James Weir, Sr. was born 1683, the son of Rev. John Weir. Their son, Thomas Weir, Sr. was born 1807. Thomas Weir had four children, one being Thomas Weir II. Thomas came to Greenville, South Carolina in 1795 from Ireland. A son of Thomas Weir II was Samuel Weir, an early resident of Greene County.
Jane Means married Samuel Weir on Sept. 26, 1832 in Greene County. They were parents of six children, all born in Greene County. Samuel Weir died between 1847 and 1850 in Miss. Jane returned to Ala and died Oct. 26, 1885 in Greene County. The children were:
Mary Elizabeth Weir (Lizzie), born Dec. 10, 1834 and married William F. Akin. They are buried in Beaver Dam Presbyterian Cemetery near Gordo.
Samuel Constantine Weir, born March 4, 1837 and died as a child and buried in Pleasant Ridge.
William Hamilton Weir, born April 22, 1839.
Margaret Jane Weir, born April 17, 1841.
James Leroy Weir, born Feb. 12, 1844.
Eliza Jane Weir, born Sept. 13, 1846. Married John Fletcher Maughan on January 23, 1868. They had one daughter. Mother and daughter died at childbirth less than one year after Eliza married.
Many family members attended Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church that closed 1870. Some family members attended Unity Baptist and Bethesda Presbyterian in Pickens County.
The following letters were written to Margaret Amanda Wilson, a beloved Weir relative who had moved away from Greene County to Saltillo, Miss. The first letter is from John Fletcher Maughan within weeks after the death of his wife, Eliza Jane, and young daughter. (Letters copied as written.)
October 6, 1868
My dear and well beloved Aunty Wilson: I received your most kind and welcome letter a few days past and was truly glad to hear from you and family once more, for I felt just like I was one of your connection that was looked over and not much cared for.
You wanted to know if I had got all the letters that had been sent to me, I certainly have not, they are on the way some where I reakon, they have never reached here yet.
Aunt I was truly glad to hear of your fine protracted meeting out there, I have been to several protracted meetings out here, but could not stay long enough at none of them to do me much good. There has not been any protracted meetings on the ridge this fall, or I don't hear of it.
Aunt, our crop is short every way this year we have out 2 bales of cotton, we sold one two weeks past at 27 1/2 cents and I expect we will keep the rest of our cotton until spring, if we can't get 30 cents for it, for we are making so little that we will be brought down this year to a perfect picture shape. I can't think of working this old poor place next year, I will be moving again Christmas, and I tell you aunt, I won't move many more times, I intend to have me a place of my own, if it is a poor one and it will keep me from moving so much.
Ma says tell you that she has just got out 3 counterpins, out of the loom, this morning and will put a blanket in the loom tomorrow, she sends her best respects to you and family, also sister Kitty, she is going to change her name in a few weeks.
Aunt you give Cousin Eliza my love and tell her that I am much disappointed in my aim, but she must not forget me entirely and to write to me, as ever she has done. Give my love to Cousin Amelia and the rest of the family and all of you must write to me as usual, for I assure you that I will answer your letters.
Aunt I hope you will remember me in your devotions.
From your devoted friend,
John F. Maughan
I hope you all remember me. If you on earth no more I see, an interest in your prayer I crave, that we may meet beyond the grave. Farewell, dear aunt and family
John F. Maughan did move once more, to Pickens Co. where he married Cynthia Melvina Peach, the daughter of John and Tamzy Caroline Gaskin Peach, on November 2, 1869 and bought his own farm. He died August 8, 1902 and is buried at Bethesda Cemetery in Benevola.
Bethany, Ala.
October 1, 1886
Dear Aunt: Just received your kind and most welcome letter, will try to answer it. This leaves us well as common, hope this will find you all enjoying the same blessing.
No news to write, more than times are hard, crops are very sorry. I am sorry to hear of Amelia being in trouble with those spells, it may end in something bad yet, but I hope not. I wish I could see you all, and I will if I don't bind myself up to work, I think I will see you this winter, I am going to try to get into work at the asylum at $20.00 a month, I don't know yet what I can do, I want the boys to work on the farm and to go to school.
I reakon Willie has forgotten us. He hasn't written to us in a year, tell him we live at the same place, I would love to see Cousin Eliza, she was my favorite among Lizzies cousins. How is John McCulley getting along? Tell them we have been waiting to hear from them.
Tell Bruce and Eddie to fix up and come out and spend a few days with us this winter. How does our old place look? Who is living at it? I would love to see Cousin Ben Means and all the old friends. Well, as Lizzie is going to write some I will come to a close, hoping to hear from you soon. May the blessings of God be with you all.
Your loving nephew,
W. F. Akin
October 4, 1886
My dearest Aunt Amanda: As Billie has been writing to you I will try to write a few lines, we received your most kind and welcome letter Saturday evening. Was glad to hear that you was all well, or that is, all able to be up, but was sorry to hear of your feeble health, hope you are better by this time.
I was sorry to hear of Edgars death, tho not surprised, we had heard that he was not expected to live long. Was very sorry to hear of Uncle Ephrams death, yet it is the lot of man, the young and the old must die.
How long has Amelia been troubled with those nervous spells. Hope she will soon get over it. I have a cousin in this county troubled very much the same way, more than she has hard fits.
Well, I must tell you we attended the Baptist Association last Saturday and Sunday, was a week and I never seen so many people in all my life, the papers say there was 800 people there. On Sunday, I enjoyed it very much, there will be preaching at our church next sabbath, Mr. Mitchell from Tenn will preach, I wish you were here to go with us.
Dear Aunt, you don't know how lonesome I am, my darling baby started to school this morning, that leaves me entirely by myself all day long.
Lula Maughan is boarding here, going to school, Billie and the boys are very busy picking cotton, and crop will be very short this year. Our prospect looks rather gloomy, but I trust there will be some way provided. I forgot to tell you that Mattie is going to school to cousin Martha Weir, Aunt Amanda.
Cousin Amanda Hood told me to ask you if you know anything about Scot Archibald, where he is and what he is doing, if you know anything, please let me know in your next letter. I want to write some to Cousin Eliza, if I have time. Aunt, if you know anything about Billies folks please tell me how they are getting along, please write.
With much love and many good wishes to you and your children, I close. Please write soon and often.
Lizzie Akin
And the last letter from William F. Akin's second wife, Lou Weir Shirley Akin.
January 19. 1900
My Dear Cousin: Oh, how sad the news I must write you. My dear husband, my dear Billie is dead. He died sitting at the breakfast table, the first day of November. Him and Mattie and myself was sitting at the table talking and laughing when his head fell to one side. We went to him, rubbed him, done all we could. He never drew his breath after we got to him, and oh cousin, I am so sad, so lonely, all my pleasures are buried with him.
He was so good, kind and loving to me, always ready to share my pleasures or grief. He was too good for this world. God called him home. I know it is wrong to grieve so much but it does seem my troubles are greater than I can bear......
Lou Akin
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