Pressly was born on December 23, 1808, in the lower part of Abbeville District, South Carolina.
[2] Pressly was installed as pastor of the Generostee and Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (A.R.P.)
[3] He gave up the position at Generostee in 1838, but continued to serve as pastor of the Due West church for another 30 years, during his tenure as president of the college.
Fourteen children were born to them, all of these died in infancy except three daughters and one son, William Laurens Pressly, President of Erskine Seminary.
[4] In "The Centennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1803-1903" sketch of his life, Pressly is called "the father of Erskine College.