William A Findley (1817 - 1888)

Born 24 Aug 1817 in Georgia, USA

Son of Magilbry C Findley and Dolly (Unknown) Findley

Descendants

Died 27 Dec 1888 at age 71 in Roberts, Escambia County, Alabama, USA

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Biography

Philip Beverly's research lists Parkertown, Ga. as William's place of birth. Philip doesn't have any record of his source for this information. Note: Middle name of Andrew per Bonnie Findley, 3904 Venice Cd #7, Sandusky, OH 44870 (419)625-5320, unverified, no documentation has been found to substantiate his middle name.

William Findley History, by Annette Truesdell. William Findley was born 24 Aug 1817 in Georgia. He was the oldest son of Magilbra and Dolly. Some family records cite Parkertown, GA as his birthplace but no sources have been found to verify this oral history. Other family group records give his name as “William A. Findley” but he is named just William Findley in his military records and on his headstone.

In about 1838 or 1839, William married Sarah Ann Rebecca Parker, daughter of John Parker and Winnie Hunt, who came to Alabama from Greene and Hancock counties in Georgia. Sarah was born 27 Jan 1820 in Georgia. The Parkers must have removed from Georgia to Alabama when Sarah was just an infant as they are enumerated in the 1820 Conecuh Co., AL census.

In the 1840 census enumeration, William, Sarah and their first son, Robert Lumpkin are living in Conecuh County near both of their parents. The Parker and Mancil families lived in Conecuh County close to Mt. Union where Mancil Creek branched off the Sepulga River. Since William and Sarah lived within a few households of these families in the 1840 enumeration, it can be assumed that this is also the area where they lived during the early years of their marriage.

In 1850, they are found still living in Conecuh County next to her uncles, siblings and grandmother.^[1] They have two more boys, John Madison and William Harrison, and a daughter, Eliza. Another daughter, Mary Jane is named in the History of Escambia County. No other evidence has been found to verify the birth of this daughter but she may have been born after 1842 and died before the 1850 enumeration. By 1860, William and Sarah are living in Nathansville, Conecuh County near East Brewton in present day Escambia County. They have four more children, Sarah Ann, Winnie, Martha and George Riley.^[2]

William apparently served in two different regiments during the Civil War. He is on the muster roll dated 17 Sep 1861of the 15th Confederate Cavalry, Company E, also known as Simpson's Mounted Rangers. Several of Sarah's Parker cousins also served in this company and it is likely they all enlisted at the same time. This is the service for which William, and then later his widow, Sarah applied for pension. Although his dates of service aren't known, William is also on the rolls of the 24th Alabama Infantry, Company H. This regiment was organized at Mobile, AL. This service is noted on his headstone.

After his return from the Civil War, William is found living in Brewton with his children, including his last child, Davis Magilbrea. By 1880, William and Sarah are living in what was called Parker's Beat, in the vicinity of present day Roberts. Their older children and families are also living there, along with many of Sarah's Parker relatives.

William died at 71 years on 27 Dec 1888. He was buried at the Elim Baptist Cemetery near Roberts and Parker Springs, Escambia County, Alabama. His wife Sarah, continued to live in the Roberts area with her daughter, Winnie Findley Purvis, until her death 7 Sep 1910. She was also buried in the Elim Cemetery.

On 10 May 1848 William purchaseed 39.65 acres described as SE1/4SE1/4 S30 T2N R12E in Escambia County, Alabama.

He served as a private, Co H 24th Ala Infantry CSA during the Civil War.

Buried in Elim Cemetery, Roberts, Escambia County, Alabama.^[3]

DNA

• Y-Chromosome DNA Confirmed: Findley-540's direct paternal relationship to Findley-507 is confirmed because: This yDNA test of Findley-840 and this yDNA test of Findley-615 are a close match. Comments: The most recent common ancestor in the yDNA line of Findley-840 and the yDNA line of Findley-615 is Findley-507.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHPY-BTL : 12 April 2016), Wm Findley, Conecuh county, Conecuh, Alabama, United States; citing family 447, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHD6-9C3 : 13 December 2017), Wm Findley, 1860.
3. ↑ Tombstone.

• Will of Magilbry Findley, Covington County, AL.
• US Federal Census - 1840, Conecuh Co., AL
• US Federal Census - 14 Sep 1850, Conecuh Co., AL
• US Federal Census - 1860, Escambia Co., AL
• US Federal Census - 1870, Escambia Co., AL
• US Federal Census - 1880, Parker, Escambia Co., AL-

William FINDLEY Self M Male W 62 AL Farmer AL AL

Sarah FINDLEY Wife M Female W 60 AL Keeping House SC SC

Eliza FINDLEY Dau S Female W 30 AL AL AL

Winny FINDLEY Dau S Female W 25 AL AL AL

George FINDLEY Son S Male W 22 AL AL AL

Davis FINDLEY Son S Male W 18 AL AL AL

• George Riley Findley's Alabama Death Certificate.
• Land records
• George & Nancy Findley Family Bible.