George Peay Sr (1734 - 1813)

Born 16 Jan 1734 in King William County, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Oct 1813 at age 79 in Rockingham, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

(Bio adapted from Rockingham Co. Heritage Book^[1], #812 - George Peay, Sr. Family, by Linda C. Vernon)

George and Mary Peay moved from Caroline Co., VA to Hanover Co., VA., thence to Goochland Co., VA and about 1769 to Guilford County, NC, which later split and formed Rockingham County. In 1779 Peay purchased a 640-acre tract of land from the state of NC on the Dan River near the Eagle Falls, adjoining lands of James Ray. The same year he purchased another tract on the north side of the Dan River and Whitstone Creek adjoining John Walker and Giles Carter. At his death in 1804, he left an estate which included 913 acres of land which was divided among his five sons.

When Rockingham County was formed from Guilford in 1785, George Peay was one of the commissioners appointed by Gov. Richard Caswell. He served as a legislator in the House of Commons representing Rockingham County in 1793-4-5. He was also a justice of the peace of the county.

Spouse & Children

• Mary Eubank (1734–1805)
  • William Peay (1755–1831) m. Rachel Tate (1757–1837)
  • George Peay Jr. (1757–1849) m. Elizabeth Betsey Scales (1755–1803)
  • Elizabeth Peay (1758–1834) m. (1) _ Gibson M. (2) Joshua Smith (1750–1821)
  • Elias Peay (1760–1830) m. Unknown, moved to Davidson Co., TN
  • Nicholas Peay (1762–) (He is probably not the Nicholas Peay of Fairfield, SC)
  • James Peay (1765–1815)
  • Ambrose Peay (1767–1815) m. Agnis Sanders/Saunders (1778-1847)
  • John Peay (1769–1793), never married
  • Thomas Peay (1773–1837) m. Susan Ann Morton (1772-1857)

Revolutionary War Service

George Peay Sr served with North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

George Peay Sr is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A087406.

George Peay Sr is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-267523
Rank: n/a

Two George Peays of Guilford Co., North Carolina are recorded as having service during the Revolutionary War. As there are only two known George Peays from that era, we can identify them as George Peay, Sr. and George Peay Jr.

George Peay Jr. moved to Williamson County, Tennessee where he filed an application for a Revolutionary War pension which was invalid because his service was with North Carolina militia units and not in the Continental line.

J.D. Lewis in his book NC Patriots 1775-1783: Their Own Words has entries for both men:

• Peay, George; Guilford County; 1776, a Private under Capt. John Leak and Lt. Col. James Martin, then Col. James Martin. 1778-1779, a private under Capt. John Nelson and Lt. Col. Archibald Lytle (a Continental officer) in the "New Levies." 1779, a Private under Capt. John Davis and Col. James Martin, too late for the battle of Stono Ferry, SC. Summer of 1780, a Private under Capt. Peter O'Neal and Maj. Thomas Owen, too late for the battle of Camden, SC (gathering up delinquents). 1781, in VA unit: Battles - Moore's Creek Bridge, Cherokee expedition 1776.

• Peay, George; Guilford; 1776, a Lieutenant under Capt. John Leak and Col. James Martin. In 1780, a Captain under Col. John Peasley. Got sick and his company devolved to Lt. Richard Vernon: Battles - McAlpine Creek.

George Peay Jr. also reported on his pension application that his brother, Elias Peay, filled in for him on part of his service. His pension application goes into much greater detail on his service, including the fact that he was present at Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, VA.

More detail on George Peay Sr's service is found in the pension application of Richard Vernon (Rev War Pension App #S1883, as transcribed by Will Graves 2/25/17):

About the 25th of August 1780 and soon after Gates’ Defeat at Camden, I entered Capt. Peay’s [George Peay’s] company and served as Lieutenant. We were attached to Col. Pasely’s [sic, John Paisley] regiment of N Carolina militia. After rendezvousing at Guilford we marched under Col. Paisley to Salisbury where we joined Gen. Davidson’s [William Lee Davidson's] Brigade and were marched by him to the County of Mecklenburg to McAlpin’s Creek [sic, McAlpine Creek, September 1780] where the British coming on us, we retreated to the North side of Adkin river [sic, Yadkin River]; on our retreat we were overtaken by the English and had a slight skirmish with them near Charlotte in which several men were killed among whom was William Rankins, and a Mr. Lock of my acquaintance. Capt. Peay taking sick soon after the commencement of our return, the command of the company devolved to me.

As the records show, both George Peays were in Capt, Leak's Company in Col. James Martin's Regiment of North Carolina militia in 1776. The full extent of George Peay Sr's service is not documented, but it might be assumed that he served from 1776 until 1780.

Will

Note N3561Will of George Peay

Book A, page 12

Rockingham County, North Carolina

C. H. at Wentworth

In the name of God Amen! I George Peay Sen'r of the State of North Carolina and County of Rockingham being very sick and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die, I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting at the General Resurrection I shall receive it again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath in manner and form following, Viz:

ITEM, I give and bequeath to William Peay one negro man Bernard to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM, I give to George Peay, Jun'r a certain piece or parcel of land beginning at Nathaniel Scales North corner running a northeast course to a Branch called Pains Spring Branch down the said Branch to Dan River thence up the said River to the corner of the said Nathaniel Scales' line, thence north along the said line to the beginning be the same sixty acres more or less it being the tract whereon the said George Peay Junior now lives to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to the said George Peay Jun'r two negroes by the name of Gracie and Lett to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM, I order and request my executors hereinafter named to sell and dispose of a certain tract of land containing two hundred acres more or less joining the lands of Sampson Lanier on the Waters of Troublesome in the County aforesaid and that they also sell and dispose of a Storehouse and lots in the Town of Leaksville.

ITEM, I give and bequeath my land whereon I now live containing nine hundred acres, being the same more less unto William Peay, Elias Peay, James Peay, Ambrose Peay and Thomas Peay to them and their heirs forever.

ITEM, I give and bequeath all the residue of my personal estate including a negro woman named Winnie and her children she now has which Bartlett Smith now has in his possession to my children to wit, William Peay, George Peay, Jun'r, Elizabeth Smith, Elias Peay, James Peay, Ambrose Peay and Thomas Peay to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever.

Lastly, I appoint William Peay, James Peay, and Thomas Peay my lawful executors to this my last Will & Testament, revoking all former wills by me made In Witness Whereof I set my hand and seal this ninth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, and the Independence of America XXVIII.

(Signed) George Peay, Seal

Signed, sealed and

delivered in the presence

of us

(Signed)

John May

Gideon Johnson Jun'r

George Allen

State of North Carolina)

County of Rockingham)

August Session, 1804

The witness to last Will and Testament of George Peay was duly proved in open Court to the oath of John May and on motion ordered to be recorded.

Signed, R. Galloway, C.

Notes

Note N3563http://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/rockingham_county_nc.html

Rockingham formed 1785 from Guilford

The first session of the new county's quarterly court was convened in February, 1786, at the plantation of Adam Tate, near Eagle Falls on the south side of the Dan River. The justices of the peace of this first court, most of whom were veterans of the Revolutionary War, were James Hunter, Samuel Henderson, George Peay, Hugh Challis, Thomas Henderson, Adam Tate, James Galloway, John Leak, Joshua Smith, Peter O'Neal, Abraham Philips, William Bethell, John May, and John Hunter. County justices were charged with the responsibility of hearing civil suits and minor criminal cases, providing for public buildings, probating decedent's estates, ruling on individual cases of lunacy, caring for orphans and illegitimate children, and maintaining public roads and bridges. Justices were appointed, generally from among the landed slave-owning gentry.

Residence:

Date: 1790

Place: Rockingham, North Carolina, United States^[2]

Residence:

Date: 1800

Place: Salisbury, Rockingham, North Carolina^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Rodenbough, Charles Dyson (Editor), The Heritage of Rockingham County, North Carolina, Rockingham Hist. Soc., 1983: #812 - George Peay, Sr. Family, by Linda C. Vernon
2. ↑ Source: #S54 Page: Database online. Year: 1790; Census Place: , Rockingham, North Carolina; Roll: ; Image: Data: Text: Record for George Peay Senior
3. ↑ Source: #S55 Page: Database online. Year: 1800; Census Place: Salisbury, Rockingham, North Carolina; Roll: ; Page: ; Image: . Data: Text: Record for George Peay

• Source: S263 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011; Repository: #R1 NOTESons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

• Source: S53 Author: Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. Title: American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Publication: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999; Repository: #R1 NOTEGodfrey Memorial Library, American Genealogical-Biographical Index, Middletown, CT, USA: Godfrey Memorial Library
• Source: S54 Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1790 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2000; Repository: #R1
• Source: S55 Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1800 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004; Repository: #R1 NOTEUnited States of America, Bureau of the Census, Second Census of the United States, 1800, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1800
• Source: S81 Author: Yates Publishing Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Publication: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004; Repository: #R1