Hi: My eldest Laird is: James Laird 1704 - 1736 Born in Ireland and died in Derby Township, Lancaster County, PA, his son Hugh Laird was the father of my gr gr gr grandfather James Laird of Cumberland County. Below is the history of this family taken from the Seilhamer Collection: Source: Seilhamer Collection, Vol. 5A; Pages 306 310, Franklin County, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania CAPTAIN JAMES LAIRD, a distinguished Revolutionary soldier and a leading citizen of Cumberland County, was born in 1753 and died October 10, 1834. He was appointed Captain of the third company, of the Third Battalion, Cumberland County Associators, Colonel William Chambers, July 31, 1777, and re-appointed May 10, 1778. He was in active service with his company in Colonel Chambers' marching battalion of the third class, under the call of July 28, 1777. He served in the campaign around Philadelphia. Captain Laird became an assessor for Cumberland county in 1777, and was a Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a farmer and owned a farm at McClure's Gap, on which he lived. He was a ruling elder of the Big Spring Presbyterian church, 1808-34. Captain Laird was married to Jane McClure, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Douglass) McClure. She was born in 1763. After Mrs. Laird's death, he was married to Mrs. Catharine Allen, widow of James Allen, of Baltimore. She was born in June, 1764 and died June 15, 1850. Issue by his first wife: 1. Hugh Laird, of whom below. 2. Robert Laird, of whom below. 3. Margaret Laird, married John McDowell, of whom below. 4. Thomas Laird, of whom below. 5. Ann Laird, of whom below. Four Laird Brothers, Hugh, Samuel, William and Matthew, settled in the Cumberland Valley before 1762. Hugh Laird, apparently the eldest of the Laird brothers, was probably the father of Captain James Laird. He was a farmer in Allen township, Cumberland County, PA, the name of his wife was Ann. He died in 1801 and his wife in 1809. Their children were Arthur, Samuel, James, Stewart, William, and a daughter, Jane. Stewart Laird, son of Hugh and Ann Laird, settled in what is now Juniata County, PA., where he died in the winter of 1835-36. His children were Wilson, Priscilla (Mrs. Robinson), Thomas, Hugh, and Samuel. Hugh Laird, son of Captain James and Jane (McClure) Laird, was born in 1787 and died September 30, 1815. Robert Laird, brother of Hugh above, was born in 1789 and died January 15, 1848. He was elected a County Commissioner of Cumberland County in 1842. Margaret Laird, sister of Robert above, was born December 19, 1790, and died May 30, 1855. She was married March 12, 1818, to John McDowell, who was born in 1798 and died January 9, 1829. Thomas Laird, brother of Margaret above, was born in 1799 and died April 19, 1830. Ann Laird, sister of Thomas above, was married March 24, 1824, to James Logan, who was born in 1782 and died October 26, 1828. Respectfully, Tena McDowell Hanna