Staggs Family History

My ancestors in the United States

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    Sarah Beard (1779-1855)

    BIRTH: 27 FEB 1779 • Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA
    DEATH: 5 MAY 1855 • Flemingsburg, Fleming, Kentucky, USA
    FATHER: David William Beard (1760-1808)
    MOTHER: Eleanor Lyons (1760-1855)
    SPOUSE: James Staggs (1774-1850)

    When Sarah Beard was born on February 27, 1779, in Somerset, Pennsylvania, her father, David, was 18, and her mother, Eleanor, was 19. She married James Staggs on September 20, 1797, in Mason, Kentucky. They had ten children in 23 years. She died on May 5, 1855, in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, having lived a long life of 76 years, and was buried in the Staggs Cemetery in Fleming County, Kentucky.

    Her story

    The following is an excerpt from Staggs Genealogy – Harold Wareham Staggs – His Book

    In the records of the Office of the County Clerk, Courthouse, Mason County, Kentucky, we find this recorded:

    Permission To Marry for James Stagqs
    “Please to grant Mr. James Staggs lifence (license) to be married to my daughter Sarah Beard and this
    shall be your security as Wittnef (witness) my hand and seal this 19th Sept 1797″
    David Wood (signed) David Beard
    Charles Jackson

    Yes sir, in those days the girls’ father had to give his permission. Sarah’s father, David Beard, was born ca 1740 and had pioneered Mason County, Kentucky. His death is recorded in the Courthouse at Fiemingsburg as May 1814.

    Courtship in those days? Well of course James drove her to church each Sunday and there were buckboard rides behind two high stepping horses down the oak lined roads through the Cumberland hills to attend church socials and hootenannies. I’ll bet that she made the most delectable delicacies to take on picnics. James was 3 years old. A good catch, he had several farms, so he was well off. Sarah was 18 and most likely as lovely as our Sara (Karen and Steve’s).

    The day after David Beard filed his permission for James to marry Sarah with the County Clerk, James and a friend, Caleb, filed the marriage bond.

    MARRIAGE BOND
    “Know all men by these presents that we James Staggs E Caleb Hizer are held and firmy bound unto James Garrard Esqf (esquire) for the Commonwealth (Kentucky) for the time being and to his succefors (successors) in the last and full sum of fifty pounds current money to the which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs jointly and severally firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated the 20th day of Sept. 1797. “The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas a marriage is intended to be had and solemnized between James Staggs and Sarah Beard now if there is no just cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue”
    James (X) Staggs (seal)
    Caleb (X) Hizer (seal)

    In those days the Commonwealth of Kentucky and other states required this bond in order to discourage breach of promise by men who get cold feet at the last moment. The bond also reflects the rigid moral code attached to the institution of marriage in those days. Note that the value of the bond was very high and if James hadn’t married Sarah that money would have gone to Governor James Garrard of Kentucky.

    On September 21, 1797, they married and lived the rest of their lives on their farms in Fleming County. They had ten children, the eighth was Phillip Beard Staggs, our next direct ancestor. Grandfather James and Grandmother Sarah’s children were:

    • Nancy, b. ca 1798, Mason Co.Kent., d. 1819 (age ca 21), Fleming County, Kent., m. 21 Jan 1819, Henry Hurst 11, b. ca 1800, Mason County Kentucky, Nancy buried Fleming Co., Ky.
    • Thomas F., b. 9 Oct 1800, Mason Co., Kent., d. 27 Aug 1867 (age 67), Fleming Co., Kent., m. (1st) 25 Dec 1821, Fleming Co., Kent., Hannah Davis, b. 29 Jan 1800, Fleming Co., Kent., d. 24 May 1839 (age 39), Fleming Co., Kent., m. (2nd) Eleanor Davis, b. 14 Jul 1814, d. 9 Feb 1847 (age 33), m. (3rd) 12 May 1848, Polly Ann Davis Jordan (sister to Eleanor Davis, wife 1), b. 12 May 1818, Fleming Co., Kent., d. 9 Feb 1884 (age 66), Fleming Co., Kentucky. Thomas F. Staggs and his three wives are buried in Staggs Cemetery, near Flemingsburg, Fleming Co., Kent.
    • David E., b. ca 1802, m. Fannie Ann Jordan, b. 1 Feb 1800, d. 9 Sep 1890 (age 90). Had several children.
    • Elizabeth, b, ca 1804, m 1824, Mason Co., Kent., Daniel Jones, d. before 1847. Elizabeth m. (2nd) a Mr. Bell.
    • Melissa, b. ca 1806, m. 1819, Fleming Co., Kent., William Goodwin.
    • William R., b. 19 May 1809, Fleming Co., Ky., d. 18 Sep 1889 (age 80), Fleming Co., Ky., m. Dec 1833, Fleming Co., Ky., Teresa Estill, b. 5 Oct 1812, Fleming Co., Ky., d. 3 Sep 1892 (age 80), Fleming Co., Ky. Both buried Staggs Cemetery, Fleming Co., Kentucky.
    • Massie, b. ca 1810, Fleming Co., Ky., d. Jun 1850 (age 40), Fleming Co., Ky., m. 1830, William B. Ham. Had children, all born in Fleming County, Kentucky.
    • Phillip Beard, b. 181.1, Fleming Co., Kentucky, d. Jun 1850 (age 39), Platte County, Mo., m. (1st) ca 1835, Fleming Co., Kent., Rebecca ? b. Kentucky, d. ca 1843, Platte Co., Missouri, m. (2nd) 1844, Platte Co., Mo., Vianna Randolph, b. ca 1819, 111., or Tennessee, m. (2nd) 18 Nov 1856, Platte Co., Mo., Basil George. Vianna died in Parkville, Mo., buried in Old Cemetery, Parkville, Platte Co., Mo.
    • Samuel, b. 1814, d. 4 Feb 1852 (age 38), Weston, Platte Co., Mo., m. 1831, Kentucky, Margaret Warren.
    • Rebecca, b. 1821, Fleming County, Kentucky, m. 1855, Fleming Co., Ky., William B. Ham, widower of her sister, Massie.

    Legacy of Sarah Beard

    Parents

    Father: David William Beard (1760-1808)

    Mother: Eleanor Lyons (1760-1855)

    Married

    James Staggs (1774-1850). Married September 20, 1797, Mason County, Kentucky, 

    Children

    • Nancy Staggs (1798-1819)
    • Thomas Staggs (1800-1867)
    • David Staggs (1802-?)
    • Elizabeth Staggs (1805-1899)
    • Melissa Staggs (1806-1852)
    • William Staggs (1809-1889)
    • Massie Staggs (1810-1852)
    • Philip Beard Staggs (1810-1850)
    • Samuel Staggs (1814-1852)
    • Rebecca Staggs (1821-?).

    Documents

    • Birth Records
      • Grave marker > “Born Feb 27, 1779” > Staggs Cemetery, Staggs Road, Fleming County, Kentucky, USA
    • Marriage records
      • Kentucky, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965 > Death Records, 1852-1910 > All > Film 994034: Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton > Name: Sarah Beard; Gender: Female; Marriage Date: 19 Sep 1797; Marriage Place: Mason, Kentucky, USA; Father: David Beard; Spouse: James Staggs; Film Number: 000281843
      • Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1802-1850 > Name: Sarah Beard; Marriage Date: 20 Sep 1797; Marriage Place: Mason, Kentucky, USA; Spouse: James Staggs
    • Death records
      • Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852-1965 > Name: Sarah Staggs; Gender: Female; Death Place: Kentucky, USA; Spouse: Jas Staggs; Child: Massa Ham
      • Grave marker > “Died May 5, 1855” > Staggs Cemetery, Staggs Road, Fleming County, Kentucky, USA
      • Find A Grave
      • Burial: Staggs Cemetery, Staggs Road, Fleming County, Kentucky, USA
    • Census Records
      • 1850 United States Federal Census > Kentucky > Fleming > District 1 > Sarah Staggs, aged 72 years, living with James Staggs (76, farmer), Rebecca Staggs (29), Ann E. Staggs (13) and Joseph A. Staggs (17, farmer). Marked “Persons over 29 y’rs of age who cannot read & write”: Sara, James, and Rebecca.
    • Other

    Relation of Sarah Beard to Steven Barry Staggs: 3rd great-grandmother

    Page last updated November 9, 2025

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