1850 census shows him as being born in Orange County and shows his eldest son John as being born in Orange County also. Family tales say he was born in Paris, France, moved to Canada and taught in a college there before coming to settle in North Carolina (purchasing a home in the Hillsbourgh District of Coleridge, Randolph Co. NC). Going by his age in the 1850 census he would have been born abt 1795. I have his son's John's birth at abt 1916/1917. Which would have made William 21 when he had his first child. So, I'm thinking the birthdates are either incorrect or perhaps it was Williams father who did the immigrating. I did find a William Gorley from Orange Co. who married first a Polly Uless and then a Mary Euliss (Polly's surname is probably Euliss also). The family story says he went to court and changed his name from Gourley to Goley. Since I've found no court records and no Gourley's in the "right" areas, and his son John and one of John's son's used the Gorley spelling in at least one record, I think the family story might be incorrect. I have hit a brick wall with this. If anyone has any information or ideas for me...I would love having them.