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Proof found for Joseph (Gen IV) Gorby’s son Samuel

Proof found for Joseph (Gen IV) Gorby’s son Samuel

Alva’s book had originally listed one ‘Joseph Richard Gorby‘ generation IV who married Margaret Cloud, whose father was Joseph Gorby generation III, whose parents were Joseph Gorby generation II and Mary Loan. We now know that his proper lineage is: 1. Samuel Gorby m. Mary May 2. Joseph Gorby m. Maria Littlejohn (aka Mary Loan) 3. Joseph Gorby m. Hannah Stilley 4. Richard Gorby m. Margaret Carter (not Cloud) We know from census and voting records that Joseph and Hannah…

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Thomas J Gorby, Union Casualty during Civil War Identified

Thomas J Gorby, Union Casualty during Civil War Identified

Ever since I first read the book on the Gorby Family written by Alva Gorby and published in 1936, there have been puzzles about the people contained within that tome I have been trying to solve. One of those puzzles concerned the following individual who appeared only on page 63 under GORBY WAR RECORDS: Thomas J. Gorby, Farrier and Private. Co. H., 19th Pa. Vol. Cav. Enrolled and mustered into U. S. service Aug. 24, 1863, at Philadelphia, PA. Died…

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Mary Elizabeth Horn, wife of Lewis M. Gorby

Mary Elizabeth Horn, wife of Lewis M. Gorby

I have to admit that I have always had a great interest in Lewis M. Gorby, the only “true” Gorby Confederate during the Civil War.  Especially after learning he didn’t actually die during the War. But we have never known who his wife Mary Elizabeth Horn (1826-1896) was.  Since she and Lewis were married in 1847, she never showed up by name on any pre-wedding census. But now, we are happy to tell you that we now know who her…

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Gorbys and Gorbeys

Gorbys and Gorbeys

There are two branches of our family who no longer use ‘Gorby’ as their surname.  They now use ‘Gorbey’. The first branch which uses this spelling are the descendants of Robert Cloud Gorby of Delaware Co, PA.  Yes, this is the same Robert Cloud Gorby whose brother was our sole Confederate solder featured in the previous post. Robert’s name is spelled both as ‘Gorby’ and ‘Gorbey’ throughout his life.   Most of his children died at an early age, but…

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So how many Gorbys were Confederate Soldiers?

So how many Gorbys were Confederate Soldiers?

According to the “The Gorby Family, History and Genealogy” published by Alva Gorby in 1936, there were five which included her father, grandfather and two uncles in Missouri, and one Lewis M. Gorby in Tennessee. So what did Alva publish about Lewis? “Lewis M. Gorby married a girl from Tennessee and they lived in Tennessee.  He served with the Confederate Army during the Civil War, this fighting against his two brothers who were serving with the Union Army.  Lewis lived…

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Our First Puzzle – John Gorby (1763-1818)

Our First Puzzle – John Gorby (1763-1818)

Now that we have taken a quick look at generations 1 and 2, it is time for something different. Our first genealogy puzzle comes from Thomas’ line. According to the 1935 Gorby Book, Thomas was born about 1730 and married Elizabeth Allman, birth year unknown.  Where they were married is unknown. Job is listed as their first child, born before 1772.  We make this stipulation because his sister Rebecca was supposedly born in 1772. If we can trust the Census…

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Joseph, Thomas and William – What do we know about Generation 2?

Joseph, Thomas and William – What do we know about Generation 2?

When we go back to Alva Gorby’s book published in 1935, we are told that Samuel Gorby and Mary May had three sons; Joseph, born about 1725 Thomas, born about 1730 William, born about 1742 Again, this information is all anecdotal, primarily coming from notes kept by Josephus Gorby (son of John, son of Job, son of Thomas).  With a date span of 17 years between the eldest and youngest sons, likely there were other children who are not documented. …

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Samuel Gorby and Mary May – the first Gorbys in America?

Samuel Gorby and Mary May – the first Gorbys in America?

According to the book written by Alva Gorby in the 1930s, Samuel Gorby and Mary May were the first Gorby family in North America. From Alva’s book: “Little of definite information can be found concerning Samuel Gorby.  Traditions there are in plenty, but so far they seem to be all that can be found. One story is that Samuel Gorby married Mary May in Manchester, England, and came directly to America, settling in Chester Co, Pennsylvania, where he bought a…

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