William Gulley, Jr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for North Carolina (Soldier). DAR Ancestor #: A048332

Note: William GULLEY Jr. - 1. Resided At Wilmington District Of Duplin Co NC, Census Of 1786, 1790 And 1800. * Listed in the 1790 census of Duplin Co., NC, page 190 on index. No township is listed. ~ 2. Served In NC Militia During Revolutionary War. ~ 3. Will Filed In Duplin Co NC About 1821. ~ 4. Deed In Duplin County To His Son John Gully Dated 22 Apr 1807 And Wife Betheny. Is This The Correct Person? ~ 5. Will Written 19 Feb 1819 And Probated January Term Court 1822 Mentions His Children And Some Grandchildren By Name, Giving Most Of His Daughters Married Names. ~ Note: In 1776, when the American Colonies declared their independence from England, William was 39 years old, 12 years married with 5 children (and a sixth on the way). He enlisted in the Newbern District NC Militia and after the war was he was recorded in a state census as living in Duplin Co., since Duplin was in the Wilmington District he evidently moved. As evidenced by U.S. census records, land deeds, and his will, he continued to reside in Duplin Co., and died there. William had a brother who lived in Johnston Co., NC. From the will of Robert Gulley we know that he and John Gulley spelled their name Gulley. So did William at first; at least that is the way his name is written in four documents prior to 1791. After 1792 William's name was consistently spelled GULLY. William son John also used GULLY but John's sons all changed to GULLEY. ~ Note: William Gulley was a "NC Planter." He owned 836 acres of valuable land located int the extreme NW corner of present day Duplin Co., about 2 miles SE of the small town of Calypso. State Hightway 403 traverses the northern edge of his property. The land where he resided, and also a tract which he owned about 2.5 miles to the North, were on the bank of Goshen Swamp, and are so described in four deeds. Actually Goshen Swamp is a river -- "the main tributary to the NE Cape Fear River in Duplin Co.". In 1793 William Gulley started disposing of his land. In March of that year he sold 50 acres to one Michael Kinnard. In January 1794 he gave 175 acres to his oldest son Jesse, perhaps as a wedding gift. In January 1801, he gave his second son William Jr. 295 acres. William Jr. was about 2 years married at the time. In April 1807 he gave his youngest son 363 acres "where he said William now lives, assuring himself and wife Bethany Gully the use and benefit therof during both or either of their natural life... it beight the whole of the land said Gully is possessed of. John his youngest son was 19 years old and unmarried in 1807.