William Guest, Sr.

1st Entry: William was a native of England. He came to Pennsylvania, migrated to Virginia where he married and then traveled to North Carolina and South Carolina. He was granted a track 345 acres lying on the South side of the Yadkin River on March 3, 1779 in Wilkes County North Carolina. Land Grant: Deed Book A-1, 1778-1783, p 15.

In 1784 Capt Guest's district, the following Guest paid taxes--John Guest, William Guest. 180 acres on Yadkin River. William Guest Jr, Moses Guest 161 acres on Yadkin River. Benjamin Guest 100 acres on Yadkin River. September 17, 1785, William Guest of Wilkes County North Carolina sold 160 acres more of less of land on the Yadkin River to William Lenoir, Wilkes County, North Carolina for 150 pounds, Deed Book A-1, page 446. On October 22, 1785, William Guest Sr of Wilkes County North Carolina sold 184 acres to Benjamin Howard for 550 pounds. Deed approved January term 1786. William and wife Suzannah signed their mark to this deed. Deed Book A-1 page 480. All land sold so he moved to South Carolina, Pendleton District where Moses Guest lived--now Oconee County, South Carolina. "History of Anderson Co, South Carolina" p 204.

William Guest settled in that part of the form lying between Big Beaver Dam and Tugoloo River known as Crackers Neck. He was a Justice of the Peace. He and several sons determined to make a home in the newly opened country. They traveled about looking for a spot that appealed to them and one night pitched their tent in that locality. Morning came and they looked about them. They decided that there could be no more pleasing part of the world that this, and there they remained. Theirs became a large connection to the community. William Guest Sr surveyed 690 acres on the Tugaloo River on July 20, 1787, a part of which was sold to David Guest. This transaction was witnessed by sons, Moses and Benjamin Guest. On May 2, 1788 William Guest Sr purchased 200 acres of land from Andrew Hamilton on Little Beaver Dam Creek of Tugoloo River.

William Guest and wife Susannah were on the 1790 Census, 96th District, Pendleton District, South Carolina. They probably died in the late 1790s. First found in Prince William County (Farquier County) Virginia in 1750, in Frederick Co Virginia by the 1760s, in Wilkes County North Carolina in 1769, and in Pendleton District, South Carolina about 1785. He was first married to Eleanor York.

Source Dee Redkevitch deezee97@mindspring.com

2nd Entry William Guest and his family lived or had been seated in Hartworth, England for several generations. He and his family came to America on the ship Deleware, Capt Moore, Commander.

He lived in Pendleton District, South Carolina with wife Susannah and seven male children that are known.

By Dec 30, 1762, the family had moved to Frederick County, Virginia, where William was born. About 1769 the Guest family moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina, located about 30 miles south of the Virginia border.

William Guest, Sr. lived in Surry Co, NC in 1769. He was granted land on the South side of Yadkin River March 3, 1779 in Wilkes County. He and his family moved to Pendleton District, South Carolina in 1785. He and Susannah are on the 1790 census records. It is presumed they died there sometime shortly after.

The marriages records of William Guest, Jr. and Benjamin Guest were recorded in Wilkes Co., NC.

Some sources: "Compendium of Guest-Guess Descendents of William Guest, Sr .". "Guess-Guest and related Families" by Alta Louise Biggs Martin. "Descendants of William Guest, Sr." by Bill Guest.

3rd Entry William and his brothers Moses, John and Benjamin were all in the battle of Kings Mtn in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Records are on file in Washington DC on all three.

4th Entry: William Guest, Sr. was born about 1725-1730. The first known records for William Guest, Sr. relate to his son Moses, who was born 1750 in Prince William County, VA according to Moses’ Am Rev pension application. William's son Benjamin was born 1757 in Prince William County, VA according to Benjamin's Am Rev pension application. William's son William, Jr. was born 1762 in Prince William County, VA according to William, Jr.’s Am Rev pension application. The William Guest, Sr. family moved to Wilkes County, NC when the son Benjamin was about 12 years old (about 1769) according to Benjamin’s Am Rev pension application. The Guests were in Wilkes County, NC through about 1785. The family group then moved to Pendleton, SC about 1785-1786, and members of the family settled in both Pendleton, SC and Franklin County, GA (just across the Tugaloo River from Pendleton, SC).