Notes as written by Mrs. R.A. Hairfield from publication entitled History of Old Gilley Settlement in Virginia -1750, produced about 1950 in Critz, Virginia. Full publication is located in the Bassett Branch Historical Center.

Francis Gilley, Sr. came to America from England and settled first in Chesterfield or Henrico County, Va. He was living in Buckingham County in 1773-1774. This fact was confirmed in his son Richard's Revolutionary Pension Declaration made in 1833, in which he states he was born in Buckingham County, Va. The 1773-74 accessories of Buckingham County reveals that Francis, Sr., and his sons were there at that time. The 1775 tithables of Pittsylvania County, Va. reveals they had moved into that county. In 1776 a portion of Pittsylvania County was cut off into Henry County, Va. It was in this part that Francis, Sr., had settled, and here he died in 1791. This is no doubt the place near Ridgeway, Henry County, Virginia, on Turkey Cock Creek now called Big Creek. He owned 1100 acres of land here. This information will be found in his will made in 1790. Francis Gilley, Sr., took the oath of allegiance in 1778 but refused to swear. Evidently he was a Quaker, for he affirmed. Quakers will affirm but will not swear. Francis Gilley, Sr., and his wife, Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) had four sons and two daughters, namely:

I. Richard Gilley, 1756-1839. Probably the oldest son of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Fought in the battle at Guilford Courthouse 1781. His name is listed in Col. Abraham Penn's list of the Henry County Militia who fought at Guilford Courthouse. No record of when he married or how many children he had. One record of only one son and one daughter; they are: 1. Francis; "Frank" he was called. 2. Martha - She married Bennett Cox - this information was secured from papers showing that she had taken steps to collect pension money she thought was due her father. 
(Other information - Richard Gilley R.S. born Feb 1756 in Buckingham Or Henry Co., VA. Died 1839 in Henry Co., VA. On the VA Revolutionary War Pension Roll of 1835: Richard Gilley, Henry County, Private, Virginia Cont'l $20.00 Annual Allowance $50.00 Amount Received September 6, 1833. Pension started, age 79 He married Martha Cox, circa 1780 in Henry Co. Va).

II. Francis Gilley, Jr., son of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley, was born about 1759 - was living in 1840. This information was secured from his second Pension Declaration made Dec. 13, 1840. Francis, Jr., so he states, was in the battles at the Guilford Courthouse, Kings Mountains, and Eutaw Springs. His name is also listed in Col. Abraham Penn's list of the Henry County Militia. After the war he moved to South Carolina, later to Georgia, and from there to Alabama. His wife was named Nancy. They had a son, Francis III we have no further record of his family.
(Other information - Francis Gilley R.S. Born 1759 in Buckinham Or Henry Co. VA. Died Before 20 Mar 1848 in Lee Co., VA. He married Mary Bateman AND Francis Gilley, Jr. b. cir 1759, Buckingham Co., VA, m. Mary Bateman. Francis died Henry Co., VA, buried: Virginia. A conflicting source shows this Francis Gilley as having moved to Alabama where he supposedly died in 1840. ??? Mary: Earlier source gives her surname as Bateman, we don't know who her parents may have been.).

III. Nancy Gilley, daughter of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley. No record of birth, death, marriage or family.

IV. Elizabeth Gilley, daughter of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley. No dates or records of her family. (married Richard "Dickie" Pilson)
(Other information - Elizabeth Gilley b. cir 1752, Virginia, m. abt 1760, in Albemarle Co., VA, Francis Turner, b. cir 1740, Buckingham Co., VA, (son of James Turner and Mary -------) d. 1803, Patrick Co., VA. Elizabeth died 1817, PCVA. Francis: Rank of Captain in the Continental Army, Served two years in the Revolution before moving to Patrick Co. Migrated to Patrick County in 1781. Owned large tracts of land in Patrick and in Montgomery Co. A member of the first court of Patrick county, and was a member of the group that laid out the plan for the Town of Patrick Courthouse, now Stuart. Sources: Files of O.E. Pilson supplemented those of Ida Clifton, WVa, Mr. A.N. Turner, Ina, IL, and files of Connie Lee Wood, PCVA).

V. Charles Gilley, third son of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley. He was picked by the Militia of Henry County, but it is likely that he never saw service, as no records have been found to show that he saw active service. He married a girl named Elizabeth. We have no other records of him or his family.

VI. George Gilley, the youngest son of Francis, Sr., and Elizabeth Gilley, was born about 1765. The 1830 census of Henry County, Va. listed his age 60-70. That means he was between 60 and 70 years of age. Census at that time did not give the exact age. He first married Mary "Polly" Wilson, daughter of Thomas Wilson, about 1792. She died in 1809. He remained a widower until 1818, when he married Lavina "Kitty" Wilson, a sister to his first wife. Lavina died May 8, 1858, at the age of 93, which means she was born in 1770. To George Gilley and Mary "Polly" Wilson were born three sons and five daughters, namely: Gideon, Lavina, Elizabeth, Nancy, Lucy, Polly, George, and William. To George Gilley and Lavina "Kitty" Wilson, the second wife, was born one daughter, Rachel. Rachel married a Davis. Rachel was the ninth child of George Gilley. George Gilley's will made Aug. 15, 1828, put on record June 10, 1833. Children of George Gilley by first wife:

1. Gideon Gilley, born 1795. He moved to Cannon County, Tenn., sometime in the 1830's - we have no record of who his wife was or of his family. 
2. Lavina Gilley, b--- d---. Probably named for her Aunt Lavina Wilson, who later became her stepmother. Lavina Gilley married Azel Bateman. Their children are: (1) Polly married to Robertson. (2) Joe Henry married Hutcherson. 3. Elizabeth Gilley X d----, married Isaiah Turner. Their children are: (1) George Turner (probably the only child) married a Green. (2) ? (3) ?
4. Nancy Gilley, b--- d - 1901. Married Stephen Terry Turner, who died Feb. 1, 1861. He was a brother to Isaiah Turner. To this couple were born the following children, namely: (1) Stephen Turner, called "Tobe".) (2) George Turner, called ~Pomp~ ) They were twins (3) Hardin Turner (4) Monroe Turner, b--- d. Dec. 24, 1862, while in the Confederate Army at Richmond, Va., of intestinal fever. He married Martha Grant. They had a son, Thomas A. Turner, b. Oct. 18, 1856. He is the father of A. N. Turner of Ina, Illinois.