

Wife of the second governor of Kentucky, Elizabeth Montjoy was born in Stafford County, Virginia, to William and Phillis Markham Reilly Montjoy. She was married December 20, 1769 to James Garrard, son of William and Mary Lewis Garrard. In 1783, James and Elizabeth Garrard moved to Kentucky at a time when Kentucky was still claimed by savages as a hunting ground and often proved the battle ground between the white man and Indians for possession of land. They settled in what is now known as Bourbon County, KY
Bringing five children from Virginia, Elizabeth came to occupy a site at Martin's Fort, Bourbon County, which her husband had purchased. So great was her relief after her weary journey from Virginia , and so pleasing the prospect of their campsite in a horseshoe bend of Stoner Creek by a fine, flowing spring, that she christened it "Fairfield" and the small stream below, "Aquia" for the creek near her former home in Virginia. Whether she grew to fear a repetition of the Indian attack from the overlooking cliff, or whether she decided that the low-lying position was unhealthy, is unknown. But when James Garrard returned from his Virginia legislative session in 1786, he found she had calmly started the building of another stone house on the elevation across Stoner Creek. This became "Mount. Lebanon," and is still occupied by descendants today.
From the day when Mrs. Garrard and her husband drove up in a carriage drawn by four black horses to become the first lady to occupy the new Governor's Mansion in 1799, she dispensed the lavish hospitality for which her descendants became famous for. At a family Christmas dinner soon thereafter, she served two turkeys, a number of ducks, fifty pounds of roast beef, bacon, vegetables, and side dishes, topped off with her home-made peach wine. All accounts agree that Mrs. Garrard was a very superior woman, a devoted wife, and a tender loving mother.
Elizabeth survived her husband by more than ten years. She and Governor Garrard were buried at "Mount Lebanon", where a marble monument was erected and consecrated the spot of his mortal remains and many of his earthly virtues.
All of the children of Governor and Mrs. Garrard were distinguished looking men and women. All of the sons inheriting patriotism which was distinguished by their father served in the War of 1812 and represented Kentucky in her Legislative Halls. Her children:
Sources:
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0 Book Title: Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 074 1,61157::2457034
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0 Book Title: Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 074 1,61157::2457034
@R453329612@ 1820 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,7734::0 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Millersburg, Bourbon, Kentucky; Page: 134; NARA Roll: M33_18; Image: 78 1,7734::1383226
@R453329612@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0 1,60525::99002625
1751 |
May 2, 1751
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Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Virginia
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1771 |
April 20, 1771
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Stafford County, Virginia, United States
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1773 |
January 31, 1773
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Stafford County, Virginia
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1776 |
September 17, 1776
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Stafford, Stafford, VA, United States
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1778 |
November 26, 1778
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Stafford County, Virginia
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1780 |
November 10, 1780
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Stafford County, Virginia, United States
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1783 |
March 6, 1783
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Stafford County, Virginia, United States
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1785 |
1785
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