No marriage record
has been found. John appears in the 1820 Census with a wife who is 26-45
years of age. One researcher claims that her name was Rebecca with a surname
Hays (based on their eldest sons first name). I've been informed that the name was supposed to have come from probate
records. I have paged through the entire probate court book, and have not found John Gilley's wife named. The only
mention of a wife for John was when Martin Wood claims that the mother of the
children, who remained unnamed, desired that he should be the children's guardian.
 |
| John Gilley's wife is mentioned in his probate records, but without naming her. It does mention that she had died as well. |
The birth of their
first child would put the marriage at about 1811. They had the following known
children:
1) Hays B. Gilley b.
about 1812 GA; m. Hancy Hall about 1834 Montgomery, AL; d. 1884 Burleson, TX
2) John Gilley b.
between 1812-1820 GA; d. unknown
3) William T. Gilley
2 May 1824 Early, GA; m. Martha M. Johnson 31 May 1860 Manatee, FL; d. 12 Mar
1893 Manatee, FL
4) Nathan S. Gilley
b. about 1822 GA; m. 1) Sarah Grissett 23 Dec 1842 Leon Co FL; m. 2) Elizabeth
Glisson 23 Mar 1846 Leon Co FL; d. About 1856 FL
These children's
names are taken from John's probate records. In July of 1830 the probate
records list three of the sons in reference to Martin Wood's application for
guardianship--John, Nathan and William. In November of 1831, H. B. Gilley is shown to have been a
resident in the Gilley home, since his rifle was accidentally sold in John
Gilley's estate sale. [See Hays B. Gilley for more on this.]
 |
| John Gilley's three youngest sons are mentioned in guardianship records--John, Nathan and William Gilley. |
1820 Census, Early,
GA:
John Gilly 2 m under
10, 1 m 45 and over, 1 f 26-44
Though the image is all but faded away, a close look will show that "John Gilly" appeared in the
1820 Census in Early County GA. He is over 45 [b. before 1775]
and has a wife 26- 44 [b. 1776-1794]. He had two sons under ten years old.
These sons would have been between nine and nineteen years old at the time of
John's death. H. B. Gilley would have been
eight years old in 1820, and about 18 at the time of John's death. John Jr. was probably the other son born before
1820. Nathan and William were born after this census was taken.
John
owned the land he lived on in Early County GA. His title to the land is
mentioned in the probate records, when the administrator sought to sell the
land. John's name was not listed in the 1820 Land Lottery, but since that was
the first lottery in which Early County land was sold, it is probable that he
purchased the land from one of the fortunate drawers.
 |
| This shows John Gilley's probate record that mentions his title to the land in Early County. |
Here is a map that shows where John Gilley lived in Early County GA, on Lot 311:
 |
| The red rectangle indicates Lot 311 which John Gilley owned and lived on. |
In the 1827 GA Land
Lottery, John is listed as one of the fortunate drawers. He drew two lots in
Lee County (now Stewart County) GA. These Stewart County plots are also
mentioned in John's probate records, as
Martin Wood was seeking permission to sell the land in 1839 on behalf of the
Gilley orphans.
REPRINT of OFFICIAL REGISTER of LAND LOTTERY OF
GEORGIA 1827
6TH DAY'S DRAWING-March 13
EARLY.
page 17
|
||
Fortunate
Drawers: John Gilley,
Captains
District: Wilsons
Number:
362
District:
28
County:
Lee County
[Lee
County was created from Creek Lands in 1826. It is north east of Early County
GA. In 1827 it covered what is now Stewart County GA, which is where I
believe this land lies, from what was said in the probate records.]
|
||
REPRINT of OFFICIAL REGISTER of LAND LOTTERY OF
GEORGIA 1827
28th DAY'S DRAWING---April 7th.
EARLY.
page 85
|
||
Fortunate
Drawers: John Gilley,
Captains
District: Wilsons
Number:
237
District:
23
County:
Lee County
|
Martin Wood applied
for Letters of Administration on John Gilley estate on 19 Jan 1829. Letters
were approved on 23 Mar 1829. Most of the information that we have about John
comes from these probate records. John Gilley's sons names are drawn from these
records, and his land in Early and in Stewart Counties are mentioned in the
probate records as well.
-----------------------------------------------------------< {} >-------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------< {} >-------------------------------------------------------
Transcripts of John
Gilley's Probate Records:
Georgia--Early
County}
January 19th 1829
Then the Honorable
Court of Ordinary met according to adjournment Present their Honor Benjm
Hodges, Richard Grimsley and Joel Chivers Esquires
Martin Wood Esqr
having made application for Letters of administration on the Estate of John Gilley late of the county of
Early dec'd. It is ordered that Letters of Citation be granted him.
29 Jan 1829
Martin Wood Esqr.
Having made application for Letters of administration on the Estate of John
Gilley late of the county of Early dec'd It is ordered that Letters of Citation
be granted him--
Mar 23rd 1829
Martin Wood adm'r of
the Estate of John Gilly late of
this County dec'd, having complied with the requisites of the law by publishing
citation, giving bond and security &c-
It is therefore
ordered that Letters of Administration be granted to the said Martin Wood as
aforesaid. Ordered also that Letters of Appraisment be granted to Martin Wood
Adms of the Estate of John Gilly
dec'd and that Joseph Grimsly, James W. Alexander, James M. Cown, Dan'l
Carroll, Jeremiah Fowler be and they are hereby appointed to appraise the said
Estate of John Gilly dec'd according to the law.
Jul 1829
Martin Wood Adm'r of
the Estate of John Gilley dec'd
returns the appraisement of said estate.
Jul 5th 1830
Martin Wood adm'r of John Gilley dec'd Returned an
Inventory of the sale of the said dec'd Estate. Ordered that the same be rec'd
and recorded.
The following text
follows the above. After it was written, it was Xed out repeatedly, however it
is still legible:
Martin Wood Esq'r
having signified to the court that it was the special wish of the dec'd mother
of the children & orphans of John
Gilley dec'd that same Martin Wood should become guardian to the same
orphans.
It is therefore
ordered that same Martin Wood be and is hereby appointed Guardian to said
orphans.
Jul 1830
Martin Wood Esqr
having applied for Letters of Guardianship to the persons and Estate of John Gilley, Nathan Gilley and William
Gilley, orphans of John Gilley dec'd and the said Martin Wood having
complied with the requisitions of the law by giving bond and security.
Ordered therefore
that Letters of Guardianship be granted to the said Martin Wood to the persons
and property of the said orphans as aforesaid.
[Martin Wood shows
up in the 1830 Census in Early County GA as a 40-50 year old. He is living
alone, so the boys are not with him yet. Next door is Aaron Tyson, and just a
page away is Seaborn Hays (20-30).]
May Term 1831
Martin Wood
Administrator on the Estate of John
Gilley Deceased having applied to this Court for an order to cansel a
bond which he holds against Jerimiah Fowler for to make titles to a certain
tract of Land Lying in the 28th District of said
County number three Hundred and Eleven which bond was made payable to
the said John Gilley in his life time and the said Land not being paid for and
the said Jeremiah Fowler being present and makes no objection
It is therefore
ordered that the Administrator Martin Wood do Cansel the said Bond and Receive
from the said Jeremiah Fowler the note or notes Given for said Land
November Term 1831
Whereas it appears
to the court that Martin Wood Esqr Adm'r of the Estate of John Gilley discovered at a sale of
said court, Estate sold a Rifle Gun, the property of H. B. Gilly, for ten dollars. It is therefore ordered by the
Court that said administrator is hereby authorized to pay this am't thereof to
said H. B. Gilley and this order shall be his voucher therefore.
[Hays would have
been 19 in 1831. This is evidence that Hays was living in the household of John
Gilley sometime before John died.]
19th Novr 1832
Philip Tyson
Guardian of the Orphan of Ladin Smith dec'd returns an oath the am't of his
Charge against said orphans from the date of 1825 untill 1832.
Ordered that the
same be rec'd and recorded.
[There are a couple
of more references in the probate records to Philip Tyson as guardian of the
Smith children, but no reference to him in connection with the Gilleys.]
…
Martin Wood Adm'r of
the Estate of John Gilley dec'd
presents an account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the Estate of said
dec'd, for the year 1829, 1830, 1831 & 1832. Ordered that the same be rec'd
and recorded.
January adjn'd Term
1833
Martin Wood Guardian
of the orphans of John Gilley
dec'd returns the rec't expenditures of his wards for the year 1832.
Ordered that the
same be rec'd and recorded.
January Term 1835
Martin Wood adm'r of
the estate of John Gilly dec
returns his account current with said estate. ordered that the same be received
and recorded.
January adjourned
Term 1835
Jan 12 1835
Martin Wood adm'r of
the estate of John Gilly dec'd
having applied for Letters of Dismission from the administration of said estate
and citation having been published in terms of the Law and no objection being
offered It appearing that he has fully administered said estate. It is
therefore ordered that he be dismissed and fully discharged from his
administration of the said estate.
January 12th 1835
Martin Wood Esq
guardian of the orphans of Bronn Livermauden? And also Guardian of Nathan L and William T Gilley orphans
of John Gilley dec'd having appeared in open court and states that he is about
to remove beyond the limits of this state and states that he wishes this court
to appoint another guardian for said orphans so that he may make settlement
with the said Guardian before he leaves the state. It appearing to the Court
from the statement of Esq. Wood that David D. Smith Esq will accept the
appointment of the said Guardianship and A. W. Liverman one of said orphans
being above the age of fourteen years comes in open court makes choice of the
said David D. Smith as his guardian. It is therefore ordered that the said
David D. Smith be and he is herein appointed guardian for N N Livermon orphan of Broun Livemon dec. and also of Nathan L and William T. Gilly orphans of
John Gilley dec. And further ordered that as he is not present that he
apply at the Clerks office of this court in vacation and give bond and security
and take the oath prescribed by Law necessary to his just qualification as
guardian aforesaid and that letters of guardianship be thus issued to him in
terms of the law.
[Note: Since neither
Nathan nor William chose their guardian as did the Livermon boy, this shows
that they may have been underage. That would mean they would have been born
after 1821. So, neither of them would then be one of the two sons who were with
John Gilley in the 1820 Census.]
March 1837
David D. Smith
guardian of the orphans of Jno Kelly
Gilly dec'd returns his account current for the year 1836. Ordered that the
same be received and Recorded.
Mar 5 1838
David D. Smith
guardian of the orphans of John Gilly
dec'd having applied for leave to sell the real estate belonging to the said
orphans And notice against application having been published in terms of the
law And no objection being offered. It is therefore ordered that the said David
D. Smith guardian as aforesaid have leave to sell Lot No 237 in the 23rd district of formerly Lee now Stewart County
the property of the said orphans agreeable to law in such case made and
provided.
November Term 1839
David D. Smith
Guardian of Gilleys orphans
returns his account of actings and doings as such ordered that the same be
received and recorded
Jan 4 1841
David D. Smith
Guardian of Nathan and William Gilley
came into court and resigns his office as guardian and Abdullah D. Smith
applies for said appointment and came into court gives bond and security and
takes the oath required by law. It is there for ordered that letters of
guardianship do issue to the said AD Smith for the person and property of said
Nathan and William Gilley.
September 1845
Ordered by the court
that A. D. Smith Guardian of Gilly
orphans be & appear at the next term of this court on the 1st Monday in
November next, and give new bond & security.
--------------------------------------------------------< {} >---------------------------------------------------------
No further records
of guardianship appear for the orphans, though the probate book continues
through 1850s. We know that Hays B. Gilley moved to Alabama by about 1832,
then on to Texas in 1836. Second son, John Gilley Jr. has not been found after the census
and probate records. Youngest sons, William and Nathan, moved to Florida where they served in the Seminole Wars.
Since John and his wife seem to have died within a short period of one another, it is likely that they died of the same illness. It is unknown where the couple are buried, though they may have been buried on their own farm prior to its being sold.
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