David Finley (abt. 1762 - aft. 1804)

Born about 1762 in Augusta County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Wilson) Finley — married 10 Mar 1791 in Kentucky sector of historic Augusta County, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died after 1804 after about age 42 in United States

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Biography

Birth and Parents

This David Finley is presented here as the son of John Finley and Thankful Doak. An alternate narrative in which he is their grandson, and the son of John Finley, Junior, is presented in Research Notes.

At the time of David's birth, John Finley Senior, was a cooper living in the Middle River community of Augusta County, Virginia. Three of John Finley's children were baptized at the Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church, which was about 15 miles away. There were closer Presbyterian churches and it may be presumed that the other children were baptized in these churches, whose records are presumably lost.

1762 'Birth Year Estimation'

Carmen Finley observes that David Finley was probably the youngest child of John and Thankful (Doak) Finley, and was born most likely between 1762 and 1765. ^[1] Stout^[2] shows David was born in 1765.

Dr Carmen Finley states that from other dates cited, we can make some assumptions as to David's approximate date of birth. To serve in the militia, one had to be between the ages of sixteen and fifty. A March 1781 order additionally required that those between sixteen and eighteen be identified separately. It also seems unlikely that a man who qualified as lieutenant would be under twenty-one, since he had to take an oath upon accepting the office. If David was twenty-one in 1783, this would give us an estimated birth date of 1762. In 1786, when he first appeared on the tax rolls, the tithable age was twenty-one. If he was just twenty-one in 1786, this would give us an estimated birth date of 1765. Therefore it seems highly likely that his date of birth was between 1762 and 1765, but probably at the lower end of this range. ^[1]

1762 has therefore been entered in the data field as his estimated birth year.

Siblings

Known children of John and Thankful (Doak) Finley include the following, in the order named in John's will (except for John who as the namesake may be the eldest, and David who is presumed to be the youngest male).

The following children are listed in the 1791 will of John Finley of Middle River; baptismal dates for three are found in the records of the Tinkling Spring Meeting House:^[3]

• David
• George, baptized 30 January 1743
• Robert, baptized 21 April, 1745
• James
• John
• Margaret Shields, baptized December 1746
• Jean Trimble
• Thankful McKarter

Carmen Finley observes that while John Finley of South River was a leader and elder of the Tinkling Spring Meeting House, John Finley of Middle River lived closer to other Presbyterian Churches and taking his children to Tinkling Spring for baptism was unusual. Therefore the absence of his other children from the Tinkling Spring records, covering the years 1740-1749, does not mean some of them were not born during this period.

The children are presented below with the best estimates of birth years (at two year intervals), their bequests in the 1791 will, and some additional biographical detail.

1. John, presumed oldest son, born, say, 1741. John Finley. ^[4] Named in 1791 will to receive bed and furniture at his mother's decease. ^[5]
2. George Finley, baptized at Tinkling Spring, 30 January 1743. ^[6] Named in 1791 will to receive 5 shillings Virginia Currency. ^[5] George Finley married Jane Lyle in Augusta County, and Carmen Finley ^[7] shows George is the son of John Finley and Thankful Doak, since he disposed of property obtained from his father after moving to Washington County. About 1805 George Finley moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where he died in 1810. ^[8]
3. Robert, baptized 21 April 1745, at Tinkling Spring. ^[6] Named in 1791 will to receive 5 shillings Virfginia currency. ^[5] John Finley Jr's brother Robert Finley, b. 1745, appears in the early records of western Virginia, where he married Sarah Breckenridge, daughter of George Breckenridge and Ann Doak, in 1777. ^[8]
4. Margaret Finley Shields, baptized 21 November 1746, at Tinkling Spring. ^[6] Named in 1791 will to receive 5 shillings Virginia currency. ^[5]
5. James, born, say, 1748. James Finley. Named in 1791 will, original version to receive £120 Virginia Currency to be paid by son David.^[9] or Thomas ^[10]
6. Jean Trimble, born, say, 1750. Jean Finley, married Joseph Trimble. ^[11] Named in 1791 will to receive a "Negro woman" and a mare at her mother's death. Jean Trumble's son John Trimble is also named to receive a saddle and bridle. ^[5]
7. Thankful McKarter, born, say, 1754. Thankful Finley, married McKarter. Named in 1791 will to receive six shillings Virginia currency. ^[5]
8. David, presumed youngest son and executor, born, say, 1762

David Finley. Named in 1791 will to receive all lands and entire estgate not identified separately. Sole executor To provide maintenance for mother Thankful to be paid from his portion of the estate. ^[5]

1783 Lieuntenant in Captain Kirk's Company

David was recommended and qualified as lieutenant in Captain Kirk's Company on 16 September 1783. He is also shown in Captain Trimble's Company, but no date or rank is mentioned. ^[1]

1786 Augusta County Tax Rolls

David appeared on the Augusta County tax rolls with his father, John, in 1786 and 1787. ^[1]

John Finley appeared on the tax rolls during the periods 1777-1778 and 1782- 1787, the only years for which lists were found. Until 1786 he was listed as the only tithable in his household. His 1786 entry read "Jno & David," while the 1787 entry read "self & son David." ^[12]

1789 Guardian of Nephew

On 15 December 1789, David was appointed guardian of his nephew John Trimble, orphan of Joseph Trimble. ^[1]

On 17 January 1792 he was also appointed guardian for George Taylor, formerly bound to John Finley. ^[1]

1791 Marriage

He was married to Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Joseph Wilson, 10 March 1791 in Augusta County, by Reverend Archibald Scott. ^[1]

David Finley, "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940" https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR73-RZV Citation "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR73-RZV : accessed 6 October 2015), David Finley and Elizabeth Wilson, 10 Mar 1791; citing Augusta, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 30,415.

David Finley mentioned in the record of David Finley and Elizabeth Wilson Name David Finley Spouse's Name Elizabeth Wilson Event Date 10 Mar 1791 Event Place Augusta, Virginia CITING THIS RECORD "Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR73-RZV : accessed 6 October 2015), David Finley and Elizabeth Wilson, 10 Mar 1791; citing Augusta, Virginia, reference ; FHL microfilm 30,415. No image available VIRGINIA, MARRIAGES, 1785-1940 Indexing Project (Batch) Number M86847-2 System Origin Virginia-EASy GS Film number 30415

1791 Executor of Father's Will

When David's father, John, wrote his will on 7 August 1791, David was named executor and received most of John's estate. Only small provisions were made for his brothers and sisters, his brother James excepted. Apparently, John had a patent pending when he died, as David received a patent for 110 acres on 18 November 1791 and was referred to as 'assignee of John Finley at that time. To settle the legacy of his brother James, David drew up a deed of trust to his brother-in-law John Shields, on 2 September 1793. The property was to be held until 2 September 1798 and could then be sold. This was to guarantee that James would receive his L120 plus interest. ^[1]

1794 Sale of Father's Property and Relocation to Kentucky

In 1794, John's son and executor David, with David's wife Elizabeth, disposed of John's Middle River property. 648 acres were sold to John Johnston 1 October 1794;l the 648 acres consisted of three separate parcels containing 300, 238, and 110 acres. This 300 acre parcel and the 238 acre parcel were, by description, thosepatented in 1741 and 1769 by John of Middle River. The patent for the remaining 110 acre parcel was issued on 18 November 1791, three months afte proving of the will, in the name of David Finley as "assignee of John Finley. Finley adds that there is substantial evidence that David and Elizabeth then moved on to Montgomery County, Kentucky. ^[13]

Children

Dr Carmen Finley's history of Sonoma County California Finleys indicates there are family records showing four children of David: John, Joseph Wilson, Thankful Sarah, and Ebenezer; and that this David Finley is thought to be the one referred to as being recommended as a Lieutenant in Captain Kirk's Company 1783Sep16 (per Chalkley), and in Captain Trimble's Company (per Gwathmey's Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution), noting also that Kentucky was a western extension of Virginia prior to Kentucky statehood, of possible relevance. ^[1]

Research Notes

Hold Request

Several Finley family profiles have been edited recently to reflect differing viewpoints of the identity of the John Finley who executed the 1791 Will, the validity of the 1791 Will, and the accuracy of several Finley Family Genealogies. Doing so unnecessarily creates confusion and differences in profiles and relationships that will need to be cleaned up later. These differing viewpoints need to be reconciled through colloboration, research, and reliable sourcing rather than further propagating these differing viewpoints.

The US Southern Colonies Project is therefore placing a Hold Request on this profile through 15 March 2024. The Project requests anyone considering editing this profile contact the Project Account via Private Message, and wait for a response before proceeding.

Research Note Attributions

This controversial profile has attracted research and contributions from a number of WikiTree members. Unfortunately, research notes have often been added by one member and then edited by another member, often loosing the leads, records, and "viewpoint" of the original author.

Anyone wanting to contribute to the research notes should create their own paragraph or heading, and "sign" their contribution with ~~~~ at the end of the paragraph, or the end of a new subheading. Upon saving, this will be expanded to the date and profile ID of the person editting the profile.

On 22 Feb 2024, the US Southern Colonies Project attempted to restore a number of contributions that where edited or deleted by others, and attribute each of the contributions to the original author. If any mistakes were made, our apology is extended. Please feel free to attribute any of your research note contributions to yourself, or remove any attributions incorrectly made to you. Spratlin-29 21:49, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Alternate Narrative

Bransford, France and Stout present an alternate narrative in which John Finley Senior (known to Carmen Finley as John Finley of Middle River) and his wife Thankful Doak are born roughly two decades earlier than presented here, and die a decade before the 1791 will. In the Bransford/France/Stout narrative, it is then John Finley Junior (known to Carmen Finley as John Finley of South River) who authors the 1791 will, and it is John Finley Junior's wife, now presented as Mary Thankful, who is named as wife Thankful in the will.

The consequence of this alternate narrative is that the children of John and Thankful shown in the 1791 will are now presented as children of John, Junior rather than John, Senior.

~Jack Day

Who Were David Finley's Parents?

This David Finley was either the son of John and Thankful Doak Finley, or their grandson and the son of Robert Finley, depending on which published source is referenced. ~Blake Finley

Per Albert Finley France's 'House of Finley' and Herald Stout's 'Clan Finley', David was the son of Robert Finley (1726-1798) and the grandson of John and Thankful Doak, and this fits logically with their ages. ~Blake Finley

However, in Carmen Finley's Sonoma Finley history, she relied on indicators in a visibly altered will, with at least two copies with different indicators, interpreted to mean David was the son of John and Thankful, who also had a son named John causing confusion over wills and the names in them. ~Jack Day

Birth dates given for this David Finley range between 1760 and 1770, and average near 1765 (the YOB given by Stout in Clan Finley 2nd edition, v1, p61). David was born in Augusta Co VA (which then was very large and included areas in both Kentucky and West Virginia). ~Blake Finley

Careful study is underway to determine if Thankful Doak was David's mother or grandmother, and this is to be clarified only after thorough investigation, not mere emphatic "unquestionable" or "undoubted" claims that may not be grounded in reality or depth of thought. ~Blake Finley

Note that this David (probably Doak) Finley also had a cousin (or nephew per some) David with a different middle name: David Caldwell Finley, born either 1748 or 1754, depending on source consulted. Some have confused these two Davids for each other. The other, David Caldwell Finley, was the son of John and Mary Thankful Caldwell Finley, per Herald Stout's genealogy. ~Blake Finley

A copy of a 1794 deed for the deceased John Finley's land, a copy of which is found in Carmen Finley's history of the Sonoma County Finleys, refers to David Finley w wife Elizabeth -- but this could refer to David as son or as grandson of John Finley (in accord with Stout's assessment). ~Blake Finley

Records for David in Montgomery County Kentucky in the early 1800s may fit. At that time, that county was much larger than today, and stretched largely between 83W30 and 84W00 in an area that roughly included today's Mt Sterling, Beattyville, Stanton, and Booneville; and was just east of Boonesboro. Today's Montgomery county formed only its northernmost area. There may have been, however, more than one contemporaneous David Finley there. ~Blake Finley

Stout shows David was born in 1765. He was the son of Robert Finley and Martha Henderson. He died in 1804. The published Herald Stout genealogy claimed David was the grandson of John and Thankful Doak Finley, while Dr Carmen Finley's Sonoma Finley history assumed David was the son of John and Thankful, based on documents that are still under scrutiny for which of the relationships is accurate. ~Jack Day

Did David have a Middle Name?

According to oral report by descendant Florence Finley Loyd around 1970, David's middle name was Doak. ~Jack Day

This David's middle name, if the father of Joseph Wilson Finley and Ebenezer, was Doak, and identical to his grandson's, per a 3rd great-grandson's memory of a discussion in the late 1960s with deceased family genealogist Florence Finley Loyd in Missouri, 2nd great-granddaugher of David, and sister of genealogist Gertrude Finley quoted in the Otis Mather history of the LaRue family. Moreover, Missouri River floods may account for loss of gravemarkers and family records. David may or may not have moved from Kentucky to Missouri with his children around 1838-39. ~Elizabeth W, revised by Blake Finley

Note -- Middle Names were rarely used in the colonial period, and one should generally assume there was no middle name unless it appears in a reliable document. ~Jack Day

Alternate Interpretations

Alternate Identity

THIS DAVID IS THE GRANDSON OF JOHN AND THANKFUL (DOAK) FINLEY, not their son. HIS FATHER IS ROBERT FINLEY, as confirmed in all 3 major Finley family genealogies by A A France, H Stout, and Dr Carmen Finley. As of Feb 9, 2024, Wikitree is set up so that the 'Southern Colonies Project' must approve the changes to the correct relationships. ~Blake Finley

Alternate Disambiguation

NOTE: This David Finley, husband of Elizabeth Wilson is not to be confused with the contemporaneous David Finley who married Elizabeth Mounts. Both Davids are descendants of the John Finley who married Thankful Doak, but family genealogists have been in disagreement over just how they are related to them, due to multiple, including altered, copies of a 1791 will that has not been proven to be of the John Finley who married Thankful Doak, or the John Finley who married Mary Caldwell (also reported by some published family genealogists as bearing the nickname 'Thankful'. Further study is needed, and data below needs further editing as Feb 8, 2004, as the relationships are seriously scrambled at this time and require further review by proven Finley family members familiar with the various genealogies and data sources -- Blake Finley, direct descendant of the David Finley who married Elizabeth Wilson. ~Blake Finley

Another Alternate Narrative

Finley family genealogist Admiral Herald Stout (husband of a Finley wife, and twice-elected president of the San Diego Genealogical Society) reported this David Finley as the son of Robert Finley, who (per both Stout and his predecessor famiy genealogist Maj. Albert Finley France, son of a Finley mother, and US Naval Academy librarian) was born to John Finley (b1706) and Thankful Doak on March 10, 1726 in Pennsylvania, and was younger brother of the John Finley born Dec 28, 1724 in Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, who married Mary Caldwell in 1741 and died in 1791. Advocates of the 1791 wil being that of the John Finley born 1706, rather than John born 1724, have contested this and claimed that this David was sone of John born 1706. ~Blake Finley

Children Confusion

Thus, we can see that this David, if not the son of Thankful Doak and her huband John, had an uncle also named David, which is what is presented in the genealogies of earlier Fiinley family genealogists France and Stout. One can see how the namesakes have caused confusion in addition of the multiple and altered copies of the 1791 will of either John Finley born 1706, or John Finley born 1724. ~Blake Finley

Pertinence to this David Finley

THE FOLLOWING DATA, AS OF FEB 2024, REMAINS TO BE BE REVIEWED for any pertinence to this specific David Finley. For example, the John Finley of 1741 or 1742 reported below was the grandson of the John Finley who married Thankful Doak, and the son of John Caldwell Finley, per France and Stout, and had yet a third David Finley son born around 1770-1771. This may be marginally relevant to this specific profile other than to note family namesakes that could cause namesake confusion. ~Blake Finley

Further Resarch

Census records after 1804 may or may not fit, and records for 1810 could be feasible but not certain. Loss of later family records in floods is of course problematic for tracing family history via family sources. ~Blake Finley

Additional primary or secondary sources are to be considered; while Gedcom files, or other data, without sources indicated, should be treated as speculative notes until proven with primary or secondary sources. ~Elizabeth W

The validity, and the limits, of DNA tests have both been repeatedly questioned in scientific journals, so that DNA test cannot be seen as the final word, especially when DNA test results are interfused with questionable genealogical assumptions. Furthermore, DNA listings, if indeed accurate, do not necessarily indicate the same relationship to the individual in focus. ~Elizabeth W

NOTE: Any direct descendant of this David Finley who has reasonable and clear evidence to change this David's parents to John Finley and Thankful Doak (as opposed to them being his grandparents) is welcome to make that request. ~Blake Finley

Before I had David Caldwell Finley as Anna's father. After some research, that was incorrect. ~Christine Pike

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Carmen Finley. The Finleys of Early Sonoma County, California. p196.
2. ↑ Herald Stout's genealogy, 2nd edition, Volume 1, p107.
3. ↑ Carmen Finley, Correcting the Record, p9.
4. ↑ Stout, p104, claims he was born 11 January 1742, but baptismal records at Tinkling Spring do not support this date. Cited by Finley, Augusta County John Finleys.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} John Finley Will, 17 August 1791, Augusta County, Virginia. Two versions exist. The original signed by Finley employs unusual spellings and names a son James. The clerk's copy in the courthouse uses more standard spellings, and erroneously names the son Michael.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Wilson, Tinkling Spring, p474. Cited by Finley, Augusta County John Finleys.
7. ↑ John Finleys of Augustga County.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Bain.
9. ↑ Image Copy obtained by Lee Bain (Bain-1212) from Carmen Finley, who obtained it from the Augusta County Court records at the same location as the clerk copy entered on the docket (Will Book 7, p404). See Carmen J. Finley, "The John Finleys of Augusta County, Virginia: Correcting the Record," Virginia Genealogist 46 (2003): 3-13, at 7-8; digital image, AmericanAncestors.org, (https://www.americanancestors.org/DB285/i/12767/3/0 : accessed 20 Nov 2021)
10. ↑ Will Book 7, pp403-406; digital image, ‘’FamilySearch,’’ “Will books, v. 7-9 1787-1804,” (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-39HQ : accessed 21 Nov 2021); FHL microfilm 30,318, DGS 7,643,869.
11. ↑ Stout, p104 claims she was born 16 February 1744, but baptismal records at Tinkling Spring do not support this date. Cited by Finley, Augusta County John Finleys.
12. ↑ . Augusta Tithables, 1777-1778, Family History Library film #0030312; Personal Property, Augusta County, 1782-1790, film #0029288. Cited by Finley (1995).
13. ↑ Finley, 2003, 8.

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Texts

• Bain, Lee. J. Determining the Identity of John Finley, Boone's Guid. Published in two parts in Kentucky Ancestors, Kentucky Historical Society. : accessed 18 Nov 2021 35 (Summer 2000): 218-20 and : accessed 18 Nov 2021 35 (Autumn 2000: 6-9. Digital images.

• Finley, Carmen J. (2003) The John Finleys of Augusta County, Virginia: Correcting the Record. Virginia Genealogist 46 (2003). (Requires paid subscription) American Ancestors.org,
• Finley, Carmen. (2009) The Finleys of Early Sonoma County California. Westminster MD: Heritage Books, 2009. Page 199.

• France, Albert Finley. The House of Finley. Unpublished manuscript circulated among Finley family in the 1930s.

• Stout, Herald. Clan Finley, 2nd edition. Dover OH: Eagle Press ,1956, v1 pp 104, 107; and v2 p2. Joseph Wilson Finley is not listed among children, but is verified in a letter from nephew Achilles Finley reportedly now in Finley genealogy archives at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park CA, collected and compiled by Dr Carmen Finley. Many errors in the first 1940 edition of Clan Finley were corrected in the 2nd edition (v1 1956, v2 1961).

• Stout, Herald: The Clan Finley, 2nd edition. Dover OH: Eagle Press, 1956, page 61. States David Finley-b1765 was son of Robert Finley-b1726-d1798; Note that Dr Carmen Finley, in Finleys of Sonoma County, assumed David was son of John and Thankful Doak Finley, based primarily on an altered will that she reported gaining access to, and which had other copies differing in content.. the other copy/ies favoring Stout's view that David was the son of Robert.