John, second son of Isaac and Alse Gregory, probably fathered thirteen children by his first wife, Margaret Lipham Gregory. John's second wife, Rhoda, the widow of Alexander Cain, was born between 1760/70 and died in 1834.
Our first record of him (other than military) is a land grant for 300 acres "on the waters of Brown's Creek" bounded on the SW by Bill Henry's land, land laid out to John Gregory (another tract, apparently) and land laid out to Benjamin Gregory. This grant was surveyed 31 December 1784 and recorded 4 January 1785.
John was born before 1755 (age calculation from 1800 census) and died in March, 1819. His first wife, Margaret, relinquished dower rights on a deed in 1804 (Deed Book H. p. 147), but was dead by 1812 because Rhoda relinquished dower rights on a deed recorded 18 July 1812 (Deed Book L, p. 208).
A survey of the County Court Minutes of Union County provides us with the following
information about John:
Deeds registered in the Clerk of Court's office tell us a little more about John and his family. We know he was granted 300 acres in 1784.
In Deed Book C, p. 152, John sold five acres to Alexander Cain. The land was located on Little Brown's Creek and adjoined "John Gregory's corner and Alexander's land." The instrument was witnessed by john's three oldest children, Isaac, Mary and Jane. It was dated 26 November 1791 and recorded 4 September 1792.
In Deed Book L, p. 205, he records the transfer of 100 acres of land on the south side of Little Brown's Creek to his son, Jeremiah Gregory, Jr. The deed was signed 27 April 1812 and recorded 11 July in the same year.
In the same Deed Book, p. 206, John conveys to Mary (also known as Polly) Gregory, his daughter, in a deed of gift, one Negro girl slave. The witnesses to this deed included Hancock Porter. He might have been the Porter to whom Mary was married, but this is unproven. This instrument was also recorded 11 July 1812.
A third deed (recorded 18 July 1812) is the transferral of fifty acres of land to his grandson, Thomas Gregory, son of his daughter, Sarah Gregory. The land was located between son Edward's plantation and "my old plantation". John's daughter, Sarah, apparently married a Gregory, though which one we do not know. It is in this deed that we find the name of his second wife, Rhoda.
John's next recorded deed (dated 11 November 1817) was for the purchase of fifty acres from Nathan Sandage Pruitt and his wife, Nancy. The land was located on Brushy Creek.
John's final transaction was dated February 1819, just prior to his death. In this deed he gives to his son, Tillman, 100 acres of land. (This was one-half of the 200 acre tract on which John lived.) It is stated within the deed that this was the tract granted to Isaac Gregory, Sr. by William Bull, Governor of South Carolina, 20 June 1768.
John's military service was paralleled by his brother Benjamin's in that he was branded a Tory, had his land confiscated and then returned.
John was involved in several lawsuits of record.
A trover case instituted by John against Jeremiah Hamilton (30 March 1786) went to arbitration. The case dragged on and, finally, the judge ordered (on 27 March 1787) that a decision be made the third Saturday in April. The case did not end in April 1787 however. An entry in the County Court Minutes, p. 144, shows that the case was called a draw 25 September 1787.
James Bell sued John Steen and John Gregory 28 September 1787. Bell was awarded £ 15.10 and costs.
Then John Gregory turned around and sued John Steen. This was an attachment. The suit was introduced into court 26 September 1788. John dropped the suit 28 September 1789 and Steen paid the charges.
John and his first wife, Margaret, had at least twelve children. It is believed that he had another child who will be listed last.
John's children, as named in his will, were: Polly (Mary) Porter; Jane Reinfrow; Isaac; John Wesley; Edward, Sr.; Sally (Sarah); Elizabeth; Jeremiah, Jr.; James M.; Tillman; and Gerard.
BENJAMIN GREGORY (?-1 March 1817, age 43) predeceased John so we cannot be certain that he was John's son. He is buried at Cane Creek Quaker Cemetery near John's son, John Wesley, so it seems possible that he was John's son. Benjamin would have been the twelfth child.
WILLIAM E. GREGORY appears to be the thirteenth child of John and Margaret. A lawsuit (8 September 1819 in the Union District Court of Ordinary) on behalf of the children of William E. Gregory, deceased, demanded their share of their grandfather John Gregory's estate. The complaint was denied for insufficient cause. (This document is on file in Will Box 10, Package 16.) The children were: James S.; Washington; Macy; and Benjamin Gregory.
MARY (POLLY) GREGORY married -?- Porter.
Hancock Porter witnessed the previously mentioned deed of gift; but his will
(recorded some years later) reveals his wife's name as Elizabeth.
An Edward Porter was one of the witnesses of John's will and might have been
Polly's husband. She was probably married in 1812, however, as it was a practice
of the time for the father of the bride to present her a slave on her betrothal
or marriage.
JANE GREGORY married Washington Reinfrow according to Mrs. Vivian Bradburn of Union, South Carolina. Beyond this point, nothing else is known.
In the name of God. Amen.
I, John Gregory, of the State of South Carolina and Union District, being in a very low state of health and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent, Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner.
ITEM (the 1st) I give and bequeath to Rody (Rhoda) Gregory, my Jear, beloved wife, the third of all my land and property.
ITEM (the 2nd) I give to my well beloved daughters, Polly Porter and Jane Reinfrow, one dollar each.
ITEM (the 3rd) The residue of my property to be sold and the money to be equally divided amongst my other nine children, viz: Isaac, John, Edward, Sally, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, James, Tillman and Gerard Gregory.
I do hereby make, appoint and ordain my beloved wife, Rody Gregory, and my son, John Gregory, the sole Executors of this, my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disannul, revoke and disallow all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me and in any wise before mentioned, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this, the 9th day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and in the forty-third year of American independence.
Allen Warwick
Edward Porter
Isaac Cain
JOHN GREGORY
(his mark)
Recorded in Will Book B, p. 49, Box 10, Package 16
5 April 1819
William Rice, Ordy.
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