Jesse was the brother of my James J Hulsey. Sons of Charles and Hannah
Jesse Hulsey (1760-1843)
Origin:
Born of Charles Hulsey II and Hanna Witt in Goochland, VA in 1760, Jesse was of
English extraction.
Early Life:
His family moved to Albemarle Co, VA, Halifax (later Pittsylvania Co, VA) and Surry
County Co. NC. The family moved to Burke Co., NC about 1778 when Jesse was 18.
North Carolina and South Carolina Life:
The Revolutionary War in Burke Co., NC was one of Indian raids rather than of British
or Tory actions. A series of forts were constructed including Wafford’s Fort in Turkey
Cove on the Roan Mountain Road to the Watuga Settlements. Wafford’s Fort was still
under construction in 1781 when it was attacked by Indians and Jesse Hulsey, a solder
of the Burke militia, was wounded in his arm and the bone shot away. He later cited
Captain William Johnson as his commander and Jesse Mark, Sr. as the person that
bandaged his wound.
In 1784 Jesse married Mary Tharpe, whose parentage is unclear. It is not known where
Jesse and his wife lived, possibly with the Hulseys. Their first child, Charles, is shown
as being born in NC in 1791 in NC.
Between 1791 and 1793, Jesse moved to Greenville Dist., SC where he signed with his
brothers a deed transferring his father’s property. A second child, Jesse Jr., was born in
1795. Jessie Hulsey is shown in the 1800 Census in Pendleton Div., Greenville Dist.,
SC with 3 white males under 10, 1 white male 26 to 44, 1 white female 16 to 25, 1 white
female 26 to 44, and 1 female 45 and over. The oldest female may have been Jesse’s
mother, Hannah and the third male child and the white female 16 to 25 are unknown.
Georgia Life:
Jesse had moved to Franklin Co. GA by 1803 when his child, Jordan, was born. He is
shown on the Franklin Co. Tax Records as owning 52 acres on Nail’s Creek near the
current town of Homer, GA using the name Hosley. He is shown as paying the Poll Tax
in 1813 using the name Hosey.
Jesse Hulsey, Jr. is shown as marring Mary Tharpe, born 1797, in Franklin Co., GA.
This Mary Tharpe is possibly a niece of Jesse’ Sr.’s first wife and also possible the
daughter of the second Robert Tharpe. Jesse Jr. and his wife removed to Franklin Co.,
AL with the Tharpe family. The fact that there was a Jesse, Sr. in Franklin Co., GA and
a Jesse, Jr. in Franklin Co., AL has caused no end of confusion in the Jesse Hulsey
lines.
In a deed uttered in 1816 and recorded in 1825 in Hall County, Jesse Hulsey bought
250 acres on Chandler’s Creek (possibly now Candler Creek) of the waters of the North
Oconee River. His wife, Mary Tharpe, died in 1819; possibly in Habersham Co., GA;
and he married Mary Baxwell (or Blackwell) of Habersham Co., GA on Nov. 5, 1820 in
Hall Co., GA. There are numerous references to Jesse Hulsey owning a farm in
Habersham Co., GA, but no deed has been found.
The 1820 Census shows Jesse Hulsey in Capt. Abbercrombie’s Dist., Hall Co., GA with
2 free white males under 10, 2 free white males under 10 to 15, 2 free white males 16 to
25, 1 free white male 45 and over, 1 free white female under 10, 2 free white females 16
to 25, and 1 free white female 26 to 44 for a total of 11 free white persons living in his
household. There are a total of 22 persons – white, slaves colored and other in his
household. This figure may be in error as Jesse Hulsey is not elsewhere shown as
owning slaves. The 11 additional persons may have been relatives or farm workers
living on his farm. Apparently Mary Baxwell was residing in Jesse Hulsey’s household
before her marriage. Some of the other free white persons may have been one of his
sons and that son’s family.
In 1822 Jesse petitioned the North Carolina Legislature for a pension because of his
wound in the Revolutionary War. He referenced Esum D. Franklin and his brother
Charles Hulsey as knowledgeable to his service and the wound. Jesse stated that he
was “unfortunate in the world and very poor and he had a wife and seven children” that
were dependent on him. The Legislature awarded him a pension of $ 50 per year for
life as a member of the North Carolina Line. Jesse may have understated his financial
condition as he farmed 250 acres, but $ 50 hard cash was a considerable sum in that
day and age.
Nov. 15, 1825, Dec. 10, 1831, Hall Co., Book C, Page 521: Junius (Irvinings or
Jennings) Hulsey of Henry Co. to Jesse Hulsey, 250 ac., $ 150. Land Lot 107, 12th
Dist. Witness: Elijah Clark, Charles Hulsey, J.P. Note: Junius Hulsey signed “His X
Mark.” Irvinings (Jennings) Hulsey, no apparent relation, found in the DeKalb Co., GA
Census as between 20 and 30 years of age. This land was on the west side of Skitts
Mountain east of the present town of Clermont, GA. About one third of the property was
on the side of the mountain and usable only for forestry.
The 1830 Census shows Jesse Hulsey’s family as containing 2 Free White Males under
20, 1 Free White Male 20 to 25, 1 Free White Male 60 to 69, 1 Free White Female 10
through 14, 1 Free White Female 40 to 49 and 1 Free White Female 50 to 59. The
family included his three youngest sons, his daughter and his wife. One person is
unknown and may have been a servant or a relative of his wife.
Nov. 16, 1837, Apr. 10, 1838, Hall Co., Book E, Page 130: Joseph S. Reynolds and
John W. Reynolds, Exec. of the Estate of John W. Reynolds, late of Burke Co., GA to
Jesse Hulsey; 250 ac., $ 300, Land Lot 89, 12th Dist. Witness: Edward Garlich, R. E.
Gilstrap, J.P. This new farm was about 3 miles south of his home farm and was all
cultivable land unlike the home farm. Jennings later purchased this property and gave
one acre to Holly Springs Baptist Church about 1843.
The 1840 Census found Jesse Hulsey, Sr. in Dist. 505 with 3 Free White Males 19 and
under, 1 Free White Male 20 to 29, 1 White Male 80 to 89, 1 Free White Female 20 to
29, 1 Free White Female 30 to 39, and 1 Free White Female 50 to 59. The composition
of his family is unknown.
March 2, 1840, Oct 31, 1842, Hall Co. Book F, Page 44: Jesse Hulsey to Jenius
(Jennings) Hulsey (son), 250 ac., $ 300, LL 89, 12th Dist. Witness: Edmund Powell,
William Armour, JP.
Oct. 11, 1842, Feb. 18, 1843, Hall Co., Book F, Page 74: Jesse Hulsey to Jenius
(Jennings) Hulsey (son), 250 ac., $ 1,000, LL 107, 12th Dist. Witness: David “his X
mark” Pilhentow?, Robert Lawrence. This was the Jesse Hulsey home farm and the
purchase was apparently recorded after Jesse’s death.
Jesse Hulsey died in 1843, possibly in January of that year. Jesse Hulsey’s burial place
is reported to be Dewberry Baptist Church No. 1. If so, his grave is unmarked.
Salathel, his son, administrated the estate. Only Jennings bought the household items
of the estate.
His Children:
Of Jesse’s sons, three; Charles (to Carroll Co. GA), Jesse Jr.(to Franklin Co. AL), and
Jordan (to AL); emigrated before 1824. The youngest, Isaac Babel, moved to
Habersham County by 1835. Buford W. moved to Franklin Co., AL by 1836. After
Jesse’s death Salathel moved to Union Co., GA. Only Jennings remained in Hall
County.
Jesse’s daughter, Elizabeth, married William King in Franklin Co., AL in 1840. She may
have traveled to AL with her brother, Buford. She is also listed as the daughter of
Jesse, Jr. and Mary Tharp II, however a person of her age is shown in Jesse, Sr.’s,
family in 1830.
