WILLIAM HALSEY and RACHEL COBB

William Halsey, Jr., born March 23, 1760, at Columbia, New Jersey. He married Rachel COBB of Schooley, New Jersey, on November 3, 1780. They were married by Reverend Joseph Gravies at the Presbyterian Church.

William enlisted in Washington's Continental Army on May 9, 1778, and joined on June 5, 1778, at Mount Holly, New Jersey. He served under Captain Emily and was commandeered by General Dayton. His revolutionary service was considerable, fighting in the battles of Brandywine, BunkerHill, Ash Swamp, and Cowpens. He was one of General Washington's personal guards at Morristown, New Jersey. He is listed in the DAR Patriot Index.

William and Rachel moved to North Carolina soon after his service in the American Revolution. Records indicate that he had land holding problems which many Colonists were having at that time in Northern New Jersey. It is believed that his contacts with revolutionary soldiers from the North Carolina area may have influenced him to move to North Carolina. Colonial ownership was dependable in this area of North Carolina. William's brother John moved from New Jersey to Vermont, perhaps for the same reason that William moved to Alleghany County, North Carolina.

William and Rachel had four sons and seven daughters: Amos married Elizabeth Howell; Sarah married William Howell; Margaret married Joseph Hash; Rachel married Isaac Pacely; James married Pattie Peak; Sylvester married Mary Young; William "Bucky" married Juda Peak; Mary married first, Nathaniel Vannoy; second Andrew Robinson; Sally married first, Peter Davis; second, Pleasant Perky; Olive married David Creep (or Cressor Crep); and Cliksley (Clisby) -- no record of marriage. William Halsey died on February 21, 1832, and Rachel died on November 11, 1847. They are both buried in the Halsey Cemetery near Piney Creek, North Carolina.

-- Rufus Clinton Halsey

Source: Thomas Halsey and His Descendants