 25 November 1819 in Oak Hill, Pittsylvania, Virginia.2,3,4 
He was the son of Samuel HAIRSTON and Agnes John Peter WILSON.1 
Property*Peter Hairston inherited Cooleemee Plantation home and 2,300 acres in 1832. 
College*Peter Wilson HAIRSTON graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1837.


The Weekly Standard, Raliegh, North Carolina, June 28, 1837, Page 3.5 
CollegeEnrolled in the University of Virginia Law School in 1837, but dropped out of school in 1839 due to illness.5 
AnecdoteOn October 19, 1843, Peter Hairston and George Hairston traveled to Liverpool, England on the SS Great Western. At that time the Great Western took about 16 days to cross the Atlantic. Peter and George toured England, France and Italy for 9 months. Their departure was listed in the New-York Daily Tribune on October 21, 1843.

On their return trip they arrived in the port of Shoreham, England on 16 May 1844 returning from Le Harve, France and then returned to Boston on the RMS Britannia on July 3, 1844.


The Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, July 6, 1844, Page 1.6,7 
Marriage*He married Columbia LaFayette STUART, daughter of Archibald STUART and Elizabeth Letcher PANNILL, on 28 October 1849 in Patrick, Virginia; Minister John L. Prichard, recorded 8 November 1849.8,9 
Residence*Peter Wilson HAIRSTON lived in 1850 in Cooleemee Plantation, Davie, North Carolina. 
Census 1850*He appeared on the census of 6 September 1850 in Davie, North Carolina,


Year: 1850; Census Place: Davie, North Carolina; Roll: M432_628; Page: 418B; Image: 401.10 
Death Spouse*His wife, Columbia Stuart, died in 1857. 
Marriage*He married Fannie "Fanny" McCoy CALDWELL, daughter of David Franklin CALDWELL, on 22 June 1859 in Rowan, North Carolina.11,12 
Anecdote*Peter and his bride Fanny obtained a passport on August 1, 1859, signed by J. E. B. Stuart, and traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy on their honeymoon. They returned to New York on the Steamship "Vanderbilt" on 28 April 1860 after a voyage from Le Harve, France via Southhampton, England.6 
Census 1860*Peter Wilson HAIRSTON appeared on the census of 14 August 1860 in Liberty, Davie, North Carolina,


Year: 1860; Census Place: Liberty, Davie, North Carolina; Roll: M653_896; Page: 72; Image: 144; Family History Library Film: 803896.12 
Military*Civilian volunteer aide-de-camp to Brig. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart (Peter's brother-in-law) from May 1861 to October 1861. Was at Battle of Manassas. He was also an aide to General Jubal Anderson Early in 1863.5

 
MilitaryLt. Col. Peter Hairston, Commander of the 24th Virginia, was severly wounded during the Battle of Williamsburg.13 
MilitaryWar Diary - Attached is a transcript of a portion of Peter's War Diary when he was with General Early during the months of November and December in 1863. -->
WillHe was mentioned in the will of Ruth Stovall HAIRSTON on 7 April 1866 in Berry Hill, Pittsylvania, Virginia; Mentions: Peter W. Hairston (1819-1886), Ruth Stoval Hairston (1827-1889), Samuel Pannill Wilson (1822-1894), Alice Alcey Hairston (1830-1914), Samuel Hardin Hairston (1822-1870), Ruth H. Wilson (daughter of Samuel and Ruth Wilson), William Lash Hairston (1863-1927), Samuel Hairston (1788-1875), Agnes John Peter Wilson (1801-1880) and deceased George Hairston (1822-1866).14
Census 1870*Peter Wilson HAIRSTON was Head of Household on 21 June 1870 in Ward 11, Baltimore, Maryland,


Year: 1870; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 11, Baltimore, Maryland; Roll: M593_576; Page: 78A; Image: 159; Family History Library Film: 552075.15 
Will*He left a will on 30 September 1874 in Baltimore, Maryland. A copy of the 1874 will of Peter W. Hairston was filed and recorded in the Lowndes County, Mississippi Will Book 1, page 513. FSL #5835939, image 380.16
Photo*

 
Occupation*He was a merchant in Baltimore with firm "Herbert and Hairston". in 1880.6 
Census 1880*He appeared on the census of 3 June 1880 in Sauratown, Stokes, North Carolina.17

 
Death*He died on 17 February 1886 in Baltimore, Maryland, at age 66.2 
ObituaryNEW YORK TIMES

"Peter W. Hairston, of the commission house of Herbert & Hairston, of Baltimore, died suddenly in his office about noon yesterday from a stroke of apoplexy. He was a native of Virginia, aged 65 years and embarked in business at the close of the late war in connection with the late Gen. James R. Herbert."

New York Times, February 18, 1886. 
Burial*He was buried in Berry Hill Plantation, Pittsylvania, Virginia.2,3

 
ObituaryCAROLINA WATCHMAN

A note from Dr. J. A. Caldwell to the editors of this paper says:

"Mr. P. W. Hairston died of apoplexy at his place of business, 85 South Charles street, Baltimore, at fifteen minutes to 12 o'clock, m., an hour after he was seized. He was buried atl the Hairston family burial ground at Berry Hilil Pitsylvania Co., Va.

"The deceased was held in great esteem for his kindness of heart; and such was the affection of his former slaves for him that some rode nearly forty miles to see him put away in his last resting place."

Dr. Caldwell and his niece, Miss Francis Fisher, went from this place to attend the burial.

A Baltimore paper of the 17th inst. says: "Mr. Hairston was in the office at about 11 o'oclock pleasantly conversing with Mr. Owens and several other merchants. He was observed by Mr. Owens to draw up one of his legs, and he almost immediately afterwards fell back in an unconscious condition. The usual restoratives were applied, but he died one hour after he had been stricken down.

Mr. Hairston came from Virginja sometime after the war and associated himself in business with the late Gen. James R. Herbert. The deceased was a member of the Corn and Flour Exchange. He leaves a widow (who is at present on a visit to North Carolina, where her husband owned considerable property), two sons, Frank C. and Peter Hairston, and two daughters.
He was 65 years of age. A letter from Mrs. Hairston to her husband arrived at the office just after be expired.

The death of Mr. Hairston caused much surprise, and numerous expressions of regret among his brother merchants on Charles street. His eldest son, Frank, one of the clerks employed in the establishment, was almost prostrated by the shock caused by his futher's sudden death. Mr. Hairston was a gentleman of fine physique and a genial disposition. The Fliag on the Corn and Flour Exchange was placed at half-mast out of respect to his memory. -- Carloina Watchman, Salisbury, North Carolina, Thusrady, Februray 25, 1886, Page 3. (Newspapers.com.) 
Obituary*THE WESTERN SENTINELl, Winston, North Carolina, Thursday, March 4, 1886. page 1.

 
Probate*His estate was probated on 17 November 1886 in Will Book 1, page 380., Lowndes, Mississippi.16

Family 1

Columbia LaFayette STUART b. 28 May 1830, d. 2 Aug 1857
Children

Family 2

Fannie "Fanny" McCoy CALDWELL b. 29 Aug 1834, d. 24 Jun 1907
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart (#1)
Descendant Chart (#2)
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S24] Hall, Wm. Kearney 1918-. Descendants of Nicholas Perkins of Virginia. 1957 Ann Arbor, Michigan.
    https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89069618338, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  2. [S14] Berry Hill Plantation Cemetery, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
  3. [S257] Obituary attached to this record.
  4. [S3812] Bible of Peter Hairston - Saura Town Hill, Dan River, Stokes, North Carolina. The Holy Bible Inclusinf The Old and New Testaments, and the Apocrypha..., London: Printed for C. G. J. and I. Robinson, Pater-Noster Row. 1793., Library of Virginia - http://www.lva.virginia.gov
  5. [S30] Trout, Robert J., They Followed the Plume The Story of J.E.B. Stuart and His Staff, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 1993, Personal Collection - printed book.
  6. [S32] Peter Wilson Hairston Papers, Manuscripts Department, Library of the University of North Carolina
    at Chapel Hill.
  7. [S228] England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869,. The National Archives (TNA), London, England.
  8. [S70] Marriages of Patrick County, Virginia 1791-1850, Lela C. Adams, (Bassett, VA 1972).
  9. [S3062] Bible - Stuart Family 1795-1877, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia.
  10. [S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  11. [S176] North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011 - Provo, Utah, Ancestry.com.
  12. [S1860] 1860 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  13. [S59] Early, Jubal Anderson, 1816-1894, and R. H. (Ruth Hairston) Early. Lieutenant General Jubal Anderson Early, C.S.A.: Autobiographical Sketch And Narrative of the War Between the States. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1912. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b61331, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  14. [S3673] Will of Ruth Stovall Hairston - 7 April 1866 - Will was written in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1866 and Ruth died in same county. Copies were also filed in Stokes County, North Carolina and Haywood County, Tennessee. PDF copy of Stokes County, NC filing is attached. Haywood County, Tennessee Will Book I, page 336. Family History Library Film #00477660, image 205-207., Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  15. [S1870] 1870 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  16. [S3520] Will of Peter W. Hairston 1874, Lowndes County, MS 1886 - Mississippi Probate Records, 1781-1930," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Q6-RXXL : 21 May 2014), Lowndes > Wills 1847-1889 vol 1 > image 303 of 341; county courthouses and public libraries, Mississippi., Lowndes County Courthouse,.
  17. [S1880] 1880 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
Last Edited24 Jun 2024