Robert HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#3962, b. between 1776 and 1780, d. 22 August 1841
Father*Peter HAIRSTON1 b. a 1754
Mother*Mary YELDELL1
Birth*Robert HAIRSTON was born between 1776 and 1780 in South Carolina.2,3 
He was the son of Peter HAIRSTON and Mary YELDELL.1 
WillRobert HAIRSTON was mentioned in the will of Robert YELDELL on 29 June 1789 in Abbeville, South Carolina; Mentions grandson Robert Hairston and son-in-law Peter Hairston. Children James (deceased), Jean, Sarah White, Mary Hairston, Robert, Anthony, Phebe. Grandchildren Robert Yeldell, Robert Hairston. - FSL #4752827 image 25 or #4752968, image 40.1,4
Marriage*Robert HAIRSTON married Margaret SMELTZER (SMELSER), daughter of George SMELTZER (SMELSER) and Mary (surname unknown), about 1804. 
County Name1807 - Bedford from Rutherford County, Tennessee. 
Survey*Robert Hairston has 300 acres surveyed in Bedford County, Tennessee, on 15 August 1808. The land is on both sides of Gregg Creek.5
County Name*1809 - Lincoln from Bedford County. 
Census 1810* 1810 Federal Census for Tennessee was lost.6 
Court Record*27 Feb 1812 - "Robert Hairston records his stock mark a swallow fork in the left ear and underbit in the right." - FSL #4769035, image 354 and F/T #7642920 image 86. 
Deed*1813 Lincoln County, Tennessee - Micajah McElroy and Daniel Summer sold to Robert Hairston "a negro boy named Bob aged about 13 years old." This transaction was recorded 16 Aug 1821, page 154. - Lincoln Deeds 1816-181, page 154. FSL F/T #8151187 image 321.7 
Census 1820*Robert HAIRSTON appeared on the census of 7 August 1820 in Lincoln, Tennessee, Males 1-9 1, 10-15 1, 26-44 1, Females 1-9 1, 10-15 1, 25-44 1, slaves 1. - census page 21. Robert is listed next to William Meek from South Carolina.3

DeedOn 7 March 1821 in Lincoln, Tenn. - Eli, Agatha, Willian and Polly Garrett sold to Robert Hairston a "Negro girl named Delila age about 8 years". - Lincoln County Court Minutes 1819-1823, page 279. FSL #7642920, imange F/T 168.7 
Deed1823 Lincoln Tenn. - Robert purchased a 12 year old Negro girl named Caroline on 2 June 1823 from William McElroy. Lincoln County Deed. Reg. 18 March 1826 Book C, page 347. FSL F/T #7895006, image 204.7 
Deed1826 Lincoln, Tenn. - Robert purchased a 14 year old Negro boy named Amos from Robert Dickson on 3 April 1826. Reg. 22 May 1826, Lincoln County, Tennessee Deed Book G, page 395. FSL F/T #7895006, image 229.7 
Deed1827 Lincoln, Tenn. - listed as note holder Lincoln Co. Deed Book H, page 375.7 
Deed1827 Lincoln County - Robert purchased 1,025 acres in Lincoln Co. from Thomas J. and Charles J. Polk of Sumpter District, South Carolina. Lincoln Co. Deed Book H, page 389. FSL F/T #78950006, image 631.7 
Census 1830*He appeared on the census of 1830 in Lincoln, Tennessee, Males 15-19 1, 20-29 1, 50-59 1, Females: 10-14 1, 40-49 1, slaves 6.2
Deed1830 Lincoln County - Purchased an additonal 50 acres of land from Thomas J. and Chales J. Polk. Lincoln County Deed Book H, page 591.7 
Tax Rolls*1836 Lincoln County - listed on tax list for Lincoln Co., Tenneessee. 
ProbateHe was listed as a beneficiary in George SMELTZER (SMELSER)'s will on 19 July 1836; Margaret Smeltzer Hairston and husband Robert Hairston of Lincoln County, Tennessee sell land inherited from George Smelser to Wilson L. Overall. - St. Charles County, Missouri Book K, pages 326-327. FSL #8196755, image 702. 
Census 1841*Robert HAIRSTON appeared on the Mississippi Census of 1841 in Marshall, Mississippi; Robert Hairston Males 2, Females 2.8

Will*He left a will on 12 August 1841 in Marshall, Mississippi. The will mentions his wife Margaret, daughter Mary Meek, nephews Robert Meek & Robert Hairston, son Manley M. Hairston and son James N. Hairston. Robert's son Manley M. Hairston was appointed administrator. Note: Nephews Robert Meek & Robert Hairston are actually grandsons of the deceased Robert Hairston. Robert Meek is the son of Mary E. Hairston Meek and Robert Hairston is the son of James N. Hairston. - Marshall County Mississippi Court records 1839-1846, pages 411-412. FSL #5815480, image 220. A copy of the will was also filed in the Lincoln County TN Will Books, Page 204 - Tennessee Wills and Probate Records. FSL #7642927, image 383 and #8959917, image 284.9
Death*He died on 22 August 1841 in Marshall, Mississippi.10 
Probate*His estate was probated on 25 October 1841 in Marshall, Mississippi, it was also filed in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Will Book 1, page 204.11 
ProbateGuardian Settlement Records of Lincoln County Court: Feb. 23, 1843 Manly Hairston for Robert Hairston, grandson of Robert Hairston deceased, $556.63 . Received from Manly by James Hairston for child Robert mentioned in Robert Hairston dec'd will of 1841. p 175.9

Family

Margaret SMELTZER (SMELSER) b. a 1785, d. 16 Nov 1862
Children

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S3227] Will of Robert Yeldell Sr. - 1789, Abbeville District, South Carolina; Recorded 15 Jan 1790, Will Book 1, Page 20. FSL #4752827 image 25., South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
  2. [S1830] 1830 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  3. [S1820] 1820 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  4. [S3718] Weaver, Oliver C. Jr., Yeldell and Hartsfield Families and Weaver Family, 1993, Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  5. [S292] Tennessee. Division of Archives, Land Office, and Museum. Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records, 1783–1927, Record Group 50. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tenn.
  6. [S1810] 1810 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  7. [S3057] Land Deed Genealogy of Lincoln County Tennessee, 1818 - 1828 Volume 2 compiles by Helen C. & Timothy R. Marsh, Southern Historical Press, Inc., Greenville, South Carolina - 1996.
  8. [S1841] 1841 Mississippi Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  9. [S3251] Tennessee Wills & Probate Records 1779-2008, Ancestry.com.
  10. [S3176] Lincoln County Tennessee Bible Records, Volume 4, compiled by Mabel Abbott Tucker and Jane Warren Waller, Lincoln County Tennessee Pioneers. Family History Library Film #007831066., Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  11. [S3056] Index to Tennessee Wills & Administrations, 1779 - 1861, by Byron & Barbara Sistler, Nashville, TN 1990.
  12. [S46] Vic Hairston and Edward J. Bregenzer, The Hairston History, February 12, 1998. Personal Collection - copy.
Last Edited30 Nov 2025