Lyday Family Heirlooms On Display at the Library

The Lyday family roots in Buncombe County date to the late 1700s.  When Buncombe County was established in 1791 it included present day Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties along with parts of Transylvania, Swain and Yancey counties.  

Abraham Lyday settled in the Edneyville area of Henderson County first.  Later, he bought land and built a home on a creek flowing into the French Broad River west of present day Penrose.  Today, that creek is known as Lyday Creek.

Abraham Lyday had six children with his first wife and another eight with his second wife, Rebecca.  Picturing the Past has featured Dr. A.J. (Andrew Jackson), first son of Abraham and Rebecca, and his numerous descendants who were also medical doctors, previously.  

Delas Lyday, third from left carried a cloth pouch with everything needed to
shoot a black powder rifle or shotgun.  Others pictured include Lyday's son,
Will and grandson, Albert to his right.  Jim Sitton, on his left, was Lyday's
brother-in-law.

Abraham and Rebecca’s second son, A.S. (Abraham Simpson) was born in 1827.  He received 330 acres on Turkey Creek from his father in 1852.  A.S. and wife, Elizabeth Reese had married in 1850.  Their first child, Mary Ann was born in 1851 and son, Delas three-and-half years later.  Three more children would follow.

Delas Lyday inherited the Turkey Creek property and raised his family on the land, which he farmed.  Descendants of Delas and Sally Sitton Lyday still own much of the original 330 acres, now surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest.

Delas Lyday's black powder horn and cloth pouch with
gun maintenance and shot-making tools, plus firing caps
and shot.

Lyday family photographs, Abraham and Rebecca’s Bible, Delas’s powder horn and Dr. Bill Lyday’s medical bag and account books are currently on display on the 2^nd floor at the Transylvania County Library.  If you are interested in displaying items telling the story of your Transylvania County ancestors please contact a staff member in the Local History Room.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.