Benjamin J GREGORY1,2
12th Dec 1786 - 7th Jun 1853
Life History
12th Dec 1786 |
Born |
11th Jun 1811 |
Married Elizabeth Crosby JETER in Union District, South Carolina.1 |
about 1812 |
Birth of son William Harrison GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.3,4,2 |
21st Oct 1816 |
Birth of son James Thompson GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.2 |
about 1817 |
Birth of son Aswin Starks GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.5,6,2 |
16th Nov 1819 |
Birth of son Benjamin Franklin GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.1,2 |
about 1824 |
Birth of son John J E GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.7 |
20th Sep 1825 |
Birth of son Andrew Jackson GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.1,8,9,10 |
about 1827 |
Birth of son Berry J Adolphus GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina |
about 1828 |
Birth of son Pickens Butler GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina |
3rd Dec 1829 |
Birth of son Argulass GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina.1 |
about 1831 |
Birth of daughter Sarah Elvira GREGORY in Union District, South Carolina |
3rd Jul 1846 |
Death of son Argulass GREGORY.1 |
18th May 1851 |
Death of Elizabeth Crosby JETER.1 |
7th Jun 1853 |
Died |
after 7th Jun 1853 |
Buried in Jeter Cemetery, Santuc, Union County, South Carolina.1 |
Notes
- The Leavell Genealogy has extensive information and transcription of documents on the Gregorys. Eliabeth C Jeter was a Leavell descendant. One item included in the notes on Benjamin J Gregory is a transcription of his will, which has several differences in names from those on their burial memorials on Find a Grave.
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General Introduction to Benjamin J Gregory
BENJAMIN J. GREGORY (12 December 1786-7 June 1853), son of Gerard and Freelove Gregory, married Elizabeth Crosby Jeter (2 January 1794-18 May 1851), daughter of James and Mary Crosby Jeter, on 11 June 1811. Both Elizabeth and Benjamin were lifelong residents of Union County.
.....It should be noted that Benjamin married well. Elizabeth's father was a Revolutionary War hero and a prosperous Union County planter. Benjamin gained much in land and personal estate upon his marriage. Of course, the property became Benjamin's in right of his wife. There were few laws to protect the rights of women at that time.
.....Benjamin was a prosperous planter and real estate trader in his own right. He also served as Magistrate and Justice of the Peace in Union County at various times. He was in the money lending business in his younger years.
.....The first documents of record on Benjamin in Union County were for four chattel mortgages held by him. The first for $25, executed 17 March 1810 and recorded 18 May of that year (Deed Book K, p. 138).
.....The second (Deed Book K, pp. 301-2) was for $44.92. The mortgagee, Thomas Bell, promised to pay by 25 December 1810. The collateral on this loan was Bell's corn and cotton crop, two beds, a mare and services. Benjamin apparently did not believe in taking chances!
.....The third mortgage (Deed Book K, pp. 300-1) was more explicit in regard to services: Thomas Sandage agreed to indent himself to Benjamin for two years, along with the mortgage of his cows, horses, etc. -all this for a loan of $60. The fourth chattel mortage, for $62, was pretty much the same. Benjamin must have been very shrewd indeed to take advantage of these opportunities!
.....He bought, traded and sold several thousand acres of land during his lifetime. He reported ownership of 1160 acres in the 1850 Census of Agriculture. He valued his "farm" at $11,600. He also reported ownership of 8 horses, 4 asses/mules, 12 milch cows, 2 bulls, 4 working oxen, 6 sheep and 63 pigs. He valued his livestock at $1,461.
.....Little is known of his and Elizabeth's early religious life, but records of Cane Creek Baptist Church (now known as Salem) indicate that Benjamin, Elizabeth, William Harrison, Aswin Starks, James Thompson and Benjamin Franklin joined that congregation in 1835.
.....Transcripts of their tombstone inscriptions are recorded on the following pages because they poetically express the love of their family for them. Note that Benjamin's tombstone records nine living children. He and Elizabeth were the parents of ten known children. A son, Argulass, preceded them in death.
.....Beniamin's will (which is presented in full on the pages following) is an interesting document in many ways. He willed 1547 acres of land specifically and made reference to other acreage. There is evidence of his having bought 1262 acres during his life and having sold 808.5 acres, plus his share of the 100 acres of his parent's estate.
.....The explanation for this is fairly simple. Very often, in the early years of our country, deeds were not even recorded until the buyer was ready to dispose of the land. Inherited land was quite often not recorded.
.....David Sims Jeter, Elizabeth's unmarried brother, remembered his Gregory nephews in his will and also set aside land for the Jeter Family Cemetery. He went a step farther and provided funds for tombstones for his family members. It is ironic that his is one of the smaller stones in the cemetery.
.....Benjamin and Elizabeth were the parents of ten known children - nine sons and one daughter. They were: William Harrison; Aswin Starks; James Thompson; Benjamin Franklin; John J.E.; Andrew Jackson; Argulass; Sarah Elvira; Berry J. Adolphus; and Pickens Butler.
Will of Benjamin J Gregory
The State of South Carolina
.....I, Benjamin J. Gregory of Union District in the State aforesaid, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and taking into consideration the uncertainty of human life, do constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
.....It is my will and desire that all of my just debts should be paid and for this purpose I authorize my executors, hereinafter named, to make sale of such cotton or other produce as may be on hand at the time of my death, the proceeds o which, together with my cash on hand, I set apart for the payment of my debts and funeral expenses.
.....To William Harrison Gregory, my eldest son, I will and bequeath all that tract of land whereon he now lives containing two hundred and sixty-one acres more or less, being one-half of the DeGraffenreidt tract bounded by A.S. Gregory, James Jeter and others; valued to him at Seven dollars ($7.00) per acre, together with all and singular: the rights, hereditaments thereto belonging or in any use incident or appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said William Harrison Gregory, one Negro man slave named Buck and one Negro woman slave named Hariet, together with the issue and increase of the said slave Hariet; which said slaves I have valued to him at the sum of thirteen hundred dollars ($1300). I also will and bequeath to the said William Harrison Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with various articles of household furniture and other things which are named and valued in my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....To my second son, A. Starks Gregory, I will and bequeath all that piece, parcel and tract of land containing two hundred and sixty-one acres, being the remaining half of the DeGraffenreidt tract above referred to; valued to him at seven dollars ($7.00) per acre, together with all and singular: rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any use incident to appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said A. Starks Gregory, two Negro men slaves named Harper and Gaines; which said slaves I have valued to him at the sum of one thousand, three hundred dollars ($1300). I also will and bequeath to the said A. Starks Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle, together with various other things which are charged in my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....To my third son, J. Thompson Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract or parcel of land lying, being and situated in - County in the State Of Arkansas, containing one hundred and sixty acres, purchased from Samuel Pearson; valued to him at seven hundred, sixty-eight dollars ($768), together with all and singular: the rights, members and hereditaments, and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said J. Thompson Gregory, the four following named Negro slaves, to wit: Charles, a Negro man valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); one Negro woman, Lucy, valued at six hundred, nine dollars ($609); one Negro woman, Hannah, valued at six hundred, fifty dollars ($650); and one Negro girl child valued at three hundred dollars ($300); together with the issue and increase of the aforesaid female slaves. I also will and bequeath to the said J. Thompson Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with other articles named and charged in my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....To my fourth son, B. Franklin Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract of land containing one hundred, nineteen (119) acres bounded by Harper Farr, Widow Paulk and myself, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); also, one other tract of land containing one hundred, twenty-three (123) acres, bought of Rochester, adjoining the first named tract, valued at six hundred, fifteen dollars ($615); together with all and singular: the rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to the said B. Franklin Gregory, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said B. Franklin Gregory, the two following named Negro slaves, to wit: Phil, a man, and Violet, a woman, together with the issue and increase of the said Negro woman, Violet; which said slaves I have valued at the sum of thirteen hundred dollars ($1300).
.....To my fifth son, John J.E. Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract or parcel of land containing three hundred, ninety-four (394) acres, known as the Ashby Land, valued at __ dollars; together with all and singular: the rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to the said John J.E. Gregory, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said John J.E. Gregory, the three following named slaves, to wit: Cato, a Negro man slave, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); and one Negro woman slave, called Farr, and child, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); together with the issue and increase of said slaves. I also will and bequeath to the said John J.E. Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with other things charged on my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....To my sixth son, Andrew J. Gregory, I will and bequeath all that parcel or tract of land whereon he now lives which has been already conveyed to him by John Mann, I having paid the money therefor, containing two hundred, thirty-one and a half (2311/2) acres more or less, known as the "John Mann Place," valued at the sum of fourteen hundred, twenty-eight dollars ($1428); together with all and singular: the rights, members and hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining. I also will and bequeath to the said Andrew J. Gregory, two Negro slaves: one named Isaac, a man, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); one woman slave, named Dicey, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); one horse, saddle and bridle with various other articles charged on my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....To my seventh son, B.J. Adolphus Gregory, I will and bequeath the following named Negro slaves, six in number: George, a male, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); Horace, a male, valued at three hundred dollars ($300); Henry, a male, valued at four hundred dollars ($400); Catherine, a female, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); Juliana, a female, valued at five hundred dollars ($500); and Josephine, a female, valued at two hundred, fifty dollars ($250); together with the future issue and increase of the said female slaves to B.J. Adolphus Gregory and his lawful heirs. The above named slaves are not to be liable for the debts or subject to the contracts of the said B.J. Adolphus Gregory, he is merely to have the use of them during his natural life; and, at his death, the said slaves, together with their issue and increase, are to go into possession of the legal heirs of him the said B.J. Adolphus; and, in case the said B.J. Adolphus should die without lawful heirs, then the said Negroes, together with their issue and increase, are to revert to my estate and be disposed of in the same manner as the residue of my property not herein specially devised. In case any of the above named Negroes should die before I put them in possession of the said B.J. Adolphus Gregory, it is not to be his loss, but such loss shall fall upon my estate. I also will and bequeath to my said son, B.J. Adolphus Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle valued at one hundred dollars ($100) which I have delivered to him.
.....To my eighth son, Pickens Butler Gregory, I will and bequeath the six following named slaves, to wit: Gilbert, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); Prince, valued at five hundred dollars ($500); Jo, valued at four hundred dollars ($400); Manerva, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); Mariah, valued at three hundred dollars ($300); and Charlotte valued at four hundred dollars ($400); together with the future issue and increase of the said female slaves. The said last named slaves, together with their issue and increase, are to be subject to precisely the same conditions and restriction as those slaves herein before bequeathed to B.J. Adolphus Gregory.
.....To my daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory, I will and bequeath one bed and furniture, one gold watch, one bureau (marble top), and one hundred dollars ($100) in cash to be paid to her as soon as practicable after my death. My said daughter has already received about four hundred dollars more than any other of my children by way of tuition and she has married contrary to my will. I desire that she shall be excluded from any portion of my estate except such articles as are devised to her.
.....To my son, B. Franklin Gregory, I also will and bequeath one horse, saddle and bridle with various other articles charged to my Book of Accounts against my children.
.....The residue of my estate, both real and personal, I wish valued by three disinterested persons, to be chosen by my executors, and to be divided into lots and apportioned amongst my eight sons herein before named. If, however, my said executors should think it best for the interest to be sold, they may, after giving the usual notice, put it up at auction and sell it to the highest bidder, dividing the proceeds as herein directed; and I hereby authorize and empower my said executors to make, execute and deliver titles to my said lands, the whole or any portion thereof, to such person or persons as may comply with the terms of the sale.
.....The property herein before devised to my six first named sons has been put into their possession by me and, in the settlement of my estate, is to be received by them at the prices charged in this, my last Will and Testament, in my Book of Accounts against them without interest.
.....I will and desire that my eight sons above named receive an equal share of my whole estate and, to this end, I direct that the residue of my estate be divided in such a way as to accomplish this object.
.....I further will and desire that the residue of my Negro property and other personal property not herein specially disposed should be held by my said sons for their use and benefit during their lives. It is not to be subject to their debts or contracts, but is to descend to their lawful heirs in the manner as is prescribed for the Negroes of B.J. Adolphus, and Pickens Butler Gregory herein specially devised.
.....I will and desire that my sons Wm. Harrison Gregory and J. Thompson Gregory act as my executors to this, my last Will and Testament.
.....In witness whereof I have hereinto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this Fifth day of December in the Year of our Lord, One thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one; and in the Seventy-fifth Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
B.J. Gregory
Signed and Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Benjamin J. Gregory as his last Will and Testament in the presence of each other and in the presence of the said B.J. Gregory have hereinto subscribed our names as witnesses.
W.J. Kennan
J.T.E. Brandon
J.W. McLure
(CODICIL to the Will)
The State of South Carolina
Union District
.....I, Benjamin J. Gregory, of the District and State aforesaid, do hereby make this the following codicil to my last Will and Testament which is to be taken for a part and parcel of the same, to wit:
.....To my daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory, I will and bequeath the six slaves more particularly described in a Deed of Gift made by me to the said Sarah Elvira, subject to the conditions and reversions mentioned in said deed.
.....I will and bequeath to the said Sarah Elvira Gregory, an equal proportion of my whole estate, both real and personal, which is to be distributed after my death as is herein before prescribed. She is to be charged in the said distribution to the six slaves named in the said Deed of Gift at the prices named in my Book of Accounts against my children. It is my desire that the said Sarah Elvira shall not be charged with any advancements whatever that have been heretofore made with the exception of the six slaves aforesaid.
.....It is further my will and desire that such property, either real or personal, as my said daughter may be entitled to receive by virtue of this codicil may be delivered by my executors to my sons, J. Thompson Gregory and William Harrison Gregory, who are hereby requested to receive the same on the same condition and trusts as is named in the Deeds of Gift herein before referred to, and to form a portion of the trust estate confided to them. I hereby revoke so much of my last Well and Testament as makes a special bequest of one hundred dollars in cash to my said daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory.
.....In witness whereof I have herewith subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this Thirty-first day of January, Anno Domini One thousand, eight hundred, fifty-two, and in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
B.J. Gregory
Signed, sealed and delivered by the said B.J. Gregory in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of the testator, and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names the day and year aforesaid. "To receive" interlined before signed.
J.K. Brandon
W.M. Kennan
J.W. McLure
...
Children of ELIZABETH JETER and BENJAMIN GREGORY are:
.....i.....WILLIAM HARRISON GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina; d. March 17, 1874, Chickasaw County, Mississippi.
Notes for WILLIAM HARRISON GREGORY:
.....William Harrison Gregory (ca. 1813-17 March 1874), eldest son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth C. Jeter Gregory, was born in Union County, South Carolina and died in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, where he had moved after his father's death. He was thrice married.
.....His first wife, Sarah -?- (12 March 1818-21 June 1842), died apparently in or as a result of childbirth (tombstone inscription follows). She is buried in the Gregory Family Cemetery on a hill behind the A. Starks Gregory house near Santuc. Nothing further is known about the child referred to.
In memory of
Sarah Gregory wife of W.H. Gregory
who died June 21, 1842
aged 24 years, 3 months and 9 days.
"Amiable through life, she had the love of
all who knew her, and at her death had the
comfortable assurance of the love of God in Christ,
which the world can neither give nor take away
She left a husband and an infant child to
mourn her early departure."
'Alone, dear husband, here I sleep,
Though you must never, never weep
Take care of our sweet little babe
Whilst I am here in death's dark shade.'
.....His second wife was Emily -?-. She appears with him on the 1850 census of Union County, aged 22 years. She, too, must have died because William married his third wife in 1856.
.....The third wife, Margaret Wilson Bedel (19 November 1829-3 July 1872), was the widow of B.G. Bedell. They were married 18 November 1856 at the home of Austin Wilson in Union County. Margaret was the daughter of Clinton Wilson. It is within his estate packet in Union County (Box 43, Pkg. 29, filed in 1860) that her first husband is mentioned. Margaret rests with William at Friendship Church Cemetery in Van Vleet, Chickasaw County. As with the two previous marriages, no issue is known.
.....Andrew Jackson Gregory, brother of William Harrison, allowed his brother and his brother's wife, Margaret, to care for - as their own daughter - his child, Sarah E. Gregory (17 June 1862-28 August 1868). It was apparently a custom of the era to give a child to a childless relative as a token of love and family bond. Sarah is buried with William and Margaret.
.....Another estate located in Union County (Box 65, Pkg. 10) filed in 1877 with Charles Bolt as administrator, references the residence of the late W. Harrison Gregory. The record refers to an undivided interest in the estate of Clinton Wilson.
http://www.gregoryfamily.com/chapter6-125.htm
354.....ii.....ASWIN STARKS GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina; d. 1862.
355.....iii.....JAMES THOMPSON GREGORY, b. October 21, 1816, Union County, South Carolina; d. November 06, 1869.
356.....iv.....BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GREGORY, b. November 16, 1819, Union County, South Carolina; d. June 14, 1875.
.....v.....JOHN J. E. GREGORY.
.....vi.....ANDREW JACKSON GREGORY.
.....vii.....ARGULASS GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina.
.....viii.....SARAH ELVIRA GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina.
.....ix.....BERRY J. GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina.
.....x.....ADOLPHUS GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina.
[Note that here Berry J and Adolphus are listed as two separate sons, but in the will above, Benjamin himself had one entry for a son named B J Adolphus.]
.....xi.....PICKENS BUTLER GREGORY, b. Union County, South Carolina.
-- Leavells, http://littlecalamity.tripod.com/Genealogy/LeavellFam3.html
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Benjamin J Gregory
Birth Dec 12, 1786
Death Jun 7, 1853
Tombstone reads as follows; "B J GREGORY, ESQ. leaving 8 sons and 1 daughter."
Father Gerard Gregory (1763 - 1803)
Spouse Elizabeth Crosby Jeter Gregory (1791 - 1851)
Children:
Benjamin Franklin Gregory (1819 - 1875)
Andrew Jackson Gregory (1825 - 1890)
Sarah Elvira Gregory Gregory (1827 - 1875)
Argulass Gregory (1829 - 1846)
Pickens Butler Gregory (1835 - 1897)
Siblings:
David W Gregory (1787 - 1850)
Mary Ann Gregory (1788 - 1858)
Jehu Gregory (1798 - 1852)
Curtis Gerald Gregory (1800 - 1882)
Burial Jeter Cemetery, Santuc, Union County, South Carolina, GPS (lat/lon): 34.62834, -81.48912
Created by Record Hunter Aug 24, 2009
-- Find A Grave Memorial #41104067, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41104067/benjamin-gregory
Sources
- 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- 2. Tripod Trees
- 3. 1850 Federal Census, Union County, South Carolina
- 4 November, page 15, Hse/Fam #100
- 4. 1870 Federal Census, Chickasaw County, Mississippi
- 16 August, Division 3, P O Okolona, page 24, Hse #177, Fam #182
- 5. 1860 Federal Census, Union County, South Carolina
- 14 June, P O Unionville, page 29-30, Hse #248, Fam #206
- 6. 1850 Federal Census, Union County, South Carolina
- 1 November, page 188, Hse/Fam #70
- 7. 1850 Federal Census, Union County, South Carolina
- 29 October, page 12 (scan 180), Hse/Fam #13
- 8. 1860 Federal Census, Chickasaw County, Mississippi
- 29 July, Division 1, P O Red Land, page 72, Hse #558, Fam #572
- 9. 1850 Federal Census, Union County, South Carolina
- 4 November, page 14 (scan 190), Hse/Fam #108
- 10. 1880 Federal Census, Chickasaw County, Mississippi
- 15 June, District 60, Enumeration District 30, page 21, Hse #201, Fam #202