Zilpha HUNTLEY

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LYDZ-J9H
• _UID: CC7D23F00F16402CB71B14DB185D7AA34021

Zilpha married Reverand Joel I. GULLEDGE about 1790 in Anson, North Carolina. Joel (son of William GULLEDGE (GULLAGE) and Bathsheba (Barsheba) WATTS) was born on 7 Feb 1770 in Anson County, North Carolina; died in 1861 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Amelia GULLEDGE was born about 1790 in North Carolina; died on 17 Jul 1860.
2. Jeremiah GULLEDGE was born about 1794 in Anson County, North Carolina; died about 1853.
3. Mary E. GULLEDGE was born about 1795; and died.
4. Thomas Huntley GULLEDGE was born on 16 Jul 1795 in Anson County, North Carolina; died on 15 Dec 1857 in Anson County, North Carolina.
5. Joel GULLEDGE was born in 1797 in North Carolina; died after 1880.
6. Elijah GULLEDGE was born in 1800; died after 1849 in Henry County, Tennessee.
7. Jeptha GULLEDGE was born on 6 Dec 1801; and died.
8. Lavinia GULLEDGE was born in 1806; died in 1849.
9. Nancy GULLEDGE was born in 1807; and died.
10. David GULLEDGE was born on 4 Sep 1813 in South Carolina; died on 14 Sep 1895 in Van Zandt County, Texas.

Other Events:

• _UID: 130346B88C634DFBBAA1F2A2C72F9CE0ACFD

Thomas married Zilpha Sarah MEADOWS. Zilpha was born in 1746 in Virginia; died in 1812. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 27F3B376F85A42FCB2785B09EB81AC6AE37B

Notes:

At the site of Thomas Huntley's grave, there is a headstone which has Thomas Huntley and Zilpha S. Meadows inscribed. An unknown family member has paid for the headstone restoration and the original is unknown or underneath.

James Allison wants further proof of this connection, and I have considered his assertion of absolute proof, but feel with the daughter being named Zilpha (after the mother) and the recollections of others, I am happy that burden of proof is not absolute, but most likely. Sarah was purportedly the middle name of Zilpha and they are probably one in the same as mentioned in the 1802 will of Thomas. I am happy to concede Zilpha Sarah Meadows is not proven, but remains as best lead until further documentation if ever comes to light.

See below by James:
The Meadows surname was brought to the attention of Huntley family members by John Wilson Huntley, after the year 1914. Prior to that time, the Meadows information was unknown to the Huntley family.
Zilpha was later added as the first name by an unknown individual to a DAR application. Prior to 1975, the DAR was less stringent about source documentation to prove family lineage. I have copies (available to anyone who is interested) of the pages from John Wilson Huntley's Ledger #2, which mention the claim that Meadows was the surname of Thomas Huntley's wife. I understand that John Wilson Huntley's original ledgers are in the South Carolina Archives. The ledger entry on pages 42 to 43 regarding the Meadows surname follows:
"The Wadesboro Ansonian March 18th 1914 Since writing my last, I have been asked whom the first of setler Thomas Huntley married I could not then answer the question but think I can now, with some degree of certainty. Having ascertained that a considerable part of the land around about where Thomas Huntley lived was once owned by the Meadows family, I use this as a key to unlock the mistery, having in my rambles, called on Rev. Joe Ratcliff (col) [(colored)] I asked him if he knew where Thomas Huntley settled, the answer was he did then I asked him whom Thomas Huntley married, whereupon he assumed a meditative mood, saying that he knew if he could think, so I called over several prominant families, asking him if he married any of those, and he answered me in the negative, I then called the name Meadows and he slapped his hands and said yes, yes, yes - I asked him what her given name was, He said he [she] was a sister of Obediah Meadows I have written it just as I received it."

Does this ledger entry meet modern standards of genealogy proof or was it just speculation by Rev. Joe Ratcliff?
Also, the recent grave marker at the traditional site of Thomas Huntley's burial, identifies his wife as Zilpha S. Meadows. Prior to the recent grave marker, there was a brick encasement with a metal plaque, which was heavily damaged (and the plaque was stolen) by vandals in the 1940's. Clearly, whatever an original gravestone (if there was one) from the early 1800's recorded, has now been lost. The use of "Zilpha S. Meadows" on the recent grave marker is arbitrary. What about "Sarah"?

To this day, no other source documentation has come to light concerning the Zilpha Meadows claim.

Best regards from a Thomas Huntley descendant, James Allison