GOOLSBY.
Thomas Goolsby was one of the earliest settlers within the
present bounds of the county. In 1732, thirteen years before
its organization, he patented twelve hundred acres on James
River. In 1745 he sold more than five hundred acres to
Samuel Shelton, and in the description of the deed are
mentioned two tributaries of the James, called Holmans and
Goolsby's Creeks. This deed is noteworthy also from a
memorandum inscribed on it in 1788, showing that it had
been previously recorded, but the record had been destroyed
by the British in 1781. Thomas Goolsby died in 1774.
He was twice married, his last wife being Lucy Bryant.
His children were William, Thomas, Susan, the wife of a
Childress, Ann, the wife of a Nowling, Lucy, the wife of a
Saunders, and Elizabeth. William owned land on the waters
of the south fork of Hardware. He died in 1819, and his
children were William, Tabitha, the wife of Joseph Harlan,
Tarleton, who married Mildred, daughter of Thomas
Walker Jr., Sarah, the wife of a Thurmond, Susan, the wife
of a Davis, Fleming, Jane, the wife of Samuel Harlan, Arthur,
Mary, the wife of a Samuel Richardson, and Nancy, the
wife of a Phillips.
Charles, James and John Goolsby, of Albemarle, were
Revolutionary soldiers, members of the Ninth Virginia
Regiment. Charles, who was a non-commissioned officer,
and James were taken prisoners at Germantown; all three
died in the service. They were beyond doubt sons of
Thomas Sr., as William was stated to be their heir.
