I have suffered a profound personal crisis in the past few months. We have relocated in Madisonville, KY, as of March 2002.

I have learned that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) is offering Personal Ancestral File 5.0 at no charge online at www.familysearch.org. I have upgraded to this program, which makes managing our database much easier.

You can contact me at my e-mail address of TMKessler@hotmail.com.

I have received two large treasure chests of information from Geraldine N. FINLEY JOHNSON and Rob AYRES, some of which will appear in this newsletter.

Query No. 1: Chuck FINLEY at 3finleys@intertek.net sends the following query:

My father was orphaned at 6 years of age so we never knew much about the FINLEYs. Dad died last year so I decided to research our family. I have traced back to my 3-gr. grandfather who was Ferdinand Curtis FINLEY b ca. 1816-1817 in KY according to IL census. He m w Mary Ann SKELTON on 25 Sept 1839. He d in Keyesport, IL in either Bond or Clinton Co between 1871-1876. They had eight kids, three who lived: William H.H. FINLEY, Thomas B. FINLEY and Preston M. FINLEY. There were also a couple of other FINLEYs who were neighbors that might have been related. I would really appreciate any info that you might have on this line. One cousin I found says Ferdinand was youngest brother of Mary Polly FINLEY who m w Davy CROCKETT but I have found no evidence to prove that.

ANSWER: I cannot find this family in my database. Mary Polly FINLEY CROCKETT's youngest brother was Kennedy FINLEY, b 1791.

Query No. 2: Ted KING at ted4321@gateway.net or Susie Q (ICQ No. 44643201), seeks info on the following:

John W. FINLEY, b ca. 1868, son of Susan Ann Webster and John M. FINLEY. John M. is son of Moses and Mary FINLEY. Moses was a Baptist minister at Shiloh/Delta Church in Clay/Randolph Co, AL.

George FINLEY, b 1755, Co Donegal, Ireland, m w Alice BLAINE .

John W. FINLEY m w Georgia Ann (Georgeann) STEPHENS in 1879 or 1880. His father was John M. FINLEY, mother Susan Ann WEBSTER and he was son of Moses FINLEY.

ANSWER: Some info on this line appeared in Volume 1. There is no other info available.

Query No. 3: Shirley O'Neil at ShirleyhO@aol.com says she is helping a woman join the DAR and has "dead ended" on her FINLEY line, as follows:

Sarah C. FINLEY m w John HICKMAN in Jackson Co, AL, on 28 Nov 1877. I have found a Sarah C. in the 1870 census for Jackson Co, 12 years old, b in AL. Her father is evidently dead. She is listed with her mother, Martha FINLEY, 38, b IL. Siblings are James, 16; Mary, 14; Arther, 10; Benjamin, 8; Mariah, 6; Parlle, 4; John W., 2, all b AL. I wonder if you have any idea who Sarah C. FINLEY's father might have been.

ANSWER: No match was found to this family.

Maureen C. SLIVKA has updated some of the information on her line, as follows:

"I received from the National Archives his pension papers which include a handwritten deposition by Joseph Lewis and describing his life and circumstances at the time of his application. He was 65 years old in 1818, a farmer and living in West Union, OH. His wife he calls "Jane" FINLEY (not Jean as mentioned in other documents) and living with them is his son, Samuel, age 17, who is "subject to fits," and his daughter, Margaret, age 13 and of "weak constitution."

"The second part of his papers contains a handwritten deposition of John Blair FINLEY (my great-great grandfather) who is requesting that his father's Revolutionary War pension of $20 per month be granted to him as his parents both passed away. I believe it was granted to him. At the time John Blair FINLEY wrote his deposition, he says he is the only surviving child of Joseph and Jane FINLEY."

Among the items contained in Geraldine JOHNSON's materials are some pertaining to the origins of Findlay, OH.

This town was named after Col. James FINDLAY, who was later a U.S. Representative in Congress. My database shows him as b 4 Nov 1770, Mercersburg, Cumberland Co, PA; m 15 Jun 1797, Mercersburg, PA, w Jane IRWIN. He d 29 Dec 1835, Cincinnati, OH. I have nothing on their children.

His parents were Samuel FINDLAY Jr., b 17 Jan 1734, Philadelphia, PA; m 1765 w Jane SMITH, b 17 Dec 1748, d 9 Jun 1783, Mercersburg, PA; he d 31 Aug 1804, Cumberland Co, PA. Jane SMITH's parents were Lt. William SMITH m w Mary SMITH.

Samuel FINDLAY Jr.'s parents were Samuel FINDLAY, bapt. 30 Dec 1711, Londonderry, Ireland; m 1731, Philadelphia, PA, w Elizabeth BROWN, daughter of Adj. Gen. James BROWN and Elizabeth BARCLAY.

Samuel FINDLAY's parents were John FINDLAY, bapt. 14 May 1672, Londonderry, Ireland; m 20 Nov 1704, Londonderry, Ireland, w Elizabeth STRETTELL, b 1674, d 1733; he d 1722; bur. Glenarm, Ireland.

His parents were William FINDLAY, b 1636, Stenton, Scotland; m 4 Dec 1660, Londonderry, Ireland, w Ann BARCLAY, b 1638, d 1703; he d 26 Nov 1704, Glenarm, Ireland.

William's parents were James FINDLAY, b 1611, Incharvie, Scotland; m 20 May 1633 w Agnes CLARK; he d 29 Oct 1669, Glenarm, Ireland.

His parents were Alexander FINLEY, bapt. 10 Nov 1584, Balchrystie, Scotland; m 1610 w Grissell HUNTAR; he d 1644, Stenton, Scotland.

I have the continuation of the line even further back, to where it joins on with the main line shown in the membership directory.

In JOHNSON's materials is the following section from The River and the Land:

Acting on the request of President Madison to raise a contingent of 1,200 Ohio Militia, Governor MEIGS issued his call April 6, 1812, two and a half months before war was declared. The response exceeded the request and the volunteers assembled outside Dayton, April 30. General William HULL, newly appointed Governor of the Michigan Territory, was appointed to command but did not arrive until the 25^th day of May.

In the meantime, the newly mustered troops spent the time organizing, electing officers, and waiting. Divided into three regiments, the First elected Duncan MC ARTHUR as its Colonel; the Second chose James FINDLAY as Colonel; the Third elected Lewis CASS.

Findlay derives its name from the commander of the Second Regiment. Born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania in 1770, one of six sons, he lived in that state until he married Jane IRWIN and about 1795 moved to Ohio. Traveling on horseback by way of Virginia and Kentucky, he settled in Cincinnati where he was receiver of public moneys in the Land Office. In 1805, he was elected mayor and again in 1810.

For his war service, FINDLAY was made Brigadier General of the State Militia. He served as a member of Congress, 1825-1833. In 1834, he ran for Governor on the Whig and Antimasonic ticket and was defeated. Colonel FINDLAY died in 1835. Aside from his name, there is no evidence that he ever had anything to do with the history of Findlay.

With the arrival of General HULL, who made a stirring, fighting, patriotic speech to the troops, the next few days were spent in preparing to move. On the 31^st day of May 1812, the army moved out to Urbana with a train of heavy wagons and some artillery headed for Detroit. From Dayton to Urbana on, some 200 miles, there was nothing but unbroken forest and farther north the swamp lands.

By successive stages, the expedition sweated and toiled on its way. From Urbana, the First Regiment under Colonel MC ARTHUR, which included practical engineers and pioneers, was assigned to clear a road as far as the Scioto River. By cutting trees and hacking away underbrush, a trail was cleared. On the Scioto River, a small fort called Fort McArthur was erected. This became the site of Kenton. After much hard work, the remainder of the army reached the fort.

From Fort McArthur, HULL sent the Second Regiment forward to clear a road to Blanchard's Fork. By June, the soldiers had cleared the way to the east bank of Eagle Creek in what is now Hancock County's Madison Township. However, rain and mud -- the common denominators of war -- temporarily stopped the regiment. As a matter of military precaution, Colonel FINDLAY erected a mud fort. The soldiers accurately named it Fort Necessity.

When the weather cleared, the Second moved out while Hull with his wagons and artillery came up and occupied the mud fort. The Second Regiment pushed north, finding a spot where the Blanchard River could be easily forded. Here Colonel FINDLAY and his men erected the fort that bore his name. The site chosen covered the area on the west side of what is now Findlay's Main Street from the bridge to Front Street.

Fort Findlay consisted of a stockade ten feet high made of logs placed upright. This enclosed a space of some 50 square yards with its entrance on what is now the west side of Main Street. A blockhouse was erected at each corner. These were two-story structures with the second stories extending over and beyond the line of the stockade, so as to command the approaches in all directions. Each blockhouse was well loopholed and furnished with a small piece of artillery.

As a further protection, the land east, west and south was cleared for some distance. The fort itself was back from the riverbank. The cleared area extended west approximately to the present American Legion Home.

Small cabins were erected against the stockade inside the fort to house a token garrison of 15 men and officers under command of Captain Arthur THOMAS.

The fort itself was not completed when General HULL and the remainder of his force stopped here June 22. It was there that he received urgent orders to proceed with all speed to Detroit. THOMAS and his command completed the work and remained at the fort until 1815.

Robert D. AYRES sent many materials. Among them is the following, "A Memorial Address in Honor of the Late Dr. James Edwards Burr FINLEY, A.M., Delivered before the Medical Association of South Carolina, By James RAMSAY, M.D., 1819":

It is a grateful task to dwell on the actions and merit of departed worth, but much more so, when friendship and personal obligation urge us to its performance. It is this sentiment which has induced me, incompetent as I am, to attempt for the Society a sketch of the life of Dr. James Edwards Burr FINLEY. He was the (youngest) son of Samuel FINLEY, one of the distinguished presidents of Princeton College. He was born at Nottingham, in Maryland, on the 15^th day of May 1758. At this place he resided until the removal of his father in 1761 to Princeton, NJ. I cannot learn who had the immediate direction of his juvenile studies, or the modeling of his youthful mind, but it is highly probable that both of these duties were entrusted to his father, whose skill in preaching, and ability to impress the young mind with a regard for religion, are matters of public record. If the effect can in any measure indicate the cause, we should be induced to consider this as the fact, for only superior skill, rendered doubly efficient by parental authority and affection, could have sufficed to imprint so deeply as the traits of goodness and piety were in the mind of our late associate.

Upon the death of his father in 1766, he removed to Philadelphia, and under the protection of Dr. Benjamin RUSH (his mother's nephew), concluded his collegiate studies in the University of Pennsylvania (then called College of Philadelphia).

After his liberation from Academic toil, he became the Medical Pupil of his illustrious Patron. The Rev'd Dr. FINLEY, having been the supporter and instructor of Dr. RUSH, the latter must have been constrained by the ties of relationship and gratitude to pay particular attention to his student. Nor were these attentions lost, for the Pupil, by his solid attainments in Science, his enthusiastic attachment to his Profession, and above all, by his perfect exemption from Professional Jealousy, manifested the advantages he had derived, both from the instruction and example of his illustrious Master.

Soon after the conclusion of his Medical studies, the Revolutionary War occurred. The ardor of Dr. FINLEY's patriotism, his habitual promptitude in executing whatever his feelings directed him to perform, would not allow him to hesitate for a moment on the propriety of staking his happiness and his life on the issue of the contest, and of pledging his honor to rise or fall with his country. If, when age had tamed his fires, he could feel as warmly as he did for his country's honor, and so feelingly rejoice at the victories of her army and navy, it would have been unnatural, when youth and health and strength existed, to have remained a quiet spectator of those injuries and aggressions, which originated our independence. On the contrary, as soon as the standard of opposition was erected, he was to be distinguished as one of its foremost supporters. With the view of obtaining Professional Knowledge, and at the same time manifesting his zealous attachment to the cause of liberty, he entered as Regimental Surgeon under Col. Putnam, of the Massachusetts Line. Cooly to behold his friends exposed to danger, and calmly to discharge his Professional duties, while his country men were engaged in the deadly toil of War, but ill comported with the ardor of his disposition, and a company being granted to his request at the battle of Germantown, he left the useful, but secure duties of Surgery to his associates, and placing himself at the head of his men, led them to action. In the capacity of Surgeon, he continued with the Army until the close of the war, at which time he resumed the habits of the citizen, considering himself more than recompensed for all the privations and inconveniences he had experienced, at beholding his country free and independent.

A short time after this (1785), he came to Caroline, and in 1790, was elected a Member of our Association. He first established himself in St. Thomas Parish, where not meeting with sufficient encouragement, he soon removed to St. Helena. He practiced after this in other parts of the State, amongst others, at Beaufort, which place he left six or seven years ago for this city. Soon after his establishment here, he was elected Curator to the Philosophical Society, and during the last years, you were all witnesses of the ability with which he presided over this Institution. Several other associations acknowledged him as a useful and active member.

I have now detailed the most prominent circumstances, which marked the life of Dr. James Edwards Burr FINLEY, and but trifling would be the advantage were I now to cease. Like other men, he was born in a distant state, and, like them, he established himself first in one situation and then in another. He was universally beloved and respected. But whence originated the anxiety which all manifested when he was taken sick, and the sorrow which so many experienced when he was no more? It was because Society was likely to lose a most valuable Physician; and his friends, one who was endeared to them in no ordinary degree by his many virtues as a man.

His medical life was not devoted to framing any of those splendid errors, denominated "Theories," or to ingeniously defending points, which succeeding generations would have proven false, but to active exertions for the relief of suffering humanity. But devoted as he was to the practice of his Profession, he found time to add something to the stock of Medical Knowledge, and was the author of several well written essays read before this and the Philosophical Society. One of these pieces, on the subject of Varioloid affections, in which he draws lines of distinction between Small Pox and Eruptive diseases of a similar character, deserves a much better fate than that of being locked up in a bood case. The character of his practice was stamped with caution, and his prescriptions were always based upon a thorough investigation of the symptoms of disease. From his illustrious Master, he had early learnt "not to despise the day of small things," and it is to this circumstance that his well merited reputation for skill in the management of the diseases of infants and children is to be attributed. While his patients could rely on his judgment, they were inevitably won by his demeanor. No man could feel more sensibly for the sufferings of others than Dr. FINLEY, and of course, no one could be more tender in his conversation with the sick. It was from this tenderness that the extraordinary attachment of his patients originated, and which was soon converted into esteem by his exemplary candor. Too honest a man to deceive, and too artless to resort to any of the tricks of quackery, he never concealed the approach of danger, or cloaked a trivial affection under high sounding epithets in the expectation of thus advancing his interest or reputation.

Whatever he expressed as his opinion might be regarded as the sincere enunciation of the dictates of his judgment. Tho' educated at a time when the Medical World was replete with erroneous views of disease, he did not remain ignorant of, or unimproved by more modern discoveries, for Bigotry formed no part of his character. Ever anxious to acquire Knowledge, he was open to the conviction of truth, and never rejected any statement, however opposite to preconceived opinion, until he had at first candidly examined it. If he was free from bigotry, he was perfectly so from Professional Jealousy. Merit always excited his esteem, and he always rejoiced at the success of those whom he esteemed. The younger members of the Profession must all remember how often he stated it as his opinion, that age and experience might derive advantage from an association with those who, recently from the schools, were most likely to be familiar with their latest discoveries and doctrines.

The traits of Medical character mentioned add much to the memory of Dr. FINLEY, but not more so than his sedulous attention to the poor. He truly practiced his profession as much for the benefit it could confer on man, as from the desire of emolument. Lest this may be deemed extravagant praise, let us appeal to facts. Many were the private patients whom he attended without the least expectation of remuneration for his services. And as Dispensary Physician, tho' a stranger to the city, and advanced in age, he allowed neither danger nor fatigue to deter him from zealously discharging the duties of that charity.

But while his Medical character had so many traits calculated to excite our esteem and respect, his private life was adorned by an equal number of virtues. He was hospitable to the stranger, eminently benevolent, and rigidly pious. Those who were intimate with him, and have seen the number who, from distant points, resorted to his house, and from his attention and kindness, forgot both the poignancy of disease and the absence of those they loved, will readily admit his claim to the most distinguished hospitality. As regards the benevolence of his disposition, who does not know that it was most active in its nature, and so completely characterized the man that to know him was to love him. His friends experienced it to the charitable veil that he drew over their failings; his patients, in the anxious attention, which he manifested in the treatment of their diseases; the poor in the solicitude with which he waited upon them when sick and afflicted; and the naked African, when he pours forth his grateful petitions for blessings on those, who have extended to him Light and Life, is not conscious that those prayers constitute in the pleasures which they produce, parts of the exalted reward which one of his benefactors is receiving in a better world for his Christian benevolence in this. The widow and the orphan never ineffectually addressed themselves to this master passion of his soul, for even where he could offer nothing but sympathy, this was always most agreeable and most consolatory, for it was the sincere effusion of a feeling heart. The exalted piety which Dr. FINLEY practiced gave to the last the finishing polish of his estimable character.

It was this which rendered his so active in performing as duty what other men do from feeling. It was this which imparted that sincerity, which exalted every action. It was this which rendered him so guiltless; which rendered him so warm, so steadfast a friend. It was this which made him the good man he was. His was not fierce consuming piety which condemns its votaries to the cloister, and its opponents to the faggot, but of mild and benevolent character, zealously desirous of persuading all men to walk in the way deemed most correct, but willing to believe that slight shades of speculative difference could not exude good men of other Denominations from the beatitudes of Heaven. He went farther, and when their distinctive appellations being laid aside, Christians met for the purpose of promoting an object of extensive benevolence and utility, he was ever willing to fraternize with them, and ardently to labor for the common cause. When we recollect the many virtues of Dr. FINLEY, his activity and usefulness, we are ready to exclaim, "How wondrous are the ways of Providence".

Dr. FINLEY was summoned one night, in the early part of June, 1819, to visit a charity patient on James Island. The weather was wretched, but he resisted all dissuasions, and insisted upon going. The exposure of that evening induced the approach of that fell destroyer of lower Carolina, country fever, of which disease, in less than a fortnight (June 13, 1819), he died. His deathbed was marked by his wonted manliness and fortitude.

(Copied from Pamphlet in Possession of College of Charleston Library)

Also in the papers from Mr. AYRES was some information on Reverend Dr. Samuel FINLEY. There is much information that I plan to include in future issues. And once we get through Mr. AYRES papers I will start on Ms. Geraldine JOHNSON'S materials. In the papers sent I found 2 sets on Reverend Dr. Samuel FINLEY and his family, I am now going to give you the information from the 1^st set, at the top it says "A Finley Genealogy: A Compilation. Anonymous. 1905."

Rev. Dr. Samuel FINLEY, M. A. D. D., (1715-1766), Presbyterian Minister and Educator, born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1715; died at Philadelphia, PA, July 17, 1766.

He was the son of Michael FINLEY, (abt. 1680-abt. 1748), a Scotch-Irish immigrant of 1734, a native of the province of Ulster, Ireland, of Scottish extraction, who arrived at Philadelphia, September 28, 1734, and finally settled as a farmer in Sadsbury township, Chester County, PA. Among the other sons of Michael FINLEY were:

1. John FINLEY, about 1713-about 1759, of Lurgan Township, Cumberland County, PA.
2. William FINLEY, about 1717-1800, of Sadsbury and West Caln townships, Chester County, PA.
3. Michael FINLEY Jr., about 1720-about 1785,of Sadsbury, West Caln, and Londonderry townships, Chester County, PA.
4. Reverend James FINLEY, 1725-1795, Presbyterian Minister, Missionary, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in PA, of the East Nottingham Church, Cecil County, Maryland, of the Rehoboth Church, Westmoreland County, PA, and of the Roundhill Church, also Western PA.

Samuel FINLEY was educated in his native country. In 1734, with his parents and brothers, he came to Philadelphia. He had determined from childhood to study for the ministry. With that end in view he prosecuted his studies at an institution, called the Log College, which was located in Bucks County, PA. He was licensed to preach August 8, 1740; ordained by the New Brunswick Presbytery October 13, 1742.

In June, 1744, he settled as pastor of a Church at Nottingham, Maryland, where he remained seventeen years, conducting an Academy, known as the Nottingham Academy, 1744-1761, at which he also prepared young men for the ministry. In 1749, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the College of New Jersey, and in 1751, was elected a trustee of that Institution. In July 1761, he was chosen to the Presidency of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and he filled that position for 5 years, 1761-1766. In 1763, the University of Glasgow, Scotland conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

He published some sermons and theological discussion, among these, "Christ triumphing and Satan raging", 1741; "A refutation of Mr. Thomson's Sermon on the Doctrine of Conviction", 1743; "Against the Moravians, being the substance of several sermons showing the strength, nature, and symptoms of Delusion", 1743; "A Charitable Plea for the Speechless", 1747; "Vindication of the Charitable Plea for the Speechless, or a particular consideration and refutation of the objections made against Infant Baptism", 1748; Sermons, at the ordination of Rev. John RODGERS, 1749, on the death of Rev. Samuel BLAIR, 1751, on 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 4, 1754; "The Curse of Meroz, or the danger of neutrality in the cause of God and our country", 1757; and Sermon at the funeral of Rev. Gilbert Tennent, 1764. He edited the sermons of Samuel DAVIES, his discourse, "On the Death of President Davies", 1761, being afterwards prefixed to an edition of the latter's work.

He was twice married, first, September 26, 1744, to Sarah HALL, 1718-1760, daughter of Joseph HALL, of Oxford, PA, and Rebecca STAPLES. Second, in 1761, to Ann CLARKSON, about 1730-1807, daughter of Matthew CLARKSON, of Philadelphia, and Cornelia DE PEYSTER.

The children of Rev. Dr. Samuel FINLEY and Sarah HALL were:

1. Rebecca FINLEY, born at Nottingham, Maryland, abt. 1745 and d. abt. 1770. She married Samuel BREESE, of Shrewsbury, NJ, abt. 1765. They're only child, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann BREESE, abt. 1766-abt. 1828. She married Rev. Jedidiah MORSE, D. D. (1761-1826), on May 14, 1789, of Charleston, Mass. Among the children of Rev. MORSE and Elizabeth were: a) Samuel Finley Breese MORSE, (1791-1872), the inventor of the Telegraph; b) Sidney Edwards MORSE (1794-1871), Editor of the New York Observer; c) Richard Cary MORSE (1795-1868), also Editor of the New York Observer.
2. Dr. Joseph FINLEY, A. B., Physician, born at Nottingham, Maryland, abt. 1746 and died, it is believed, between 1770 and 1776, at Philadelphia, PA. In 1765 he was graduated as Bachelor of Arts from Princeton. He studied medicine at Philadelphia, where he probably practiced his profession for a few years. He never married. He is mentioned in by Dr. TONER in his 'Medical Men of the Revolution', 1876, as having preformed, for a time, the duties of surgeon during the Revolution. It is probably, however, that the statement is an error, and that he died prior to 1776.
3. Susannah FINLEY, b. abt. 1747 and d. abt. 1773.
4. Dr. Samuel FINLEY, A. B., b. abt. 1748 and d. 1801. A physician and surgeon, born at Nottingham, Maryland and died in NY, NY. In 1865, he was graduated as Bachelor of Arts from Princeton. During the War of the Revolution, he was Surgeon 14 Mass. April 10, 1778; transferred to 7 Mass. January 1, 1781; and served to June 3^rd, 1783. He was an original member of the Order of the Cincinnati, Mass. Society, (1783). After the Revolution, he practiced medicine in New York. He was appointed surgeon, 12^th Infantry, U.S.A., September 4, 12799, and he resigned April 1, 1800. He did not marry.
5. Lieutenant John Hall FINLEY, Soldier, born at Nottingham, Maryland, abt.1751, and died, it is believed, between 1785 and 1795, possibly in PA. He was probably educated at Princeton. He settled in PA. During the War of the Revolution, he was 2^nd Lieutenant November 1, 1776; taken prisoner at Fort Washington November 16, 1776; exchanged October 25, 1780. His imprisonment of nearly four years impaired his health. It is stated in 'Pennsylvania in the revolution' that he also served in the 6^th PA Regiment. It is probable that he never married.
6. Captain Ebenezer FINLEY, A. B., Soldier, born at Nottingham, Maryland abt.1754 and d. abt.1790. In 1772 he was graduated as Bachelor of Arts from Princeton. He settled in Maryland. During the War of the Revolution, he was Lieutenant, Maryland line, 1776; Captain-Lieutenant of Dorsey's Company of Maryland Artillery, 1777, the Company forming part of the 1^st Continental Artillery, 1778; and Deputy Judge Advocate, Southern Department, 1780. He commanded a battery of artillery under Greene in South Carolina, 1781, and served to the end of the war. His services are mentioned in several histories of the Revolution, among these, in 'The Memoirs of General Henry LEE', and 'McCrady's History of South Carolina in the Revolution', 1780-83. He did not marry. His collateral heirs at law, the Morses of Mass., and the FINLEYS of South Carolina, received a grant of land from Virginia for his services.
7. Dr. James Edwards Burr FINLEY, 1758-1819, Physician and Surgeon.

And Samuel FINLEY had no children by his second wife.