Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Rev War Ancestors V: The Gulley Brothers

There were four Gulley brothers, sons of Thomas and Mary of Virginia. It is believed that all four may have seen service during the Revolutionary War.

Thomas [1735 VA - 1814 KY]: No concrete evidence has been found of any service. He would have been 41 at the outbreak of the war. Thomas may have served in the local militia.

John [1737 VA - bet. 1833-40 TN: John was 40 when he was enlisted for duty to guard British prisoners from the Battle of Saratoga at Noland's [sic] Ferry for a month and a half. He saw service for a month in 1779. In 1781, John was drafted to serve under Von Steuben and Muhlenberg at the Battle of Blandford near Petersburg, VA. British troops under Gen. Phillips. Benedict Arnold was also one of the British officers. The militia made an orderly retreat to Richmond. There, John hired a substitute and retuned home. Gulley was called on a fourth time later in the year to once again guard prisoners. Total service time: 6 1/2 months.

Enoch [1750 VA - 1829 IN]: Enoch's service draws some curiosity. A George Gulley served with the 3rd Virginia Regiment. On a descendant's DAR application, birth and death dates, spouse and children listed were those of Enoch Gulley. George and Enoch were undoubtedly the same person.
The 3rd Virginia, Captain Valentine Peyton's company, saw action near the Chesapeake Bay, New York Campaign, Northern New Jersey, Trenton and Princeton, the defense of Philadelphia and Monmouth. While his regiment was stationed at Valley Forge, George/Enoch was on furlough from December 1777 until March 1778. He returned in April and left with his unit in June. His service file ends in 1779, if George/Enoch remained in service with his unit beyond 1779, then there is a good chance he became a prisoner of war. The 3rd Virginia was sent to Charleston, SC in 1780.

Richard [1756 VA - c1840 GA]: Richard enlisted with the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons [eventually 3rd and 1st Legionnaire Corps] and saw action at Baylor's Massacre, NJ [1778] and Lewis' Ferry, SC. During the latter engagement Richard was captured by Banastre Tarleton's cavalry. Gulley was a prisoner for about a year when he and other POWs escaped.

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