William Ansley

Relationship [1] : 5 Great Grand Father

*William Ansley - Born between 1700 and 1717.  William joined the Old Tennent Presbyterian Church in Monmouth County New Jersey on 8 Jun 1735.  Rebecca joined the church a year later.  William and Rebecca had seven children.  William was a weaver and had an account with Dr. James Newell of Upper Freeholder, Monmouth Co. New Jersey.  After Rebecca’s death in the 1750’s William married Elizabeth  Cocke (Cox) but they did not have children.  William died in 27 Mar 1773. [2]

Notes: All children of first marriage named in DAR application of Mrs. Jacqueline Rawls Noland; 12 of 16 children named in will probated 24 JUN 1820 at Lincoln Lincolnton Co GA.  Booklet from Raymond Ansley (Houston TX- 7/95) states,w/o any proof, that his DOD was 06 OCT 1819.  Orange Co NC Tax records list him in 1779.  Some in family say he brought family to Abbeville Distr SC about 1798- 1800 and then moved on to Lincoln Co GA about 1800.

Children of William and Rebecca

 

Thomas  - Born 1737. Thomas was Baptized 20 Mar 1737 at the Old Tennent Scottish Presbyterian Church Monmouth Co. New Jersey. [3]   Died January 14, 1809 in Wrightsboro, Warren Co., Georgia (now Thomson, McDuffie Co. GA).  Married Rebecca Cox (b. Abt  1732 d. 09 May 1814)  November 01, 1760 in Monmouth Co., New Jersey

Notes: Thomas moved from Monmouth Co., New Jersey after November 1760 to Orange Co.,  North Carolina.  He moved from North Carolina to Wrightsboro (a Quaker village begun in 1768) Warren Co., Georgia before 1773.  Thomas constructed a stone home in the early 1780's similar to homes found in New Jersey at that time. Thomas completed this home in 1785.   This home is now called The Rock House and has been completely restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three story field stone home, with it's original floor plan intact, is unique for Georgia and is the oldest house in the state. It is part of the annual Ansley Reunion.

 Benjamin - Born 1737.  Benjamin was Baptized 16 Jul 1738 at the Old Tennent Scottish Presbyterian Church in Upper Freehold Monmouth Co., New Jersey.  Died before June 05, 1783 in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia.  Married. Amy before 1774.  Benjamin’s occupation was tailor.

Notes: Brothers Thomas and Benjamin Ansley, though not themselves Quakers, were closely associated with the Wrightsborough settlement from its start. Thomas built the famous Rock House, the only original structure from the Wrightsborough period still standing. In addition the Ansleys married into a number of Wrightsborough Quaker families, including, the Coxes, the Morrises and the Sanders.   Benjamin is believed to have come to Georgia with his brothers Thomas before 1773, however some sources state that he did not arrive until 1773. He remained in the Wrightsboro area (now Thomson, McDuffie Co.) for about five years before moving to Chatham Co., Georgia in 1778.

Benjamin came from NJ with his wife and two daughters and, in 1773, asked for land on "Upton Creek", south of Little River. The creek referred to was probably Maddox Creek, a branch of Uptons. GENDEX (9/97) lists DOD as 'before 5 JUN 1783 Savannah GA'.

Rebecca - Born 1744. Rebecca was Baptized 2 Sep 1744 at the Old Tennent Scottish Presbyterian Church Monmouth Co. New Jersey.   Rebecca was William's twin sister.

 

William Ansley II - Born 1744.  Baptized 2 Sep 1744 at the Old Tennent Scottish Presbyterian Church Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co. New Jersey. Died June 22, 1820 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., Georgia.   William married Sarah Strayhorn [4] (b. Abt. 1746) about 1770 Orange Co., North Carolina.  William had a second wife named Amy Edwards or Edmunds (b. Abt. 1746) January 03, 1808 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., Georgia.  (see William Ansley II)

Notes: William moved from Monmouth Co., New Jersey to Orange Co., North Carolina in 17??.  He purchased a Grist Mill about 1780 on the Eno River in Orange Co. from Mr. Abercrombie, the builder. This Mill has been restored as the West Point Mill located in Eno River Park in Durham, Durham Co., North Carolina.  He also owned Synott's Mill, which was down stream from the West Point Mill, also on the Eno River.  William transferred 200 acres of land in Orange Co., North Carolina to his son Gilbert in 1798. This transfer was witnessed by William's son David.  William moved from Orange Co., North Carolina with his sons Gilbert and David in late 1798 or early 1799 to Abbeville District, South Carolina.  William then moved from Abbeville District to Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., Georgia in 1799.  William left a will - Will Book B, page 100 - Lincoln Co., Georgia

 Mary - Born 1745 Monmouth Co. New Jersey. Died.   1815 Married 17 MAY 1760 Job Morris b. About  1735 d. 25 AUG 1786

Notes: Mary Ansley, wife of Job Morris, was sister to Thomas, Benjamin, Rebecca and William Ansley, Jr. Thomas married in Monmouth County then moved to Warren County, GA. Mary and Job also married in Monmouth County and Mary moved to Warren County with the children after Job died. It was in Warren County, Ga where Thomas' son Abel Ansley and Mary's daughter Lydia Morris (first cousins) married on January 30, 1790. Jimmy Carter is descended from Abel and Lydia through their daughter Ann Ansley who married Wiley Carter. Wiley and Ann Carter's son, Littleberry Walker Carter, married Mary Ann Diligent Seals and moved to Sumter County, GA. Jimmy is their great grandson.  When Thomas moved to Georgia, he settled in Wrightsboro, a community Royal Governor Wright gave to emigrating Quakers for religious freedom, thereby giving Augusta a buffer from the Indians. Thomas fought in the Revolution and when he returned from the war the elders would no longer let him live in Wrightsboro (anti-war, anti-violence, royalists that they were). As a result Thomas bought land just outside Wrightsboro and built a house for his family, known as the Rock House, which still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

 Ann - Born 1746 Monmouth Co. New Jersey. Married. 13 NOV 1761 Moses Robbins d. Unknown date

 Elizabeth - Born 13 Feb 1765 Monmouth Co. New Jersey. Married 13 FEB 1765 Jacob Morris d.   1767