Finley Findings International's
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Welcome to Finley Findings International Updated Aug. 24, 2012
This page will be dedicated to the surname associated with the Clan Fionnladh, better known as Finley.
Other variations are Finley/Findley/Findlay.
The fascinating history of the Scotch-Irish origins will be presented here.
I also maintain the largest database in the world relating to the Finley surname, with more than 54,000 names.
Introduction
I am currently working full time at the Warren Eagle Democrat weekly newspaper, in Warren, AR, where I am the editor.
I have joined Facebook and have set up a separate group where we can meet and have group discussions. Please add me as a "friend" at facebook.com/finleyfindings.
My eventual goal is to turn my data into a book describing the interesting history of our family from the beginning of time to the present.
Continue to correspond with me through email at TMKessler@hotmail.com.
I am currently in the process of updating this website to make the pages easier to read, with different colored backgrounds, a uniform headline and body text font, and soft music in the background. I will be adding past volumes and will combine some of those already on the website. Please be patient and give me any input you may have on the changes.
FINLEY Findings International is the only organization in the world totally dedicated to active research of the FINLEY surname and all of its derivatives.
If you have any connections to this family, please send me pedigree charts and family group sheets to my mailing address at Timothy Kessler, 307 N. Chestnut St., Warren, AR 71671. All information relating to the FINLEY surname may also be sent to that address and may be used in future issues of this newsletter. Queries are free and are encouraged.
Watch this site in the next few weeks to see it as it develops. I hope to hear from you soon!!
Searching for Finleys
QUERY NO. 1: Virginia Finley writes: I was going through Ulster Co, New York, probate records. Imagine my surprise when I found John Finley, deceased, 1789. His wife was Elizabeth. Since he left no will, his posessions were inventoried 27 Aug 1789. This inventory was witnessed by Samuel Finley. At the time of his death he lived in New Windsor, NY, north of New York City and south (I think) of Kingston. During the Revolutionary War, New Windsor was a Medicial Center.
QUERY NO. 4: Ken BRONSON, Ken.Bronson@rogers.com, sends the following query:
I am researching the Finley line that arrived in Hastings Co, Ontario, Canada, in the 1840s. I have the following clipping which an archivist at the Newtownards library provided of an interview of my ggg-grandfather John Finlay as he turned 100 years of age:
A CENTENARIAN
The Winnipeg Belleville Intelligencer says: We had the pleasure of a conversation last week with Mr. John Finlay, of the township of Hungerford, who was born in townland of Balagrat, Parish of Bangor, County Down, Ireland, on the 2nd of August, 1774, and who had consequently, upon the 2nd of August last, attained his one hundredth year. A number of his family had attained an extreme old age, his grandmother dying at the age of 106, and a brother at the age of ninety-six. His father and six brothers left Scotland for Ireland at the time of the persecution in that country, settling in Ireland as tenants of the former owners of our present Governor-General's (Lord Dufferin's) estate. He left Ireland upon Lord Dufferin (then seventeen years of age) coming into possession of the estate, some thirty years since. He then, at the age of seventy years – when he says he was only a boy – with his three sons started for the backwoods to hew out a home for themselves in the land of their adoption. They settled near the village of Tweed, where, by their industry, they have a farm with few equals in the Township of Hungerford. His three sons have passed away, but the old gentleman still resides on the homestead. Although bent with age, he still retains all of his faculties, and can read without the aid of spectacles, which he has never been compelled to use. When 85 years of age, he walked from his home to Belleville and back – a distance of 50 miles – between sunrise and sunset, and upon the 22nd of last month he walked from his daughter's home in Madoc to his own home – a distance of ten miles – in one day.
BRONSON says he believes this is the same John FINLEY that is listed on the following headstone in Bangor Abby, Co Down:
Here lieth the body of [William] Finlay, late of Ballygrott [who] departed this life April 19[th 1779] aged 52 yea[rs. Also the body of his wife M____ alias B____ who departed [this life 1817] aged [75] years. Erected by Sa[muel] CLOTWORTHY in memory of his grandfather] John Finlay who died at [Canada 19th June] 1876 aged 100 years. Also his grandmother Jane Finlay who died 2nd Sep 1848 aged 70 years.
BRONSON adds: I am hoping that you may be able to shed some light on John's ancestors. From the headstone, it's possible that his father was William Finlay, his wife was Jane ? B 1778, d 1848, and had a daughter who married a Clotworthy.
QUERY NO. 5: Jerry D. FINLEY sends the following:
Interested in combining/comparing our histories. I have about 12,000 names primarily from the Finley/Stout book the "Clan Finley" and Carmen Finley (California) plus my own digging. I use Family Tree Maker, but deliberately have sent nothing to them.
You recently had someone ask for help for a Findley in Georgia. I was in Thomasville, GA, and had an opportunity to visit their genealogy library and located an ASA Findley. He was a Revolutionary veteran and served under General Oglethorpe. He was later awarded some land for his service time. He lived in what is now Clinch County, GA. I have his children and several of his other kin, but have not been able to match him with what I have in my computer.
My history runs as follows: Wiley Clifford (m. Esther Pearl Walker)/ William Benjamin (m. Eleanor Elizabeth Gaither)/ James (M. Jamima Melissa Cooper)/ Nathan (m. Dorothy Mitchell)/ John (m. Mary ?)/ George (m. Ann Newland)/ John, Jr (m. Mary Thankful Caldwell)/ John Sr. (m. Thankful Doak)/ James (m. Elizabeth Patterson).
ANSWER: In comparing our information,
my database shows a different lineage than what you had presented. I
have the following:
James m Jamimah Melissa Cooper; his parents:
Daniel Finley, b 30 Sep 1796, NC, d Cannon Co, TN, m Catherine
_________, b 1796, VA, d Cannon Co, TN; his grandparents both born in
Scotland. Further unknown.
QUERY NO. 6: Jim MONTETON, klatoo@msn.com, sends the following:
I am trying to find information on my grandmother Ellen Finley b. 1880, d. 1950, married to William Monteton, Chicago, IL. Her parents were John and Elizabeth Finley. John birth approx 1855 death approx 1940.
QUERY NO. 7: Gordon FINLAY, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, gord.finlay@gmail.com, sends the following:
I am writing to find out more about whether your Finley Findings
database has incorporated any historical ancestral Finley/Finlay
lineage information from records kept from the Josiah Van Kirk
Thompson journal project, as well as letters or stories from an
Edward C. Finley of the early 20th century in California?
As I
have been delving into the history of my Finlay family from Dublin,
it seems to me that there may be at least 2 parallel lines of
Dublin Finlays or Finleys:
1. Descendents of John Finlay (son of John & Mary Savage) and his wife Leticia. John Finlay was a merchant & linen draper in Dublin about 1715. According to the letters from E.C. Finlay contained in the Josiah Van Kirk Thompson journal project (V16 p. 476), John was descended from the Finley family line of Fife & Balchrystie which in turn is descended on the maternal side from the family of Lord Grey Stewart, Earl of Orkney, Ogilvie, Earl of Airly, & Kennedy, Earl of Cassilis.
2. Descendents of George Finlay (1743-1805) and Susanna White. George was a linen draper in Dublin and who was one of two sons of John Finlay and Mary Ogilvie that moved to Dublin from Glasgow. George's father John was a properous linen draper or merchant in Glasgow. According to my contact Roger Finlay from Wellington, New Zealand, there is a large and confusing lineage of his descendants as George's son William Henry Finlay reportedly had as many as 20 children.
Am I correct in thinking that these are two independent branches or ancestral lines? And are they connected in any way in Dublin or are they separate branches of Finlays which were connected earlier back in Scotland?
I know where to find records of the Josiah Van Kirk Thompson project from Pennsylvania as microfilms are available from church of LDS in Utah. But I am unaware of anyone has kept the genealogy notes, records letters or stories from the Edward C. Finlay collection (member of American Historical Society who lived in Oakland, and Monterey Calif in early 20th century). He is often mentioned in the Josiah Thompson journals.
My gg grandfather Charles Finlay (b. 1819) was a licensed victualer (vintner and proprietor of Carlingford Beeksteak Tavern) of Aston's Quay, Dublin. I know from his marriage certificate (from the excellent new parish records found online at IrishGenealogy.ie) to his second wife Olivia Maria Doyle that Charles father's name was Andrew, but I am unsure as to whether my ggg grandfather Andrew Finlay is connected to the aforementioned John Finlay line #1 or George Finley line #2.
Charles Finlay also had a sister Rebecca Jane Finlay who emigrated to Tasmania and later New Zealand.
I attach a descendent outline report for Charles Finlay.
ANSWER: I was able to match each part of this query with my database.
1. Descendants of John FINLAY: I can go backwards from John and Mary SAVAGE FINLEY, but have nothing on the descendants. I show John FINLAY, b Scotland, m Leticia __________. His parents: John FINLEY, b Killashandra, Co Cavan, Ireland, m 1670 w Mary SAVAGE. His parents: Richard FINLEY, b 1586, Killashandra, Cavan, Ireland, d same, m Fanny MC DONNELL. His parents: Alexander FINLEY, b 7 May 1534, Balchristie, Co Fife,Scotland, d 1627, Killashandra, Ireland, m unknown. His father: Sheriff Andrew FINLEY, b 1504, Coupar Angus, Forfarshire, Scotland, d 27 Aug 1547, Aughenlyth, Forfarshire, Scotland, m 1523, Melrose Abbey, Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland, w Janet Hay, b 1503, Errol,Perthshire, Scotland, d 1534, Aughenlyth, Scotland. From there, it ties into my main line. 2. Descendants of George FINLAY: Once again, I don't show his descendants, but I can show his ancestral line. I had George FINLAY, b 1740, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, d 1805, m 1766, Dublin, Ireland, w Susannah White, b 1750, d 1825. His parents: John FINLEY, b 1694, Raplock, Dalserf, Lanarkshire,Scotland; d 1752, Glasgow, Scotland; m 2 Jan 1721, Glasgow,Scotland, w Mary OGILVIE, b 1700, d 1752. His parents: Robert FINLEY, b 1652, Incharvie, Co Fife, Scotland; d 1698, Glasgow,Scotland; m 22 Apr 1672, Glasgow, Scotland, w Ann SAUNDERS, b 1658, Scotland, d 1719, Scotland. His parents: John FINLEY, b 10 Mar 1619,Incharvie, Scotland; d 14 Feb 1679, Incharvie, Scotland; m 27 Jun 1639, St. Andrews Church, Incharvie, Scotland, w Jane HENNING, b 1621, Scotland, d 1674, Scotland. His parents: James FINLEY Jr., b 25 Oct 1583, Balchristie, Scotland; d Jan 1620, Incharvie, Scotland; m 14 Jul 1603, Rives, Prince George Co, VA, w Barbara HUNTAR, b 1582, Incharvie, Scotland, d 1618, Scotland. His parents: James FINLEY, b 15 Sep 1530, Coupar Angus, Scotland; d 26 Mar 1597,Balchristie, Scotland; m 1576, Balchristie, Scotland, w Elizabeth WARRENDER, b 1530, Balchristie, Scotland, d 1597, Coupar Angus, Scotland. His parents: Sheriff Andrew FINLEY and Janet HAY. 3. Charles FINLAY. Instead of 1819, I had his birthdate as 14 Jun 1799, Dublin, Ireland; d 1875, Dublin, Ireland; m (1st) 1836, Mary SMYTH; m (2nd) 7 Sep 1851, Dublin, Ireland, w Olivia Maria DOYLE. Again, I didn't have his descendants (which Gordon FINLAY supplied in his chart) but had his ancestors as follow: His father: William FINLEY, b 1770,Dundee, Co Angus, Scotland; d 15 Jul 1804, Dublin, Ireland; m 11 Jun 1795 w Bridget REILLY. His parents: Unknown. His parents: William FINLEY Jr., b 1686; d 1766; m 4 Apr 1718 w Jane Catherine YOUNG. His parents: William FINLEY, b 1664, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d 1733,Dundee, Scotland; m Sarah _________. His parents: James FINLEY IV, b 26 Mar 1636, Balchristie, Scotland; d 10 Jan 1689, Dundee, Scotland; m 1660, Balchristie, Scotland, w Dorothy INGLIS, b 1638, d 1690. His parents: James FINLEY III, b 14 Aug 1614, Kirkenbright, Fife,Scotland; d 11 Oct 1678, Dundee, Scotland; m 1634 w Martha HUCHANS, b 1618, d 1679, Dundee, Scotland. His parents: James FINLEY Jr. and Barbara HUNTAR (see above). So, yes, all three of these lines are interconnected.Emily Todd Helm
As noted in a previous issue, the Finley line is related to Abraham Lincoln through his wife, Mary Todd. I found this fascinating article through Ancestry.com submitted by GeorgiaLaRue48:
Emilie Todd Helm was the daughter of Robert S. Todd and Elizabeth Humphreys Todd of Lexington, Kentucky. She was born into a wealthy family of exceptional advantages in both education and culture, which was afforded to few ladies of her time.
She was the half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln. In 1856, she married Benjamin Hardin Helm of Elizabethtown, who was a member of the Kentucky Legislature. While serving as a Confederate general during the Civil War, at age 32, he was killed in September 1863 at the Battle of Chickamauga, Ga.
After her husband's death, the Lincolns extended an invitation to Mrs. Helm. She arrived at the White House in December 1863, accompanied by her daughter, Katherine. President Lincoln was very solicitous and defended her presence at the White House against political attacks.
Once when challenged about the appropriateness of her living there, Lincoln is reported to have replied, "Mrs. Lincoln and I will allow anyone we choose to visit us in the White House."
Emilie later recalled in her diary: "Mr. Lincoln in the intimate talks we had was very much affected over the misfortunes of our family; and of my husband he said, 'You know, little sister, I tried to have Ben come with me. I hope you do not feel any bitterness or that I am in any way to blame for all this sorrow.' I answered it was 'the fortune of war' and that while my husband had been deeply grateful to him for his generous offer to make him an officer in the Federal Army, he had to follow his conscience and that for weal or woe he felt he must side with his own people. Mr. Lincoln put his arms around me and we both wept."
She visited again in the summer of 1864. Emilie was brought to the White House under the President's direct orders after she declined to attest to her loyalty to the Union when detained at Fort Monroe in Virginia. She noted in her diary: "Mr. Lincoln and my sister met me with the warmest affection, we were all too grief-stricken at first for speech. I have lost my husband, they have lost their fine little son Willie. Mary and I have lost three brothers in the Confederate service. We could only embrace each other in silence and tears. Our tears gathered silently and feel unheeded as with choking voices we tried to talk of immaterial things."
Although the sisters shared their sorrows, the sisters' children quarreled over who was the President of the country -- Jefferson Davis or Abraham Lincoln. Emilie's presence drew criticism to herself and the president. She became known as "The Rebel" by many Northerners.
After returning to Kentucky, she wrote the president, asking to send clothing to Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas outside Chicago. Mr. Lincoln wrote the Union military commander of Kentucky that his sister-in-law had no protection against prosecution for disloyal actions: "Deal with her for current conduct, just as you would any other." Emilie wrote to Lincoln: "I have been a quiet citizen and request only the right which humanity and justice always gives to widows and orphans. I also would remind you that your minie bullets have made us what we are." After this incident, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln would not communicate with her sister, nor would they ever meet again.
After the war, Mrs. Helm and her children went from Lexington to Elizabethtown and finally, to support her family moved to Madison (Indiana) and later to Louisville were she taught piano lessons. In 1881, her nephew, Robert Todd Lincoln obtained for her an appointment as postmistress of Elizabethtown. She and her family resided in a house on West Poplar Street, known today as the McKinney House. Mrs. Helm and her daughters became active in the local chapter of the Union Daughters of the Confederacy, which was named for her General Helm.
Her son, Ben Hardin Helm Jr., purchased a plantation home for his mother and sisters in Lexington, which they named "Helm Place," after her husband's home in Elizabethtown. Mrs. Helm attended many of the Confederate Veteran reunions and was given the title "Mother of the Brigade" by the former soldiers of the First Kentucky Brigade. She never remarried and wore mourning for her husband for the remainder of her life. She was 93 years old when she died and was buried in the Todd plot at the Lexington City Cemetery.
Emilie Todd Helm and Mary Todd Lincoln's brothers; George Todd, Alexander Todd, and Samuel Todd all served in the Confederate Army. Alexander and Samuel were killed while fighting.
Actress Jill Clayburgh protrayed the voice of Emilie Todd Helm in the 1992 production of "Lincoln: Now He Belongs To The Ages."
The house where Emilie Todd Helm and her children resided while living in Elizabethtown is located on West Poplar Street. It is a private residence. She also attended the Episcopal Church which is located at the corners of Poplar and Mulberry.
Ben and Emilie Helm had three children, Katherine, Elodie and Ben Hardin Jr. Katherine became a well-known artist, painting many portraits of the family and notable personalities, including one of her aunt Mary, that now hangs in the White House. Two of her portraits of the Pusey family are on display at the Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown.
As a kindness to her nephew, Robert Todd Lincoln, Mrs Helm along with with daughter's Katherine and Elodie unveiled the Lincoln statue located in the town square in Hodgenville.
Slave owners among Finleys
It is a well-known fact that some of the Finleys owned slaves. This is shown in U.S. Census records and in some property inventories after a Finley's death.
Alene Neff sent the following interesting story passed on from a researcher in Pennsylvania:
Owner's Surname: Harris
Owner's First Name: John (Sr.)
Owner's City:
Owner's Township: Paxton
Owner's County: Dauphin (modern designation)
Owner's State: PA
Owner's Occupation:
Owner--Memo: Pioneer from, Yorkshire, England, who established Harris' Ferry at modern day Harrisburg. Father of John Harris Jr., founder of Harrisburg.
Slave Surname, if known:
Slave Given Name: Hercules
Slave Gender: Male
Slave Age (Years): ?
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Hercules is perhaps the best known, and to some people the only known, slave from Dauphin County. He figures prominently in the story of the attempted burning of John Harris by hostile Native Americans. According to the story, John Harris refused to sell rum to a passing party of Native Americans returning from the south on a raiding expedition because they were already intoxicated.
Angered, the raiders seized Harris and tied him to a nearby mulberry tree on the riverbank, intending to burn him. His Negro slave Hercules, seeing what was happening, went to a friendly neighboring tribe and brought back help. The friendly Native Americans freed Harris from the unruly raiders, and Harris, grateful to Hercules, immediately manumitted him.
The story of the attempted burning, and the role played by Hercules, may be apocryphal. No first person account by Harris of the event exists. Several local historians have documented changes in the story over the decades, including the addition of Hercules to the story about the middle of the 19th century.
Hercules was a real person, however, and a slave to John Harris. Harris stipulated in his will, dated Nov. 22, 1746, that Hercules was to be set free and was to be allowed to live on some of the land near the river that he willed to his son William Harris.
The account books of John Harris, Jr. show the following entries relating to Hercules, all of which seem to support the contention that Hercules was a free person by the time of these entries:
July 13th, 1754. Black Hercules Dr. to sundrys, £28, 18s, 5d.
Settled and clear.
Mem'd'm. That Hercules worked for me abt. one year, w'ch is in Part of my Acco't, the old Book tells the time.
Sept'r 8th, 1761, 1 lb Powder & 2 lb Shott for Hercules, 4:8. 6 Kerby Hooks, for Hercules, 1:6.
Sept'r 25, 1773. Cash p'd Hercules, at twice, 2:6." (William Henry Egle, "The Rescuer of John Harris,"
Notes and Queries VIII, Annual Volume 1900, page 38.)
Hercules died sometime after 1766, which was the last documented mention that he was alive. He was buried in an African-American burial ground at Mulberry Street but his remains and those of others buried there were moved when construction of a school house at that site uncovered the graves.
Other Sources:
"Harrisburg, The City Beautiful, Romantic and Historic" by Dr. George P. Donehoo. Harrisburg,Pennsylvania, 1927. Pages 44-46.
"Watson's Annals of Philadelphia And Pennsylvania," Volume 2, "Harrisburg." 1857.
Note: Watson's does not mention Hercules by name, but refers to "his faithful old black man."
"Copy of Will of John Harris Decd, 1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22, 1746, from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin County, Harrisburg.
Slave Given Name: Toni
Slave Gender: Male
Slave Age (Years): ? (described as "Negro boy")
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Bequeathed by John Harris to his son William. The line in the will of John Harris reads:
"I give and devise unto my said son William the tract of land which I purchased of James Allcorn,...& also the negro Boy called Toni."
Source: "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd, 1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22, 1746, from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin County, Harrisburg.
>Slave Given Name: Cherida
Slave Gender: Female
Slave Age (Years): ? (described as "Negro girl")
Date of Record: 1746 (will of John Harris)
Slave Memo: Bequeathed by John Harris to his daughter Elizabeth Finley. The line in the will of John Harris reads: "...unto my daughter Elizabeth Finley,...& I leave [??] the negro girl called Cherida."
Source: "Copy of Will of John Harris Decd, 1873." Official copy of the will, dated November 22, 1746,from Lancaster County Will Book B, p. 542. The official copy is in the archives of the Historical Society of Dauphin County, Harrisburg.
During this period, Harrisburg was in Lancaster Co., PA. Dauphin County was formed from Lancaster County in 1785.
Earl of Finlay
Roger Finlay of New Zealand passes along this interesting tidbit:
"The Earl of Finlay: Created by King Henry VIII. one son was a Glasgow merchant and one of his daughters was Rachel Finlay who married Joseph Ford Duncan, a direct descendant of Duncan the first of Scotland. This Glasgow merchant was created the Earl of Dunbar in 1688.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5 No. 1
Volume 11
Volume 12 No. 1
Volume 12 No. 2
Finley DNA
Augusta Co, VA GenWeb
TMKessler@hotmail.com
