John Gulley Sr. (abt. 1725 - bef. 1793)

Born about 1725 in Bertie Precinct, Colony of North Carolina

Descendants

Died before 27 Sep 1793 before about age 68 in Johnston, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

John Gulley Sr. was a North Carolina colonist.

John Gulley Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A048328.

John Gulley Sr. was born in 1725, in Bertie Precinct, North Carolina, and migrated to become one of the early settlers of Johnston Co. He was probably born in, or near, the portion of Bertie which became Northampton County, NC. He married Martha Stevenson, of the Stevenson/Stephenson family, whom were the early settlers of Northampton County. By 1777 John Gulley Sr. was already in Johnston County, establishing the Gulley family plantation at Great Buffalo Swamp, which eventually consisted of thousands of acres. The State Census of North Carolina 1784-1787, shows John Gulley Sr. living in the vicinity of two of his sons, both John Gulley Jr, and Nathan Gulley. He died intestate, in 1793. His descendants were the judges and magistrates of early Johnston County, and these prominent citizens played an active role in its development.

The National Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution (in his sons file) lists his wife Martha, and children as the following; John Jr., Nathan, George, Robert Jr. (John Sr.’s brother was probably the Robert Sr., and was b. abt.1742), Elizabeth, Mary, Lewis & Polly.

Parents and Siblings

John Gulley Sr.’s brother, Robert Gulley, also of Johnston Co., wrote a will in 1805, which is very helpful in making Gulley family connections; …to my nephew John Gulley, son of William Gulley, of Duplin Co…. …to (nephew) John Gulley, son of John Gulley decd…. …to Nathan Gulley, George Gulley, and Robert Gulley, sons of said John Gulley decd.

This will identifies the three earliest members of our line of Gulley ancestors; brothers, John Gulley Sr., of Johnston Co., Robert Gulley, of Johnston Co. & William Gulley, of Duplin Co. At this time, the parents of these three brothers are unknown.

Land Deed Abstracts

-1752 - Northampton Co., oct 5th, 1752 -200 Acres, lying along Lalhey’s Run…

In 1758, Martha Stevenson's mother, Mary Stevenson, very shortly before her death, left miscellaneous belongings to her husband, John Gulley Sr., in the following deed.

1758 -page 362, Mary Stephenson of Edgecombe County to John Gully of Northampton County, 1st of August 1758, 36 pounds Virginia money, one negro wench, named Lafe, one feather bed and furniture, all my pewter etc. Witness W. Kinchen, William Gulley, reg. Edgecombe County, Dec. court 1758. --Joseph Montfort clerk of ct.

...and in the following deed, Martha's brother William Stephenson, and his wife, Grace, sell her husband, John Gulley Sr., 300 acres of land.

1758 - page 361, William Stevenson, and Grace, his wife, of Northampton County to John Gulley, of Northampton County. 25 Aug. 1758, for 31 pounds, five shillings, proclamation money, 300 acres, joining Jacob Braswell in the swamp. A grant to the said William dated 25th April 1754 witness Joseph Bridgers, Joseph Sherwood, Jesse Stevenson. Registered Edgecombe County, Dec. court, 1758.

-1777 -600 Acres in Johnston Co., …lands and plantations, lying on Great Buffalo Swamp…, from James Holloway. wit. Robert Gulley, Thomas Branan. surv. John Smith.

-1779 -640 Acres in Johnston Co., on the Neuse River, on the East side of Buffalo Swamp.

-1782 - 250 Acres in Johnston Co., at the head of Buffalo Branch.

Sources

• Will of Robert Gulley, brother of John Gulley Sr.: https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85861064/person/46578229309/media/6536990f-47be-4992-a105-1fa3727dac1b?_phsrc=lkl11&_phstart=successSource
• Johnston County Register of Deeds online search tool for Historical Deeds; https://erec.johnstonnc.com/recorder/eagleweb/historicalIndex.jsp
• Photographs taken at the Johnston County Heritage Center, by Gulley family researcher, Bruce Gulley, showing NSDAR Gulley family sheets, and original Northampton Co., N.C. deed of John Gulley Sr.
• The State Census of North Carolina 1784-1787 https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/85861064/person/46578229309/media/gpc_statecensusnc-0084?_phsrc=PNX1&_phstart=successSource
• Research on earliest known generation of Gulley family; https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/a/k/Richard-C-Baker-jr/GENE7-0001.html
• Johnston County Estate Records; 201. Sales of personal Est. of John GULLEY, dec. 27 Sept. 1793, Nathan GULLEY,Exec. Buyers - Daniel Rogers, GULLEY, Isaac HINTON, Ben SMITH, JamesGREGORY,Nathan GULLEY, Isom WATSON, John KILLINGSWORTH.http://www.bmgen.com/document/pdf/Estates_NC_Johnston_1781_1807_Vol_I.pdf

[ His known sibling was Robert Gulley 1742 – 1814. North Carolina.; George Gulley 1770 – 1823, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 confirms that George Gulley married Zilphia Barnes in 1790 in North Carolina.; Elizabeth Gulley 1775 – 1852, North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004 confirms that Elizabeth Gully married Enoch Whitley on 20 Dec 1792 in Johnston Co., North Carolina Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT; Mary Polly Gulley 1780 – 1804 and Lewis Gulley 1784 – 1849.

Family sources say John Gulley passed away on 30 Sept. 1793 in Johnston Co., North Carolina. Some place in Johnston Co., North Carolina, John Gulley lies beneath sacred ground where he "Rests in Peace." (research bio by Audrey DeCamp Hoffman)]