The FINLEYs have always had strong religious beliefs. As we have already seen, one John FINLAY became the Bishop of Dumblane. Several famous Presbyterian ministers have also come from the FINLEY line. But, alongside with the pride taken in their religion, the tragic side of the FINLEYs' religious struggles must be examined.

 In the Handbook of Denominations in the United States, a commentary on the influence John CALVIN had upon Presbyterianism says, "He gave courage to British Presbyterians in their bitter struggle against Catholic Bloody Mary. To him came Scots who became Covenanters; to him came John Knox, who went home to cry, `Great God, give me Scotland, or I die.' Knox and the Covenanters set Scotland afire and made it Protestant and Presbyterian."

 John FOX, who lived in England from 1517 to 1587, gave graphic accounts in his Book of Martyrs of several Protestants who were burnt at the stake in Scotland in the 1500s. One of the first martyrs was said to be Patrick HAMILTON, who became acquainted with Martin LUTHER and professed his doctrines, much to the disapproval of the Catholic Bishop of St. Andrew's. His crimes were said to be "publicly disapproving of pilgramages, purgatory, prayers to saints, for the dead, etc." FOX describes his torture as follows:

 "When he arrived at the stake, he kneeled down, and for some time prayed with great fervency. After this, he was fastened to the stake, and the fagots placed round him. A quantity of gunpowder, having been placed under his arms, was first set on fire, which scorched his left hand and one side of his face, but did no material injury, neither did it communicate with the fagots.

 "In consequence of this, more powder and combustible matter were brought, which being set on fire, took effect, and the fagots being kindled, he called out, with an audible voice: `Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! How long shall darkness overwhelm this realm? And how long wilt thou suffer the tyranny of these men?'

 "The fire, burning slow, put him to great torment, but he bore it with Christian magnanimity. What gave him the greatest pain was the clamor of some wicked men set on by the friars, who frequently cried, `Turn, thou heretic; call upon our Lady; say, Salve Regina, etc.'

 "To whom he replied, `Depart from me, and trouble me not, ye messengers of Satan.' To one CAMPBELL, a friar, who was the ringleader, still continuing to interrupt him by opprobrious language, said to him, `Wicked man, God forgive thee.' After which, being prevented from futher speech by the violence of the smoke, and the rapidity of the flames, he resigned up his soul into the hands of Him who gave it. This steadfast believer in Christ suffered martyrdom in the year 1527."

 I point out the above to set the context in which STOUT, in The Clan Finley, Vol. 1, First Edition (1940), says, "One Rev. John FINLEY, the last martyr to Christ's Crown and Covenant, was burned at the stake in Edinburgh just prior to the expulsion of James II."

 Charles A. HANNA, in The Scotch-Irish Families in America, Vol. 2, Appendix R, p. 237, confirms this fact, as he includes an account of the confession of the Rev. John FINLAY of Kilmarnock, which he says is taken from a book published in 1714, A Cloud of Witnesses.

 The account states that John FINLAY lived in Muirside, Kilmarnock Parish, and suffered in the Grass-market of Edinburgh on 15 Dec 1682. By giving his lengthy testimony, he states to his oppressors that he is "Shewing you that I am condemned unjustly by a generation of bloody men, who is thirsting after the blood of the saints of God, and upon no other account, but for my being found in the way of my duty in the sight of God; glory to his holy name for it, though gone about with many failings, much imperfections, for adhering to Christ and all his offices, as Prophet, Priest and King; and for my following him in all his persecuted gospel truths."

 During this same period in our history, the first of the FINLEYs migrated to America. It is certain that in view of such persecution, one of the reasons for the exodus from Scotland was the degree of religious tolerance allowed in the New World.

Part 7: Last of the True Scotch-Irish

From all available records, it appears the first FINLEYs in America reached the New World in the mid- to late 1600s. As we saw above, there were martyrs among our ancestors in Scotland and they had very good reasons to leave the homeland in which they had been a vital part of its history.

However, there were some FINLEYs who were able to amass some land holdings throughout the 1600s in Scotland and Ireland, and it is evident that not all FINLEYs came to America, as some of these holdings were passed on to other relatives.

John FINLEY, who was baptized 8 June 1579, St. Andrew's Parish, County Fife, Scotland; d 6 Oct 1670, Incharvie, County Fife; m (1st) Eleanor FORBES; m (2nd) 3 Oct 1630, Sarah CRAIGIE, d 1669; and he appeared in different leases up to 1668.

According to FRANCE, Buren's Book of Commoners," P. 229, shows baptisms of St. Andrew's Church, including John and Sarah CRAIGIE's children.

Their first son, James, was baptized 9 Sept 1631, St. Andrew's Parish, County Fife; d 16 Feb 1681, Incharvie, County Fife. On 14 July 1670, he was served as heir to his father.

In a Scotch Deed, James FINLEY, partitioner of Incharvie, County Fife, has a grantor's bond dated 22 June 1652 and 10 Aug 1670. Margaret MACKIE, spouse of James FINLEY, partitioner, has a grantor's bond dated 1 Aug 1669 and 18 Jan 1670. STOUT says James FINLEY was granted land in 1652 in Newburn Parish, Balchrystie, County Fife, Scotland, and appears in Newburn Parish records up to 1679.

james FINLEY m (1st) 1649 Barbara HENDERSON, who d 1665 (WOOD's date; STOUT says 1658), with no issue; m (2nd) 10 Sept 1666, Margaret MACKIE (WOOD says MOCKIE; TORRENCE says MC KAY; FRANCE says MCKIE), daughter of Alexander MACKIE. She d 1672 with a will dated June 1672.

The second son of John and Sarah CRAIGIE was my direct ancestor, Robert FINLEY, baptised 4 May 1634, Incharvie, County Fife, Scotland; d 18 June 1712, Mullaghabrac Parish, County Armagh, Ireland; m 1680, Mullaghabrac Parish, County Armagh, Ireland, w Margaret LAUDER, daughter of Julian LAUDER of Kellyreiadin, County Armagh.

FRANCE, TORRENCE and STOUT give much information on this family. Although Robert FINLEY was born in Incharvie, County Fife, Scotland, records show he sold his lands there to his cousin, Thomas FINLEY (son of James and Barbara HUNTAR FINLEY) about 1678, or the date on which he went to Ireland. STOUT says Robert FINLEY graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1658.

He first settled in Hamilton Bann and later went to Mogharunter, Parish Mullaghabrac. FRANCE and STOUT say in Deed Book 187 (TORRENCE says Irish Deeds, Book 262), P. 42, is found: "Admor (administration) of the land and goods of Robert FINLEY, of the Parish of Mullaghabrac, County Armagh, Ireland, John FINLEY, lawful son of said deceased Robert FINLEY, July 20, 1712, for the sole use of said Michael, Robert, Samuel, Archibald and John FINLEY, children of the said deceased."

In Irish Deeds, Book 262, P. 630, is found: "A memorial of deeds of lease and release, dated the 16th and 17th of January 1732, Robert, Samuel and John FINLEY, of the Parish of Mullaghabrac, Armagh, of the one part, and Michael FINLEY, of the said Parish, of the other part, reciting that the said Robert, Samuel and John, in consideration of Pounds 50, did convey to the said Michael, land and buildings in the said parish and county, bounded on the south by a house, then in possession of said Michael, to hold during the lives of the said Robert, Samuel and John, with proviso for redemption."

The baptismal records of Robert FINLEY's children are inscribed in the Parish Register in Mallaghabrac, County Armagh, Ireland. More on this line will appear in a minute, but first, let's go back to the children of James and Margaret MACKIE FINLEY:

Alexander FINLEY was baptized at St. Andrew's Church, County Fife, Scotland, on 30 July 1667; d 28 Jan 1736, Dublin, Ireland; m 10 Jan 1687, County Derry, Ireland, w Margaret JENNINGS, b 1668, d 1742, Dublin, Ireland, daughter of William and Margaret MORDUCK JENNINGS. In 1688, he became a freeman by birth and then in 1690, he fought in King William's War. He was a woolen merchant in Dublin from 1691 to 1736. Records published by the Dublin Parish Society, St. Peter's Church, Dublin, Ireland, include: Alexander FINLEY, buried 28 Jan 1736; Chancery Bill, Dublin, dated 12 May 1736; letters of administration granted Margaret FINLEY, relict of Alexander FINLEY, deceased, merchant of Little Green Street (the latter gives names of heirs; more on this line will follow).

The second child of James and Margaret MACKIE FINLEY was Margaret FINLEY, baptized 8 Aug 1668. No other information is available on her.

The next child was James FINLEY JR., baptized 10 June 1670; d 1738, Incharvie; m 14 June 1693 (STOUT incorrectly says 10 Oct 1693), St. Andrew's Church, Glasgow, Scotland, w Isabella INGLIS. He was a farmer at Paisley, Scotland. Their children were Margaret, b 1694; Ann, b 1695; John, b 1696; Rachel, b 1697, d 1720; Andrew, b 1700; Isabella, b 1701; Robert, b 1704, d before 1744 in the Carolinas (on 8 Sept 1744, administration of his goods were granted to creditors, Thomas WILLY, merchant of London, and David CORREA, merchant of Glasgow, though plenty of assets); Alexander, b 1706; James, b 22 Aug 1708, Paisley, Scotland, d 1768, Glasgow, Scotland, m 26 June 1734, Ann MC DONALD (he was co-owner of wool firm of FINLEY and MC DONALD); and Richard, b 1709.

The fourth child was John FINLEY, baptized 11 Apr 1672; d 12 Sept 1758, Dublin, Ireland; m Elizabeth POWER, who was buried 8 Dec 1732. John and his brother, Alexander, moved from County Fife, Scotland, to County Derry, Ireland, prior to 1687. John FINLEY also served in King William's War. Upon restoration of peace, he was engaged in the woolen trade.

The children of Alexander and Margaret JENNINGS FINLEY appear in the baptismal records of St. Peter's Church, Dublin. It is through them that the way to the New World was paved:

James FINLEY was baptized in St. Peter's Church, Dublin, Ireland on 4 Dec 1687; d 10 Feb 1753, Cumberland County, PA; m 10 Jan 1706, St. Peter's Church, Dublin, w Elizabeth PATTERSON, b 1690, d 1755, daughter of Robert and Margaret FULLERTON PATTERSON.

Samuel FINLEY was baptized 10 Oct 1689; d 1751, West Nottingham Township, Cecil County, MD; m 10 May 1709, St. Andrew's Church (STOUT says St. Audon's), Dublin, w Jean WHYTE.

John FINLEY was baptized 23 Aug 1691; d before 1764, Shrewsbury Township, York County, PA; m 9 Feb 1711, St. Andrew's Church, Dublin, Ireland, w Eliza Marie MC NEALE (STOUT incorrectly lists his marriage to Alice MITCHELL on 18 Feb 1711. However, TORRENCE says that John FINLEY was the grandson of James and Barbara HUNTAR FINLEY).

William FINLEY was baptized 6 May 1694; d 1772, Ardstraw, County Tyrone, Ireland; m Agnes (last name unknown). He came to America but returned to Ireland.

Alexander FINLEY JR. was baptized 10 March 1696; d 25 Feb 1774, Dublin, Ireland; m Mary (STOUT says Jean) PATTERSON.

Margaret FINLEY was baptized 20 May 1697; m 28 Jan 1716, St. Peter's Church, Dublin, w Thomas PARNHAM.

In Dublin Deed Book 221, on 18 Jan 1720, James FINLEY gives a letter of attorney to his brother, Alexander FINLEY. In March 1720, there is an action of James FINLEY vs. Alexander FINLEY, elder, concerning a house on George Lane. There is a memorial of surrender of lease dated 16 March 1720 between James FINLEY and Alexander FINLEY JR., whereby, for certain consideration, the said James FINLEY did surrender a house on Cornmarket Street. Both John and Samuel FINLEY gave power of attorney to their brother, Alexander.

WOOD says James FINLEY, his wife and seven sons (STOUT lists nine sons); Samuel FINLEY, his wife and five sons; and John FINLEY, his wife and six children, all immigrated to America on the ship, Eagle Wing, landing at Newcastle, DE, on 22 May 1720.

STOUT adds the following information: "Maryland and Pennsylvania because of their guarantee of religious freedom were attractive to the Celts and to these colonies, the tide of Scotch-Irish immigration quickly turned. To the rising effects of this immigration many ships were built for the purpose of carrying passengers and goods to America.

"Among the ships built for this purpose was the brig Eagle Wing, launched at Belfast, Ireland, in the year 1714 and in constant service for more than 35 years between that port and the ports of Newcastle, DE, or Philadelphia. It was a fast-sailing vessel, modern for the times, making the trip to America, if all went well, in seven to 10 weeks.

"This ship is of importance in our history since so many of the Clan were numbered among its passengers on its many voyages to our shores. It is a tradition, likely, though without documentary proof, that on several voyages the Scots chartered the brig in order to obtain thereby reduced wares. Even in those days, our ancestors were given to being cautious with their cash."

James and Elizabeth PATTERSON's first son, John, m Thankful DOAK. This line leads to Polly FINLEY, who m Davy CROCKETT. Carmen FINLEY has commented on one of John and Thankful DOAK's children, William Joseph, and that information will be presented later. But, for now, let's return to the children of Robert and Margaret LAUDER FINLEY:

Robert FINLEY JR. was baptized 9 May 1681, Mullaghabrac, County Armagh, Ireland; d 1741, West Nottingham Township, Chester County, PA; m 2 Aug 1718, Ireland, w Sarah PATTERSON, daughter of John PATTERSON. His will was dated 10 Oct 1739, proved 20 July 1741 and filed 30 Nov 1742. Robert and Sarah PATTERSON FINLEY's children were Mary, b 1719, m John JOHNSTONE; and Robert FINLEY III, baptized 11 Feb 1720, County Antrim, Ireland, d 21 April 1808, Rising Sun, Cecil County, MD, m Frances BOYD. The family moved from Ireland to America in 1732 and settled in Chester County, PA.

 Michael FINLEY was b 10 Feb 1683; baptized 7 May 1683, Mullaghabrac, County Armagh, Ireland; d 1750, Salisbury Township, Chester County, PA; m 12 July 1712, Ireland, by the Rev. George Hall w Ann O'NEILL, daughter of Samuel O'NEILL. Michael FINLEY and his family, and his brother, Archibald FINLEY, and his family, immigrated on the Eagle Wing, arriving in Philadelphia, PA on 28 Sept 1734.

Michael FINLEY first settled in Bucks County, PA, and then to Salisbury Township, Chester County, PA, where his name and that of Michael FINLEY JR. appear on the 1747 tax list. Michael and Ann O'NEILL FINLEY were the ancestors of the Rev. Samuel FINLEY, president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University); Henry Agard WALLACE, Vice President of the United States under Franklin Delano Roosevelt; the Colgate family; Samuel Finley Breese MORSE, inventor of the telegraph; and Major Albert Finley FRANCE.

Samuel FINLEY was baptized 4 May 1684; d 1737, West Nottingham Township, MD. He immigrated in 1732 and died unmarried.

Archibald FINLEY was baptized on 8 Jan 1686; d 11 March 1752, New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA; m 10 Aug 1721, Ireland, Margaret KELSO, daughter of Henry KELSO. They immigrated in 1734.

John FINLEY was baptized on 14 June 1688; d 9 Dec 1760, Hopewell Township, York County, PA; m 22 Nov 1714, Ireland, w Mary Ann BARCLAY. They immigrated in 1732 and first settled in Nottingham Township, then moved to Chester County, where they lived from 1739 to 1744. He was an elder in Rock Presbyterian Church, organized in 1714. Prior to 1751, John FINLEY and two of his sons, Andrew and John JR., moved to Hopewell Township and on 1 Apr 1751, John FINLEY SR. received a warrant for 50 acres of land and on 4 Apr 1754, received a warrant for 100 acres. He became a member of Donegal Presbyterian Church and helped to organize the Lower Chanceford Presbyterian Church in 1757. His son, John JR., was a trustee. His wife, Mary Ann BARCLAY, was baptized 6 May 1692, Glenarn Parish, County Antrim, Ireland; d before 1760, Hopewell Township, PA. She was the daughter of James and Mary STEEL BARCLAY and the granddaughter of John and Mary CAMPBELL BARCLAY.

The Finleys of Bucks, written by Warren S. ELY on 5 Mar 1902, gives a fairly complete history of Archibald FINLEY's family, as follows:

"Archibald FINLEY, Archibald KELSO, Thomas KELSO and Henry KELSO contracted with George FITZWATER about the year 1736 for a tract of 500 acres of land in New Britain Township, Bucks County, lying along the Northwest side of the present Upper State Road and extending from the Bristol Road 550 perches toward the county line.

"George FITZWATER died before any conveyance in fee was executed and directors his executors to convey when the balance of the purchase money was paid. By mutual agreement, this tract was partitioned between the parties above mentioned and the part allotted to Archibald FINLEY was 151 acres and 53 perches off the end toward the county line, adjoining John FOREMAN, the greater part of which was recently the property of Elias SELLERS.

"Archibald FINLEY died in a house he had erected on this tract on March 11, 1749-50 and the deed therefore was made by the executors of George FITZWATER on December 11, 1750 to his widow, Margaret FINLEY, and his two eldest sons, John and Henry FINLEY, as the executors of Archibald FINLEY, deceased.

"The will of Archibald FINLEY was a nuncupative one and is as follows: Memorandum that on the Eleventh day of March Anno Domini 1749-50, Archibald FINLEY of New Britain in the County of Bucks and Province of Pennsylvania, Mason, being very sick in body but of sound mind and memory (to all appearances) Did Declare as his last will and Testament That it was his will that his wife, Margaret FINLEY, and his two eldest sons (that is) John FINLEY and Henry FINLEY, should be his executors and that all his Estate shall be divided and distributed amongst his wife and children as the Law Directs in case of Intestates Estates.

"And further that he named and Appointed Simon BUTLER of New Britain, aforesaid Esqr., and Isaac JAMES of Montgomery in the County of Philadelphia to be Trustees to See and take Care that not any of his children should be wronged, Which verbal Will the above said Archibald FINLEY made and published in the hearing of us the under subscribers. As witness our hands this Twelveth Day of March A.D. 1749-50. Robert LALOR, Henry KELSO, James FINLEY.

"This will was proven on March 27, 1750 by the above witnesses who state in their affidavits that FINLEY died soon after making the declaration and that the declaration was reduced to writing after his death. Letters testamentary were issued to the widow, Margaret FINLEY, and the eldest son, John. The Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of Archibald FINLEY, deceased, was made by Benjamin SNODGRASS and Hugh BARKLEY on March 23, 1749-50.

"Archibald FINLEY left to survive him at least two other sons, Alexander FINLEY, and Archibald FINLEY (JR.), and a daughter, Agnes, wife of Henry KELSO.

"Alexander FINLEY purchased on January 1, 1749-50, a tract of 78 acres on the opposite side of the State Road from that of his father, now in the township of Warrington, the present Whitehall Turnpike being its eastern boundary. The farm was late the property of Nathan HOUPT. Alexander FINLEY died on this farm in 1779, leaving a widow, Mary, an only son, James, who died on the same farm in 1836, and daughters, Jane, Mary, Martha and Sarah.

"Archibald FINLEY JR. became the landlord of the old hotel at the present borough of Chalfont in 1763, succeeding Arthur THOMAS who had been there since 1751. FINLEY was succeeded by Nicholas KOOKER in 1765, though FINLEY again obtained the license in 1766. This is the latest record we have of Archibald FINLEY and he probably removed with the rest of the family to Loudon County, Virginia at about this date.

"Henry FINLEY, the second son of Archibald, married Elizabeth, daughter of William WALKER, who owned several large tracts of land in Warrington, lying along the county line and the Lower State Road. He joined in the conveyance of the paternal acres in 1752. In 1758, he was living in Hilltown Township at the present site of Dublin as shown by a petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions in June of that year. He soon removed with his family to Loudon County, Virginia, and from there into Kentucky in 1788 as recited in the `American Ararat.' Little is known of his family except that one of his daughters married Lieut. John WALLACE, who removed with his family to Kentucky."

One thing which should be noted in the above section (which came from a publication of the Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA) are the dual dates. In "Tracing Your Ancestry," by HELMBOLD, as quoted in the Ashley County, AR Genealogical Society's Spring 1988 issue of "Kin Kollecting": "In 1752, the Julian calendar was supplanted by the Georgian calendar. However, the other change made at that time is a little more difficult to perceive. Because of differing customs among the settlers, the new year began on 25 March or on 1 January. When the calendar was changed, the Parliament also established 1 January 1752 as the legal New Year's Day.

"Birthdays of people then had to be expressed as old style or new style. For example, a date would be written as 14 February 1727/8. This means that the event took place in 1727 if the year was thought to begin on 25 March, but the birthdate was in 1728 if the year was thought to begin on 1 January. Since the 25 March date is the turning point, only dates from 1 January to 24 March have to be indicated in the above way."

Part 8: John Findley, The Pathfinder

In a footnote to ELY's previous narrative, he states, "The memory of John FINDLEY (so spelled by DRAPER), the precursor and pilot of BOONE to Kentucky, merits a brighter page on Western history than the meagre facts will warrant. `Of all the pioneers,' exclaims Ex-Governor Morehead in his Boonesborough address, `the least justice has been done to FINLEY.'"

The manuscripts of Lyman C. DRAPER, referred to above, reportedly have a wealth of information about John FINDLEY as well as others in our family. They are contained at the Wisconsin Historical Society, as well as at the LDS Library in Salt Lake City. I will give a complete list of the manuscripts' call letters at the end of this section.

DRAPER says that autographs show the spelling of the name as John FINDLEY. Although others use different spellings, the spelling has been changed in this report to reflect DRAPER's account. FRANCE, STOUT and TORRENCE, as well as others, agree that John FINDLEY was the son of Archibald and Margaret KELSO FINLEY, b 27 June 1722, County Armagh, Ireland; m 15 Sept 1744, Paxtang Township, PA, w Elizabeth HARRIS, b 1 June 1720; d 7 Aug 1769, Harris Ferry, PA.

Their first child was Esther FINLEY, b 22 Aug 1745, Paxtang Township, Lancaster County, PA; d 1789. She m Col. William PATTERSON, b ca. 1737, Lancaster County, PA. According to TORRENCE, he had married first Isabella GALBRAITH, b 1744; d 29 Oct 1764, daughter of Capt. John and Dorcas SMITH GALBRAITH. PATTERSON was the son of James and Mary STUART PATTERSON, whose place on the Susquehanna River was known as "Liberty Hall." Col. William and Esther FINLEY PATTERSON had five children: John PATTERSON, b 1767, m Sarah RAY; Isabella PATTERSON, m David HUNTER; William Augustus PATTERSON, b 17 Apr 1772, m Hannah Maria SPENCE; Margaret PATTERSON, died young; and James PATTERSON, b 1776.

The second child of John and Elizabeth HARRIS FINLEY was Martha Finley, b 3 Jun 1747; m William WERTZ. Their children were John Finley WERTZ, b 1768; Isabella WERTZ, b 1770; Martha WERTZ, b 1771; William WERTZ JR., b 1772; and Jane WERTZ.

The third child was John FINLEY JR., b 28 Sept 1760, Salisbury, Lancaster County, PA; d 11 Mar 1846, near St. Charles, Kane County, IL. He m (1st) 14 Sept 1780, Washington County, PA, w Priscilla HAYS, b 1761; d 4 Feb 1845, near Hardinsburg, Dearborn County, IN. Their children were David FINLEY, b 10 Dec 1781, probably Washington County, PA (birthplace also reported as KY); d 29 Aug 1853, near Danville, Vermillion County, IL; m 1803, Nancy MILLER; and Priscilla FINLEY, b 2 Nov 1783, probably Washington County, PA, d 1803, probably Dearborn County, IN. She is reported to have died from smallpox; also was reported to have gone by the name of MILLER (her mother's second husband). Priscilla HAYS FINLEY separated from John FINLEY JR. when he showed the tendency of his father to wander. She then m (2nd) Thomas MILLER.

John FINLEY JR. m (2nd) 28 Jul 1796, Ohio County, VA (now WV), w Sarah MOORE, b 20 Oct 1765, York County, PA; d 27 May 1823, Delaware County, OH. (It is through this marriage that my line continues. It should be noted that STOUT is incorrect on P. 107, Vol. I, Second Edition, of "The Clan Finley," where he lists John FINLEY (5-02-151) as m (2nd) Sarah MOORE. That John FINLEY is shown as m (1st) Elizabeth ANDERSON.)

 Their first child was David F. FINLEY, b 6 Feb 1798, Brooke County, VA (now WV); d 26 Nov 1872, DeKalb County, IL; m 24 Dec 1828, Delaware County, OH, w Mary LOWRIE, b 28 Jul 1796, Ireland; d 9 Mar 1856, DeKalb County, IL; both buried in Ohio Grove Cemetery.

The second child was Agnes (Nancy) FINLEY, b 12 Feb 1800, Brooke County, VA (now WV); d 10 Dec 1830, Delaware County, OH; m 12 Feb 1824, Delaware County, OH, w Joseph HARTER, b 4 May 1799; d 19 May 1831; both buried Oak Grove Cemetery.

My ancestor was the third child, Robert FINLEY, b 12 Nov 1801, Brooke County, VA (now WV); d 17 May 1877, Kane County, IL; m 1829, Delaware County, OH, w Elizabeth RILEY, b 1807, PA; d 19 Jul 1875, Kane County, IL; both buried in Garfield Cemetery.

The next child was Sally (Sarah) FINLEY, b 17 Dec 1804, Jefferson County, OH; d 1872; m probably Delaware County, OH, w John B. LEONARD. The last child was Jane FINLEY, b 27 Aug 1807, Jefferson County, OH; d 11 Mar 1840, near Kilbourne, Delaware County, OH; m probably Delaware County, OH, w Isaac LEONARD, b 7 Jul 1807; d 3 Oct 1844, Delaware County, OH; both buried Old Kilbourne Cemetery, OH; he m (2nd) Nancy THURSTON.

Most of the above information about the family of John FINLEY JR. comes from Rex Bird FINLEY and Mary Louise ALCORN. ALCORN, 2818 119th St., Toledo, OH 43611, although not yet a subscriber, wrote a paper about the ancestors of Sarah MOORE. In this paper, she quotes from the pension papers of John FINLEY JR., who appeared in the Delaware County, OH Court of Common Pleas on 21 Apr 1834, but who was denied a pension because he was unable to provide sufficient proof of his length of service on the Pennsylvania Line from Washington County during the Revolutionary War.

However, in going back to John FINDLEY, the Pathfinder, an extraordinary record of service to the fledging nation is found. According to FRANCE, he grew up in the log cabin that his father, Archibald FINLEY, built.

FRANCE says, "The education of young FINDLEY was necessarily very defective. There were no schools then established in this remote district of log cabins. Thus reared up in the frontier of Pennsylvania, a woodsman and hunter by nature and habits, he was man of strong marked character, shunning the dense settlements and preferring to rove in the solitary wilderness.

"Keen habits of observation, an expert marksman, he soon profited in the pursuit of game which led him on long hunting trips, from which he would return ladened with furs and skins. He became inured to hardship and endurance and to rely on his own resources, with great bodily vigor and to be the first man to appreciate the fertile lands of Kentucky; the first Anglo-Saxon to build a cabin on them and who later was to pilot Daniel BOONE.

"In appearance (from military record) John FINDLEY was well set; five feet, six inches in height; broad shoulders and deep chest with dark complexion; dark hair and blue eyes. FILSON says, `He was not a man to get soured by misfortune, for he looked more kindly on the bright side of life rather than on the dark side of things.

"In the year of 1744 at the age of 22, John FINDLEY had received from the Colony of Pennsylvania a license as Indian Trader; he received licenses in 1745, 1746, 1748, but not in 1747, the year in which he was granted land in Paxtang Township. It may be that he spent that year in hewing out his farm and installing his young wife and their growing family in the home.

"He had become associated with John HARRIS, who was one of the oldest and most active traders on the Susquehanna. HARRIS' settlement was just above the mouth of Paxtang Creek, which during the settlement of Cumberland Valley by the Scotch-Irish, became a place of importance, and here a ferry was established, called, `Harris Ferry,' on the site where Harrisburg, PA now stands.

"John FINDLEY soon fell in love with Elizabeth, oldest daughter of John HARRIS (JR.) and his wife, Esther SAY, and they were married on Sept. 15, 1744 by Rev. John Elder of the Paxtang Presbyterian Church.

"John FINDLEY made raiding trips from Harris Ferry as far west as the present state of Ohio and in time became a famous Indian trader, frontiersman and Indian fighter, experiencing many perils and adventures in his rambles. In 1748 John FINDLEY was trading as far west as the Allegheny, toward which stream the Eastern Indians had been drifting since 1730. He had made his headquarters at Shanopinstown, a small trading post at the site where Pittsburgh now stands.

(In The History Quarterly, published at the University of Louisville, KY in April 1927, sent to me by Ron ROSSI, Lucien BECKNER writes, "Thomas CRESAP, Virginia's agent in the Ohio territory, wrote Governor Dinwiddie in 1751 that `one James FINDLEY and another are suspected to be taken and carried off by the French, who make a practice of carrying off our men every year; therefore, I think it highly necessary to take the French that are at Logstown and detain them till those of ours taken last year, as well as those suspected to be taken this year, are restored.' The above `James' is our `John,' and Logstown was a post located a few miles below the present Pittsburgh.")

"We find his name as a witness together with Hugh CRAWFORD, John GRAY, David HENDRICKS and Aaron PRICE to the letter which the Indians sent to the Governor of Pennsylvania.

"In the spring of 1752, FINDLEY, Paul PRICE and William BRYAN were partners in a trading post at Peckawellany, the big Pect-town near the present city of Piqua, Ohio. According to an affidavit made by William BRYAN four years later, the goods were valued at 1,142 pounds. In an attack on this town, where English settlers were being harbored, the French confiscated or destroyed these goods. Whether FINDLEY was here at the time does not appear. After this occurence, being discouraged by his losses, he returned to his home in Paxtang.

"John FINDLEY was now 30 years old. No doubt learning much from the Indians, he described the Ohio River far away in the West, pouring its flood into the impenetrable forest; the amount of game to be found in those realms. By pointing to the leaf of the forests and of an Indian village, the voyage in a canoe, in the language of the Indian, required two paddles, two warriors and three moons.

"With a fortune swept away, and still undaunted, he bought another stock of goods, and with four assistants, he crossed the mountains of the Alleghenies, as far as the Indian village of Logstown and in a canoe, descended the Ohio River as far down as the falls of the Ohio, where now stands the city of Louisville, Kentucky. He met a company of Shawnees at the mouth of Big Bone Creek. These Indians were going to take their fall and winter hunt in the interior of Kentucky, where they assured FINDLEY he would find a rich harvest of furs and skins, promising to assist in the transportation of his cargo of goods and to trade with him as fast as they could obtain pelts. A hatchet, a knife, a string of beads and trinkets that could be bought for a small sum could be exchanged in the wigwam of the Indians for furs and skins of priceless value and sold to foreign shippers at a great profit.

"To this invitation, FINDLEY consented to join the party from Big Bone Creek, along the Indian path through the beautiful valley of Kentucky. They arrived at an Indian village, situated on the Lulbegrud Creek between the Licking and Kentucky River, located in Clark County, about 11 miles from Winchester, KY and called by the Indians by the uncouth name of Eskeppaki, meaning, `Old Corn Fields.' Here, FINDLEY erected a cabin and surrounded it with a stockade. Displaying his gaudy wares to the admiring eyes of the Indian, he soon started a brisk trade and while he was busy gathering furs and skins, other traders from Pennsylvania encamped close by. From these traders and the Indians, he first learned of the great Warriors Path, which ran south to Cumberland Gap. It was this memory of this gateway, from his old cabin on Lulbegrud Creek, that 16 years later helped to fire Daniel BOONE to make his expedition to Kentucky in 1769.

"After awhile, disputes arose between the traders and a party of outlaws, Conewagoes and French Indians, in which several of the traders were made prisoners and three of FINDLEY's men were killed. This occurred on April 10, 1753, but John FINDLEY and John FALKNER made their escape.

(TORRENCE notes that FINDLEY served as a scout under George CROGHAN in 1754; DRAPER, quoted by ELY, says, "FINDLEY was probably one of the party who, under George CROGHAN, had tendered their services to BRADDOCK and were received in a cold, indifferent manner.)

"July 9, 1755 was memorable in the history of the West. General BRADDOCK, fresh from England, had arrived on the Potomac with a large Regular Army. He set out to teach the Frenchmen a lesson. So, on March 10, with 86 officers and 1,373 men, he reached Wills Creek, where WASHINGTON, with some hundred Colonial Militia had been at work during the preceding winter and had built Fort Cumberland.

"With BRADDOCK's army were 100 hardy frontiersmen under Captain Edward B. DOBBS and with him was Daniel BOONE. Here, also, came George CROGHAN and his men and among them was John FINDLEY. Under what circumstances FINDLEY and BOONE met, we do not know. Over the campfire, amidst the din and clangor of war, FINDLEY found in the hardy North Caroliniana frontiersman a kindred spirit. Fascinated, BOONE absorbed the tales of this Scotch-Irishman, his recitals of his explorations of that country called Kentucky, the ideal hunter's paradise, richness of soil and abundance of game. BOONE was possessed with the desire to gaze with his own eyes on this wonderful land. Both of them were young and neither of them realized in the light of the campfire that they were making history of worldwide interest.

"BOONE had been assigned to the duties of a wagoneer and mechanic on the strength of his blacksmithing experiences. The wagon train was the center of a fierce attack of the howling Indians. Troops of BRADDOCK staggered under the cruel fire. They seemed to be confused by the fiendish clamor and the invisibility of the foe. ST. CLAIR's working force came up on a run, to pile confusion on confusion and the head of the column was speedily wiped out. Then BRADDOCK's mechanical discipline began to give ground before the marksmanship of the enemy. With the ancient forest hemming in the road with no visible foe, the army was as helpless as a blind man.

"The best-equipped and proudest army that England had ever sent over to North America was a rabble of crazy men. The Virginian fighting from tree to tree, behind a barricade of a fallen tree, soon cleared the side of the road and drove the savages from the terrible ravine. When BRADDOCK ordered the retreat, only a third of the army was left. Once the retreat was sounded, those who could walk, began an insane rush to reach the river.

"Colonel WASHINGTON now had all the riflemen fighting in Indian fashion and on this manuever, saved them from being annihilated, as 450 officers and men were slain outright. What BOONE and FINDLEY were doing all this time, history does not tell us. Being expert riflemen, they no doubt were doing their share of fighting, side by side, and in the retreat on the backs of wagon horses, they arrived safely at Wills Creek.

"The whereabouts of John FINDLEY for the next two years is lost to history. As war had put an end to his trade, he doubtless spent these years in becoming better acquainted with his family and protecting his home from the savages. The next we hear of him is a record in the Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 1, where on May 9, 1759, age 36 years, he had enlisted as a Scout in a regiment under Captain Charles MC CLUNG to protect the frontier from the Indians. After the French had been driven out of Fort Duquesne, it was renamed Fort Pitt. In the census of Fort Pitt, July 1760, we find John FINDLEY and 80 Pennsylvania traders had settled there.

"In 1763, he was with Colonel BOUQUET as interpreter, understanding the Indian language, in his fight with the Indians at Turtle Creek. Under date of March 9, 1766, he commanded a batteau called `The Otto' with a cargo of goods for Fort Chartres. (BECKNER writes that this was part of a fleet of five boats from the Philadelphia trading house of Baynton, Wharton and Morgan, and that the fleet reached the fort around April 1. On the way down, "The Otto" had trouble and had to be lightened.) He returned to Lancaster County and outfitted a new business (horse trading), as he was in the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina late in 1768.

"Daniel BOONE, from his home in North Carolina, made long excursions in western Carolina and Tennessee, but it was his secret ambition to scale the mountain or through the Cumberland Gateway to the mysterious country, Kentucky. During the winter of 1768 to 1769, Daniel BOONE was agreeably surprised by the arrival of his old comrade-in-arms, and throughout the winter, John FINDLEY was Boone's guest. During that cold winter, uppermost in the minds of both was the thought of the new country that FINDLEY had explored.

(BECKNER adds, "Judge Moses BOONE, a son of Squire BOONE, in a statement to Dr. DRAPER, told how FINDLEY used to leave his spare horses with the BOONEs while he went out to trade; and how upon his return, he sat around the fire and told about the wonder-place, Kentucky, where he had traded with the Indians.")

"To them, there were no hardships in the journey and the idea of a journey of a few hundred miles in the wilderness was not one to be regarded by them with any special solicitude. Daniel BOONE soon formed a plan for organizing a small party for the expedition with his friend, Judge HENDERSON, who was head of a land company and by whom BOONE was encouraged to make the expedition as confidential agent for the land company.

"On May 1, 1769, a date memorial in the annals of American exploration, this company of rugged backwoodsmen, Daniel BOONE, John STUART, Joseph HOLDEN, James MOONEY and William COOLEY, under John FINDLEY's guidance, left their home on the Upper Yadkin and began that historical journey into the unknown country; each man fully equipped in the deerskin costume of that period, mounted on a good horse and leading a pack horse with a stock of provisions, blankets and bearskins, traps, rifles and ammunition, started on the long journey into the wilderness.

"Proceeding over Stone Mountain, through the valley of the Holston, over Iron Mountain, they passed through the Clinch across the Walden's Ridge, crossing rivers and dense forests. They came to Powell Valley, which at that time, was the farthest settlement of white men. Here, they found a hunters' trail, which led them to Cumberland Gap. They soon came to the Warriors Path, trodden by the Indians for generations. Following this for many miles, a fatiguing journey, which took them a full month, they at last reached what is now called Station Camp Creek, a tributary of the Kentucky River, in Estill County, so named because here was built their principal or Station Camp.

"In BOONE's account, DRAPER's manuscript, he said he and FINDLEY at once proceeded to take a more thorough survey of the country, and on 7 June 1769, `we found ourselves on the Red River,' where John FINDLEY had formerly been trading with the Indians on Lulbegrud Creek, where nothing remained but charred embers of the Indian huts and part of the stockade built by FINDLEY still standing, which fully corroborated in his mind all that FINDLEY had related of Kentucky, and from the top of an eminence, they saw the beautiful level country of Kentucky. This was Pilot Knob, a few miles north of the present Clay City, Powell County. On Dec. 22, 1769, BOONE and John STUART set out on a hunting and exploring trip, when suddenly, a large party of Shawnees sprang from their concealment and seized them both as captives and forced STUART to lead them to their camp, where FINDLEY and the others were made prisoners.

"The Indians plundered the camp of everything it held: horses, furs, traps, rifles and ammunition. They were told they were trespassing on land which belonged to the red man, after which, to their infinite relief, they were released, given enough food to carry them back to the settlement and ordered to leave Kentucky at once. But BOONE and STUART infuriated at the idea of returning home poorer than they had left, and after a cautious pursuit, succeeded in entering the Shawnees' camp and made away with the horses. Two days later, the Shawnees having given chase, BOONE and STUART were captives once more.

"Meanwhile, FINDLEY, COOLEY, MOONEY and HOLDEN were homeward bound and after waiting several days, were convinced that BOONE and STUART had perished. At the same time, Squire BOONE and a hunter named NEILEY were hurrying westward, bringing horses and supplies, sent by the land company, and they were not far from Cumberland Gap. The two parties met and Squire learned from FINDLEY the news of the supposed death of BOONE and STUART. It was decided to return home. However, they had gone but a short way when they were halted by the sudden appearance of BOONE and STUART, who had succeeded in making their escape.

"Now, with fresh supplies, BOONE, STUART, Squire BOONE and NEILEY decided to remain longer. FINDLEY and the others decided that, for the present, they had enough of Kentucky and leaving these four men, started for home. Nothing happened to the homeward party and on reaching the Holston Valley, FINDLEY took the blazed trail through the frontier of Virginia, finally reaching his home in Lancaster County and found his wife had died 7 Aug 1769, while he was in Kentucky.

"In 1772, again the dauntless old trader fitted out for a trip into the wilderness, selling the Indians trinkets, for in a collection of newspaper records, under the date of June 3, 1772, is said: `Several Senecas have been lately killed by our people and the Indians in revenge have murdered a whole family on Buffalo Creek and four families on the Youghighany and likewise killed Robert PARSONS and robbed John FINDLEY of about 500 pounds worth of goods.'

"After this loss, he must have returned to his home to try to raise another stake, as records of Cumberland County show a deed made by John FINDLEY, as acknowledged before William PATTERSON under date of Sept. 20, 1772 and signed by John FINDLEY, which speaks of Elizabeth, his late wife, formerly Elizabeth HARRIS. It releases to John FINDLEY's daughter, Esther, wife of William PATTERSON, and to Margaret and John FINLEY JR., his life estate of land of 200 acres in Newberry Township and 162 acres in Paxtang Township. It is believed that John FINDLEY sought further adventure in Virginia in 1775, where he met Nicholas CRESWELL and gave CRESWELL, who was starting on an Indian trading expedition to Ohio, a letter of introduction and advice on the trade in Ohio.

"Whether he died alone, somewhere in the valley of the Ohio, or in the wilds of the West, tradition does not tell us."

Ron ROSSI, in notes along with BECKNER's article, states FINDLEY was wounded in a battle with Cherokees in 1776. Charles A. HANNA, in a letter to ELY, quotes John P. Hale's Trans-Allegheny Pioneers, P. 267, as saying, "John FINDLEY, the long-time frontiersman and wilderness pilot, being old and poor and wounded, asks Washington County, VA for aid in 1777." ELY also says HOWE's "Virginia" gives the court record under his account of Washington County, as follows, "At a Court continued and held for Washington County, February 26, 1777, John FINDLEY, making it appear to the satisfaction of the court of Washington County that he, upon the 20th day of July 1776, received a wound in the thigh in the battle fought with the Cherokees, near the Great Island (in Holston River, east Tennessee), and it now appears to said court that he, in consequence of said wound is unable to gain a living by his labor as formerly, therefore his case is recommended to the consideration of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Following the above, HANNA writes, "None of the above is inconsistent with the theory that John FINDLEY, the wilderness pilot, might have been the son of Archibald FINLEY."

In The Wilderness Trail, HANNA says, "In Mr. H. Addington BRUCE's recent book on Daniel BOONE and the Wilderness Road (N.Y., 1910), that writer states that one Stephen POMEROY, the first settler in what is now Huntsburg, Geauga County, Ohio, found living there in 1808, when he first went to that country, a trapper and trader named John FINDLEY, whose place of residence was on a stream still known as Finley Creek, and who told POMEROY, according to the account of his great-grandson, that he had been with BOONE in Kentucky, and had fought under WAYNE. Mr. BRUCE states that this John FINDLEY enlisted in the War of 1812, returned to Huntsburg after the war, and, about 1818, removed, it was thought, to Maryland.

"As John FINDLEY, the trader who led BOONE into Kentucky, must have been born about 1720, it is scarcely probable that he could have been in active military service at the age of 90 or more, or that he was a trapper and trader at the age of 88 or thereabouts," comments DRAPER. So, the final resting place of John FINDLEY, the Pathfinder, remains a mystery even today.

However, Clark's Kentucky Almanac and Book of Facts 2006,claims, "FINLEY settled along the banks of the Licking River in 1796 and is buried not far from where he first settled (in Fleming County, KY)." I lived in West Kentucky for a while, but I have not been to Fleming County to confirm this. FRANCE acknowledges use of the works of HANNA, R.G. THWARTE, H.A. BRUCE, archives of various states, colonial records, Maryland Gazette, and Bible records of FINLEY and HARRIS families, plus the DRAPER manuscript narrative of Daniel BRYAN's notes of conversation with Moses and Isaiah BOONE by the Hon. Edward COLES, who visited Nathan BOONE in Missouri. DRAPER's very detailed account of the trip to Kentucky also appears in the chapter of "John FINDLEY and Kentucky Before BOONE," in Vol. II of HANNA's The Wilderness Trail.

Lyman C. Draper's Manuscripts

Lyman Copeland DRAPER was b 14 Sept 1815, New York; d 26 Aug 1891, WI. During his lifetime, he compiled about 50 series and/or sub-series of manuscripts relating to the history of KY, TN and VA. The originals are kept at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin, 816 State St., Madison, WI 53706.

The manuscripts are also available on microfilm from the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, UT. An index to Series CC, "Calendar of the Kentucky Papers of the DRAPER Collection of Manuscripts," is found on microfilm in the MISC Film Area, No. 0823866, Item 2. An index to Series XX and DD, "Calendar of the Tennessee and King's Mountain Papers of the Draper Collections," is found in the U.S. and Canada Film Area, No. 0896963, Item 2.

Other films relating to our history are found in the U.S. and Canada Film Area, with film numbers in parentheses: Series B, Vol. 1-5, "Life of Daniel BOONE--1742-1799" (0889099); Series C, Vol. 4-6, "BOONE Manuscripts" (0889104); Series AA, Vol. 1-2, "IRVINE Papers" (John FINDLEY is in Vol. 1) (0889098); Series CC, Vol. 26-27, "Newspaper Extracts KY--1794-1849" (James FINDLEY is in Vol. 26) (0889119); Series E, Vol. 5-7, "BRADY and WETZEL" (Joseph L. FINLEY is in Vol. 5) (0889133); Series MM, Vol. 1-3, "PATTERSON" (Rev. Robert W. FINLEY is in Vol. 3) (0889177); Series NN, Vol. 1-5, "Pittsburgh and NW VA--1737-1814" (John FINDLEY is in Vol. 5) (0889179); Series U, Vol. 4-7, "Gen. Richard BUTLER, including War of 1812" (letters of Samuel FINLEY, possibly Gen. Samuel FINLEY of Mason County or Fleming County, KY) (0889206); and Series ZZ, Vol. 10-16, "Virginia" (John Evans FINLEY is in Vol. 12) (0889243).

Finley Marriage Records

I currently have almost 18,000 linked marriages stored on computer disks. By linked marriages, I mean that each is linked onto a branch of the FINLEY family tree, with no loose ends. Some of the submitters have not found out yet where they tie in, but eventually, perhaps all FINLEYs can be joined together.

In hopes that some links may be found, I am including the following lists of marriage records which have been sent to me:

KENTUCKY: 1780-1900; Submitter: Virginia HANKS

17 May 1838, Fleming County: Andrew FINLEY w Sarah PLUMMER.

30 Dec 1833, Franklin County: Ann FINLEY w James HARDY.

2 Jan 1827, Fleming County: Betsy Ann FINLEY w Joseph B. FARIS.

31 Jan 1815, Lincoln County: Eliza FINLEY w William BAIRD.

22 Jan 1829, Hopkins County: Elizabeth FINLEY w Franklin M. NOEL.

17 Jan 1833, Hopkins County: George FINLEY w Elizabeth H. DOBYNS.

29 Jun 1786, Lincoln County: George FINLEY w Polly GAINES.

1 Oct 1795, Madison County: George FINLEY w Nancy HAGANS.

15 Aug 1812, Christian County: Hampton FINLEY w Nancy TAYLOR.

15 Oct 1839, Fleming County: Hannah S. FINLEY w Abiah DILLON.

11 Oct 1888, Knott County: Henrietta FINLEY w Peter ABLE.

8 Jul 1816, Hopkins County: Howard FINLEY w Nancy MOTT.

8 Jan 1819, Hardin County: Indianna FINLEY w Carter WRIGHT.

17 Nov 1848, Fleming County: James FINLEY w Maranda RICKETTS.

19 Oct 1808, Washington County: James C. FINLEY w Mary RAY.

2 Sept 1824, Adair County: James P. FINLEY w Charity WALBERT.

4 Feb 1814, Hopkins County: James FINLEY w Nancy DOBYNS.

13 May 1801, Garrard County: Jenny Ann FINLEY w Edmond SMITH.

29 Dec 1824, Hopkins County: Jesse M. FINLEY w Elizabeth JONES.

14 Sept 1809, Hardin County: John FINLEY w Polly BOZORTH.

23 Nov 1805, Christian County: John FINLEY w Hester CLARK.

5 Dec 1833, Fleming County: John FINLEY w Margaret DRENNAN.

1 Jun 1799, Fleming County: John FINLEY w Mary LONGHEAD.

28 Feb 1828, Madison County: John C. FINLEY w Arthusa HUFF.

22 Feb 1847, Fleming County: John P. FINLEY w Catharine CALLAHAN.

25 Mar 1830, Madison County: Martha FINLEY w Jonathan STREET.

15 Jan 1818, Hopkins County: Mary FINLEY w James BERRY.

7 Feb 1824, Christian County: Mary FINLEY w Isaac MEACHAM.

23 Sept 1805, Logan County: Mary FINLEY w Hugh ORR.

15 Oct 1821, Mason County: Mary FINLEY w Wallace SHANNON.

27 Dec 1868, Hopkins County: Mary E. FINLEY w James H. LAFFOON.

26 Nov 1857, Fulton County: Mary Jane FINLEY w Richard HARRIS.

5 Feb 1811, Mercer County: Nancy FINLEY w Josiah JONES.

26 Nov 1829, Mason County: Paulina FINLEY w Robert BUTLER.

26 Oct 1815, Christian County: Peggy T. FINLEY w Robert BRITT.

1 Jun 1814, Jessamine County: Polly FINLEY w Banoni P. DOWNING.

17 Feb 1816, Lincoln County: Polly FINLEY w Henry OWSLEY.

26 Apr 1792, Nelson County: Reuben FINLEY w Elizabeth KING.

20 Jan 1839, Lawrence County: Rhoda FINLEY w Henry STRATTEN.

28 May 1874, Casey County: Robert Z. FINLEY w Elizabeth MAY.

6 Jul 1805, Ohio County: Sam FINLEY w Sarah BIGGER.

10 Sept 1822, Fleming County: Samuel FINLEY w Mary PURDUM.

16 Jan 1804, Fayette County: Samuel FINLEY w Patsy WARDLOW.

15 Nov 1838, Pike County: Sophia FINLEY w James MAYNARD.

18 Dec 1813, Christian County: Thankful FINLEY w Joseph MEACHAM.

3 Jan 1828, Hopkins County: Thomas H. FINLEY w Maria MALIN.

23 Mar 1817, Lincoln County: William FINLEY w Sally BAIRD.

17 Sept 1817, Hopkins County: William FINLEY w Leah DOBYNS.

15 Aug 1851, Caldwell County: William FINLEY w D.A. MONEYMAKER.

27 Oct 1790, Mercer County: William FINLEY w Martha MC BRIDE.

GEORGIA MARRIAGES; Submitter: Florence NELSON

4 Feb 1838, Butts County: Thomas P. FENDLEY w Mary Ann MC LANE.

2 Jun 1835, Coveta County: Michael FENDLEY w Mary GRAY.

3 May 1804, Greene County: John FENDLEY w Mary RAY.

23 Jan 1840, Greene County: Leroy I. FENDLEY w Hannah WOODHAM.

1 Jan 1840, Greene County: Norwood H. FENDLEY w Cynthia CALDWELL.

26 Nov 1802, Greene County: Robert FENDLEY w Jane FINDLEY.

18 Aug 1802, Greene County: Robert FENDLEY w Lucinda FINDLEY.

5 Feb 1801, Greene County: Thomas FENDLEY w Margaret ALLEN.

9 Nov 1823, Greene County: Thomas FENDLEY w Ann WAGGONER.

3 Aug 1846, Greene County: Thomas FENDLEY w Nancy GREGORY.

17 Aug 1869, Greene County: Thomas L. FENDLEY w C.A. CRAWFORD.

29 Jun 1805, Greene County: William FENDLEY w Polly SHARP.

8 Dec 1812, Oglethorpe County: L.H. FINDLEY w Elizabeth SMITH.

13 Sept 1810, Oglethorpe County: Rainey FINDLEY w Nancy MARTIN.

17 Feb 1817, Oglethorpe County: Samuel FINDLEY w Sally MITCHELL.

29 May 1821, Oglethorpe County: James FINLEY w Mary WRAY.

22 Oct 1849, Oglethorpe County: Oliver FINLEY w Margaret CAMPBELL.

10 Mar 1831, Fayette County: James FENLEY w Martha YATES.

11 Apr 1847, Gilmer County: James J. FENDLEY w Elizabeth STEPHENS.

10 Jun 1830, Henry County: Ackeson FENDLY w Rebecca CLEMENTS.

6 Jul 1837, Henry County: Robert FENDLY w Tabitha HILL.

7 Apr 1839, Henry County: Samuel FENLEY w Ann DAVIS.

21 Mar 1833, Jackson County: Dempsey FENLEY w Judith S. VENABLE.

13 Dec 1836, Jasper County: John M. FENLEY w Eda HOLLAND.

4 Jul 1827, Jasper County: Alfred FINLEY w Ruth HOWARD.

10 Oct 1833, Jasper County: Riley FINLEY w Margaret Eliza CURRY.

5 Oct 1803, Jasper County: Richard FINDLEY w Matilda ELLENSON.

19 Sept 1811, Jasper County: Henry FINDLEY w Mary BARRETT.

Searching for Finleys

QUERY: Virginia C. HANKS, 801 S. Willow St., Ellensburg, WA 98926, has sent ennumerable contributions to FINLEY FINDINGS INTERNATIONAL. She has been researching the line of George FINLEY and provides the following summary and questions:

"George FINLEY, son of John and Mary (CALDWELL) FINLEY, m twice, to Ann NEWLUND and Mary GAINES and had a son, George, by each. George 1 was b 1765 at Bolston, Washington County, VA, and George 2 was b 1789 VA. Why two sons named George? This was usually done when #1 had died and #2 was born later. So what happened to George 1?

"I do not have STOUT's story on this George. WOOD has him m to Mary CHENOWITH, Jefferson County, KY, and d 1819, Harrison County, KY. On the group sheets which are very well documented and compiled by James M. JOHNSTON (P.O. Box 4394, Carlsbad, CA 92008), he claims Richard FINLEY as the father of George who m Eliza HAUS (sp?) and since it was that George who m as his first wife Mary CHENOWITH, then she did not m the son of George and Ann (NEWLUND) FINLEY. So who did?

"Who d in Harrison County, KY, 1819? In Julia ARDERY's books on KY county records, she lists one will of George FINLEY as it is written in the Court Order books of Harrison County. The dates, however, are garbled, but from the original copied and sent to me by the clerk of Harrison County, I can see why. The one year, 1818, is very badly written. According to the estate papers, of which there are many, George FINLEY d between May and July 1818. Anyone reading ARDERY's book will see that she has it listed as will written 1819 and recorded 1818; but please take my word for it, George did not manage that.

"So what about the will which WOOD attributes to George FINLEY b 1765? I wrote to the Harrison County clerk and asked specifically for that will and gave the exact numbers listed by WOOD, and he sent me the copy of the will of George FINLEY who m Polly LEMMON and said that is the only will of any George FINLEY in that time frame. OK, opinion #1.

"Opinion #2: Janet PEASE has abstracted and published via the Grant County, KY Historical Society four volumes of records of courts in Grant, Harrison and Pendleton counties, KY. They begin with the first year of existence of all three counties. Under the Harrison County wills, 1795 to 1853 in Vol. I, PEASE lists one will of George FINLEY, and it is the will of George who m Polly LEMMON.

"I can imagine one person overlooking a will in the court order books if that person were rushed or in poor light, but not two persons and one of them extracting material to be published in a book. So why the report of the second will? Who knows? They say Mrs. ARDERY worked in the attics and basements of courthouses where things were packed in boxes and stacked, and maybe she had loose pages on which she made notations and got them mixed up, or maybe the printer set page A, turned two sheets at a time, and proceeded to set page C, when it should have been page B. The end result is that the second will of George FINLEY 1818 or 1819 does not appear to exist.

"So, did George FINLEY, b 1765, d in Harrison County? Otherwise, why was WOOD searching there? If he did d in Harrison County, do you see what that does for me? There was only one George in Harrison County -- mine -- even though neither STOUT nor WOOD found him m to Polly LEMMON.

"Now for my George, we have to take out 15 years of his life and give them to the Indians "n.w. of Ohio," according to court testimony. And what was George's family thinking during those 15 years? Most likely that their son was dead. So they rename a son George and start over with him. And what do we have here, but the situation that could have occurred with George and Ann NEWLUND and Mary GAINES!

"What would that parent do when the son showed up, a grown man, Indianized but alive? Chances are after the shock wore off, he gave him some land and set him up on his own farm; and we have my George on Townsend Creek, Bourbon County, on land purchased from Nathan SELLERS, 1793, four years after George 2 was born. Using 1790, then, as the approximate date of return from the Indians, subtracting 15 years would make him captured 1775 at approximate age of 10.

"Having had eight or more years to pursue this, I've read several books on the raids and captivities of Indians, especially those of KY and PA and WV, whom I judged to be the most likely to be "n.w. of Ohio," and the common belief of these authors was that Indians did not take adult prisoners to keep alive after they had been tortured.

"Adults who returned from the Indians escaped unnoticed. Indians took children who did not cry, and in most cases, young children. Occasionally, an older child was taken to replace a son or daughter of the same age who had died, and that child was raised as if it were the original child, with the same name and love bestowed on the original child. Occasionally. My George FINLEY was apparently captured when old enough to know who he was, and was probably one of these occasional cases. Now it could have been that George was captured as a baby and did not know his name, and somebody picked one out of a hat and it was George FINLEY. Somehow, I do not think so.

"The next question is when and how did George FINLEY, the father of George 1 and George 2 die? The latest report on him is 1809, Wayne County, KY, when Mary GAINES got her divorce. Then we switch to 1817 when Obadiah was administrator of his father's estate. Obadiah lived in TN, but that does not mean the estate was there, nor does it mean George lived until 1816 or 1817. Then, as now, one can have property in another county or state and process the estate in one's home county, and if there were persons who objected to the settlement and took it to court, it could take years to finalize it. Does anyone have the details?

"Does anyone know if George, the father, d in Wayne County, KY, and d of natural causes or was killed by accident or Indians?

"Are there descendents of the two older, full brothers of George 1 who have family information? That of WOOD is, again, mixed with the information on the family of Richard FINLEY of Jefferson County, KY, according to the group sheets of JOHNSTON and since his is documented by Jefferson County records, I am trusting that data to be true. This, of course, puts WOOD's data on the first family of George (the children of Ann NEWLUND) in error."

ANSWER: Among George FINLEYs in this time period, according to information from William G. BRIDGES, 4490 West Road 100 South, Bargersville, IN 46106, is George FINLEY, bapt. by the Rev. John CRAIG, 16 Jan 1745. His parents were John FINLEY, b 1704, Ireland, and Thankful DOAK. Also listed is George FINLEY, bapt. 30 Jan 1743; m (1st) Ann NEWLAND; m (2nd) Mary GAINES. His parents were John FINLEY, b 1724, PA; d 1791, Augusta Co, VA; m 22 Apr 1741 w Mary CALDWELL, b 1726. In information provided by Verne HOFFMAN Jr., 25193 N. Dustin, Acampo, CA 95220, material is quoted from records of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, Augusta Co, VA; Chalkey's Augusta County Records, Maxwell's Genealogy, and Baptisms in Virginia, showing George FINLEY, bapt. 4 Jan 1747; d 1812, Logan Co, KY; m Jean LYLE. His parents were John FINLEY and Thankful DOAK. Not all discrepancies in this family have been worked out, as shown by others researching this line.

Other subscribers who appear to have information on these lines are Jeanne BRANOM, 1310 Aldridge St., Commerce, TX 75428; Dr. Carmen J. FINLEY, 4820 Rockridge Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95404; Mary HEPLE, 222 Douglas Ave., Salinas, CA 93906; Verne HOFFMAN Jr., 25193 N. Dustin, Acampo, CA 95220; Blanche W. JERNIGAN, 413 Colonel Way, Pewee Valley, KY 40056; James M. JOHNSTON, P.O. Box 4394, Carlsbad, CA 92008; George-Elizabeth Finley SPROUL, 1742 17th Place, Delano, CA 93215; and Dorothy Chapman VAN SLYKE, S. 524 Scott St., Spokane, WA 99202. All of these have corresponded with each other in the past and probably have access to the following information. In hopes that others may recognize a link which can solve some of the problems in these lines, here is a recap:

Carrie Alexander WOOD says George FINLEY, b 2 Jan 1743, Augusta County, VA; baptized 30 Jan 1743; d 1809, Wayne County, KY; was the son of John FINLEY Jr. and Mary CALDWELL. George FINLEY m (1st) 1761, VA, w Ann NEWLAND, b 1746; d 1782, Washington County, VA; buried Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church graveyard, near Staunton, Augusta County, VA. She was the daughter of Isaac NEWLAND.

Children of George and Ann NEWLAND FINLEY, as taken from Bible records: 1. Isaac FINLEY, b 22 Sept 1762, Bolston, Washington County, VA; m 10 Jun 1780, VA, w Sarah HENRY; d 1826, Jefferson County, KY. 2. John FINLEY, b 14 Apr 1764, Bolston, Washington County, VA; m Rachel TAYLOR; d 1846, Cannon County, TN; 3. George FINLEY, b 13 May 1765, Bolston, Washington County, VA; m (1st) 17 (WOOD incorrectly says July, but "Early Jefferson County Marriages" lists Sept) 1797, Jefferson County, KY, w Mary CHENOWETH; d 1819, KY; (JERNIGAN lists m (2nd) 23 Feb 1802, Jefferson County, KY, w Eliza HAUSE).

George FINLEY m (2nd) 29 Jun 1786, Lincoln County, KY, w Mary GAINES, b 1765, VA, d 18 Oct 1830, Lebanon, TN. She was the daughter of William GAINES and Sarah STROTHER (Jim FINLEY, 601 W. Union Ave., Modesto, CA 95356-1303, says her parents were William GAINES and Ann STROTHER).

Children of George and Mary GAINES FINLEY, from a Bible record: 1. Obadiah Gaines FINLEY, b 24 May 1787; m (1st) Mary JOHNSON; m (2nd) Sarah JOHNSON (her sister); d 22 Mar 1870. 2. Lucinda W. FINLEY, (VAN SLYKE says WOOD is incorrect in listing b Apr 1806; should actually be b 9 Dec 1793); m 22 Sept 1818, Mercer County, KY, w William PENNEBAKER (brother of following); d 16 Nov 1874, Visalia, Tulare County, CA. 3. Mary "Polly" FINLEY, b ca. 1795; m 30 May 1814, Mercer County, KY, w Joseph DENNY. 4. Sarah FINLEY, b 12 Jan 1799; m 1818, w Samuel PENNEBAKER; d 7 Feb 1877. 5. Ann FINLEY, b 24 May 1801; m Robert H. GREEN; d 13 Aug 1857. 6. Catherine "Kittie" Bruce FINLEY, b 24 May 1803; m William BREWSTER; d 14 Jan 1882.

WOOD lists Mary FINLEY, b 26 Aug 1804. However, VAN SLYKE says Mercer County, KY records show m 30 May 1814, w Joseph DENNY, but that would put her age 10 at marriage. An 1850 U.S. Census record for Warren Township, Putnam County, IN, shows a Joseph DENNY, age 61, b VA, and wife, Polly, age 55, b KY, giving her a birthdate around 1795. WOOD and STOUT say Mary FINLEY died young.

JERNIGAN states that in Mercer County, KY, in 1810, Mary (Polly) GAINES FINLEY filed for divorce from George FINLEY. In the divorce proceedings, Mary FINLEY stated there were nine children, although WOOD only identifies six.

Frances GAITSKILL, Rt. 5, Box 280, Paris, KY 40361, in writing to HANKS, listed a Harrison County, KY marriage of George FINDLEY to Polly LEMMON, 24 Apr 1810, with George (X) FINDLEY and Samuel BLACKWELL, bond.

While JOHNSTON states that he believes the George FINLEY who m Mary CHENOWETH is the same one who m (2nd) Eliza HAUSE, he believes this George FINLEY is the son of Richard FINLEY, b 14 Aug 1736, Prince George County, MD; d 8 Apr 1822, Jefferson County, KY, as he is named in his father's will as son and heir.

QUERY: Rowe FINDLEY, 6407 Eppard St., Falls Church, VA 22044, an associate editor of National Geographic magazine, has been researching the line of Moses FINDLEY, b 1768. He says he can only trace his line back to the 1760s in SC.

"I have traced my branch back to William A. FINDLEY of northern GA, b 1832. His father was James R. FINDLEY, b 1798 in SC and d 1861 in Gilmer County, GA. I have been told that James' father was Moses FINDLEY, b 1768, place unspecified," Rowe FINDLEY writes.

ANSWER: In one of the letters sent to Rowe FINDLEY, which he forwarded to me, Treva J. GILLIATT, 7320 Birchett Dr., Prince George, VA, writes: "I sent a letter to the Thestal Don FINDLEY family, 227 Viceroy, Houston, TX 77034 (grandson of George Lewis FINDLEY). Martha FINDLEY's answer reinforced your earlier remarks about the origin of the family and the eldest known one being Moses FINDLEY. She wrote, `Moses FINDLEY, b 20 Aug 1768, d 18 Jan 1841. He married Margit, who d 7 Jul 1832. No idea where they died, but in 1832, our William A. FINDLEY was b in Benton County, AL, now Calhoun County.' I believe they left South Carolina early because they are not in the 1790 Census of SC. In 1840, Moses is listed as living in Chattooga, Cherokee Strip, on P. 152."

Another subscriber, Barbara Findley MIECZKOWSKI, 1226 DeNeece Terrace, Holly Hill, FL 32017, has a family group record which shows William A. FINDLEY, b 29 Jan 1832, Gilmer County, GA; m 7 Mar 1850, Gilmer County, GA, at Alonzo HOLDEN's residence by Elder William FLEMING w Lavada Malinda HOLDEN, b 6 Sept 1829. Children listed are Samuel A. FINDLEY, b 6 Jan 1851; John W., 26 Oct 1852; Mary Elizabeth, b 12 Mar 1855, m George GULLY; James Jefferson, b 17 Mar 1857, d 8 Nov 1914, Fellsmire, FL, m 25 Sept 1899 w Lola Winifred PARKER, b 9 Sept 1879, Putnam County, GA, d 13 Jan 1959, Daytona Beach, FL; Manuel T., b 7 Mar 1859; Benjamin S. and George Lewis (twins), b 30 Jan 1861; Robert Lee, b 16 Sept 1866, Forsythe County, GA, m 13 Jun 1895 w Ermina HOLLENBECK, d 12 Sept 1841, Hensley, IN; Alfred Webb, b 2 Mar 1870; Barnett Bunyan, b 11 May 1871; and Joseph Brown, b 3 Apr 1873. MIECZKOWSKI traces her line through James Jefferson FINDLEY. He had six children, one of whom was James Russel FINDLEY, b 10 Dec 1910, White City, FL; d 10 Jul 1983, Ormond Beach, FL; m 30 Dec 1933 w Essy A. RAWLINS, b 4 Jul 1917, Daytona Beach, FL. Their child was Barbara Louise FINDLEY, b 26 Nov 1934, Daytona Beach, FL; m 30 Dec 1951 w PATTEN; m (2nd) MIECZKOWSKI.

Rowe FINDLEY also sent an excerpt from a history of his hometown in Missouri. Included is a family record which follows the record submitted by MIECZKOWSKI, except it lists birthdates of 21 Apr 1863 for Robert Lee FINDLEY, 16 Sept 1866 for Alfred Webb FINDLEY and 13 Apr 1873 for Joseph Brown FINDLEY. This history also contains the following letter, dated 24 Apr 1870, Sim Valley, Howell County, MO, to Mary D. HOLT:

"Dear Sister,

"I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am still in the land of the living, though many miles from you. Sis, I traveled 60 days. I crossed mountains, hills, rooks, large rivers, creeks, and branches. I came through towns and cities. I had snow, rain, hail and sleet more or less all the way here. I camped one one week in this state on ---- Creek. It rained on us all the time we stayed there. Water and mud were shoemouth deep. I came on to Mr. Williams' in this state. I stayed in my tent three days in the rain and snow. We were aiming to go to the Indian Nation or to Nebraska. We thought we would stop till spring, so Mr. Findley looked about and got a school house. We started to it through the snow, eight miles. There we stayed about four weeks. Mr. Findley found a place that suited him. He went and bought it. He was gone two weeks. Sis, I slept and ate on the ground floor over three months.

"Sis, I can not tell you much about the country. I have been here four months. I have not been out of sight of my house but one time since I have been here. From what I can see and learn, the land is good and productive as anyone need to want. It lies in hills and valleys. The hills are rocky and covered with grass and blackjack. There is some other timber. The valleys are the good land. Running water is scarce here. There are several good springs at the head of this valley. I came through Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois to Howell County in this state. I think I will be satisfied if we can have our health. People look well here, and they tell us it is healthy here. We have good well water. It washes well. I don't think I will lack for water. Some have to haul water in summer here. They are careless about their wells in this country. They will dig one and throw some poles over it and let it stand for years. There is a better chance to get a good home here than in Georgia. Land is cheaper and chance to enter or homestead.

"Sis, our place is bad out of fix. There is a heap of work to do. The land is not much to clear; shrub off the largest bushes and hitch two or three yoke of oxen to a large plow and tear it all to smash. We have a good chance for a crop. It was dry here last year. The drought was from Georgia here.

"Sis, I must tell you something about my children. I have got as pretty baby as you ever saw. It is seven weeks old. Its name is Alfred Webb. The rest are all well and growing fast. Sam has grown and is as well as I ever saw him at this season of the year. They send you howdy. I am not very stout, though improving.

"Sis, I want you to read this letter to all the rest of my brothers and sisters. I want you all to go to old Ebenezar to meeting and visit those graves. Look at my baby's for me as I never saw it. I never shall forget that place. Notice my little cedars and write to me how they all look. Ann, I want you and Jim to write. John, you and Lou write. Bob, I want you to write how you are getting along and what you have done with the Neals. Tell Taylor and Columbus to write.

"Now don't fail. It is all the pleasure I ever expect to enjoy in this life with any of you without a mere accident. Sis, read it to all the connections on Tieanetly. I want them all to write. Give me all the news of your country. Give my love to all inquiring friends. Now Sis, I want you and John to write. Don't fail. I have not heard a word from you since I left.

"So I close. Farewell to Mary D. Holt and John."

Lavada M. Findley

B.R. ISBELL, 2925 Cloverland Ct., Mobile, AL 36609, is also searching along the line of Moses FINDLEY. He writes, "From the Pendleton District, SC 1800 census, I find that there were several FINDLEY/FINLEY families there and perhaps more than a small part of them were of the same family. Howard FINDLEY (Should this be Wade FINDLEY) (P. 109), James (P. 115), James (P. 127), Kenney (P. 128), Wm. (P. 109), Nancy (P. 146), Samuel (P. 161) and "Widow" (P. 162) (WADDY, perhaps? WADE). I don't have the actual ennumeration abstracts, just this index. I have been told by another researcher that "WADE" (Waddy?) FINDLEY was near Wm. FINDLEY, P. 100, so I wonder if Wade was omitted or the transcriber miscopied it as "Howard"? Are Kenneth and Moses FINDLEY of Pendleton District close kin, perhaps? We know Moses was here:

"In 1800 (when Kenneth FINDLEY bought female Negro slave, Agg, Jan. 25 in Pendleton District, SC of Thos. GEORGE of Franklin, GA), Moses FENDLEY bought land on Middle Creek of Savannah River from Wm. ELLETT of Edgefield District on Aug. 27. And on 2 Jan 1800, Moses of Savannah River was mentioned as having a farm on south side of Saluda River in Pendleton.

 "Index of 1820 shows Moses FENLEY in Greenville County, SC (part formerly in or near Pendleton District); nearby: John M. TATE (P. 78).

"In 1840, Moses FENLEY and Elizabeth FENLEY are on P. 224 and 225 in Greenville, SC; no TATEs in Greenville (per Index) and no WADDYs (but several WADEs and WADDLEs which don't appear to be transcriber's error, either).

"Moses FINDLEY (FENLEY) d 1841. From 1850 Greenville County, SC census: Elizabeth (P. 232); William (P. 322); Henry TATE (P. 470); John M. TATE (P. 449); William TATE (P. 377).

"From the 1820s (possibly earlier), FINDLEYs/FINDLAYs believed to be of Moses FINDLEY family appear in GA and in 1850 census many of them appear in Lumpkin County, Cherokee County and Gordon County, GA. Family names are WADDY (and usually WADDY "T."), MOSES, DEMPSEY.

"Perhaps you already have the Bible record of James R. FINDLEY (1798-1861) of Lumpkin County, GA, which appeared in The Georgia Genealogist (1972, No. 9, P. 26). This shows that Moses FINDLEY, b 20 Aug 1768; d 18 Jan 1841; and wife, Margaret, d 7 Jul 1832, were the parents of James R. FINDLEY, b 3 Sept 1798; d 4 Jul 1861, who m Catherine. Their children are named Emanuel; Elizabeth; Francis F.; Margaret; WADEY "F" (T.?), b 4 Jul 1827; James J.; Wm. A.; Samuel R.; Nancy C.; Walter Webster; and Nancy Ann Caroline.

"A number of these children (and James R.) appear in the Lumpkin County, GA records and in "The History of Lumpkin County, GA," by CAIN.

"Note, however, I believe Waddy "F" is a mistranscription of Waddy T., which is more common in the records than Waddy F. (although, granted, there could be several Waddys). He probably is the same Waddy T. FINDLEY (or an uncle of this one?) who enlisted 24 Jan 1863 in the Co. D, 1st Regt., GA State Troops, Confederate States Army (discharged 6 March 1863 at Savannah, GA, "disability."). His brother was probably James F. FINDLEY who enlisted the same day and was discharged ("disability") at Savannah on 2 Mar 1863; by 1864, he had joined as "private" in 4th Regt., Co. A, 2nd Brigade GA Militia of which W.W. FINDLEY (brother Walter Webster?) was second lieutenant.

"Note that in 1850 Cherokee County, AL census, a Waddy T. FINDLEY (b ca. 1824, SC) was a neighbor of (first cousin?) Williamson FINDLEY (b 1824 GA). If this is the Waddy, son of James R. and Catherine, who was b 1827, did the census-taker miscalculate? And did he return to Lumpkin County, GA by 1863, or was that his nephew there in the Civil War?

"I believe my ancestor, William FINDLEY, was a son of Moses FINDLEY. William FINDLEY, b 1 Jul 1788, SC; d 9 May 1883; m (1st) Hannah Melinda PRICE, b 15 May 1785, SC; d 2 Mar 1863, said to be posthumous daughter of William PRICE, b 1765; d 1784. William FINDLEY m (2nd) 7 Jan 1869, Marshall County, AL, (Mrs.?) Hannah BARNES, b ca. 1816-21, SC. William and first wife are buried in Shoal Creek Cemetery, Marshall County, AL (near Dekalb County, AL line). He has military headstone (2nd GA Militia Mounted Volunteers, 1837-38).

"Children of William FINDLEY and first wife: Moses (according to Janelle D. COBB, the BURGESS booklet showing Moses' birthdate as 1805 is wrong), b SC; Dempsey, b 30 Mar 1807; John, b 31 Jul 1808 (from cemetery records; is this the same John supposedly b 10 May 1808 at Abbeville, SC, ancestor of Samuel M. FINDLEY listed in Vol. 1, No. 3 of Finley Findings International), d 1895; Martha, b 8 Jun 1810; Moses, b 11 Mar 1812, probably the one who m 26 Jan 1835 Lumpkin Co, GA, to Clara ROPER (Early GA Marriages by MADDOX); Malinda; Minerva, b 16 May 1818, Greenville Co, SC, d 1898, m Isaac Columbus Leander DOWDY; Lucy, b 1821/22, Lumpkin Co, GA, d 1919, m Rev. Jacob K. DOWDY, brother of above; and Williamson, b 1824, GA, d 1862. An Elmina FINDLEY, b 31 Oct 1818; d 30 Sept 1888; buried at Old Bethel Baptist Church, Dekalb County, AL (where these FINDLEYs and DOWDYs belonged) is believed to be a daughter-in-law of William, widow or wife of one of the sons.

"So, if there were 12 children, the names of three sons and one daughter are unknown. So very possibly, this Waddy T. FINDLEY, b 1824, SC, is neither the same Wadey (F?), b 1827 (per the Bible), nor the younger one (a nephew?) on the 1863 Lumpkin Co, GA Confederate muster roll, but may be the son of James R. FINDLEY's brother, William, or even another brother's son.

"This family of FINDLEYs lived in Lumpkin County, GA near the James R. FINDLEY family; they moved from SC to GA in 1819. Then the William FINDLEY family moved from GA to Dekalb/Marshall County, AL along with the DOWDY families and most of their other children (some settling elsewhere, Cherokee County, AL and Randolph County/Clay County, AL, etc.?) (It is believed none of William's children remained in Lumpkin County, GA, although they are recorded in records there prior to their departure, and even after some had left but returned to sell lands.)

"On 25 Jan 1852, Minerva Findley DOWDY (daughter of William FINDLEY; widow of Isaac DOWDY) sold 160 acres in four tracts of Section 5, District 12, Lumpkin County (left by her husband) to James R. FINDLEY (recorded 8 Mar 1860) and surely James R. FINDLEY (son of Moses and Margaret) was her uncle--her father's younger brother.

"Williamson FINDLEY (next door to Waddy T. FINDLEY) in Cherokee County, AL, 1850, no doubt is the son of William and Hannah, next door to his first cousin (either the son of James R. of Lumpkin County, GA or son of another son of Moses).

"A Moses FINDLEY, James DOWDY and Sarah DOWDY became members of Shiloh-Delta Primitive Baptist Church (founded 1837 at Delta, then Randolph County, AL, later Clay County) sometime before 1852. (Records here not searched.) But this was probably the Moses FINDLEY, b 1805, SC, son of William and Hannah.

"William FINDLEY family is mentioned in `The History of Marshall County, AL,' by Katherine Duncan and Larry Smith, P. 121; DOWDY and ISBELL descendants, P. 121-123 (This is a history book, though, not a genealogy.) These are also mentioned in Owen's `History of Alabama' and in `The Dekalb Legend.'

"I have a theory that the wife or mother of Moses FINDLEY, b 1768, was a WADDY or a Waddy TATE relative (probably a TATE, since Waddy is a common TATE name and there were TATEs but no WADDYs living near Moses FINDLEY in Pendleton District, SC). If there was an adult male WADE or Waddy TATE in the 1800 census of Pendleton, perhaps a younger brother of Moses, then of course it would be Moses' mother, rather than wife Margaret, who was perhaps of this family. (Since the name is often found Waddy T. FINDLEY, the middle name would likely be TATE.) Some researchers say James TATE, b 1662, New Kent, VA; d 1727, Hanover, VA; m ca. 1686 w Ann WADDY (though others say UPHAM); but their son Robert TATE, b 1691; d 1759; definitely m 1711, New Kent, VA, w Elizabeth WADDY, bapt. 1689, daughter of Samuel WADDY, said to be son of Anthony WADDY in New Kent by 1653. (WADDY is common TATE family name; TATEs also intermarried with ANTHONY family, traced to Charlemagne--perhaps WADDY ancestors, too.)"

 ISBELL added later that, "The following four FINDLEYs may all be entirely different men:

"1. Wade FINDLEY, said to be in 1800 Pendleton District, SC, census with William.

"2. Wadey "F." FINDLEY, b 4 Jul 1827, son of James R. and Catherine FINDLEY of Lumpkin Co, GA (Bible record).

"3. Waddy T. FINDLEY who enlisted in the Civil War in 1863, Lumpkin Co, GA, with "Wadey F.'s"; probable brothers (is he, therefore, the same as No. 2 Wadey F., or his nephew?)

"4. Waddy T. FINDLEY, b 1824, SC, next to Williamson FINDLEY, b 1824, GA, on 1850 Cherokee Co, AL census -- Williamson, thought to be the Williamson who was a son of William and Hannah PRICE FINDLEY. No. 4, Waddy T., may even be a brother of Williamson, and another child of William and Hannah, since they are said to have had seven boys and five girls, according to a booklet by Dennis BURGESS."

ISBELL also says, "Census records for the family of James R. FINDLEY and his wife, Catherine, indicate they came from SC to AL between 1829 to 1832, when sons William A. and Samuel R. were b in AL, 1832 and 1834; then they moved to GA by 1838 and lived in Lumpkin Co and Gilmer Co.

"In 1860 Gilmer Co, GA census, No. 754/1000, Moses FINLEY, age 61 (b ca. 1799 SC) and wife Matilda (b ca. 1810 SC) lived near (probable son or nephew) No. 756/1002, Waddy T. (not F.) FINDLEY, aged 32 (b ca. 1828 SC, he could be b 1827, son of James R. FINDLEY, b 1789, son of Moses Sr.). Could this Moses, b ca. 1799, be Moses Jr., brother of William, b 1788 and James R., b 1798)."

QUERY: George M. HIGGINSON, Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret.), 8111 Middle Court, Austin, TX 78759, wants information on John Hall FINLEY, b 1750; m 1775, Philadelphia, PA, w Lucy GAMON. He joined the 5th PA Battalion in 1776 as a second lieutenant and was captured later that year at Fort Washington. He was a POW on Long Island until 1780; no further record.

ANSWER: Donna MC CALLON, 7708 Watson Way, Citrus Heights, CA 95610, tells about Samuel FINDLEY, son of William FINDLEY and Martha DREAMER. Samuel FINDLEY came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1763; was in Westmoreland Co, PA before the American Revolution and had some interesting experiences with the Indians.

He and his brother, John, were both among the prisoners captured at Fort Washington, on Manhattan Island, 16 Nov 1776. Both were exchanged in 1780. Later, Samuel located in what is now Clay Township, Butler Co, PA, and became a judge. MC CALLON states earlier that John, the second son of William and Martha DREAMER FINDLEY, was the first of that branch of the family to come to America.

He came over in 1761, accompanied by his wife and their first child, born in Belfast while they waited to embark. They landed at Philadelphia but before many years, had settled in Westmoreland Co, PA. John's name appears, in some official capacity, upon one of the first pages (perhaps the third page) of a book of records under the crown, now preserved at the county seat, Greensburg. He was a lieutenant in Capt. Moses CARSON's Rangers, to range on the frontier to Fifth Pennsylvania. He died on his farm in South Huntington Township, Westmoreland Co, PA, on 9 Sept 1813.

A reference to this John FINLEY is also found in Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution, 1775-1783, edited by John Blair LINN and William H. EGLE (Harrisburg: Lane S. HART, state printer, 1880). In Vol. 1, p. 149, the roll of Capt. Christopher STUART's company, Fifth PA Battalion, lists: "Second lieutenant. FINLEY, John, commissioned January 8, 1776; promoted first lieutenant, November 1, 1776; taken November 16, 1776; exchanged October 25, 1780."

On the same page is the following footnote, quoting a letter from Col. ATLEE to President REED (possibly president of College of New Jersey), written on 12 Feb 1781: "He is a son of late President (Samuel) FINLEY, of New Jersey (president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University); was exchanged about two months since, having neither friends, clothing or cash. He is now in a piteous condition."

Bibliography

Thanks go to Virginia C. HANKS for providing a copy of Carrie Alexander WOOD's genealogy, which she obtained from WOOD's niece, Carolyn SYSKA. WOOD quotes the following sources for her work:

The Chart of Descent of House of FINLEY, from Manuscript Pedigrees at the Society of Genealogy, London, derived from Annals of Four Masters, CONNELLY's Irish Families and KEATING's History of Ireland.

History of Ireland, by Standish O'GRADY.

History of Ireland, by Thomas WRIGHT.

History of Ireland, by Thomas MOORE.

Annals of Ulster.

Irish Antiquarean Research.

History of Scotland, by John Hill BURTON.

Lands and Their Owners, by P.H. MC KERLIE, Scotland.

Prehistoric Annals, by Daniel WILSON.

Isle of Bute, by James King HEWESON.

Celtic Scotland, by William F. SKINE.

The Highland Clans, by EYRE.

Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, by Frank ADAM.

Their Majesties of Scotland, by E. Thornton COOK.

Wynton's Annals<.

Cupar Angus Cistereian Abbey.

Register of St. Andrew's Parish, Fifeshire, Scotland.

House of FINLEY Castle Toward, by George FINLEY, LLD.

House of FINLEY, by the Rev. John Borland FINLEY.

Various Presbyterian parish records of Scotland.

Various Presbyterian parish records of Ireland.

Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography.

Prerogative Wills, Scotland and Ireland.

Presbytery of New Castle, DE.

Pennsylvania Archives.

Scotch-Irish in Cumberland Co, PA.

Virginia wills and deeds.

CHALKEY's Augusta County Records, Vols. 1-3.

History of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church.

JILLSON's Kentucky Land Grants.

Jefferson Co, KY Marriages From Feb. 16, 1784 to June 28, 1826, Vols. 1-2.

Virginia Military Warrants, by Willard R. JILLSON.

Early Kentucky Wills and Marriages, by Mrs. William Breckenridge ARDERY.

Family Bible records.

© 2010

TMKessler@hotmail.com

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