John Lard, the oldest person in my lineage thus confirmed is my 4-G grandfather, “born February 12, 1792, near South Carolina” 1  lived in Kentucky for some period of time as a kid, then moved to Illinois and was in Missouri a couple times and then died November 16th, 1845 in Sangamon County, Illinois.2
View Source *1

So, that’s John – found some details on him in 1988 on microfiche and now after all these years I know so much more about him, however I still don’t know his parents…

The Laird Family Tree came to the U.S. presumably in the 17th to mid to late 18th century.  Once they got here however, they then scattered across the U.S.  I have located two 4th cousins, connected other 3rd Laird cousins and have had a great time talking with some of the other family that has been involved in genealogy.  Now is the time however to get down to business…

John had a lot of family.  In the same reference from above, John’s sister is revealed as Tabitha (Lard) Jones, born in KY in 1795/06/18.

John’s Sibling(s):
John’s sister, Tabitha (Lard) Jones, born June 18th, 17953 in Kentucky.  She was married on January 20th, 1818 to Robert Jones.  By 18194 / 1820 she was in Wayne Co, IL.  18285 / 1830 she lived in Sangamon Co, IL next to Thomas Laird.  In 1840 she was still in Sangamon Co, IL next to the Stouts.  1850’s Thomas Laird was living likely with her in Sangamon Co, IL as well as 1860.  She passed away September 22, 1861 in Sangamon Co, IL.6 View relationship between John Lard and Tabitha (Lard) Jones

John’s Children:
Josiah Lard (my 3-G grandfather) was John Lard’s first child, born in Missouri on May 12th, 1819 to Lydia Laird (Todd).  1850-1880 census records show Josiah in Sangamon Co, IL.  He died July 29th, 1882.

Cynthia Ann Maher (Lard) born 1828 in Illinois to Elizabeth Lard (Kelly).  In 1850 and 1860 she lived in Sangamon Co, Il with the Stouts.  (Philemon from KY)  In 1870 she was still living in Sangamon Co, Il and there was now a Thomas Lard living with her – born ~1805.

Other children were Thomas K. Lard, Louisa P. Maher (Lard), Amelia Atterbury (Lard), Robert J. Lard (1837-1903), Mahala Taylor (Lard) and Hezekiah Lard.  Roberts line led me to meet some of my current relatives and I have been able to collect a fair amount of info from that line.

I put this website up, to not only track the Laird/Lard/Leaird etc line back as far as it goes, but also to connect with relatives up and down the line.  You can search on the right for names, most of which are Lards/Laird and their wives/husbands.

I have been working off-and-on with my family genealogy since I was in my teens.  Back then, it was limited to microfische at the local library (think 1980’s).  I got stuck on the name John Lard, with 1792 being his birth year.  30ish years later and even with all the technology and access to records on the interwebs – I am STILL STUCK at John Lard – my 4-G Granddad. He ultimately died in Sangamon Co., IL around 1845. His son was Josiah Lard b. 1819, with birth mother Lydia Todd Lard.

I have received numerous citations that John Lard is the son of Hezekiah Lard and Caty Pursley(spelled several ways) who were married in Nelson Co., KY and migrated to St. Louis, Mo about the year 1797, two years before Hezekiah’s death in 1799.  However, historically, John (b. 1792 and d. 1845) being the son of Hezekiah “Ezekiel” doesnt line up.  History of Sangamon Co says that Tabitha (Lard) Jones is the sister of John Lard who died in Sangamon Co, Il.  That same historical account says that John was born in 1792 and that his dad died in Kentucky.  It then further states that John went to live with his uncle at about the age of 15 when he went to St. Louis, which would put us at about 1807.

My take-away is that it is certainly possible that John was related to Hezekiah.  To what extent is still unknown.

View the male lineage up to John Lard and his ?Dad? (Family Tree-Male lineage)
View all relationships for John Lard and sister Tabitha Jones (Lard)(Family Tree-Male lineage)

John Lard
Name John Lard
Birth 2/12/1792 in /near Charleston, SC
DeathON 11/16/1845 in Sangamon County, Ill
Parents
?John Lard Dad?
WifeLydia Lard (Todd) (06/24/1818 - (d)1824)

But now with the plethora of resources available on the internet and after all these years, I have so much more information “around” him.

He’s reported to have been born 1792 near Charleston, SC (in a Sangamon County document prior to 1900) – Many people seem to think that he lines up through the Adam Lard/Lucretia Creasy family line, but at this moment, I haven’t seen that fit.  Here is where I’m at so far.

2015 11/24
John Lard:  It has been suggested that John Lard was born near Charleston, SC in 1792, by a book written over Sangamon County history.  To date, I have limited information to corroborate this claim.  This same history document on another page, states that Tabitha Jones (formerly Lard – m. Robert Jones in KY) is the sister of John Lard. 1Source: History of Early Settlers of Sangamon Illinois. 1876

 A record that I do have some confidence in is the Census record for Sangamon County, IL 1880 for Josiah Lard, who is John Lard’s son, born 1819 – was aged 61 during this census.  I also have the headstone photograph for Josiah showing date.  By all accounts at this time, this is the correct Josiah.  In the census, Josiah or other from his family stated that Josiah’s father was born in Kentucky and mother Lydia Todd was born in Kentucky.  I have the supposition so far stating that Lydia Todd’s parents were married in Madison County, Kentucky March 7, 1799 and that Lydia was born shortly after.  Wikitree (which has highly suspect information) states Lydia was born in MO with a birth of 1801.  I also don’t have anything to substantiate MO birthplace of Lydia Todd.  Right now, I have the most conclusive statement from the census of Josiah Lard where it states both parents John and Lydia were both born in Kentucky.
Lydia’s family was in Madison County, KY.
Several Lards/Laird were in Fayette/Jessamine Counties which actually lay next to Madison County.  Many other surrounding counties were Lard’s/Laird’s as well.  Still trying to connect.
Two statements that give significant implications:
1. John went to visit his uncle Hezekiah Lard in Missouri at the age of 15.  Couple points here of interest:
Point A. If John was 15 when he moved to be with Hezekiah, it would have been around the years 1807 which is about 8 years after Hezekiah(akaEzekiel)Lard who obtained land in late 1790’s and then died right at the turn of the century. (noted below)
OR – Point B.  If this is the correct Hezekiah, which there seems to be a link – that would put John as having been born before 1792 which doesn’t seem likely at this time –
OR – Point C.  John was not 15 when he came out to be with his uncle.
Points A & C seem more likely presently.

2. Tabitha Lard Jones is the sister of John Lard – They both came from Kentucky, they lived near each other and I have links to a couple other people where there is proximity as well.

But, be that as it may, John Lard is where I am currently stuck.

Josiah Lard (headstone photograph) (b. 1819 in MO) m. Jemima Crowder 1842 (headstone photograph)

Joab J Laird (headstone photograph) (b. 1844 in Il) m. Mary J. Stroud 1865

My G-Grandfather: F.A. Laird (b. 1878 in Il) m. Angie Colean 1898 (headstone photograph)

My Grandfather: Everett A. Laird (headstone photograph)

My Dad..

And then me. Charles Laird.

To get past John Lard, I have a couple different branches that might pan out.

2015 11/15
Hezekiah Lard/Lord/Leard (aka Ezekiel) Lived with younger brother John, had a son John and is recorded as also having a nephew by the name of John

I found a John Jr. recorded, in relation to the estate of Hezekiah/Ezekiel in Missouri, where John is reported to have “gone off to Illinois or Indiana” and married Lydia Todd at the correct date 6/24/1818
John Lard’s father died in Kentucky and John left at about the age of 15 to be with his Uncle Hezekiah.  John Left from Kentucky to MO, then Illinois – ultimately Sangamon County.
John Lard also reported to have a sister Tabitha born just a couple years after him and was married in Kentucky, before she and her husband “Jones” moved to Illinois as well (Sangamon County)
If – and this is a big if… but if after my talk with “source” (big into genealogy on the Lairds/Lards/Leards) later this month, I might be able to get the sources, to tie us into a line dating back to 1698 (William Laird – in Scotland) ***
And if – I can get “source” to respond, he claims to have Lairds back to ~1620 – 3 more generations back from William – to “John Laird” in Scotland, near/by Glasgow.  All of this is an “If”, but would be really cool. ***
***2/23/2016 – The “IF” isn’t panning out.  Trying to get the resource to provide assistance still.
*** 6/13/2016  – Both of these sources did not deliver the goods.
Current inquiry – If anyone has a connection either up or down the genealogical line of :
1. John Lard – b. ~2/12/1792 SC,  – d. 11/16/1845 Sangamon County, Illinois m. Lydia Todd 1818 (Lydia died 1824) / m. Elizabeth Kelly
2. Tabitha (maiden-Lard) Jones b. ~1795 SC,  m. 1818 Barren County, KY – John Lard’s presumed sister
3. Thomas Lard/Lord (w/son Dennison/Denison Lord) – Possible brother of Tabitha – also likely related to Joab Laird – b. ~1794 KY d. After 1860, Wyalusing, WI
If you have info on any of these people, I would be very interested in hearing from you.
  1. -Early Settlers of Sangamon County Illinois, 1876, by John Carroll – https://archive.org/stream/historyofearlyse00powe#page/444/mode/2up
  2. John Lard’s Death, Probate case 667 – https://www.ilsos.gov/isairad/sangmonProbate.do Type in Lard, John
  3. https://archive.org/details/historyofearlyse00powe/page/414/mode/2up
  4. History of Sangamon County, Illinois – 1881 https://books.google.com/books?id=z1M0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA797&lpg=PA797&dq=tabitha+lard+north+carolina&source=bl&ots=105QCVZXcz&sig=cD1exx-HU-Ks5sSLncULBVgDW_c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBGoVChMI-vnxgIf1yAIVwvAmCh3TgA6l#v=onepage&q=tabitha%20lard%20north%20carolina&f=false
  5. History of Sangamon County, Illinois – 1881
  6. History of Sangamon County, Illinois – 1881