John HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#6107, b. between 1776 and 1794, d. about September 1827
Birth*John HAIRSTON was born between 1776 and 1794 in Virginia.1 
County Name*1818 - Union County and state of Illinois formed. 
Census 1820*He appeared on the census of 1820 in Union, Illinois, Hairston, John - Males: 10-15 2, 26-44 1, Females: under-10 1, 16-25 1, 45+ 1. There is a James Hurston listed above John Hairston and they were both born in the same time period of 1776-1794.2

Court Record*On 13 September 1821, the case of George Brown vs John Hairston was not filed on time and George Brown paid court fee. On the same day John Hairston was sworn in as a juror. - Union Circuit Court Order Book 1818-1832, page 10. FSL #8547424, image 22. 
Deed*1822 - Union County, Illinois - John Herston (Hearston) sells a tract of land to Henry Clutz on April 11, 1822. Witnessed by James P. Edwards and John Miller.1 
Court Record*James Hairston and John Hairston barrowed $60 from the State Bank of Illinois on August 22, 1825.1 
Death*He died about September 1827 in Alexander, Illinois, leaving a wife and 3 children.1 
Probate*His estate was probated in September 1827 in Alexander, Illinois, he died without a will. Mentioned in the documents are the following: James Hairston, Samuel Hairston, Mary Hairston. Names are spelled Hairston, Harston and Hurston.1
Court RecordOn 26 September 1827, James Hairston appointed John Whitaker esq., to be his attorney regarding the estate of John Hairston. - Cario County Probate Estate Files 1819-1860. FSL #4661835, image 862. 
ProbateHis estate inventory was probated on 10 October 1827. Cairo County, Illinois, Probate Estate Files. FSL #4661835, image 880. 
NOTE*NOTES: Probate and census documents have the following spellings; HAIRSTON, HURSTON, HEARSTON, HERSTON, HAUSTON and even a HIARSTON. The probate documents signed by the judge use HAIRSTON.

John Hairston (6107) died in 1826 intestate (without a will) and James Hairston (6108) was administrator of his estate. Since John and James were born in the same census time period, I will assume they are brothers or cousins, not father and son. In later census records of decendants of these two, it is stated that they were born in Virginia.

In the probate documents a Mary Hairston and a Samuel Hairston are also mentioned.

Polly Ann Hairston married William Hazelwood in Union County, IL on 25 September 1833. - FSL #7727659, image 47.

Eliza Hairston married James Hollingshed in Cairo County, IL on 15 June 1830. - FSL #4539806, image 60. 

Family
Child

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S3312] Probate - John Hairston 1827, Estate Probate Files, Vol. G-H, 1820-1860; Index to Probate Files, 1820-1971; Alexander County Court, Alexander, Illinois, Ancestry.com.
  2. [S1820] 1820 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  3. [S3313] Probate - Samuel Hairston, Estate Probate Files, Vol. G-H, 1820-1860; Index to Probate Files, 1820-1971; Alexander County Court, Alexander, Illinois. FSL #4661736, image 664., Ancestry.com.
Last Edited1 Apr 2026