(1) Macboeda Macbeth Fionnlagh (Finlay) Chief of Clan Fionnlagh; Thane of Ross and Cromarty; Son of Fionnlagh McRuaidhri, Succeeded his father as Mormaor of Moray, became a successful General under and afterwards revolted against and killed in battle, Duncan, King of Scotland. Upon Duncan's death he succeeded to the crown and reined as King of Scotland from A.D. 1040 until his death in 1057; b. 1005 in Lumphanen; d. 5 Dec. 1057 in Lumphanen on Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; m. Gruoch the Daughter of Bodhe, and Granddaughter of Kenneth III.

“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 further solidified his power by also killing her father Kenneth III, her brother the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland, and her husband. Gruoch 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. Gruoch was Queen of the Scots at last, and her dead brother was avenged, for she sat on the throne in his stead. Macbeth and Gruoch 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 the 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 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.””

Source of above information and quote - Encyclopedia Britannica and Finley Findings International

Descendants:

(2) Macbeatha McFinlay, Thane of Cromarty 1060-1093, b. bef. 1057 d. 1093; m Bethoca McBrad (McBride) daughter of Andrew McBrad (McBride)

(3) Rory Ruari McFinlay, Thane Of Cromarty, b. unknown, m Spouse Unknown

(4) Fergus McFinlay, fourth son of Rory, and also known as Shaw or Farquhar Shaw of Rothumerches, a tenant of Rossen, Cromarty, 1210.

(5) Eugenius McFinlay (also known as Shaw Farquharson) b. in Aberdeenshire; d. 1223 m Unknown. [This is claimed origin of the Clan Farquharson in Aberdeenshire.]

(6) Fearchar McFinlay, b. 1236 in Aberdeenshire m Heiress of Patrick McDonachadh [Held large tracts at Strathdie, Parish of Crothie, in the Braes of Mar, head of Aberdeenshire, in 1236. Chief of Clan Fionnlaidh, as sept of the confederation of Clan Chattan.]

(7) Archibald Finlay d. bfr 1336; Served in the Battle Largs 1263) m Margaret Robertson, daughter of William Robertson of Lude; d before 1337.

(8) William Finlay, the Royal Forester of King Robert I. m Isobel Dempster, daughter of Thomas Dempster, Laird of Murish, and Eleanor Forbes, niece and co-heir of Viscount Forbes.

(9) Andrew Finlay, (b. 1344) Sheriff of Perth m Marjorie McDonald, niece and co-heir of John McDonald of Perthshire.

(10) John Finlay Sr., (b. 1356 Scotland.; d 1445 Scotland; Bishop of Dumblane Perthshire 1406. Reginald the Isles, Thane Glentilt, m Elanor Stewart, daughter John Stewart Fortengal.

(11) John Finley Jr. b. 1457 (Perthshire, Scotland?); d. prior to 1507; lived in Pentacost, Scotland m Mary McRae

(12) John Finley III b. 1457 (Perthshire, Scotland?); d. prior to 1507; lived in Pentacost, Scotland m Janet/Joneta Roger, daughter of William Rogers.

(13) Andrew Finley b. Abt 1483 Perthshire, Scotland; d?.; lived in Pentacost, Scotland; m Janet Hay, daughter of John Hay of Erroll, Perthshire, and Janet Douglass, lineal descendant of William De Haya, Cup Bearer to Malcolm IV; d before 27 Apr 1547, Aughenlyth, Forfarshire, Scotland.

*(14) James Finley b. 15 Sept. 1530 Newburn Parish, Balchristie Fife, Scotland; Christened 15 Sept. 1530 Cupar Angus d: 26 March 1597 Balchristie, Fife, Scotland m Elizabeth Warrender abt 1576, daughter of William and Christina Warrender; d 26 Mar 1597, Newburn, Parish of St. Andrew, Balchrystie, County Fife, Scotland.

(15) John Finley (Finlay) b. Abt 1579 in Newburn, Fife, Balchristie, Scotland; d. 6 Oct. 1670; was known as "John of Fife." (1st) Eleanor Forbes, daughter of John Forbes; m (2nd) 3 Oct 1630 w Sarah CRAIGIE, daughter of John and Christian Smith Craigie of Dunbarnie, she d 1669; he d 6 Oct 1670, Incharvie, County Fife, Scotland.

(16) James Finley b. 9 Sep 1631 Newburn Parish, Balchrystie, Scotland; d. 16 Feb 1681 m 1. Barbara Henderson 4 JAN 1648 in Newburn, Fife, Scotland; Christened 1637 Pencaitland, East Lotian, Scotland m 2 Margaret Mackie 14 January 1649 at St. Andrews, Fife; b.?; d. 1672 Incharvie(?), Fife, Scotland.

(17) Alexander Finley b. 30 Jul 1667 Inchervie, St. Andrew's, Fife, Scotland; d. 28 Jan 1736 Dublin, Ireland m Margaret Jennings b. 1668; d. 1742 Dublin, Ireland

(18) James Finley baptized in St. Peter's Church, Dublin, Ireland on 4 Dec 1687; d 10 Feb 1753, Cumberland County, PA; m 10 Jan 1706, St. Peter's Church, Dublin, Elizabeth Patterson, b 1690, d 1755, daughter of Robert and Margaret Fullerton Patterson.

**(19) John Finley b.?; d. 1782/83 Wythe County, Virginia, m ***Ms. Thompson bfr 1740; b. abt 1721 d. abt 1748-50 m (2nd) Mary Caldwell abt 1750; b. 1728; d abt 1787.

(20) William Finley, Christened 30 Jan. 1743; d bfr 9 Feb. 1802 in Wythe County, Virginia m Mary Pettus daughter of Dabney Pettus and Elizabeth Rodes; Mary died before 15 Jan 1800.

(21) Asa Finley, b 1769, Wythe Co, VA; d 8 Apr 1853 in, Nelson, Missouri m Esther Gleaves; daughter of William Gleaves and Elizabeth Turk, on 18 Aug 1806 in Wythe Co, Virginia. Esther was born in Augusta, County(?), Virginia. She died about 1 Mar 1839 in Saline Co, Missouri.

(22) James Washington Finley, b 13 Oct 1813, Christian Co, KY; d 2 May 1865, San Jose, Santa Clara Co, California m (1st) Oct 1838 w Margaret Jane Campbell; daughter of William Campbell and Sarah Mc Nary, in Callaway County, Missouri. Margaret was born 1 Feb 1820 in Muhlenburg County, Kentucky. She died 1 Oct 1852 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California and was buried in Mission Memorial, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California. m (2nd) 4 May 1854, Santa Clara Co, California, Rebecca Mc Coy, b 2 Feb 1827, Greene Co, TN, d 18 Jul 1909, Santa Clara County, California.

(23) Newton Gleaves Finley b. 5 Mar 1841 in Saline County, Missouri. He died 21 Jun 1933 in Campbell, Santa Clara County, California and was buried in Santa Clara County, California m Kate Rowena Dozier daughter of Lewis and Cynthia Carnes Dozier on 4 Aug 1874 in Campbell, Santa Clara Co, CA. Kate was born 1 May 1848 in St Louis, MO. She died 28 Dec 1926 in Agnew State Hospital, Santa Clara Co, CA and was buried in Sunset Columbar, Oakland Alameda County, California.

(24) Dozier Finley b. 22 Dec 1880 in Santa Clara County, California. He died 25 May 1960 in Berkeley, Alameda County, California and was buried in Sunset Cemetery, Berkeley, California m. Mary Bingham Latta daughter of William James and Kitty Nigh (Bingham) Latta on 21 Apr 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mary was born 24 Nov 1890 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died 11 Nov 1968 in Berkeley, California and was buried in Sunset Cemetery, Berkeley, California.

(25) William Latta Finley b. 1920 Berkeley, California, d 1987 Houston, Texas m at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, California in October of 1953 Betty Jane Craven b. 1921 in Elwood City, Pennsylvania; daughter of William and Hattie Frietaug Craven.

(26) William Earl Finley, b 1959; Seattle, Washington m Kathryn Marie Gibson 1984; b. Salt Lake City, Utah 1961; Divorced 1986, m (2nd) Sherry Louise Stutesman 1987; b. 1965 Pasadena, Texas; Divorced 1996; no children.

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*Descendants after descendant (13) Andrew Finley forward in time is verifiable with church records, according to Herald Stout’s research. Finley Findings International references the earlier research of Carrie Wood, Albert Finley France, and Herald Stout extensively gathering this same information and indicates the Finley line of descent above can be found in some of the following manuscripts, "The Chart of Descent of House of Finley, from Manuscript Pedigrees at the Society of Genealogists, London, derived from Annals of Four Masters; Cronnelly's Irish Families; and Keating's History of Ireland." Update Oct 1, 2007 - I have recently tried to verify some of Herald Stout's research specifically on (18) James Finley with the assistance of researchers in Dublin, Ireland to no avail thus far. It should be noted, other Finley family researchers like Dr. Carmen J. Finley, have found errors in Herald Stout's research, which is also built on some of the earlier work of Albert Finley France. Whether this may be an error in the earlier research of others named, records possibly lost to time, or merely record location yet to be found remains to be determined.

**Parentage is speculative according to Dr. Carmen J. Finley's formally published research and yet to be formally verified, but based on her more current Finley family research the parents of (19) John Finley are likely (18) James and Elizabeth Patterson Finley rather than John and Thankful Doak as recorded by earlier Finley family researchers Albert Finley France and Herald Stout. Dr. Carmen J. Finley's more current and formally published research is presented above, but the differences by Finley researchers is duly noted.

***Earlier Finley Family researchers Albert Finley France and Herald Stout list only Mary Caldwell as the wife of (19)John Finley. Again, the more current formally published research of of Dr. Carmen J. Finley is presented above, but the differences by Finley researchers is duly noted.

Sources - Personal family records back to (19)John Finley originally of Augusta County, Virgina; Finley Findings International which references Herald Stout's research extensively; Dr. Carmen J. Finley; and The Finley Family Website and related linked sites on Rootsweb Website located at:

Finley Findings International Website:

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/finleyfindings/VOL1.html

Dr. Carmen J. Finley's Website:

http://rootsweb.com/~cascgs/

Finley Family Website:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cafamilies/finley/index.html

Finley Family Genealogy Website:

http://www.users.bigpond.com/mywebhome/finley.html

Article by Dr. Lee J. Bain

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