Person:Francis Gilley (2)

We think Francis Sr migrated from Britain to VA (since he was refered to as Pioneer), but he could have been born in VA. Around age 26-31, he moved from Buckingham Co VA (Albemarle Co then) to Henry Co VA (Pittsylvania Co then). He is referred to as "The Old Pioneer". His name is established in NSDAR as a patriot. A source for information on this family is a work by Mrs. R.A. Hairfield titled: "History of Old Gilley Settlement in Virginia -1750", produced in 1950 in Critz, Virginia. [Housed in Bassett Branch Historical Center.] Earliest record of Francis Sr - He was granted 200 acres on the borders of Hunt's Creek on Aug 16, 1756 for one pound in Albemarle Co, a frontier community. This was known as the "headright system". This size farm was small-med & classified him as a Yeoman or middle-class farmer. [source: Cavaliers And Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants] After the Revolution, a "Virginia Land Office" was created in 1779. On March 1, 1781 Thomas Jefferson granted Francis 444 acres along Turkey Cock Creek near the Smith River. This size estate was a med-size plantation and his will mentions three negroes. During his lifetime he probably amassed a small fortune for his day. TODAY - his estate (and surrounding property) of 1500 acres are owned by Elmo Boaz of Ridgeway VA. His grandmother was Louisa Gilley Boaz. She & husband Dick built a home in the 1870s on the same site as Francis' home and it later became a school. The home was still standing by 1980s. The Gilley Cemetery (refered to as "Gray Level") is on a hill not far from the estate and contains about 15-20 headstones (only one engraved - Joseph Hudson Gilley). Family accounts believe Francis & Elizabeth were buried in the opposite direction closer to the Smith River. Most Gilley males are of medium height & build with brown hair and blue eyes. The females have dark hair eyes.