FIRST GENERATION

1. Absalom POLLARD Sr. was born on 1 Jan 1760 in New Kent, New Kent Co, VA. He died on 29 Aug 1835 in Lancaster, Garrard Co, KY. BIRTH: Absalom is the way his name is spelled on his birth record at St Peters parish in New Kent County, VA, the congressional record of the 31st congress, and the pension affidavit of Lewis V Phillips (doc #55). It is spelled Absolem, on page 475 of the official will book of Garrard County, KY.

MILITARY: He served as a Private and Corporal in Captain Jacob Valentines Company of the Second Regiment of the Virginia Line during the Revolutionary War from 1776 until the close of the revolution in 1783 when he was discharged due to poor health. He joined in Culpeper County, VA and served during the battles of Monmouth, Stony Point, and during the siege of Yorktown under General George Washington. (The war was fought from 1775 until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown on Oct 19, 1781, the treaty was signed on Sep 3, 1783). He applied for and received warrant #3297 for 200 acres on 11 May 1784 at Richmond, Virginia for 3 years service as a Corporal in the Virginia Line, as listed in the Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants Book, Page 422.

MARRIAGE: From deposition of his wife, Leanna, for a Widow's Pension from the Revolution: A slip cut from the Family Bible, listed the date, place and Mr. Holmes as the minister who performed the ceremony.

CENSUS/TAX LISTS: Amherst Co, VA tax list in 1783. Garrard Co, KY tax list in 1799 (for the lower district, with 1 white male over 21 and 4 horses). "The Second Census of Kentucky in 1800 (compiled from tax lists). Garrard Co, KY Census in 1820 (4 males age 16-26, 1 male over 45, 2 females 16-26, 1 female 26-45. Garrard Co, KY Census in 1830 (1 male age 20 - 30, 1 male age 70 - 80, 1 female age 60 - 70).

OTHER: We believe he moved to Amherst County, VA about the time he married Leaner Banks in 1782, where their first four children, Abner, Granville, Staunton, and John were born. We believe they moved to Lincoln County between 1787 & 1789, (a Virginia County until 1792 when Kentucky became a State). Later, this section of Lincoln County where today's City of Lancaster is situated, became Garrard County, Kentucky in 1796, where they had their next eight children, Sarah, Leaner, Malinda, Pamelia, Nancy, Absalom Jr.., Reuben, and James.

The first record of his presence in Kentucky was in the Early Kentucky Householders and Landholders book 1787-1811 showing the following entry: Pollard, Absalom 07 Aug 1789, book-pg 2.11 TM 1. He was next listed in 1791, and 1792, then again from 1794 through 1796 with 45 acres on the Sugar Creek watershed (His brother James also appears in the same book). He was serving as a Captain in the 1st Division, 2nd Brigade, 6th Regiment of the Kentucky Cornstalk Militia on Aug 9, 1792. He also appears on the tax list of Lincoln County on 27 April 1794 in Book 3, Page 17, as having 45 acres on the Sugar Creek watershed.

He applied for and received a pension #W8527 on 20 March 1830, under the act of May 15, 1828.

It was believed that he was buried in the Pollard Family Cemetery at latitude 37, 39' 35" on what was believed to have been the original Sugar Creek homestead, located on U.S. Route 27, opposite, and somewhat south of the mouth of Boones Creek Road near Lancaster, Garrard Co., KY. The tombstones of six family members including Granville, his wife Elizabeth, Isaiah, Isabella, Elizabeth H, and Telephus, (all buried between 1839 and 1862) were seen by Alice Montgomery and later by Bill and Reba Pollard in 1992, but were never able to find the tombstones of Absalom or Leanner. A pension affidavit submitted by Lewis V. Philips in January 1855 stated the following: "They are both buried at the old homestead in Garrard County, KY and I have frequently seen their graves. On the tombstone of the said Absalom Pollard is inscribed Absalom Pollard died August 30th 1835 aged 80 years" (Document #55 U.S. Archives). This cemetery is not protected, and has become part of a cow pasture on the Les Huffman farm, it has deteriorated to the point that within a few years all traces of its existence will have disappeared. After further investigation in the area, we now believe that Absalom and Leaner were buried on what was then known as the "Old Place" mentioned in Absalom's will, which could not have been on the property where the "Pollard" cemetery is located, as this property would have been acquired by Granville and Ann Thompson-Pollard from her parents. The "Old Place" bordered on Sugar Creek and Steens Branch which would have been located further to the North of this location.

DAR Lineage Book Vol 69, Pg 305 - Patriots Index Vol 1, Pg 539 - Calendar of Virginia State Papers: Letter to Gov Jefferson, dated 1781 from Lt. Absalom Pollard (referred to in the VA Historical Index).

Absalom was listed as bondsman for John Banks marriage to Dolly McLand, 19 Aug 1806; and William Banks marriage to Elizabeth Brown, 5 Dec 1801.

WILL: I, Absalom Pollard of Garrard County, influenced by a sense of duty to myself and family, having attained 70 years of age and upwards, and being at this time somewhat indisposed by disease, do make, ordain and publish this writing as my last will and testament. In the first place it is my desire that all my just debts (if any) be paid by my executors. And that my body be interred in a decent and Christian like manner.

Secondly, I devise to my affectionate wife Leaner Pollard, who has been my faithful partner during a long life, the tract of land on which I now live during her natural life. And at her death I devise the same to my son James Pollard and his heirs forever. I also devise to my wife, during her life the following slaves (to wit) Judy, Peter, Fielding and Andrew, and at her death I desire that my executors may sell said slaves and divide the proceeds as hereafter directed. Also I devise to my said wife all the money which I have on hand and so much of my household and kitchen furniture as she may desire to keep and at her death I desire that my son James shall have my desk, clock and folding, and the remainder of said property I desire my executors to sell after the death of my said wife. It is further my desire that my son James as soon as convenient after my death, move upon the farm now occupied by me and live with his mother and manage and cultivate the farm for her hoping that they can do so in harmony and peace.

Thirdly, in order to make provision for my daughter Pamelia Cornelius and her children, I desire to my son James for her benefit, that tract of land adjoining the farm on which I live, called the (old place) and bounded as follows, to wit, beginning at the mouth of Steens Branch, thence up the same to Steens line, thence a north course with his line to the mouth of a lane, near where John Cornelius formerly lived, thence a west course down a small branch to Sugar Creek, thence up the same to the beginning, which tract of land I desire may be held by said James Pollard as trustee for my daughter Pamelia during her life and at her death I devise the same to the children of said Pamelia and their heirs forever.

Fifthly it is my desire that my executors hereafter to be named, after my death, sell all the balance of my estate upon such credit as they may deem expedient and divide the proceeds thereof equally, to wit, Reuben Pollard, Staunton Pollard, John Pollard, John Hill and wife, Samuel Naylor and wife, Terrill Herring and wife, John Naylor and wife, Absalom Pollard, Granville Pollard and the children of Abner Pollard, deceased who are to be entitled to the same share to which their father would have been entitled had he been living.

Sixthly, I nominate and appoint my son John Pollard, My son-in-law John Hill and my friend Robert Burnsides, my executors, hoping that they will carry my will into effect by making sale of such of my estate as is not specifically devised as soon as practicable after my death and will also sell such of my estate as may be devised during the life of my wife and as soon thereafter as may be convenient. And the proceeds divided as I have herein requested. In addition to the property devised to my wife during life, I give to her 2 horses 8 head of cattle, 2 ploughs and gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunder set my hand this 24th day of February 1833.

/signed/ Absalom Pollard

Witnessed in presence of: S. H. Anderson, Isaac Marksbury

He was married to Leaner BANKS (daughter of Linn "Sam" BANKS and Sarah PROCTOR) on 12 Feb 1782 in Amherst Co, VA. Leaner BANKS was born about 1763 in Amherst Co, VA. She died on 3 Jan 1845 in Lancaster, Garrard Co, KY. OTHER: Leaner is the way her name is spelled in her husbands will and on her Certificate of Pension issued the 31st day of July 1843 under the act of March 3, 1843 and recorded in book A, Vol 1, Page 172. She was about 74 years of age at that time.

The name has also been spelled Leanna.

She had a sister named Sally Pendleton who was about 70 years of age in 1839, when she sent a letter to the pension board stating that they had lived together, or as neighbors since they were born. Sally submitted another affidavit for pension in January 1855, she stated that she was 93 years of age.

She is believed to be buried in the Pollard Family Cemetery. (See note in Absolem Pollard's file).

Her Grandson James M. Pollard gave her date of death as 8 January 1845, in an affidavit for pension he signed in January 1855. He stated further that Leanna and Absolem were married by a minister of the Gospel named Mr Holmes. (Document #9) Absalom POLLARD Sr. and Leaner BANKS had the following children:

+2 i. Abner POLLARD.
+3 ii. Granville POLLARD Sr..
+4 iii. Stanton POLLARD.
+5 iv. John Banks POLLARD.
+6 v. Sarah POLLARD.
+7 vi. Leaner POLLARD.
+8 vii. Reuben POLLARD.
+9 viii. Malinda POLLARD.
+10 ix. Pamelia POLLARD.
+11 x. Nancy POLLARD.
+12 xi. Absalom POLLARD Jr..
+13 xii. James Martin POLLARD.