History Sheet Pleasant Hulsey 1792-1865

 

I wrote this on 11 Nov 2012. I could possibly add more now. 

Pleasant Hulsey        

b. 1792 Greenville, SC   d. 1865 Lumpkin Co. GA

Most of the Hulsey family were located in Hall Co. GA.  History of this county shows that to be the name of the county in 1830.  The part that the Hulseys lived in became Lumpkin Co in 1834.  Then in 1857, it became Dawson Co. (Further complicating the research).

I remain confused about this ancestor’s name.  Some researchers have his name as Pleasant, and some list him as Pleasant Wesley Hulsey.  The problem is the same as with all families of that day and age.  Families lived in close proximity, relied on each other, had brothers and sisters that were named after grandparents and, they named their children after brothers and sisters.  So, for now I will just list him as Pleasant.  I am fairly positive that he was the father of Jefferson Parks Hulsey, my great-great-great grandfather.

More confusion of the Hulsey lines occurred when Robert, grandson of James and son of Pleasant, married Mary Jane ?, and two of their children later applied for Cherokee land by claiming Cherokee heritage; yet in this document, they gave different answers to extensive questions about the names of their ancestors. The discrepancies are many.  (See the Document on Robert Hulsey written by Barbara Kerby).  Unfortunately for family historians, these discrepancies are detrimental for establishing true family lines.  However, I feel that I can establish my line through Jefferson Parks 1828 to Pleasant 1792 to James Hulsey 1754.

 

I believe this generation of Hulseys either intermarried or entered into relationships with the Cherokees. In the deep recesses of my mind, I remember hearing the term ‘Black Dutch’. The definition according to Wikipedia:

 

Several varied groups of multiracial people have sometimes been referred to as "Black Dutch," most often as a reference to their ancestors. Black Dutch is an unofficial American ethnic designation. It was commonly used in Pennsylvania among ethnic Germans, some of whom migrated south to Virginia and other points. Separately, it became adopted around 1830 and afterward among certain Southeastern families of mixed-race ancestry, especially those of Cherokee descent. When used in the South, it usually did not imply African admixture, although some families who used the term were of tri-racial descent.

 

Christian ministers at that time would not officiate marriages between the settlers and the Indians.  Therefore, relationships would not be documented. There was no law requiring record of marriage in Georgia prior to 1806, and comparatively few were recorded previously. Probably most of the original bonds were returned to the Register of Probate for preservation. Only a few survived careless handling, lack of proper facilities for safe keeping, and the troublous times of the Revolution and Indian depredations following.

 

It would be safe to assert that less than half the marriages after 1806 were recorded, due to indifference of ministers and Justices of Peace who performed the ceremonies, the crude methods of travel, trails infested with hostile Indians, which discouraged journeys to the county town.

 

1792-1800   It appears that Pleasant was among the 4^th generation of Hulseys.  He was born around 1792 in Greenville, South Carolina, the county seat with a county population of about 6,503.  This area was originally part of the Cherokee Nation, and Greenville was called Pleasantburg until 1831.  His parents were James J. Hulsey and Ann __?__.  His mother was most probably an Indian.  Shortly after Pleasant was born, James and Ann moved their family to North Carolina where they are found in 1800.  Pleasant would have been about 8 years old.

1815    On January 24^th, Pleasant married Elizabeth Byrd in Franklin, Co. GA.  There is no census record because Franklin County records were lost.  This record was found in State records. However, it is documented in the Historical Collections of Georgia Chapters: DAR, Vol 1, Franklin Co GA.  Pleasant’s brother William was a Justice of the Peace and conducted the ceremony. 

1821    His brother William died, and Pleasant kept William’s children until they migrated to Arkansas.  The next census which does not give names reflects more children than those that were born to Pleasant and Elizabeth.

1822   Pleasant’s father James had received Land Lots in the land lottery in Habersham Co. Ga. Before 1822, James possibly purchased another one- and one-half land lots on Wahoo Creek in the 11th Land District of Hall Co. and sold a portion to his son Pleasant in 1822.

1824    Pleasant sold 196 acres in Hall Co. GA for $450. The deed was signed by his father, James Sr., and his mother Ann.  They signed with x’s.  The third and fourth generations of Hulseys were illiterate so very few family records were kept; however, James was very good at documenting/conducting his business.

1826    Pleasant’s father, James, died in Hall Co. GA and Pleasant was appointed administrator of his estate which inventoried at $3,771.39

1830    Pleasant is found in the Hall County census, but sometime shortly after 1832, he moved to Lumpkin County. (confusing because part of Hall county became Lumpkin county in 1834.)

1840    Pleasant is found in Lumpkin Co. GA.

1845    Elizabeth died.

1850    Pleasant is found in Barrett District in Lumpkin Co. living with his son, John and wife Lourinda.

1860    Pleasant is found in Dawsonville district, Dawson Co GA living with his son Joseph and wife Margaret.

1865    Pleasant died in Lumpkin Co or Dawson Co GA.