Person Page - 11

     Nathan Gurley was born circa 1760. The land of Nathan Gurley was proscesioned to determine the boundry by John Gurley between 7 April 1772 and 18 April 1772 at Johnston County, North Carolina; as a processioner in Johnston County. A processioner walked the land in his assigned area to determine boundries. It is interesting to note that John Gurley along with Benjamin Craford processioned John Gurley's own land and it was witnessed by his sons, Lewis and Edward.⁴ Nathan Gurley died before 21 December 1792 at Johnston County, North Carolina.⁵

     Arthur Gurley Arthur Gurley is shown getting a pay voucher from the North Carolina Comptrollers office voucher no. 1237 for Militia service for the Newbern District.

In 1789, Arthur had 426 Acres and two free polls in Johnston County according to Johnston Co. Court Minutes v.4 p.51. He died.⁴ He was born before 1757.³ He was left a bequest in the will of Nathan Gurley on 9 July 1776 at Johnston County, North Carolina; Will of Nathan Gurley
Johnston Co. Will book 1, p.765
Transcribed Ted Gurley 2/99
From Microfilm.

In the Name of God Amen

I Nathan Gurley of the County of Johnston in the province of North Carolina ______ being weak in body but of sound memory. Thanks be to God and alling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say.

First of all I recomend my soul to God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decnt manner at the discretion of my Executors.

I give to my beloved wife Anna Gurley a dark bay mare called Pleasure and fourteen head of cattle and fourteen head of sheep.

I give to my eldest son Arthur Gurley a plantation wereon I now live ________ One Hundred and Twenty-Five acres and a dictionary book.

I give my beloved son Robert the forward plantation _____ by the Bullard plantation

I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Gurley four head of cattle at William Edwards and a large church bible.

I give to my beloved daughter Fereby Gurley a mare and colt running in the woods at large and a feather bed and furniture.

____ the residue and rest of my Estate goods and _____ to my beloved wife Anna Gurley ______ widowhood. I give the remainder of all _____ to be equally divided between my four chilfren - Nathan Gurley, Robert Gurley, Elizabeth Gurley and Fereby Gurley to be equally divided.


Lastly I nominate_____ and appoint my friend William Gurley Sen. Executor and my wife Executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all other wills by me heretofore made ratifying this will and no other to be my last will and Testament in Testomony thereof I _______ my hand and affixed my seal this the 9th day of July in the year of our lord 1776. Signed, sealed and delivered in the _______ of us.

Witness & Signed

William Gurley Sen.
Arthur _______

Nathan Gurley signed and sealed.⁵
Arthur Gurley began military service in 1782 at Johnston Co Militia, recieved pay vouchers in Jan. and July 1782.⁶ He waslisted on the in 1799 tax list of at Capt. Barna Bulls District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included 300 acres, one free poll, and one black poll.⁷ He waslisted on the in 1800 tax list of at Capt. Barnabe Bulls District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included.⁸ He waslisted on the in 1801 tax list of at Capt. Bulls District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included 300 acres, one free poll and two black polls.⁹ He waslisted on the in 1802 tax list of at Capt. Bullses District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included 300 acres and tax on one white poll and two black polls.¹⁰ He waslisted on the in July 1803 tax list of at Capt. Barnada Bulls District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included 300 acres, one free poll and two black polls.¹¹ He waslisted on the in 1804 tax list of at Capt. Barnaba Bulls'es District, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included no land holdings only poll tax was paid.¹² He is listed on an accounting of the estate of Mathias Handy, as owning the estate money on 25 May 1805 at Johnston County, North Carolina.¹³

     Elizabeth Gurley was born circa 1760.⁴ She was left a bequest in the will of Nathan Gurley on 9 July 1776 at Johnston County, North Carolina; Will of Nathan Gurley
Johnston Co. Will book 1, p.765
Transcribed Ted Gurley 2/99
From Microfilm.

In the Name of God Amen

I Nathan Gurley of the County of Johnston in the province of North Carolina ______ being weak in body but of sound memory. Thanks be to God and alling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say.

First of all I recomend my soul to God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decnt manner at the discretion of my Executors.

I give to my beloved wife Anna Gurley a dark bay mare called Pleasure and fourteen head of cattle and fourteen head of sheep.

I give to my eldest son Arthur Gurley a plantation wereon I now live ________ One Hundred and Twenty-Five acres and a dictionary book.

I give my beloved son Robert the forward plantation _____ by the Bullard plantation

I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Gurley four head of cattle at William Edwards and a large church bible.

I give to my beloved daughter Fereby Gurley a mare and colt running in the woods at large and a feather bed and furniture.

____ the residue and rest of my Estate goods and _____ to my beloved wife Anna Gurley ______ widowhood. I give the remainder of all _____ to be equally divided between my four chilfren - Nathan Gurley, Robert Gurley, Elizabeth Gurley and Fereby Gurley to be equally divided.


Lastly I nominate_____ and appoint my friend William Gurley Sen. Executor and my wife Executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all other wills by me heretofore made ratifying this will and no other to be my last will and Testament in Testomony thereof I _______ my hand and affixed my seal this the 9th day of July in the year of our lord 1776. Signed, sealed and delivered in the _______ of us.

Witness & Signed

William Gurley Sen.
Arthur _______

Nathan Gurley signed and sealed.⁵

     Ferebe Gurley was born circa 1760.³

     William Gurley was born on 8 January 1747/48; according to A.E. Gurley's notes on the Gurley's of the south he was born in Johnston County, NC According to other research by Hartness, William was born in Isle of Wight, VA.^3,4 He was involved in a land transfer when he sold 100 Acres to Alexander Pool. This land was part of a patent granted to William Gurley Sr. dated March 15, 1756. on 16 January 1764 at NS of Neuse River and NS of Mochanson Swamp, Johnston County, North Carolina.⁵ He was involved in a land transfer when he bought 100 Acres from Alexander Pool for £100 on 5 March 1770 at NS of Neuse River and NS of Mocosin Swamp, Johnston County, North Carolina.⁶ He was involved in a land transfer witnessed a transaction between Richard Austin to William Worley in 1771 at Johnston County, North Carolina.⁷ He was listed in a Revolutionary War Account book as a Corporal and recieved a pay adjustment of £3.5 for 25 days of service against the "Insurgents" between 1775 and 1776.⁸ He was possibly involved in the Battle at Moores Creek Bridge since he served under Capt. Needham Bryan and Bryan participated in the battle on 27 February 1776 at North Carolina.⁹ He was named executor of the will of Nathan Gurley on 9 July 1776 at Johnston County, North Carolina; Will of Nathan Gurley
Johnston Co. Will book 1, p.765
Transcribed Ted Gurley 2/99
From Microfilm.

In the Name of God Amen

I Nathan Gurley of the County of Johnston in the province of North Carolina ______ being weak in body but of sound memory. Thanks be to God and alling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say.

First of all I recomend my soul to God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decnt manner at the discretion of my Executors.

I give to my beloved wife Anna Gurley a dark bay mare called Pleasure and fourteen head of cattle and fourteen head of sheep.

I give to my eldest son Arthur Gurley a plantation wereon I now live ________ One Hundred and Twenty-Five acres and a dictionary book.

I give my beloved son Robert the forward plantation _____ by the Bullard plantation

I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Gurley four head of cattle at William Edwards and a large church bible.

I give to my beloved daughter Fereby Gurley a mare and colt running in the woods at large and a feather bed and furniture.

____ the residue and rest of my Estate goods and _____ to my beloved wife Anna Gurley ______ widowhood. I give the remainder of all _____ to be equally divided between my four chilfren - Nathan Gurley, Robert Gurley, Elizabeth Gurley and Fereby Gurley to be equally divided.


Lastly I nominate_____ and appoint my friend William Gurley Sen. Executor and my wife Executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all other wills by me heretofore made ratifying this will and no other to be my last will and Testament in Testomony thereof I _______ my hand and affixed my seal this the 9th day of July in the year of our lord 1776. Signed, sealed and delivered in the _______ of us.

Witness & Signed

William Gurley Sen.
Arthur _______

Nathan Gurley signed and sealed.¹⁰
William Gurley was commissioned as Captain of the 8th North Carolina Regiment on 28 November 1776 at Johnston County, North Carolina.¹¹ He bought a tract of land from Middleton Pool for £110 on 28 February 1782 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹² He bought an additional parcel of land from Middleton Pool who had now moved on to Montgomery Co., NC; he paid £50 on 6 August 1787 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹³ He purchased land from Thomas Clark, he bought 30 acres for £12 on 24 May 1788 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹⁴ He witnessed the land transfer of Jacob Gurley on 24 May 1788 at Richardson Creek Area, Anson County, North Carolina; he bought a parcel of land from Thomas Clark for £10.^15,16 William Gurley wasgranted land containing two parcels of 250 acres each on 9 March 1799 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹⁷ He wasgranted land of 200 acres on 23 November 1801 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹⁸ He wasgranted land containing 300 acres on 30 August 1802 at Anson County, North Carolina.¹⁹ He died before October 1804 at Anson County, North Carolina.²⁰ He left a will in October 1804 at Anson County, North Carolina,which listed his children and his wife. It is the primary record of William Gurley's family; his will was proven in the October, 1804 Court and recorded in Anson County, North Carolina Will Book 2 on page 47.²¹

     Jacob Gurley was born on 5 November 1750.³ He began military service on 20 November 1771 at Dobbs County, North Carolina, was listed on the Muster Roll of the Militia.⁴ He began military service in 1776 at Johnston Co Militia.⁵ He waslisted on the in 1784 tax list of at Captain Joseph Boon's Company, Johnston County, North Carolina, his household's taxable property included 200 Acres and 1 free poll.⁶ He was involved in a land transfer when he purchased 50 Acres from Gideon Green for £20 on 12 September 1787 at on the south side of Rocky River and on the south side of Richardson Creek, Anson County, North Carolina.⁷ He was involved in a land transfer he bought a parcel of land from Thomas Clark for £10 on 24 May 1788 at Richardson Creek Area, Anson County, North Carolina.^8,9 He left a will executed on 19 June 1820 at Anson County, North Carolina, leaving bequests to his son Josiah; son Daniel, daughter Susannah, a grandson Joseph Gurley, son Nedham Gurley, son Jesse Gurley, son William Gurley, son David Gurley, son Benjamin Gurley and daughter Unity Whittely.¹⁰ He died between 19 June 1820 and March 1821 at Anson County, North Carolina.^11,12

     Isham Gurley was born on 13 January 1759 at Johnston County, North Carolina.^3,4,5 He began military service in early 1776 at Johnston County, North Carolina, when he was called into service; for a term that Isham stated in his application for a pension was not to exceed three months. He actually saw service for for 1 month and 3 says (he gave the dates when he ammended his application on October 29, 1835).

During his first tour of duty, he saw service under Colonel Samuel Smith and Captain Hardy Bryan. His troop marched from Johnston County, North Carolina to Wilmington, North Carolina to oppose the British troops and to guard Wilmington. There was not any battles and the troop was marched back to Johnston County and he was discharged.^6,5
He married Sally Smith circa 1778 at NC. Isham Gurley ended military service in 1778; In 1778, he re-entered the service as a volunteer under Col. William Caswell, Captain John Whitley and Captain Matthew Colours. The troops marched thru South Carolina to the Savanah River and then to Agusta wher they camped and marched to Brier Creek.

They were attacked by the British under the command of Col. Campbell. They were forced to retreat. Those who escaped either swam the Savanah River or the Creek. They then marched to a water course called Salt Catches, then to Jubb's Ferry on the Sabannah where they stayed for a few days while a battle was fought between the British and the French in small boats in the Savannah River, below the Purisburg.

General Lincoln was at Purisburg and Isham Gurley with others went and helped Lincoln throw up breastworks, where he was watching for the arrival of De Estings, after which the Battle of Savannah was fought.

He was discharged at Savannah. His pension application for Revolutionary War service was rejected since he did not serve for six months.^7,8,5

He According to North Carolina Rev. Soldiers - Isham served in the Rev. War as a private. He was married to a Nancy and lived 1759-1835. None of this is sourced.

A.E. Gurley research erroniously noted that Isom was born in 1752. Actually, he was born on Jan. 13, 1759 per his statement in a note in his pension file.⁹
He waslisted on the in 1786 tax list of at Johnston County, North Carolina, he was listed as Isom Gurley, an insolvent, household included one poll.¹⁰ He testimony indicating that he was owed one hundred five pounds of pork and an old barrell by Peg leg Massy at Court House, Waynesborough, Wayne County, North Carolina.¹¹ He was gave testimony to prove the will of his mother, Mary Gurley on 2 November 1792 at Johnston County, North Carolina.¹² Isham Gurley is head of household on the census of 1810 at Haywood County, North Carolina.. Enumerated with were an unknown person.¹³ He moved to at Oconee County, South Carolina, in between 1813 and 1826 Isham Sr. travelled to Oconee Co. S.C. where his name is found on deeds from 1813 to 1826.¹⁴ He moved to at Pendleton County, South Carolina, in on 5 July 1826 Possibly moved at this time due to a notification printed in the Pendleton Messenger that Isom Gurley mail was held and not retrived from Post Office.¹⁵ He appliedfor a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War as part of the North Carolina line on 17 April 1832 at Pickins County, Alabama.^16,5 He died after 29 October 1836 at Pickens Co., AL.¹⁷

     John Gurley Johnston County Court Minutes v.1 Records:

After Jan., 1761 this line appeared after an order stating that Joseph GURLEY refused to hold bond(security) for Mary Gurley (the widow of William GURLEY).

48. "It is ordered that John GURLEY & Benet Blackman be alowd as Security in their room, in ye Penalty of Two Hundered pounds."


AE Gurley Notes in that this John was the John married to Elizabeth Edwards - not John the son of William and Mary. He was born in 1759.² He died after 1792.³

     Rebekah Gurley was born in 1755.² She died after 1792.³

     Lydia Gurley Spelling of name from Mary Gurley's (mother) will. She was born in 1757.² She died after 1792.³

     Mary Gurley Mary Barbick was listed in Mary Gurley's will with the other children. Some researchers have left her out of the group of children. In the 1790 census there is a John Barwick household that was next door to Edward Gurley's home. She was born after 1746. She witnessed the civic ser of Nicholas Gurley on 8 November 1750 at Southampton County, Virginia; served on a Grand Jury, interesting to note Mary Gurle, juniory was an informant to one of the cases they decided on.²

     Patty Gurley In some sources her name is transcribed as Polly however, it is clear that the t's were crossed several times when she was mentioned in Mary Gurley's will. (TG 11/98). She was born in 1763.^3,4 She died after 1792.⁴ She was appointed executor of the will of her mother, Mary Gurley on 2 November 1792 at Johnston County, North Carolina.⁵ As of circa February 1793, Patty Gurley was also known as Martha.⁶

     John Gurley was born on 23 January 1780.¹ He died on 30 October 1788 at age 8.^1,2

     Angelina Gurley also went by the name of Angi.² She was born on 28 May 1827 at Franklin County, Alabama.³ She married James Mortimer Downs on 1 November 1850 at Leighton, Alabama.⁴

     Edwards Jeremiah Gurley was born on 4 June 1853. He died on 13 July 1870 at age 17.³