from Frank Beard. His first name and spouses name from Carol at crazycl52@aol.com. She offers no proof but says she understands they are from Baniff, Scotland.

THE HISTORY OF THE ELDER FAMILY. Preface to the book "Genealogy of the Elder
Clan, Revised Jan 2000" The earliest history we have of the Elder "clan",
they were living in Scotland in the 15th century. Eventually they emigrated
to England and Ireland on account of their religious liberties and
viewpoints. Peter Elder, Sr. along with two brothers, came to this country
in the early 1600's. They landed at Norfolk, VA but do not appear in a book
of immigrants. Peter came over as a stowaway and working out his passage
with a rich merchant It required several years. His two brothers later went
on to other parts of the country. One to Maryland and one to Ohio and then
to Harrisburg, PA.

Peter was a fine specimen of young manhood, but was poor and uneducated. He
was determined to do a good job for the merchant because he was falling in
love with the merchant's daughter. He hesitated a long time to make known
his love for her because of their social and financial differences. She
never shunned or spurned him. Peter could not elope with her but the
merchant told him that his daughter could steal him away and get married in
the next county. Finally their romance was complete with their "elopement"
and marriage at the Dinwiddie Co., VA courthouse. It is on record there tis
this day. From this union came their son Peter Jr. who married Elizabeth.
They had a son named William b 1688. William married a woman named Ann from
Richmond CO., VA.

Peter Sr. was very likely born in the early 1600's. He died in 1674. He
lived in Old Rappahannock (now Essex) Co., VA and in all probability is
buried there in the cemetery at the Episcopal or Presbyterian Church. The
records of that county state that Peter bought land on the north side of the
Rappahannock River from David Mansell on March 22, 1665 or 1666, which
joined the properties of Luke Billingston and Mr. Bayless or Baylor. Refer
to the land records of 1653-1668, p3. The will of Pete, Sr. is recorded in
the Old Rappahannock Co., records of 1664-1674 (see Virginia Wills of
1631-1800) Said will mentions his desire to have Mr. Richard Peacock care
for his under-age son, Peer. He chose Mr. Peacock above all others.

WILL OF PETER ELDER, SR.
In the name of God, Amen. The last will and testament of Peter Elder being
in perfect sense and memory do Bequeath my soul to God and my body to the
earth.
Item: I do bequeath my son Peter Elder unto Mr. Richard Peacock he being my
son's godfather, whom I have made choice above all others an as for what
stock of cattle I have I give to my son Peter, and a heifer of three years
old by bill from John Arnold one to be paid according to bill-Mr... Peacock
to have the benefit of them until my son comes to be one and twenty-four
years of age. Mr. Peacock to have the male and my son the female, and as for
my plantation and all moveable goods else, Mr. Peacock is to take into his
custody until the boy comes to be one and twenty. In this appointment my
loving friend Mr. Richard Peacock to be my executor full and whole and to
the time performance of this my last will and testament, I left my hand and
seal this 28th day of April, 1674.
HIS MARK (Seal)
Signed, sealed and deliver in the presence of us: George Howell
Richard Applebee
Mr. R. A. Marke

We, George Howell and Richard Applebee do declare that we did see the within
mentioned Peter Elder sign and seale and publish this within mentioned to be
his last will and testament and that he was in perfect mind and memory to
the best of our judgements as witnesses, our hands this 5th of August, 1674
George Howell
Richard (R. A.) Applebee
Sources: Author: General Register -Old Parochial RegisterTitle: General Register Office for ScotlandText: July 16 1725-Alexander Elder in this parrish of Banff was contracted in order to marriage with Margaret Allerdicein the family of Alvah thrice proclaimingnamed.Repository: Page: 19610-extract of entries

Message by Mary Aquilar to Wendy Campbell Mary says: "YES! I have Samuel Elder born 1757, son of George Elder born 11/20/1729, son of Alexander Elder born 8/13/1704, son of John Elder born before 1688. I cannot find any info on Samuel's wife, Cynthia MacElvaine except that she was born 1765, married 1783 and died 1820 all in Spartanburg Co, had 8 children, and an alternate name spelling (Macklevane)- don't have a clue which is correct although I've searched both. I note that in the library here in Plymouth, Massachusetts, there is a Plimoth Colony reference to a McElvane that was here in the 1600's

• Married: 16 Jul 1725 in Baneff,,Scot.

1. James ELDER b: ABT 1727 in Baneff,,Scot.
2. George ELDER b: 20 Nov 1729 in Baneff,,Scot.
3. John ELDER b: ABT 1732 in Baneff,,Scot.
4. William ELDER b: ABT 1733 in Baneff,,Scotland