James Billingsley

JAMES (6) BILLINGSLEY
(James 5, William 4, William 3, John 2, Francis 1.)

Born St. Mary's County, Maryland October 1749, moved to Baltimore County with his parents about 1758 and to Guilford County, North Carolina with them about 1767-68. He married January 1769 Ann, daughter of William Rea by his first wife, there were also two sisters who married William Gowdy and Henry Ross.

James Billingsley was Captain of a company of militia 1780-1783. In Account Book A, page 50, James Billingsley, rations furnished militia, dated April 1780, 6 8 0 pounds; on page 277, Sundries furnished Militia, accounts allowed by Auditor of Salesbury District June 1783, James Billingsley, 15 8 8 pounds; on page 278, same in 1783 to Captain James Billingsley & his company 274 1 0 pounds, voucher No. 3861, and on Voucher No. 3876, 321 4 0 pounds. (Records Hist. Com. Raleigh.)

On 5 February 1783 Hugh Robertson deeded to James Billingsley land on Mears Fork, 641 acres, one half of a tract granted to William Wiley 23 May 1758, Wiley to Arthur Parr, Parr to Richard Wright, Wright to Herman Husband, Husband to William Robertson, said Robertson to Hugh Robertson. (Deeds Lib. L, fol. X93.). On 22 November 1785 he and his wife sold 160 acres of this tract to his brother, William Henry Billingsley. (Deeds Lib. 5, fol. x.58.) On ? February 1789 James and Ann Billingsley deeded to Thomas Moore, of Orange County, 160 acres of said tract on Mears Fork for 160 pounds. (Deeds Lib. 5, fol. 98.) 

[his father in law] William Rea dated his will 23 February 1789, wife Margaret, 50 pounds from sale of personality & benefit of the plantation lands rented to James Blair; all goods & chattels to be sold & proceeds to be laid out in land, said land to equally divided among all my children as they come of age, land I now claim on waters of Cumberland River, after satisfying Power of Attorney to James Billingsley, balance to be divided as above; executors named were Henry Ross and William Gowdy; witnessed by James Billingsley, William Gowdy, and Henry Ross.

It appears this Power of Attorney was given to James Billingsley to dispose of land and in 1789 there was passed an Act authorizing said Billingsley to issue deeds for the lands mentioned. (Wills Lib. A, fol. 306, and N. C Col. records vol. xxv, 44.)

They [James and Ann Billingsley] resided in this county for many years and later moved to Cumberland country with their sons and resided in Logan and Warren Counties, Kentucky to about 1807, then moved to Tennessee where he died in 1809-10. Ann survived him some years and died at the home of her son, William, in 1822-23 in Roane County, Tennessee.

Children:

1. William Henry (7) : b Dec. 1769.
2. Ann: b 1771, died infancy.
3. John (7) : b 1772.
4. Mary: b 1773, m William George, b S. C. 1776, late in life, resided Lincoln Co., Tenn. No children.
5. Samuel (7)
6. Frances Rebecca: b 1777, m 1792 David Billings, b N. C. 1769, moved to Tenn. about 1834, both living in 1850, resided Wilson Co., Tenn. Reared several children, no descendants living in 1930. James (7) : b 1779.
7. Elizabeth: b 1781, m prior to 1802 David Craig, b N. C. 1779, moved to Tenn. and resided Maury Co. in 1830. They had, known
   1. David Craig, Jr.: b 1802, m prior to 1825 Martha. They had 3 sons living in 1830.
   2. Elizabeth Craig: b 1807, died unmarried.
8. Ann: b 1784, died 1790's.
9. Francis Basil: b 178?, died infancy.