[The following information describes
the migration of the Pinson family, which matches the migration
route of their neighbors, the Shirleys of Laurens Co SC] "It
is not known from where Aaron Pinson came to settle in old Orange
county NC nor how long he had been there when four tracts of
land were surveyed for him in late 1753, (Wm Stutley Shirley
in 1755 Orange NC tax list). The first new Light Separate Baptist
church in the colony of NC was begun at Sandy Creek in 1755.
An early convert, Aaron Pinson with his family joined some of
the Sandy Creek group who sought greater freedom by removing
to the Georgia/SC border about 1765...applied in August 1766
to the colony of Georgia for 200 acres on Rosemary Branch in
St George Parish (see William S. Shirleys grant in St George's
parish Richmond Co Ga in 1769). In May 1767 a 250 ac tract was
surveyed on the NE side of the Saluda River in the area that
became Laurens Co SC. Raeburns Creek meeting house was built
nearby in 1767. Aaron Pinson preached there and had charge fo
the Little River off Saluda church in 1771-2. Religous harassment,
lawlessness and a massive Indian raid in 1773 caused settlers
to flee the area. Many members of the old mother church at Sandy
Creek had gone west by 1771 over the mountains into what is now
eastern Tennessee. by late summer of 1775 Pinson and various
other members of the SC churches had settled there also. They
refused to move back east of the mountains, built forts acquired
ammunition, formed their own government adn took their stand
against the British and Inddians on 20 and 21 July 1776. He was
named justice of peach in 1776 for Washington Co NC and served
Cherokee Creek (a branch of the Nolichucky) Baptist Church after
removing to Wilkes Co NC by 1782 (see item for Thomas Shirley,
his son in law, in Wilkes Co). He and his family had returned
by 1784 to Laurens Co SC where he resumed his pastorate of Raeburn
Creek Church and served until his death by 1800."
DB F:
212 Recorded 1797 Indenture. Jan 10 1775. Between Robert Shirley,
planter and Jane, his wife, and Mary, his mother, of the
one part to Andrew Cunningham, planter, of the other part for
the sum of four hundred pounds, hath granted 350 acres of land,
it being the plantation on which said Robert and Mary
now live, it being a part of the 500 acres of land which was
originally granted unto Richard Shirley, dec'd, which
was the said Robert Shirley's father and the said Mary
Shirley's husband, situate in Craven or Berkley Co on Raburn
Creek waters of Reedy and Saluda Rivers which land was granted
unto the said Richard Shirley by Hon. Lord Charles Granville
Montague, Commander and Chief of the Proviince of South Carolina..wit:
David unningham, Godfrey Isbell and Joseph Pinson.
(primary male descendant line in green)
children
1.i ROBERT SHIRLEY born about 1736; probably alive in 1810
Fairfield SC census living in the household of son Elijah Shirley
1.ii THOMAS SHIRLEY no information is known (editor: I dont' know the origin of this
claim)
1.iii NATHANIEL SHIRLEY no information is known (editor: I dont' know the origin of this
claim)
1.iv JOHN
SHIRLEY was born Aug
27, 1738 Culpeper Co. VA, d. Mar 11, 1816 according to the descendants of this
branch. He also received a land grant on Raburn Creek in Berkeley
Co. SC.
Shirley Family