Person:James Gheen (1)

James Gheen served in the North Carolina militia, from the Salisbury district. On 8 Feb 1782, Gheen was appointed constable, with James Fitzgerrell [sic], in Capt. Craige's Company.

James Gheen first appears in Rowan Co. records in 1778 on the tax list for Capt. Craige's district. He bought 270 acres of land on the north side of the Yadkin River in 1780. In 1792, he bought 500 acres on Second Creek from David Woodson, silversmith. The latter land is only 10 miles from Salisbury, NC. He also bought four lots and two acres in Salisbury. His will was probated in Rowan Co. in 1796 (Book G:71). He names his wife, children and some grandchildren

Antiques magazine (May 1973) suggests that James Gheen probably moved to Rowan Co. from Pennsylvania. The "stylistic similarities between the furniture of his shop and that of Chester Co., Pennsylvania, support this theory." A desk-bookcase made by James Gheen is on display in the Rowan Co. Museum in Salisbury (see photo). The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, NC has a desk and a linen press or cupboard made by James Gheen on exhibit. The museum's archives contain photos and data sheets for 20 other pieces made by Gheen and in private collections.

Gheen's clients included the Rev. Samuel E. McCorkle, pastor of Thyatira Presbyterian Church and a founder of the University of North Carolina. Gheen made a desk-and-bookcase for McCorkle in 1794. A handwritten bill from Gheen was kept with the piece, which was passed down in the McCorkle family.

James Gheen was married to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was alive in 1827 when her son Thomas's will was probated. An obituary in Western Carolinian on 5 Nov 1832 notes that Mrs. Elizabeth Gheen, aged about 93, died 25 Oct. 1832 in Rowan Co. Nine children are named in his will: 1. Thomas Gheen b ca 1768 & m Mary McBride in 1788. He d 1827 in Rowan Co. and his will mentions his mother, Elizabeth Gheen; 2. Mary "Polly" Gheen, b ca 1770 & m Silas Dunn in 1788. Silas Dunn d by 1808, leaving at least two sons, Silas Dunn Jr. b 1793 and William Dunn; James Gheen Jr., b ca 1771 and m Mary Pinxton in 1788. He d 1829 in Rowan Co; Joseph Gheen, b ca 1774. He is mentioned as the youngest son in his father's will. He d 1829 in Rowan Co. He married Ann Todd in 1797and married Mary Steward/Stewart in 1804. Thomas Gheen signed both marriage bonds; 5. Sarah Gheen, b 16 Jun 1777 and married John M. Roberts in 1795 in Rowan Co., North Carolina. They moved to Town Creek, Lawrence Co., AL by about 1818. She died there on 11 Nov 1838. Their son, Matthew, married Susan/Susannah (Wells) Roberts, and he was the 6th sheriff of Lawrence County, Alabama; 6. Hannah Gheen, alive at time of father's will; 7. Rachel Gheen, b ca 1780 & married Richard Pinkston in 1810 in Rowan Co.; 8. Elizabeth Gheen married Wentworth Watson in 1805; 9. Eleanor "Nellie" Gheen, b ca 1784 & married James Dunn in 1818. Her marriage bond was signed by Thomas Gheen.

Will of James Gheen, Rowan County Wills, 1796:

In the name of God Amen! I James Gheen senr of Rowan County & State of N. Carolina (Cabinet Maker) being weak of body, though of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for his Mecy’s and calling to mind the mortality of my body & knowing, it is appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my last will & test: in the manner & form following, that is to say First & principally I recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God, who gave it me, & my body to the earth to be buried, in a decent & Christian like manner at the Discretion of my executors, & as touching my wordly estate, wherewith it had pleased God to bless me in this life I give & dispose of in the following manner (to wit) I give & devise to my well beloved wife Elizabeth, two feather beds & furniture thereof, likewise all my household furniture & her [__]ing riding sadle, also one milk cow, I also give & devise to my said wife the house wherein I now live together with the whole of the cleared land, to be possessed by her during her life or during her widowhood, but in case she marry’s to hold no longer possession of the same. I give & devise to my well beloved son James Gheen fifty acres of land to be taken of from the north side of the tract I now live on by a straight line to run from Kincard’s line to Farguson’s line Including the place he now lives on. I give & devise to my son in law John Roberts five shillings sterling to be paid out of my estate. I give & bequeath to my youngest son Joseph Gheen the remainder of the tract of land whereon I now live, with the house & improved land to be possessed by him at the decease of my sd wife or after her marriage, together with my shop & all my shop tools, likewise all my stock of horses, horned cattle, sheeps, hogs, wagon, ploughs & all my other plantation utensile also one Negro man named Puttey [?]. I give & devise to my four youngest daughters namely Hannah, Elizabeth, Elenor, & Rachel ten pounds current money of N. Carolina each to be paid to them by my son Joseph, as they come of age. I give & devise to my grandson James Gheen, son of Thomas Gheen, one square or four lots of land in Mc[Sh?]eequers of the town of Salisbury, also two acres of land in said town for which I have Mr Michael Troy’s obligation to make a title, I Desire the debts due & payable to me, to be collected and all accounts both for & against me to be settled by my well beloved son in law Silas Dunn whom with my beloved wife Elizabeth I do hereby nominate & appoint the execut ors of this my lawful will & test: Revoking all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying, allowing & confirming this & no other to be my last will and test: In witness where I the said James Gheen have hereunto set my hand & seal this 26th day of Aprill AD: 1796 Signed, sealed, published & pronounced by the said James Gheen, as his last will & test: in the presence of us who in presence & the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names James Kincaid ___ [?]

James Kincard senr. James Gheen [SEAL]

George Dunn