George Connolly
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George W Connolly (1804 - 1878)

George W [uncertain] Connolly
Born in Harrison, Virginia, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 30 Jan 1826 in Lewis, Virginia, United Statesmap
Husband of — married 17 Apr 1869 in Roane, Virginia, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 74 in Roane, West Virginia, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 22 Sep 2010
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Contents

Biography

From the "History of Harrison County" by Henry Raymond we quote: In the year 1772, the beautiful Tygarts Valley, now in Randolph County, was nearly all taken up by settlers. Among those taking upresidence there was a Connolly family. So heavy was the migration, that all bread supplies were exhausted. There was considerable suffering until the new corn crop was gathered in 1773. They called that year, the "starving" year. The next mention of the name in the book reads: February 21,1786. The court ordered that a bridle road be opened from Conolly's Lick, agreeable to a former order of Augusta County Court. (Connolly's Lick referred to in the above, was near Bulltown, in present Braxton County. It is said that Connolly's cows,frequently going to the lick, led to the discovery of salt water, and soon the salt works were established there. George married Maria Lewis about 1791. He seems to have taken another wife at some later time. This George, being the father of George W. (Washington ?) Connolly, from our uneducated guess. George W. born around 1804, from his being 56 at the takingof the 1860 census. His wife was Margaret, 58, George 19; Serena 16; and William 14. Consider the 1850 census - Father George was 50; Margaret "Peggy" was 50; Eli 24; Julia 20; Sally 18; Thomas 14;Eunice 18; Emily 12; George C. 10; Serena 8; William 6. Son Elias 22,married to Matilda 18. Upon looking over the Braxton census for 1850, the age given for Ailsey Connolly Jarvis was 45, making her birth ca 1805. Therefor she and George W. were likely both children of the Harrison pioneer George of Connolly's Lick. We quote from "Pioneer West Virginia", Prospective settlers came into what is now Calhoun County, prior to the Revolutionary War. They made tomahawk settlements, and some probably built cabins. There were but few, if any, permanent settlements before 1810. Among early pioneers to the region were Michael Haverty, Archibald Burris, GeorgeHardman, Salathiel Riddle, Philip Stallman, Valentine Farrell,Thomas Holbert, John B. Goff, Job Westfall, Alexander Huffman, PeterCoger, Isaac Mace, Peter McCune, Adam O'Brien, Thomas Cottrell,Barnabas Cook, and Dr. George Connolly. The Connolly's along with the Jarvises, lived for a decade or so in Lewis County, adjoining Harrison to the southwest. Both families had children born in that county. It is believed their entrance to the Calhoun wilderness was about 1834 or 1835. Ailsey Connolly married Thomas Jarvis in Harrison County, with a couple children born in that county, followed by some in Lewis, and the remainder in Kanawha later called Calhoun. Kanawha should read: Gilmer.


Settled at the mouth of Lower Barnes Run (according to Daniel S Dewees)


In 1833 George Conley owned 140 acres on West Fork Bk 1 page 191 per SimsLand Grant


From Hardesty's History of Calhoun County: FIRST SETTLERS . . . the first and second decades of this century (19th) saw many ofthem settled on the Little Kanawha and its tributaries, within the limitsof what is now Calhoun County.

Of the many we name of these the first settlers of the county. Among themwere James Mayes, James Niles, Audrey Sharp, Stephen Burson, PeterMcCune, Sr., Anthony Parsons, Thomas Cottrell, Dr. George Conley, ThomasP. Brannan, Philip Starcher, Peter Cogar, Isaac Mace, William Brannan,Peter McCune, Jr., Adam O'Brian, John Haverty, John B. Goff, John Ball,Job Westfall, Samuel Barr, Alexander Huffman, Joshua Smith, James Arnold,Barnabas Cook, Archibald Burris, George W. Hardman, Salathiel Riddle,Henry Bell, Phillip Stallman, Isaac Cox, Benjamin Jackson, Michael H.Haverty, Thomas Holbert and Valentine Ferrell. These were the men whobecame the pioneers of Calhoun County.

WASHINGTON DISTRICT

Washington District was named in honor of Washington, the founder of theAmerican republic, the defender of justice, and the advocate of therights of men. Already the capital city of the greatest republic theworld has seen, had been named in honor of him, already had a vastterritory on the Pacific coast been christened in memory of him, alreadyhad his honored name been bestowed upon eighteen counties in variousstates of the Union; but what of that? Was it any reason why a littlespot up in the pure and transparent atmosphere of the AlleghenyMountains, should not bear the honored name? The committee whopartitioned the county thought not, and so Washington district wascheckered on the map of Calhoun County as the most southern one of itssub-divisions.

The district is bounded on the north by Lee, east by Gilmer and BraxtonCounties, south by Clay, and southwest and west by Roane County. Thesurface is mountainous, the lofty summits of which are the culminatingpoints of the western spurs thrown off from the Alleghenies. These hillsand mountains are filled with excellent building stone, and scatteredover the surface is a limestone which, when collected and burned, makesan excellent fertilizer, Iron ore appears in several localities,doubtless a continuation of the celebrated Elk River black band ore,which contains the highest percentage of any of the West Virginiadeposits. Bituminous coal has been discovered at several points, but hasnot been developed.

Despite the broken and rugged condition of the surface, the soil is veryfertile and good crops of cereals and grasses are produced even on themountain tops. Here is to be found some of the finest timber in thestate: the towering oak and the lofty poplar have grown to an enormoussize. But the woodman's ax is being applied, and rapidly these monarchs,monuments of ages gone by, are being swept away.

The West Fork of the Little Kanawha flows in a north by west directionthrough the district, and its tributaries and sub-tributaries, togetherwith Beech Fork, a branch of Henry's Fork, constitute the drainage. BeechFork flows nearly parallel with the West Fork at Henry's Fork postoffice,on the line between Calhoun and Roane Counties. Left Hand Fork, with BearRun, its principal tributary, flows west and empties into the West Fork;White Oak Creek flows north and falls into the same.

FIRST SETTLER

The first settler was Peter McCune, who, with his family, found a home inthe valley of the West Fork, in the lower part of this district, in theyear 1815. Here, the same year, he erected the first cabin in what is nowWashington district. It was constructed of small logs or poles, such ashe could handle himself, for he had no one to assist him. As one standsand gazes upon the the spot he wonders what the motive could have beenthat prompted a man to remove his family into such a wilderness as thiswas seventy years ago. But he was not the only one influenced by such awilderness as this was seventy years ago. But he was not the only oneinfluenced by such a motive. The solitude of his mountain retreat wassoon after disturbed, for Anthony Parsons, Barnabas Cook, Dr. GeorgeConley, Thomas Cottrell, three families of the name of Truman, and ThomasP. Brannan, all sought and found homes on the West Fork.

The first birth that occurred was that of a child of Peter and MargaretMcCune, born a short time after their arrival. The first wedding was adouble one, two taking place at the same time and place, the highcontracting parties being Thomas Barnhouse and Mary Bush, and ThomasCottrell and Mary Parsons. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. WilliamHacker.

The first grist mill was erected by Job Truman about the year 1828. Itwas a small frame building. At first they only ground corn, but lateradded machinery for grinding wheat. They bolt their flower by hand tothis day - 1883. The Poling brothers now have a steam grist mill and sawmill, and do a driving business. Thomas Jarvis erected the first saw millin 1845. It was an old-fashioned "sash" saw.

FIRST SCHOOL

The first school was taught by Dr. George Conley in the year 1835. Thehouse was a small cabin, erected according to the style of architectureemployed in building all the early pioneer school houses. It was locatedon the right fork of the West Fork. Old waste houses continued to be usedfor school purposes until 1859, when the Hon. Absalom Knotts, once adistinguished member of the general assembly of Virginia, caused a hewedlog house, 18 x 20 ft square, to be erected at his own expense. There arenow ten public school buildings, of which seven are hewed log, and threeare frame. In 1882 there were 557 pupils enrolled in the schools taughtin these houses. The first sermon was preached in 1830 by Barnabas Cook,a minister of the Christian church from Ohio. Eight years, howver, passedaway before a society was organized, but in 1836 the Rev. George Martinof the M. E. Church formed a class at the house of Thomas Jarvis.

Among the names there enrolled upon the classbook were those of JosephKnotts, Mary Knotts, Thomas Jarvis, Alsa Jarvis, Caleb Jarvis, DiannaJarvis, Hannah Hardway, Patrick Conley, and Tarleton Vaughan and wife.

There is not today a church building in the district, but notwithstandingthere are eight organizations, all of which worship in school houses. Ofthese there are eight organizations, all of which worship in schoolhouses. Of these there are M. E. South, with a aggregate membership of 132; Revs. John A. Black and William Bays are the present ministers. The Baptists have two congregations, and a membership of 100; Daniel Huffmanis the pastor. The M. E. Church, also have two societies, and fortymembers; the present minister is the Rev. David R. Poling. There is oneOld School Baptist congregation, numbering thirty, with Rev. Hugh Burnsas pastor.

The first Sabbath School was organized in 1847 by the Rev. Abijah Wedge.There are two at present in the district, viz: the Beech Fork and TownHall schools. Of the former William B [1]

Research Notes

Warning: Check the data. A birth date (Connolly-34 born 17 Jan 1804) should not be within eight months of a sibling's birth date Alsie Bentley “Elsa” Connolly Jarvis (Connolly-27 born 5 Jun 1804) unless they are twins born within a day of each other. This site says that Aisley was born in 1803 in Harriosn Co., VA which is more believable. https://www.oocities.org/wvgenealogy/aqwg137.htm

For SAR/DAR: no proof that shows George and Elias as father/son. The 1860 census shows George living with his wife and 1870 census show George as a widower. He missed the 1850 census because he traveled west to Green Co, Missouri where Elizabeth Jane was born in July. It is not known how long they were gone, but the next child, Emma, was born back in Roane County. Elias would be 23 in 1850 and possibly still living at home even though he was married. [2]

Marriage

1st Margaret Booher 30 JAN 1826 Lewis Co., VA

2nd - Mary Hall 17 Apr 1869 Roane Co., VA

Census

George Connolly in the 1850 United States Federal Census

Name George Connolly
Age 50
Birth Year abt 1800
Birthplace Virginia
Home in 1850 District 17, Gilmer, Virginia, USA
Gender Male
Family Number 244

Household Members

Name Age
George Connolly 50
Peggy Connolly 50
Eli Connolly 24
Julia Connolly 20
Eunice Connolly 18
Sally Connolly 15
Thomas Connolly 14
Emily Connolly 12
George Connolly 10
Serina Connolly 8
William Connolly 6

George Connolly: 1860 United States Federal Census Arnoldsburg P.O., Calhoun Co., VA Census, pg. 32 (925-835)

George Connolly, age 56, M, $2,600 Real estate value, $632 Personal estate value, b: Harrison Co., VA
Margaret Connolly, age 58, F, b: Harrison Co., VA
George C. Connolly, age 19, M, b: Lewis Co., VA
Sirena Connolly, age 16, F, b: Lewis Co., VA
William B. Connolly, age 14, M, b: Lewis Co., VA
1870 s/be in WV (but can not locate)

Death

18 AUG 1878 Roane Co., WV

Burial

Spencer, Roane Co., WV findagrave for George Connolly

Sources

  1. FamilySearch.org
  2. Archive from geocities: http://www.oocities.org/wvgenealogy/aqwg118.htm#3753

Acknowledgement

This person was created through the import of PittsPenn_2010-09-21.ged on 22 September 2010 by MG Pitts.





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with George by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with George:

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Comments: 2

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This George W. Connolly is a SAR/DAR problem because there is no proof of parentage to George Connolly 1761-1841 DAR #A133637. Likewise George W. Connolly to his children. There is no 1850 census.
posted by Rosemary Kapp

C  >  Connolly  >  George W Connolly