Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of William Gulley, Jr.

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Descendants of William Gulley, Jr.

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM² GULLEY, JR. (WILLIAM¹) was born 10 February 1736/37 in Newbern District, North Carolina ¹, and died December 1821 in Duplin County, North Carolina¹. He married BEATHANEA HINNANT 1764 in Johnston County, North Carolins¹, daughter of JOHN HINNANT. She was born Abt. 1745 in North Carolina¹, and died Abt. 1819 in Duplin County, North Carolina¹.

Notes for WILLIAM GULLEY, JR.:
The following is quotation from the book titled 'JOHN GULLEY GENEALOGY A PLANTER IN ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS' authored by Paul John.

William Gulley, the father of John Gulley, is the earliest ancestor of whom we have information. No record of his parents has been found and we know nothing of his childhood and early manhood. He probably married at age 27, as his first child was born in 1765.

In 1776, when the American Colonies declared there independence from England, William Gulley was 39 years old, 12 years married with five children (and a sixth on the way). Nevertheless, he enlisted in the Newbern District NC Militia and was a North Carolina soldier in the Revolutionary War.
After the war he was recorded in a state Census as living in Duplin County NC. Since Duplin was in the Wilmington District, he had evidently moved. As evidenced by U.S. Census records, land deeds, and his will, he continued to reside in Duplin County and died there.

William had brothers who lived in Johnston County NC. From the will of Robert Gulley we know that he and John Gulley of Johnston County were brothers of William Gulley of Duplin County The brother in Johnston County, and descendants, spelled their name Gulley. So did William Gulley at first; at least that is the way his name is written in four documents prior to 1791. After 1792 William's name is consistently spelled Gully.

William's son John also used Gully, but John's sons all changed to Gulley and later generations continued this spelling.

William Gulley, Sr. was a "North Carolina Planter." He owned 836 acres of valuable land located in the extreme NW corner of present day Duplin County about two miles SE of the small town of Calypso. State Highway 403 transverses the northern edge of his property. The land where he resided, and also a tract which he owned about 2.5 miles to the north, were on the north bank of Goshen Swamp, and are so described in four deeds. Actually Goshen Swamp is a river -- "the main tributary of the NE Cape Fear River in Duplin County"

In 1793 William Gulley, Sr. started disposing of his land. In March of that year he sold 70 acres to one Michael Kinnard. In January 1794 he gave 175 acres to his oldest son Jesse, perhaps as a wedding gift. In January 1801 he gave his second son William, Jr. 296 acres. William, Jr. was about two yeas married at the time. In April 1807 he gave his youngest son John 363 acres "where he the said William now lives, Assuring to himself and wife Bethany Gully the use and benefit thereof during both or either of their natural life... it being the whole of the land said Gully is possessed of." John was 19 years old and unmarried in 1807.

This land was sold by John in December 1815; (John was preparing to leave North Carolina). We speculate that prior to the sale Bethany had died and William, Sr., who was 78, was living elsewhere (probably with a daughter). In any case William, Sr. must have agreed to relinquish his life tenure. He signed the deed as a witness.

William Gulley, Sr. wrote his will 19 Feb. 1819. It is clear from the wording of the document that his wife Bethany was dead and that he had previously distributed most of his property and was just confirming the disposition. The will bequeaths no land. He had transferred all his real estate to his three sons by deed many years before. This will provides insight into William Gulley, Sr.'s Family.

It names ten of his eleven children. The only one missing is number three daughter Bethana. Supposition is that she died without issue before Feb. 1819. Two others who had died, Sally and William, Jr., are named and he gives something to their sons.

Nine of children were married. Only "Patsey," age 18, was still single. Seven of the nine marriages are confirmed by Duplin County Marriage Records in addition to the will.

He appointed two Son in Laws (sic) as executors, indicating that both of his surviving sons had moved from North Carolina prior to Feb. 1819.
his
The will is signed "William X Gulley;" but this does not imply Illiteracy.
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Deeds and other documents executed earlier were signed "William Gully." We speculate that William may have been too ill to sign his name; however, the illness was not terminal as he lived several more years. In the will, William and his son John are Gulley. Sons Jesse and William, Jr., and William, Jr.'s two sons, are Gully. daughter Patsey is Gulley in line six and Gully in the fifth line from the end. The full text of the will follows:

In the name of God Amen. I, William Gulley of Duplin County & State of North Carolina aware that it is allotted for all men to die, therefore deem it prudent at this time, being possessed of a sound and disposing mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, to express and direct in what manner my Temporal Estate shall be disposed of after my decease. It is therefore my will and desire that the same be in manner and form following: Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Patsey Gulley one feather bed and furniture with curtains & one cow and calf and six earthen plates. Item, I give and bequeath to my son John Gulley one sorrel mare called Fancy which he now has in possession, a feather bed, bedstead & furniture and a cow and calf which he also has in possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Byrd one negro girl by the name of Candas to her Heirs for ever, which she now has in her possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Patience Hines one negro boy by the name of Hinton to her and her Heirs for ever, which she now has in her possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Edith Frederick one negro by the name of Allis to her and he Heirs for ever, which she now has in possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Gilmore one Negro girl by the name of Clarissa to her and her heirs for ever, which she now has in possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Wilson one Negro Girl by the name of Ally to her & her Heirs for ever, which she now has in possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Patsey Gully one Negro Woman by the name of Asha & her Two Children, a boy called Buster and a girl by the name of July, to her and her heirs for ever. Item, I give and bequeath to my son Jesse Gully one negro girl by the name of Anna to Him and his heirs for ever, which he now has in his possession. Item, I give and bequeath to my two grandsons James and Henry Gully sons of William Gully Jr dec'd one silver dollar each and no more. Item, I give and bequeath to my grand son William Daniel, son of Sally Daniel, one hundred dollars to be raised out of estate to him and heirs for ever and no more. Item, my will and desire is after all my just debts are paid the whole of the residue of my Estate, personal and movables of every description, shall be equally divided between the following representatives: Elizabeth Byrd, Patience Hines, and my Daughter Edith Frederick and my Daughter Mary Wilson and my daughter Nancy Gilmore and my Daughter Patsey Gully to them and their Heirs for ever. And I do here by revoke and make null and void all and every other will or wills by me here to fore made. And I do here by nominate and appoint my two Son in Laws Joel Hines and Thomas Wilson executors to this my last Will and Testament signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us this 19th day of February 1819 Test John Beck, Thomas Bennett, Polly A Byrd.
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William X Gulley seal
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State of No Carolina, Duplin County, January Term 1822
Thus was the within will proved in Court by the oath of Thomas Bennett
and Ordered to be recorded. Certified by order of Court.
Jas Pearsall Clk

As evidenced by the probate date (Jan 1822) William Gulley, Sr. did not die until 1821, at which time he was in his 85th year, a venerable age indeed for that day and time.



More About WILLIAM GULLEY, JR.:
Military Branch: Rev. Army
War Veteran: Revolutionary War

Notes for BEATHANEA HINNANT:
The following is quotation from the book titled 'JOHN GULLEY GENEALOGY A PLANTER IN ALABAMA ANND ARKANSAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS' authored by Paul John.

William Gulley's wife (called Bethany), daughter of John Hinnant of Johnston County NC. The Gulley Family in America ( Book I Vol III p 66) gives her name as Bethana, and she had a daughter named Bethana; however John Hinnant's will has "Daughter beathanea gulley." In two Duplin County deeds she is called Bethany Gully and Bethany was doubtless the name she used and was known by.

More About BEATHANEA HINNANT:
Name Used: Bethany
Nickname: Bethana

More About WILLIAM GULLEY and BEATHANEA HINNANT:
Marriage: 1764, Johnston County, North Carolins¹

Children of WILLIAM GULLEY and BEATHANEA HINNANT are:

2.	i.		SARAH³ GULLEY, b. 10 November 1765, Johnston County, North Carolins; d. Bef. 1819.
	ii.		JESSE GULLEY, b. 14 October 1767, Wayne County, North Carolina ²; d. 29 March 1841, Mississippi ³; m. SARAH SLOCUMB, 25 February 1794, Duplin County, North Carolina ⁴; b. Abt. 1771⁴; d. Unknown.

Notes for JESSE GULLEY:
The following is quotation from the book titled 'JOHN GULLEY GENEALOGY A PLANTER IN ALABAMA ANND ARKANSAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS' authored by Paul John.

In 1811 he sold his Duplin County plantation and moved to Mississippi, where he died, at age 73. A number of his descendants continued to live in Mississippi.

More About JESSE GULLEY:
Occupation: Planter

More About JESSE GULLEY and SARAH SLOCUMB:
Marriage: 25 February 1794, Duplin County, North Carolina⁴

iii.

ELIZABETH GULLEY, b. 05 November 1769, Johnston County, North Carolina ⁵; d. Unknown; m. WILLIAM ROBERT BYRD, 27 February 1794, Duplin County, North Carolina ⁶; b. Abt. 1765⁶; d. Unknown.

More About WILLIAM BYRD and ELIZABETH GULLEY:
Marriage: 27 February 1794, Duplin County, North Carolina⁶

	iv.		BETHANA GULLEY, b. 13 December 1771, Johnston County, North Carolina ⁷; d. Bef. 1819; m. KOORNEGAY; d. Unknown.
	v.		PATIENCE GULLEY, b. 22 January 1774, Johnston County, North Carolina⁷; d. Unknown; m. JOEL HINES, Abt. 1794 ⁸; b. Abt. 1770⁸; d. Unknown.

Notes for JOEL HINES:
The following is quotation from the book titled 'JOHN GULLEY GENEALOGY A PLANTER IN ALABAMA ANND ARKANSAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS' authored by Paul John.

Joel Hines was an executor of his father-in-laws (William Gulley, Sr.) estate.

More About JOEL HINES and PATIENCE GULLEY:
Marriage: Abt. 1794⁸

3.	vi.	WILLIAM GULLEY, LLL, b. 15 June 1777, Johnston County, North Carolina; d. May 1802.
4.	vii.	EDITH GULLEY, b. 29 July 1780, Johnston County, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1843, Monroe County, Alabama.
	viii.	MARY GULLEY, b. 26 January 1783, Johnston County, North Carolina ⁹; d. Unknown; m. THOMAS WILSON, 01 March 1810, Duplin County, North Carolina ¹⁰; d. Unknown.

Notes for THOMAS WILSON:
Thomas Wilson was an executor of his father-in-laws (William Gulley, Sr.) estate.

More About THOMAS WILSON and MARY GULLEY:
Marriage: 01 March 1810, Duplin County, North Carolina¹⁰

5.	ix.	NANCY B. GULLEY, b. 14 October 1786, Duplin County, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1829, Conecuh County, Alabama.
6.	x.	JOHN GULLEY, SR., b. 04 March 1788, Duplin County, North Carolina; d. 12 October 1865, Quachita County, Arkansas.
	xi.	MARTHA GULLEY, b. 15 March 1791, North Carolina ¹¹; d. Unknown; m. CAMIGA; d. Unknown.

Notes for MARTHA GULLEY:
The following is quotation from the book titled 'JOHN GULLEY GENEALOGY A PLANTER IN ALABAMA ANND ARKANSAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS' authored by Paul John.

She was unmarried in 1819 when her father wrote his will, but may have subsequently married a Mr. Camiga.

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