Article about the Gause Family

WILLIAM GAUSE SR.
The origins of the Gause families of North and South Carolina are unknown. The name appears to be German (Gaus), but could as well be derived from the Scottish name Goss, or it could be of French origin.

There was a William Goss of Henrico Co., VA, who sold his inherited land 2 Feb 1725. He could be the same as the William Gause who appeared in North Carolina in the 1730s, but there is no proof whatsoever of such an identity.

There are three relevant deeds in Edgecombe County NC:

(1) John Bryan Jr to William Gause, both of Bertie Precinct, part of a tract of land granted me March 31, 1723, on south side of the Morratook River above Unuta . . . to a line that divides it from a tract I have sold John Everett. Deed made July 27, 1734 and proved Feb court 1736 (consideration of 100 lbs tar.) Test: John Gray, William Gray, Joseph Bryan.

(2) William Gause of Edgecombe Co. to John Ballard, 400 acres recorded to William Gause from John Bryan, on south side of Moratuck River, Dec 3, 1736. Signed William (W) Gause

(3) William Gause of Edgecombe Co to Robert Butler, tract of land said William Gause bought of John Bryan, May 29, 1729, containing 200 acres. This deed dated Nov 7, 1735.

A later deed in Craven County SC shows the identical signature William (W) Gause. It seems that William Gause Sr. traveled south, and settled in the Little River area of South Carolina. In 1737 he obtained grants from the crown for 400 acres of land in what was then Prince George's Parish, and is now the Windy Hill Beach area of Horry County, between Myrtle Beach, SC, and the NC line. An inlet from the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the Gause property was known at that time as Gause's Swash, and is now known as White Point Swash. William Gause Sr. subsequently became an innkeeper.

Some years later, William Gause Sr. purchased a plantation at Star Bluff on the Waccamaw River from Nathan Frink, including his livestock, tools, and household furnishings. There is nothing to indicate that William Gause ever lived there. However, some of his descendants settled in the nearby area of Red Bluff, as well as further inland, where a Gause settlement and an old Gause family cemetery may be found today. The Frink and Gause families later inter-married over several generations

In 1743 a deed to one Ann Bryan, "a spinster," from William Gause, Innkeeper, of "Long Bay of the Parish of Prince George," conveys to her several Negro slaves, furniture, bedding, and livestock. The deed was recorded in Craven County, SC, 4 Jan 1744. It speaks of her heirs, Needham Bryan, John Bryan, and William Bryan and identifies her as Ann Bryan of Crraven County, SC. These are the first names of three of William Gause's children, i.e., Needham, John, and William. There is also a Bryan Gause in the 1800 census. The name of William Gause's wife does not appear in any records so far available. Probably Ann Bryan became the wife of William Gause Sr, and the children named above were either fathered by or adopted by William Gause Sr.

On 14 Mar 1745 William Gause sold to Henry Warner for 700 pounds the same property that he had given to Ann Bryan for the use of her sons. That suggests that he had married Ann, thus making the property his to sell. When Henry Warner returned it to her sons in 1746, she was Ann Gaus with the same three sons plus Charles. This document is recorded on page 116, book 75A, of "SC Wills, Inventories and Miscellaneous Documents, from 1746."

Other documents recorded are:
(1) a Bill of Sale dated 11 Apr 1758 for slaves, from William Gause to his son Benjamin Gause, witnessed by Needham Gause, recorded 3 Nov 1758, Craven County, Prince George's Parish
(2) a Bill of Sale/Deed for slaves from William Gause to John Gause, signed 10 Mar 1761, witnessed by Needham Gause, recorded 30 Jan 1762.
(3) mention of Needham Gause paying to his father, William Gause Sr., 600 pounds, 30 Jan 1762
(4) a Bill of Sale for slaves from William Gause Sr. to John Bell, 10 March 1761, witnessed by Needham Gause and John Gause, and mention of William Gause Jr.

The foregoing documents seem to be the last recorded mention of William Gause Sr. and from the nature of the documents, all of which record his disposition of property, it could be concluded that he was setting his estate and affairs in order prior to his death. No will has been located and the date of his death is unknown.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM GAUSE SR.
1. Needham Gause. Was married to a Hankins. Will dated 1794, wife Hannah and large family.
2. John Gause, received a gift deed from William Gause, d. abt 1783, married Susannah Frink and had a large family
3. William Gause Jr., married Elizabeth Bacot Smith, widow. Lived in Brunswick County, NC, is the one who was the friend of Francis Asbury and who was visited by George Washington. His son William Gause III was a Methodist minister.
4. Charles Gause, identified as the brother of William Jr. Was one of the founders of Southport.
5. Benjamin Gause, received a gift deed in 1756
6. A daughter who probably married John Bell
7. Bryan Gause possibly, in 1790 census. No proof that he is son of William Gause. He would have been at least ten years younger than the other sons if he was the Bryan Gause in the 1800 census of Brunswick Co., NC, who was in the 26-45 age group.

Needham, John, and William (Bryan or Gause) obviously were born before 1740 and Charles before 1746.

NC Roster of Revolutionary soldiers:
William Gause, Needham Gause, Charles Gause, John Gause, all in Wilmington militia.
William Gause the father was probably dead by then.