John Layson was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of John and Sarah Layson. He died in Bourbon County, Kentucky prior to when his estate appraisal was recorded in Bourbon County, Kentucky (Will Book H, pg 262-263), on June 5, 1829. His estate was sold on December 28, 1829 (ibid, pg 355-356). He is buried in Layson's Hill, near Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky. There are no gravestones found.

John served during the revolutionary war. He was a private 4th class, in the 7th Company, 1st Battalion, of the Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, militia, which was commanded by Capt. Joseph Brady and Col. James Dunlop. (Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series Vol. VI, pp. 133-134). On September 3, 1777 he was listed along with his brother Robert, and several other residents of Hopewell Township, on a petition to the State House of Representatives by Capt. Brady's Company to resolve an issue with classing. (Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. III, pp. 106,107,108). Between 1777 and 1780 he was fined 19 pounds as a 7th class soldier in Capt. Peebles Company and 1st battalion for non-performace of his tour of duty (Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol. VI, pp. 672-673)

John Layson appears along with his mother the "Widow Layson" in the 1778 tax lists for Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He also appears there in 1780, but not in 1779. It is not known why he would not be listed for this particular year, though there are several possible reasons. He may not have had taxable property, but then why was he not taxed as a freeman? Perhaps we was not old enough to have been a freeman, but then how could he be taxed in 1778? Perhaps simply he was in the militia on tour. John Layson's mother does not appear in 1779 or 1780, so it is presumed she was deceased. It is also possible she was no longer the head of household. In 1778, the widow was taxed for 74 acres of land. In 1780, John is listed without land. There is a "John Lawson s." (senior) found in Hopewell in 1779, but he is taxed for 300 acres. This is probably not John Layson as it is unlikely that he was taxed for land in 1779, but not in 1780. If his mother died and he received a portion of her land, why is not taxed for in in 1779 or 1780? Even he received her entire estate, she only had 74 acres in 1778. It is not likely that he would have had 300 acres in 1779 as John Lawson had. No other occurances of a John Lawson are found in the Hopewell tax lists between the years of 1778 and 1785. John Layson is thereafter not found in the Hopewell tax lists. His brother, Robert is taxed there only once in 1779 as a freeman which would indicate that he was a young man.

According to the History of the Robert Miller family, [ http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kybcgs/family/ff-01miller.htm ] John Miller, who was born on September 21, 1752 in Sherman's Valley, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, was the great-grandfather of William M. Layson of Bourbon County, Kentucky. John Layson was also his great-grandfather. This lends creedence to showing that the John Layson of Cumberland County was the same person who came to Kentucky, presumably along with the Millers.

Bourbon County, Kentucky, Will Book H (1827-1831)

I briefly scanned Bourbon County Will Book H for ancestors and collateral families. It is possible that I missed some.

pg 268
Sep 18, 1829 - addl Account of Sales for Jacob Spears
property bought by John Layson
https://www.familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-20785-52203-78?cc=1875188&wc=11533436

pg 355-356
Feb 1, 1830 - John Layson Sales
property bought by Margaret Layson
property bought by Margaret Forsythe
property bought by John Layson
https://www.familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-20785-51680-49
https://www.familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-20785-52774-39

Bourbon County, Kentucky, Will Book J (1831-1834)
I scanned through image 144 (Oct 1833) out of 324 images of Will Book J, and found no trace of my ancestors. It seems pretty clear they high-tailed it out of Kentucky (around 1830) after John Layson died (1829).
The following persons were found. The numbers are image numbers, not page numbers

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3L-LMH

William Layson i 34

It is not clear who William Layson is. I presume his is a grandson.

Bourbon County, Kentucky, Will Book H (1827-1831)
I briefly scanned Bourbon County Will Book H for ancestors and collateral families. It is possible that I missed some.

pg 284-286
Apr 6, 1829 – Walker Baylor Sales
property bought by William Layson
property bought by Stephen Owens

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-91DT
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-91ZT

pg 262-263
Jun 12, 1829 – John Layson Apraisement 

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-91WP

pg 355-356
Feb 1, 1830 – John Layson Sales 
property bought by Margaret Layson 
property bought by Margaret Forsythe 
property bought by John Layson

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-91WP
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-9BKQ

It is not clear who William Layson is. I presume his is a grandson.

Bourbon County, Kentucky Will Book G (1821-1827)
I briefly scanned Bourbon County Will Book G for ancestors and collateral families. It is possible that I missed some.
Oct 1824 – Dr. Thomas Barber Additional Inventory
Jan 12, 1822 – Denmark Forsythe note
Feb 2, 1822 – Samuel Layson note
Jul 22, 1822 – Hezekiah Martin note

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSR-9BZH

Aug 15, 1825 – James Duncan Sales

property bought by Oliver Forsythe , David W. Pond and William Layson

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PSR-9TLC

It is not clear who Samuel and William Layson are. I presume they are grandsons

Bourbon County, Kentucky Will Book F (1816-1821)
I briefly scanned Bourbon County Will Book F for ancestors and collateral families. It is possible that I missed some.

Oct 24, 1816 Nathan C. Staniford Account of Sales
property bought by J[ohn] Layson (ancestor) and D. W. Pond

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSY-3XG

Oct 25, 1817 – Charles Yetton Account of Sales
property bought by Isaac Forsythe (ancestor), John Layson (ancestor), Robert Layson, Issac Layson, David Pond, Stephen Owings and Michael Letton

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSY-3M7
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PSY-3M6
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PSY-3M6

Nov 20, 1818 – Robert Layson Account of Sales
property bought by John Layson (ancestor), Stephen Owings, David Pond, and H[ezekiah] Martin

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PSY-333
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPSY-S5B

Bourbon County, Kentucky, Will Book B (1795-1805)
pg 1
I: John Edwards administrator of Thomas Reeder dec’d
1796 by a balance due Col. Edwards as sup accouting
John Layson sup account proven 1 10 9

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP3X-LD1

John Layson married Margaret Martin, probably in Pennsylvania. John and Margaret had 8 children some of which were born in Pennsylvania:

Sarah A. "Sally" (1780/81, PA - 1863) m. David W. Pond
Isaac (7 Jul 1782 - 6 July 1822) m. 8 Oct 1807, Mary “Polly” Moore (15 Nov 1787 - 6 May 1878)
John Martin (28 Jan 1785 - 6 Mar 1861) m. Sidney Mauk/Mock
Robert (abt 1787 - 14 Mar 1850, LA) m1. ? m2. 16 Feb 1816, Mrs. Mary B. Byrum (no heirs)
Nancy (30 Nov 1792 - 13 May 1881) m. Stephen Owens
Margaret (abt 1794 - bet 6 July 1840 and 5 Sep 1840) m. Oliver A.Forsyth

After the war, They moved to Bourbon County, Kentucky, near where the town of Paris is, but before there was a settlement there. On January 15, 1783 John Layson was granted land by survey in Bourbon County, Kentucky described as lying mostly on the South side of Stoners fork of Licking and bounded by the lines of Edwards, a creek near Huston's creek, crossing Stoner 3 times. He sold the land on August 20, 1796 to Lucas Sullivant.

John Layson is found in the 1800 Bourbon County, Kentucky, Tax list, and 1800 Kentucky Early Census Index (KYS1a1953434). In 1810 he is listed in the Bourbon County, Kentucky Census Index. In 1820 there are two John Laysons (probably he and his son) listed in the Bourbon County, Kentucky Census Index (pg 132, KY35343511, KY35343512). Again two John Laysons are listed in the 1830 Bourbon County, Kentucky Census Index (pg 298, KY559160493,KYS2b97780), however he died prior; they are most likely his son and grandson. Margaret moved with her daughter Nancy Owen to Hancock County, Illinois in 1830. She purchased 110.4 acres of land in Adams County, and 108.4 acres in Hancock County on June 5, 1835. She is found in the 1850 Federal, Adams County, Illinois, Census for Houston Township, living with her daughter Sarah Pond at the age of 97, "Deaf & Blind."

In 1830 she is living with David W. Pond in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
In 1850 she is living with David W. Pond in Adams County, Illinois.
In 1840 she is not living with David W. Pond or Stephen Owens in Illinois, or with John M. Layson in Kentucky. She is also not living with Margaret Layson in Illinois. Where is she then?