John Gourley

This entry is not based on solid information, but appears to be true based on the analysis of several documents.

Henry Gourley and John Gourley were immediate neighbors in Hempstead Twp., Westmoreland Cty., PA based on the information in the 1830 Federal Census. This is the primary evidence that they were related. Henry has no census information before this. At and prior to this time, family members were not listed by name in the census data. John is the head of his household at this same residence in 1790, according to the census data.

There is further information about John Gourley in the book The History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: "John Gourley, the American ancestor, was a native of the north of Ireland, but of Scotch ancestry. When a young man he came to America and settled in Hempfield Township on a tract of four hundred acres of land known as 'The Miner.' The deed of this tract bears the date February 22, 1773, and the patent, May 13, 1788. John Gourley married Jane Ralston, by whom were born several children..."