Documented History
Victor Buchanan was born 10 March 1762 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, according to Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012 and U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current.
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Marriage
Victor married Elizabeth Allison on 28 July 1790 in Valley Field, York, Pennsylvania, according to Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania Church Records. They were married at Guinston (Muddy Creek) United Presbyterian Church.
Victor is listed under William and Sarah Ann Buchanan in a Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, Gerberich Collection.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, Gerberich Collection
They have a son listed with them by the name of Henry. Also listed under William are William S. and wife Mary Louisa with their son George H. and daughter Mary F.
Victor signed up as a Private for Hall’s Regiment, Cavalry, Volunteers in Kentucky on 15 November 1793, according to U.S. Compiled Service Records, Post-Revolutionary War Volunteer Soliders, 1784-1811.
U.S. Compiled Service Records, Post-Revolutionary War Volunteer Soliders, 1784-1811
Elizabeth Allison died sometime around 1794.
Victor married Rebekah Tucker in Shelby, Kentucky on 12 April 1799, according to Kentucky Marriage, 1802-1850 and Shelby County, Kentucky, Marriage Bond Index, 1791-1822.
According to Kentucky, Tax Lists, 1799-1801 and Kentucky, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1890, Victor lived in Gallatin County in 1800.
In 1810, according to the United States Federal Census, Victor lived in Gallatin, Kentucky with ten household members, two of which were over 25 and six under 16 years old.
1810 United States Federal Census
Victor was the white male 45 and over, his wife Rebekah was the white female aged 26 thru 44. There were also two males under 10, one male between 10 and 15, two males between 16 and 25, and three females under 10.
Move
According to Illinois: Lawrence County Biographical, Chapter IX, Victor’s father William left Scotland in 1750 with his two brothers, John who settled in Halifax, and James in Virginia. Two of William’s sons, John and Victor, reportedly left Pennsylvania and went first to Kentucky, and then to Madison, Indiana.
Due to land troubles, Victor floated down the Ohio River with his second wife, Mary; his sons, Thomas, Victor, Walter and James, and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas and his daughters Rebecca and Elizabeth.
They settled on what was known as Charles Gillespie place but then took the Buchanan name afterwards. From the three Buchanan brothers came descendants which are scattered all over the United States, Victor Buchanan, Sr., having alone 340 descendants while all the members of the family tree number over 897 people. Victor’s move from Kentucky to Illinois took place in 1818.
1820 United States Federal Census
Victor lived in Edwards, Illinois with John Buchanan according to the 1820 Census. There were 8 total people in the household, all free white people, no slaves.
1830 United States Federal Census
Victor lived in Lawrence, Illinois in 1830 according to the Census. There were seven free white people in the household at the time, no slaves.
1840 United States Federal Census
Victor lived in Lawrence, Illinois in 1840 according to the Census. There were nine free white people in the household, again, no slaves owned.
U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015
Victor purchased 40 acres of land on 20 May 1841 in Section 11 of Range 12 West of Township 2 North of Palestine, Lawrence County, Illinois, according to the U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015.
Death
Victor died on 13 August 1843 in Lawrence, Illinois, according to Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012 and U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current.
He was 81 years old when he passed. He is buried next to his wife, Rebekah Tucker, in the Buchanan Cemetery in Lawrence, Illinois.
William Buchanan, Rebecca Galloway, Victor Buchanan, Walter Brisco Buchanan, Thomas B. Buchanan, and James Hex Buchanan were listed as their children.
Their headstone reads the following:
Victor & Rebekah Buchanan
Victor Buchanan, Pioneer father of the Buchanans in this community and of many other decendents here and elsewhere, was born in Lancastor Co., Penn. 1762. He came first to KY. In 1790 and from there to Illinois in 1818. And with him from Kentucky, Rebekah, his faithful wife, who also was a pioneer mother of many. Their first home here was within quarter mile to the southwest of this lot where their bodies have rested since 1843. She died May 8th and he August 13th.
“They rest from their labors and their works do follow them.”
So, I found quite a bit of information for Victor. I am still looking for a way to verify for sure that he is the pioneer that moved from Scotland with his two brothers. If you have additional information that would help fill in the gaps on his life story, please leave the details in the comments section below. As always, I’ll update this post as I find additional information for this ancestor.
Take care and hug your loved ones!
~Kris
