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 4th
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 24th, 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.
