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Finley Family

last updated 2 July 2007

The families listed here are descended from Andrew Ramsey Finley (1818-1896) who moved to California in 1870. He is a descendant of James Finley (1687/8-1753) who emigrated to America from Ireland on the good ship Eagle Wing and landed in New Castle, Del. on 22 May 1720. Many of the Finley genealogies are based on descendants of James' Father Alexander Finley (1667-1736) and his G Grandfather James (1530-1597) who lived in Fifeshire just north of Edinburgh, Scotland. Alexander moved to Ireland prior to 1690 . About half of James G G Grandchildren emigrated to America.

James (1687/8-1753) first settled in Chester Co. PA. The family moved to Staunton VA where they stayed for several generations then to Shelbyville, KY. and finally to Lincoln Co. MO, before moving to California.

They were active Christians; Andrew's father, James (1783-1866), built the Mt. Zion Church in Lincoln Co. sometime between 1830 and 1860. It was one the first in Missouri. Andrew tried to start Presbyterian Church in Roseville California. Some our ancestors were persecuted for their religious beliefs.

See "The Finley Family" for a brief history of Andrew and Caroline.

Although James came from Ireland, the family was only in Ireland for two generations. Prior to that they lived in Scotland. They are generally considered a sept of Clan Farquharson today.

History
In The Clan Finley Admiral Stout says:

During the whole period of Scotland's Celtic history form 470 A.D. to the present time, many held to the Highlands. Religious persecution culmination in the Test of Oath of 1704, drove hundreds back to their ancient homeland in the Ulster Counties of Ireland where, disappointed again, many chose to find freedom in the American colonies, a freedom which they would later fight to keep in the Revolution.

Clannish, adventurous and self-reliant, they were natural pioneers and explorers. A Finley guided Daniel Boone on his Kentucky venture; Davy Crockett's wife was of the clan'; and envangelistec Finley ministers outran the frontiers in their zeal.

See also: Prominent Cousins | Pastors | Scottish History | Famous Scots

Lineage

The Ancient Ancestors list goes back to Macbeth and BC.

The following genealogy is based on the "Genealogical Chart of a branch of the Finley Family", by S. H. Finley, Santa Ana, CA 1934
The numbers (e.g. Ia, 2-2) are from Stout's "The Clan Finley". See James Family Tree for an explanation of the numbers.

Ia Fearchar MCFINLAY (b. 1236, Aberdeenshire)
.   +Heiress of Patrick MCDONACHADH
. IIb Archibald Finlay (d. 1263 )(Served in the Battle Largs 1263)
..    + Margaret ROBERTSON
.. IIIc  William Finlay, the Royal Forester of King Robert I.
...   + Isobel DEMPSTER
... IVa  Andrew Finlay (b. 1344) sheriff of Perth
....   + Marjorie MCDONALD
.... Vb  John Finlay (Finley),(b. 1356 Scot.; d 1445 Scot.)
.       Bishop of Dumblane Perthshire 1406.  Reginald the Isles, Thane Glentilt
.....    +Elanor Stewart (daughter John Stewart Fortengal)
..... VIa  John Finley (b. ?; d. 1461; lived in Tp. Kathyk Scot.)
.......   +Mary McRae
...... VIIa  John Finley (b. 1457 (Perthshire, Scotland? ); d. prior to 1507; lived in Pentacost, Scot.)
.......   +Janet/Joneta Roger
....... VIIIb Andrew Finley (b. Abt 1483 Perthshire, Scot.; d. 1546 Aughinleyth, Fife, Scot.; lived in Pentacost, Scot.)
........   +Janet Hay
........ IXf  James Finley (b. 15 Sep 1530; lived in Balchrystie, Fifeshire, Scot.; d. 26 Mar 1597)
........    +Elizabeth Warrender
.........        James Family Tree (expanded tree) 
......... Xn   John Finley (b. 8 Jun 1579 Balchrystie, Scotland; d. 6 Oct 1670)
...........    +Sarah Craigie (b. ?; d. th: 6 OCT 1670)
.......... XIm  James Finley (b. 9 Sep 1631 Newburn Parish, Balchrystie, Scot.; d. 16 Feb 1681)
...........     +Margaret Mackie (b. ?; d. 1672 Incharvie(?),Fife,Scotland)
...........  XIId Alexander Finley (b. 30 Jul 1667 Inchervie, St. Andrew's, Fife, Scot.; d. 28 Jan 1736 Dublin Ir)
.............    +Margaret Jennings (b. 1668; d. 1742 Dublin,Ireland)
............. 2-2 James Finley (b. 1687/8, Dublin, Ireland; d. 1753 Green Twp., Cmbr Co., PA)
..............   +Elizabeth Patterson (b. 1690; d. 1753-55 Franklin Co,PA)
............... 3-2-5 William Finley  (b. 1712, Dublin, Ireland; d. 1789 Augusta Co., VA)
.................   +Mary Wallace (b. Abt 1712 Dublin,Ireland; d. Bef 1783 Augusta Co,VA
................. 4-2-51 John Finley (b. 15 Dec 1737 in Augusta Co,VA; d. Bef 25 OCT 1802 in Augusta Co,VA)
..................   +Esther Reid (b. 1782;d. prior to 1802)
.................. 5-2-511 James Finley (b. 1783, Staunton, Augusta Co., VA; d. 1866, Lincoln Co., MO)
....................   +Mary (Patsy) Ramsey  (b. 1786/96  d. 1851)
.................... 6-2-5110.5 Hadassah Finley  b: 17 SEP 1814 in Shelby Co., Ky; d: 1887
.................................  + Alexander Hall Henderson  b: 6 JUL 1804 d: 1 MAY 1863
.................... 6-2           Mary Steele Finley  b: 30 MAR 1816 in Shelby Co., Ky; d: 1884 in Lincoln Co., Mo
.................... 6-2-5111    Andrew Ramsey Finley (b. 1818, Shelbyville, KY; d. 1896, Santa Ana, CA)
.................................     +Caroline Gibson (b. 1830, Linco
.........................7-02-050.5   Martha Emma Finley (b. 1856 Lincoln Co., Mo; d. 1947, Santa Ana, CA)
.................... 6-2-5111.5  Sarah Ann Finley b: 23 SEP 1820 in Va.; d:1896 in Lincoln Co., Mo.
..................................  + David Wilson  b: 1 JUL 1823 d: 17 JAN 1889
.................... 6-2-5111.6  Martha Jane Finley (b: 4 APR 1823 in Ky; d. 1901 Antelope, CA)
..................................  + Richard Thomas Gladney b: 4 JAN 1820 m: 1844 in Lincoln Co., Mo. d: 1 JAN 1872 
.................... 6-2            John William Finley b: 17 JUL 1825 in Shelby Co., Ky d: 1904
.................... 6-2            Margaret Finley b: 22 SEP 1831; d: 1831

* Numbers are from "The Clan FINLEY", by Rear Adm. Herald Franklin Stout, 2nd Edition, 1957
(There is no generation 1-, we are not missing it.)
Information sources.
Scotland Information at McBride Page
Prominent Cousins.
East Central Scotland
Irish Ancestors
Emma's Story
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