The Finleys of Fayette county, FINLEY Pennsylvania, descend from a Scotch ancestor, Michael Finley, born in Scotland, or possibly Ireland, of Scotch parents, in the decade 1680-1690. He lived in county Armagh, Ireland, from whence he emigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1734, with wife and seven sons (possibly eight). He first settled on Neshaminy creek, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, afterwards in New Jersey, and later in Sadsbury township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he lived from 1737 to 1747. Children, all born in Armagh, Ireland:
1. John, was killed by Indians in Lurgan township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he settled before 1744; married Martha Berkley and had issue; his descendants are found South and West. 2. Samuel, D.D., LL.D., born 1715, died in Philadelphia, July 17, 1766; he was president of Princeton College, 1761-66, a man of deep learning and a powerful preacher, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church. He married (first), September 26, 1744, Sarah Hall, born 1728, died July 30, 1760; married (second), Ann, daughter of Matthew Clarkson, of Philadelphia; left issue by both marriages. 3. William, died 1800; a farmer of Chester and Adams counties, Pennsylvania, later of Augusta county, Virginia; married (first) ______ ;(second) Catherine, daughter of Samuel Culbertson. of London Grove township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. 4. Michael (2), a farmer of Chester county, Pennsylvania; married Ann Lewis; their eldest son, Joseph Lewis Finley, was lieutenant, captain and major in the revolution. 5. Rev. James, of whom further. 6. Clements, born March, 1735, died August 11, 1775, in South Huntington township, Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania; married, January 12, 1761, Elizabeth Carnahan, and left issue. There is some doubt as to whether Clements was a son of Michael, or a grandson, and son of John Finley. The strongest inference is as given. Of the other children of Michael Finley there is no record.
II) The Finleys of Fayette county descend through Rev. James Finley. fifth son of Michael Finley. He was born in county Armagh, Ireland, February, 1725, died in Rostraver township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. January 6, 1795. He came to America with his father and brothers in 1734. He received a good education and became a regularly ordained minister of the Presbyterian church, and was for many years pastor of the East Nottingham church, Cecil county, Maryland, Eastern Shore, 1752-83, and of Rehoboth and Round Hill churches, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 1783-95. He played an important part in the early settlement of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, particularly in Redstone township, where he was the first of the family to arrive in 1765. He made a wide circuit through the county, preaching here and there, but on the lookout for a good location. He is said to have been the first minister of the Gospel (except army chaplains) who ever penetrated Western Pennsylvania. He tarried about a month on his first visit, then returned to his church in Maryland, but came again in 1767 and again in 1771, each time on a preaching mission. His first favorable opinion of the country was confirmed by each succeeding visit, and in 1771 he made a large purchase of land on Dunlap's creek, within the present limits of the townships of German, Redstone and Menallen. He returned east and in 1772 came again, bringing his fourteen-year-old son Ebenezer; a farm hand, Samuel Finley (not a relative), and several negro slaves. Rev. James was at no time an actual settler of Fayette county, but his son Ebenezer always remained and was the real pioneer Finley. Rev. James Finley was regularly settled pastor of Rehoboth church, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1783, continuing until his death in 1795. It is worthy of remark that "from his first coming in 1765 until 1783, thirty-four families connected with his church in Cecil county, Maryland, removed to Western Pennsylvania. These families scattered and were the nucleus from which later sprang Presbyterian churches at Chartiers, Cross Creek, Rehoboth, Laurel Hill and Dunlap's Creek. Of the thirty-four families.named, twentytwo of the heads of these became ruling elders of the churches named, at their organizations.
Rev. James Finley married, in 1752, Hannah Evans, born 1715, died April 1, 1795, daughter of Robert Evans. Children: 1. Rev. John Evans, born July 6, 1753, died in Ohio, after 1813; he was pastor of Faggs Manor Church, 1781-93, removed to Bracken, Mason county, Kentucky, thence to Red Oak, Ohio; married a daughter of Job Ruston, of Chester county. 2. Samuel Robert, born December 19, 1754, died October 25, 1839. 3. Margaret, born September 5, 1756, died May 10, 1836; married Colonel John Power, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. 4. Ebenezer, of whom further. 5. Hannah, born June 20, 1764, died before 1820; married John Robinson. 6. Joseph, born December 13, 1766, died June 3, 1860; married (first), a Miss Veech, (second) Frances Moore. 7. James, born January 14, 1769, died November 17, 1772. 8. William, June 10, 1772, died August 20, 1857; married (first) Sarah Patterson, (second) Margaret Wilson. 9. Michael, born March 24, 1774, died July 29, 1850; married (first) Eleanor Elliot, (second) Mrs. Mary Plumer Smith.
(lll) Ebenezer, third son and fourth child of Rev. James and Hannah (Evans) Finley, was born in Cecil county, Maryland, December 30, 1758, died January 18, 1849. He came to Fayette county with his father in 1772 and settled on lands in Redstone township, purchased by his father in 1771. Ebenezer was a daring, hardy lad, and amidst his pioneer surroundings rapidly developed stature and strength. Samuel Finley, who came at the same time, but not a relative, was in charge of the farm, aided by his negro slaves brought from Maryland. Samuel was drafted for militia duty, but Ebenezer was allowed to go as his substitute. While at Fort Wallace a rider brought news of the approach of Indians. Young Finley was one of the party of twenty men who left the fort, and soon came upon a large body of Indians before whom they retreated, keeping up a running fight. Finley's gun would not go off, and in stopping to fix it he fell behind the others. An Indian with a leveled gun was about to shoot him, when a settler's shot struck him. Finley ran, closely pursued, and soon caught up with the hindmost man, who received the tomahawk, intended for Finley, in the back of his head. Close pressed, but protected by the fire of a comrade, he safely crossed the bridge and reached the fort. A remarkable case of premonition or telepathy, or call it as one may, must here be recorded: During young Finley's running fight and narrow escapes, just mentioned, his father, Rev. James Finley, three hundred miles away, had a strange and undefinable impression that his son was in great danger, but could form no distinct conception of its nature or cause. He fell to his knees and spent a long time in earnest prayer for his son, arising with the comfortable feeling that the danger was past. He made a note of the time, and when a few weeks later he received a letter from his son giving an account of his narrow escapes from death, he saw that the time corresponded exactly with his own strange experience. Rev. Finley was a man of absolute truth —the reader must settle for himself what was the cause of this wireless intercourse between father and son and separated by three hundred miles of space.
