Gregorys from Wayne County, KY to Alabama

Grave of Nancy Young Gregory & Elisha T. Gregory
Cagle Cemetery, Dearhead Cove, Dekalb County, AL
Photographed with 4th great-grandson, Jonah Pennington

Elisha T. Gregory (abt 1828- bef 1860) and his wife Nancy Young (1829-1884)
were among those who left Kentucky to live in Alabama. Nancy (Young)
Gregory was the daughter of Washington Young, an early settler of Wayne
County. Elisha's parents are yet to be identified**.
Per the 1860 census, we know that Elisha and Nancy had at least three
daughters. Found in Jackson County, AL that year, Nancy and daughters
were living with Nancy's parents Washington and Emily Young. Elisha was
not living with them. Their oldest daughter was Millie Ann (age 9) who
later married Granville Koger in 1867. Granville was born in Wayne County
in 1846 to Charles Koger and Sytha (Rice) Koger. Millie Gregory Koger
died young and is buried in the Cagle Cemetery along with both her parents.
Virginia Gregory, age 6 in 1860, was the second daughter born to Elisha
and Nancy Gregory. I have not found any further information on her.
The third daughter was Martha Armeldia Gregory born about 1856. Martha
married M.T. or M.J. Shrader in 1877. Martha and her husband are buried
in New Hope Cemetery located at Sand Mountain in Jackson County, AL.

Grave of Martha Armelda Gregory Shrader
New Hope Cemetery, Sand Mountain, Jackson Co, AL
Photographed with 3rd great-grandson Jonah Pennington.

**So who were the parents of Elisha T. Gregory?
Listed in the 1850 census of Wayne County, KY in household #471 is 22 year
old Elisha T. Gregory and his wife Nancy (Young) age 21, both born in KY.
Living nearby is his father-in-law Washington Young in houshold #470. Also
living near Elisha in household #469 is Jane Gregory, widow of Hiram Gregory.
It's possible that Elisha was the son of the deceased Hiram Gregory, however
there was no Elisha Gregory mentioned when Hiram's estate was settled in 1851.
(REF: Wayne Co. Deed Book L, pg. 655- 656 1852 Apr 23.. Recorded 12 Jul 1854)
Could it be that Elisha wasn't listed because he lived out of state?
In 1851 we find another reference to Elisha Gregory living near the former
home of Hiram Gregory. (Ref: Wayne Co Deed Book L, 1851 Jun 18 - Recorded
14 Oct 1851 page 311-312) Mentions sale of land between John Burris and
William Rice that once belonged to Hiram Gregory...."to a rock at the mouth
of lane a corner between ELISHA GREGORY and William Rice then up the
Waggon Road (Big Road).....

In 1853 Nancy Young Gregory's younger brother John C. Young married another
Gregory. He married Martha Gregory, daughter of Miles Gregory and Polly Bell
making one wonder if John Young might have married his brother-in-law's
sister. Martha's father, Miles Gregory was born about 1812. That would
make him about 16 when Elisha Gregory was born. Miles married Polly Bell
in 1832, their first born was daughter Martha. In the 1840 census, Miles
and Polly Gregory have 2 sons living with them, both under the age of 5.
So even if Miles Gregory had a child at age 16, it would seem that the child
would be living with him in 1840. He wasn't recorded with Miles in 1840.

Naming children after other relatives was a common practice. Were there any
other Elisha Gregorys born near this time period? I've only found one other
Elisha Gregory in the Wayne County family. Born in Arkansas in 1874 the
other Elisha was the son of Jonathan Gregory and Margaret Mathis. Jonathan
(born 1844) was the son of Hayden Gregory and Polly Martin who married in
1830. Is it possible that the earlier born Elisha T. Gregory was a brother
to Jonathan Gregory? Maybe, but is it likely? Why would most of Hayden's
family move to Arkansas if Elisha was living in Alabama?

Looking back over my notes, it seems most likely that Elisha was probably
the son of Hiram Gregory and his 2nd wife Jane Stevenson/Troxell. However,
we have no way of proving it at this time. Sadly, we may never know who
the parents of Elisha T. Gregory were.