| Color Codes separate generations. Numbers show generations. | |
| First Generation 1 – BLACK – (Sons/daughters of Isaac) | Sixth Generation 6 – BROWN |
| Second Generation 2 – RED | Seventh Generation 7 – GREY |
| Third Generation 3 – GREEN | Eighth Generation 8 – PURPLE |
| Fourth Generation 4 – ORANGE | Ninth Generation 9 – Olive |
| Fifth Generation 5 – BLUE | Tenth Generation 10 – PINK |
John Gregory and his descendants – Page 1
John Gregory 1, 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:
He served as a juror in seven court cases between 27 September 1785 and 30 October 1798. He was named Deputy Sheriff for Union County, 27 March 1786 (p. 36). He was named Overseer of the Road from Hughes Creek to Neal’s Creek, 30 June 1790 (p. 311). He and Thomas Brandon, as administrators of Edward McNeal, brought suit against Caleb Gasaway and wife, 16 March 1788. They also brought suits against Abel Pearson and Rebeckak (sic) McNeal, 27 March 1788; and Charles Sims, 7 June 1791. The court awarded McNeal’s estate £90 in the last case. Disposition of the first two cases was not disclosed.
In 1794, he stepped down as Overseer of the Road, and James Barron was appointed in his place.
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 2 (?-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 2 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 2 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 2 married Washington Reinfrow according to Mrs. Vivian Bradburn of Union, South Carolina. Beyond this point, nothing else is known
Will of John Gregory
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.
Isaac (Lipham) Gregory 2 (31 October 1788-28 August 1864) was the third child of John and Margaret. His will (recorded in Will Book D, pps. 128-29, 3 September 1864), was signed 31 March 1861. A codicil was added 10 April 1864.
The will mentions two families. The mother of the first family is unknown. It is reported that Lipham’s first wife was a Merriman or Merryman. Several descendants carry the name Merryman which would indicate her possible maiden name. Lipham shows up in the 1850 census with his second family. The second wife, Nicy D. Koon, was listed as 29 years of age. Lipham was 61 at the time.
Lipham’s “first family” included Edward M., ca. 1815-17 January 1882; Gerard Singleton, ca. 1819; Warren Simpson, 4 March 1821 – 10 June 1901; and Garlen Sanford, ca. 1823-8 July 1899. The “second family” was made up of Emily Frances C.P., ca. 1843; Ellen Eugenia E., November 1845; and Theodore D. Goudelock, 11 February 1853-13 September 1911.
Because of the number of “Isaacs” in Union County, it has been virtually impossible to identify Lipham’s early land transactions. The later transactions are very interesting though. It is within these transactions that Lipham takes care of his first family and requires of them acknowledgment of his second family.
In 1852, and within Deed V15-448, Lipham transfers to Garlen Sanford land adjoining Mrs. Nancy Comer, formerly known as the Porter Place. Garlen Sanford paid £650 to his brother, Gerard Singleton.
John Wesley Gregory, Lipham’s brother, sold a tract of land on Brown’s Creek to Lipham, 15 September 1852. Within the deed (Book W16, p. 214) the grantor, John Wesley, states that he purchased this land from his father, John Gregory, Sr., in 1804.
Lipham gave this land to Garlen Sanford “as part of his portion of my estate”. The tract consisted of 182 acres. Lipham stated the land was known as the “John Gregory old place” (Book W16, p. 286).
For reasons unknown to us, Lipham saw fit to prepare a deed in which he granted 144 acres and six Negroes to Aswin Starks Gregory (son of Benjamin J.) in trust for his (Lipham’s) son, Gerard Singleton Gregory. The land was located in the Brown’s Creek area. (Book W16, P. 426)
In another trust deed to son, E.M. Gregory, (Book Y17, p. 56, 1 January 1856), Lipham transfers to Edwin M. Gregory, in consideration for £10 paid to him, several Negroes to be held in trust for his children.
In Book Z18, p. 282 (recorded the same day), Edwin M. acknowledges the trust deed as well as his father’s second family. The children of the second family are referred to as “children of the half blood” Edwin relinquishes all claims to his father’s estate to the three children, which are named within the instrument.
Garlen Sanford, Warren Simpson and Gerard Singleton make the same acknowledgments within the deeds recorded in books V15, p. 448; Z18, p. 283; and Z18, p. 298, respectively.
Edward Merriman (Edwin) Gregory 3 (ca. 1815 – 17 January 1882), the first child of Lipham and his first wife, married ca. 1836 Rhoda Comer (ca. 1820), the daughter of William and Nancy Porter Comer. Edward’s burial site is unknown. Their known children were: Isaac Simpson, 12 February 1838; William Singleton, 1838; Benjamin Franklin, November 1849; George Washington, 1854; Robert Olinthus, 25 May 1856; Julia, 1858; and Emma, 1865.
Edward listed himself as a planter in the census of 1850. He owned 120 acres of land, of which 100 acres were listed as improved. In 1860, he listed himself as a merchant and in 1870, a grocer. In 1880, he and Rhoda lived with their son, Isaac Simpson. Edward had apparently suffered a stroke because he was listed as a victim of paralysis.
Rhoda brought an action in 1882 to demand her dower rights as Edward’s wife. Apparently, she was a very assertive woman for her time.
Isaac Simpson Gregory 4 (12 February 1838 – 19 January 1920), first son of Edward and Rhoda, served in Company H, 5th South Carolina Infantry, Confederate States of America. He married Mary Ann Lucinda Gallman (14 November 1839- 26 April 1896), the daughter of H. Reubin and Cassa Johnson Gallman. Both are buried at the Presbyterian Cemetery, in Union, SC, in unmarked graves along with three of their children. Simpson was living with his grandson, J.W. Keasler of Union, SC when he died. If he indeed served in the Confederate States of America as did another Simpson Gregory, it has been difficult to separate the two from the records of at this time.
For some reason this Gregory family moved out of Union County. Several turned up in the Greenville area.
Isaac Simpson and Mary Ann were the parents of ten children, all born in Union, SC: John Herbert, (19 March 1857-?); Arminta, (19 September 1858-19 May 1860); James M., (19 April 1860-unknown); Emma S., (6 May 1864-unknown); Joseph E. Johnson (ca. 1865-24 January 1881, age 16); Edward Merriman, (23 August 1868-13 February 1942); Julia Elizabeth (6 May 1870-24 September 1951); Hampton Bennah (2 August 1871-unknown) Sallie Violet (2 March 1872-unknown); Ophelia (30 November 1873-died young)
John Herbert Gregory 5 (19 March 1857- ?) was the first son of Isaac Simpson and Mary Ann. He died young, and it is suspected that he is buried among the other unmarked grave sites in the Simpson Gregory plot, located in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Union, SC.
NOTE : The information on John Herbert was extracted from information in a Gregory Family Bible which belonged to Edward Merriman Gregory, the grandfather of Alva Gregory Waddington of Greenville, SC.
James M. Gregory 5 (19 April 1860-unknown), the third child of Isaac Simpson and Mary Ann, was still at home in 1880. A James Gregory, aged 40 and single, lived in Jonesville in 1900.
Emma S. Gregory 5 (6 May 1864-?), the fourth child, might well be one of the three sisters listed in her brother Edward’s obituary. She married on 22 June 1884 in Union, SC, Thaddeus Knight.
The information about Edward Merriman Gregory and his descendants was submitted by Alva Gregory Waddington of Greenville, S.C.
Edward Merriman Gregory 5 (23 August 1868-12 February 1941), the fifth child of Isaac Simpson and Mary Ann Gallman, was born August 23, 1868. He was born in Union but lived in Pacolet, S.C., Greenwood, S.C. and Spartanburg, S.C. before settling in Greenville, S.C.
He married Annie Kennett on September 17, 1893. His first wife, Elizabeth(?) died in childbirth along with her child before he was married to Annie. He and his wife, Annie, lived in Greenville for 25 years before his death on February 12, 1942. He operated a grocery store at one time and was a Singer Sewing Machine salesman for a number of years. He resided with his family at 718 Bramlett Road and he and his family were members of City View Baptist Church.
Annie was born December 30, 1874, the oldest daughter of James Columbus Kennett and Amanda Coyle. They resided in Gaffney, South Carolina. Annie and Edward were the parents of twelve children. Their names: Jessie Mae, Herbert Johnson, Daisy Brown, Eugene Frank, Eddie Willie, Violet, Johnnie Mack, James Columbus, Paul, Wallace, Annie Louise, and Kennett.
Jessie Mae Gregory 6 (11 July 1894-15 January 1896), the first child of this union was born in Pacolet, South Carolina. She died of pneumonia in her father’s arms on January 15, 1896. She was buried in Pacolet, S.C. but no trace of her grave has been found. There is a marker in her memory at Springwood Cemetery in Greenville at the headstone, between the grave of her mother and father.
Herbert Johnson Gregory 6 (21 January 1896-23 March 1972), the second child was born just three days after the funeral of his older sister. The date was January 21, 1896. Herbert never married and lived at the homeplace on Bramlett Road until he retired. He served in the infantry World War I. He worked at Woodside Mill and later at a filling station. His retirement years were spent with Kennett in North Carolina, with James in Greenville, and with Louise in Haines City, Florida, where he died March 23, 1972. He is buried next to his mother in Springwood Cemetery in Greenville, S.C.
Daisy Brown Gregory 6 (28 October 1897-15 October 1968), the third child of Annie and Edward, was born in Pacolet, S.C. She married Ira Lewis Davis of Wake County, N.C. on August 20, 1919, in Greenville, S.C. Ira’s father was John Horace Davis, his mother, Annie Glenn Finch Davis. They lived in Raleigh, N.C. Ira served in the U.S. Army during Word War I from July 27, 1918 to July 23, 1919 in France. Daisy died October 15, 1968 and Ira on October 17, 1978 in Raleigh, N.C. Their children are: Hannah George Davis and John Horace Davis.
Hannah George Davis 7 (1 June 1925) was born in Raleigh, N.C. She married Patrick Henry Ryan of Wake County, N.C. on March 4, 1950 in Raleigh, N.C. They have two sons, Dennis Lynn Ryan and John Alex Ryan.
Dennis Lynn Ryan 8 ( 24 September 1954), married Margaret Nolen on January 21, 1982 in Seattle Washington. They have one daughter, Andrea Christie, born August 4, 1984 in Seattle. They presently reside in Seattle, Washington.
John Alex Ryan 8 (5 November 1958), married Aimee Lorraine Cordozo on June 25, 1989 in San Diego, California. They have one son, Trevor Patrick, born May 8, 1992. They presently reside in San Diego, California.
John Horace Davis 7 (21 August 1926), served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in Okinawa and Guam from October 26, 1944 to June 26, 1946. He married Ruby Ivey of Green County, N.C., the daughter of Josephus and Ora B. Ivey, on February 4, 1950. They reside in Raleigh. North Carolina. Their children are: Patricia Ann Davis, LaDonna Kay Davis and Keith Ira Davis.
Patricia Ann Davis 8 (18 July 1953-18 April 1955) was born in Raleigh, N.C. She died April 18, 1955.
LaDonna Kay Davis 8 (10 May 1956) in Raleigh, N.C.
Keith Ira Davis 8 (31 December 1957), was born in Raleigh N.C. He married Margaret Lorraine Dail on December 4, 1976 in Raleigh, N.C. They have one son, John Horace born March 23, 1988.
Eugene Frank Gregory 6 (24 November 1899-20 September 1951), the fourth child of Edward and Annie Gregory, was born in Pacolet, South Carolina. He married to Novie Lee Pitts (20 August 1911), daughter of Robert Upps Pitts and Ada Welborn Pitts. She was born in Forest City, N.C. and died in Plant City, Florida. Frank lived in Greenville, S.C. until his death September 20, 1951. Both are buried in Graceland Cemetery in Greenville, S.C. Their children: Ada L., Eugene Frank Gregory Jr., Betty Ruth, Lois Louise, James Albert.
Ada L. Gregory 7 (12 February 1931), was born in Greenville, S.C. She married Kenneth W. Nelson on October 9, 1948 in Greenville, S.C., where they presently reside. Kenneth worked at Judson Mill in Greenville, South Carolina, as a weaver for 37 years, 16 of those as a Supervisor. He was a Struder Operator for Southern Weaving for five years. He and Ada have a cleaning business at the present time. Ada was a spooler operator and instructor for 25 years. Their two children are: Ronald Eugene and Tony Lee.
Ada and Kenneth have three granddaughters, Taryn Lynette Nelson Townsand, Tanis Lorraine Nelson, Jayme Catherine Nelson; two grandsons, Ronald Brent Nelson and Trenton Lee Nelson, and one adopted granddaughter, Tabitha Lysse Nelson. They also have two great-grandchildren. Kenneth W. Nelson, husband of Ada Gregory Nelson, died 15 March 2000, in Greenville, SC.
Ronald Eugene Nelson 8 (12 April 1950), was born in Greenville, S.C. He married Cathy Saul on March 21, 1970 in Columbus Ohio.
Tony Lee Nelson8 (12 April 1952), was born in Greenville, S.C. He married Patti Wilt on March 14, 1970 in Jacksonville, N.C.
Eugene Frank Gregory, Jr. 7 (25 June 1933), the second child of Frank and Novie, was born in Easley, S.C. and married Montiene Davis, daughter of Fred Jefferson and Ruby Bruce Davis of Franklin County, Georgia on October 16, 1953. Frank worked at Judson Mill in Greenville, S.C. for 14 years in weaving and is presently a Weaving Supervisor at J.P. Stevens in Greenville, S.C. Montiene has worked at Judson Mill (eleven years), Celanese administration for 22 years, and presently works in the Business Office at St. Francis Hospital. They presently reside in Greenville, S.C. They have one son: Fred Eugene Gregory.
Fred Eugene Gregory 8 (20 July 1954), was born in Greenville, S.C. He was married to Wendy Criswell on December 6, 1991 in Jacksonville, Fl.
Betty Ruth Gregory 7 (6 April 1935-13 July 1998), the third child of Frank and Novie was born in Greenville, S.C. and died in Plant City, Florida. She married Olin Lamar Shepherd, son of Marvin Lamar and Mittie Lois Shepherd of Bartow, Fl. on June 11, 1956 in Greenville, South Carolina. They own Shepherds Spreader Service, a fertilizer company in Plant City, Florida. where they reside. Their two children are: Kathy Darlene and Billie Marlene.
Kathy Darlene Shepherd 8 (4 July 1957) was born in Plant City, Fl.
Billie Marlene Shepherd 8 (4 December 1960) was born in Plant City, Fl. She married Karl L. Boston in 1979. They have two daughters, Jessica Lynn and Jamie Nicole.
Lois Louise Gregory 7 (1 October 1936), the fourth child of Frank and Novie, was born in Easley, S.C. She married James Eugene Dudley (January 17, 1934), son of O.H. and Ella Mae Dudley of Slater, S.C. in Hartwell, Georgia on January 12, 1952. James is presently retired from the Civil Service and Lois is retired as an airline filter inspector. They have four sons: Phillip Wayne, Allen Chris, George Donald, Gregory Eugene.
Lois and James presently live in Florida and have two granddaughters – Chastity Marie and Sarah Annette- and three grandsons – Joshua Hall, Phillip Wayne, Jr. and Tyler.
Phillip Wayne Dudley 8 (24 March 1953-9 Jly 1998) was born in Greenville, S.C. and died in Savannah, Ga. He was married to Joannie Brigman in 1970 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Allen Chris Dudley 8 (29 December 1954) was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and married Phyllis — Dudley in 1973 in Maderia Beach Fl.
George Donald Dudley 8 (31 December 1955) was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was married to Theresa — Dudley in 1983 in Brewton, Alabama.
Gregory Eugene Dudley 8 (18 March 1959) was born in Stuttgart, Germany. He married Betty — Dudley in 1978 In St. Petersburg, Florida.
James Albert Gregory 7 (ca. 1 September 1938- ca. 15 September 1938), the fifth child of Frank and Novie, was born around September 1, 1938 and lived approximately two weeks. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Greenville, S.C.