This last week was productive genealogically speaking. I managed to fill in four squares on my mother’s ancestral scorecard and focus on a tree branch that I’ve pretty much ignored – the Gilley branch. Nancy Gilley, my 3rd great grandmother, was born in Henry County, Virginia about 1806. She married Stephen Turner in 1828. According to other Gilley and Turner researchers, Nancy’s middle name was “Doubett” – but I’ve yet to find documentation to support this. In the 1880 census, Nancy is living in Osage County, Missouri with her widowed son George Turner and his two daughters – Cora and Lula Lusty. By the 1900 census, Nancy has returned to the East Coast where she’s living with another son – Stephen Turner. She died in North Carolina in 1902.

Frankly, my ancestral scorecards would fill up a lot quicker if I simply copied information over from other people’s trees willy-nilly. But I prefer to have some type of proof or documentation. Luckily, I found some.

Nancy’s parents were George Gilley and Mary “Polly” Wilson. George’s name appears on Nancy’s marriage record from 1828. Nancy’s mother, Mary Wilson, was the daughter of Thomas Wilson of Henry County, Virginia. We know this because Thomas mentions his (deceased) daughter Mary “Gilley” in his will from 1817. George Gilley is also mentioned in his will as he had married Mary’s sister, Lavina, after Mary’s death which happened sometime around 1813.

George Gilley was the son Francis Gilley, Senior, who died about 1791. George is one of six children named in his will. One of my distant cousins, Wade Gilley, has written a book about Francis Gilley – a “pioneer” of Henry County, Virginia. It is out of print currently but Wade assures me he’s seeking a new publisher for the second printing. I can’t wait! Wade also has a website where he answered one of the most frequently asked questions he receives – are we related to the country western singer Mickey Gilley? The answer: maybe. Mickey’s ancestors came to America via Louisiana whereas ours landed in Virginia.

Here’s a rundown of the squares on my mother’s ancestral scorecard that are now filled in:

4th great grandparents
5. Mary Wilson
6. George Gilley

5th great grandparents
10. Thomas Wilson (wife unknown)
12. Francis Gilley, Sr. (wife unknown)

THAT’S PROGRESS!

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: 3rd great grandmother
Common ancestors: Nancy’s parents were George and Mary (Wilson) Gilley – nice!