Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website.

Special thanks to Dr. Finley for her extensive research, her kindness in helpng me with this website, and granting permission for this link to her website. It should also be noted my immediate family has contibuted information on our branch to Dr. Finley's Finley family research. While my father is no longer here, a special mention of thanks should go to him as well for sharing the stories of our family, providing me with the line of descendants, and most importantly a thanks for the ride to the moon and back as a child. He taught by the legacy he left us that the stars, as are our dreams, are only as far away as our own imagination. E=MC2

Article published by and information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website.

John Finley of originally of Augusta County, Virginia was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather. My Finley line by male descendants is as follows: John Finley was followed by William Finley, Asa Finley, James Washington Finley, Newton Gleaves Finley, Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, and then myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. James Washington Finley married Margaret Jane Campbell Finley joining togther two Scottish families that go back to Tinkling Springs in Augusta County, Virginia. Both families it seems left Scotland in large part to religious persecution. Together they went west becoming one family on the way. Full family member information is within.

Published in Kentucky Ancestors, Vol. 35 and Vol. 36, 1999 and 2000

Research and information care of Dr. Lee J. Bain, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics (Statistics) University of Missouri at Rolla, Rolla, Missouri

Supporting Genealogy Chart Prepared by Dr. Bain at Bottom of Page

"The only Finley in Preston's 1742 militia list of Augusta Co.[6, Vol 2], which covered the western lands, was John Finley of the Middle River area, in Col. James Patton's Company, who married Thankful Doak. once again there has been some confusion by early researchers on the identity of this John. There was a second John Finley in the early records of Augusta Co., living on South River, who married Mary Caldwell, and both had children baptized by John Craig, pastor of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, in the 1740's. Finley researchers list John (m. Thankful Doak) as the son of James Finley & Elizabeth Patterson, and the father of the John who married Mary Caldwell, however, Dr. Carmen Finley has done a detailed study of these two Johns, and in a recent publication [7] shows these are two contemporary individuals, and not father and son. John & Mary Finley of South River divide a tract of 892 acres in 1750 with a Robert Finley and a William Finley. This William Finley married Mary Wallace, sister of Rev. Caleb Wallace, and is the son of James Finley and Elizabeth Patterson [8] . Robert Finley married Martha Henderson. It appears that John, Robert and William of South River are brothers, and sons of James Finley and Elizabeth Patterson. Carmen Finley concludes that John married first a Miss Thomson, daughter of the famous preacher, Rev. John Thomson, and that John died in 1782 in Montgomery Co., Va. James Finley's son, John, was born in 1706. Carmen Finley also mentions an early family record which states that John's ancestor immigrated to America with 8 sons, which agrees with James Finley and Elizabeth Patterson. This makes the two John Finley’s 2nd cousins, once removed."

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website.

Dr. Carmen J. Finley, as well as myself, descend from the same John Finley who settled on South River in Augusta County, Virginia prior to 1740 and he helped establish Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in 1740 in present day Fisherville, Virginia near the southern entrance to the Shenandoah National Park where he served as a Commisioner and an Elder.

While not formally verified yet, Dr. Finley lists James and Elizabeth Patterson Finley as the parents of John Finley who settled on South River in Augusta County, Virginia.

While other researchers show the family line all the way back to McBeth whom all Finley's likely descend from, Dr. Finley has taken the family line back to James Finley and stopped there. The history becomes less verifiable after James Finley with supporting documents such as baptisms, weddings, wills, deeds, and death certificates.

Picking up from John Finley and Ms Thomson Finley, my Finley line by male descendants are as follows: John Finley was followed by William Finley, Asa Finley, James Washington Finley, Newton Gleaves Finley, Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, and then myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley.

Information and research care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's website.

Martha Finley, daughter of John Finley (1719-1783), married Patrick Jack in 1765 who owned a fifteen square mile track of land where the Tellico River and the Tennessee river meet, which was granted to "Patrick Jack of Franklin County and State of Pennsylvania by Deed from Little Carpenter a Cherokee Chief of the Over hill Towns and Gover Dobbs of the State of North Carolina". Patrick Jack sold the land to John Finley in 1795 for 24,000 dollars. What is very interesting is this predates the famed trip of John Finley and Daniel Boone through the Cumberland Gap in 1768 and clearly establishes the Finley Clan as being some of the first to visit and settle in the region. This John Finley Sr., his daughter Martha, and possibly his son or grand nephew John Finley, may be distantly related to me, but just where in the family line is yet to be determined until my family line is formally connected.

Website information and research care of Augusta County, Virginia.

Heavy migration of Scotch-Irish, Welsh, and Germans from Pennsylvania into Virginia began about 1730. Augusta County became the haven for Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. While Augusta County was officially formed from Orange County in 1738, it wasn't until 1745 that the first court was held. We are fortunate to have these early court records transcribed in Lyman Chalkley's "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800." If you are new to searching Augusta County, Chalkley is the place to start.

Information care of Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church history page.

Rev. John Thompson also spelled Thomson was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather and Rev. James Latta was my Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. Both of these men ministered at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and both served an important role in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in America being elected as Moderator of the General Assembly. Rev. John Thompson was the first recorded minister of the church and he later went on to minister in Virginia including in Tinkling Springs in Augusta County, as a visiting or itinerant minister. His daughter(no first name ever recorded) married John Finley, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather while Rev Thompson was minister of Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania. The third and current house of worship constructed on the site was erected in 1765, however, the congregration is much older tracing back to 1711.

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website.

According to Dr. Carmen J. Finley's extensive research, John Thomson or Thompson as it was sometimes spelled, , was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather. My Thompson/Finley line then would be as follows: Rev. John Thompon's unnamed daughter, Ms Thompson, married John Finley who was followed by William Finley, Asa Finley, James Washington Finley, Newton Gleaves Finley, Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, and then myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. Full family member information is within.

Information care of Aprille Cooke McCay's website and research.

The Thompson/Thomson's, The Alison's, the Finley's, and the Latta's are all family's I descend from that came to America due to the religious persecution they faced in Scotland. All played a major role in helping establish the Presbyterian Church in America. William Penn's colony of Pennsylvania practiced and upheld the right to religous freedom, so many of the Scottish Presbyterian's quickly migrated and settled in Pennsylvania.

"With such noble men as Anderson, Bertram, Latta, Boyd, Irwin, Grier, Smith, Carmichael, Foster, McFarquhar, Mitchell, Blair, Craighead, Finley, Sample, Cathcart, Snodgrass and others, the cause was carried forward in steady line and solid progress. Prominent among the churches which sprang into existence, was the Church in Abington, which was organized in 1714, by the Rev. Malachi Jones, and of which the Rev. Dr. William Tennent was pastor for twenty-nine years; the Church in New London, of which Dr. Francis Alison was one of the first pastors, having, in connection with his pastorate, the charge of an academy, at which many young men were trained for usefulness and distinction in the various vocations of life..."

Information care of Aprille Cooke McCay's website and research.

Rev. John Thompson also spelled Thomson, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, one of the early leaders in the Presbyterian Church in America, He authored a proposal that the Presbyterian church require all ministers and elders to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism in 1724. He was preaching in Lewes, Delaware at the time. After five years of consideration and debate it led to the passing of the Adopting Act in 1729, by which assent to the Westminster Confession of Faith was required of all members of the Synod, and of all candidates for admission to the Presbyteries.

Information care of Aprille Cooke McCay's website and research.

He came from Ireland as a probationer, in 1715, and was ordained and installed in April, 1717, pastor of the congregation in Lewes, Del., where he remained until September, 1729. He accepted a call from Middle Octorara, but being harassed by dissensions among his people, he removed in 1732, to Chestnut Level. In 1738, he visited the Valley of Virginia, and being released from his charge, July 31st, 1744, made his home in the Valley, in Prince Edward County, on Buffalo Creek. In 1744, he visited North Carolina, and again in 1751. He was a hard-line "Old Side" minister and was the father-in-law of Rev. Richard Sankey. He published at Williamsburg, in 1740, an "Explication of the Shorter Catechism." He was then laboring in Amelia. He died in 1753, in Centre, North Carolina.

Information and research care of Lawrence Pickard's Website.

"From "Carolina Cradle" by Robert W. Ramsey we find: "In terms of colonial prominence John Thompson also spelled Thomson was unquestionably the most celebrated of the early inhabitants of the Carolina frontier." 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."

"Rev. Thompson's relation to Patrick Henry: Sarah Thompson's daughter became the wife of Rev. Richard Sankey, minister of the Buffalo Church near Cub Creek - married about 1730and had one son and several daughters. One daughter became the wife of Richard Gilliam, son of John Gilliam who married Lucy Henry, daughter of Patrick Henry. In other words, a grandson of Patrick Henry married a granddaughter of Rev. Thompson. This explanation from Worth Ray's "Tennessee Cousins.""

"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 poular 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 (Thompson), (called "Robin" and also Roger was the youngest son of my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather 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 Robert, also called Roger, Thompson my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle was killed. The first man to lose his life "in" the American Revolution(Note: Crispus Addicks died at the Boston Massacre, which began the 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."

Essay written by the Rev. Dr. Peter Wallace about John Thomson and Gilbert Tennent on The Great Awakening.

"History is generally written by the winners--and most historians tend to side with the winners as those who were most culturally adapted to succeed, and therefore more "modern" than their outdated opponents. Such is frequently the case with respect to the Great Awakening in the colonial Presbyterian church. Until recently, the vast majority of historians have written from a perspective sympathetic to Gilbert Tennent and the New Side revivalists. Such historians have naturally viewed John Thomson, one of the leaders of the Old Side, in the terms which Tennent and his colleagues portrayed him. In 1743, Tennent had inveighed against Thomson's The Doctrine of Convictions Set in a Clear Light (1741) as a "detestable and inconsistent performance....Hardly anything can be invented that has a more direct tendency to destroy the common operations of God's Holy Spirit, and to keep men from Jesus Christ." What historians often neglect, however, are Tennent's own comments six years later, in his Irenicum (1749), where he praised Thomson's Government of the Church (1741) for breathing "the candid, humble spirit of true Christianity," and declared that Thomson's writings spoke in a "candid charitable Strain, to the Honour of the late Revival of Religion, as well as the Honour of the ministers he opposed.""

Information care of Aprille Cooke McCay's website and research.

Helping represent the Newcastle Presbytery was Rev. James Latta my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather. The first meeting of the General Assembly took place on the 21st day of May, 1789. ""The Assembly met in the Second Presbyterian Church, in the city of Philadelphia, and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and sixth President of Princeton University (following Rev. Samuel Finley the fifth President and founding Trustee of Princeton University), from 1st Cor., iii,7: "So, then, neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.""

Information care of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church history webpage.

Founded in 1740 by a few Scotch-Irish families including my family. John Finley, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, helped found the church and served as an Elder and a commissioner for many years. Located in present day Fisherville, Virginia, the church is in its third building, and the first minister they considered and or may have requested to be their minister was John Finley's father-in-law, Rev. John Thomson, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandfather, but he was not available and he remained at Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania until 1744 when he was allowed to leave and join family and friends already living in Virginia settling in the Cubs Creek region near Rev. Richard Sanky who was married to his daughter, my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Aunt Sarah Thomson.

Information care of University of Delaware history webpage.

Already an established Minister and a leader in the Presbyterian Church in America, on November 24, 1743 in a Philidelphia newspaper the following was posted, "We are informed that there is a Free-School opened at the House of Mr. Alison in Chester County, for the Promotion of Learning, where all Persons may be instructed in the Languages and some other Parts of Polite Literature, without any Expences for their Education."

Rev. Francis Alison's first class included Robert and Thomas McKean, George Read (Del.), James Smith (Penn), Hugh Williamson, John Ewing, John Cochran, Charles Thomson, James Latta, Matthew Wilson, and Paul Jackson. They became leaders of a Nation; three signers of the Declaration of Independence(James Smith from the Colony of Pennsylvania; George Read and Thomas McKain of the Colony of Delaware), Governors, Physicians, and Leaders of the Presbyterian Church in America(Rev. James Latta).

"This free school changed its location several times, settling eventually in Newark, Delaware, roughly eight miles from where it began. And it changed its name many times, becoming the Academy of Newark in 1769, when first incorporated by a Penn charter, and then Newark College in 1833, Delaware College in 1843, and the University of Delaware in 1921".

Rev. Francis Alison's sister, Mary Alison, was married to the Senior Rev. James Latta who arrived from Ireland in 1738, and the Junior Rev. James Latta, also arrving in 1738 at 8 years old, was their only child together making Francis Alison my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle and Mary Alison Latta my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandmother.

Information care of my families information on file and the Latta Family website.

Rev. James Latta was one of the first graduates of the University of Pennsylvania in 1757 and Rev. James Latta attended Francis Alison's Academy with James Smith from the Colony of Pennsylvania; George Read and Thomas McKain of the Colony of Delaware; three of the signers of the Declaration of Independence as representatives of their Colonies later in life. Rev. James Latta's diploma is recorded as the oldest diploma still in existance granted from the University of Pennsylvania. I have a copy of this diploma on my wall with a photo of the Latta family donating it to the University for their safe keeping in 1940.

Rev. James Latta's Great, Great, Great, Granddaughter, Mary Bingham Latta, married my Grandfather Dozier Finley in 1919. What is unique is both family's tie back to the Chestnut Level Church to meet up well over a century later when Dozier Finley and Mary Bingham Latta married bringing these two early American families back together again. My family line through male descendants is as follows: Rev. James Latta, followed by Rev. James Latta, Rev. James Latta, William Sutton Latta, William James Latta, then Mary Bingham Latta married Dozier Finley, then by William Latta Finley, myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. Full family member information is within.

Information care of University of Pennsylvania's website and history of the University.

Benjamin Frankin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America and signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also the founder of the University of Pennsylvania where Rev, James Latta, my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, graduated from in the original graduating class of six graduates in 1757. Two of his fellow graduates in 1757, Francis Hopkinson and Hugh Williamson, were also signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The Vice Provost Signature was: Francis Alison, Vice-Provost of the College and Rector of the Academy. [Rev. Francis Alison was Rev. James Latta's Uncle]

Information and research care of University of Pennsylvania.

After the death of David Martin in November of 1751, Alison was asked to leave the New London Academy to take Martin's place as Rector of the Academy of Philadelphia (the origin of the University of Pennsylvania) and master of its Latin School. The Anglican trustees of the Academy overcame their reluctance to bring in an Irish Presbyterian with their appreciation of Alison's uncommon abilities as a teacher of Latin and Greek.

Alison was initially characterized by students as an unsmiling pedagogue who was rarely in good humor. However, throughout his years of service at the College and Academy, he attracted many young men of Presbyterian background as well as those who wished to enter the Presbyterian Ministry. It was due to the representations of Alison and Provost William Smith that the Trustees were induced to apply for the collegiate charter, which was obtained in 1755. In that same year, Alison was given an A.M. by both Yale and Princeton. He became Vice-Provost when Smith made Provost, and remained a much loved and valued teacher until his death in Philadelphia, on November 28, 1779.

Information care of Prineton University website and history of the University.

Rev. Samuel Finley (1715-1766), a Finley notable, was the fifth president of Princeton, came to this country with his parents when he was nineteen. Both he and his brother James were Presbyterian ministers and played an important role in the Presbyterian Church's early years in America. At one point in time his family line and my family line were thought to be the same, however, that has since been disproven related to the generations that lived here in America, yet there still remains a possibility we may be related if traced back in time further to Scotland. He taught his nephew, Benjamin Rush one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Rev. John Witherspoon, also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, replaced Samuel Finley as the sixth President of Princeton. John Witherspoon's page is the next page in the link.

Special Note: Samuel Finley's Great Grandson was Samuel Finley Breeze Morse the inventor of the Telegraph and Morse Code.

Research and information care of Glen and Katie Pettus's website and where a link is to Brenda Perkins who provided me with this interesting piece of Pettus family history.

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 Pettus6 below 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 to sent to assist the colonists in their struggles with the Powhatan Indians at Jamestown. Colonel Thomas Pettus 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."

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 Esther Gleaves (1786-1839) whose family was from Augusta County, Virginia on August 18, 1806.

My Line of Pettus Line Descent:

William Latta Finley15, Dozier Finley14, Newton Gleaves Finley13, James Washington Finley12, Asa Finley11, Mary10 Pettus, Dabney Pettus9, Stephan Pettus8, Thomas Pettus7, Col. Thomas Pettus6, Thomas Pettus5, Thomas Pettus4, John Pettus3, Thomas Pettus2, Petyous1

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 as well a few generations removed. the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas is named in his honor and is located fifteen minutes drive from my home in Houston.

Information and research care of The University of Oklahoma Law Library website.

"March 12, 1612

James, by the grace of God [King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith;] to all to whom [these pres-ents shall come,] greeting. Whereas at the humble suite of divers and sundry our lovinge subjects, aswell adventurers as planters of the First Colonie in Virginia, and for the propagacion of Christian religion and reclayminge of people barbarous to civilitie and humanitie, we have by our lettres patent bearing date at Westminster the three and twentieth daie of May in the seaventh yeare of our raigne of England, Frannce and Ireland, and the twoe and fortieth of Scotland, given and grannted unto them, that they and all suche and soe manie of our loving subjects as shold from time to time for ever after be joyned with them as planters or adventurers in the said plantacion, and their succes-sors for ever, shold be one body politique incorporated by the name of The Treasorer and Planters of the Cittie of London for the First Colonie in Virginia..."

Information care of Mr. Ulmer's research and website.

I would like to make a special note here that I found out on 4/10/05 this cabin still stands for the first time. I contacted Mr. Ulmer and his brother the same day and I contacted some historical groups in an effort to help save it.

Information care of Mr. Ulmer's research and website.

Asa and Esther Gleaves Finley were my Great, Great, Great Grandparents and James Washington Finley was one of their sons and my Great, Great Grandfather. James Washington Finley with his wife Margaret Jane Campbell Finley, and their children, which included Newton Gleaves Finley, my Great Grandfather, went west to California in 1852 led by Margaret's brother Benjamin Campbell whom the city of Campbell, Cailifornia is named for. They were the children of William Campbell whom Campbell County California is named for. William Campbell led a wagon train to California in 1846. Mr. Ulmer and his brother grew up close by to Asa and Esther's log cabin. It was they who photographed the old cabin and were kind enough to let me link to their website.

This link to documents care of The Gleaves family and Dennis Glaves its Author and many others related to him worked hard for many years to write it.

It is a wonderful account of the Gleaves family. Esther Gleaves married Asa Finley on August 18, 1806 in Wythe County, Virginia and they settled in or around present day Christian County, Kentucky being some of the earliest to settle there. Asa was there as early as 1803 surveying land for himself. Asa and Esther are my Great, Great, Great Grandparents and clearly one of America's earliest Pioneer families. My family line through male descendants is as follows: Matthew Glaves/Gleaves followed by William Gleaves, then Esther Gleaves married Asa Finley, Newton Gleaves Finley, Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. Full family member information is within.

Information care of Phil Norfleet's website and research.

I have copies of the account as well passed down to me from my father, William Latta Finley, Grandson of Newton Gleaves Finley who wrote it. Newton Gleaves Finley was my Great Grandfather.

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's website and research.

I have copies of the account as well passed down to me from my father, William Latta Finley, Grandson of Newton Gleaves Finley who wrote it. Newton Gleaves Finley was my Great Grandfather

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website on the Finley's.

Historical information contributed by my Aunt Cynthiana Finley Elliot and photo contributed by Dr. Alton Lovell Alderman. I have the companion photo taken from the side of this photo with him sitting in the chair holding the cane. Written and signed by Newton Gleaves Finley in 1870 who came west as a boy on a wagon train led by Benjamin Campbell whom Campbell, California is named.

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's Research and website on the Finley's.

Autobiography contributed by my Aunt Cynthiana Finley Elliot. I have the companion photo taken from the side of this photo with him sitting in the chair holding the cane. Written and signed by Newton Gleaves Finley my Great Grandfather in 1917 who came west as a boy on a wagon train led by Benjamin Campbell whom Campbell, California is named.

Information care of Oregon State University.

William Asa Finley was Newton Gleaves Finley's brother and the son of James Washington Finley and Margaret Jane Campbell Finley as well. He was my Great, Great, Uncle and he served as Oregon States first President from 1865-1872 when its name was officially changed from Corvallis College to Oregon State University. Upon retirement, he returned to Santa Rosa, California where he lived out the remainder of his years.

Information and research care of OSU website.

Hugh McNary Finley was my Great, Great Uncle and brother to William Asa Finley the fist President of Oregon State University.

Information care of Phil Norfleet's website and research.

"David Campbell (1710-1753), better known as "Black David," is a familiar name to those people researching the Campbells of Southwest Virginia." He was my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather and his father was Alexander Campbell who settled in Augusta County, Virginia about 1744. My family line is as follows: Alexander Campbell, David Campbell, William Campbell, David Campbell, William Campbell, Margaret Jane Campbell marries James Washington Finley, followed by Newton Gleaves Finley, Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, and myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. Full family member information is within.

"Many notable pioneers and military/political figures are descendants of Black David. For example, both of his sons, Captain William (1748-1800) and Colonel David (1753-1832) were Revolutionary War Veterans. Colonel David was the founder of Campbell’s Station, near Knoxville TN."

Information care of Dr. Carmen J. Finley's research and website.

James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy were my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle and Aunt. Together with his brothers, William and John, they went through the Cumberland Gap into present day Blount County, Tennessee and established Gillespy's Station in 1787 on Pistol Creek near where Little River meets the Holston River.

More research is needed to verify whether my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James Gillespy descends from John Gillespie (1560-1626). His father, James Gillespy Sr., came to America from Ireland in 1741, landed in Philadephia, and went directly to Augusta County, Virginia where he had purchased land. In his will he left inheritance to his brother John Gillepy's children back in Ireland.

Information and research care of R.M. Graham who presented his research in 1921 to the American Genealogical Society and copy care of Rootsweb.com's website.

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 Thompson (arriving in about 1713-1714) living with him first in Delaware and then later in Pennsylvania where he ministered prior to coming to Augusta County, Virginia, and Samuel Crockett married Rev. John Thompson's daughter, Esther Thompson, making my line of the Finley's 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 Thompson's, the Caldwell's, the Montgomery's, the Gleaves's, and the Steele's to name a few, making all these families related to one another. The Crockett's came from France origionally, 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.

Information and research care of Joe Payne and his website.

Davy Crockett was married to Mary (Polly) Finley the Great Grandaughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley who lived on Middle River in Augusta County, Virginia. Her father, William Finley, was the son of John Finley who came to Knoxville in 1792. John Finley fought in the battle of King's Mountain in 1780 with Davy Crockett's father, John Crockett.

Information and reasearch care of Joe Payne and his website.

The Doak's, the Crockett's, the Houston's, The Gillespy's, the Gleaves, the Pettus's, the Campbell's, the Steele's, the Montgomery's, the Shield's, and many more are all families that settled in Augusta County, Virginia in the late 1730's to late 1740's and these families all intermarried and are related by marriage to each other. Some later generations came south to Blount County, Tennessee, others to Kentucky, and others to North Carolina. Thankkful Doak was married to John Finley who settled on middle river in Augusta County, Virginia and they were the Great grandparents of Mary (Polly) Finley who Married Davy Crockett.

Information care of Phil Norfleet's website and research.

David Campbell was "Black" David Campbell's youngest son and my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle.

Website and research care of Blount County, Tennessee.

I am distantly related to five families who established forts or stations as they were called then in the late 1700's. They were Campbell's Station, Gillespy Station, Houston's Station, McTeer's Station, and Shield's Station. McTeer, Gillespy, and Houston Stations were in Blount County, Tennessee, Shield Station was in present day Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Campbell's Station was in present day Farragut, Tennessee.

Information care of Margie Cowan's website and research.

William and Jane Walker Cowan were the parents of Ellen Cowan who married James (Smoking Jimmie) Gillespy who was the son of my Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth Finley Gillespy. James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy established Gillespy's Station in 1787 on Pistol Creek. They were some of the earliest Europeans to settle in what became Blount County, Tennessee when it was the Territory of Franklin.

Information and research care of Sevier Library.org.

Governor John Sevier commissioned a James Gillespy Captain in the Blount County Militia in 1797 and again in 1800 who was likely my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth Finley Gillespy's son. Also, Governor John Sevier commissioned a James Gillespy a Justice of The Peace in 1799. In my research James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy's brothers William Gillespie and John Gillespy do not appear to have had a son named James, and James and Elizabeth Finley Gillespy did have a son named James Gillespy. My Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James Gillespy and one of his sons were killed in an Indian attack in 1792 near their home on Pistol Creek according to Inez Burns in her book, the History of Blount County, Tennessee and why it is likely the James Gillespy commisioned a Captain and Justice of the Peace by Governor John Sevier was their son.

Information and research care of Patricia Swallows Carden's Website:

Names associated with my family whether directly related, distant cousin, or relation by marriage were and or may be: John Findley, George Findley, Colonel William Campbell, William Campbell Jr., David Campbell, James Gillespie, William Gillespie, James Houston, John Crockett, Colonel John Sevier, and Joseph Sevier. Other family names related by marriage as well who appear on the Kings Mountain Patriot roster are Thompson, Thomson, Doak, Steele, Montgomery, Bingham, Pettus, Kerr, Steele, Sevier, and I am sure a few more. Note: There are many spellings to Scottish names such as Finley, Findley, Finlay, and Findlay. All are correct spellings depending on the root language. It was common as well for names to be recorded by the spelling familiar to the person recording the information and not necessarily how the person themselves would actually spell their name.

Website and research care of Blount County, Tenneesee Daughters of The American Revolution.

The work done by this organization to documment and preserve this history along with bring it into the modern era of the Internet in my opinion should be commended. Click on Patriots to see the names of the men from Blount County who fought in the American Revolution and click on markers to see where they are buried. DAR has placed markers at all the graves and locations of stations such as McTeer's Station.

This monument to the Revolutionary Soldiers from Blount County has my Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle James Gillespy and his son-in-law Major James Houston. James Gillespy's brother William Gillespy is also listed, as well as, John Houston, John Houston III, Robert McTeer, and John McCrosky.

Information care of Phil Norfleet's website and research.

"David Campbell of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky was born in the year 1772, in what was then Botetourt County, in that part of Southwest Virginia lying on the South Fork of the Holston River. He was the eldest son of Captain William Campbell (1748-1800) and Mary Elizabeth Ellison (1755-1825)," and he was my Great, Great, Great Grandfather.

"Late in life, about the year 1831, David Campbell emigrated to Callaway County, Missouri with his wife Margaret, daughter Margaret, and at least three of his sons (James, Robert and Thomas). David Campbell died testate in Callaway County in about the year 1838. His will, dated 20 February 1836, with codicil dated 20 June 1836, was probated in Callaway County, Missouri on 6 June 1838."

Information and research care of Joe Payne and his website.

Major James Houston was the older second cousin to Gen. Sam Houston of Texas fame and Major James Houston married the daughter of my Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth Finley Gillespy named Mary (Polly) Gillespy making my line of the Finley's cousins to Gen. Sam Houston's line of the Houston's. My Great, Great, Great, Great, Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth Finley Gillespy established Gillespy's Station in 1787 near present day Rockford, Tennessee in Blount County, Tennessee.

Information and research care of Wallace L. McKeehan and WWW.TAMU.EDU website.

......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 Thompson, 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 Thompson, 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 he 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 used retreat as a tactical means to better ready his troops through additional training, allow more time for additional troops to join him, and to intentionally frustrate and wear down Santa Anna's army.

Information care of Phil Norfleet's website and research.

I have copies of the account as well passed down to me from my father, William Latta Finley. William Campbell, Captain William Campbell's Grandson, was the eldest son of David Campbell, Captain William Campbell's eldest son as well, and he was my Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. Campbell County, California is named after William Campbell. His wagon train and his family were some of the earliest to go to California overland by covered wagon prior to the gold rush which began in 1849 at Sutter's Mill.

Information care of the city of Campbell, California.

Campbell, California is named for Benjamin Campbell my Great, Great Uncle. Photo of Benjamin Campbell and his wife, Maria Louise Campbell, shown along with the history. A Special thanks to the city and the Campbell Historical Museum for their help in my research of both the Campbell's and the Finley's and use of the photo of Benjamin Campbell and his wife in my family photo album page.

Information care of the Dozier Family website.

The Dozier's came to America from France in or around 1684. I believe Leonard Dozier to be my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather and he was born in France in 1643 and shows up in Westmoreland Virgina County records receiving his naturalization papers in 1684. My family line by male descendants is as follows: Leonard Dozier followed by John Dozier, William Dozier, Thomas Dozier, Lewis Dozier, then Kate Rowena Dozier married Newton Gleaves Finley, then followed by Dozier Finley, William Latta Finley, and myself William Earl Finley and my older brother Eric David Finley. See the full family line within. Like my other family lines they went south from Virginia, but into North Carolina, then westward to Tennessee in 1824, then Missouri in 1828, and California when in 1874 Kate Rowena Dozier met and married Newton Gleaves Finley.

Information and research care of First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, Tennessee

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. 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. Also it should be noted as well that Robert McNutt's first wife was Elizabeth Finley the daughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley.

Information and research care of Jack McNutt and his website

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. 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. Also it should be noted as well that Robert McNutt's first wife was Elizabeth Finley the daughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley.

Information and research care of the The University of Tennessee's Website

One of the fifty oldest colleges in America and originally charted as Blount College in 1794, the college went through a few name changes and after the passing of the Morill Act of 1862 formally became the University of Tennessee in 1879. 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. 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. Also it should be noted as well that Robert McNutt's first wife was Elizabeth Finley the daughter of John and Thankful Doak Finley.

Information and research care of Finley Finding's International website.

The Finley Finding's International states it is devoted to tracing, recording, and accurately presenting the Finley family's entire history. It is updated regularly as more information is found, researched, and verified.

You will be a while, so you better get a cup of coffee...see excerpts below from Volume 1.

“Malcolm II, father of Duncan, murdered MacBeth’s father, Fionnlagh McRuaidhri, in 1020, making himself sole King of Scotland. Gruoch married to Gillacomgain, son of Maelbrigdi, a powerful Chieftain of that district, watched as her cousin Malcolm II also killed her father Kenneth III, her brother the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland, and her husband. Grouch fled from Moray into Ross, and appealed to Macbeth for help. He, fair, yellow-haired and tall, having some claim to the crown, made his claim effectual by espousing the heiress of line making Gruoch his wife. Macbeth pursued his success and made himself master of the whole kingdom. He was proclaimed King of the Scots at Scone, under protection of the Clans of Ross and Moray, and representing the northern and Celtic elements of the public by birth and marriage, had the most powerful interests in the country behind him. Grouch was Queen of the Scots at last, and her dead brother was avenged, for she sat on the throne in his stead. Macbeth and Grouch set themselves to reign well. He made laws for the common will, which were most benign and liberal and was not the murderer history has painted him to be as he won his crown in battle at Bothgowanan near Elgin. Duncan died of wounds received in battle with Macbeth, and was carried to Elgin by Macbeth, where he died. Macbeth transplanted his remains to the Royal Cemetery on the Isle of Iona, burying Duncan with honor at Iona, the resting place of lawful kings, but not of usurpers.”

“Macbeth’s death ended a dynasty, which began with the earliest foundations of Ireland and Scotland, as we have already seen. At the time of his death, defeated in battle by Malcolm Canmore on 5 Dec. at Aberdeenshire, his children were young, so the Clan Fionnlagh placed his stepson, Lulach, on the throne. However, he reined only 6 months, also being defeated and slain at Eske in Strathbogie by the Saxon invaders and the rebellious adherents of Malcolm Canmore, afterward, King Malcolm III Canmore, eldest son of Duncan I. Macbeth was also buried on the Isle of Iona the place for rightful King’s. After Lulach, no other member of the Clan Fionnlagh has been on the throne of Scotland to the present day. Members of the clan became hunted outlaws, long before religious persecution drove them from the British Isles. Because of this the Clan Fionnlagh took on the name of the Clan Farquharson, so named because of the Farquhar Shaw of Rothiemurchus. Wood and France state: "In 1236 in the Braes of Mar at the head of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, there was a certain chief named Fearchar, son of Farquhar, who was the fourth son of Shaw Dubh of Rothiemurchus, who was head of a powerful clan known in the Highlands as Clan Fionnlagh, a sept of the great confederation, Clan Chatten, which held large possessions which were acquired by marriage with the heiress of Invercauld and from this Fearchar. Their son, Finlay Mor, first of the House of Farquharson, fell at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547, fighting for Mary, Queen of Scots.””

Research and information care of Finley Family website.

Like Finley Findings International this is an excellent reseource for Finley family research if you are researching your own family line. Also, it has a section on Ancient family history going back before written or recorded time to the time of legends.