Person Page 325

Wiley Rufus Gilstrap

Parents

Father	Lewis Wiley Gilstrap (b. 1770, d. 21 May 1854)
Mother	Elizabeth Maxwell (b. 20 October 1771, d. 1854)

Children with Letticia Hamilton (b. 2 February 1803, d. 9 October 1858)

Daughter	Sally Gilstrap+ (b. 1820)
Son	Yancy B Gilstrap+ (b. 1820, d. 6 May 1864)
Son	John J Gilstrap+ (b. 1822, d. after 1875)
Son	Lewis Wiley Gilstrap (b. 20 April 1825, d. 7 February 1906)
Son	John Milton Gilstrap+ (b. 8 November 1832, d. 2 December 1863)
Son	William Harrison Gilstrap (b. circa 1835, d. 7 May 1865)

Person Exhibits

Biography

DNA Verified		13 DNA matches through Wiley Rufus Gilstrap
ChildParent1,1
Person Source		He had person sources.2
Birth	18 December 1793	He was born on 18 December 1793 in North Carolina, United StatesBGO. Wiley was born on December 18th, probably in 1793, and he died November 29, 1879. For some of the reasons noted earlier, there is some confusion about his birth year, and he is shown in several places with his birth year ranging from 1792 to 1799. His headstone is clearly readable on the upper half but becomes so deteriorated towards the bottom that it is unreliable. I made two visits to his headstone about ten years apart and my notes from those visits show that I deciphered the date differently each time, first as 1793 and then as 1799. The reason I settled on 1793 as Wiley's birth year is because in the censuses where Wiley is enumerated individually, he provides his own age and it always dates back to 1793. Specifically, in the 1850 White County, Georgia census he states his age as 57. In the 1860 census he states his age as 67, and 1870 as 77. The 1880 Census Mortality Schedule lists Wiley's age as 87 at the time of his death just a few months before. Although Wiley was actually 86 at the time of his death he was less than three weeks from his 87th birthday.2,3
Marriage	circa 1819	He and Letticia Hamilton were married circa 1819.4
Land Certificate	4 February 1822	He was granted a certificate for land on 4 February 1822 in Pickens, South Carolina, United StatesBGO. Wiley Gilstrap received a land grant of 411 acres on February 4, 1822. This land was a grant from the state of South Carolina and is described in the survey papers as being "situate(d) in Pendleton District on branches of Wolfe Creek waters of 12 Mile Creek or River, bounded SW & SE by lands laid out to Abraham Duke, SW & NW by lands belonging to William Cox, all other sides by John Tatoms…" This land does not appear to be adjacent to the property sold to him by his father in 1819. It would be assumed that Wiley sold this land and the land he bought from his father, with its adjoining land described below, before moving to Georgia. There is no record to show Wiley sold any property in the time period surrounding his departure from South Carolina, around 1832. There is one record, however, dated January 11, 1858, where Wiley signs a Release for the 411 acres he received by the land grant in 1822. The Pickens County, South Carolina record shows that Wiley Gillstrap signed the Release to T. Edwin Ware, Trustee of Mary Ann Davenport. The likely answer for why this Release was done is that Wiley sold the land to Ms. Davenport years before but the sale was never recorded. For some reason, possibly her death, proper documentation of ownership had to be obtained by the Trustee.5,6,7
Land Purchased	25 January 1825	He bought land on 25 January 1825 in Pickens, South Carolina, United StatesBGO. Wiley is shown as one of the purchasers of land from the estate auction of John Tatum. The account does not say how much property was sold, but there were seventeen other buyers of portions of Mr. Tatom's land, including Wiley's brother John Gilstrap. As noted above, John Tatom's land adjoined the land Wiley obtained from South Carolina as a land grant, so Wiley was probably extending his land some.8
Residence	1830	He lived in Pickens, South Carolina, United StatesBGO, in 1830.9
Residence	8 November 1832	He lived in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG, on 8 November 1832. We have now arrived at the point in time when Wiley made his decision to move to Georgia. Looking at what we have thus far, we can only suppose his reasons. Possibly his wife had died and he wanted to start fresh somewhere else. Maybe the opportunity for more or better land was there. As explained earlier, land was opening up in north Georgia at this time that was previously under the control of the Cherokee Indians. This land was said to be more fertile than the overworked land of the long settled areas. Wiley moved to Georgia sometime between November 17, 1830, and November 8, 1832. I established this time frame from the census records showing Wiley present in South Carolina on November 17, 1830, when the census was taken, and information taken from the 1850 census in White County, Georgia, that shows his son John M. Gilstrap as having been born in Georgia. We know that John M.'s birth date is November 8, 1832. Wiley followed the Gold Rush in Georgia by 4 or 5 years, so it is doubtful that gold was his goal. Also, the Gold Belt was several miles north of the Mossy Creek area of Habersham (later White) County where he settled. He is always shown in the census records as a farmer.8
Religious Affiliation	1833	He was affiliated in 1833 at Mossy Creek United Methodist Church in Cleveland, White, Georgia, United StatesBGO.10
Land Purchased	20 November 1833	He bought land on 20 November 1833 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from Wm. Satterfield 150 acres in Land Lot 28, 2nd District for $300.0010
Court - Plaintiff	8 May 1834	He was named as a plaintiff in a court case on 8 May 1834 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. The first recorded indication of Wiley's presence in Georgia is contained in a lawsuit found in the Habersham County Courthouse. Wiley filed a complaint on May 8, 1834, against John Hefner alleging that a loan of $50.00 was made to Hefner on January 12, 1833, and was not repaid as agreed. Wiley won the lawsuit and restitution of the loan and interest was obtained through the Court. The Court records also show that Vincent Hamilton had signed the note as security for Mr. Hefner, and both were ordered to bring the money to the Judge at the October session of the Court to be handed over to Wiley. Hefner paid the $50.00 debt, interest of $5.12, and court costs of $19.25. I could find no record of John Hefner either in the Georgia or South Carolina censuses in that time period, so we don't know who he was or his relation to Wiley.8,11,12
Land Purchased	28 July 1834	He bought land on 28 July 1834 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from Wm. Satterfield 150 acres in Land Lot 28, Eastern half of 2nd District for $350.0010
Land Purchased	3 December 1836	He bought land on 3 December 1836 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from James Smith 120 acres in Land Lot 45, 2nd District for $200.0010
Residence	1840	He lived in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG, in 1840.13
Court - Juror	October 1842	He was named as a Juror in October 1842 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Minutes of Superior Court, October 1842 term - Wyly Gillstrap drawn to serve as a Grand Juror at the next term. Court session of April 10, 1843, Judge Junius Hillyer enters a fine of $10.00 against Wily Gillstrap for not reporting for jury duty.14
Land Purchased	19 January 1844	He bought land on 19 January 1844 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from John Ferguson 375 acres for $75.0015
Land Sold	11 February 1845	He sold land on 11 February 1845 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Sold to John Ferguson 375 acres known by Lot No. 69, 52 & 63, 2nd District, no price10
Land Purchased	18 February 1847	He bought land on 18 February 1847 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from Wm. O'Kelley 250 acres in Land Lot 46, 2nd District for $250.0010
Land Sold	28 March 1848	He sold land on 28 March 1848 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Sold to Cary Cox 50 acres in Land Lot 46, 2nd District for $25.0010
Court - Juror	14 October 1850	He was named as a Juror on 14 October 1850 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Minutes of Superior Court, April 1850 term - Wiley Gillstrap drawn to serve as a Petit Juror at the October term. Minutes of October 14, 1850, Judge James Jackson swears in Petit Jury #1, which includes Wiley Gilstrap as juror #2. Court lasted one week.14
Residence	15 November 1850	He lived in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG, on 15 November 1850. Name: Wyley Gilstrap, Age: 57, Birth Year: abt 1793, Birth Place: North Carolina, Gender: Male, Race: White, Occupation: Farmer, Industry: Agriculture, Real Estate: 400, Record ID: 8054::18703019, Household Members: L W Gilstrap, J M Gilstrap, W H Gilstra16
Court - Juror	11 October 1852	He was named as a Juror on 11 October 1852 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Minutes of Superior Court, April 1852 term - Wiley Gillstrap drawn to serve as a Grand Juror at the October term. Minutes of October 11, 1852, Judge James Jackson swears in the Grand Jury, which includes Wily Gillstrap as juror #10. The Grand Jury issues a report at the end of the session called a Grand Jury Presentment detailing some interesting facts about conditions in the county at the time with recommendations for improvements.14
Land Purchased	5 January 1854	He bought land on 5 January 1854 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Bought from John M. O'Dell 5 acres in Land Lot 45, 2nd District for $25.0010
Court - Juror	July 1855	He was named as a Juror in July 1855 in Habersham, Georgia, United StatesBG. Minutes of Inferior Court, January 1855 term - Wyley Gilstrap drawn to serve as a Juror at the July term. Court session of 2nd Monday in July, 1855, Wiley was not chosen to serve.14
Anecdote	1857	White County was created in 1857, with changes in the boundaries being made up until 1874. The county seat of Cleveland did not exist until that time. Almost on the same spot was the village of Mount Yonah. Mount Yonah is described in 1845 in the Statistics of the State of Georgia as having three stores, one blacksmith's shop, one tailor, one hotel, one distillery, one school and one church, with a population of about seventy. Things organized fast for the new county, and the site for the courthouse was determined first. Property for the courthouse and the downtown area of Cleveland was purchased from local families by the new county. Land surrounding the Courthouse site was surveyed off in one quarter acre lots and sold to local businessmen and merchants for $300 each. Next the county was organized into districts known as Militia Districts. White County, probably more than any other county, thinks of itself in terms of these districts. They are District 427, Nacoochee; District 558, Tesentee; District 721, Blue Creek; District 836, Town Creek; District 861, Mount Yonah; District 862, Shoal Creek; and District 426, Mossy Creek. Wiley's land was in the southern part of White County to the west of Highway 129, with Westmoreland Road now passing through the middle of it. The land is mostly in the Mossy Creek District, but partly in the Shoal Creek District. As shown earlier in the land purchases and sales, Wiley's place had at least 470 acres. I (Gary Gilstrap) have visited the area, and while certainly in different uses now than all those years ago, it is pretty hilly and would be hard to farm. In the 1860 and 1867 Agriculture Censuses, Wiley indicates only 100 acres of improved land and the rest as unimproved land.17
Residence	26 July 1860	He lived in Yonah, White, Georgia, United StatesBGO, on 26 July 1860. Name: Wiley Gilstrap, Age: 67, Birth Year: abt 1793, Birth Place: North Carolina, Gender: Male, Race: White, Post Office: Mount Yonah, Occupation: Farmer, Personal Estate Value: 11675, Real Estate Value: 2500, Record ID: 7667::7416227, Household Members:18
Residence	1 August 1867	He lived in White, Georgia, United StatesBGO, on 1 August 1867. Under the Reconstruction Act of 1867 all voters in the former "Rebellion States" had to register and swear allegiance to the United States before they were allowed to vote again. In the Microfilm Library of the Georgia Archives are the Oath Books and the 1867 Voter Returns. Wiley Gilstrap signed, with his mark as usual, his oath on August 1, 1867. The 1867 Voters' Registration book for White county shows Wiley is registered and approved to vote with reference to his Oath by book and page number.19,20
Residence	1 June 1870	He lived in Cleveland, White, Georgia, United StatesBGO, on 1 June 1870. Name: Wily Gillstrap, Age: 77, Birth Date: abt 1793, Birth Place: North Carolina, Gender: Male, Race: White, Post Office: Cleveland, Occupation: Farmer, Personal Estate Value: 865, Real Estate Value: 600, Inferred Children: Letticia Gillstrap, Household M21
Will	31 March 1879	He signed a will on 31 March 1879 in White, Georgia, United StatesBGO. When Wiley died he left a portion of his estate to his wife. In the list of items he names for her, one of the things he specifically mentions is "the clothing that belonged to my first wife". It is because of this statement from him that I (Gary Gilstrap) believe Wiley was only married twice, to the Letticia Hamiltons. An inventory of Wiley's assets was not taken to settle his estate. This was not done at his request. Wiley's will contains a pretty good inventory of the major items as he lists them and his wishes for who they are to go to. There are only two people to whom Wiley leaves his estate, his "beloved wife Lettica" and his "beloved Grandson Milton H. Gilstrap". Wiley divided the property and household items between his wife and grandson. Wiley added the stipulation that at Letticia's death everything he had left to her would then go to his grandson, thereby making his grandson the eventual heir to his entire estate.22
Death	22 November 1879	He died on 22 November 1879 at age 85 in White County, Georgia, United StatesBGO.2,23
Burial	after 22 November 1879	He was buried after 22 November 1879 at Mossy Creek United Methodist Church CemeteryBG in Cleveland, White, Georgia, United StatesBGO.24
Will - Probated	5 January 1880	His will was probated on 5 January 1880 in White, Georgia, United StatesBGO.20

Citations

1. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 5. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
2. [S14] Jackson Family, online Drarrell Rainey, p. 6. Hereinafter cited as Jackson Family.
3. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 6. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
4. [S352] Groves-&-Morgan-3-13-2017, Letticia Lettie HAMILTON
5. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 8. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
6. [S355] "South Carolina Land Grant Book"
7. [S356] Pickens County, South Carolina, H-1: p. 534.
8. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 9. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
9. [S244] Ancestry.com, 1830 United States Federal Census, 1830; Census Place: Pickens, South Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 173; Page: 308; Family History Library Film: 0022507
10. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 10. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
11. [S357] Habersham County, Georgia, Record of the Execution Docket for Superior Court April Term 1833, p. 65-68
12. [S357] Habersham County, Georgia, Record of the Execution Docket for Superior Court 1834-1837, p. 13
13. [S245] Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census, Year: 1840; Census Place: District 666, Habersham, Georgia; Roll: 42; Page: 149; Family History Library Film: 0007044
14. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 11. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
15. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p.10. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
16. [S239] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: District 10, Habersham, Georgia; Roll: 72; Page: 283b
17. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 12. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
18. [S242] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: White, Georgia; Roll: M653_140; Page: 455; Family History Library Film: 803140
19. [S350] Ancestry.com, Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867-1869
20. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 16. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
21. [S240] Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Subdivision 135, White, Georgia; Roll: M593_183; Page: 7A
22. [S188] Gary Neal Gilstrap, A Wiley Bunch (, Nov 2004), p. 15. Hereinafter cited as A Wiley Bunch.
23. [S351] Ancestry.com, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Federal Mortality Census Schedules, 1850-1880, and Related Indexes, 1850-1880; Archive Collection: T655; Archive Roll Number: 12; Census Year: 1879; Census Place: Mossy Creek, White, G
24. [S279] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current