Cornelius George Autrey Sr (abt. 1709 - 1778)

Born about 1709 in Autrey-le-Vay, Franche-Comte, Haute-Saone, Franche-Comte, France [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Paige (Culbreth) Autrey — married 1749 in North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1778 at about age 69 in Autryville, Sampson, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Nancy Cashwell [send private message], Cheri Smith [send private message], Jo Grasso [send private message], and Dakota Mehus [send private message]

Biography

Cornelius Autrey Sr was a North Carolina colonist.

Although the spelling of Autrey has passed through many forms such as Autry, Aughtry, Aughtrey, Try, and Daughtry, most Autrey researchers say Cornelius of Edgecombe County was the original progenitor of the North Carolina Autreys. And they are all related to some degree regardless of a claim that five brothers came to America and went their separate ways.^[1]

Autrey Immigration

The first Autrey (or Autry) in what is now North Carolina may have been a Captain John Autrey from England. After receiving a patent from Queen Elizabeth on 25 Mar 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh began his first expedition to the new world, under Captains Phillip Amadas and Auther Barlow, to explore North Carolina and to recommend a favorable site for settlement.^[1]

They arrived in North Carolina on 2 Jul 1584 and remained six weeks before returning to England.^[1]

Birth Date and Location

Cornelius Autrey was born about 1720 and died in the late 1770s in either Pitt or Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Controversy regarding the birth place of Cornelius Autrey exists, as some researchers believe he was born in Ireland and some researchers, Autrey, Haute Saone, France, but no documents have been found to indicate either birth place as correct.^[1][2]

Marriage

Cornelius Autrey was first married in 1740 at age 21. His wife is attributed the name Elizabeth Paige (Neil - possible ancestor's surname?) Culbreath or Culbreth^{[citation needed]}, by some; she was unlikely the daughter of Angus Galbraith and Isobell Katherine Brown Thomson. Please note that neither Wittel (2000) nor Autry (1964) name his wife.^[2][3]

Children of Cornelius George Autrey

The Autry children were born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. By 1750, five Aurtey children had moved from Edgecombe County North Carolina to Sampson County and were recorded in the 1790 United States Census records. One moved to Georgia, one to Alabama, one to Tennessee, and one remained in Edgecombe County, NC. At least four of Cornelius’ sons were adventurous and struck out for the “WEST” and finally settled in Georgia.^[1]

1. The oldest of Cornelius' children by some accounts was Absalom, the only child to use the Autrey surname, born about 1740 and died in 1827 in St Claire County, Alabama. Absaloam was listed as a Tory during the American Revolution.^[2][3]
2. William Page Autry was the fourth child. He was born about 1745 and died before 1790 when his wife Rachel is listed as head of household.^[2][3]
3. The fifth child, Cornelius Autrey Jr, born 1747 and died 1810, married Sophia and had six children, was named in the Sampson County record of deeds book 18, pg 201. Moved to Alabama.^[2][3]
4. The seventh child Isham, born about 1750, has no record other then the 1790 census, which lists under household six children, two males and four females.^[2][3]
5. The eighth child, Martha Autrey, born in 1753 and died in 1852, married Neil Culbreth, and his family can be found in this census book under Neil and Martha Autry Culbreth family. Mary Autry lived in North Carolina.^[2] [See also: Wittel (2000), p. 374.] - possibly the same as Mary, named in Autry (1964)^[3]
6. The ninth child, Sarah Autry, was born about 1755 married George Vickers and remained in Edgecombe Co, NC.^[2]

Other Autry Children

1. (Captain) John Autry^[2] (1735-1788)^[3]
2. James Autry (ca. 1742-1828)^[2][3]
3. Alexander Autry^[2][3]
4. Theophelus Autry^[2][3]
5. Elizabeth Autry^[2][3]
6. Drury Autry (female)^[2][3]
7. Elijah Autry^[2][3]
8. Rachel Autry, b. c. 1755^[2][3]
9. Jacob Autrey (ca. 1756-1827)^[2][3]
10. Mary Autry^[3] (see above note: this may be the same person as Martha)

Residence

• 1745 - Edgecombe County, North Carolina^[3]
• 1 May 1762 - Edgecombe County, North Carolina
• 1783 - Duplin County, North Carolina Early Tax List.^[4]
• 1784 - Sampson County North Carolina Early Census Index 1784.^[5]
• 1790 - Sampson, North Carolina, United States^[6]

Revolutionary War

Even though Cornelius was loyal to the King of England more than one of his sons were Revolutionary Soldiers and were granted land for their service.

Documents and Records

Cornelius first appeared in records in 1746 and 1756 when he was a well established planter.^[7] Autry creek was named after Cornelius.

Death

Death Date: circa 1788 Edgecombe County, North Carolina.^[2][1] Probate may not have been settled until many years later.^[8]

Burial Place:. Autry Family Cemetery, Autryville, Sampson County, North Carolina. (Refer to: Cornelius George Autry, Sr: Birth: 1709 Franche-Comté, France. Death: 1778 (aged 68 – 69). Dismal Township, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA. Burial Autry Family Cemetery. Autryville, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA.)^[9]

Over the course of 20 years his name was associated with several thousand acres of land in Edgecombe County. Very successful.^[1]

He gave 340 acres to his children. Isham received 340 acres, Sarah and her George Vickers received 250 acre and an undisclosed amount to his son William Page Autry.^[8]

Research Notes

• Unsourced family tree handed down to Nancy (Autry) Cashwell.
• Cornelius Autrey Family
• Family History
• Mahan Blair. Cornelius Autrey and Family at Genealogy.com Forum. 9 Nov 1998. Accessed 16 Sep 2018. Print copy p. 1-2.
• The following records may be contributory if familial relationships are sorted. More data is needed to explain relevance:

1. North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, 1975-1984--Consolidated Index. Suggested Records: Household: Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah, Sarah McPhail, Sophia, Starling, Sophia. Repository: Ancestry.com. 2016. Provo, Utah, USA. Accessed: 22 Aug 2018.
2. Record for Corneilus Autery. North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal. 1975-1984: Consolidated Index, page 30. Sampson County, North Carolina. Household: Elizabeth, Sarah, Martha, Sophia, Starling, Sarah Mcphail, Unknown Young. Accessed 12 Sep 2018. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Provo, Utah, USA.

• Profile on FamilySearch

Buried at Autry Cemetery in Autryville North Carolina

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Sumlin, Vanessa Autrey, contributor. USG War Archives: YANCEY COUNTY, NC - BIOGRAPHIES - Cornelius Autrey family. Accessed 13 Jul 2021. Citing Autry, Mahan Blair. The Family and Descendants of Captain John Autry. 2001. Salem, Massachusetts: Higginson Book Company.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} Wittel, William Taylor. 500 Years of Wittel and Related Families. Jun 2000, p. 376-8. Marietta, Georgia. Citing the later-published work of authors Bundy, V Mayo & Brooks, Robert Autry. The descendants of Cornelius Autry, immigrant of Edgecombe County, North Carolina : Neil Culbreth of Sampson County, North Carolina, and allied families. 2013. Salem, Massachusetts: Higginson Book Company.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16} Autry, Mahan Blair. The family and descendants of Captain John Autry. 15 Mar 1964, p. 7. Corsicana, Texas. M Blair Autry.
4. ↑ North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890. Cornelius Autrey. County: Duplin County. Year: 1783. Database: NC Early Census Index. North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.
5. ↑ North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890. Cornelius Autry. County Sampson County. Year: 1784. Database: NC Early Census Index. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. See also: Cornelius Autrey. Sampson County, North Carolina Early Census Index, Early Census Index 1784. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890: 1999 - Jackson, Ron V, Accelerated Indexing Systems, compiler, using microfilmed schedules of the US Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
6. ↑ 1790 Census. To be retrieved from FamilySearch: Cornelius George Autrey in 1790 United States Federal Census. Cornelius Autrey. Home in 1790. Sampson, North Carolina. Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 1; Free White Persons - Females: 1; Number of Household Members: 2. Year: 1790; Census Place: Sampson, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 125; Image: 418; Family History Library Film: 0568147.
7. ↑ 1 May 1762. Corneilus Autry and Family. North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960. Received 700 acres begin beginning Certificate Number Range: 1-1300. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Edgecombe County, North Carolina. North Carolina Land Grants. Microfilm publication, 770 rolls. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. 687 Acres in North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960 Edgecombe County 1-1300.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Unconfirmed match, given 40 some odd year gap between death and probate settlement: North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998. Cornelious Autry. Probate Date: 1829; Cumberland, North Carolina, USA. Inferred Death Year: Abt 1829. Inferred Death Place: North Carolina, USA; Item Description: Original wills. Household Members: Cornelious Autrey. Wills and estate papers (Cumberland County), 1663-1978; North Carolina. Division of Archives and History.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images: accessed 13 Jul 2021, memorial page for Cornelius George Autry Sr. (1709–1778), Find A Grave: Memorial #184452620, citing Autry Family Cemetery, Autryville, Sampson County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Allan Brem Jr (contributor 49320670) .

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Cheri Hoffman for creating WikiTree profile Autrey-44 through the import of Hoffman Family Tree.ged on 26 Jun 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Cheri and others.