John Layton was born 1730 in England, and died 1813 in Perry Co., Missouri. He married Jane Pearce 1761 in Maryland. She was born Bet. 1742 - 1747, and died 1820 in Perry Co., Missouri.
Notes for John Layton:
I wish I could remember who I got this information from
John Layton, Sr., lived on a one-hundred acre tract of land which was part of
a survey of one thousand acres entered by James Ingo Dozier and John E. King.
In 1799, the land was rated as third class and the tax lists showed six horses
in the possession of John Layton.
John Layton, SR and three of his sons, Bernard, John and Ignatius were successful in obtaining Spanish Land grants in the Louisianna Territory, where they immigrated by 1803. Joseph and Zachariah remained too long in KY to obtain Spanish land grants. Joseph did journey to Missouri to purchase land with the intention of settling on it, but he died on his return to KY to bring his family. Zachariah received land from his father. Some of Joseph Layton's descendants remained in KY as late as 1818, moving to MO, about the same time as the Brewers and the Elders.
Nothing is known of the social origins of John Layton, Sr. but it is safe to say that he instilled in his children a respect for the public trust. His sons were active in the formation of county government, the establishment of Perryville, and the foundation of Saint Mary's Seminary. His son John and his descendants Felix Layton, John C. Layton, Vernon Bruckerhoff and Leo Martin Dean have served as MO state representatives.
Children of John Layton and Jane Pearce are:
1. Joseph Layton, born June 13, 1762 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died Abt. October 09, 1809 in Washington Co., Kentucky. He married (1) Mary Ann Downs 1784 in Washington Co., Kentucky; born Bet. 1764 - 1770; died Abt. July 02, 1802 in Washington Co., Kentucky. He married (2) Mary Miles January 05, 1803 in Washington Co., Kentucky. He married (3) Theresa Yates October 05, 1805 in Washington Co., Kentucky; born 1776.
2. Zachariah Layton, born January 13, 1765 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died October 23, 1839 in Perry Co., Missouri. He married Mary Ann Riney February 10, 1801 in Washington Co., Kentucky.
3. Susanna Layton, born March 12, 1766 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died Abt. 1766 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland.
4. Ignatius Layton, born August 24, 1768 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died 1774 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland.
5. Bernard Layton, born 1769 in St. Marys Co., Maryland; died November 06, 1848 in Perry Co., Missouri. He married Mary Yates September 24, 1799 in Washington Co., Kentucky.
Notes for Bernard Layton:
Bernard arrived in Missouri early enough to secure a Spanish Land Grant. He parted with a portion of his land which became the site of Perryville. By virtue of his conation he maybe considered the Founder of Perryville, Mo.
At the time the town lots were marked off in 1822, he received 95 cents for his services as chain carrier. In 1823 county court awarded him seven dollars as a constable in bringing vagrants before justice. In 1828, he owned slaves valued at $300 and a town lot of three acres in Perryville, valued at $25.
6. Mary Layton, born 1770 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died November 02, 1832 in Perry Co., Missouri. She married Joseph Manning November 26, 1792 in Washington Co., Kentucky; born 1769 in St. Marys Co., Maryland; died October 30, 1843 in Perry Co., Missouri.
7. Ignatius Layton, born February 03, 1774 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died January 21, 1839 in Perry Co., Missouri. He married (1) Elizabeth Miles November 19, 1799 in Washington Co., Kentucky; born June 06, 1782 in Maryland; died September 02, 1835 in Perry Co., Missouri. He married (2) Mary Knott July 25, 1837 in Perry Co., Missouri; born 1771 in St. Marys, Maryland; died February 02, 1852 in Perry Co., Missouri.
8. John C. Layton, born February 09, 1777 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died in Perry Co., Missouri. He married Monica French September 14, 1799 in Washington Co., Kentucky.
Notes for John C. Layton:
He received a Spanish Land Grant in the amount of 640A., survey #843. He owned at least one slave, for BK. A Deeds, Perry Co., Mo. record the sale by Cornelius Rhodes to John Layton of a Negro slave, Rachael, for $150, with the condition that she not be rented out until all the sale price was paid in full. In 1821, it is recorded, that John Layton II received $5.00 for helping to locate the permanent seat of Justice of Perry Co., Mo. On one occasion Feb. 4, 1821 the county court allowed him $5.35 for his services as a Coroner. In August 1831, he repaired the county jail for $39.50. An active Democrat, he was elected as a Representative to Missouri Legislature in 1836. In Nov. 1837 laid out a road from St. Joseph Street in Perryville west past "the Seminary and the new Catholic graveyard" which passed through his land. They offered him $125, but he relinquished this amount and accepted $30. A slight fork in the road was allowed to bypass his garden. (This fork is still evident in driving west on St. Joseph St. on way to St. Mary's Seminary)
A considerable number of his descendants moved to Texas and he may have joined them. The circumstances surrounding the death of his son James may have induced him to leave Perry Co.
His son James Layton murdered his wife. A sensational affair, a most atrocious crime. On the 17th of June 1842 James was taken from jail and lynched by a mob of about 300 people in Farmington, Mo. There are several account of this lynching, one in history books, Western Missouri Manuscripts Collection, Columbia, Mo. has some original letters written by John Layton concerning facts surrounding this son's case. He wrote to Thomas Reynolds, Governor of State of Missouri to save his son. He did get a reprieve—but too late, James was taken from jail and hanged by a mob.
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