Rev. John Gregory appears as Rector, of Upper Parish, Nansemond County, Va, in June 1680. It is thought that he was an ancestor of Maj John Gregory, and his brother James. From Duke Creek vestry book said county, the knowledge is gained that Maj John Gregory, James (Gregorie) and his two sons, John, & Thomas were living in that part of the county, on east side of Nansemond River, “Upper Parish,” which was added to Suffolk Parish, and the opinion is advanced that Maj John Gregorie was certainly the father of James, before mentioned. He sent in his resignation as vestryman of said Parish, Nov 17, 1757, which was accepted. It is thought he was at this date old, and feeble, and he certainly died soon after. Upper Parish records, and loose papers in Perq, show that he was dead in 1760. John Gregorie’s name appears as one of the trustees who by Act of Assembly, were appointed to select a site, and establish a town called Suffolk, May 1742. (5 Henning Statutes 199.)
Mary Gregorie (sister of James) whose will was p in Chowan Co, Nov 25, 1761, made bequest to the children of her brother James, and names her “bro-in-law’s” Rev Daniel Earl, and Josiah Granbery, his wife Christian, her niece Ann Gregory and nephews: William, James, Thomas, & John Gregory, children of brother James. This will proves that James Gregory had sisters, Mary, died unmarried, as before seen, Elizabeth, who m Rev Daniel Earl, and Christian who m Josiah Granbery. John Gregory lived in Nansemond Co Va. He was Chairman of the Co Committee of Safety, 1776, and Capt in Continental line, 15 Va Reg. (See Records Land Office Richmond Va.)
James Gregory b Mar 10, 1752, m Mary Wynns d of Col Benjamin, & Margaret (Pugh) and moved to Gates Co, N. C. She was b Nov 8, 1775, which made him 23 years her senior. Margaret Pugh was dau of Col Francis Pugh, & wife Pheribe Savage of Bertie Co, N. C. She m 2d Thomas Barker of Edenton, N. C. after 1736.
James Gregory was Senator from Gates Co. and in the Gen’l Assembly of N. C. 1780-81. He died 1802, leaving wife Mary, and children: Ann, b Mar 3, 1782, m Dr Charles Worth Harvey Oct 28, 1800, d May 28, 1805, issue one son James G. Harvey, who died without issue. 2 Margaret, b Jan 1, 1785, m— Dickerson, m 2d Dr Isaac Pipkin, and had one daughter Eleanor, who m William Muse. 3 Mary Wynns Gregory, b Mar 17, 1787, m Dr John Burgess Baker of Gates Co, (s of Lawrence Baker, & Maria Burgess, d of Rev Thomas Burgess, of Halifax Co, N. C.)
James Gregory, m Patience Godwin, and had 1st William, m Sarah Moore of Perq Co, N. C. (d of Maj Charles Moore, of the Rev, and wife Sarah Hunter) 2d Thomas, m Mary Benton, July 4, 1767, issue: one son, and two daughters. 3d Ann, m Josiah Granbery (thought to be nephew of Josiah who m Christian Gregory) issue: son George, and dau’s: Bathsheba, m Jacob Gordon of Gates Co, N. C. issue: James, George, Joseph, & Jacob Gordon. 4th Elizabeth, m George A. Harvey. 5 Jenny, 6 Mary Hunter Gordon, m Isaac Hunter of Gates Co, N. C.
John Gregory of 15 Va Reg died intestate, d. s. p. Heirs: James G. Harvey, John J. Granbery, George W. Granbery Sr, Mary G. Gordon, Joseph G. Granbery, Thomas J. Granbery, George W. Granbery Jr, Bathsheba A. Granbery, Elizabeth E. Granbery, Ann Wood, Elizabeth Smith, Thomas W. Gregory, Jr., Mary Gregory, Thomas Gregory Jr, John Gregory, Margaret Pipkin, Mary W. Baker, Josiah T. Granbery, Mary Elizabeth Goodman, Jane A. Hodges, Margaret Ann Gregory, & Joseph A. Granbery. The brothers of said John were: James, Thomas, and William.
Other Gregorys in Perquimans, are probably descendants of this same line, but no data bearing on their family has appeared.
Excursus Earl.
“Parson Earl” as the Rev Daniel Earl, Episcopal minister was familiarly called by his many parishioners who loved him very much, officiated in the Churches of Perq as well as Chowan Co. He rode the entire district baptizing the children, performing marriage ceremonies in all the adjacent counties, and ministered to those bereaved by death. He lived in Chowan, where he died before May 31, 1785, will on that date, married first Elizabeth Gregory, sister of Mary (as above) and second Charity Jones, sister of Thomas, who he names in his will, Aug 2, 1775, nieces: Elizabeth, & Ann Earl, “dau’s of Rev Daniel Earl.”
History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).