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Hadley Line
The following is a transcript of a presentation to the Hadley Society in 1999 by John Hadley.
The name HADLEY is actually of Saxon origin. Many call it "Anglo-Saxon," but it is really a Saxon name. These invaders were from the Rhine in Germany and settled in eastern England in about 600 AD. Before 1066, when they lost control of England to the Normans, they were in complete control of the island with the exception of Wales and Scotland. The original Saxon name is believed to have been HATLEGH, (by the way, the Saxons had no written language). The first written name we have seen until this writing is the Domesday Survey's HATLEGE . The name was also spelled HATLEGA, or HEDLEGA which are more phonetic versions. They were Saxon, they had a more guttural type of an accent. When the Normans (Viking kingdom based in Normandy, France) successfully defeated the Saxons in 1066, Saxon names became Normanized. Versions such as de Hadley, de Haddesley, de Haddleigh are transitional examples of the original Hedlega. D. B. HADLEY from Whitehill House in Upham Hampshire, England has written to me regarding the subject of the origin of the name Hadley.
"Dear John, Thank you for your letter. I am sorry for taking so long to reply. Firstly, as to the origin of the family name - Dr. Basil Cottle's Penguin Dictionary surnames has the following entry: HADLEY = Heather Hill. Peter HADLEY's "A HADLEY HISTORY," May 1978 quotes H. P. Guppy from "Homes of Family Names, 1890," as saying that Worcestershire is the home of the HADLEYS; that they derived their name from places in adjacent counties of Staffordshire and Shropshire. There certainly were a good many HADLEYs in those counties in the 1500s. Peter HADLEY also quotes John Weever's "ANCIENT FUNERAL MONUMENTS FROM 1631" as follows:"After he, Gurmond or Gurthrum, a Danish King, had governed these counties of Suffolk and Norfolk a space of 12 years complete, he died and was buried in the Kings Town called HEADLEGA (so HADLEY was called in the Saxon language) 'In Suffolk, among the East English in the 889." So, 889 is the first documented case that we have seen where our written name actually exists."
In this first written example Hadley means King's town, Chief town or Head town. He goes on about Alan de Hadley and all these other HADLEYs in Shropshire, but continues to say, "I am afraid that none of this is conclusive to support the name except to say that it has been around a long time, and may be connected with 'Heather'." It is interesting that in 1134 William de Hadley and his sons Alan and William signed their name de Hedlega as witnesses to two charters by Hamo Perevel to Shrewsbury Abbey. This would be the first written document using the surname Hadley (de Hedlega), as signed by a family member. As a family name, Hadley appears in England in the twelfth century as de Haddeleigh, and de Haddesley. Later, Cadogan de Hadley simplified the name which was retained by his descendants who held Bulkley in Cheshire.1
It is important to note that although HADLEY is a Saxon place name, the first to use it as a surname were certainly Norman. The Normans were Vikings who had settled in the area of Normandy, France. So the name is of Saxon origin, but our ancestors were of Norman genetics.
A little later the name appears as Hadleigh, but as early as the fourteenth century it is spelled Hadley, Hadeley or Hadly. As England developed as an independent kingdom, the Norman influence lessened and many surnames were Anglicized.
Lyle Hadley proposed the surname Hadley to be a cross between Anglo and Saxon HAUT + LEIGH, which meant 'wooded meadow', and that is what he has published in the three volumes produced by the Hadley Society. There are numerous other interpretations of this name. The HADLEY motto, which is "God is My Help" I learned from Ted and Vera Hadley who have been studying the HADLEY family for over 20 years in England. They are not related to us. But he does say, "I can confirm that there is no record of Simon HADLEY in Herefordshire, which is the county next to Shropshire. There were four towns of 'Hadley' in England, all place names, such as 'Heather Hill' or whatever you want to call it, the 'field', the 'pasture where cattle graze'.."
The best story I've seen on this is this was in a correspondence with a fellow named ATLEY. That is also a derivative of our name, by the way; it's kind of a cockney version. He said that people were illiterate back then, they didn't write their own name, but it was a function of the parish priest, or recorder, and how much altar wine he had consumed as to how the name was interpreted and spelled.
We have seen the name change over time through all of these variations. One of the things said in one of the (Hadley Society) books was that it became HADLEY in the 1400 or 1500 and stayed that way. Now that is not true. My family spelled it HADLY - and they spelled it that way up until, and right through the middle 1800s. It was HADLY. Joshua spelled it 'HADLY' his son Thomas, my ancestor, spelled it 'HADLY', and his son Benjamin spelled it 'HADLY' . We didn't change until old man John, who was born in 1820, spelled it 'HADLEY', so I suppose sometime about the middle of the 19th century it became the fashion to spell it with the 'e'. So the name has had numerous spellings through the years. Terry McLean, of the Hadley Society, told me that the Quakers thought it was flamboyant to use the "e", which is why this generation spelled it Hadly.
These forms continued in Ireland, where the name has never been a common one. When the Quaker Hadleys went from Ireland to America in 1712, both forms, with and without the "e", were used by members of the same family.2
Our ancestor, Simon Hadley II was not the first Hadley to come to America. The Massachusetts Hadleys, whose ancestor was George Hadley, came directly from England to Ipswich, Massachusetts in the year 1639. A number of villages in Massachusetts bear their name.
It is also of interest to note that the Hadleys who settled Newport, Rhode Island in the late 1600s were collaterally related to the Alabama Hadleys. They were English but they migrated from Ireland to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Much of the early information about our Hadley family is due to their membership in the Society of Friends, or Quakers. The Quakers kept records of their meetings, and the references to our family members form the first verifiable branches of our family tree.
1. Visitations of Cheshire via Chalmers Hadley
2. Henry Gray, London via Chalmers Hadley
First Generation
Simon Hadley I is our earliest proven Hadley ancestor. Simon Hadley I was born around 1625-1640, probably in England. He became a prosperous Dublin gentleman. Simon owned iron works in Ballynakill, Kings County (now County Offaly), fisheries in Dublin, and other properties. The earliest known record of Simon Hadley (Symon Hadly) is from 1665 when Simon was listed in a tax roll in Dublin. Simon Hadley's address in the 1665 City Tenants, Rental of lands and other city dues (D.K.P.R.O.I., vol. 57, 1936, App. 4, pp. 526-58).
Listed in the 'Roll of Langeable common fines and sense money within the city of Dublin', was found "Symon Hadly, common find 6d" resident at "Hamon Lane & Loghboy". (letter from Fiona FitzSimons 14 Aug 1999) Next, on Easter 1668, Symon was made a "Freeman of Dublin City". He was a blacksmith (more likely he owned iron works), and in December 1667, the city of Dublin enacted legislation that prohibited those who were not born in Dublin from practicing their trade there, without achieving the status of "Freeman". Symon Hadley applied for Freeman status at the earliest opportunity and was granted Freeman status on Easter of 1668 by Special Grace. This means someone of Nobility and influence pulled some strings on his behalf. It is also evidence that Symon was not a Quaker in 1668, and that he was not born in Dublin. Becoming a Freeman also involved swearing an oath and Quakers refused to take any oaths.
The next piece of evidence is from 1672 and also supports the theory that Symon was not yet a Quaker at this date. In 1672 Symon Hadly and wife Catherine had a son named Sollomon baptised at St Michans church in Dublin. St. Michans is an Anglican church. The records at St. Michans also show that Symon was a "smythe" and lists several other Hadleys who were also smythes. There has been no further evidence of these other Hadleys, and also no other references to Sollomon Hadley. It is possible that Sollomon died young.
Simon I married Catherine Talbot and all of his children were by her. They had the following children: John Hadley, Married _______; Remained in Ireland. Elizabeth Hadley married a man called Miller. Remained in Ireland. Jane Hadley married a man called Kiernan. Remained in Ireland. Simon Hadley II, Married 1.) Ruth Keran, 2.) Elizabeth ______.
Another important documented reference for Simon was in 1685 when he made a contribution of 8 shillings to the Dublin Meeting. This is the first Quaker reference for Symon and it can be assumed that the family became Quaker some time between 1672 and 1685. Until this writing it has been assumed the family became Quaker when they moved to Moate in 1694.
About 1680 Symon Hadly submitted a petition to retain a fishery he had built and maintained for 7 or 8 years. Irish property ownership was tenuous at best and many landowners who had been granted properties in earlier regimes, were stripped of it as the political power changed hands. It is likely that Symon and Catherine came to Ireland from England after the Cromwell invasion. Cromwell sold choice Irish lands to loyal English Protestants. Symon's fisheries at Ballynakill were in jeopardy because the lord from whom he rented, was losing these properties as a result of the Restoration of the English monarchy. The petition reads as follows:
To the Honorable the Trustees appointed by an Act of Parliament made in England Instituted an Act for granting an ayd to his Majestie by Sale of the forfeited and other Estates and Interests in Ireland, &c. The Petition and Claims of Symon Hadley of Ballynakill in the Kings County, Gentleman, Showeth.
That there was a Custom given by Edward Vernon Esquire late Lord of the Mannor of Clantarfe in the County of Dublin that any person or persons should have liberty to build Shedds at Ballyscaddan, being part of the said mannor for Incouragment of the ffishery there and those who builte the said Shedds were to hold the said Shedds during their upholding the same, paying dureing the Season and whilst ffish was made there Sixpence for every Barrell of ffish they should make: That the Claimant did build according to the said Custome four Shedds and has enjoyed the same these Seaven or Eight yeares past two of the said Shedds being builte by the Claimant with Lime and stone and the other two Shedds with Clay and Stone. That the Claimant being apprehensive that the said Mannor of Clantarfe may be forfeited and vested in your Honours by the said Act and soe the Claymant may be prejudiced and deprived of the said four Shedds soe builte by him as aforesaid.
May it therefore please your Honoure to receive and allow of this your Petitioners Claim and if itt shall hereafter appear that the said Mannor is or will be forfeited that then your Honours would grant the Claimant a Saveing of his said improvements soe made by him as aforesaid and to grant him such releife as to your Hounours shall seem most equitable.And the Claimant will pray
Symon Hadly
Signed by the Claimant in the presence of us
Ste: Duffe
Paul Lovelace
Richd Darling
At the bottom of the page is written: Public Record Office (Four Courts) Dublin 10-16-1907.
Another copy of this document is found in "Hadley Family Record, Vol. 1., (microfilm of records at Genealogy Library, Indianapolis, Ind.) About this document it is said "The first authentic record we have that Simon Hadley was in Ireland was recorded about 1680 when he petitioned Parliament for protection against the possible confiscation of his property should the area become forfeited to the Crown as was then threatened....." With the research contained in this work, we now have three authentic records that predate Symon's petition of 1680.
The tax roll of 1665 is now the earliest known documentary source of Simon Hadley Sr.
Quaker records regarding the death of Catherine Hadley indicate the family moved to Moate in 1694. There are several Quaker records for Simon Sr. and his sons Simon Jr and John. All three seemed to be in hot water with the local Quaker Meeting. Simon Jr was censured in 1697 for marrying a woman whom another man had permission to speak to regarding marriage. This was no doubt Ruth Keran, so it's a good thing for all of us that he did, or this would not be written by me or read by you! Simon Sr. was also reprimanded for allowing his son too many liberties regarding his courtship and marriage out of Meeting to Ruth. Brother John also married out of Meeting in 1697 and was not reinstated until 1699. John was later admonished for frequenting ale houses. John stayed in Ireland and became a gunsmith. Simon Sr was called on the carpet again in 1711 when he married out of meeting, shortly after the death of Katherine.
The will of Simon Hadley Sr. was recorded in 1712, but the will itself has not survived.
The following records from the Moate Meeting were kindly provided to the Hadley Society by Bob Norfleet.
QUAKER MEETING MINUTES - MOATE - 1697 - 1710
6D 9M 1697
To the Frinds of the Moate Mens Meeting:
"Where as I Simon Hadley having erred from the way of Truth, in letting my mind out after youthful lusts, which now I seeing the evil of them my evil lusts, it has brought me into deep sorrow of heart, for the same, but I can truthfully say that I am free from the______ part of this my lust so the time past shall be a sufficient warning for me and for the time to come I shall be more careful, all which I give under my hand this 6th day of the 9th month 1697
Simon Hadly Jun"
This note followed :
"After the above note was given to friends by said Simon not withstanding his______ promises and friends tender care towards him, he soon run out to a priest to take a wife, for which transgression he gave in another paper of condemnation which will be recorded in its proper place."
26D 11M 1697
At our Monthly Mens Meeting - 1697 the 26th of the 11th mo
"Whereas Simon Hadly the elder hath acted contrary to the order of truth by giving way to his son to proceed in relation to marriage with a young woman whom another man hath liberty to speak to her before him and friends having talked with him and hath given him until next months meeting to consider what he will give friends to clear truth for his so doing. Jacob Fuller and John Mickell are desired to speak to Simon Hadly, the younger, and know of him whether he will give friends such satisfaction as will clear truth against his runing out to marry with a priest or other _____ friends _____ ________ against him. Those under named are desired to visit friends familier upon the account of truth and give account to the next men's meeting how they find things in their visit. Anthony Roberson, John Wyley, Will _outher, Jacob Fuller.
Anthony Roberson and Jacob Fuller are to give a verbal account to the next Men's meeting."
The following note appeared on the next page:
"Simon Hadly the elder having formally acted contrary to the truth in giving way to his son to proceed with a young woman in relation to marriage whom another hath had liberty to speak to her before hath given a paper of condemnation against his son's doing."
8D 4M 1698
At our Mens Meeting at the Moate - 1698 8th of 4th Mo
"Simon Hadly the younger having been guilty of commeting transgressions greatly to the dishonor of truth and severity, friends, having been very tender in dealing with him, from time to time and the said Simon having not satisfied friends with clear truth, it is the mind of this meeting that a paper be drawn against him and his actions; john Wyle, John Mickle and William______ are to draw us the said paper."
20D 3M 1699
"I Simon Hadly the younger having professed and owned the principles of the people called quakers, amoung whom I humble myself in worship to God, but for want of living up to what I professed, and truly fearing him who only ought to be feared; I was carried away with carnal lusts so that I was only preserved from actual fullfilling... therefore, which when the said people understood they carfully and moderatly reproved______ and laid the inconsistancy of such actions, with their principles before me and the evil I had done in so doing, which I being sorrowful for and promised that the time past should suffice, and for the time to come I would be more carfull, but instead of humbling myself, I soon went to a priest, and was married in all which transgressions of said people called Quakers and their principles are clear; and I desired that my inequity may be a caution to all and not a cause for to stumbal which I can truly say these my evil hath brought sorrow on my heart and a exercise upon my mind many times, for running into such evil contrary to the truth, this given under my hand the 20th of the 3rd mo 1699.
Simon Hadly Jun"
6D 11M 1702
"Where as Jane Keeron who several years ago before she came to dwell in this part of the country, as her own choice took him whom she now hath to be her husband contrary to the principles and practice of the people called Quakers, and hath since she came here to dwell came to our meetings as one of us, therefore least any should go esteem her and reproach our holy profession through her uncivill and ungodly behavior towards her husband upon the account of his going to that way of worship he was educated in, though a way of worship we don't aprove, yet can not strive by force as she hath done to restrain any from their liberity on that account, wherefore we disown her to be of us. Signed in behalf for our Monthly Meeting held at the Moate, the 6th of the ii month 1702.
Anthony Robinson, Thomas Lightfoot, John Mickle"
7D 12M 1710
"Symon Hadly the elder came to dwell in our neighborhood after the late wars and as he then was a commer to our meetings so he has continued but soon after his comings, by too much indulging his children and his carelessness in religious matters, it appeared that he had little more than a shew of religion which we propently admonished him of as he appeared faulty, after exorting him to be more zealous and not to content and deceive himself with a show of religion, but instead of receiving our exortation and practicing the same, he desired we might let him alone and in about three weeks after the death of his wife, who was a woman of good repute in the neighborhood, he being a man of about seventy years of age, ofered himself to a woman in marriage who was not of that persuasion he made profesion of, and contrary to what he preposed not only offered himself but was married, as he saith to the said woman in about half a year after the death of his said former wife, tho he often said and pretented that he did not intend to marry her so soon all which imoderation, disimulation and irreligiousnes of his, we publickly disown and hereby declare him the said Symon to be none of us the people called Quakers.
Signed on behalf of the said people, by order of our mo meeting at the Moate the 7th of 12 mo 1710
John Wyle John Mikle Abraham Fuller, Thomas Lightfoot, John Rupell, Benj Parvin., Joshua Clifforn, Bra. Clibborn, Gregory Rupell, Jonathan Robinson, Christopher Coates, Joseph Robinson, John Turnor"
From Volume I of A HADLEY GENEALOGY:
Simon HADLEY, son of Simon and Catherine (TALBOT) HADLEY, was born in 1675, probably in Ireland, died 1756 and is buried in the New Garden burial grounds, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married (1) Ruth (KERAN) MILLER, a widow, who was born 1677 in Ireland, died 1750, and is also buried in New Garden. Simon married (2) in 1752, Phoebe (GRUBB) BUFFINGTON, widow of Richard BUFFINGTON, and daughter of John and Frances GRUBB.
Simon HADLEY came to America in 1712* with his first wife, Ruth, and 6 children, having 2 more children after his arrival in America. Simon purchased 1000 acres of land about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia in the Manor Steyning. When the Pennsylvania-Delaware line was drawn it passed through Simon's property, placing his residence in New Castle Co., Delaware, and the bulk of his property in Chester County Pennsylvania.
Simon and his family were members of the Society of Friends. They received certificates of removal from Moate Monthly Meeting in West Meath County, Ireland. Four years after his arrival in America, Simon presented the certificates to Newark Monthly Meeting in Centerville, DE. About that time New Garden Meeting was set off from New Garden, and records of Simon's family can be found in New Garden meeting minutes and records.
Simon and Ruth had 8 children:**
1. Joseph born 25 August 1798 - married Amy GREGG
2. Deborah born 25 February 1701 - married (1) Benjamin FREDD, married (2) Jacob HOWELL
3. Joshua born 06 March 1703 - married (1) Mary ROWLAND, married (2) Patience BROWN
4. Simon born 23 December 1704/5 - unmarried
5. Hannah born 16 November 1709/10 - married (1) Thomas DIXON, married (2) John STANFIELD
(Hannah's house was used by Cornwallis during the Battle of Guilford
Court House)
5. Ruth born 06 December 1711/12 - married Thomas LINDLEY
6. Katherine born 25 February 1715 - married Robert JOHNSON
7. Anne born 07 December 1717/18 - married Richard GREGG
*Authority for the statement that Simon arrived in 1712 comes from two sources, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, by Futher and Cope, and GENEALOGY OF THE NEW ENGLAND HADLEYS, by D. L. Tappan. Neither source offers source documentation.
** SEE Quaker references for notes about the Quaker dating system. Many dates have discrepancies since over the years researchers have erroneously converted the Quaker dates to standard dates.
Simon HADLEY. Born in West Meath, Ireland. Simon died on 6 Jun 1711 in Kings Co., Ireland. Simon married Catherine TALBOT. Born in 1640. If anyone knows anymore about this line's ancestry, I'd appreciate your contacting me. Thanks. Much of this information was obtained from this web site.
They had:
i. Simon (-1756)
Second Generation
Simon and Ruth Hadley's Certificate of Removal. Presented at Newark Monthly Meeting (now Kennett) held at Center Meeting House, Centerville, Delaware.
"4th of 6th mo. 1716, Simon Hadley produced a certificate from Moate Monthly Meeting in County of West Meath and Nation of reland which was read and accepted."
Simon HADLEY, ESQ. Born in Moate, County Westmeath, Ireland. Simon died on 17 Nov 1756 in New Garden twnsp., Chester Co., PA.
Buried in New Castle Co., Delaware. In 1697 Simon first married Ruth MILLER, daughter of Robert MILLER & Berthwart (Broithwaite) MARGARET, in Ireland. Born on 6 Dec 1711 in Westmeath County, Ireland. Ruth died in New Castle,
Delaware on 18 Dec 1751, she was 40. On 22 Jul 1752 Simon second
married Phoebe GRUBB.
Gayen Miller
Death: 1742 in (will dated 3 Mo. 31, 1714; proved Aug. 31, 1742)
Note:
Gayen Miller thought to have been a near relative of John
Miller, of New Garden. As stated on page 128, he purchased 200
acres at the site of Kennett Square, and in 1712 acquired 700
acres in New Garden. He also secured several other tracts, He
took his seat in the Provincial Assembly in 1714. He died in
1742, leaving will, dated 3 Mo. 31, 1742 (proved Aug. 31, 1742),
in which he mentions "my cousin James Miller, "probably a son of
John Miller of New Garden. Children of Gayen Miller by his wife
Margaret:
Ancestry.com - Immigration of Irish Quaker to Pennsylvania,
1682-1750, by Albert Cook Meyers: Page 325, 326; Gayen Miller
thought to have been a near relative of John Miller, of New
Garden. As stated on page 128, he purchased 200 acres at the
site of Kennett Square, and in 1712 acquired 700 acres in New
Garden. He also secured several other tracts, He took his seat
in the Provincial Assembly in 1714. He died in 1742, leaving
will, dated 3 Mo. 31, 1742 (proved Aug. 31, 1742), in which he
mentions "my cousin James Miller, "probably a son of John Miller
of New Garden. Children of Gayen Miller by his wife Margaret:
8. Elizabeth Miller, b. 5 Mo. 7, 1713; m. Joseph Dickinson, 8
Mo. 25, 1732, and had children (Margaret, Sarah, Gayen,
Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, Deborah, Joseph, Daniel, James).
Compiled by D. Cresson Hoehn, September 18, 2004.
Marriage 1 Margaret (--?--)
Children
James Miller b: 5 NOV 1696 in (11 Mo. 5, 1696)
William Miller b: 30 AUG 1698 in (8 Mo. 30, 1698)
Robert Miller b: 3 MAR 1702/03 in (3 Mo. 3, 1703)
Sarah Miller b: 1 SEP 1704 in (9 Mo. 1, 1704)
Mary Miller b: 7 MAR 1706/07 in (3 Mo. 7, 1707)
Patrick Miller b: 28 DEC 1708 in (12 Mo. 28, 1708)
Samuel Miller b: 14 APR 1711 in (4 Mo. 14, 1711)
Elizabeth Miller b: 7 MAY 1713 in (5 mo. 7, 1713)
Joseph Miller b: 14 JUL 1715 in (7 Mo. 14, 1715)
Benjamin Miller b: 4 JUN 1717 in (6 Mo. 4, 1717)
John Miller b: 6 NOV 1720 in (11 Mo. 1720-1)
George Miller b: 19 MAY 1723 in (5 mo. 19, 1723)
Robert Miller
Sex: M
Birth: 3 MAR 1702/03 in (3 Mo. 3, 1703)
Note:
Ancestry.com - Immigration of Irish Quaker to Pennsylvania,
1682-1750, by Albert Cook Meyers: Page: 325, , 326; 3. Robert
Miller, b. 3 Mo. 3, 1703; m. Ruth Haines; and had children:
Margaret, b. 1726, m. William Bentley; Solomon, b. 1727, m.
Sarah Matthews; Dorothy, b. 1729, m. George Matthews; Patience,
b. 1730-1, m. (1) (--?--) Bishop and (2) James Davis; Hannah, b.
1734, m. Curtis Lewis: Warwick, b. 1735. d. 1777, m. Elizabeth
Price; Isaac, b. 1737-8, d. 1752;
Jacob, b. 1739; Rebecca, b. 1742, m. Jas. Allen; Joseph, b.
1744; Rachel, b. 1746, m. Joseph Johnson; Sarah, b. 1748, m.
John Boyd; Benjamin, b. 1752; James, b. 1754, m. Hannah Pim.
Compiled by D. Cresson Hoehn, September 20, 2004.
Father: Gayen Miller
Mother: Margaret (--?--)
Marriage 1 Ruth Haines
Children
Margaret Miller b: 1726
Solomon Miller b: 1727
Dorothy Miller b: 1729
Patience Miller b: 1730 in (1730-1)
Hannah Miller b: 1734
Warwick Miller b: 1735
Isaac Miller b: 1737 in (1737-8)
Jacob Miller b: 1739
Rebecca Miller b: 1742
Joseph Miller b: 1744
Rachel Miller b: 1746
Sarah Miller b: 1748
Benjamin Miller b: 1752
James Miller b: 1754 |
Plat of Manor Steyning, later New Garden Township
 In 1717 Simon and Ruth Hadley built Messuage Plantation on 1000 acres in one of William Penn's townships, Steyning Manor, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Mason-Dixon survey of 1763-69, undertaken to settle the William Penn-Lord Baltimore dispute as to the southern boundaries of Pennsylvania, located Messuage Plantation just over the line in Delaware, near Hockessin. Part of Simon's farm continued to be in Pennsylvania, however, and apparently he was recognized as a citizen of both states. The house is located on Lime Stone Road, Hockessin Delaware, about 10 miles northwest of Wilmington, Delaware, off Route 41. Go to Kaolin (about 3 miles before you get to Avondale) and turn left. Go down Route 7 for about 2 or 3 miles, turn right and go up a hill, and there you are. The cornerstone is hidden under a tree.
Among Simon's neighbors were some familiar names: Lindley (#6), Starr (#25), Hutton (#28), Rutledge (#20), Miller (John- #2 & #15, Gayan - #27), Rowland (#1), and Johnson (#3). All of these families were of English origin, as were all of the Friends who went to Pennsylvania from Ireland (with the exception of 2.) Many of them had been friends in Ireland and others were related by blood or marriage.
Note: a perche equals 5.5 yards
Will of Phebe Grubb Buffington Hadley 1767
Second wife of Simon Hadley I
 "Be it remembered that I Phebe HADLEY of the Township of West Bradford in the County of Chester & Province of Pennsylvania, Widow, knowing the uncertainty of Life do make this my Last will & Testament in the following Manner..
Imprimus: My Will is that all my Just debts and funeral charges be first paid and discharged as soon as may be after my decease by my Exectr hereafter named...
Item - I give to the Heir of my Late Husband Simon Hadley the sum of Five Shillings
Item - I give unto my daughter Phebe WALL the wife of John WALL all my wearing apparrel [sic]
Item - I give unto my son Nathaniel all the Bonds and Debts which are now due to me or payable from him in Leiu of all other Bequests
Item - I give unto my son Peter BUFFINGTON and my son-in-law John WALL the several obligations and debts that they are now indebted to me respectively to each their respective debts in Lieu of all other bequests.
Item - I give thirty pounds to be equally divided between all my children now living and my son in law Samuel O___ [Osburn?] and my granddaughter Frances BUFFINGTON share and share alike it being for building a house on my land
And all the remainder part of my estate both real and personal not heretofore bequeathed I give to my sons John BUFFINGTON his heirs and assigns forever, he or they providing for me a good and sufficient
maintenance during my natural life and decently burying me when I am dead.
Lastly I do hereby constitute nominate and
appoint my son John BUFFINGTON to be sole executor of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby utterly revoke and disannul all other and former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of the ninth month anno domini 1767.
Signed sealed published and declared by the testator { [signed] as her last will and testament in the presents of us | Phebe HADLEY Richard BUFFINGTON, Robert BUFFINGTON } [illegible, with a date] John SNOW".
The original of this handwritten will is at the Chester County, Pennsylvania courthouse. A copy was sent to the Hadley Society in 1979 by Bob Burns.
Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania 1682-1750 With Their Early History in Ireland
Part III. The Irish Friends In Pennsylvania
Name: Simon Hadley and wife Ruth from Moate Meeting, County West Meath, received 6 Mo. 4, 1716. They came from Ireland about 1712, and settled in New Castle County, near the New Garden line. A house which he erected in 1717 was still standing in 1881. Children: Joseph, b. 8 Mo. 25, 1698; Deborah, b. 2 Mo. 25, 1701; Joshua, b. 3 Mo. 6, 1703; Simon, b. 12 Mo. 23, 1704-5; d. 11 Mo. 4, 1730-1; Hannah, b. 11 Mo. 16, 1709-10; Ruth, b. 12 Mo. 6, 1711-2; Katharine, b. 2 Mo. 25, 1715; Ann, b. 12 Mo. 7, 1717-18. The mother died 12 Mo. 18, 1750-1, and was buried at New Garden, after which Simon married Phebe, widow of Richard Buffington, of Bradford, Chester County. (Hist. Chester County, 576.)
Simon Hadley and Ruth
Miller had the following children:
|
i |
Thomas Hadley | |
ii |
Joseph Hadley Born on 25 Aug 1698. | |
iii |
Simon D. Hadley | |
iv |
Deborah Hadley, born on 25 Feb 1700/01. | |
v |
Joshua Hadley (1702-1772) | |
vii |
Hannah Hadley, born on 16 Nov 1709. | |
viii |
Ruth Hadley (1711-1785); married Thomas Lindley | |
ix |
Catherine Hadley. Born on 25 Feb 1714/15. | |
x |
Ann Hadley, born on 7 Dec 1717. |
Marriage Certificate of Robert Johnson & Katherine Hadley 19 August 1732
"Whereas Robert JOHNSON son of Robert JOHNSON of Newgarden in ye County of Chester in ye province of Pensilvenia, and Katherin HADLY daughter of Simon HADLY of Newcastle County on Delaware, Having declared their intentions of Marriage with each other before several Monthly Meeting of ye Christian people called Quakers at Londongrove & Newgarden in ye County of Chester aforesd according to ye good order___ amongst them & having consent of parents and relations their sd proposal of Marriage was alowed [sic] by ye Sd Meetings. Now these are to certifie whom it may concern that for ye full accomplishing their said intentions this nineteenth day of ye Eight month in ye year of our Lord: 1732: they ye sd Robert JOHNSON and Katherin HADLY appeared in a publick meeting of ye sd people at Newgarden Meeting house in ye County of Chester aforesd and ye sd Robert JOHNSON taking ye sd Katherin HADLY by ye hand did in solemn maner openly declare that he took her ye sd Katherin HADLY to be his wife promising with he Lords assistance to be unto her a loving & faithfull Husband untill Death should separate them.... And then & there in ye sd assembly ye said Katherin HADLY did in like maner [sic] declare that she took ye sd Robert JOHNSON to be her husband promising with ye Lords assistance to be unto him a faithfull & loving wife untill death should separate them... And Moreover they ye sd Robert JOHNSON & Katherin HADLY she according to ye Custom of Marriage assuming ye sd name of her husband as a further Confirmation thereof did then and there to her - presents sett their hands. And we being present at ye solemnization of ye sd marriage Robert JOHNSON and subscription Do as Witnesses hereunto also subscribe Katherin JOHNSON our names ye Day and year above written."
The following signatures are affixed to the document:
William HAMMANS, Mary LIGHTFOOT, Ephraim JACKSON, Simon HADLY, Katherine LIGHTFOOT, Ruth HADLY, Sarah MILHOUS, Margret JOHNSON, Martha HOBSON, Mary JACKSON Ruth MILLER, Joshua HADLY, Rebekah YARNALL, Joshua JOHNSON, Rachel YARNALL, Sarah JOHNSON, Hannah DIXON, Joseph SHARP, Thomas YARNALL, Samuel JACKSON Mary JOHNSON, Rachel MILLER, Ruth JOHNSON, Ann HADLY, Benjamin JOHNSON, Benj. FRED, Michael LIGHTFOOT, Jere. WOLLASTEN, William JACKSON, Thomas GRAY, John POE, Joseph ??, Thos. MILHOUS, Abigail BAILY, Ann JACKSON, James JOHNSON
The document also contains two signatures that are illegible.
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1756 Will of Simon Hadley
 Simon Hadley's last will, written in 1755, was recorded in 1756. There were several changes made in this last will from the former one. These included some 600 acres of land not mentioned in the last will. It may have been that at his second marriage this land constituted the settlement bestowed on Phoebe Buffington by Simon Hadley, or this land may have been given in the meantime to his two sons, Joseph and Joshua, who were scantily remembered in the last will as compared to Simon Hadley's various grandchildren. No inventory of Simon's estate was found with the will. In addition to his home and lands, Simon Hadley divided about $15,000 in money among his family, a large estate for those days. This old will, yellowed with age and held together with what appeared to be a hand-made pin, was found by Chalmers Hadley in the court house in Wilmington, Delaware, in August 1908.
Attached to this will was the deposition of David Finney, attorney at law, taken before William Till, Register of Wills for the probate, and granting letters of administration in and for the county of Newcastle. In this deposition, Finney said he was at the mansion of Simon Hadley, Esq. on 21 January 1756 and that Simon seemed unable to determine what sum should be left Phoebe, his wife, and Finney suggested 200 pounds, to which Simon agreed was fair in addition to the marriage settlement he had given her.
The will reads as follows:
"Know all men by these presents that I, Simon Hadly of Mill Creek Hundred in the County of New Castle on Delaware, yeoman, calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, and as touching such worldly estate where-with it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I do give, devise and dispose of the same in the manner and form following:
First, it is my will that my funeral charge and just debts be first paid.
It is my will and I do leave my beloved wife, Phebe Hadly ________ pounds current money to be paid her six months after my death, to be paid by my executors, hereinafter mentioned, her chaise and chaise-horse, my riding mare and the two best cows I have, besides what I have left her in my marriage settlement with her, and as much of the furniture of the house as she will think fit to take, to the value of _______ pounds and no more, which shall be in full of my real and personal estate.
Imprimus,--I give, devise and bequeath unto my grandson Simon Hadley, son of my son Joshua Hadley, the Messuage plantation and tract of land I now live on, bounded and described as follows Viz. Beginning at a corner post, being a corner of Jacob John's lands thence by his line east 300 perches to a corner white oak in the Manor line, thereon south by the said line 217 perches to a corner hickory, thence west by the land now seated by my grandson John Hadley, 73 perches to a post, thence north 31 degrees, west 38 perches to a black oak, thence north 50 degrees, west 48 perches and a half to a gum tree, thence north 20 degrees, west 19 perches to a post, thence north 69 degrees, 59 perches to a post in William Rows line, thence north by the same 46 perches to the place of beginning, containing 260 acres be the same more or less, making the bounds aforesaid, with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to hold to him, my said grandson Simon Hadley and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, but if my said grandson should depart this life without lawful issue, then it is my will and I do give and the devise the same Messuage plantation and tract of land unto my grandson Jeremiah Hadley, son of my said son Joshua Hadley, to hold to him and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, but if he should depart this life without male heirs as above, then and in such case I give and devise and bequeath the said Messuage plantation and tract of land and premises unto the next male heirs as consanguinity to him and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said grandson Simon Hadley, my clock and walnut clothes press which stands in one of the upper rooms and the sum of ten pounds lawful money, all of which several bequests to be possessed by him when he shall arrive at the respective age of twenty-one years.
And it is my will that my executors here-in-after named, rent the above plantations to good tenants until my said grandsons arrive at the age of twenty-one years, that all of my said grandsons shall pay the _______ due on each of their plantations when lawfully ___________.
I do leave my son Joseph Hadley, half of my wearing apparel and ten pounds current money, which shall be his full portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my daughter, Deborah Howel, wife of Jacob Howel, ten pounds current money and I do leave to the said Jacob Howel, ten pounds current money, which shall be in full their portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my daughter, Hannah Stanfield, widow of John Stanfield, fifty pounds current money which shall be paid in full of her portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my daughter, Ruth Lindley, wife of Thomas Lindley, ten pounds current money and I do leave to the said Thomas Lindley, ten pounds current money, which shall be in full their portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my daughter, Katherine Johnson, wife to Robert Johnson, ten pounds current money and I do leave to the said Robert Johnson, the sum of ten pounds current money, which shall be in full their portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my daughter, Anne Gregg, widow of Richard Gregg departed, the sum of forty pounds current money which shall be paid in full of her portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave my son Joshua Hadley, ten pounds current money and half of my wearying apparel which shall be in full of his portion and share of my real and personal estate.
I do leave to my grand-daughter Elizabeth Thompson, wife to James Thompson, forty pounds current money and I do leave to my grand-daughter Deborah Curle, wife of John Curle the sum of five pounds of current money, and to my grand-daughter Hannah Curle, wife to Samuel Curle the sum of forty pounds current money, all of them children of my son Joseph Hadley.
 I do leave to my grand-children Ruth Marshall, wife to John Marshall, the sum of twenty pounds current money, and I do leave to Thomas Hadley, the sum of forty pounds current money, and I do leave to Sarah Fred, wife of Joseph Fred, the sum of fifty pounds current money, and I do leave to Mary Hadley the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Joshua Hadley, Jr. the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Jeremiah Hadley the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Joseph Hadley Jr. the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Deborah Hadley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Hannah Hadley the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Catherine Hadley, the sum of sixty pounds current money, all of them children of my son Joshua Hadley. I do leave to my grand-children to wit, I do leave to Simon Dixon fifty-five pounds current money, and I do leave Rebecca Marshall wife to William Marshall, thirty pounds current money and I do leave Ruth Dixon sixty pounds current money and I do leave to John Stanfield, Jr. the sum of fifty pounds current money, and I do leave Thomas Stanfield fifty pounds current money, and I do leave Samuel Stanfield fifty pounds current money, all of them children of my said daughter Hannah Stanfield, widow and relict of John Stanfield.
I do leave to my grandchildren, to Catherine Lindley, sixty pounds current money, and I do leave James Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Simon Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Ruth Lindley, Jr. sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Mary Lindley, Jr. sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Ellenor Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave William Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Thomas Lindley, Jr. sixty pounds current money, all children of my daughter Ruth Lindley, wife to Thomas Lindley and I do leave Deborah Lindley sixty pounds current money.
I do leave to my grand children, Hannah Taylor, Wife to Joseph Taylor, sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Caleb Johnson sixty pounds current money and I do leave John Johnson sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Freeman Johnson sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Jonathan Johnson sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Isaac Johnson sixty pounds current money, all children of my daughter Katherine Johnson, wife to Robert Johnson.
I do leave to my grand-children to wit; Sarah Smith Gregg, fifty-five pounds current money, and I do leave Jacob Gregg sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Ruth Gregg five pounds current money, and I do leave William Gregg sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Mirriam Gregg sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Deborah Gregg sixty pounds current money and I do leave Phebe Gregg sixty pounds current money, all of them children of my daughter Ann Gregg, widow and relict of Richard Gregg departed.
NOTE--John Lindley was twice set down in a mistake and when I found the mistake I erased it with my own hand. Deborah Lindley was born in North Carolina and I did not remember her to get her name down in the proper place, but I do give the said sum set down on the other side.
And it is my will that as many of my said grand-children which are at age at my decease, that my executors shall pay them their legacies left them by me one year after my decease, and all my said grand-children which are not of age, I do order that my said executors to give it into the hands of the parents of the said grand-children, they giving bend and security with interest for the same for the benefit of their children, and my said grand-children, to be paid one year after my decease to said parents, but if they refuse to comply as above, then I do order my said executors to put out the said legacy left by me to my said grand-children into good hands at interest, and pay them as above when they come of age with the interest of said legacy at twenty-one years or day of marriage which shall first happen.
It is my will that if any of my grand-children depart this life before they come to age or before, unmarried, that their legacy left them by me shall be equally divided among their survivors, and it is my will that if any of my grand-daughters or grand-sons wives should have any more children before my decease or be pregnant, that then my said executors shall put to interest for them the sum of fifty pounds current money, and pay them as above said. I do leave to my nephew Thomas Kiernan, the sum of ten pounds current money.
 I do leave to my said wife's children to wit; John Buffington, one pistole, Richard Buffington one pistole, Phebe Wall one pistole, Peter Buffington one pistole, Isaac Buffington one pistole, Joseph Buffington ten pounds current money to be paid them one year after my decease and what bonds, notes or accounts be payable to me from any of my grand children or their husbands, must be discounted out of the legacy left them by me, and I here-by-constitute make and ordain my trusty and well-beloved Grand-son-in-law, James Thompson and my trusted and well beloved grand-son John Hadley and my worthy and well loved friend, Daniel Nicholds, all of them in Hill Creek Hundred in the County of New Castle on Delaware, yeomen, my executors of this my last will and testament, and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills made by me at any time here-to-fore, and I do leave my executors thirty pounds current money to each of them, for their care and trouble they will have about the nagging and settling of my said estate, which said sum shall be in full for their care and trouble and shall not have more for their commission, nor any other charge against my said estate on that account, but I do allow my said executors shall have commissions for what just money shall be received by them arising out of the legacies left by me to my said grand-children until they respectively arrive at the age above-said, and I do desire and request my trusty friends Benjamin Swett of the town of New Castle, Esq. and Samuel Gregg of Christiana Hundred and county above said, yeomen, to be overseers, to see that my last and testament be well and truly performed, and for their care and trouble I do leave each of them the sum of five pounds current money, to be paid by the executors, and it is my will that what is left to my said son, Joseph Hadley, should be kept in my said executors hands and give it to him at several times as they see it is necessary for it.
I give devise and bequeath unto my grandson, Simon Johnson, son of Robert Johnson, certain plantation and tract of land lying contiguous to the above land devised to my grandson Simon Hadley, bounded and described as followeth: Viz. Beginning at a corner mulberry tree being a corner of the land late of Joshua Hadley but now of Robert Johnson, thence west by the same land one hundred and eighty perches to a post thence north by the said Rows land 134 perches to a corner post of the above land devised to my said grandson Simon Hadley, thence south 69 degrees, east by the said tract 59 perches to a post and south 20 degrees, east 19 perches to a gum tree and south 60 degrees, east 137 perches and a half to another gum and south 50 degrees, east 48 perches and a half to a corner black oak and south 31 degrees, east 38 perches to a corner post in the line of the land seated by my said grandson John Hadley, thence west by the same 57 perches to a corner black oak in a line of the aforesaid Robert Johnson land, thence north by the same 37 perches to the place of beginning, containing by estimation 112 acres be the same more or less with in the bounds aforesaid, with the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to the hold to him, my said grandson Simon Johnson, and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, but if he my said grandson, Simon Johnson should happen to depart this life without male heirs as above, then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the said tract of land and premises unto the next male heirs by consanguinity to him, my said grandson, and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, to be possessed by my said grandson when he shall arrive at the respective age of twenty-one years.
I do give and bequeath to my grandson, John Hadley, son of my son Joseph Hadley, and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, a plantation or tract of land here-in-after mentioned, but if he should depart this life without male heirs, then in such case, it is my will and I do give and bequeath the said plantation and tract of land to the next male heir by blood to him and his heirs forever, said plantation and tract of land to be bounded as followeth; Beginning at a corner black oak in the line of the said Robert
Johnson's land, thence east 130 perches to a corner hickory tree in the said Manor line, thence by the said line south 185 perches to a corner oak sapling _______________ containing within the said bounds 150 acres of land, be the same more or less, and I do bequeath to my said grandson John Hadley, ten pounds current money.
 I do give and bequeath a plantation or tract of land to ______ Johnson in the Letitia Aubrey Manor containing 93 acres and 66 perches of land. I have a deed for the same and recorded in the name of my grandson Simon Gregg, son of Richard Gregg, departed, and Anne his wife, my daughter, to him and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten as above, but should he depart this life, it is my will and I do give the said plantation and tract of land to the next male heirs by blood to him and the male heirs of his body legally begotten forever.
In witness whereof I have here-unto set my hand and my seal this 3rd day of November, one thousand seven hundred and fifty five (1755).
Note before signing and sealing-- It is my will that if any of my grand-children should fall heir to any of the above said tracts of land by the death of him or them which I have willed it to, then it is my will that he or they which shall fall heir to said estate or estates, shall not have the said fifty pounds willed to them by me as above, but shall be equally divided as above to the surviving grand-children.
Signed, Sealed, pronounced and declared by the said Simon Hadley to be his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers.
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The original of this will is in the custody of the Public Archives Commission, Hall of Records, Dover, Delaware - New Castle County Wills.
 Captain Joshua Hadley
1753 - 1830
Joshua Hadley was born on July 13, 1753 in Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Hadley (1728-1871) and Mary Thompson (1730-1795). On February 8, 1786 he married Hannah Holmes (13 May 1768 - 28 April 1837). Hannah was born in Cumberland County, North Carolina and was the daughter of Archibald Holmes and Mary (or Margaret) McCulloch.
Thursday, January 24, 2002 from John Hadley @ agchem5@gte.net
Hello cousins,
I just received 2 articles written by Mr. Roy Parker about our ancestor Captain Joshua Hadley. I copy below the first article and will forward the next installments tomorrow. These were sent to me by fellow researcher Dan Goehring. There are some additional correspondences. I have recently sent Dan some of the NC militia records sent to me by Vickye White. I also just wrote to Mr. Parker and shared some of the HS writings about Captain Joshua Hadley and also my writings about his father Captain Thomas Hadley. I also forwarded the portrait of Joshua Hadley, as I thought these gentlemen would appreciate our works on our families Revolutionary War hero. I think there is some great material here and hope to get an even better picture of these people and times in our future correspondences. I encourage you all to enjoy participating and sharing any thoughts.
John Hadley
Thursday, January 17, 2002
Military History
Hadley was no sunshine patriot. He was in on the beginning of the War of Independence in 1775. And he was still in uniform months after most others had gone home as the war wound down in 1782.
Hadley is among the 58 signers of "the association," the defiant anti-British statement circulated in the village of Cross Creek in the summer of 1775, soon after the war had erupted in New England.
As such, his name appears on the stone listing those early patriots. The stone stands in a little park at the intersection of Old and Person streets in downtown Fayetteville.
Hadley is one of two signers of the document who held commissions in the Continental Line.
The other, Arthur Council, was a captain by 1776, who apparently died while in service in 1777.
A volunteer first
Hadley apparently saw military action first in a volunteer company of patriots raised by Robert Rowan, who circulated "the association," and commanded by Arthur Council.
The unit may have been at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in February 1776, when a Patriot force smashed an "army" of Loyalists.
Hadley was paid for 25 days service in the unit, and the Patriot government of North Carolina also reimbursed him "for one rifle taken by a party of Tories (Loyalists)."
He was paid for 25 days service in Council's company.
In addition, he was paid for guarding a Loyalist prisoner, James Hepburn, and "escorting" him first to Wilmington and then to the Patriot
prisoner-of-war camp in Halifax.
No other Cumberland County soldier of the War of Independence can match the scope and breadth of Joshua Hadley's record as a Continental officer.
Yet, tracing more than the bare bones of a North Carolina military career in the War of Independence is always difficult because of the scarcity of records and conflicts in some records.
Just the facts
Despite his evident service over time and space in the long conflict, Joshua Hadley is no exception.
We know the dates of his commissions in which North Carolina regiments of the Continental Line.
We know he was wounded at Germantown and Eutaw Springs.
He enlisted in the 6th North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Line on April 1, 1777, as a member of "Taylor's company" with a commission as lieutenant.
In June 1788, he was transferred to the 1st North Carolina Regiment.
He was commissioned captain in the 10th Regiment on June 13, 1779. This was a "shadowy unit" that never really existed as a coherent fighting force.
Some facts missing
But other questions must go unanswered.
Was he at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, when Washington's little army survived the hellish winter that followed the autumn campaign in New Jersey and Pennsylvania?
Further, was Hadley among the North Carolina Continent- als who surrendered when British forces captured the South Carolina port of Charleston in 1780?
What was he doing in the 46 months between his service with Gen. Washington and his role in the battle in the Southern theater of the war? The skimpy evidence seems to be that Hadley was not at Charleston, that he was back in Cumberland County for much of the time between the battles at Germantown, which took place on Oct. 11, 1777, and Eutaw Springs, which took place in September 1781.
In 1779, for instance, Hadley appears in Cumberland County governmental records as captain of a tax district. By then, his father, Thomas Hadley, was Patriot sheriff of Cumberland County, in charge of tax-collecting.
In 1780, he acquires property, including lots in Cross Creek, future Fayetteville, and near the Hadley family's principal seat of residence, between the Lower and Upper Little rivers near Carvers Creek in northeastern Cumberland County.
The property is somewhat of a reward for the stalwart patriot.
It is sold by the "commissioners of confiscated property," a group charged with disposing of lands and goods of Loyalists, those who refused to join the Patriot cause, who had fled or been banished from Cumberland County.
Among the "commissioners" is Pat Travers, Hadley's brother- in-law.
Bitter feelings
Then, in January 1781, Hadley displays his Patriot credentials by going before a meeting of the Patriot county government where he "makes information against Farquhard Campbell for speaking words injurious against the state."
Campbell, a wealthy and influential prewar neighbor of the
Hadley's, was branded a Tory as early as 1775, but supposedly has been "rehabilitated" by the time Hadley makes his charge.
That Hadley was moved to take such a step at the time reflects the bitter feelings that both Patriots and Loyalists harbored in a county where so many were not joining in the struggle for independence, while others struggled to provide succor for the war effort.
The county government put off the case until a later court, issuing subpoenas for Thomas Green and Archibald Smith to testify.
But then, however, county government was being overwhelmed by new events.
When he was in military action, Joshua Hadley was apparently in the thick of it.
At Germantown, where George Washington's Continental Army was winning until his troops began firing on each other in a fog- shrouded Pennsylvania countryside, the North Carolina brigade saw its first action.
The confusion among the Continentals set off a panic in which Gen. Francis Nash's North Carolina brigade found itself assailed from all sides by British troops as it tried to fall back in some order.
Nash himself was mortally wounded and Joshua Hadley was listed among the lieutenants wounded in the fight.
Washington was able to rally the scattered soldiers of his command and take his dwindling army into winter quarters outside Philadelphia at a village called Valley Forge.
The 6th North Carolina Regiment was "reduced to a cadre," its survivors absorbed into other regiments of the tiny brigade.
Roy Parker Jr. can be reached at roypark2@aol.com
Military History
Soldier's life filled with mystery, gaps By Roy Parker Jr., Correspondent For Capt. Joshua Hadley, Cumberland County's most experienced Continental soldier of the American War of Independence, the year 1781 offered new battlefield experiences. Three and a half years earlier, Hadley fought with Gen. George Washington's Main Army at the Battle of Germantown, Pa., in the autumn of 1777, where he suffered the first of his two war wounds.
Hadley seems to have spent much of the time between 1778 to 1781 back home in Cumberland County.
But the late summer of 1781, the war had shifted to the South.
Following a British invasion of South Carolina in early 1780, British Gen. Charles Cornwallis invaded North Carolina in early 1781.
Suffering heavy casualties at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse near present-day Greensboro in March, he retreated through the village of Cross Creek and on to Wilmington. In April, he marched north toward an October rendezvous with destiny at Yorktown, Va.
Meanwhile, Gen. Nathaniel Greene's little army of Continentals and militia was pressing the last South Carolina contingents of the British invasion
army back toward its bases at Charleston and Savannah, Ga.
In a series of fights with Redcoat contingents, never winning a tactical victory, but always maneuvering to cause a British retreat, Greene harried remnants of the Redcoat invaders.
By August 1781, the North Carolina forces in Greene's army consisted of a scratch brigade of about 350 soldiers under Gen. Jethro Sumner.
By then, Hadley was a captain, holding a commission dated 1779, in the 10th North Carolina Continental Regiment.
The two little armies joined battle at Eutaw Springs, S.C., on Sept. 8, 1781.
It was a slugging match, with British and Patriot forces suffering heavy casualties from pointblank musketry.
Again, the long list of battle casualties included Hadley among the wounded.
Hadley's war record didn't end with his service under Greene.
For although Cornwallis surrendered his British forces at Yorktown in October of 1781, the War of Independence had its own momentum in North Carolina, and especially in the Cape Fear area, where a British force held the port town of Wilmington, not evacuating until November of 1781.
Spurred by the British presence, Loyalists, so-called Tories, rose up in arms in large numbers, their hard-riding bands overwhelming Patriot militia forces, taking virtual control of whole counties along the Cape Fear River.
Among victims of this bloody civil war was Hadley's father, Thomas Hadley, at the time sheriff of Cumberland County.
He was slain, probably in July 1781, at his home near Carvers Creek in northeastern Cumberland, by night-riding Tories.
Still busy
Even as Sumner's brigade joined Greene in August, Tories swept into Cross Creek and briefly captured the county's leading Patriot officers.
Despite the departure of the British, the area seethed with civil war right on into 1782.
And Capt. Joshua Hadley was still busy.
He held a commission to round up Tories, as well as deserters and delinquents from the Patriot forces, throughout the river area.
And because of that service, we have history's only contemporary assessment of Hadley's personal and military character.
A Maj. McRae, writing to Gen. Sumner from Wilmington in February 1782, reported:
"Capt. Hadley is invested with orders for this district. There is still a great prospect of success if he is active, which I believe is much his character."
McRae urged Sumner to "assist him with some assiduous officers."
In August 1782, Hadley was writing to Sumner, reporting that he had a commission in the 1st North Carolina Regiment and stood ready for the sort of duty that McRae had mentioned months earlier.
Hadley wrote:
"Now in Cumberland there are delinquents and deserters that with little trouble and some state horse this would be accomplished. I wait until I hear from you."
But the war was soon over, even in the Cape Fear.
Joshua Hadley returned to civilian life.
But in 1787, the call of military service drew him again.
He is listed among eight captains of volunteer companies that the North Carolina government proposed to raise "for the defense of western counties" in a time of lawlessness in that part of the state west of the Appalachians that was to become the state of Tennessee.
The record does not show whether Hadley actually marched with any troops.
Like his military career, the history of Hadley after the War of Independence has many gaps and mysteries.
The
Hadley's had been in Cumberland County since the 1750s, and his father established one of the first merchant stores in the village of Cross Creek as early as 1761.
Move to Wilson County
But they gradually moved away, many to what is now Wilson County. As late as 1922, a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution there was named for "Captain Thomas Hadley."
Apparently, veteran Joshua Hadley lived at least for a time in Cross Creek, renamed Fayetteville in 1783.
In 1785, he is one of seven "commissioners" presiding over the town government.
His name appears periodically in county government records as a juryman and witness, and as a security of tavern keeper Lewis Barge's license in Cross Creek.
In 1786, he sells one of the lots that he owned in Fayetteville originally confiscated from John Cruden, a Loyalist during the late war.
Postwar state government military pay records show that Hadley received money for the pay of his wartime company as late as 1786.
He also shared in the land grants issued to Revolutionary War veterans.
An early accounting showed he was entitled to 3,480 acres of western lands as reward for 84 months of commissioned service in the Continental Line. In 1791, a warrant for 1,089 acres made to Hadley was assigned to Abisha Thomas.
In Cumberland County records, Hadley appears as late as 1790, successfully suing his brother-in-law, Pat Travers, in a dispute over land.
Census no help
Confusion about the later years of Hadley is compounded by the Census of 1790, which lists no less than four Joshua Hadleys, two in Chatham County, none in Cumberland County.
A later accounting of Revolutionary War veterans claims he died on Feb. 8, 1830, more than 50 years after he first took up arms in the War of Independence. It seems more likely that this refers to another generation.
While the postwar history of this battle-tested soldier of the War of Independence is obscure, his name is forever preserved in the list of 58 Patriot signers of "the association," the defiant anti-British petition circulated in the village of Cross Creek in the summer of 1775.
Those names are engraved on a stone marker which stands in a little park at the intersection of Bow and Person Streets in downtown Fayetteville.
Joshua and Hannah had seven children:
1. William Hadley (1778 - 30 July 1842)
2. Denny Porterfied Hadley (17 June 1797 - 19 May 1872)
3. Amelia Hadley (08 September 1799 - 11 February 1875)
4. James Holmes Hadley (17 December 1806 - 15 February 1836)
5. John L. Hadley (1808 - 1865)
6. Evaline Hadley (15 May 1809 - 12 January 1833)
7. Emeline Hadley (1810 - 11 February 1833)
The great-grandson of Simon Hadley I, Joshua was a militia captain in Cross Creek, North Carolina (Fayetteville). Joshua was a captain in the Continental Army under General George Washington. He was at the battle of Cane Creek to assist his Quaker family members who would not defend themselves.
Thomas and his children were kicked out of the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting for fighting. They held slaves and were instrumental in the early Regulator Movement.
A Hadley Genealogy Vol I, p. 43-45:
"Joshua was one of the fifty-two citizens who formed the Association of the Sons of Liberty in 1775 at Liberty Point, Fayetteville, North Carolina. He entered the Continental Army as an Ensign in Captain Jean Baptiste Ashe's company of General Abner Nash's brigade. In 1776 his rank of Ensign was confirmed by the Continental Congress, which promoted him to Lieutenant in 1777, and to Captain in 1779. Joshua went north with General Nash's brigade in 1777 and took part in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. General Nash was killed at Germantown and his brigade almost annihilated. Joshua escaped unscathed, and he and remnants of the brigade were returned to North Carolina to reorganize and attempt to restore order to that turbulent area. Aside from his promotion to Captain in 1779, nothing is again known of Joshua's activities until September 8, 1781 when he was wounded in the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina. The next year, General Jethro Sumner, commander of the North Carolina Continentals, appointed Joshua to the command of the military district of Wilmington, North Carolina, where he probably served out the remainder of the war. Joshua did not leave the Army at the close of the war. Four years later, in 1787, he and his company were ordered to Tennessee to quell the Indian outrages in that area. No doubt this is when he got is first glimpse of Nashville and vicinity which he described at the time as "A half dozen frame and log houses and twenty or thirty log cabins." He returned to North Carolina in Nov of 1787 to take his seat in the State Assembly. He and Hannah Holmes were married at this time and, apparently he resigned his commission at about the same time. Obviously Joshua had been impressed by what he saw in Tennessee. He was granted 7500 acres of public land in recognition of his military services, which he chose to take in Williamson and Sumner Counties, Tennessee, and which he proceeded to occupy about 1790. For years thereafter he continued to accumulate land, mostly by buying up land grants of Revolutionary War soldiers who preferred a quick dollar or were reluctant to occupy their lands in such an unsettled community. Mr. Robert T. Quarles, Director of Archives, State of Tennessee, told me (Lyle Hadley) in 1958 that at one time Joshua owned about one-half of Williamson, Sumner and Davidson counties. An exaggeration, no doubt, but he did show me card files of some ninety parcels of land ranging from a few acres to well over 1,000 acres, which Joshua had owned. Joshua was a member and one of the organizers of the North Carolina Cincinnati, and his grandson, James Alexander Hadley, was, at the time of his death, the family representative in this order. Joshua's burial place has not been definitely established. He is reported to have died at Hadleywood, the home of his son Denny Porterfield Hadley, and probably is buried beside his wife Hannah in the family cemetery situated near Hwy 431 about ten miles south of Franklin, Tennessee. However, other sources say he is buried near Gallatin, Tennessee.
OUR VALIANT MEN by Louise Gillespie Lynch:
"Joshua HADLEY was born July 13, 1753 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His father, Thomas HADLEY, was born in England and emigrated to America, settling on Cross Creek in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Joshua's mother was Mary THOMPSON HADLEY. Thomas HADLEY was Captain of a troop of light horsemen and was killed while defending his home near Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1781. Joshua HADLEY received his rank as a Captain at the age of 22 in the First North Carolina infantry. He was at the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Cave Creek, and Kings Mountain, where he was wounded. Joshua HADLEY first married a Miss LIVINGSTON and then he married Hannah HOLMES in 1786. Hannah HOLMES was the daughter of Archibald and Margaret (MUCULLOCK) HOLMES of North Carolina. She was born May 13, 1768. Joshua HADLEY was paying tax on land in Williamson County, Tennessee in 1805. He lived on land located on the Lewisburg Pike near the Duplex Community that he is said to have received for his Revolutionary War services. He was living in Sumner County when he died, February 8, 1830, but he is said to have been brought back to Williamson County for his burial in the family graveyard on his farm. Tradition is that Andrew JACKSON attend HADLEY's funeral. Hannah HADLEY died April 28, 1837... [7 children named]"
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS - WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TN. Vol 2, Louise Lynch Chancery Court 1823--April 1823 at the house of Joshua Hadley:
Deposition of Joshua Hadley, age 70 years:
"I knew Captain Robert Raiford, a Continental officer in the army, he being a mess mate of mine and he had a mulatto boy, his slave and waiter and cooke in the mess which boy was returned as a soldier by the name of Parker Rogers and I believe he was returned as a drummer in the North Carolina line and was in that service about the conclusion of the war in South Carolina."
EARLY HISTORY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE by Edward Albright, 1909, Chapter 29. Events Of 1787 - Continued: (Retyped by Sherry Falcon 1998)
The Cold Water Expedition:
"While the colony was being so greatly harassed by the Indians in 1787, the parent State legislated in behalf of her dependents on the Cumberland, thereby ordering to their aid a battalion of men. It was commanded by Major EVANS, a brave soldier, and was called "Evans' Battalion". These troops were to receive for their services four hundred acres of land each, the officers thereof being granted a greater amount in proportion. One company was led by Captain William MARTIN, afterwards Colonel MARTIN, who died in Smith County. Another was under command of Captain Joshua HADLEY, who died many years ago in Sumner County. This battalion remained in the settlement about two years and rendered good service in guarding the various forts and in pursuing the enemy when the latter had committed murders or stolen horses. The Legislature, however, as was its custom in pursuance of such acts of generosity, provided that these soldiers should be sheltered, clothed and fed by the people whom they were sent to guard. At the October terms of the Davidson County Court, 1787, a tax was levied for their support. The resolution authorizing same was as follows:
"Resolved, That for the better furnishing of the troops now coming into the county under command of Major EVANS, with provisions, etc., that one-fourth of the tax of this county be paid in corn, two-fourths in beef, pork, bear meat and venison; one-eighth in salt, and an eighth in money, to defray expenses of removing provisions." In fixing the rate at which the above provisions should be valued, it was provided that beef should be reckoned at five dollars per hundred; pork, eight dollars per hundred; "good bear meat without bones," eight dollars per hundred; venison, ten shillings per hundred, and salt at sixteen dollars per bushel. The "superintendent" was directed to call for such a part of the aforesaid tax as the commanding officer of the troops might direct. If any person or persons failed to deliver his or their quota or quotas, at the time and place directed, the said Superintendent should give notice thereof the sheriff of the county who was directed to "distrain immediately."
Photo courtesy of John Hadley
Simon Hadley
1760 - 1835
Simon Hadley (also referred to as Simon Hadley, Sr., was born in North Carolina in March of 1760. Simon was the third son of Thomas Hadley (1728 - 1781) and Mary Thompson (1730 - 1795).
Simon married Jane Wilkinson (29 Jun 1767 - 27 Nov 1829), and they had the following children:
1. Simon D. Hadley (ca. 1790-Nov/Dec 1867)
2. Samuel Holmes Hadley (1794-1850) - married: Mary Akins - 12 February 1846
3. Mary Hadley (ca. 1796-??) - married: Duncan Ray
4. Jane Wilkinson Hadley (1798-1830) - married: Thomas Jeferson Johnson, Sr. - 8 March 1827
5. Elizabeth Hadley (1801-1871) - married: 1) Robert Copeland - January 1820; 2) William Graham Ponder - 5 November 1829
6. Julia Ann Hadley (1802-1863) - married: James Thweatt Hayes - 07 August 1832
7. Anne Hadley (1809-1824
In the Cane Creek MM records of 5 June 1779, it is recorded "Joshua & Simon Hadley, sons of Thomas, disowned" (p. 391-col. 1). Joshua and Simon were active in the Revolutionary War and this would have been reason for the Quakers to disown them.
Two different years have been discovered for Simon's date-of-birth: 1757 & 1760. In his request for a Revolutionary War pension,1 he stated he had been informed by his parents that he was born in 1760.
"I have no record on my age only what I heard my parents say. My mother has told me that I was born at the New Fields below Hillsborough, North Carolina."
Simon and his father, Thomas Hadley, were active in the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. His pension request states that he "entered the service of the United States as a volunteer and ensigned under the following named officers ..." He served several tours of duty, marching from North Carolina to South Carolina to Georgia, and as a scout and procurer and deliverer of beef cattle for the troops.1
The 1790 US Census for Cumberland County, North Carolina show a Simon Hadley as having in his household three males under 16, two males 16 and over, three females and twelve slaves. The children currently known for Simon Hadley, Sr. were born about 1790 and later. The US Census records from 1820 to 1860 show the Hadley family to have been in Georgia.
Simon Hadley, Sr. came from North Carolina to Georgia in the early 1800's. He first settled in Burke County, then Montgomery County. The 1820 Census for Montgomery County lists: Simon D. Hadley, Robt. Copeland (his son-in-law), Simon Hadley.
The Third or 1820 Land Lottery of Georgia2 shows Simon Hadley, Sr, of Montgomery County drew lot #248, sect. #17 in Early County. Elizabeth Hadley (Burke County) and Samuel H. Hadley (Montgomery County) are also listed. In the 1821 lottery, Simon D. Hadley of Montgomery County drew lot #93, sect. #3 in Henry County.
In 1824 and 1825 , Simon served in the House of Representatives for Montgomery County. After moving to Thomas County, he served as one of the first commissioners for the newly formed county, and was a member on the first grand jury. He was also a justice of the Inferior Court, 1826-1829 and 1829-1833, and was elected as the first representative to the state legislature from Thomas County.
Simon owned a ferry boat, and in 1830, by virtue of owning 48 slaves, Simon was ranked as the second largest slaveowner in Thomas County.3
Pedigree of Simon Hadley:
Thomas Hadley - Mary Thompson
---Joshua Hadley - Mary Rowland
---Simon Hadley - Ruth Miller
1. Thomas County Court House, Court of Ordinary, book A-General 1826-1836, p. 103
2. As edited by Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., copyright 1986 - Southern Historical Press, Inc.
3. Hadley's Ferry, "Antebellum Thomas County 1825-1861," p. 45
Signature appears on 1791 Estate Paper of Thomas Hadley Information courtesy of Jo Ann Wood Visit Jo Ann's website at
http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/w/o/o/Joe-ann-Wood/ Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania 1682-1750 With Their Early History in Ireland Part III. The Irish Friends In Pennsylvania
Again, in 1732, when Robert Johnson, son of Robert Johnson, of New Garden, and Katharine Hadley, daughter of Simon Hadley, of New Castle County, declared their intentions of marriage for the first time, they were not permitted to proceed until Robert produced the following acknowledgment:
Whereas I have Endeavored to draw out ye affections of my friend Katherine Hadley before I had ye Consent of her parents, which sd Action of mine being Contrary to ye Rules of friends & I knowing in my Self it not to be Right Wherefore I do Condemn all Such practices & do take ye blame on my Selfe & desire yt friends may pass it by & hopes I Shall be more Carefull for time to come of giving any just offence to friends as Witness my hand this 26 day of ye sixth moth 1732
Third Generation
Ruth HADLEY. Born on 12 Jun 1711 in Moate MM, West Meathe, Ireland. Ruth died in Alamance (then Orange), North Carolina on 12 Apr 1785, she was 73. Buried in Spring Meeting Grounds. On 21 Nov 1731 when Ruth was 20, she married Thomas LINDLEY, son of James LINDLEY & Eleanor PARKE, in New Garden, Pennsylvania. Born on 25 Feb 1705/06 in Bally Brommell, Carlow, Ireland. Thomas died in Orange County, North Carolina on 14 Sep 1781, he was 76.
From here see the Lindley line. |
