My FORGEY family

For more info on the FORGEY family, also includes info on CALLAHAN, WRAY and BROWNING, you can go to my website at: FORGEY family

First Generation:

Andrew FORGEY Sr. was born on 4 Feb 1732 in Ireland.

Andrew married Margaret REYNOLDS in Ireland.

Children of Andrew FORGEY & Margaret REYNOLDS:

Hugh, James, John, Nancy, Margaret, Andrew, and possibly Sarah

Andrew died 3 Aug 1809 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Margaret REYNOLDS was born on 25 Dec 1741 in Creggan Parish, Co. Louth, Ireland.

Margaret died on 1 Jun 1828 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
Margaret was the daughter of Hugh Reynolds and Mary DUER.

Margaret REYNOLDS-FORGEY had strong family ties to several families living in, and around, the Flat Creek area of Knox County. Margaret's brother James REYNOLDS lived in the Flat Creek area. Her niece Mary REYNOLDS was married to Jeremiah PATE a neighbor of the FORGEYS living on Flat Creek. In 1806 Andrew, Alexander and Hugh FORGEY were listed in the Militia Company of Captain John REYNOLDS. He was a nephew of Margaret. Margaret's daughter Margaret FORGEY-ROBERTS, born about 1774, married Henry ROBERTS a resident of the Flat Creek area. On 11 Jan 1808 both Henry ROBERTS and Alexander FORGEY appeared in court, and took the oath to become Justices of the Peace for Knox County, TN. Margaret's grand-daughter Rebecca FORGEY-CRAWFORD was buried at the Washington Pike Presbyterian Church cemetery which is located in the Flat Creek area of Knox County; and this church may have been built on FORGEY property.

In 1779 Andrew FORGEY Sr. was convicted of selling liquor without a license and above the rates. The trial took place in Washington County, Virginia.

Andrew FORGEY Sr. may have had a brother named Alexander FORGEY. He lived in Washington County, Virginia. The names of his descendants are unknown. Both Alexander and Andrew, it is believed, originally settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. In 1773 Andrew FORGEY purchased land there, and Alexander FORGEY was a witness to this transaction. Alexander and Andrew appear on tax lists for Peters Township from 1772 to 1774.

Andrew FORGEY lived in the Surgoinsville area of Hawkins County, TN. A creek named Forgey Creek is located there. The Jacob ROLLER family lived in nearby Scott County, Virginia. Andrew owned 400 acres of land according to the 1809 tax list for Hawkins County. He purchased this land in 1782; the deed reads as follows:

"DEED BOOK 1, Page 133 Deed from NORTH CAROLINA to ANDREW FORGES, No. 78 For and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres paid into the Treasury by Andrew Forges, we have granted to him a tract of land containing four hundred acres, lying on Possum Creek in Stanley Valle, beginning on Hugh Crafford's corner in the north side of the valley. Given under my hand and seal this 23rd day of October 1782."

Andrew FORGEY Sr. was probably from Creggan,Co Armagh, Ireland. The family of Margaret REYNOLDS has been traced back to nearby Creggan Parish, Co. Louth, Ireland.

Second Generation:

Hugh FORGEY was born about 1762 in Ireland.

He married Catherine FISHER in Tennessee.

The first mention of Hugh FORGEY I have found is in the Knoxville Gazette Volume 1 Number 2. dated 19 Jan 1792.

It reads:

"I gave a bond to Leonard Rice for $250 with a bearing date of November last, and payable on June next. Rice has given three horses that are now proven stolen. I will not pay said bond." Hugh Forgey

Hugh lived on land originally owned by his father Andrew Sr.. Andrew Sr. gave this tract of land to his son John; which he in turn sold to his brother James. According to Andrew Sr.'s 1809 will he wanted his son James to take possession of the tract. Evicting his son Hugh? Hugh did inherit $100 from his father (see Andrew FORGEY Sr.'s will, you will need to scroll down the page Andrew FORGEY Sr.'s will;).

Hugh appears on the 1809 tax list for Hawkins County, TN. He is listed as owning no land and 1 horse.

A Hugh FORGEY is listed as a Juror in Knox County, TN in the year 1793, and serves as a Juror nearly every year until this Hugh sold his 250 acres on Flat Creek in 1806. He may be the same Hugh referred to above.

In April of 1795 a Hugh FORGEY sued Joseph BEARD in Knox County, TN. Hugh had previously testified in the James FORGEY adm. of John FORGEY vs. Joseph BEARD case, which took place in 1794 in Knox County. Joseph accused Hugh of perjury in that case, stating that he uttered a "damned eternal lie." Hugh sued Joseph for slander. He asked for $1000 in damages, but only received $5.00. James FORGEY testified for Hugh. The Sheriff had difficulty finding James FORGEY. He failed in his first attempt to contact James. He said he could not find him under his name or "alias"?

In 1800 Hugh FORGEY testified about a land grant property line dispute, in Knox County, TN. Hugh testified that he was a chain bearer for Thomas HUTCHINGS when he surveyed land grants in the winter of 1786.

A Hugh FORGEY was bondsman for Wm. SNODGRASS and Rachel WHITE when they married on 2 Mar 1797 in Knox County, TN. In 1799 Hugh witnessed a William SNODGRASS deed.

Third Generation:

Andrew FORGEY was born on 10 Dec 1794 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Married Anna ROLLER (daughter of Jacob ROLLER and Eva ZIRKLE) on 15 Oct 1816 probably in Scott County, Virginia.

Children of Andrew FORGEY & Anna ROLLER:

i. Hugh FORGEY was born 28 Mar 1817 in Scott County, VA, and died 28 Nov 1882 in Jackson County, Indiana. He married Elizabeth WRAY 7 Feb 1851 in Jackson County, Indiana, daughter of Anderson WRAY and Sarah CAMPBELL. She was born 20 Sep 1833 in Jackson County, Indiana, and died 19 Apr 1895 in Jackson County, Indiana.

ii. John FORGEY was born 13 SEP 1818 in Scott County, VA He married Matilda MILLHOLLEN 14 JUN 1845 in Jackson County, Indiana.

iii. Eleanor FORGEY was born 2 APR 1820 in Scott County, VA.

iv. Amos FORGEY was born 7 JAN 1823 in Indiana, and died 1905. He married Elizabeth LANNING 13 Mar 1849 in Jackson County, Indiana.

v. James FORGEY was born 26 JUL 1825 in Indiana. He married Mary MILLHOLLEN 19 May 1847 in Henderson County, Illinois.

vi. Elizabeth Ann FORGEY was born 25 OCT 1827 in Indiana, and died in Davenport, Iowa. She married John FRIDAY 6 MAY 1847.

vii. Nancy FORGEY was born 15 JAN 1830 in Indiana. She married Christopher SCHUCK 23 SEP 1847.

viii. Elias FORGEY was born 7 MAR 1832 in Indiana, and died 11 JUN 1911 in Washington. He married Amanda HOLEMAN.

ix. Andrew FORGEY was born 9 SEP 1834 in Indiana, and died 12 OCT 1842.

x. Jacob Roller FORGEY was born 17 JUL 1837 in Indiana.

xi. George Washington FORGEY was born 13 SEP 1840 in Indiana.

Most of what we know about the origins, and movements of Andrew and Anna FORGEY comes from a biography for their son Elias in A History of Asotin County, Washington, written in 1892, and the Oregon donation land grant for John FORGEY.

Andrew FORGEY is listed on the 1820 Census for Scott County, Virginia.

Archibald FORGEY, born about 1791, in Tennessee; and James FORGEY, born about 1803, in Tennessee, also lived in Scott County, Virginia at approximately the same time as Andrew. Archibald FORGEY was a Justice of the Peace for Scott County, and overseer of the Roler road. He married Eleanor ROLLER (sister of Anna ROLLER-FORGEY). On the 2nd Apr 1811 Archibald purchased 100 acres of land in Lee County, VA from David CALDWELL, of Hawkins County, TN, for the sum of $390. James FORGEY and family, of Scott County, later settled in Indiana. This family first settled in Jackson County, IN. He, and his family, also lived in Jennings and Bartholomew counties, which are neighboring counties of Jackson County, Indiana (see family group record WorldConnect). The relationship of these three men has not been determined.

Sometime between 1820 and 1830 the Andrew FORGEY family moved to Jackson County, Indiana.

According to the 1830 Census, for Jackson County, IN, a couple of members of the WEDDLE family were neighbors of Andrew FORGEY. Amos WEDDLE was born about 1796 in Hawkins County, TN. His wife was Nancy CALDWELL. The CALDWELL family was closely associated with the Andrew FORGEY Sr. family. Benoni CALDWELL is mentioned in Andrew's 1809 will. James FORGEY Sr. was married to Margaret CALDWELL. Robert WEDDLE, Amos WEDDLE'S brother, was married to a Mary "Polly" FORGEY, born about 1800. Also, James FORGEY Sr. witnessed the marriage of Elias WEDDLE to Nancy WALLEN, in 1793, in Hawkins County, TN.

Andrew FORGEY made the following land purchases from the U.S. Government:

8 Jun 1833 Forty acres township 5 Range 2 Jackson County, Indiana.

15 Aug 1838 Eighty acres township 5 Range 2 Jackson County, Indiana

Andrew ran a grist mill on Guthrie Creek, in Lawrence County, Indiana.

After the death of Andrew's wife Anna, on 24 March 1841, he and most of his family moved to Henderson County, Illinois. They lived in Rozetta township.

Andrew FORGEY married Elizabeth MAXWELL in Henderson County, Il, on 23 May 1850.

Children of Andrew FORGEY & Elizabeth MAXWELL:

Adaline, Clark , Elisha, Lewis

According to census records Andrew lived in Henderson County, Illinois from 1850 to 1870.

Andrew FORGEY appears twice on the 1870 US Census. On June 13, 1870 he is listed as living with his wife, Elizabeth, and children, in Henderson County, Illinois. On September 7, 1870 he is listed in the household of his daughter Elizabeth Friday in Scott County, Iowa.

Andrew FORGEY died on 8 Apr 1879. Andrew is buried near Davenport, Iowa, in the Friday Family Cemetery.

Fourth Generation:

Hugh FORGEY, census records give several possible places of birth for him,i.e., Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee. He was born on 28 Mar 1817. Hugh FORGEY Picture Hugh FORGEY Picture

His first wife was Delila HENDERSON.

Children of Hugh FORGEY & Delila HENDERSON:

Hugh, Nancy

His second wife was Elizabeth WRAY (she was the daughter of Anderson WRAY and Sarah CAMPBELL).

Hugh and Elizabeth were married on 7 Feb 1851, in Jackson County, Indiana. They were married by William S. Carter, a Methodist Episcopal Minister.

Children of Hugh FORGEY & Elizabeth WRAY:

i. Leander FORGEY was born 25 Dec 1854 in Jackson County, Indiana.

ii. Sarah Ellen FORGEY was born 7 Oct 1858 in Jackson County, Indiana.

iii. William Wray FORGEY was born 18 May 1862 in Jackson County, Indiana, and died 20 Dec 1933 in Jackson County, Indiana. He married Isis Minerva BROWNING 22 Jun 1890 in Jackson County, Indiana, daughter of Richard Washington BROWNING and Mary Ann CALLAHAN. She was born 27 Nov 1869 in Jackson County, Indiana, and died 7 Feb 1908 in Jackson County, Indiana.

Hugh FORGEY remained in Jackson County, not making the move to Henderson, Il, with his family.

Hugh FORGEY made the following land purchases from the U.S. Government:

15 Aug 1838 Forty acres township 5 range 2 Jackson County, Indiana.

10 May 1848 Forty acres township 5 range 2 Jackson County, Indiana

Hugh died on 28 Nov 1882 in Arkansas.

Hugh and wife Elizabeth are buried in Freetown Cemetery.

Fifth Generation:

William Wray FORGEY was born in Jackson County, Indiana on 18 May 1862.

He married Isis Minerva BROWNING on 22 Jun 1890, in Jackson County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Richard Washington BROWNING and Mary Ann CALLAHAN.

Children of William Wray FORGEY & Isis BROWNING:

i. Inez FORGEY was born 28 Mar 1891 in Kurtz, Jackson County, Indiana

ii. Cecil Clair FORGEY was born 14 Aug 1893 in Kurtz, Jackson County, Indiana

iii. Edna Rose FORGEY was born 9 Oct 1896 in Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana.

iv. Charles Lynn FORGEY was born 17 Dec 1898 in Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana, and died 28 Sep 1976 in La Puente, Los Angeles, California.

v. Claude Applewhite FORGEY was born 4 Feb 1903 in Freetown, Jackson County, Indiana.

vi. Mona Marie FORGEY was born 29 Jul 1905 in Freetown, Jackson County, Indiana.

William Wray FORGEY died on 20 Dec 1933, in Jackson County, Indiana. He is buried in Freetown Cemetery along with Isis.