Re: James E. Ellis/James E. Lilley dilemma Gates Co, NC.
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In reply to:
Re: James E. Ellis/James E. Lilley dilemma Gates Co, NC.
Tim Justice 12/19/10
Hi Tim! Darn glad to hear from you! There are very few people out there researching this family. I have so many questions to ask that I don't really know where to start. My dad is John Jethro Lilley Jr, alive at 90 and still sharp and moving about.(I'm J.J.L. III) He speaks of "Uncle Tobe" but never knew what his real name was. His grandpa was James Melvin Lilley. There were brothers Reuben, Joseph Washington, Robert, and James Little Lilley. Sisters Martha (of the obit) and Caroline. This info comes from census reports. Toby could not have been Washington Lilley, as he died in 1909. Little Lilley died in 1944, so he could be the elusive "Uncle Tobe", and I do not know who Robert married or when he died. Reuben was listed in the census in the "idiotic" column so he must have had a mental issue of some sort. I can only guess that Little Lilley is the one called "Toby."
You mentioned Charlotte, Aunt Elizabeth and your father-in-law Robert. Who were these people? How do they fit into the Lilley tree?
Also was mentioned a Mrs. Rountree who was a Lilley. Do you have that article? Who was she?
Let me hash over the first one from seasaw...
seasaw2mch1added this on 18 Jan 2009
According to Charlotte & Aunt Elizabeth, Martha's family (Parents & Siblings) changed their last name to "Lilly". Martha had already been married at the time they made the changes and chose to keep her maiden name as Parker. There seems to be some story about the name changes that had to do with money. I remember Robert (my father-in-law) making the same statements about how they changed their names for money. Looking at the death notice for "Mrs. Rountree", her maiden name is spelled "Lilley" as well as all Lilley's mentioned in that articule.
Martha "Mattie" Parker was the mother of Josephine Parker, my g-grandmother Josie, who married my g-grandfather Melvin Lilley. We know Mattie had two children, Josie b. 1/28/1863, and Thomas c.1867. We don't know who their father was.
Mattie's mom Emily "Emma" Harrell, is the one who married the Parker, and here is the 1850 Gates census:
Reuben Harrell 69, Margaret Harrell 66, Dempsey Harrell 38, Samuel Harrell 34, Emma Parker 36, Martha J. Brown 25, Mary A. Parker 5, Martha E. Parker 3
Now... the 1860 Gates census:
Dempsey Harrell, Methodist Preacher, Margaret Harrell, Widow, Samuel Harrell, Mary A. Parker, S. Parker... next door- Emily Piland, Martha Parker
So, Emma had remarried a guy named Piland, her daughter Mattie, 13, was living with her, and the Piland guy had died or run off by 1860.
Deed, Gates Co. 7/6/1863... Emily Piland to daughters Martha E. and Mary A. Parker...household items.
Emily Piland married Nicolas Wades 7/9/1863
Next is 1870...
1870 Gates Co census... Nicolas Wades, Emmie Wades, Martha Parker, ch Josephine and Thomas Parker.
Now... another Lilley researcher states that his family lore claims that the Piland dude Emma had married, or his son, was father of Josie and Thomas, but Martha kept the Parker name.
Here is the 1880 Gates census...
Emily Wades 66, Martha J. Brown 55 sister, Samuel Harrell 64 brother, Martha J. Parker 34 daughter, Thomas J. Parker 13 gson, Josephine Parker 17, gdaug.
The very next household in the 1880 lists...
Joseph W. Lilley 34, Joanna Lilley 27 wife, James M. Lilley 22 brother, Little J. 15 brother, Roscoe 8 son, Annie M. 6 daughter, James H. 2 son, and Nancy Harrell 63.
This ...
Martha E. Parker married George Washington Piland on 7/23/1885 by John Brady, JP, Gatesville twnshp. witness Lucy Piland, John Doyt.
1880 Gates Co census lists Piland, Parker and Lilley families living next to each other, and none of this "woven web" has had anything to do with the Lilley family at this point. Grandma Josie may well have actually been a Piland and not a Parker when she married Grandpa Melvin to become a Lilley.
Have you seen this will?
Will of Elizabeth Lilley
Gates Co., NC
17 March 1850
In the name of God Amen. I, Elizabeth Lilley of Gates County in the State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory blessed be God for the same do this 17th day of March A.D. One Thousand eight Hundred and fifty make and publish this my last will & Testament in manner & form following namely 1st I leave all my just debts to be paid.
2nd I give to my grand sun Washington Liley one bed and furniture and 1 set of spoons all the rest of my property I lend to my sun James Liley to take care of and to use fore the support of the oald man James Elis and at the death of the said Elis what it dont take fore his support I leave to be equally to be divided between my two suns Docton Liley and James Liley.
I do hereby nominate & appoint my sun James Liley my lawful executor to this my last will & Testament. In witness wheareof I the said Elizabeth Liley the Testatrix have to this my last will & testament set set my hand and seal the day and date first above written. Signed, sealed published & declared by Elizabeth Liley the Testatrix as hur last will & testament in the prescence of us who were present at the time of signing & sealing thereof witness Reuben Piland Jt.
Elizabeth (hur X mark) Liley (seal)
May Court 1850: proved by Reuben Piland; no person qualified as executor.
Now check tis out... Melvin's dad James E. Lilley...
North Carolina Marriage Bonds 1741-1868:
Groom: James Elis, Bride: Lydia Harrell, Bond Date: 20 XXX 1842 Bond #: 000050337 Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 003368 County: Gates Record #: 01 051 Bondsman: Peter Pilent (Piland)
1850 Gates Co, NC household 164 census lists James 35 and Lydia 31 as "Ellis" with Reub.5, Joseph W.4, Martha E. 2. All dates consistant with James and Lydia Lilley. Also listed are Nancy Harrell 32, Jesse Harrell 34, Casandra Harrell 6, and Mary J. Harrell 18. James Lilley 50, is also in this household. Both James Lilley and James "Ellis" were listed as born in Virginia.
1860 Gates Co, NC household 587 census lists James Lilly 42, Lydia Lilly 38, Rubin Lilly 16, Washington Lilly 16, Martha Lilly 12, Robert Lilly 11, Caroline Lilly 8 and James Lilly 4, and Nancy Harrell 38.
Listed in the roster of the 41st Virginia Infantry, Co I as Pvt.James E. Ellis born 1816. Killed at the Battle of the Crater, Petersburg, Va. 30 June, 1864.
This is consistent with the birth of James and Lydia Lilley's last child James Little Lilley on 26 Jan 1863.(1900 Gates Co, NC census...James L. Lilley 37, Claudia E.Lilley 39, Amelia D. Lilley 13 daughter, Frank Denton 4 adopted.)
1870 census Hall Twnshp has Washington Ellis 24 as head of household, with Melvin Ellis 11, Caroline Ellis 13, James Ellis 5, and Thomas Ellis 17, and Nancy Harrell 53.
1880 shows Joseph W. Lilley 34, Jonah M. 27 wife, James M. 23 brother, Little J. 15 brother, Roscoe 8 son, Annie M. 6 daughter, James H. 2 son, and Nancy Harrell 63.
This is consistently the same family as shown by Aunt Nancy Harrell in each census report, 10 yrs older.
Here is Docton Lilley of the will...
Groom: Docton Lilley. Bride: Elizabeth Harrell. Bond Date: 27 Mar 1838. Bond #: 000051452. Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 003367. County: Gates. Record #: 01 117 Bondsman: John Brinkley. Witness: W. G. Daughtry
1850 Gates Co NC census as "Docton Ellis"...
Household 176 lists Docton Ellis 39, Elizabeth Ellis 36, John B. 8, Scintha R. 6, Elizabeth A. 4, James 3, infant 2/12.
1860 Gates Co, NC Hall Dist census has Elizabeth Lilley and all children from 1850 census except James S. He had probably died young.
Docton's son was Private John B. Lilley, Co. H., 5th N.C. Troops. "Gates County Minute Men"
Washington Lilley in 1900...
1900 Gates Co census... Dist. 41...
Joseph W. Lilley 55, Joanna Lilley 46, Roscoe J. Lilley 23, Joseph E. Lilley 18, Gipsy E. Lilley 16, Geneve Lilley 14, Liddie Lilley 7, Irma L. Lilley 4.
Roscoe J. Lilley's middle name was Jethro.
Got up at 4:30 am and it's 10:30 pm.
I'm going to bed.
Tell me what you think... we may never unravel this.
Jethro.