Giles Hudspeth was born in about 1730 in Henrico Co., Virginia, the son of Ralph Hudspeth and Mary (Carter) Hudspeth. Many reports on the internet claim that he was born in 1727. He was named after his grandfather, Giles Carter, and through the Carters, had a lineage that has been traced back many generations in England to Roger Bigod, signer of the Magna Carta. In that early day, the family was well connected with English nobility and royalty. I can’t vouch for the authenticity of the Carter connection to Roger Bigod and other noblemen, since I didn’t do the research. This claim is based on a sketch written by Leona Ferrell Madsen. She stated “The following claim it Magna Charta descent was sent to me by Dr. Rosalie Carter, Franklin, Tenn., who has membership in the Dames of the Magna Charta.” This chart was found in the Anna Ford collection in Independence, MO. I do know from other experiences that, the longer the chain, the more likely it is to have weak links. “The Coe Families of Maryland and Virginia, Volume One”, by Carl Robert Coe, 2001, contains a lot of information on Giles Hudspeth and his family. Anna Ford, one of the founders of the Heart of America Genealogical Society, is a Hudspeth descendant and compiled a massive amount of data on the family.

After moving to Granville Co., North Carolina in 1750, Giles Hudspeth married Elizabeth Bradford, daughter of Philemon Bradford. Giles Hudspeth served under Colonel William Eaton of Granville Co., North Carolina Militia in 1754. On Feb. 8, 1775, Giles Hudspeth purchased 408 acres on the west side of the Yadkin River in Surry Co., North Carolina. His father, Ralph Hudspeth, wrote his will on June 11, 1776 (Surry Co., North Carolina Record of Wills, Book 1, p. 84), which was entered into probate in Nov. 1777. Giles Hudspeth died on Sep. 17, 1796, in Surry Co., North Carolina. His widow, Elizabeth (Bradford) Hudspeth, died before Feb. 1803.

Service: Giles Hudspeth performed public service during the Revolutionary War. He served on a jury in Surry Co., North Carolina in 1777. A DAR applicant claimed that he took an Oath of Allegiance in Granville Co., North Carolina, and served on the Surry Co., North Carolina Committee of Safety. Neither of the latter claims has been recognized by the DAR. Since his son, Giles Hudspeth, Jr., is reported to have lived in Granville Co., North Carolina during the Revolutionary War, the Oath of Allegiance might pertain to him.

Family: (Generation 9) The 1790 census of Surry Co., North Carolina (p. 184) showed the Jiles Hudspith family as 2-0-3. This household contained two males born before 1774 and three females. The identity of the second male born before 1774 is undetermined. Jiles owned 14 enslaved people.

The Will of Giles Hudspeth (Surry Co., North Carolina Record of Wills, Vol. 3, p. 25-26), was written on Sep. 17, 1796, and entered into probate in February 1797, stating:

“I give and bequeath all my worldly estate to my beloved wife Elizabeth Hudspeth during her life. I give and bequeath to my son Ralph Hudspeth thirty pounds lawful money of North Carolina. I give and bequeath to my son John Hudspeth ten shillings lawful money as aforesaid. I give and bequeath to Giles Hudspeth the son of my son Benjamin Hudspeth deceased ten shillings lawful money and to his daughter Sally and to his son Morgan and to his son Thompson ten shillings each. I give and bequeath to my son Charles Hudspeth ten shillings lawful money. I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha Glen forty pounds lawful money and to my daughter Hannah Holeman ten shillings and all the remainder of my estate after paying all my just debts my will and desire is that it should be equally divided between Elizabeth Coe, Mary Hudspeth, Jemima Coe and Martha Glen at the decease of my wife.”

After the will was written, additional bequeathments were made to “his daughter Elizabeth Coe” and “to his daughter Jemima”. His executors were sons John Hudspeth and Charles Hudspeth and Isaiah Coe. Giles Hudspeth owned eight slaves at the time of his death.

The 1800 census of Surry Co., North Carolina (p. 662) showed the Elizabeth Hudspeth family as 00100-01011- This household contained one female born before 1755, one female born 1755-74, one male born 1774-84, and one female born 1784-1790.

The will of Elizabeth Hudspeth (Surry Co., North Carolina Record of Wills, Vol. 3, p. 56) was written on Nov. 15, 1802, and entered into probate in February 1803 stated:

“Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Giles Hudspeth my little mares first colt four years old. My will and desire is that my son Charles Hudspeth have ten shillings of my estate and also my daughter Elizabeth Coe have ten shillings of my estate; my will and desire is that my daughter Hannah Holeman have ten shillings of my estate; my will and desire is that my whole personal estate be sold and equally divided with all debts due me between my son John Hudspeth, Mary Anne Webb, Jemima Coe, and Patty Glen my daughters. The executors were “my son John Hudspeth and my son-in-law Isaiah Coe”.

Giles Hudspeth and Elizabeth (Bradford) Hudspeth had eleven children (order uncertain):

1. Ralph Hudspeth (born about 1750-51, died after 1796), married Agatha Hutchins.
2. John Hudspeth (born before 1751-52, died about 1831, in Monroe Co., Kentucky), married Sep. 14, 1771, in Rowan Co., North Carolina to Mary Vaughn.
3. Giles Hudspeth, Jr. (born about 1753-54, died in 1781, in Granville Co., North Carolina).
4. William Hudspeth (born about 1754-55, died 1778, in Surry Co., North Carolina).
5. Benjamin Hudspeth (born about 1756-57, died 1792, in Surry Co., North Carolina), married Milly Coe. [sister of Isaiah Coe]
6. Elizabeth Hudspeth (born about 1758, died before Jun. 25, 1834, in Wilson Co., Tennessee), married about 1775, to John Coe. [brother of Isaiah Coe]
7. Jemima Hudspeth (born about 1760, died after 1850 in Yadkin Co., North Carolina), married ca. 1780 to Isaiah Coe (born about 1760, died after Feb. 5, 1836, in Surry Co., North Carolina).
8. Charles Hudspeth (born about 1762, died 1834 in Madison Co., Alabama), married Feb. 18, 1788, in Surry Co., North Carolina to Elizabeth Glenn. He served in the Alabama Legislature.
9. Martha Clarissa “Patty” Hudspeth (born about 1768-70, died after Jul. 3, 1822, in Wilson Co., Tennessee), married Aug. 16, 1788, in Surry Co., North Carolina to Thompson Glenn (born about 1767, died before Jul. 3, 1822, in Wilson Co., Tennessee).
10. Hannah Hudspeth (born about 1770-72, died after 1802), married Jan. 27, 1794, in Surry Co., North Carolina to Absalom Holeman. [1790 with father]
11. Mary Ann Hudspeth (born about 1772-74, died about 1842 in Overton Co., Tennessee), married Dec. 11, 1797, in Surry Co., North Carolina to Caleb Webb (born about 1750, died before Feb. 2, 1804, in Iredell Co., North Carolina). [1790 with father]