VOL. 11 NO. 1

Introduction

I have resumed publication of this newsletter after taking a long hiatus. I have changed jobs and location. I am now employed at The Messenger daily newspaper as a copy editor and am living with my family in Madisonville, KY.

This issue will contain several queries, plus some information gleaned from the Internet.

Clan Farquharson

As those of you who have seen my accounts of early FINLEY history know, one of the related clans to the Clan FINLEY is the Clan FARQUHARSON.

Information on this group can be found at www.tartans.com/ clans/Farquharson/farquharson.html. The following information comes from that site.

Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Or, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure (for Farquhar Shaw, descended from MacDuff, Earl of Fife); 2nd and 3rd, Argent, a fir tree growing out of a mount in base Vert, seeded Proper, on a chief Gules the Banner of Scotland displayed Or, and a canton of the First charged with a dexter hand couped at the wrist fessways holding a dagger point downwards of the Third Badge: The upper half of a lion rampant, with sword in his paw. Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a demi-lion Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Proper Motto: Fide et fortitudine (By fidelity and fortitude)

Plant Badge: Red Whortleberry, Scots Fir Gaelic Name: MacFhearchair Tartan: Farquharson, Ancient Farquharson, Hunting Farquharson Septs: Barrie, Bowman, Brebner, Christie, Christison, Christy, Coates, Coats, Coutts, Cromar, Farquhar, Ferries, Findlay, Findlayson, Findlaison, Finlay, Finlayson, Gracie, Grassick, Greusach, Hardie, Hardy, Kellas, Kerracher, Leys, Lyon, MacArtney, MacGaig, MacCartney, MacCuaig, MacEaracher, MacErcher, MacErracher, MacFarquhar, MacHardie, MacHardy,

MacKerchar, MacKerracher, MacKindlay, MacKinlay, MacKinley, Paterson, Patterson,

Reiach, Reoch, Riach, Tawse. Clan Farquharson, of Celtic origin, derives from Farquhar, fourth son of Alexander Ciar, 3rd Shaw of Rothiemurchus. A grant of arms made by Lord Lyon in 1697 stated that John Farquharson of Invercauld was lawfully descended of Shaw son of MacDuff, Thane of Fife whose successors had the name Shaw until Farquhar Shaw, son to Shaw of Rothiemerchus, Chief of the whole name came to be called Farquharson.

Thus the Farquharsons branched from Clan Shaw. Farquhar, who lived in the reign of James III, settled in the Braes of Mar and was appointed baillie or hereditary Chamberlain thereof. It was Donald Farquharson, 4th Chief, who married Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld and their son Finlay Mór, 1st of the House of Farquharson of Invercauld, and 5th Chief, who gave to the Farquharson Chiefs their style MacFionnlaidh (siol Fhionnlaidh or descendents of Finlay).

At the age of 60, Finlay Mòr accompanied the Earl of Huntly to the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 as the Royal Standard Bearer. As the army descended toward the sea he was killed by a cannon ball fired from one of the enemy ships. His body lies interred in the church yard of Inveresk. The place is known to this day as the "Lang Highlandman's Grave." His widow, Beatrix Garden, also has a claim to remembrance having been an outstanding performer on the little harp or clásach. Queen Mary presented one of these instruments to her and this instrument is now preserved in the National Museum of Antiquities as one of two surviving examples of the musical instrument which Celtic Scotland shared with Ireland before the music of the bagpipe had achieved its full popularity and sophistication.

The Farquharsons having moved onto their Deeside inheritance became vassels of the Earldom of Mar. In the early 17th century they were able to purchase feu charters to their lands and after the attainder of the Earl of Mar, who led the Jacobite rising of 1715, they held these directly of the Crown. Today the Castle of Braemar, which was built in 1628 by James Erskin, Earl of Mar, is owned by Captain Alwyne A. C. Farquharson.

Clan Farquharson were among the most loyal and faithful adherents to the House of Stewart and throughout all the struggles on its behalf constantly acted in accordance with their motto, "Fide et Fortitudine". They fought under Montrose in 1644 and formed part of the Scottish army under Charles II at Worcester in 1651. They joined forces under the Viscount of Dundee in 1689 for James VII.

At the outbreak of rebellion in 1715 against the Act of Union they were the first to muster at the summons of the Earl of Mar in the cause of James VIII. At this time John Farquharson of Invercauld with four officers and 140 men joined the Clan Chattan regiment, of which he was lieutenant-colonel, accompanying it to England.

When first threatened the Farquharsons marched out of Preston to Ribble-bridge to attack the English army but were ordered to rejoin the main body. At the subsequent Battle of Sheriffmuir the Scottish army was defeated at Preston and John Farquharson was taken prisoner and held for ten months in the Marchalsea prison in London.

In 1745 the Farquharsons joined Prince Charles and formed two battalions, one under Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, "the Baron Ban", with 300 men and the other under Farquharson of Balmoral.

In the Battle of Culloden, April 16, 1746 they occupied the centre of the line of battle with Clan Chattan along with the Camerons, Macleans and MacLachlans. John Farquharson of Invercauld, 9th Chief, died in 1750 and was succeeded by his son James, 10th Chief, a captain of foot in the Hanoverian Army, who died in 1805. His only surviving child Catherine, by virtue of the Lyon Court Decree, 1815, assigning the chief arms and supporters, was head of the ventral or "stem" family of Farquharson of Invercauld and so was Chief of the Clan. She married Capt. James Ross, Royal Navy, who took the name Farquharson. She was succeeded by her son, James, who was succeeded by Alexander Haldane Farquharson of Invercauld, who died in 1936. His daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Farquharson of Invercauld was confirmed Chief by Lyon Court Decree on December 3, 1936. She, unfortunately, was killed in an air-raid in 1940.

The succession then passed to her nephew the present and 16th Chief of Clan Farquharson. Capt. Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson of Invercauld was by Lyon Court in 1949 confirmed MacFionnlaidh. He served with distinction as a Captain in the Royal Scots Greys during World War II. He resides at Invercauld Castle in Braemar on Royal Deeside.

The Farquharson estate covers about 200,000 acres of forest and moor in the Grampian region in Aberdeenshire.

Finley Searches

QUERY NO. 1: Judy FRANKLIN, e-mail address of Priss@aol.com writes the following:

"My mother is Lillian Louise FINLEY, b 1925, St. Clair Co, AL. I have her line traced back to her great-grandfather, Ambrose P. FINLEY."

ANSWER: The only Ambrose FINLEY I show in my records is Ambrose M. FINLEY, b 27 Aug 1866, Larwill, IN; m w Mary Elsie HUMBERGER, b 1862.

QUERY NO. 2: Karen FINLEY KUNZ, e-mail at slf44@cc.usu.edu or tjkunz@yahoo.com, sends the following query:

"My g-g-grandfather was James Alexander FINLEY, b 1822-24, who was m to Mary Ann BURKETT. Their child, Samuel FINLEY, b 25 Jun 1862, PA, was my g-grandfather.

"His son, Aaron McDonald FINLEY, b 27 Dec 1895, PA, was my grandfather. His son, Wilbert FINLEY, b 22 Oct 1938, is my father."

ANSWER: While my files go back to James Alexander FINLEY, I cannot find anything further back.

QUERY NO. 3: John E. Hope, e-mail at JOHNEHOPE@ prodigy.net, sends the following:

"For a number of years, my mother and I have been driving ourselves crazy trying to find the ancestors of the following person:

"John J. FINLEY, b 1825 (1860 Census); 1824 (1880 Census).

B place NY (1860 Census, 1869 Marriage Cert.); PA (1880 Census).

B place of parents, PA (1880 Census).

M (1^st) Mary A. __________, b 1827, England (1860 Census).

M (2^nd) 23 Jul 1869, Rosendale, Andrew Co, MO, w Deborah Delfina LEDBETTER (1847-1930).

D aft. Jul 1885 (last pension application), bef. 10 Mar 1887 (remarriage of Deborah).

D place unknown, possibly Independence, Montgomery Co, KS (place of last pension application).

Children (by Mary A.) (from 1860 Census): H.S., b 1844, M, OH; John, b 1857, M, IL; unknown, b Apr 1860, F, MO.

Children (by Deborah LEDBETTER): Sonora Emeline FINLEY, b 11 Jun 1870, NE; Charles C. FINLEY, b 1874, KS; Alonzo A. FINLEY, b 21 Feb 1876, Rosendale, Andrew Co, MO; Ora FINLEY, b 22 Oct 1879, KS; James FINLEY, b aft. 1880, KS.

Pattern of migration:

1824/5, b in NY/PA (1860 Census/1880 Census).

1844, OH, birth of H.S. FINLEY.

1857, IL, birth of John FINLEY.

1858-1862, Weston, MO (certificate of Dr. BONIFANT).

July-Nov 1862, Chillicothe, MO.

Nov 1862-Feb 1863, St. Louis, MO.

1863-69, Holt Co, MO??? Location of treatment (adjacent to Andrew Co).

1869, Rosendale, Andrew Co, MO.

1870, NE (birth of Sonora).

1870, Walnut Creek, Brown Co, KS (1870 Census Index).

1874, KS (birth of Charles).

1876, Rosendale, Andrew Co, MO (birth of Alonzo -- wife may have returned to parents for birth).

1879, KS (birth of Ora).

1880, Summit Twp., Cloud Co, KS."

ANSWER: My files show John Jay FINLEY, b 30 May 1850, Bates Co, MO; d 19 Mar 1931, Bodega, Sonoma Co, CA; m w Deborah Gordon "Dora" LEDBETTER.

His parents were John FINLEY, b 5 Jun 1823, Orange Co, IN; m 5 Sep 1844, Pine Ridge, Montgomery Co, AR, w Keziah HEAD, b 14 Jan 1828, TN, d 8 Nov 1903, Graton, Sonoma Co, CA; he d 29 Nov 1910, Graton, CA.

John's parents were Samuel FINLEY, b 14 Feb 1790, Mercer Co, VA; m 9 May 1809, Garrard Co, KY, w Martha DOWNING, b 18 Jan 1788, Madison Co (?), VA, d 15 Nov 1832, Orange Co (?), IN; he d 15 Sep 1835, Decatur, Macon Co, IL.

His parents were David FINLEY, b 1 Jun 1754, Augusta Co, VA; m bef. 10 Feb 1781, VA or KY, w Elizabeth MOUNTS, b 4 Jan 1763, Bedford Co (?), VA, d 9 Jan 1835, Orleans, Orange Co, IN; he d 19 Apr 1848, Orleans, Orange Co, IN.

Much more has been written on this line, following the research of Dr. Carmen Joyce FINLEY. For more information, contact the Sonoma State University website shown in our links.

QUERY NO. 4: Linda MOORE, 8652 Ashcroft, Dallas, TX 75243-7104, e-mail address of lhmoore@swbell.net, sends the following query:

"I am a descendant of James Albert FINLEY I (of GA or AL -- I don't remember which) but have not been able to get back any further than that. James Albert FINLEY II settled in AR in 1840s. I have traced the James Albert I back to about 1810-20."

She also says James Albert FINLEY II and two other families were the first families to settle in Union Co, AR in the 1840s.

ANSWER: Although I couldn't find an exact match, I have been to the FINLEY Cemetery in Union Co, AR, as described in a previous newsletter.

You may want to contact, Dr. Joseph Wayne JOHNSON, 104 Heritage Ct., Andalusia, AL 36420, (334) 222-1424, who has done much research on this line.

QUERY NO. 5: John M. MUMPER, e-mail at mumper@hotmail.com, sends this query:

"Andrew Jackson MUMPER (20 Aug 1827-23 Feb 1884) was b in New Germantown, PA, and lived close by in Toboyne Twp., Perry Co. He m Mary B. FINLEY, his second wife, in 1858. She may have been from Cumberland Co, PA. I know she outlived him as she applied for a veteran's pension after his death (he served in the Union Army during the Civil War).

"That's about all I know of her. The information was provided by Helen HINCHLIFF, a professional genealogist and MUMPER family historian. As her purpose was the documentation of the MUMPER family, she only mentions the most basic info on the females who married into the family."

QUERY NO. 6: Neva L. KREGER, 2312 S. Thomas Dr., Tucson, AZ 85710, wrote the following:

"My grandfather's name was Walter Edgerton FINLEY. As far as I can ascertain, he was b ca. 1878 in PA. He m my grandmother, Effie Cecicla MURPHY on 30 Aug 1899. During their marriage, they made their home in Macon, MO, and in St. Louis, MO. They had two daughters by this marriage: Emma and Lucille (my mother)."

QUERY NO. 7: Andi WISE of Salem, OR, e-mail at andwis@teleport.com, writes:

"I have had very little luck finding my FINLEY family -- maybe you can help! My biggest problem is that my grandmother, who was a FINLEY, and all her kin, are either passed away, or unable/unwilling to talk or unlocatable! So, I have to go with what little I know.

"My grandma was Velma Irene FINLEY, b 1901 in Ashland, OR. Her father was Grant FINLEY (I have seen him listed as U.S. Grant FINLEY also -- don't know if that was a joke or what). He was b 1864 in CA (place unknown), d 1916 and is buried in Fort Rock, OR. He m Jennette HASKINS, who was b 1866 in Wellsville, OR.

"Grant's father was Ebenezer FINLEY, DOB unknown, b in IL and m to Elizabeth Jane _______?, who was b 1836 in IA and d 1893 in Ashland.

"Grant had the following brothers and sisters: William FINLEY, Henry FINLEY, Lucinda Harriett FINLEY, b 1856."

County Kilkenny

Charlotte Carpenter SMITH, 2791 Walker Lee Dr., Los Alamitos, CA 90720-4935, phone (562) 431-0010, sent family group records showing the following:

"Michael FINLEY, b ca. 1808, Queens Co, Ireland; m 11 Nov 1833, Clough, Co Kilkenny, Ireland, w Julia O'BRIEN, b ca. 1809, Pair, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, Ireland, d 17 Feb 1865, Rising Sun, Crawford Co, WI; he d 1 Jun 1881, Rising Sun, WI; both bur. Rising Sun Cmty., Rising Sun, WI.

"Michael FINLEY was listed as an original first land owner in Lake Co, IL, and purchased land there before 1840, when the first deeds were given by the state of IL. A check of the IL Land Office Archives showed the following: Michael FINLEY, purchaser, on 13 Nov 1843 of 40 acres at price of $1.25 per acre at Federal Land Sale. Lake Co, Sec. 21, Twp. 44N, Meridian 3, in Vol. 686 of the state records. Sec. W2, Lot 1NE, Range 11E.

"Michael FINLEY and Julia O'BRIEN were married in Clough, Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1833. Records are not available for that date for Clough so far.

"Clough was a village in the parish of Castlecomer, barony of Fassadin, Co Kilkenny, Ireland. It stands at the NE extremity of the county, 3/4 of a mile north of the dinane rivulet and 4 miles NNE of Castlecomer. The site of the Roman Catholic chapel has an altitude of 469 feet above sea level, yet is quite low in relative position to the cirumjacent upland country. The Clough brewery stands on the dinane rivulet. The village gives its name to a Roman Catholic parish. All of the village is 70 acres; population in 1831 was 582 and in 1841, 525. It has 106 houses."

Michael and Julia FINLEY had five children: (1) Martin, b 14 Aug 1834, Ireland; m 1860 w Margaret MALONE; he d 7 May 1916, Crawford Co, WI; (2) Margaret, b Feb 1836, NY; m 8 Nov 1851, Waukegan, Lake Co, IL, w Patrick MEAD; she d 13 Jul 1913, Olathe, Johnson Co, KS; bur. 15 Jul 1913, Calvary Cmty., Olathe, KS; (3) Julia Ann, b 1838, Lake Co, IL; m w Philip WISER; (4) James, b 1839, IL; m 11 Nov 1861, Prairie du Clien, Crawford Co, WI, w Ann O'DONNELL; he d 11 Nov 1861, Prairie du Chien, WI; (5) Michael, b 2 Feb 1846, Libertyville, Lake Co, IL; m 16 Oct 1862, Prairie du Chien, WI, w Elizabeth Lizy DUNNE; he d 6 Feb 1904, La Crosse, WI; bur. Rising Sun, WI."

Information from Anne NERE, 701 Highway 212, P.O. Box 146, Danube, MN 56230-0146, relative of Martin, gives the following:

"According to 1870 Census in WI, Martin FINLEY was b in Ireland. Their gravestones in Rising Sun, WI, gives Martin's b as 14 Aug 1829 and d as 7 May 1916. A smaller gravestone right next to theirs reads: 3 children of Martin FINLEY -- Michael, 5; Julia, 1; and infant. Martin FINLEY was a farmer and in 1860, his real estate was valued at $400 and personal property at $150. In 1870, the value was real estate $1,500 and personal to $500. They owned 100 acres of land."