Robert Gregory (?-1813) was the third son of Isaac and Alse Gregory. Our earliest written record of Robert is a Colonial Land Grant of 100 acres under the hand of Governor William Bull. The acreage, granted 4 March 1773, was situated on Little Brown's Creek.

The first Gregory land transactions recorded in Union County (Deed Book B, pps. 1 and 2) concern Robert. Both deeds were recorded on the same day. The two are abstracted:

p. 2: Robert Gregory to Jeremiah Gregory - a plantation containing 100 acres, a part of a grant dated 4 March 1773 by Governor William Bull of South Carolina, and situated on Little Brown's Creek, a branch of the Broad River. The land is bounded on the northwest by vacant land, southwest by James Hawkins, and northeast by James Henry. Witnesses: Thomas Brandon and James Martin. Signed: 27 September 1787. Recorded: 24 December 1787.

p. 1: Colonel Thomas Brandon to Robert Gregory - 150 acres, the plantation whereon he now lives, adjoining Fairforest Creek, Young's land, and Thomas Hart; part of a tract Colonel Brandon bought from John Fletchall and William Young.

Robert married Mary Ann (Marian) Young, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Brandon Young. This is proven by the will of Catherine Brandon Young of Union County. Robert and Marian were the parents of seven known children: William, Isaac T., Elizabeth, Lettice, Mariann Jr., Sarah and Catherine (Catey).

Robert's Revolutionary service was in Captain Joseph Hughes' Company, Colonel Thomas Brandon's Regiment. He also provided badly needed food supplies to the townspeople as well as the militia.

Robert and Mariann were Baptist. They are mentioned in the Minutes of Padgett's Creek Baptist Church: "Received at Robert Gregory's, May 11, 1803 - Kissiah Hart, Lettice Howard, Betsy Polk, members of Tinker's Creek Church".

Other early Gregorys were apparently Methodist. The will of Henry Travilia, dated 3 April 1809, reveals a Methodist Meeting House called Gregory's. Travilla left equal bequests to the Cane Creek Quakers and the Methodists.

Robert Gregory probably died in December 1813. His will, dated 9 September 1813, was entered into probate 31 December of that year. The final settlement of his estate indicates that two children pre-deceased Mariann. The estate settlement reflects the death of Catherine (Catey) Gregory, wife of Henry Anderson. A second statement leads one to believe that another child died, apparently without issue, leaving a balance of "six surviving legatees or their heirs" A full copy of his will and other estate papers follows.

In the name of God. Amen.

I, Robert Gregory, of the District of Union in the State of South Carolina, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

IMPRIMIS I give my soul to God who gave it, hoping through the death and merits of my blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, to be made partaker of the never fading joys of immortality at the day of resurrection, and as for what temporal estate it hath pleased God to bestow on me, I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following:

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son, William, one Negro boy, Luke, immediately at my death for his humane services to myself and family.

ITEM I lend to my beloved wife, Mariann, all the rest of my estate of what nature soever during her natural life or widowhood for the support and maintenance of my children, when delivering that part my executors may call for to enable them to comply with my will as hereinafter directed.

ITEM I give my land, to be divided according to quantity and quality between my two sons, William and Isaac Gregory, after the death of their mother.

ITEM I give and bequeath to my said two sons, William and Isaac, and to my three daughters, Elizabeth, Lettice and Mariann Gregory, on their marriage, a proportionable part of my estate as near as may be equivalent with those that are already married.

ITEM After the death or remarriage of my said wife, I give and bequeath to my two sons, William and Isaac, my daughters, Sarah Humphreys, Catey Anderson, Elizabeth, Lettice and Mariann Gregory, all the rest of my estate of what nature or kind soever to be equally divided among them in suck manner as they may mutually agree, to them and their heirs forever.

LASTLY I constitute, nominate and appoint my said two sons, William and Isaac Gregory, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other will or wills heretofore by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Ninth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and thirteen. Sealed and delivered in presence of:

John Sanders
Joshua Green
Thos. (X) Hart

Robert Gregory
His Mark

WILLIAM GREGORY, probably the eldest son, married Ann Nancy McCafferty (Union County Deed Book W, p. 272). He was dead by 9 May 1834, the date of the deed's execution. This is known because the deed, which concerned the tract of land granted to Isaac Gregory in 1767, specified "Nancy, widow of William Gregory, deceased."

ISAAC T. GREGORY married Martha (Patsey) Humphries, daughter of Charles Humphries. This union is proven by a bequest from her father. His will (written 24 September 1837, recorded 24 October 1837, Union County Will Book B, p. 238) gives "to my daughter Patsey Gregory, one Negro girl, Peggy, and one hundred dollars cash.". Isaac's two identifiable land transactions - one as a grantee and one as a grantor - are with the same person. (Deed Book Q, p. 388) D.A. Mitchell, Sheriff of Union County, sells to Isaac Gregory, 100 acres, lands of Ulyche (Ulysses) Goodwin. Isaac acquired this land at auction, 23 July 1821. Isaac T. later sold 137 acres to D.A. Mitchell (22 November 1830). The land was located on the west side of Fairforest Creek. The dower was relinquished by Martha.

ELIZABETH GREGORY, daughter of Robert and Mariann, married John Rhodes. Of this union, nothing further is known.

LETTICE GREGORY married John Beard. John died by 1846. His estate was administered by Jason Norman.

MARY ANN (MARIANN) GREGORY, JR. was not married in 1820. This is known because she signed an agreement to sell part of her father's personal estate. It was the practice of the time for the husband to sign for the wife. Mary Ann signed herself, Mary Ann Gregory, junr. Though some believe she was married to Aaron Ingram, this has not been validated.

SARAH GREGORY (11 November 1780-10 August 1866), daughter of Robert and Mariann, married Charles Humphries ( 7 August 1771-20 November 1829), son of John and Elizabeth Timms Humphries. Both are buried in the Polly Young Cemetery at Union. Ten children were born to this union: Polly; Cassandra; Elizabeth; Sarah T.; Caty, 1810; Charles, 1812-1843; Lettie; John; Emeline; and Rachel Y., 1823-1825.

Polly Humphries (1802-1880), the first child of Sarah and Charles, married Hobson Thompson.

Cassandra Humphries (27 November 1803-19 November 1878), the second child of Sarah and Charles, married John Ison (5 August 1805-8 December 1882), son of Frederick and Hannah Ison, on 9 June 1831. They had six children: Sarah Elizabeth Jane; Emaline; ?-?; Mary; Cassie; John J., 1844-1923; and Thomas F.

Sarah Elizabeth Jane (Ison) Eison (28 March 1832-30 April 1922) married John Fletcher Brandon (17 January 1833-18 July 1904) of Chester, S.C. on 13 February 1855. John served in the Confederate Army. Sarah was a charter member of Sardis Methodist Church, where they are buried. Their children were: Elizabeth Cassandra; John F.; and Jane.

ELIZABETH CASSANDRA BRANDON (16 September 1858 -21 July 1943) married John W. Crawford (22 June 1854-30 May 1910), son of Benjamin F. and Emaline Sharp Crawford. He was a farmer and livestock dealer. John was of the Baptist faith and Elizabeth was Methodist, so they joined the First Presbyterian Church at Union. Both are buried at Rosemont Cemetery, Union. Their children: Susie; William T; Giles S.; Belle B., 1888-1968; Myrtle B.; James Holmes; George M.; and Ruth E.

Susie Crawford (1880-1971) married John E. Beckham.

William T. Crawford (1883-1949) married Pearl Hughes.

Giles S. Crawford (1885-1937) married Jamille Plowden.

Myrtle B. Crawford (1890-?) married Frank B. Fowler.

James Holmes Crawford (27 July 1892-6 June 1967) was born in Union and is buried in Rosemont Cemetery. He married Lena Higbe on 4 January 1921 in Hamlet, N.C. This marriage ended in divorce in 1939. He was the father of two daughters: Elizabeth; and Jewel.

Elizabeth Crawford married Marshall T. Edward.

Jewel Crawford married Paul Kicidis.

George M. Crawford (1894-1976) married Mary Halpin.

Ruth E. Crawford (1897) married Charles Stone.

John P. Brandon (1860-1915), second child of Sarah and John, married Virginia Davis.

Jane Brandon (1862-1912), the third child, married James L. Ray.

Mary Ison (1837-1917), third child of Cassandra and John, married Henry Hawkins.

Cassie Ison (1841-1902), the fourth child, married Philip R. Lankford.

Thomas F. Ison (1847-1931), the last child of Cassandra and John, married Medora Bunch.

Elizabeth Humphries (1805-?), the third child of Sarah and Charles, died in Alabama. She married Edward Jackson.

Sarah T. Humphries (1807-?) married Miles Malone.

Lettie Humphries (1814-1850), the seventh child, married George M. Young.

John Humphries (1817-1860), the eighth child of Cassandra and Charles, married Margaret -?-.

CATHERINE (CATEY) GREGORY, daughter of Robert and Mariann, married Henry Anderson. According to Robert's estate, she and Henry had more than one child. She died before 22 August 1828, the date of the division of Robert's estate.

The above account, by Linda Edwards Liner, of the family of Sarah Gregory Humphries is found in Union Heritage, Union County, South Carolina, 1985, pps. 140-141.

Additional information on the Sarah Gregory and Charles Humphries, Jr. lines can be found in Ancestors and Descendants of Charles Humphries by Brent H. Holcomb, 1985.