Avington McElroy was born 1733 in MD or NC, and died 1798 in Oglethorpe Co., GA. He married Sarah Dawson March 07, 1770 in Johnston Co., NC, daughter of William and Martha Dawson. She was born 1755 in Johnston Co., NC, and died 1835 in Oglethorpe Co., GA.

From "Ancestors of Billy Jo Wood"

"Avington McElroy and his uncle William, were appointed to patrol the Falls of the Neuse to Walnut Creek in 1769. That same year, Richard Hartsfield was appointed constable in the place of Avington, who had previously taken the job from Hartsfield. In 1771, Avington and his uncle William were on the Jury to layout a road from Wake Co. Courthouse to Hillsborough (NC), at or near the forks of the roads above Rocky Branch. In December of that year, Avington was ordered to work on the road up to Captain John Hinton's. Avington had been given permission in March 1771 to build a public grist mill on Buffalow Branch.

Avington McElroy got into a fight and wound up losing the top of his left ear. He did not want to be branded like his distant relative who had his ear cut off by a common hangman in Tolgate Prison before being deported to America. So, Avington petitioned the Court in Wake Co. to find that he "had lost the ear when it was bit off by his adversary in a battle."
In June 1775, Avington McElroy was appointed patroller in Captain Pearson's district, and the Processioners found that he had 300 acres of land on the southside of Crabtree Creek "where he now dwells". In March 1776, Avington served on the Grand Jury and from 1778 to 1780 he served on the Petit Jury.

Around 1782, many of the Wake Co. (NC) McElroys beglan moving to Georgia and settled in Wilkes Co., from which Oglethorpe Co. was later cut off. Records pertaining to them are found in both counties.

Between 1785 and 1788 AVington McElroy was granted 900 acres along the Broad River in Elbert Co., GA, none of which were marked "on bounty". In other words, he did not receive the land as a result of the Revolutionary War. Under the Headlright Grant system then in effect, any free white male over 21 years could obtain a "headright" grant of 200 acres for tlimself, whether
married or single. A married man might receive 50 additional acres as headright for each member of his family, plus 50 acres for each slave up to a maximum of 1000 acres. It was not necessary for a man to ask for all of the land to which he was entitled at his first petition to the land court.

Wilkes Co., GA land deed record, (Deed Book "G" p. 268 - - mentions Aventon Muckelroy as witness - - " Dionysius Oliver, and wife Mary Ann, to Wm. Hay, two half acre lots in town of Petersburg in the forks of the Broad and Savannah Rivers, No. 36 on west side of Front St., No. 23 on east side of 2nd Street. Aug 2, 1788. Witnessed by: Archer Skinner, Aventon Muckelroy.