In the 1880 Mortality Schedule for Sevier CO Tennessee gave the birthplace of William M Whaley's parents -- father and mother were born in South Carolina. Family traditions say Wm M Whaley, his two brothers, John and Middleton, and a sister, Delania, came to Sevier CO Tennessee from South Carolina. Buried Old Plemmons Cemetery, Greenbrier, Sevier CO Tennessee.
Wm M Whaley Sr was born Aug. 15, 1788 in South Carolina. Smoky Mountain Clans by Donald Reagan, states that Wm's Father was Alexander Whaley who was born in South Carolina as was Wm's Mother, name [ ]. An article in the Nov. 22, 1939 issue of the Montgomery Vindicator, states that Alexander Whaley, who once lived where Asheville N Carolina now is, was the immediate ancestor of the Sevier CO Tennessee Whaley's.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index indicates Alexander Whaley was born July 27, 1746. Alexander married Abigail Laverich, according to the Thomas Jefferson Barnes papers in the Tennessee State Library and Archives. They had a son named Thomas, born in 1790. Thomas married Rachel Page in 1814 and died in 1832. Alexander later married Maria Shute Pollard.
Whaley researcher, Bonni Harris, states that Alexander is one of three sons born to General Edward Whaley. One son settled in MD, a second son settled in South Carolina (Alexander ?) and a third son whose place of settlement was [ ].
Alexander was a member of The Boston Tea Party, according to the Thomas Jefferson Barnes' papers in the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
Family tradition maintains that Wm and his two brothers, John and Middleton and their sister Delania came to Sevier CO Tennessee from South Carolina around 1810.
Another family tradition says that Alexander Whaley, their Father, came to Sevier CO from Buncombe CO N Carolina. One of Alexander's sons, John, settled in Carter CO Tennessee, while brothers Middleton and Wm Whaley settled in Sevier CO Tennessee. Wm settled in Big Greenbriar Cove, Middleton in Glades and Alexander moved on into Wear's valley in Sevier CO Tennessee where he later died. There is no evidence for the preceding story other than tradition.
Mary Ann Ogle moved with her family to Sevier CO Tennessee as early as 1805, soon after the death of her father, Wm Ogle.
According to a Family History by John R Whaley Jr , Mary's nickname was "Polly" and her Father's was "Billy."
On Dec. 26, 1811, in Sevier CO Tennessee, Wm married Mary Ann Ogle. Mary Ann was born ca. 1793-95 in the Edgefield District, South Carolina, the youngest daughter of Wm and Martha Huskey Ogle. Martha Husky was the daughter of Frederick Husky, according to a Whaley family history by John Whaley Jr Wm and brother, Middleton, married Ogle sisters
Wm M Whaley SR was drafted during the War of 1812 on Nov. 13, 1814, He was a Fifer in Captain Wilson Maples' company, Col. Edwin E Booth's Regiment of Tennessee Drafted Militia per Pension applications #17.984 or # 11.4 36, filed in Sevier CO Tennessee on Jan. 24, 1872. Capt. Maples later resigned and the company was commanded by Capt. John W Porter. At this time Wm's address was Sevierville in Sevier CO TN. Appearing as Character witnesses for Wm when he filed for his pension were, Jeremiah. C Chamberlin, John W Husky of the second district of Sevier CO. Wm was honorably discharged in Mobile Alabama on May 20, 1815. In a letter dated Nov. 2, 1871, Sevierville postmaster, I D P Gap, verified the good character of the aforementioned Chamberlin and Huskey. Wm signed this statement with an "X". William M Whaley is a recognized Patriot with the Society of the War 1812. William M Whaley Sr is buried in Plemmons Cemetery FindAGrave11325941.
The man who served in the Mexican War was William Whaley Jr. He served in Company A, 2 Tennessee Infantry as a private, and he played the Drums. He is also a recognized Patriot with the Descendants of Mexican War Veterans. William Whaley's date of birth is 1 Jan 1815, born in Sevier County, Tennessee and he died 06 Apr 1877 in Anderson County, Tennessee. He is buried in New Hope Cemetery FindAGrave66666525.
In December 1817 when the White Oak Flats (now Gatlinburg) Baptist Church formed, as an arm of the Fork of the Little Pigeon River Baptist Church in Sevierville, TN, Wm and Mary Ann Whaley were listed as charter members, per Smoky Mountain Clans.
At the July 1833 meeting of the White Oak Flats Baptist Church Wm M Whaley said, "I have been led to believe it is my duty to exercise a public gift." Whereupon, the church granted to him the privileges of exercising (preaching) where in the CO as duty may call him. At this meeting, Wm was ordained "Moderator. Per Smoky Mountain Clans.
It isn't precisely known when Wm and Mary Ann moved to Big Greenbriar in Sevier CO TN but they were well settled between 1830 and 1840.The 1840 Tennessee Census of Sevier CO lists, Wm Whaley SR, Males - under 5 - two, males 5 - 10 - three, males 15 - 20 - one, males 50 - 60 - one. Females - none.
Wm may have lived near the forks of the Little Pigeon River in Big Greenbriar Cove in Sevier CO Tennessee in 1847. Wm Sr's land is shown adjoining that of his son Wm Jr when Wm Jr sold and deeded his property in the forks of the river area in 1847. Glen Caldwell, a Great Smoky Mountain National Park Ranger, says that Whaley family lore holds that Wm settled in Big Greenbriar at the location of the present day (1986) campground.
The 1850 Tennessee Census of Sevier CO taken Aug. 27th, lists the following; residence 223-801 Wm Whaley Sr 65, born South Carolina, land value - $3 00.00, Mary Ann Whaley 57- wife, born TN and the following Whaley children, Issac 24, Adeline 21, Ira 19, Rebecca 17, Preston 14, George 12 and Elizabeth 10,
Sevier CO Court Clerk J T Clark verified that on October 2, 1854, Wm Whaley Sr , age about 65, appeared before him with his personal physician, E Ogle, who had been acquainted with Wm Whaley since infancy. E Ogle states that Wm was in good health prior to his service in Capt. McCrown's company of Tennessee Volunteers for the Mexican War. The doctor states that Wm is now totally disabled from obtaining his support by manual labor. This was part of the application process for a pension based on Wm's Mexican War service.
On May 16, 1855, Wm Whaley Sr and Wm Whaley Jr testified on Delaney Stakey's behalf in regard to her Bounty Land Application. One of the Whaley's declared he was invited to the wedding of Joel Starkey and Delaney Whaley and, "was present in a short time after the wedding had taken place." In his book, Smoky Mountain Clans, Donald R Reagan speaks of a Whaley family tradition which holds that Delania is the sister of William, Middleton and John Whaley. Donald R Reagan is a descendant of Wm Whaley.
The following is a list of all known children of Wm Sr and Mary Ann Ogle Whaley, taken from various Tennessee Censuses and the book Smoky Mountain Clans;
(1) Alexander b. 1812, married Mary E Williamson and later Mary Boy d.
(2) Wm M Jr b. 1815, married Elizabeth Evans.
(3). John H b. 1817, married Mourning Ownby and later Mary Ownby.
(4). Female b. 1820.
(5) Male b. 1822.
(6). Elizabeth b. 1824, married Tennessee Pate.
(7). Henry A born 1826, married Amanda McMillian in 1849.
(8) Issac b. 1826 Married Hulda Ogle.
(9) Jane b. 1827, married John B Ownby.
(10) Perry Commodore b. 1 828, married Sarah Ogle.
(11) Martha A Born 1829, married Elisha W Part on in 1846, he was born in 1828 in N Carolina.
(12) Ira b. 1831, married Susan King, then Nancy L Deavors.
(13) Rebecca b. 1833 married (?).
(14) Colonel Preston b. 1835, married Jane Ogle.
(15) George B born 1838, married Mary Jane Elledge, then Catherine Brown.
(16) Elijah b. 1840, married Sarah Ogle.
During the course of his life, Wm obtained various parcels of land in the Big Greenbriar Cove area of Sevier CO as evidenced by the following Tennessee Land Grants recorded in book "J"
(1) # 25?1 on Aug. 5 1812, page 7 2,
(2) # 255? Aug. 5, 1812,
(3) # 104?9 February. 2, 1825, page 488 and
(4) # 18163 on Aug. 14, 1826, page 830.
The Tennessee State Library and Archives says "soldiers of the war of 1812, although serving in Tennessee forces, received their land grants in Arkansas, IL or Mo. Tennessee was not part of the federal domain at this time and land could not be granted by the federal government at this time."
Per statement dated May 22, 1871, filed with pension applications #17.9 84 or #11436 in Sevier CO Tennessee. Wm's residence is The Big East Fork of the Little Pigeon River in Greenbriar Cove in the 2nd district of Sevier CO Tennessee. His age is eighty-two, his Post Office address is Sevierville, TN.
Per pension applications #17.984 or # 11.436, filed in Sevier CO Tennessee Jan. 24, 1872, Wm Whaley SR Filed for and received an $8.00 per month pension for his services with Capt. John Porter's Company of Tennessee Drafted Militia in the War of 1812.
Smoky Mountain Clans records Mary Ann Ogle Whaley's death as being between 1872 and 1880 in Big Greenbriar Cove in Sevier CO Tennessee. Mary Ann was the Mother of sixteen children. She was buried in Plemmons Cemetery in Big Greenbriar Cove in Sevier CO Tennessee, according to the book entitled, "In the Shadow of the Smokies"
According to museum technician Kathleen L Manscill, of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, fifty-five individuals with the surname Whaley sold property for inclusion in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The New Dictionary for American Family Names lists the name Whaley as one who came from Whalley. Whalley means meadow by a road or hill and is the name of locations in Cheshire and Derbyshire, Eng.
According to Tennessee Mortality Schedule 1880, page 729, Wm Whaley, 10 2, widowed, farmer, born South Carolina, Parents born South Carolina, died in Sevier CO in May 1880, of an abscess of the side
The book entitled, "In the Shadow of the Smokies" indicates that William SR and Mary Ann Whaley are buried side by side in Plemmons Cemetery in Big Greenbriar Cove in Sevier CO Tennessee. This writer has visited the graves of William Sr and Mary Ann Whaley. William's tombstone reads, Wm M Whaley, Fifer Capt. John Porter's CO, War of 1812, June 15, 1788 - May 30, 1880. This would make William 92 at the time of his death, rather than the 102-year age stated in the Tennessee Mortality Schedule of 1880.
