Life History

Notes

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  Gregorys and Fews in Migration Patterns
  
  One factor in reconstructing a family lineage are patterns of movement and migration.  These migration paths are helpful in finding and evaluating records in our Gregory and related Few line.  We see Gregory records in a generational pattern along the migration streams along the tidewater area or valleys southwards and westward.
  
  Westward
  Records are being discovered in the westward line from Philadelphia through Fredericksburg and Hagerstown, Maryland, through what is now West Virginia, still part of Virginia in the era we are looking at, and on to Ohio and Indiana.  Records for Richard Gregory are fround in Culpeper County and Fauquier County, Virginia, on this westward path south of the Pennsylvania border.
  
  Dates and locations match a line of movement from the residence of his likely grandfather Benjamin Gregory of Pennsylvania, in eastern Virginia across the Potomac from Washington, DC.  This westward line of migration connects with the great Shanandoah Valley running southwestward along the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains in what is now West Virginia.
  
  This matches the pattern I refer to in individual notes for the Fews and Gregorys.  Gregorys from this lineage moved westward a bit to the part of Virginia that is now northern Kentucky.
  
  Southward
  Gregorys are found along the Shenandoah Valley which runs southwestward from Hagerstown to Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee, on the border, on through Jefferson and Cocke County, which were all one area of North Carolina, or then East Tennessee (current I-81 to I-40 to Knoxville) in the 1700s and early 1800s and on toward Cherokee and contiguous counties in Alabama.
  
  We find Gregorys that appear to be from two different lineages who followed the Shenandoah or similar route form  Philadelphia-Baltimore through Virginia into Tennessee, our line through the easterly route of the named east Tennessee counties, the other a bit more westerly, with members of both lines in Kentucky.
  
  I have been through all these areas and explored these lines of migration so have these in mind as I read through records and watch for connections and clues.
  
  Westward Ho
  Gregorys in the line of James Henry Gregory and Rachel Lewis are found in those counties of Tennessee from Jefferson-Cocke on to Knox, McMinn (where we find both these Gregorys, with apparently no crossover), Franklin, etc, in the westward migration route.  Gregorys of our lineage also seem to have moved northwestward through the mountain passes toward Louisville.
  
  The Fews in NC apparently followed the westerly route over the Smokies into Tennessee into Jefferson and surrounding counties where they connected again with the Gregory lineage.  We find them in the family of Francis Marion Few from North Carolina Jefferson County, Tennessee, where his daughter Letha married Andrew Jackson Gregory, my great great grandfather's brother.
  
  Crossflow
  Traffic went both ways along those midwestern routes over a period of two centuries.  Great migrations northward occurred int eh 1920s and later because of extensive floods along the Mississippi, destroying much of the Delta South.  Midwestern droughts accelerated movement to California.  Further industrialization in the next two decades and after WWII accelerated this migration northward and westward.
  
  The geographical indicators are not only contiguous counties, but similarly in the counties along these common natural migration routes, which also reveal patterns of the same family decade to decade and generation to generation.  These patterns match the same kinds of patterns we find in ethnic investigations all over the world.
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  1880 Federal Census, Greenville County, South Carolina, 5 June, District 91, page 12, Hse #114, Fam #118
  Few, Benjamin F W M 50 Physician SC SC SC [b abt 1830]
  Few, Rachel M  W F 40 Wife Keeping House SC SC SC [b abt 1840]
  Few, Robert A  W M 14 Dau Atttended School SC SC SC [b abt 1866]
  Few, William P  W M 12 Dau Atttended School SC SC SC [b abt 1868]
  Few, Sallie L  W F 9 Dau Atttended School SC SC SC [b abt 1871]
  Few, Ignatius P  W M 8 Dau Atttended School SC SC SC [b abt 1872]
  Few, Ella L  W F 6 Dau Atttended School SC SC SC [b abt 1874]
  Dorroh, William W M 20 Boarder Teacher SC SC SC [b abt 1860]
  Dorroh, Jennie A  W F 24 Boarder Teacher SC SC SC [b abt 1856]
  Lee, Emma B F 30 Cook Cannot read or write SC SC SC [b abt 1850]
  Lee, Charles B M 30 Laborer Cannot read or write SC SC SC [b abt 1850]
  Kendrick, Susan  W F 78 Mother-in-Law SC SC SC [b abt 1802]
  
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  Benjamin Franklin Few, 1830 - 1923
  Benjamin Franklin Few was born in 1830, at birth place, South Carolina, to William Few and Sarah Few (born Ferguson).
  William was born circa 1792, in Greenville, South Carolina.
  Benjamin had one brother, James Few.
  Benjamin married Unknown.
  They had one son: William Preston Few.
  Benjamin passed away on month day 1923, at age 92 at death place, South Carolina.
  He was buried in South Carolina.
  
  Records:
  Benjamin F Few in South Carolina, Deaths, 1915-1943
  Benjamin F Few was born in 1830, in South Carolina, to Wm Few and Sarah Fergason.
  Benjamin passed away in 1923, at age 92 in South Carolina.
  He was buried in 1923.
  
  Benjiman F Few in 1880 United States Federal Census
  Benjiman F Few was born circa 1830, in South Carolina.
  Benjiman married Rachel M Few.
  They had 5 children: Robert A Few, Ella L Few and 3 other children.
  Benjiman lived in 1880, in South Carolina.
  
  Benjamin Few in 1900 United States Federal Census
  Benjamin Few was born in 1830, in South Carolina.
  Benjamin married Rachel M Few circa 1863, at age 32.
  They had one child: Ellie Few.
  Benjamin lived in 1900, in South Carolina.
  
  Benjamin F Few in 1910 United States Federal Census
  Benjamin F Few was born circa 1831, in South Carolina.
  Benjamin married Rachel Few, Wife.
  They had one child: Ellie Few.
  Benjamin lived in 1910, in South Carolina.
  --  MyHeritage, https://www.myheritage.com/names/benjamin_few
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  Dr. Benjamin Franklin Few
  
  Among the very early settlers of upper Greenville County (S.C.) was the Few family, which was founded in South Carolina by William Few, who came from Georgia. This William Few had a son, William Few, who was married to Sarah Ferguson, and among their children was Dr.. Benjamin Franklin Few, who was born on a plantation about eight miles above Greenville County on May 11, 1830.
  
  Dr. Few secured his early education in the schools of his home community and later became a student at the Charleston Medical College, from which he graduated with the degree of M.D. Upon leaving college he took up the practice of his profession at Marietta where he remained till the outbreak of the War Between the States. Immediately upon the commencement of hostilities he volunteered as a surgeon in the Confederate army where he remained, rendering valiant service till the close of the war. Back at home he located in the Sandy Flat Community and there practiced his profession till 1882, when he moved to Greer where he remained until his death on January 22, 1923, at the age of 93. At Greer he was for many years the leading physician, but several years before his death he retired on account of his advanced age.
  
  Dr. Few was married to Rachel Kendrick in 1863, who passed away November 7, 1922, only two months before her husband. They were the parents of five children: Rev. Robert A. Few, a member of the South Carolina Conference, who died in 1897; Dr. William P. Few, now President of Duke University of Durham, N.C.; Sallie Few, who was married to M.L. Merchant, and who died in 1889; Ignatious P. Few, who resides at Greer; and Miss Ellie Few, who also lives in Greer.
  
  All his life Dr. Few interested himself in good works, and especially those causes pertaining to the betterment of the public health, the church and the schools. He was keenly interested in all phases of education, and sent his own children to college at a time when college educations were uncommon. He was an active church worker, and had much to do with founding the First Methodist Church at Greer. He served the church in every layman's capacity, and was ever a staunch supporter of Methodism. Both a son and grandson entered the ministry of the Methodist Church.
  
  William Few, the father of Dr. Few, was a soldier of the War of 1812, while James Few, great-grandfather of Dr. Few, was one of the first to lay down his life for the cause of liberty in the American Revolution. James Few was a son of Colonel William Few, who with his sons, rendered public service of a high order in the colonial period, during and, after the Revolution. The founder of the family in America was Richard Few, who came over with William Penn. One of the descendants of Richard Few was a member of the Continental Congress from the State of Georgia and a signer of the Constitution of the United States.
  
  Richard Few, the first of the family in America, married Miss Mary Wheeler. He was a Quaker, while his wife was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. The descendants of this couple were practically all Quakers until the coming of John Wesley, when the Few families joined the Methodist movement and rendered valient service in that cause, even down to the present day.
  
  Dr. Benjamin Franklin Few, like his great pioneer ancestors, was a true servant of his church and state; and he was always to be found alligned squarely behind the great moral and social causes of mankind. His community, his country and his state are richer that he lived.
  
  (original version) History of Greenville County, South Carolina, by James M. Richardson ©1930
  (also, copied in part) A History of the Upper Part of Greenville County, SC, by Mann Battson, ©1996
  --  Descendants of Richard Few, Genealogy.com, http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/s/m/i/Walter-Smith-4/GENE5-0009.html
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  South Carolina, Death Records, 1821-1965
  Benjamin F Few
  Widowed, Age 92 yrs, 8 mos, 10 days
  Birth 30 May 1830
  Father Wm Few, South Carolina
  Mother Sarah Few, South Carolina
  Informant W P Few, Durham, North Carolina
  Death 21 Jan 1923 Greenville, South Carolina, USA
  Cause of Death Bronchial Pneumonia, Contributory Chronic Bronchitis
  Burial 23 January 1923 Edgewood Cemetery, Greenville, South Carolina, by John D Wood
  Certificate #20584 filed 10 March 1925 Recorded Death Records Volume 30
  
  Note his death certificate reports death date of 21 January 1923, but the date on his grave is 22 January.
  
  Dr Benjamin Franklin Few
  Birth May 11, 1830 Greenville County, South Carolina, USA
  Death Jan 22, 1923 Greenville County, South Carolina, USA
  Dr. Few was the son of William Few, Jr. and Sarah Ferguson. He was the grandson of William Few, Sr. and Susannah Tubbs.
  Civil War Veteran, Company G 16th SC Regiment, Oct 1861-May 1862
  Company * 13th NC Regiment, discharged near Greensboro, NC 1 May 1865
  Spouse Rachel Kendrick Few (1840 - 1922)
  Children:
  Robert Alston Few (1865 - 1897)
  William Preston Few (1867 - 1940)
  Ignatius Pierce Few (1872 - 1954)
  Ellie Few (1875 - 1970)
  Inscription:  "Physician and Surgeon"
  Dr Few opened his practice in Greer in 1883.
  Note: Shares slab w/ wife Rachel and children
  Burial Edgewood Cemetery, Greer, Greenville County, South Carolina, Few Plot
  Created by Monica Woodward Feb 18, 2006
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #13384093, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13384093

Sources

• 1. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Greenville County, South Carolina
  • 5 June, District 91, page 12, Hse #114, Fam #118
• 3. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 4. South Carolina, Death Records, 1821-1965
• 5. South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980
• 6. Genealogy.com Trees
• 7. Greenville County, South Carolina, Obituary Index, 1901-1975