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Hales Family History

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History of the Hales Family in NC

Tracing our roots from early Johnston County census records through generations of preservation.

The Early Pioneers

In the 1800 North Carolina Census, the family line establishes its roots in Johnston County with two recorded households: Chapman Hales and John Hales. Historically, the spelling of the name varied across official records, frequently appearing as Hailes, Hayles, and consistently Hales.

Genealogical Note: Our direct lineage traces back to Chapman Hales. Though his wife remains unknown, he fathered two sons: Henry and Isaiah.

The Lineage of Isaiah Hales

Our branch stems directly from Isaiah Hales, who fathered Guildford, Willis, and Gillis Hales. Gillis was born May 10, 1825.

On Friday, October 27, 1848, Gillis Hales married Martha "Patsy" Rentfrow Stancil (the widow of Samuel Stancil). Together, they laid the foundation for the next generations of our family, raising eight children:

  1. Elias Hales (b. July 10, 1849 — d. Dec. 8, 1901)
    Married Martha Darden. Buried at Hales Cemetery. Elias is the great-grandfather of our branch (grandfather of Ethel Octavia Hales Stancil).
  2. Perry Hales (b. Mar. 1, 1851 — d. Sept. 15, 1915)
    Married Rinda Mariah Kirby. Buried at Hales Cemetery. Their son, James Perry Hales, married Delphia Pearl Hill (daughter of Tempy Ann and Fred Hill).
  3. James Condary Hales (b. Aug. 1, 1853 — d. Feb. 7, 1913)
    Husband of Lency Godwin Hales. Buried at Hales Cemetery.
  4. Lucinda Hales (b. abt. 1856 — d. Unknown)
  5. Sarah Jane Hales Atkinson (b. Aug. 17, 1858 — d. Aug. 7, 1940)
    Buried at Old Beulah Cemetery.
  6. William Hales (b. May 1860 — d. Unknown)
  7. Pinetta Hales Pittman (b. Jan. 10, 1862 — d. Oct. 2, 1896)
    Wife of William Gray Pittman. Buried at Hales Cemetery.
  8. Jesse A. Hales (1863 — 1937)
    Buried at Holly Springs Cemetery.

Civil War Ties & The Legend of "Railroad"

Gillis's son, Elias Hales, married Patsy S. Creech. She was the daughter of Ransom Creech, a local soldier tragically killed in action during the Civil War.

Elias and Patsy later welcomed a son, Ransom R. Hales. Family lore notes that Ransom jokingly (or perhaps seriously!) told Ethel Hales Stancil that the "R" stood for "Railroad", though it may have simply been used as a standalone initial.

The Discovery of Shoeheel (2009)

Thanks to the extensive deed and archival research of researcher Jerry Stancil, a major piece of family history was recovered in 2009. Jerry located the long-lost tombstone of Samuel Stancil (d. 1844) in the Hales Cemetery at Shoeheel. It is highly probable that Samuel's burial was the very first interment in this historic cemetery plot.

— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil