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Facts and Events
Some sources claim that this Rose Ellen Finley married John Henderson, but this appears to be in error. The Rose Finley that married John Henderson was an earlier generation, born abt. 1708. More research necessary.
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/finleyfindings/VOL2.html
A Possible Identity
Of Rose Finley of Augusta Co, VA,
By Jim Finley
STOUT identifies one Rose FINLEY (4-02-14.5) as the daughter of John FINLEY (3-02-1). He states she married one John HENDERSON, who died in 1766. He also lists another Rose FINLEY as the daughter of William FINLEY (3-02-5), brother of John (3-02-1), but gives no further data except that she was born in 1736 and married a man named GILLESPEY.
The purpose of this paper is to show the possibility that the two persons named Rose FINLEY might have been one and the same and that she was the daughter of William FINLEY (3-02-5).
In order to present my information, which is in no way conclusive, I feel we will need to make a brief examination of both the families of HENDERSON and GILLESPIE.
William HENDERSON, father-in-law of Rose FINLEY, arrived in Augusta County at a very early date. Though not listed among the earliest land owners, by 1749, he and wife, Sussanna, were selling land they owned on the North Branch of the James River above the mouth of Buffalo Creek to one John CLYDE of Pennsylvania and is recorded in Deed Book 2, P. 393. This was 350 acres. Again in 1761, John HENDERSON and wife, Sussanna, sold another 350 acres of land in the same location to one Nathaniel EVANS, recorded in Deed Book 10, P. 5.
William HENDERSON also owned a large tract of land in Beverley Manor containing 1,415 acres and located on Christian's Creek. On 21 Mar 1759, William and Sussanna HENDERSON sold 200 acres of this land to their son, John, and 430 acres to their son, James. This land is described as being in the line of Thos. BLACK, corner to said BLACK and Robert CUNNINGHAM, also in the line of George CALDWELL and Thos. RUTLEDGE's Crossing. Recorded in Deed Book 8, P. 101 and 104.
William HENDERSON made his will on 2 Sep 1770 and listed his age as "about 71 years." He mentions his wife, but does not name her. The land documents and subsequent documents show that her name was Sussanah but no family name has been found. He names three sons, James, William and David, and three sons-in-law, David and James BELL, and John LEEPER. He mentions Shussanna HENDERSON, daughter of John HENDERSON (no relationship given); Shussanna FINLEY, daughter to his daughter, Martha (she m 1750, Robert FINLEY) and granddaughter Jean TEAS. The executors were wife, brother Samuel HENDERSON and son, James HENDERSON. The will was recorded on 20 Nov 1770.
The John HENDERSON mentioned seems to have died in 1766, four years prior to the father, which explains the mention but not a legatee in the father's will.
John HENDERSON made his will on 4 Apr 1766 and it was recorded on 20 Aug of the same year. He mentions that he is a farmer and that his wife's name was Rose. He mentions his son, William, and two daughters, who are not named. He states that if either daughter should die, the other was to enjoy her share. The witnesses were John DAVIDSON and Robert FINLEY. The executors were brother, James HENDERSON, and his wife's brother, John FINLEY. The security agents were Adam DEAN and William FINLEY.
STOUT lists the daughters of John and Rose HENDERSON as Margaret, who married David STEWART, and Florence, who married Andrew RUSSELL. The will of William HENDERSON seems to cast doubt as to the names of these daughters, since WILLIAM HENDERSON mentions Sussana HENDERSON, daughter of John, in his will of 1770. A more thorough search of the guardian bonds of Augusta County might cast more light, since a guardian would have likely been appointed and especially if these children were under 14 years of age.
I have found no records in Augusta County which would show that Rose FINLEY HENDERSON remarried and if so, that she married William GILLESPIE. However, among the purchasers at the estate sale of William FINLEY in 1789 were William and Rose GILLESPIE.
To give us some insight as to the connection between GILLESPIE and FINLEY families, I will give a brief history of the GILLESPIE family and their arrival into Orange County in an area which was to later become Augusta County.
James GILLASPEY, whom I will refer to as James GILLESPIE Sr., proved his importation into Orange County, VA, evidently arriving from Ireland on 24 Jul 1740. In addition to himself, he was accompanied by his wife, Jennet, and children listed as Agnes, John, James and William, which was probably the order of their ages. James GILLESPIE purchased three adjoining tracts of land from 1740 until 1753, containing 210, 208 and 200 acres. After James Sr.'s arrival in Augusta County, two additional children were baptised by Rev. John CRAIG at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, with Margaret baptised on 4 Oct 1741 and Elisabeth baptised on 16 Jan 1743.
James GILASPEY Sr. made his will on 5 Sep 1768, which was recorded in Book 4, P. 263 of Augusta County, on 20 Oct 1769. All the children except Margaret were named in the will, so it is assumed Margaret had died young. The wife, Jennet, was mentioned, with the three sons, John, James and William, along with Edward HALL, as executors. Several land and other records between the GILLESPIE and other families in question prove interesting and show a close relationship. James GILLESPIE Jr. married on 5 Jan 1764 in Prince Edward County, VA, Elizabeth FINLEY, daughter of John FINLEY Sr., who gives his consent. The security agent was Robert BAKER. James GILLESPIE is identified as from Augusta County in the marriage bond.
On 18 Aug 1773, James GILLESPY and Elizabeth, his wife, sell to John FINLEY 100 acres for five shillings. The land adjoins Hugh MC CLURE's property, also that of John RAMSEY (Deed Book 19, P. 414). On 22 Aug 1787, James GILLESPIE and Elizabeth sell land to Michael COYNART (also recorded as COINER) of Cumberland County, PA, recorded in Deed Book 26, P. 37.
On 22 Aug 1787, William GILLESPIE and Rose sold to George Adam COYNART a tract conveyed to William by the will of James GILLASPIE. This was conveyed to Gaspar COINERT on 22 Aug 1789, which might indicate that this was a sale by William and Rose in preparation for leaving Augusta County.
Augusta County Deed Book 27, P. 290 and 291, shows that in Nov 1791, William HENDERSON and William GILLESPY of Green County, NC grant a power of attorney to Robert FINLEY to sell 200 acres on South River. (Note: Since Greene County, NC, was not formed until 1799, I presume this to mean Greene County, TN.)
Deed Book 16, P. 287 shows that on 15 May 1775, John, James and William GILLESPY sell to Thomas MC COLLOCK, for five pounds, 80 acres in Beverley Manor, part of three tracts conveyed to James GILLESPY, deceased. The three tracts originally included 210 acres obtained from Wm. Beverley on 27 Feb 1749; 208 acres; and 200 acres, all adjoining the 80 acres bounded by corner land formerly owned by Charles DALHOUSE; and other corner land bounded by James, William and John GILLESPIE.
STOUT says that Florence HENDERSON, daughter of Rose FINLEY HENDERSON, married Andrew RUSSELL. In Augusta County records, there appear to be Andrew RUSSELL Sr. and Andrew RUSSELL Jr. witnessing deeds and other documents. Were they father and son?
In Will Book IX, P. 313 to 315, in May 1803 Andrew RUSSELL's will (proved in Knox County, TN, July term of 1803) mentions wife, Elizabeth; son, Mathew; son, William; daughter, Ann; son, John; daughter, Elizabeth; son, James; son-in-law, James ROBERTSON; sons, Andrew and Alexander TESTE. It was witnessed by Wm. GILLESPIE, Wm. HENDERSON and James GILLESPIE, and also proved in Augusta County on 29 Nov 1803.
In summation, it would appear that I have provided no conclusive evidence to prove that Rose HENDERSON and Rose GILLESPIE were one and the same. The only real evidence shows that both John HENDERSON and William GILLESPIE had wives named Rose.
Much research still needs to be done. Most, if not all of my work, has been done from abstracts and a search of the original documents will usually disclose much that has been missed in brief abstracts. The preponderance of evidence would seem to lean toward one Rose FINLEY and my own belief is that the father would be identified as William FINLEY (3-02-5).
In listing the birthdate of 1736 as the birthdate shown by FRANCE and STOUT (for Rose FINLEY), it would seem their information is plausible. The records show that James GILLESPIE and wife, Jennet, had four children born prior to 1740, one of which was William. It would seem logical that William would have been of an age to have married a girl born ca. 1736.
Also, in reviewing the baptismal records of the Rev. John CRAIG, as published in The Tinkling Springs: Headwaters of Freedom, by Howard McKnight WILSON, William FINLY, whom I presume is identical to 3-02-5 as listed by STOUT, baptised two sons named William, on 26 Oct 1740 and 16 Jan 1743. He also baptised a son, Robert, on 23 Jun 1745. I feel it is reasonable to conclude the elder son, William, died young and he named a second son William, also. Son John, as mentioned in the 1789 will of William, was probably the oldest and was baptised prior to 1740, possibly in Pennsylvania.
It would then seem plausible to assume that all three of Rose HENDERSON's brothers were mentioned in her husband's will. In rethinking this, however, her brother, William, would have only been 23 years of age in 1766, when John HENDERSON made his will. It would seem unlikely that a young man of 23 years of age would have been affluent enough to have provided security to cover the value of the will. This would likely have been an older, more affluent man, such as her father, hence William Sr.
There were many HENDERSON parents who had children baptised by Rev. John CRAIG, whom he recorded between 1740 and 1749. Only the parent of the child who submitted the child for baptism was listed. Nowhere within these records was a parent named Rose. One John HENDERSON did have children baptised during these dates, but none seem consistent with the will of John HENDERSON in 1766. Other HENDERSON parents were Alexander, Daniel, David, James, Samuel, Thomas and William, whom I presume was William Jr.
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