[Verta Mae Gause2.FTW]

William Gause is listed in Ashe's expedition to Wilmington, North Carolina. 


As noted in Colony of North Carolina, 1765-1775, Abstracts of Land Patents, Volume Two, page181:

" William received on April 9, 1770, 290 acres in Brunswick on the East side of Waccamaw, joining Edward Wingate, New Brittons old field, the Swamp side on New Brittons line, and Jennys Branch."

In addition:

"William received on April 9, 1770, 470 acres in Brunswick - being a tide Marsh between Jobs Inlet and Mad Inlet between Needham Gause, John Simmons, Gause's own land, Peter Allston, and Isaac Ludlan, joining the mouth of Spring Branch on Allstons Line, the Marsh side by Shelleys point, Gauses beach tract, the mouth of Morgans Creek, the beach, and the up land."


William Gause, Jr. was a hero of the Revolutionary War. He was one of four Revolutionary War soldier brothers from Brunswick County, sons of William Gause, Inn Keeper, of Craven County, South Carolina. 


The following paragraph is quoted from The Roster of Texas Daughters Revolutionary Ancestors, 1976, pg. 816:

SERVICE: Private in the North Carolina Militia from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was wounded and lost a leg. He was a member of the Committee of Safety in July 1775. He was also a member of the Provincial Congress from Bladen County, N. C. William was also paymaster to the Militia in the Wilmington, N. C. District.


The following paragraph came from Heartening Heritage on a Carolina Crescent by J. M. M. Holden. William Gause was listed in the Head of Household Listing for St. Phillip's Parish, 1763. 

"Rebellion was spreading over Brunswick County. Field guns were sent from Wilmington for James Moore to erect a battery at Brunswick Town. Supplies were ordered for William Gause and the people at Lockwood's Folly."


From the Wilmington-New Hanover Safety Committee Minutes, 1774-1776, for Saturday, January 20, 1776, we find the following:

"On the Application of Wm. Gause & Others in behalf of themselves & the Inhabitants of Challottee [Shallotte] and Lockwoods folly setting forth their apprehensions of Danger from the people of Waggamaw and requesting of this Committee a small supply of powder to enable them to Act in their own defence in case they should be Attacked - 

Ordered that 20 lbs of Gunpowder be supplied to Wm. Gause from the Stock of this Committee for the use of the Inhabitants of Lockwoods folly & Challottee when the said Gause apply's for the same."


William was a member of the House of Commons in 1778 from Brunswick County, North Carolina. William took his seat on August 8, 1778 following an election ordered by the house - Second Session, Hillsborough, August 8-19, 1778. (North Carolina Government, 1585-1974, North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Raleigh, North Carolina)


The Gause family was a friend of the famous Methodist minister, Bishop Francis Asbury. Bishop Asbury visited Brunswick County in March 1801 after a six-hundred-mile trip in "barrens, swamps, savannahs, rivers, and creeks in South Carolina." He wrote of his restful stay at Gause's Manor. On this visit to the area, he preached first at Gause's and at Shallotte meeting house. He again visited in 1802 when, upon arrival, found out that William Gause, Sr. had died. William Gause Jr. is listed in The North Carolina Directory, 1822-23, as a local Methodist minister of the Brunswick Circuit. In 1859, Zoar, near Bolivia, was being served by C. C. Mercer, and William Gause helped in the general area. (Heartening Heritage on a Carolina Crescent)


The History of Brunswick County, North Carolina, by Lawrence Lee, gives numerous insights into the life of William Gause. In Chapter Nine, Government in a Free Land, William Gause and his brother, Needham, are listed among the first (19) justices for Brunswick County named by a 1776 Convention act. It was common practice for them to meet at the beginning of each year and choose five from among their number to hold court for that year. 


George Washington was apparently a good friend of William's, for he paid William a visit on April 27, 1791. This visit is mentioned in The Diaries of George Washington, Volume VI, January 1790-December 1799:

"Wednesday 27th Breakfasted at Willm. Gause's a little out of the direct Road 14 Miles - crossed the boundary line between No. & South Carolina abt. half after 12 oclock which is 10 miles from Gauses. Dined at a private house (one Cochran's) about 2 miles farther and lodged at Mr. Vareens 14 Miles more and 2 Miles short of the long bay. To this house we were directed as a Tavern, but the proprietor of it either did not keep one, or would not acknowledge it. We therefore were en[ter]tained (& very kindly) without being able to make compensation."

A marker has been erected in North Carolina on Highway 17 between Shallotte and Grissettown commemorating the visit of General George Washington in the home of William Gause, Jr., during his Southern tour. The Gause family place was located at Gause's Landing, some four miles south of the site of the marker (The State Port Pilot, Southport, N.C., October 6, 1965).


According to Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 2, William Gause is buried in the Oakdale Cemetary, New Hanover, North Carolin


CENSUS RECORDS:

Brunswick County: 1769 Tax List

Gawse, Wm.1 White Male, 3 Negro Males, 4 Negro Women

Brunswick County: 1772

Gause, Wm.2 White Males, 7 Negro Males, 5 Negro Women


1790United States Census for Brunswick County, Wilmington District, North Carolina

William Gause
2 Free White Males > 16
3 Free White Males < 16
3 Free White Females
37 Slaves

1800United States Census for Brunswick County, North Carolina

William Gause
1 Free White Male, Aged 10-16
1 Free White Male, Aged 45 & Over
1 Free White Female, Aged 26-45
28 Slaves

1.  Sarah Gause
2.  Needham Gause
3.  Mary Gause
4.  Samuel Gause

• Married: 1776 ²

1.  William Bacot Gause b: 1778 in Gause Landing Plantation, North Carolina
2.  Elizabeth Bacot Gause
3.  Martha Gause b: 17 OCT 1780
4.  Peter Gause
5.  Samuel Peter Gause
6.  Martha Gause b: 1781