Evidence that George Lay was son of Instant Lay Sr. is circumstantial and is based mainly on two facts. First, in Instant Lay’s 1857 will, one of the witnesses was G. R. Lay (along with David Lay and G. M. Carson). Second, in the 1870 census of Pulaski Co KY, the household of George and Sarah Lay includes a 77-year old woman named “Sarah J. Lay.” It is likely that this is Sarah Downs Lay, the widow of Instant Lay Sr.

See research note for census records.

1850 Census of Pulaski Co KY:

George Lay Jr.. age 26. b Ky; Sarah Lay, age 21, b Ky.

1870 Census of Pulaski Co KY

Name Age
George W Lay 42
Sarah Lay 41
Amanda J Lay 17
Sarah E Lay 16
Louisa Lay 14
Cyrencus Lay 12
John W Lay 9
Franklin W Lay 7
Margaret S Lay 3
Armetron J Lay 1
Sarah Lay 77

(Three generations of Sarah Lays.)

1880 Census of Pulaski Co KY:

George Lay, 50, born Kentucky, parents born North Carolina; J. A. Lay, 52, born Kentucky, parents born Virginia; Louisa; 24; John, 19; Margaret 17 (?); Armstrong, 11; Nannie, 8.
[Adjacent listing: Cyrenius Lay, 21, born Kentucky, parents born Kentucky; Sarah Lay, 17, born Kentucky; Dora Lay, 1.]