Vital Information
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Major William Kirby | DAR application 511175 (Anderson supplemental) |
| Born | 15 Feb 1785 | DAR application 511175 |
| Birthplace | Henry County, Virginia | WikiTree Kirby-2658; consistent with father Jesse's DAR record (Henry Co, VA). DAR app says "North Carolina," which may reflect where Jesse was living when William was born. |
| Died | 30 Mar 1846, Plano, Warren County, Kentucky | WikiTree Kirby-2658 |
| Father | Jesse Kirby (1757-1852, DAR A065510) | DAR application 511175 |
| Mother | Sophia Chise/Choice (1760-1853) | DAR application 511175 |
| Wife 1 | Lavinia Anderson (b. 4 Apr 1789; d. 6 Dec 1820) | WikiTree Kirby-2658 |
| Married 1 | 24 Feb 1806, Warren County, KY | WikiTree Kirby-2658 |
| Wife 2 | Clarinda Herrington Doak (b. 23 Nov 1799) | WikiTree Kirby-2658 |
| Married 2 | 19 Sep 1821, Allen County, KY | WikiTree Kirby-2658 |
| Land | 80 acres, Warren County, KY (land grant 1817) | Kentucky Land Grants |
Children with Lavinia Anderson (7)
| Name | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary "Polly" Kate Kirby | 19 Dec 1808 | 28 Aug 1890 | |
| William Wiat Kirby | 1808 | 8 Jan 1865 | m. Elizabeth Graham 1827 |
| Jesse Anderson Kirby | 7 Apr 1811 | 7 Aug 1881 | |
| Elizabeth Kirby | 29 Jun 1813 | 29 Dec 1826 | Died age 13 |
| Delilah Kirby | ~1814 | ||
| Julia Ann Kirby | 15 Mar 1816 | 8 Nov 1905 | |
| Margaret "Peggy" Kirby | 15 Apr 1819 | 1 Jan 1903 |
Children with Clarinda Herrington Doak (5-6)
| Name | Born | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Kirby | 9 Aug 1822 | 23 Sep 1901 | |
| Henry Clay Kirby | 1826 | ||
| Sophia Kirby | 27 May 1827 | 4 Sep 1892 | |
| William Robert Kirby | 6 May 1831 | 7 Jan 1907 | Migrated to Jackson County, MO (1881 county history) |
| John C. Quincey Kirby | 1833 | 1909 | |
| Effie Jane Kirby | 7 Apr 1839 | 7 Jan 1926 |
Biography
William Kirby was born 15 February 1785 in Henry County, Virginia, the son of DAR Patriot Jesse Kirby and his wife Sophia Chise/Choice, who were married around 1778 in Southampton, England. He is identified in the DAR Anderson supplemental application as "Major William Kirby," indicating he held a militia rank.
On 24 February 1806 he married Lavinia Anderson, daughter of DAR Patriot Bailey Anderson, in Warren County, Kentucky. They had seven children. Lavinia died 6 December 1820 at age 31. William received an 80-acre land grant in Warren County in 1817 and established the family cemetery on the old farm in the Drakes Creek area.
William remarried on 19 September 1821 to Clarinda Herrington Doak in Allen County, Kentucky. They had five or six more children, including William Robert Kirby (1831-1907), who later migrated to Jackson County, Missouri, where he farmed 120 acres near Buckner and is documented in the 1881 History of Jackson County. William died 30 March 1846 in Plano, Warren County, Kentucky, at age 61.
Data Notes
The DAR application gives William's birthplace as "North Carolina," while WikiTree says "Henry County, Virginia." Jesse Kirby's own DAR record says he was born in Henry County, VA (later Halifax County). The discrepancy may reflect that the family moved to North Carolina before William's birth, or it may be a transcription issue in the DAR application. Henry County, VA is currently preferred because it is consistent with Jesse's documented location.
The DAR application gives Lavinia's death as "6 Dec 1880." This is almost certainly a transcription error for "6 Dec 1820." William married his second wife in September 1821, which would have been impossible if Lavinia were still alive. The day and month match exactly; only the century digit differs.
Document Sources
| Document | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| DAR application 511175 (Anderson supplemental) | Membership application | Obtained; transcribed |
| WikiTree Kirby-2658 | Genealogical database | Consulted |
| 1881 History of Jackson County, Missouri (William Robert Kirby bio) | Published county history | Consulted |
| Kentucky Land Grants, 1782-1924 (80 acres, 1817) | State land records | Referenced |
| Warren County KY marriage records (24 Feb 1806) | County marriage record | Referenced |
| Allen County KY marriage records (19 Sep 1821) | County marriage record | Referenced |