WILLIAM HALSEY and RACHEL COBB
William Halsey, Jr., born March 23, 1760, at Columbia, New
Jersey. He married Rachel COBB of Schooley, New Jersey, on
November 3, 1780. They were married by Reverend Joseph Gravies at
the Presbyterian Church.
William enlisted in Washington's Continental Army on May 9, 1778,
and joined on June 5, 1778, at Mount Holly, New Jersey. He served
under Captain Emily and was commandeered by General Dayton. His
revolutionary service was considerable, fighting in the battles
of Brandywine, Bunker Hill, Ash Swamp, and Cowpens. He was one of
General Washington's personal guards at Morristown, New Jersey.
He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index.
William and Rachel moved to North Carolina soon after his service
in the American Revolution. Records indicate that he had land
holding problems which many Colonists were having at that time in
Northern New Jersey. It is believed that his contacts with
revolutionary soldiers from the North Carolina area may have
influenced him to move to North Carolina. Colonial ownership was
dependable in this area of North Carolina. William's brother John
moved from New Jersey to Vermont, perhaps for the same reason
that William moved to Alleghany County, North Carolina.
William and Rachel had four sons and seven daughters: Amos
married Elizabeth Howell; Sarah married William Howell; Margaret
married Joseph Hash; Rachel married Isaac Pacely; James married
Pattie Peak; Sylvester married Mary Young; William
"Bucky" married Juda Peak; Mary married first,
Nathaniel Vannoy; second Andrew Robinson; Sally married first,
Peter Davis; second, Pleasant Perky; Olive married David Creep
(or Cress or Crep); and Cliksley (Clisby) -- no record of
marriage. William Halsey died on February 21, 1832, and Rachel
died on November 11, 1847. They are both buried in the Halsey
Cemetery near Piney Creek, North Carolina.
-- Rufus Clinton Halsey
Source: Thomas Halsey and His Descendants
(biographical sketch from The Heritage of Ashe County, North
Carolina).
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