In 1988 I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee from Houston, Texas. It wasn’t long before I wandered south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and it was truly love at first sight. I have traveled to many places in the United States, but few places compare to the beauty of the Smoky Mountains where the diversity of wildlife and plant life of these ancient mountains is simply second to none.

My family history also strongly links me to this region as well. I descend from the Finley's, the Campbell's, and a few other Scottish families. They all share a rich history of helping settle this region migrating through the Cumberland Gap beginning in about 1778-1779 from Virginia, into what is now Tennessee, and onto other states of Kentucky, Missouri, California, and Texas.

First, I would like to dedicate this page to my father, William Latta Finley, whose pioneer spirit helped put mankind on the moon and his service in World War II protecting America's Freedom.

Second, before taking you on the journey of my family through America, people with the hope for something better is what built America, followed by a deep understanding that as a new nation the core of who we are that binds us together is "our": freedom of faith, family, and community.

The research - Everything written here on my immediate family can be verified by those who have published their research and or from my family’s records. If I am not sure about something or there is not documented proof of something, I will state such using terms like may or possibly. I choose to include some clan notables, because it may lead to an event related to my family, is simply interesting reading, or they may be distantly and or directly related yet to be verified.

Some Finley Clan notables, Campbell Clan notables, and my direct family members were:

John Finley, a Finley family notable, was a fellow frontiersman, explorer, and friend of Daniel Boone (1734-1820). Together they explored eastern Kentucky, the famed Cumberland Gap, and traveled as far south as the south fork of Holston River Valley into what is now present day Tennessee in 1769 along with John Stuart, Joseph Holden, James Moonay, and William Cooley. They were attacked by the Shawnee, relieved of everything they had in their possession, and as luck would have it Squire Boone, Daniel's brother, came looking for them. While it would be very exciting to be a direct descendent of John Finley the friend and companion of Daniel Boone, my branch of the Finley's, based on family records, actually descends from a different John Finley originally from Augusta County, Virginia alive during this same time period. Any Finley descendent hoping to research their family quickly finds John Finley was and still is a popular name and it represents a lot of challenges to researchers as a result. However, if traced back a few generations or so it is possible these two John Finley's were related and may share a John and Sarah Cragie Finlay of Fife, Balchristie, Scotland as ancestors in common, but it has yet to be formally proven.

Newton Gleaves Finley, John Finley's Great, Great, Grandson, and my Great Grandfather, did not reveal John Finley's date of birth or death, who his wife was, or what his fathers name was in his letter entitled "Our Forefathers" only that John Finley's father arrived from Ireland around 1700, settled in Pennsylvania, and had eight sons. He went further to say his son John Finley moved to Augusta County, Virginia, later moved to Prince Edward County, Virginia, and eventually settled in Wythe County, Virginia. The letter written by Newton Gleaves Finley was a re-written copy of a letter originally written by his Uncle John P. Finley to Asa W. Finley, Esq.

According to Dr. Carmen J. Finley's extensive and formally published research on the Finley family, the John Finley discussed above, whom Dr. Finley and I both descend from, has no birth date available, died in about 1782-83, settled originally in Augusta County, Virginia on South River prior to 1740 after marrying first, a Ms. Thomson or Thompson as it was also spelled, who was the daughter of Rev. John Thomson also spelled Thompson by some, then later moving to Prince Edward County, Virginia, eventually settling in Wythe County, Virginia, and not to be confused with the John Finley who married Thankful Doak who also lived in Augusta County, Virginia but on Middle River. The John Finley of South River served as a Commissioner, an Elder, and was also the same John Finley elected to lead John Finley's Quarter of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church located in present day Fisherville, Virginia founded in 1740. Also according to Dr. Finley, John Finley married second, Mary Caldwell, sometime between 1748 to 1750 after Ms. Thomson Finley passed away. In her research, she found that both John Finley's lived within fifteen miles of each other in Augusta County, Virginia, both attended Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, both had many of their children baptized there, and in some cases both their children shared the same names, but she found in her research these John Finley's were two separate, distinct people, and not father and son as presented by earlier Finley family researchers, Major Albert Finley France and Admiral Herald Franklin Stout, who also record John Finley marrying Mary Caldwell only. It is a possibility the two John Finley's were cousins if traced back a generation or so, as Scottish families tended to migrate together in family groups, but exact relationship between the two John Finley's is yet to be formally verified.

Dr. Finley also discusses in her research, "there were as many as four John Finley's living in what became Knox County, Tennessee and as many as twenty-seven John Finley's who fought in the American Revolution as well around this time period, so it is easy to get them confused." Interestingly as it relates to the Smoky Mountains region, she also discovered a Martha Finley, daughter of a third and separate John Finley (1719-1783) alive during the same time period who married Patrick Jack in 1765 and they owned a fifteen square mile track of land he had formal deed granted to him in 1762 by Little Carpenter, a Cherokee Chief of the Over Hill Towns, and Gover Dobbs of the State of North Carolina located where the Tellico River meets the Tennessee River, which actually predates the famed trip of John Finley and Daniel Boone in 1769 above. Patrick Jack sold the land to a fourth John Finley, possibly Martha's brother or her nephew in 1795. As such, whether directly related or possibly a distant relation, it does establish the Finley's as some of the earliest Europeans to visit and settle in the region, and the 1762 land deed may be one of the oldest on record in Tennessee being granted when it was still a Territory.

In further support of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research, Dr. Lee J. Bain, a direct descendant of John and Thankful Doak Finley, published an article in "Kentucky Ancestors", where he expresses as well that earlier researchers mistakenly list John Finley who married Thankful Doak as: 1) the son of James and Elizabeth Patterson Finley, and 2) the parents of John Finley who married Mary Caldwell. In the same article, Dr. Bain also supports Dr. Finley's research that the John Finley who married first, Ms Thomson, and second, Mary Caldwell, as being more likely the son of James and Elizabeth Patterson Finley. Even more interesting, Dr. Bain also presents in his research that there may have been two different John Finley's who befriended Daniel Boone in his lifetime that traveled with him and or guiding him at different times, and goes further to present that John and Thankful Doak Finley's son, John Finley Jr., was possibly the John Finley who guided Daniel Boone through the Cumberland gap in 1769. This is an interesting and compelling argument worth consideration and further research.

Important Research Note:

With the parentage of these two John Finley's above being speculative amongst Finley family researchers, it is important to properly present all view points. However, it seems likely that these two John Finley families discussed above were certainly related if traced back a generation or so. As such, it seems only proper to discuss both John Finley families, as both families helped settle the Shenandoah and Smoky Mountains regions during this time period. It is my hope one day we will resolve who begat whom for this generation, but it may remain a speculative generation requiring differing views to be presented.

If you are a descendant and may have information I would very much like to hear from you.

Returning to the journey across America....

Rev. John Thomson (1695-1753), according to Dr. Finley's further and formally published research, was then my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather. He was the first recorded minister at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Also according to family records, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather, Rev. James Latta, ministered at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church as well. Both men were prominent leaders who helped establish the Presbyterian Church in America. Rev. John Thomson also ministered at Tinkling Springs in Augusta County, Virginia and many other meeting houses in the "back parts" of Virginia. He also authored a proposal that the Presbyterian Church require all ministers and elders to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism in 1724, and after five years of consideration and debate it led to the passing of the Adopting Act in 1729. While minister of Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, Rev. John Thomson's unnamed daughter, Ms. Thomson, married my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather John Finley listed above. According to the work the "Carolina Cradle" by Robert W. Ramsey discussed in Lawrence Pickard's website research on the Thompson family, "In terms of colonial prominence John Thompson was unquestionably the most celebrated of the early inhabitants of the Carolina frontier, and after being twice elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church, he became the first moderator of the New Presbytery of Donegal in 1732. Two years later his pamphlet, "The Poor Orphans Legacy" was published by his friend, Benjamin Franklin. He also wrote a shorter form of the catechism, which is still used. His pamphlet "The Poor Orphans Legacy" was written after the death of his first wife, about 1733, as a reminder that his eleven children would be orphans should he die." The third house of worship constructed on the site where both of my grandfathers many generations removed ministered was opened in 1765; however, the congregation is much older tracing back to 1711. For more information click on the first hyperlink below at the bottom of the page to the web page hyperlinks about Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church history, Aprille Cooke McCay's website research on the Presbyterian Church in America, Lawrence Pickard's website research on the Thompson Family, Dr. Carmen Finley's research on the Thomson family, Dr. Lee J. Bain's research on the Finley's, and The Latta Family website.

Mary (Polly) Finley, another Finley notable, was the wife of David (Davy) Crockett (1786-1836) the son of John Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett, and Davy was born in small cabin on the Nolichucky River near the mouth of Limestone Creek in what is now present day Tennessee and near where, according to Phil Norfleet's extensive research, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather Captain William Campbell (1748-1800) and my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle Colonel David Campbell (1753-1832) once lived. Colonel John Sevier, also known as "Nolichucky Jack", settled in the Limestone Creek area as well. It was this Limestone Creek area and its settlers led by Colonel John Sevier that the "Territory of Franklin" movement sprang from during the period of about 1784-1788. The Campbell's settled on Limestone Creek in 1779 and 1782 respectively, and it may be possible the Campbell brothers and John Crockett may have known one another as all three served for a time under the command of Captain Walter Crockett. Captain Walter Crocket was likely an older kinsman to John Crockett due to he was the commanding officer of the local militia, but more research is needed to determine exact relationship. However, it is not likely the Campbell's knew Davy Crockett, because Captain William Campbell's family left for Fayette County, Kentucky in 1784 two years before Davy Crockett was born and Colonel David Campbell's family left in 1785 to go to then Green County, North Carolina, which is now called Knox County, Tennessee and then later left to settle Campbell’s Station in 1787 on the west side of Knoxville, Tennessee in present day Farragut, Tennessee, which I will discuss more about later. Of further discussion related to Davy Crockett, it should be noted that many a Tennessean, including some Finley's, eventually went to Texas, some on the original Moses Austin, Spanish land grants, and later Davy Crockett helped fight for Texas Independence dying at the Battle of The Alamo. As the story goes, Davy Crockett being friends with many of them may have decided to join in the fight, as well as, one hundred thirty-nine other men who joined him from this region in part because of those friendships and or actual family relationships for some. The Finley's that eventually went to Texas early before it won its Independence from Mexico were a different branch than mine, including Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett's branch, however, it is again a likely possibility they all may be distant cousins if traced back a generation or so, and clearly they helped settle this region as well.

Historical Side Note: It should also be noted that a Benjamin Campbell Finley fought in the Battle of San Jacinto where Texas won its Independence from Mexico, but I am not directly related to him to my knowledge. However, he may have come from this region and I will discuss him at the end of the journey and how he actually influenced my writing of the journey of my family across America.

Special note: Author James Michner wrote a book about Texas and devoted a portion of one of its chapters to the Finley’s that settled there from this region. If memory serves the Finley's he wrote of settled in the Naches Trace region of Texas near present day Corpus Christi.

Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett, according to earlier Finley family researchers Albert Finley France and Herald F. Stout, was the Great, Great, Granddaughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley of Augusta County, Virginia who settled on Middle River. Their sons, John Finley and Robert Finley, moved to Knox County, Tennessee in 1792 and 1796 respectively. Davy Crockett's father-in-law, William Finley, was the son of John Finley who came to Knox County in 1792. William Finley in his will dated April 2, 1818 names his children and grandchildren by Davy and Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett. Davy and Mary (Polly) Crockett's children were: John Wesley Crockett(b.1808), William Finley Crockett(b.1809), and Margaret Finley (Polly) Crockett (b.1812). A short time after Margaret was born, Mary (Polly) Finley passed away. Many years later after Davy Crockett left for Texas, John Wesley Crockett, won two terms in Congress, holding the same seat his father had once held. According to Albert Finley France and Herald F. Stout's research as well, Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett's Aunt, Mary Finley, in 1782 married Joseph Sevier the son of Tennessee's first Governor to be, Colonel John Sevier, who commanded Captain William Campbell and Colonel David Campbell discussed above as young men and then privates at the Revolutionary War Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. Joseph Sevier also fought at King's Mountain in 1780 and he and Mary Finley may have had at least one child together named John Finley Sevier, however, the Sevier family history websites I have visited disagree and do not show Joseph Sevier married to a Mary Finley. In support of Albert Finley France and Herald F. Stout's research, Joseph Sevier did have a son named John Finley Sevier, so more research may be needed on the possible parentage of John Finley Sevier. John Finley, Grandfather of Mary (Polly) Finley Crockett, fought in the battle of King's Mountain in 1780 as well, so it is possible John Finley Sevier could simply be named after John Finley out of friendship won in Battle. John Crockett, Davy Crockett's father, also fought in the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780 alongside Davy's Uncles, William Crockett, Robert Crockett, and also with John Finley and his brother George Finley. Their commanding officer they all served under at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780 was Captain Evans Shelby. Of further interest regarding possible kinship, John Crockett was married to Rebecca Hawkins, who may have been the sister of Sarah Hawkins Sevier, the wife of Colonel John Sevier. However, there is some disagreement as well they were sisters by more current Hawkins family researchers according to the genealogy research by Joe Payne on the Sevier Family. To read more, click on the first hyperlink below to sources of historical information, and visit Dr. Carmen J. Finley's website, Joe Payne's websites on: the Sevier's, the Doak's (which includes the Finley's), the Crockett's (which includes the Finley's as well), and Dr. Lee J. Bain's article discussing these two branches of the Finley's.

Historical Side Note: According to Colonel R.M. Graham in his 1921 article on the Crockett's of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, some of the Crockett's came to America on the same ship with Rev. John Thomson (arriving in about 1713-1714) living with him first in Delaware where he ministered first at Lewis Presbyterian Church and then later in Pennsylvania where he ministered at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church prior to coming to Augusta County, Virginia, and Samuel Crockett married Rev. John Thomson's daughter, Esther Thomson, making my line of the Finley's based on Dr. Finley's research cousins to this line of the Crockett's and they being cousins to Davy Crockett's family line (Samuel Crockett was the son of James Crockett, the Great, Great, Great, Uncle of Davy Crockett.) As one can imagine, the Crockett's intermarried with some of the same families in Augusta County, Virginia as my direct Finley family line did, such as the Thomson's, the Caldwell's, the Montgomery's, the Gleaves's, the Gillespy's, and the Steele's to name a few, making all these families related to one another by various marriages. The Crockett's came from France originally, coming to America via Ireland, changing their name from De Crocketagni to Crockett while in Ireland, and like the Scottish they were forced to leave their homeland because of their conversion to the Protestant faith. To read more, click on the hyperlink to historical sources and visit the website where Col. R.M. Graham's article is posted.

One cannot speak of Texas or East Tennessee without bringing up General Samuel Houston, also originally from Rockbridge or Augusta County, Virginia. General "Sam" Houston as a young man taught in a one room school house not far from the Smoky Mountains National Park near present day Rockford, Tennessee and he too went to Texas, at the behest of President Andrew Jackson, after already serving as Governor of Tennessee, helped lead the fight, and helped Texas win its Independence at the Battle of San Jacinto, which led to becoming the President of the Republic of Texas, later Senator of Texas when it became a state, and then finally becoming Governor of Texas. He remains the only man to have been a Governor of two American States, Senator of one American State, and President of a Republic. The schoolhouse, the oldest school in Tennessee still in existence, is open to the public, and the view of the Smoky Mountains up the hill from the schoolhouse from Sam Houston Schoolhouse Road is breathtaking on a clear day.

Elizabeth Finley, my Great, Great, Great, Great Aunt and daughter of the John Finley whom I descend from Augusta County, Virginia, settled nearby to where the one room school house stands in or near the present day town of Rockford as well with her husband, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James Gillespy about 1787. Making the journey with them were James Gillespy's brothers John Gillespy and William Gillespie, and they established Gillespy Station. (Note: William Gillespie and his brothers James and John Gillespy spelled their last names differently for reasons unknown, but both are considered proper spellings). Also, William Gillespie’s stepson, William Henderson, came with them as well and he was married to Susannah Gillespie the daughter of John Gillespie. One of James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy's daughters, Mary (Polly) Gillespy, married the older; second cousin of General Sam Houston named Major James Houston. Major James Houston was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth McCrosky Houston, General Sam Houston's Great Aunt and Great Uncle. Major James Houston established Houston's Station and he attended New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Tennessee established in 1786 and is buried there. Elizabeth McCrosky Houston was the daughter of John McCrosky, and John McCrosky may have been married more than once as he is listed by DAR as being married first to an Elizabeth last name unknown, and second to Ann Houston Montgomery, the daughter of John and Esther Houston Montgomery, another Great Aunt and Great Uncle of General Sam Houston. John McCrosky attended Eusebia Presbyterian Church established in 1786 in Blount County, Tennessee near Maryville, Tennessee located about a mile and a half from McTeer's Station, is buried there, and he also fought at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780.

William Gillespie was married to the widow Isabella Houston Henderson, and they were the Great Aunt and Great Uncle of Gen Sam Houston as well. William and Isabella Houston Gillespie are both said to be buried in the Holston College Cemetery. Also, William Gillespie, according to Blount County DAR, later married Ann Houston after Isabella's death. However, William Gillespie may have been married three times. The name of the possible third wife was Rose Finley, and she would have been his second wife. According to Augusta County, Virginia records, and on August 20, 1787 "William Gillaspie and Rose" sold a tract of land left to him by his father, "James Gillaspie, Sr., to a George Adam Coynart". Then on August 22, 1787 his brother "James Gillaspie and Elizabeth to Michael Coynart" sell their share of their fathers land. This could then either be just prior to the Gillespy/Gillespie brothers leaving Augusta County, Virginia for what would later become Blount County, Tennessee or the property was sold by a representative of the Gillespy/Gillespie families on their behalf. If the latter is so, it may indicate the Gillespy/Gillespie brothers came to what became Blount County, Tennessee earlier than 1787. In further support of an earlier arrival than 1787 for the Gillespy/Gillespie brothers, it is recorded that Isabella Houston Henderson Gillespie passed away in 1781 and she is supposed to be buried in Holsten College Cemetery in present day Blount County, Tennessee. Rose Finley, according to Herald F. Stout, was the daughter of William Finley who was the brother of John and Thankful Doak Finley, but Dr. Carmen J. Finley's more current formally published research would now seem to place this William Finley, father to this Rose Finley, as possibly the brother of John Finley who settled on South River in Augusta County, Virginia whom both Dr. Finley and I directly descend from instead.

According to Dr. Finley's research, in about 1750 John Finley of South River sold one third of his land on South River to William Finley and the other one third of his land on South River to Robert Finley who were likely his brothers. To make matters even more complicated for Rose Finley, it seems her marriage to William Gillespie might have been either her second marriage, "or", there may have been two Rose Finley's. Augusta County, Virginia records of wills indicate "a" Rose Finley was the wife of John Henderson who passed away in 1766 and when his will was proved, the John Finley of South River and his brother William Finley, witnessed it. Herald F. Stout lists this Rose Finley who married John Henderson as the daughter of the John Finley of South River; however, Dr. Finley does not list in her research a Rose Finley as a child of John Finley who settled on South River so there may be only one Rose Finley, but Dr. Finley does acknowledge as well there may be more children by John Finley of South River than she has currently identified in her research. Therefore, more research is needed as to whether there was one or two Rose Finley's and or who was the father of Rose Finley if there was only one Rose Finley, and possibly whether the Gillespy/Gillespie brothers may have actually arrived in what became Blount County, Tennessee earlier than recorded in 1787. If they possibly arrived earlier maybe others like the McTeer's, credited with being the first to settle what became Blount County, possibly arrived earlier than recorded as well. It is certainly worth more research. Should it turn out that Rose Finley was the sister of Elizabeth Finley Gillespy and also the daughter of the John Finley of South River whom I descend from, then she and William Gillespie were also my Great, Great, Great, Great, Aunt and Uncle as well, which is also certainly worth noting and more research. Despite some of the gaps related to who married whom and when or possibly who's daughter belonged to whom, it remains perfectly clear the McTeer family, the Gillespy/Gillespie family, the Houston family, and the Sevier family all established Forts or Stations as they were called then very early mostly in what would eventually become Blount County, Tennessee. The exception was Sevier's Station which is located just north of the Blount County and Knox County border line inside Knox County, Tennessee.

Historical Side Note: According to Dr. Carmen J. Finley, these three Gillespy/Gillespie brothers named James, William, and John were the sons of James and Jennet Gillespie, Sr. who settled in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740 after arriving first in Philadelphia from Ireland that same year. James Gillespie Sr. (1702-1769) also served as an Elder and helped found Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740. His property in Augusta County, Virginia was very near and almost adjacent to my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather John Finley's property on South River. More interestingly, the progenitor of this Gillespie Clan that went to Tennessee may possibly be Rev. John Gillespie (1560-1626), however, it is yet to be formally verified. Rev. John Gillespie's son, Rev. George Gillespie (1613-1648), authored the famous book in 1637 entitled, "A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies", which greatly aided a select group of men led by Alexander Henderson, including the Gillespie family, and together they worked to deliver the Scottish Church from the grip of prelacy. It is interesting, however, to see Henderson's and Gillespie's together in America as well, and a possible indicator these may be descendents of Alexander Henderson and John Gillespie. Certainly, worth more time and more research as well, especially since their faith of choice was also Presbyterian.

Life during these times was very difficult, Indian attacks happened often, and why the forts or stations as they were called then were necessary for survival as indicated by Inez Burns in her book, The History of Blount County, Tennessee where she writes, "Indian attacks continued, killing on the 6th of Sep 1792, John Cochrane returning from Pistol Creek to his father’s house on Little River. Gillesby and a son were killed. On the 3rd of October, Black’s Blockhouse at the head of Crooked Creek, a branch of Little River, was attacked by surprise. More people died and horses stolen. Lashley a white man was leading the Indians. He was the son of a Scotsman in the Creek Nation." Inez Burns also writes that “a” James Gillesby was wounded in an Indian attack in 1793 at Well's Station and that “a” James Gillesby was slightly wounded. This may then be the son of James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy who established Gillespy Station in 1787 on Pistol Creek, and the "Gillesby" discussed above killed in 1792 along with his son may have been his father. According to Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research, James Gillespy also known as "James (Smoking Jimmie) Gillespy", the son of James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy, survived the Indian attack in 1792 on Pistol Creek, married a Ellen Cowan, and they had five children together named John Finley Gillespy, James Houston Gillespy, Campbell Gillespy, Ellen Jane Gillespy, and William C. Gillespy. Her parents, according to Margie Cowan's research, were William and Jane Walker Cowan. William Cowan fought at the battle of King's Mountain in 1780, and by 1785 had achieved the rank of Captain. Samuel Cowan, a possible relation to Captain William Cowan, is known as the one of the first, if not the very first, established merchants in Knoxville, and Samuel Cowan was married to Jane Montgomery. Also according to Margie Cowan, Captain William Cowan was possibly the son of John Cowan who helped found Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Augusta County, Virginia in 1740, but it has not yet been formally proven. Interestingly, when Samuel Cowan passed away, Jane Montgomery Cowan married my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle Colonel David Campbell of Campbell's Station as his second wife. Governor John Sevier in 1797, and again in 1800, commissioned “a” James Gillespie as Captain in the Blount County Militia, and in 1799 commissioned “a” James Gillespie as Justice of the Peace for Blount County, Tennessee, so if James Gillespy was killed in 1792 with one of his sons, then the James Gillespie above commissioned by Governor John Sevier as a Captain in the Militia and a Justice of the Peace may have been James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy's remaining son, James Gillespy. However, it should be noted as well that William Gillespie also had a son named James Gillespie and the spelling of his last name matches the last name spelling in Gov. John Sevier's Commission Book and he may have been the James Gillespie commissioned a Captain and later a Justice of the Peace by Governor John Sevier.

There were other Stations close by such as Robert McTeer's Station as well, whom is credited as one of the very first European's to arrive in, and the first to settle in, what became Blount County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Doak McTeer, the daughter of Samuel Doak and niece of John and Thankful Doak Finley, was the wife of James McTeer who was the Uncle of Robert McTeer. Her brother, Rev. Samuel Doak, was married to Esther Houston Montgomery the daughter of John and Esther Houston Montgomery, and as stated above they were the Great Aunt and Uncle of Gen. Sam Houston, so Esther Houston Montgomery, Isabella Houston Gillespie, and the Samuel Houston who was married to Elizabeth McCrosky Houston were sisters and brother to one another. Robert McTeer also attended Eusebia Presbyterian Church, is buried there, and he is listed as having fought at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. As stated above, many of these families from Augusta County, Virginia intermarried with one another and through these various marriages between families they were all likely related in some way to one another.

To read more about the Houston's, the Gillespy/Gillespie's, the Finley's, the Montgomery's, the Cowan's, the McCrosky's, the McTeer's, and the Doak's, go to the first hyperlink at the bottom of the page and visit the hyperlinks to Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research on the Finley’s and the Gillespie’s, The Houston Chronology by the Sam Houston Museum, Governor John Sevier's Commission Book, Joe Payne's research on the Houston's, the Sevier's, the Doak's, the Finley's, Blount County's Chapter of DAR, Margie Cowan's research on the Cowan's, and Blount County, Tennessee's history page where Inez Burns is also quoted.

Research Note: Just as it is easy to confuse John Finley's, it is equally so with James Houston's and Samuel Houston's alive during this same time period. General Samuel Houston's immediate family came to East Tennessee when his father, Major Samuel Houston, suddenly passed away in 1806. Shortly after, his mother, Elizabeth Paxton Houston, then left Rockbridge or Augusta County, Virginia with her children to join the Houston family already in Blount County, Tennessee. At one time I misunderstood, and miswrote Mary (Polly) Gillespy had married General Samuel Houston’s brother also named James Houston, but she actually married his older second cousin, Major James Houston, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth McCrosky Houston instead, and it was Major James Houston whom established Houston's station. Houston's Station was where General Sam Houston's family settled nearby and where he grew up as a child after coming to Tennessee. Elizabeth Paxton Houston after arriving in Tennessee later married Major Samuel Houston's first cousin, Rev. Samuel Houston.

Quote From Goodspeed's History of Tennessee - Lawrence Co. Pg 757.

"A few weeks after the Boston Massacre Parliament took the tax off all articles except tea, but a tax of six cents per pound was left on that popular drink. The colonies objected to paying this tax. In North Carolina some of the inhabitants, who felt they were unjustly taxed met together and called themselves "Regulators"; and refused to pay this tax, and drove out some of the judges. Governor Alex Martin, Robert Thomas, (known also by Robin & Roger - was the youngest son of Rev. John Thompson) and Robert McTeer went as a committee to headquarters of Governor Tryon and ask for some kind of settlement and relief from this unjust taxation. Their efforts were fruitless, and when they turned back to the Regulators camp they were fired upon by the King's men and Thompson was killed. The first man to lose his life in the American Revolution. This infuriated the Regulators and the Battle of Alamance Creek in 1771 by Troops of the King under Royal Governor William Tryon and the regulators followed. There were about two hundred men killed or wounded. Many others crossed the mountains into the territory which afterwards became Tennessee and Kentucky." To read more, click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the page to visit Lawrence Pickard's website and research on the Thomson/Thompson Family.

Historical Note: Crispus Addicks died at the Boston Massacre along with a few others, which began the Revolution, so I do not know how historically accurate this actually is concerning Roger Thomson/Thompson being first killed after the Revolution began. (According to the research of Dr. Carmen J. Finley he would have been my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle.)

Returning to Virginia...

The son of John Finley whom I descend from was William Finley (1743–1802), brother to Elizabeth Finley above, and my Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. He is recorded as signing a petition in September of 1776 supporting American Independence in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He bought 165 acres of land in Montgomery County in 1784. William Finley married Mary Pettus, the daughter of Dabney and Elizabeth Rodes Pettus, in Prince Edward County and moved from there and first appears in court records, in Montgomery County, Virginia in 1785 and lived there until his death in 1801-02. Interestingly, Mary Pettus may be the Great, Great, Granddaughter of "Colonel Thomas Pettus who came to America in 1638-1641 after serving on the continent in the Thirty Years War for the Virginia Company in the command of forty men sent to assist the colonists in their struggles with the Powhatan Indians at Jamestown. Colonel Thomas Pettus also built a substantial residence on the James River on a tract four miles downriver from the Jamestown settlement not long after his arrival. He named the seventeenth century plantation house Littletown. Colonel Thomas Pettus's Uncle was Sir John Pettus, who had purchased stock in the company holding the third charter to Virginia and so named the Third Virginia Charter Company." Colonel Thomas Pettus was then possibly my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather, but more research may be needed to formally confirm such. For more information on Colonel Thomas Pettus click on the hyperlink below to the hyperlink bibliography page to view the website research of Glen and Katie Pettus where this quote above came from, and where they also have a link to Brenda Perkins who provided me with this interesting piece of Pettus family history.

Historical Sidenote: William Pettus Hobby was the former owner and President of the Houston Post Newspaper, the twenty-sixth Governor of the State of Texas, and possibly a distant cousin of mine a few generations removed. The William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas is named in his honor and is located just fifteen minutes drive from my home in Houston.

Asa Finley (1788-1853), my Great, Great, Great, Grandfather was William and Mary Pettus Finley's seventh child and he was born about 1788, probably in Montgomery County, Virginia, and Asa Finley married his first wife, Esther Gleaves (1786-1839), whose family was from Augusta County, Virginia on August 18, 1806. He married twice more after Esther passed away. Also, Asa Finley's sister, Margaret Finley, married Esther Gleaves brother, William Gleaves. Asa Finley had already surveyed property for himself in Christian County, Kentucky as early as 1803 and then after getting married resettled there with his wife, Esther Gleaves Finley. His brothers Dabney Finley and John Pettus Finley arrived in Christian County, Kentucky in 1799 establishing themselves as one of the first families to arrive in the new frontier region called Kentucky. George Finley, brother of John Finley and Uncle to Asa Finley, Dabney Finley, and John Pettus Finley, may have been in Kentucky as early as 1786. In his last will and testament, My Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather, William Finley named his Executor's as being his second wife Judith and his friends, William Finley, Samuel Crockett, and Robert Adams.

Asa Finley, Esther Gleaves Finley, and their children went on to Cooper County, Missouri (later renamed Saline County) arriving in 1818. They were again one of the earliest families to settle in Missouri as well, and his deed to his land is one of the oldest in that part of Missouri. By comparison, the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis in September of 1806, so only twelve years later did Asa and Esther arrive. They also arrived before the famed William Becknell expedition did in 1822, which is credited for opening and establishing trade with Sante Fe, New Mexico, and establishing the Sante Fe Trail. In the book entitled, "The History of Saline County, Missouri", published in 1881, dates Asa Finley's arrival as early as 1819. However, the deed of the sale of some of their Kentucky land lists him as Asa Finley of Saline County dated September 17, 1818. He lived out his years in Saline County, Missouri remarrying two times after Esther passed away, and he passed away April 8, 1853. No one seems to know where he is buried, so if you are a descendant and may know, I would like to hear from you. Asa's brother Dabney Finley with his family followed in 1823 and some of John Pettus Finley's children followed with their families at some point as well settling nearby. Dabney lived out his years near Nelson, Missouri passing away in 1843 leaving Asa as Executor. Asa and Esther Gleaves Finley helped found the Salt Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church, took turns holding service in their home until it was built, and Esther Gleaves Finley is buried there. Asa Finley was elected and served as Arrow Rock's first Judge in 1824, and served as a Representative for "Saline" elected in 1822, and again in 1826 to the State Legislature of Missouri. He also owned a gristmill and his property, located near Nelson as well, was located on the Sante Fe Trail, and one of the last places to load up on food and supplies before continuing westward to Sante Fe at the time. Asa Finley's cabin also still partially stands back in Missouri. To see a picture of the cabin taken a few years back click on the first hyperlink below to the Ulmer website at the bottom of the page or the second hyperlink to photos of family, notables, places, and historical markers.

Asa and Esther Gleaves Finley's son, James Washington Finley (1813-1865), was my Great, Great Grandfather and he married Margaret Jane Campbell (1820 –1853), my Great, Great Grandmother, and with their children went west to California by covered wagon in 1852. Shortly after crossing into California, Margaret Jane Campbell Finley took ill and died. What is interesting about Margaret Jane Campbell Finley as it relates to the Smoky Mountains region is her Great Grandfather, Captain William Campbell (1748-1800) and Great Uncle, Colonel David Campbell (1753-1832) settled in the territory of Franklin in or around 1779, which later became North Carolina and eventually the State of Tennessee. Her marriage to James Washington Finley formally joined together these two pioneer Scottish families both originally from Augusta County, Virginia. Margaret Jane Campbell Finley's Grandfather, David Campbell (1772-1838), was my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, and he was the eldest son of Captain William Campbell. He moved his family to Calloway, County Missouri later in life around 1831 from Muhlenberg, Kentucky where his family settled in 1805 from their original home located on the Holsten River in what is now part of southwest Virginia today. Of further note related to James Washington Finley is that his father, Asa Finley and Grandfather William Finley owned slaves, the practice of which appears to have ended with James Washington Finley prior to the Civil War. The exact reason why slavery ended with James Washington Finley appears to be lost with time, however, California was made a free state prior to 1852 so slavery was not allowed or legal and a likely explanation. Accompanying them on the journey west were the cook, black Sam(Sampson Gleaves) and the teamster, Black Plein. Both were freed by James Washington Finley after arrival in California. Slavery remained legal in those States and Territories where it was allowed until the Emancipation Proclamation and eventual end of the Civil War thirteen years after James Washington Finley's trip to California, which it so happens 1865 is the year the Civil War ended, and the same year James Washington Finley passed away.

Newton Gleaves Finley had four brothers and two sisters who were my Great, Great, Aunts and Uncles that made the trip with him in 1852. Their names were William Asa Finley, John Pettus Finley, Hugh McNary Finley, James Benjamin Finley, Sarah Esther Finley, and Ann Eliza Finley. William Asa Finley, Hugh McNary Finley, and John Pettus Finley later would go to Oregon. William Asa Finley was the President of Corvallis College, which became Oregon State University with the passing of the Morrill Act of 1862 and signed into law by Abraham Lincoln. He served as Oregon State University's first President until 1872 when he resigned due to his wife’s poor health and returned to Santa Rosa, California where they had originally settled in 1852. He would then become President of the Santa Rosa Ladies College. Hugh McNary Finley was one of the first graduates of Oregon State University and he served as the first Alumni President in 1873 and was re-elected in 1874. John Pettus Finley went into the Mortuary business which remained in the family until the late 1980's or early 1990's. His son, William Lovell Finley, was the famed ornithologist, conservationist, and one time Oregon's State Game Warden. Nothing much is known about James Benjamin Finley other than he passed away in 1922. Sarah Esther Finley married a Rev. Joseph Emery, and Ann Eliza Finley married Dr. Thomas Van Buren Embree. James Washington Finley had five more children by his second wife, Rebecca Ivy McCoy, and their names were Thomas B. Finley, Marjorie E. Finley, Joseph W. Finley, Rubin Edwin Finley, and Irving Hanson Finley all Great, Great Aunts and Uncles of mine as well. If you are a descendant of any of these children I would like very much to hear from you.

Research Note: Much of the information related to William, Asa, and James Washington Finley families above came from the research and website of Dr Carmen J. Finley followed by the stories my father used to share and the research he left on the family, information provided as well by my Aunt, sister to my father William Latta Finley, such as the letter entitled Our Fore Fathers written by Newton Gleaves Finley along with his letter containing his autobiography, Gerald Ulmer's wonderful story entitled, "The Cabin in the Woods" he wrote about Asa Finley, Dennis Glaves website on the Gleaves/Glaves family, and the State of Missouri website where it lists all the former legislators of Missouri.

Back to Tennessee...

According to Phil Norfleet, "Colonel David Campbell and Captain William Campbell were the son’s of David Campbell who, according to Margaret Campbell Pilcher (1843-1921) in her book on the Campbell's, was nicknamed "Black" David Campbell to distinguish him from his first cousin nicknamed "White" David Campbell. He was so named, according to Margaret Campbell Pilcher, for his darker complexion, dark hair, and dark eyes and White David being of fair skin, yellow hair, and blue eyes." Based on this research, Alexander Campbell was then my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather and he settled in Augusta County, Virginia in 1744 living just a short distance from my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather John Finley's original home located on South River in Augusta County, Virginia. Colonel David Campbell’s first wife was Margaret Campbell, the daughter of White David Campbell, and they lived first on a farm in what is now Abingdon, Virginia before re-settling to the south fork of the Holston River in the Limestone Creek area in what is now present-day Tennessee with his bother Captain William Campbell and their Uncle's William Campbell, Robert Campbell and Alexander Campbell, who raised them after their father died. Captain William Campbell was married to Elizabeth Ellison also spelled Allison. Black David Campbell died before his father Alexander Campbell in 1753 in Augusta County, Virginia, and Alexander Campbell died five years later in 1758 in Augusta County, Virginia. As discussed earlier, Colonel David Campbell eventually resettled in 1785 to then Green County, North Carolina and now Knox County, Tennessee, then later to Campbell Station in 1787 located in present day Farragut, Tennessee, and also helping establish Campbell Station with him were his three cousins and their families, "Elder David" Campbell, Alexander Campbell and "Big Jimmie" Campbell. My Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather Captain William Campbell in 1784 left Limestone Creek on the south fork of the Holston River to go to Fayette County, Kentucky with his Uncles, William Campbell, Robert Campbell and Alexander Campbell. Colonel David Campbell, Captain William Campbell, and the rest of the Campbell clan clearly were the some of the first to settle in the territory of Franklin having also arrived originally from Augusta County, Virginia. The territory of Franklin then later became part of North Carolina and eventually the state of Tennessee. In the Civil War a large battle for control of Knoxville's west side was fought at Campbell Station as Sherman made his south splitting march to the sea taking Knoxville, Chattanooga, and burning Atlanta on the way. The North won, but over 1000 men were listed as killed or lost. Colonel David Campbell, no longer living at the time, had long since moved somewhere near Lebanon, Tennessee where he lived out his final years well before the Civil War started. I should take time to mention my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle George Finley had some of his descendants settled around Lebanon, Tennessee. They were Obediah Gains (known as O.G.) Finley and his son, Foster Gains Finley. A descendant of this family, Debra Porter, also lists and supports James and Elizabeth Patterson Finley as being the parents of John Finley who married first, Ms Thomson, and married second, Mary Caldwell. There were many Scottish families that settled that region of what would become Tennessee, and the Presbyterian Church they established in the area also started Cumberland College located in Lebanon, Tennessee. General Sam Houston practiced law in Lebanon at one time as well. Returning to Knoxville, Colonel David Campbell’s home still stands on the corner of Kingston Pike and Campbell Station Road in present day Farragut, Tennessee and DAR placed a monument to his memory there many years ago. Click on the hyperlink below to historical sources and Phil Norfleet's website, and Debrah Porter's website and research to read more.

Historical side note: One of Colonel David Campbell’s Grandson's and a cousin a few generations removed, William Bowen Campbell (1807-1867), was Governor of Tennessee from 1851-1853. Also one of Colonel David Campbell's daughters, also a cousin many generations removed, Mary Hamilton Campbell, married Governor David Campbell (1779-1859) of Virginia who was another cousin many generations removed who served as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1837-1840. These two branches of the Campbell's intermarried more than once, making Governor David Campbell of Virginia my cousin many generations removed as well. Margaret Campbell Pilcher was the great, great granddaughter of both "White" David Campbell and "Black" David Campbell as a result of these two branches of Campbell's intermarrying. Also since we are covering Governors who are related and or possibly related, John Doak, brother of John and Thankful Doak Finley, had a daughter named Thankful Doak as well who married Major William Hall. Their son, Brigadier General William Hall, replaced General Sam Houston as Governor of Tennessee after Sam Houston's marriage broke up, which due to his grief and likely some embarrassment he resigned as Governor.

Personal Side Note: I once worked on Campbell Station Road and drove by the house daily not realizing it was my Uncle's home. I had no idea other than at the time I knew I was related to and descended from the Campbell's and the Finley's from the region, but that was all I knew at the time from the stories my father William Latta Finley shared with me growing up and that they had settled in this region from Virginia shortly after John Finley and Daniel Boone opened the way through the Cumberland Gap for others to follow. I guess the moral of this story is always pay attention to the history around you because it may be yours.

Back to the journey across America...

Campbell, California is named after Benjamin Campbell who again was my Great, Great Uncle and he was the son of William Campbell my Great, Great, Great Grandfather. According to Phil Norfleet, William Campbell fought in the War of 1812 as a private in the 1st Regiment of Kentucky Mounted Militia in the company commanded by Captain Alney McLean. He moved his family to Saline County, Missouri in 1838/39 following his father David Campbell who went to Missouri in 1831. William Campbell then went to California in 1846, two years prior to gold being discovered at Sutter's mill, as the Captain of his wagon train from Missouri and was one of the first settlers to come overland. Upon their arrival they were immediately caught up in the war with Mexico, were required to enlist and served under John C. Freemont, but the war ended very quickly. William Campbell married four times in his lifetime, and I descend from his second born child, Margaret Jane Campbell, from his first wife Sarah McNary Campbell (1799-1821). Sarah McNary was born in Columbia, South Carolina on September 5, 1799. She was the daughter of William McNary and Ann Campbell. William McNary was born in Scotland about the year 1757 and immigrated to America before the Revolutionary War. In 1790, he married Ann Campbell in Fayette County, Virginia (now Kentucky); and in 1812, the couple relocated to Muhlenberg County. Ann Campbell was the daughter of Black David Campbell’s brother, Alexander Campbell. Sarah McNary married William Campbell (1793-1885) on September 24, 1816; together they had three children - all daughters. On November 10, 1821, during the birth of their last child (unnamed), Sarah experienced serious complications and the infant died that same day. Sarah herself succumbed shortly thereafter, dying on November 16 1821. I also have a copy of a memoir written by David Campbell, son of William Campbell, about their 1846 trip to California passed down to me by my Aunt and my father William Latta Finley.

William Campbell's party in 1846 traveled westward for a while with the famed Donner party, which decided to take an ill advised, less traveled route, causing them when they got into the Sierra's, to get snowed in and they had to result to cannibalism to survive. The wagon train was too large, so it was decided to split the wagon train up and William Campbell was elected Captain of his division of the wagon train. Meeting them at the Green River was the famed guide, Caleb Greenwood. There as well was another famous guide named Lansford Hastings. Hastings convinced the Donner party to take the ill advised route. Greenwood convinced the Campbell party which included the Abram, Finley, Whisman, and West families to go with him. Caleb Greenwood was sent by John Sutter of Sutter's Mill fame to encourage overland travelers to come to California rather than Oregon. Interestingly as well according to an account written about Asa William Finley, the nephew of my Great, Great Grandfather James Washington Finley, the guide chosen for William Campbell's wagon train further on when they reached the Sierra's was none other than Kit Carson. It should be noted that Kit Carson also served as guide for John C. Fremont on more than one expedition to California, and William Campbell and his sons David Campbell and Benjamin Campbell immediately upon arrival enlisted in John C. Freemont's regiment and served under him. Regarding other famous people on the journey though, prior to splitting up into smaller wagon trains, traveling with the wagon train there were three sons of Daniel Boone. Traveling with William Campbell as well on the 1846 trip were my Great, Great Uncle Asa Wallace Finley and his wife my Great, Great Aunt Sarah Campbell Finley. Sarah Campbell Finley was the daughter of William Campbell and she was also the sister of my Great, Great, Grandmother Margaret Jane Campbell Finley. On about October 10 1846, their wagons reached Sutter’s Fort in the American River Valley of Northern California and after resting a few days they moved on to their ultimate destination in Santa Clara Valley now Napa Valley California. A few weeks after William Campbell's arrival in California his second wife, Agnes Hancock (1800-1846), became ill with typhoid fever and died. She is buried in an unmarked grave at the Santa Clara Mission with the blessing of the mission Padre, Suares de Real." William's son, Benjamin Campbell (1826-1907) my Great, Great Uncle, led the wagon train my branch of the Finley family went to California on out of Missouri in 1852. According to my Aunt, Thomas Campbell, William Campbell's brother, made the trip in 1846 as well and he was married to Martha West. Another brother of William Campbell named Charles Campbell came to California prior to 1849 and he was later elected Mayor of Oakland, California. William Campbell, according to my Aunts research, as well as, Phil Norfleet's research, later built a grist mill with Asa Wallace Finley's help and the contract permitting him to build it, written in Spanish, is the oldest document of record in Santa Clara, California and it was only the second such mill built in Northern California at the time. William and Benjamin Campbell also did the original survey work for the town of San Jose, California. Click on the hyperlink below to read more by visiting Phil Norfleet's website and research on the Campbell's and Santa Clara County History website.

James Washington Finley, son of Asa Finley, as stated above was married to Margaret Jane Campbell, William Campbell's daughter, and one of their children, Newton Gleaves Finley (1841-1933), was my Great Grandfather. Benjamin Campbell, according to my Aunt, made the trip three times, the first of which was with his father to California in 1846, then he sailed back through Panama, up the Mississippi to Missouri, made a second trip overland in about 1850 where he met his future wife in Missouri prior to leaving on the second trip, then returned back through Panama, up the Mississippi to Missouri a second time in about 1852, got married, and led James Washington Finley, his wife Margaret Jane Campbell Finley, and their children, including Newton Gleaves Finley, on the third trip overland to California in 1852. I am not sure how many people total made the arduous, overland journey to California by that time in those days, but to have done it three times by 1852 seems quite remarkable. Some estimates are by the end of 1846 less than 8,000 men, women, and children had made the trip overland from Missouri. It was not until gold was discovered in 1848 at Sutters Mill did the migration overland happen in significant numbers. Along with them on the trip as well was William Campbell's brother, Robert Campbell, his wife Mary Ann Campbell, and their four children. Newton Gleaves Finley wrote about the trip later in life in 1922 and lived until 1933. My father, William Latta Finley, Grandson of Newton Gleaves Finley, passed down a copy of this "Memoir" and spoke often and quite fondly of his Grandfather Newton who passed away when my father was thirteen years old.

Newton Gleaves Finley married Kate Rowena Dozier (1848-1926) in 1874 having one daughter, Edna Rowena Finley (1775-1966), and one son, my Grandfather, Dozier Finley (1880-1961). My father, William Latta Finley, told me as I was growing up, as well as, what I read about Newton Gleaves Finley in Dr. Finley's research is that he had more than one enterprise he worked at, but it seems he was successful in growing prunes, but at some point he sold the ranch and moved to Berkeley. Both Edna Finley and Dozier Finley attended Cal Berkeley graduating in 1902 and 1903. Kate Rowena Dozier's family went west to St. Louis County, Missouri in 1828 from Tennessee and prior to arriving in Tennessee in 1824 her father, Lewis Dozier (1804-1861), lived first in Nash County, North Carolina, met her mother, Cynthia Carns (1813-1871), in Carroll County, Tennessee, they were married while in Tennessee, and then in 1828 headed west to St. Louis Missouri where they lived out their years. Cynthia Carns Dozier's parents were John B. Carnes and Anne Rogers. Anne Rogers father was from Kentucky and was named Anthony Rogers. Her mother was possibly named Isabella. Kate Rowena Dozier Finley wrote in Newton's Santa Rosa bank book in 1900 that her Grandfather Thomas Dozier (1767-1847) came from a Virginia family originally and signed her name. The first deposits in the bank book start in 1892 and each page is signed by "Newton G. Finley", however, I suspect the signatures on the pages were in Kate Rowena Dozier Finley's handwriting due to it matches her other writing related to her family in the back of the bank book. When Cynthia Carns Dozier's mother and father had passed away in St. Louis she followed her sister to California who had married a minister and settled there. After her arrival in California, she met Newton Gleaves Finley and they were married in 1874.

Newton Gleaves and Kate Rowena Dozier Finley's, only son and my Grandfather, Dozier Finley (1880-1960), married Mary Bingham Latta (1890-1968) in Philadelphia in 1919, and she was the Great, Great, Great Granddaughter of the father of Rev. James Latta, also named Rev. James Latta, listed above at the beginning of the page who immigrated to America from Ireland in 1738, joining together two old American, Scottish, Presbyterian families that trace back to Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which began meeting and holding services as early as 1711. Her parents were William James and Kitty Nigh Bingham Latta, and he was the President of The Telephone and Cable Company of America until he retired in 1901. The word Cable in Telephone and Cable Company for those of you too young to remember was the telegraph, which for historical reasons I would be remiss if I did not mention was invented by Samuel Finley Breeze Morse the Great Grandson of Rev. Samuel Finley, a founding Trustee and fifth President of Princeton University, and they both were possibly distant cousins, yet to be formally verified, to my Finley family line from which I descend. My Grandfather, Dozier Finley, was a Chemical Engineer and he worked for the same company, The Paraffin Company located in Emeryville, California his entire career helping develop many patents for them. He was in the Army in WWI and served in the reserves after WWI reaching the rank of Captain. He was also a member and served as an Elder at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, California for many years. In photographs of when they were young, both he and his eldest son and my father, William Latta Finley, bear a striking resemblance to one another.

Correcting the Research: Many websites on the Internet list my Grandfather Dozier Finley's name as Hugh Dozier Finley. This is incorrect. His name was Dozier Finley. He signed my fathers birth certificate as Dozier Finley, and Dozier's father, Newton Gleaves Finley, in his letter entitled "Our Fore Fathers" wrote his son's first name down as Dozier. In fact, all the names in the letter entitled "Our Fore Fathers" written by Newton Gleaves Finley where he listed the Finley male descendants for my direct Finley family line are listed by their first names only.

Historical Side Note: Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, came to live with Rev. Samuel Finley when he was six years old after his father died. His mother and Rev. Samuel Finley's wife were sisters to one another, which made Dr. Benjamin Rush a nephew of the Finley's and a cousin to the Finley's children. Finley folklore passed down has it that Dr. Samuel Finley's younger brother, Rev. James Finley (an early graduate of Princeton University), owned a home in Philadelphia which he either rented to or let Thomas Jefferson use, and while residing there Jefferson began the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. However, the home was uncomfortable and the city too noisy, so Thomas Jefferson decided to rent the Graff house outside of town, he left the Finley home, and completed the first draft at the Graff home, which is credited as the place of residence where Jefferson wrote the first draft.

Historical Side Note: Rev. James Latta (1732-1801) attended Rev. Francis Alison's Academy of Learning (Est. 1743) with James Smith, George Read, and Thomas McKain three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in the Academy's first graduating class, and Rev. James Latta was also in the first graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania founded by Benjamin Franklin, who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Rev. James Latta also graduated with one more signer of the Declaration of Independence named Francis Hopkinson and with Hugh Williamson a signer of the Constitution in the first graduating class of the University of Pennsylvania in 1757. Rev. James Latta went on to be a prominent leader in the Presbyterian Church in America, attending the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1789 as a representative, elected Moderator of the third General Assembly, and he served as a Chaplin during the Revolutionary War. His father, also named Rev. James Latta, came to America in 1738 from Ireland settling near Elkton, Maryland when Rev. James Latta the junior was just eight years old, and they were members of Head of The Elk and or sometimes called Elk River Presbyterian Church by some. The Senior Rev. James Latta's second wife was Mary Alison, Rev. Francis Alison's sister. Rev. James Latta the Junior was Rev. James Latta Sr. and Mary Alison Latta's only child together making Rev. Francis Alison his Uncle and my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle as well. Rev. James and Mary Alison Latta are said to be buried in the old stone graveyard at the churches original location. Head of The Elk Presbyterian Church went through at least three moves and some name changes and is known today as Rock Presbyterian Church and is presently located in Elkton, Maryland. Rev. Francis Alison's Academy of Learning after a few name changes and moves settled eight miles from where it began in Newark, Delaware and formally became The University of Delaware in 1921 making Rev, Francis Alison its founder. According to University of Delaware historical archives, Rev. John Thomson also played a role in helping Rev. Francis Alison start the Academy of Learning in 1743, but to what extent he assisted is unknown and lost to time. Rev. Francis Alison, also a prominent leader in the Presbyterian Church, served as Vice Provost and Rector of University of Pennsylvania and actually signed Rev. James Latta's diploma when he graduated from University of Pennsylvania in its first graduating class of 1757. He also served as an Assistant Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

Being in close proximity to the events at the time and living during the Revolutionary War period, I can't help wonder how many of the founding fathers both Rev. Francis Alison and Rev. James Latta may have seen, possibly met, or may have known. It must have been an amazing and an exciting time to be alive and these men must have had some feeling it was history in the making as well because they were working to help establish formal systems of religion, education, and government where there was little or none at all. Read more about their lives and trips below by clicking on the first hyperlink at the bottom of the page and for photos click on the second hyperlink at the bottom of the page.

Returning to the Smokies...

Many of the Scotch-Irish settlers to the Smoky Mountains region as already discussed took part in the American Revolution and specifically the famous battle of King's Mountain that took place October 7, 1780. It was a major victory in the Revolutionary War and according to historians and Thomas Jefferson himself a turning point in the south. To say the Scottish had an axe to grind against the British, would be to put it mildly, and those not Scottish shared the same religious persecution as a common reason for being in America, and unfortunately for the British they represented the old world and what many had painfully left behind. Prior to the revolution, the percentage of the Scottish to all the people in America was one sixth of the total population. The victory at King's Mountain was swift and decisive. Colonel David Campbell and Captain William Campbell discussed above were young men and privates in the militia at the time and fought under Colonel John Sevier and not to be confused with an older kinsman Colonel William Campbell who led the Over Mountain Men some 400 strong. According to Phil Norfleet's research, Colonel David Campbell and Captain William Campbell also fought in Lord Dunmore’s war in 1774 and the Battle of Long Island Flats as privates in 1776 under the command of Captain Walter Crockett. According to Augusta County, Virginia historical records submitted by Dr. Carmen J. Finley as well, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James Finley, brother to the John Finley of South River whom I directly descend from or his son, also named James Finley, fought in Lord Dunmore’s war in 1774 under the command of Captain Walter Crockett, and possibly the at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse as well. Fighting in Lord Dunsmore's war along with James Finley, William Campbell, George McNutt, and David Campbell was also John Crockett who later would become father to Davy Crockett, and a George Finley and a John Finley who likely were the sons of John and Thankful Doak Finley. Sevier's Station, established about 1786, Gillespy's Station established about 1787, and the Houston's Station established about 1786 were all located southeast in the foothills between present day Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains National Park. Due to the location of these Stations being close to one another, I can't help but feel Governor John Sevier must have known the Gillespy's, the Houston's, and the Campbell's of Campbell's Station on the far west side Knoxville in present day Farragut well having lived close by, and having fought in battle as commanding officer for some of them. Having lived in the region myself I can attest to how close Sevier, Gillespy, and Houston Station's were to each other and easily within a days ride on horseback. William Gleaves (1748-1820), Esther's Gleaves Finley's father, is also said to have fought at King's Mountain, but no record has yet been found to confirm it according to Dennis Glaves author of The Glaves/Gleaves Family History. However, Dennis Glaves does mention William Gleaves shows up in some later Revolutionary War Battles. Be sure to visit the Daughter's of the American Revolution Website for locations of where all these Veterans of the Revolution are buried by clicking on the hyperlink below.

I have not determined as of yet whether any of the Finley's I'm directly related to were at the battle of King's Mountain, however, a John Findley and a George Findley, which are common names to Finley, match the names of some in my direct family are listed as being there, so it seems some Finley's even if not directly related were there. According to Albert Finley France and Herald F. Stout's research, the John Finley, son of John Finley and Thankful Doak Finley and father to William Finley the father-in-law to Davy Crockett, who came to Knox County in 1792 fought at King's Mountain, so this may be the John Findley listed as fighting at King's Mountain that day. This John Finley who settled in Knox County in 1792 also had a brother named George Finley and according to Dr. Finley's research,

"John Finley was living adjacent to George Finley, proven son of John and Thankful, in Washington County, Virginia from about 1776 to 1792 (Lewis Preston Summers, "Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800," Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1970, pp. 957, 974, 1110, 1112, 1169, 1216, 1346; tax list of 1782 and 1786). Further, this John Finley sold his 312 acres on Wallace's Branch, adjacent to George Finley on 31 October 1792 and was referred to as "of Knox County, Territory of United States Southwest of River Ohio" at that time", so this George Findley listed as being in the Battle of King's Mountain may also be the brother of this same John Finley who came to Knox County in 1792 who fought at King's Mountain in 1780.

Some Gillespy's were listed as being there as well, including a James Gillespie and William Gillespie, however the last name of James Gillespy was spelled differently as Gillespie on the roster of those who fought October 7, 1780, so it is possible this may be my Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle James Gillespy and his brother William Gillespie who fought at King's Mountain in 1780. James and John Houston also is listed as fighting at the battle of King's Mountain in 1780 along with John Houston III. In further support of them having fought at King's mountain, Blount County courthouse has a monument with James Gillespy, William Gillespie, John Houston, John Houston III, and James Houston's names, as well as, Robert McTeer and John McCrosky listed as those from Blount County who fought in the Revolution, which leads me to believe they are James Gillespy of Gillespy Station, his brother William Gillespie, James Houston of Houston’s Station, along with his brother or cousin John Houston, and John Houston III, as well as, Robert McTeer of McTeer's Station and John McCrosky who lived close by to Robert McTeer. Finally, it should be pointed out that there are several spellings of all Scottish names all of which still exist today such as Finley, Finlay, Findley, and Findlay, which are common and all proper spellings of the name(s) depending on the root language. According to Tim Kessler of Finley Finding's International, which is devoted to recording the "entire" Finley family history, "the original spelling, likely Celtic in origin is found in the Book of Leinster, where the name of Macbeth's father is spelled Findlaech (year 1070), and which may be the oldest documented use of the name in writing to be found. In Gaelic, a more common spelling of the name was Fionnlagh." These two spellings, once Anglicized, some variations in more modern times became to be spelled Finlay, Finley, Findlay, and Findley. Thus making all such spellings correct depending on the root language, Celtic or Gaelic, they derive from.

The Campbell’s and the Finley’s by all accounts are clearly two prominent Scottish families that helped settle America in this migration across the continent with places in the Smoky Mountains National Park like Finley Cane Trail and Campbell Overlook named for descendants. Along the way, the families intermarried formally joining together these two pioneer families. The Finley's, the Campbell's, the Gillespy's, the Pettus's, the Gleaves's, and the Thomson's all trace back to Augusta County, Virginia and it seems likely they all may have known each other there as well and having possibly all belonged, or ministered, and attended church at the Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church or Meeting House as it was called then also. The Finley's, the Campbell's, the Gillespy's, and Rev. Thomson families it also seems all left Scotland for Ireland then America, because of the religious persecution of the times and like many in the region were all Presbyterians. The Gleaves family however being the exception traces back to Willingham, England. The Houston's, the Sevier's, the Crockett's, the Montgomery's, the McTeer's, the McCrosky's, the Henderson's, the Cowan's, the Wear's, the Steele's, the McNutt's, and the Doak's also came from Augusta County, Virginia as well to Tennessee and there are many more families like Robert Shield's family of Shield's Fort in present day Pigeon Forge not discussed earlier that did as well.

Another of Rev. John Thomson's daughters, Margaret Thomson, married John Shield, the brother of Robert Shield of Shield's Fort (Established about 1784), making the Shield family cousins to my direct Finley family line that I descend from. Also, Robert Shield's first cousin, John Shield, the son of his Uncle James Shield, married Margaret Finley the daughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley, so both the Finley lines from Augusta County, Virginia intermarried with the Shield family from Augusta County, Virginia as well. Of important historical note, Lewis and Clark selected Robert Shield's son, also named John Shield, to serve as the Gun Smith and Guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Also as well, Carter Shield's cabin I selected as the featured photo on the home page of this website was the Great, Great, Great, Grandson of Robert Shield whom established Shield's Fort and a distant cousin many generations removed. The setting where Carter Shield's cabin sits represents one of the most beautiful places in Cades Cove, and I think the photo of Carter Shield's cabin truly captures the magic of the Smoky Mountains that is there that I am hoping to capture and preserve for future generations with my photography of these beautiful and historic places. Prior to migrating to Virginia, most of these family's came from Pennsylvania as well due mostly in part to the religious freedom enjoyed there, and it is likely some may have known of each other there as well, including as far back as Ireland prior to coming to America, as most were Scottish and of the Presbyterian faith. They all left Pennsylvania in part, because lands to the west and south were cheaper, more plentiful, and allowed entire family groups to homestead next to one another. Families were generally large and with each generation for whole families to homestead close to one another it required moving further into the wilderness areas of America.

Back to Texas...

After his service in World War II in Italy in the Army Air Corp my father, William Latta Finley (1920-1987), Dozier Finley's and Mary Bingham Latta Finley's eldest son, became active in what quickly grew to formally become the NASA space program by act of Congress, and after some early work on rocket projects that led to work on Gemini and Apollo, helped design different parts of the early Gemini Rockets, then the Saturn V Rockets, including the wiring design and life support system in the command module they flew in that went to the Moon and back, carrying on the pioneer family tradition of his forbearers of being the first to explore. He married my mother, Betty Jane Craven, in October of 1953 at University Christian Church in Berkeley, California. She taught school for many years and her favorite grade to teach was fourth grade. She worked third shift in a steel mill during WWII helping replace the men who went to war and paying her way through Geneva College in Pennsylvania. Her parents were William Monroe (1881-1949) and Henrietta (Hattie) Elizabeth Freitag Craven (1886-1970. They were married in 1913 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. My mother used to share that the day she received her diploma at her 1945 graduation ceremony from Geneva College the ceremony was interrupted with news the war had ended and no graduation present could have been any better. My father also served in the US Air Force reserves after the war and reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and formally retired after twenty-eight years in 1970, having served during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, but only being called up for WWII. As the various early stages of the Space program were completed, like at the Michoud Assembly Plant in Louisiana where parts of the Saturn V were assembled, we moved about the country and settled in Houston, Texas in 1968 where he worked for a few of the companies NASA subcontracted with there during the final stages of program development, through all the remaining Apollo launches, then retiring after the Apollo program ended in 1974.

Having watched the landing on the moon in the wee hours of the morning in 1969, I can fully appreciate the pioneering spirit of the men and women who worked so hard together to put mankind on the moon. As the story is told, when the Eagle landed on the moon in July of 1969 just three seconds of fuel remained. It was many years later I learned that fact watching a documentary of the event, and had we known only three seconds of fuel remained, I am sure it would have certainly added to the drama of the moment. I can personally attest the pioneer spirit is as infectious a spirit as there is anywhere to be found and it was exciting as a child to have grown up around the space program and lived to see it all. I was most fortunate to meet many of the early Astronauts, and all the Astronauts who went to the moon including Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin of Apollo 11. I had the honor of a lifetime when Buzz Aldrin presented me with my Eagle Scout award and spoke at my award ceremony in 1976. When the Apollo 11 Astronauts returned from the moon they brought them to Ellington Airforce Base located near NASA in Houston and where my father was stationed. My father dressed in full dress uniform for the event, and being that he was an officer we were able to practically get on the front row. Close enough that we could easily see inside the quarantine trailer the Astronauts had to stay in due to no one was sure what diseases they might bring back from the moon. I am not sure how many attended the home coming event, but it sure was an exciting moment in America history to have been there.

I can only imagine the spirit of the space program must have been very much the same for those who settled a new frontier called America. What maybe sets the two apart is with television we all got to watch and go along for the ride as well. Interesting enough, like the pioneers the men and women in the space program moved about the country like our family did when each phase ended, and with the final phases being completed, many families staying on in Houston, Texas after Apollo ended, where we remain an extended family to this day; especially, in spirit of all the memories we share. Like the pioneers, many of those who helped put mankind on the moon, like my father, are no longer with us. Coincidentally, many of those who worked so hard to put man on the moon created what we casually call Aeronautical Engineering today. Ironically, people like Wilbur and Orville Wright and those that created the science wouldn't even be qualified today to work at NASA. They were true craftsmen, inventors, engineers, and descendants of those who tamed a wilderness called America with their bare hands. If they didn't have something they simply built it. There is a lesson for us all in this history, and certainly what I personally discovered in it is a higher understanding of it and an even greater appreciation for it.

In closing, when my family first moved to Texas in 1968 we visited the San Jacinto Monument where it lists the names of those who fought there. My father had a special reason for going he did not share, because on the wall listed amongst those who bravely served that day was Benjamin Campbell Finley's name. Since that day, I have always wondered about my families past and one day I still hope to trace his roots to see if he is a cousin somewhere in the chain of those who came before. My father felt he might be as we stood together a boy of eight sharing the moment with his father looking up at the plaque with the name of those who bravely fought there listening to my father talk about the Finley's and the Campbell's and how the families together help settle America. In truth, he may be doubly so being his middle name is Campbell and his last name is Finley. However, I have yet to formally trace his past and for the present it is lost to time. It was July 1969 the next year America landed on the Moon. As I grew up, I learned my father earned the Purple Heart fighting bravely himself in World War II to defend this countries freedom. Yet, he never once spoke of it. So, this page is maybe a good start on a childhood wish to know more. What I find so curious is how much of our heritage and our history as a nation is not in the history books presented to us and taught to us in school. I suppose there is so much of it only the high points can really be taught, but there is so much more available to us. Maybe that is the true lesson learned by this endeavor of tracing the path of my family's journey across America.

......Under Major Robert McNutt, Commander of the Rear Guard at the Battle of San Jacinto in Colonel Sidney Sherman's Regiment, a Benjamin Campbell Finley served as a Private in Captain Chance's Company, a Captain James Gillaspie led Gillaspie's Company, Privates Andrew Montgomery and John Montgomery (a childhood friend of General Sam Houston from Tennessee) served in Gillaspie's Company along with Private Thomas Thomson, and a Lieutenant John F. Pettus and a Second Sergeant Edward C. Pettus served in Captain Mosely Baker's Company along with several men with last the last name of Campbell - Privates H.D. Campbell, John Campbell, Rufus E. Campbell, and D.W. Campbell who served in Captain Kuykendall's Company and Captain Chance's Company. Lieutenant John F. Pettus and his brother Second Sergeant Edward C. Pettus were in the original 300 families to settle Texas with Stephen F. Austin under the original Spanish land grants granted to his father Moses Austin. Private Alfonso Steele, from Hardin County Kentucky born in 1817 also served in Captain James Gillaspie's Company, was wounded, and was one of the last surviving Veterans of the Battle of San Jacinto passing away in 1911 at 94 years old.

Private Benjamin Campbell Finley, Major Robert McNutt (Tennessee), Captain James Gillaspie (of Tennessee), Privates Andrew Montgomery and John Montgomery (of Tennessee), Lieutenant John F. Pettus (of Virginia), Second Sergeant Edward C. Pettus (of Virginia), Private Alfonso Steele (of Kentucky), Private Thomas Thomson, and Privates H.D. Campbell, John Campbell, Rufus E. Campbell, and D.W. Campbell above may all possibly be distant cousins of mine, yet to be formally verified, and I find it interesting they all served in the Rear Guard at the Battle of San Jacinto. If I were to venture a guess, a good commanding officer must have a reliable means of retreat if so required. These were men Gen. Sam Houston possibly knew and he trusted for that important assignment. Knowing the history of what led up to the battle and victory at San Jacinto, Gen. Sam Houston did intentionally and willfully use retreat as a tactical means to better ready his troops through additional training, to allow more time for additional troops to join him, and to frustrate and wear down Santa Anna's army, attacking at San Jacinto only when the time was right, of his choosing, and his men trained and readied to do so.

In honor and respect of those who came before,

Wm. Earl Finley, BS, MS, C.P.M., A.P.P.

Graduate of The University of Tennessee's 200th Graduating Class May 1995, and

The Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandson of John Finley who settled originally on South River in Augusta County, Virginia about 1738-1740.

Written, June 1st 2005 and Last Updated March 17, 2008

Special remembrance and thanks to my mother, Betty Jane Craven Finley, who left us August of 2007 after a courageous eleven year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was an exceptional educator, mother, provider, and friend. Her wisdom and example will be sorely missed.

Historical Closing Note: George McNutt, a founding Trustee of Blount College and founding member and Elder of First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, was possibly related, yet to be verified, but likely a cousin of James McNutt, the son of Robert and Jane Wear McNutt from Augusta County, Virginia, who married Elizabeth Gillespy, the daughter of my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth Finley Gillespy. James and Elizabeth Gillespy McNutt also settled on Pistol Creek near Gillespy's station. George McNutt and his family came to America from Scotland via Ireland and at one time also resided in Rockbridge or Augusta County, Virginia and he may be the same George McNutt listed on Captain Walter Crockett titables and later led by Captain Walter Crockett in Lord Dunsmore's war in 1774. Blount College, after a few name changes and the passing of the Morrill Act formally became The University of Tennessee where I graduated from in 1995 two hundred years later. George McNutt also fought in the Revolutionary War Battle of King's Mountain in 1780. Robert and Jane Wear McNutt (of the Wear's Valley family for whom the valley is named) helped found New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Tennessee, and Robert McNutt also served as an Elder. Of further note on relationships, Robert McNutt's first wife was Elizabeth Finley the daughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley. Also, George McNutt's son, William McNutt, married Peggie Gillespie, the daughter of Captain James Gillespie and the granddaughter of William and Isabella Houston Gillespie.

Minutes of The Meeting: "Mr. Carrick, the Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, offered the prayer at the opening of the Legislature of the Territory South of the Ohio, August 25th, 1794. On the 10th day of September, 1794, the Legislature chartered Blount College, with the Rev. Samuel Carrick, President; His Excellency, William Blount, James White, General John Sevier, George McNutt, John Adair, and others, to be a body politic and corporate by the name of the President and Trustees of Blount College."

Credits and Hyperlink Bibliography:

While this is not a formal, published work, I feel it is important to give proper credit, cite my sources of information, and give proper thanks to those who have helped me write this.

Dr. Carmen J. Finley has done extensive, formally published research about the Finley's and was extremely nice in helping me with much of this history listed here along with members of my immediate family. Dr. Finley is also a descendent of the same John Finley originally from Augusta County, Virginia that I descend from listed above and a cousin a few generations removed. My father, William Latta Finley, left notes as well on descendants, letters, wills, photos, and told me the history of our family as I grew up passed on to him by his father Dozier Finley and his Grandfather Newton Gleaves Finley, and I am familiar with the Smoky Mountain region having lived there, still owning a home there, and traveling back often. Quotes related to Herald F. Stout and Albert Finley France's Finley family research, and Goodspeed's history of Tennessee came primarily from indirect sources quoted in other works of research as I do not have copies of their works. A new source and contributor of information to the website is Dr. Lee J. Bain whose formally published work is in agreement with Dr. Finley's research regarding the two John Finley's of Augusta County, Virginia as well and I am very grateful to Dr. Bain for allowing me to post his published work on my website. The Ulmer brothers of Missouri were also kind enough to let me link to their website as well about Asa Finley, and Gerald Ulmer wrote a wonderful story about Asa Finley's cabin that needs to be read by all. Phil Norfleet's research has been very valuable in tracing my Campbell Clan past, writing the journey of my family above, and we are both cousins and descendants of Alexander Campbell, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather who settled in Augusta County, Virginia in 1744. Most recently, I have linked to Dennis Glaves website and his information has been equally valuable in learning of my families past and we both descend from Matthew Gleaves and are cousins a few generations removed as well. Also, I would be remiss if I did not make mention of Aprille Cooke McCay's website and incredible research work on the Presbyterian Church in America. Also as well, Lawrence Pickard and Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research on the Thomson family, Blount County, Tennessee’s Chapter of DAR's website, Blount County, Tennessee’s History page, The Sam Houston Museum's research and website, and Joe Payne's research on the Sevier family, the Doak family, the Houston family, and the Crockett family. In addition, Tim Kessler's continuing work on documenting the entire Finley family history at Finley Findings International and even more recently information provided by Brenda Perkins that the Pettus brothers who fought at the battle of San Jacinto are distant cousins of mine and Glenn and Katie Pettus's website on the Pettus family and Colonel Thomas Pettus who may be my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. In addition, for sharing William Pettus Hobby, the 26th Governor of Texas, was likely a distant cousin several generations removed as well. I think it is very important to formally state, most of what is written here would not be possible without all of these people's dedication and hard work and I thank them all deeply for taking the time to research it, record it, publish it utilizing formal standards, and make it available to us all to link our immediate families to with the limited information we have as I have done here, and it is also equally important to note I do not purport nor present myself to be an authority on these Clans in America. I am very far from it. Hopefully, I have transcribed these works as they relate directly to my immediate family along with family records in my possession correctly. Just as the families joined in marriage on this journey, so has the research been joined here along with the family records, photos, family stories passed down to me by my father, along with a personal knowledge of the Smoky Mountains region gained from having lived there and still visiting there often. If I have made an error transcribing this history please contact me and I will correct it. It is important to me it is correct and corrections will be well received. I have also tried very hard to use words like may or possibly when there is not definitive, documented proof something is so, including presenting any disagreement by those who have done the research should any exist. In closing, whether directly related or not here in America all of these Finley's mentioned above are likely distantly related just yet to be formally proven, including the John Finley who accompanied Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap, and all likely tracing back to one common ancestor in Scotland almost one thousand years ago by the name of Macbeth who's father's Celtic name was Findlaech making him the son of Findlaech and whom all Finley's more than likely originate from. The Gaelic, and maybe more common spelling, as time went on appearing to be Fionnlagh, and Finley, Finlay, Findley, and Findlay variations of spellings in more modern times, which are all proper spellings of the name depending on the root language they are derived from. The present and 16th Chief of Clan Farquharson, Captain Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson of Invercauld, was by Lyon Court in 1949 confirmed MacFionnlaidh.

Click on the "Hyperlink" below to read Dr. Finley's extensive research, my Great Grandfather Newton Gleaves Finley's account of his 1852 trip to California; and other Campbell family history care of Phil Norfleet's website and Mr. Ulmer's website about Asa Finley. In addition, there are links to Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church history, the Latta family data base, links to Esther Gleaves history care of Dennis Glaves extensive research, the city of Campbell, California, Blount County, Tennessee, and most recently the Dozier Family website, the Finley Finding's International website where the whole Finley family story is told, Lawrence Pickard's website on the Thomson's, Aprille Cooke McCay's website on the history of the Presbyterian Church in America, Dr. Lee J. Bains published work, and Joe Payne's research on the Doak's, the Houston's, the Sevier's, and the Crockett's.