Person:Robert Finley (29)

The "Biograpy of the Rev. Robert Finley" (by Rev. Isaac Brown), 1855, pages 1-39, relates that Rev. Finley's father, James Finley, was born 1737 in Glasgow, Scotland, where he was trained as a yarn merchant and where he became acquainted with Rev. John Witherspoon who was then a pastor in the town of Paisley about six miles from Glasgow. James Finley "frequently left the church to which he was attached in his native city, and walked to Paisley on Sabbath days, to attend the ministrations of his admired friend."...... "he rejoiced at his efforts to restore pure Presbyerian government in the Church of Scotland " and supported Witherspoon's opposition to the4 patronage system. After accepting the Presidency of of Princeton College and emigrating to America in 1763, Witherspoon invited James Finley to come over and settle in the same place. James Finley did so "and with his wife whose maiden name was Angres, landed at New York in 1769. At Princeton James Finley pursued weaving and was for many years a ruling elder in the Presbyerian church.... "He was a warm and decided advocate and supporter of the American Revolution. He was employed as clothier to a brigade of American troops. " Economically he suffered because his compensation was largely "in the currency of the provinces when it had sunk to almost nothing." At Princeton James Finley corresponded for many years with David Dale Esq, "th honorable Bailiff of the district he had inhabited in Scotland" An obituary from "Assembly's Missionary magazine, 1806, page 341, relates that David Dale "Died at Glasgow on the 17th current in the 68th year of his age, David Dale, Esq, of Rosebank, late one of the magistrates of that city." (This suggests that James Finley may have come from this same area)......."Robert Finley was born at Princeton, New Jersey, 1772.".... "In the eleventh year of his age, he was admitted into the college as a member of the freshman class.". At age 16 he received a B.A. from the college at Princeton. He was then employed as teacher of the Princeton grammar school.... "A considerable number of the pupils, farther advanced in years than the teacher, were irregular and insubordinate in their temper and manners. Mr. Finley proceeded with energy to introduce order and establish discipline in the institution The elder portion of the youth manifested a refractory temper, resisted his regulations, and, on being urged to comply, broke out into open rebellion, in hopes of intimidating the youthful instructor, and constraining him to connive at their idle and disorderly habits. He maintained his authority with dignity and firmness, suspended the refractory, and referred their case to Dr. Witherspoon, under whose superintendence he acted and under whose guardianship most of the young men were placed. Dr. Witherpoon, being informed of these circumstances, visited the school; investigated the whole matter; pronounced his full and decided aprobation of the measures and conduct of Mr. Finley; established the influence of his young friend, by the whole weight of his own dignity and authority; compelled the disorderly to make suitable acknowledgments and to return submissively to their studies, under the very system against which they had revolted." He next taught at the academy at Allentown, New Jersey. In 1794 at age 24 he was licensed to preach the Gospel, by the Presbytery of New Brunswick. On June 16, 1795 he was ordained and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Basking Ridge. In May, 1798, he married Esther Caldwell, a daughter of the Re. James Caldwell. At Basking Ridge, Rober Finley undertook instruction of a few boys, "some of whom were to be prepared for business, the greater part for college. Thus was laid the foundation of a school." ------------------------------------------- :Source: Ancestry.com. «i»Family Records or Genealogies of the First Settlers of Passaic Valley, New Jersey«/i» [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002. Original data: John Littell. «i»Family Records: or Genealogies of the first settlers of Passaic Valley and Vicinity above Chatham with their Ancestors and Descendants«/i». Passaic Valley, New Providence, NJ, USA: 1852.......About «i»Family Records or Genealogies of the First Settlers of Passaic Valley, New Jersey «/i»Originally published in 1852, the author states that, "Wherever family records could be obtained, they have been used; but in most cases no such record could be had. I therefore had to depend on the memory of some one or more of the family…With the exception of one or two, every family may be traced back to some branch that lived in Passaic Valley previous to the year 1800.

2. Robert, who graduated at Princeton College; studied theology, and was ordained and installed in the ministry at Basking Ridge. He married Esther Caldwell, the 5th child of the Rev. James Caldwell, of Revolutionary memory.

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1. ↑ John Littel. Family Records or Genealogies of the First Settlers of Passaic Valley, New Jersey. (Passaic Valley, New Jersey. 1851).
2. ↑ Brown, Isaac. Biography of the Rev. Robert Finley. (1855)
   pages 1-39.

   Biograpy of the Rev. Robert Finley" (by Rev. Isaac Brown), 1855, pages 1-39

3. ↑ Stout, H.F. Clan Finley: a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad.

   Ancestry.com. The clan Finley : a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Stout, Herald F.. The clan Finley : a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad. Index to the names in "The Clan Finley" Additions and corrections to the line of John Finley 1713-1760 Additions and corrections to the line of Alexander Finley 1667-1736 Additions and correction to the line of John Finley 1636-1704 Additions and corrections to the Clan Finley The Finleys at home The Finley pioneers Ancestry abroad Explanation of symbols Historical Introduction The Finley legend Chart of descent of Clan Finley Contents Title page Front matter. unknown: H.F. Stout, 1940

4. ↑ Monette, Orra. First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodbridge.

   "James Finley of Trenton, N.J."..."This is family who settled in New Jersey, James Finley, son of James and Ann (McDonald) Finley, born Glasgow, June 8, 1737, died Basking Ridge, married in Scotland, Ann Angrest, immigrated to America, landing, New York, 1769, moved and settled Priceton, N.J.....Issue: I. James Finley, born Princeton, 1770, moved to Western N.Y.; Alexander Finley, born 1771, died Basking Ridge (?), married S;usan Whitaker, 12 children; III Rev Robert Finley, born Princeton, N.J., 1772, died At;hens, Ga, Oct 3, 1817, married May 16, 1768, Esther Flynt Caldwell, daughter of Rev James and Hannah (Ogden) Caldwell; IV. Anne, who m. Charles Morford of Basking Ridge, N.J.... (HIST OF HUNT. & SOM. CO. p. 738; LITTLE, P. 151 & amer. anc. vol xii, P 29)

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 New Jersey Tax Lists Index 1772-1822.
6. ↑ Brown, Rev. Isaac. Biography of the Rev. Robert Finley, D.D. 1855.
7. ↑ Brown, Isaac. Biography of the Rev. Robert Finley. (1855)
   pages 1-39.

   Biograpy of the Rev. Robert Finley" (by Rev. Isaac Brown), 1855, pages 1-39

8. ↑ Stout, H.F. Clan Finley: a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad.

   Ancestry.com. The clan Finley : a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Stout, Herald F.. The clan Finley : a condensed genealogy of the Finley family at home and abroad. Index to the names in "The Clan Finley" Additions and corrections to the line of John Finley 1713-1760 Additions and corrections to the line of Alexander Finley 1667-1736 Additions and correction to the line of John Finley 1636-1704 Additions and corrections to the Clan Finley The Finleys at home The Finley pioneers Ancestry abroad Explanation of symbols Historical Introduction The Finley legend Chart of descent of Clan Finley Contents Title page Front matter. unknown: H.F. Stout, 1940