Person:Roger Farley (1)

[v4t1143 thomas nc.FTW]

Will of Roger Farley: Roger Farley of the city of Worchester, gentleman, 29 March, 1622; proved 25 September, 1622. To my wife Jane the tenement my son Robert Farley now dwells in the broadstreete of Worchester and adjoining to the East side of now dwelling house and at her decease to my son Robert. To my son Robert the house in my own occupation and the house in occupation of my sister Alice Kent. To wife Jane 300 pounds and all the goods which were her own when I married her. To William Farley my son 120 pounds and various articles of furniture and the lease of the house John Younger now dwelleth in. To son Elliott Farley 100 pounds. To Edward Farley my son 10 pounds to buy him a cloak and his wife a gown. To son Thomas Farley 5 pounds. To son Humphrey Farley 5 pounds. To Ceyeill my daughter 5 pounds. To daughter Margaret Broadhurst 5 pounds. To daughter Katherine Barnsley 5 pounds. To wife's son Robert Allen 40 pounds. To sister Alice Kent 3 pounds. To each of my apprentices and servant maids 10 pounds each. To poor of Worchester 7 pounds. To Thomas and Edward Evans my wife's brethren 20 pounds each. Robert Farley my son to use my cloth-mark in any clothes he shall make. I forgive my brother Thomas Farley all debt he owes to me and also discharge Thomas Rogers my son-in-law of all moneys and also my son-in-law William Ceycill. Lands I hold from Corporation of Worchester to Jane my wife. The deeds of feoffment to some of my children of lands in Anbury als Avenbury in co. Hereford and of lands in City of Worchester to remain in the custody of my exacutor. To John Clyman 22 pounds. Residuary Legatee and executor: son Robert Farley. Overseers: John Watts of City of Worchester, gent, and John Breynton of same city, Dyer. If I die in the forenoon of any day, my body to be buried in the afternoon of the same day and if I die in the afternoon of one day, to be buried in the forenoon of the next.

Witnesses: Edward Waringe William Allen Richard Oswald John Hill, Scr.

Saville 83 Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 20, pages 178-79.

Roger acquired large estates and founded many of the leading business enterprises in the City of Worcester. He became a merchant-clothier and attained a great reputation for his product, so much so, that at his death his " Clothmark", was regarded of such value that it was willed to his eldest son.

Another source (Mercer County History book which was published in 1985 by the Mercer County Historical Society) says that Reginald Farley, not Roger Farley, was the father of Thomas Farley (who is the original ancestor of the Farley's in this area).

The article was written by John Charles May, whose mother, Willia Moye Maddy, traces her mother's lineage from Asa Ellison, Sr. and Mrs. Maddy traces her father's line from James Ellison, Jr. (son of James and Ann English Addis Ellison and brother to Asa Ellison, Sr.) Mrs. Maddy says that James Jr. married Nancy Elizabeth Farley, sister to Drewry Farley. Now doesn't that make it confusing!?! Additionally, Mrs. Maddy says that Drewry Farley is her mother's great-great-grandfather. If this is true, then we're related to Mrs. Maddy doubly (somehow). Mrs. Maddy also describes James Jr (who married Nancy Elizabeth Farley) as an Indian scout during the Revolution and as the ancestor of Francis Ellison (who married Mary [Polly] Elizabeth Smith) and who owned land on Ellison Ridge in Summers County. If so, this WOULD make us related to the Ellison Ridge Ellisons. Also, Mrs. Maddy's article says that Francis and Mary (Polly) had a child named Abraham who married a woman named Mary Tuggle. Our records, however, show that Mary Tuggle (called Polly) Asa Ellison, Jr (another article, written by Milton Ellison confirms that Asa Jr. and Mary Tuggle married). We should try to find out who is correct: Mrs. Maddy (who says that Abraham was the son of Francis and Mary [Polly] and married Mary Tuggle) is the great-granddaughter of Francis and Mary (Polly). Don't you think she'd know who her great-grandparents are? I do. On the other hand, Milton Ellison's article (which happens to be on the same page as Mrs. Maddy's) agrees with our records that say that Asa Ellison, Jr. married Mary Tuggle (called Polly) and were the parents of James Ellison (who married Polly Mann).