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The
James Billingsley Chapter, NSDAR, was organized March 19, 1963 with twelve
charter members. The Chapter is named for James Billingsley, who, according to
legend, lost his life when loyalists to the British cause invaded his home in
April 1776. He had been continually harassed by these Tories when they invaded
his home and asked for money. On being told he had none, they took him to a
nearby tree and hanged him. (This statement came from his wife, Elizabeth
Crabtree, who made notes of his death in the family bible. As she lived to know
many of her great-grand children, she often spoke of and repeated the tragic
story of her husband's death to them.) James was the son of William and Mary
Sumner Billingsley born in St. Mary's County, Maryland in 1726. He married
Elizabeth Crabtree in 1747. They moved to Guilford County, North Carolina about
1768. His sons Samuel, James, John, and Walter served as soldiers in the
American Revolution. One of his descendants, Captain Jesse Billingsley, fought
with General Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto and is credited by
historian Frank Dobie with having given Texas her battle cry: "Remember the
Alamo!"
Children of James Billingsley and
Elizabeth Crabtree
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Samuel Billingsley (1747-1816, TN) m. Mary Griffith (1753-1838)
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James Billingsley (1749-?)
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Elizabeth Billingsley (1751-?) m. Teldeau Lane
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John Billingsley (1754, St. Mary's County, MD-1844, KY) m. Jean Milsap (?-1842,
KY)
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Claranna Billingsley (1756-1781) m. William Hamer
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William Henry Billingsley (1758-?)
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Martha Billingsley (1760-1786) was second wife to William Hamer
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Walter Billingsley (1761, MD -aft.1838, TN) m. Mary E. Hemphill
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Bazil Billingsley (1764-?)
The organizing regent of the James
Billingsley Chapter, Mrs. Harvey Shead, (Deceased) was a descendant of James
Billingsley. |
