Thomas Solley (abt. 1758 - abt. 1829)

Born about 14 Aug 1758 in Ash, Kent, England

Died about 1 Jun 1829 at about age 70 in Southbury, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

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Biography

Thomas was born about 1758 and baptised on the 14th August 1858 at St. Nicholas, Ash, Kent, England, the son of Thomas Solley and Jane Solley^[1]. (This date is the same day & month as that given as Thomas' birth date in later documents).

He was reportedly press-ganged at the age of 19 "Sent to America with the British Army to surpress the Revolutionary War, deserted & enlisted in Washington's Army 1781, where he served two years and seven months"^[2] as a private in Captain Stanton's company, Col. Elisha Sheldon's Regiment, Continental Dragoons^[3].

Thomas married 14 year old Eunice Duffee in 1781^[3] or more likely 13th December 1782 at Weston, Connecticut^[4]

Thomas applied for his pension on the 31st March 1818^[5][3]

In 1810, Thomas was living at Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States^[6]

He passed away on the 1st June 1829 and was buried at George's Hill Cemetery, Southbury, New Haven, Connecticut, USA^[2] .

Children

1. Polly Solly b. 1797^[3]
2. Eunice Solley b. 1808^[7]
3. Mercy Solley b. 1810^[7]
4. Julia Solley b. 1812^[7]

DNA

Ancestry Autosomal DNA test of a descendant of Mary Solley through her son Thomas Smith (b. 1794) show matches to descendants of Thomas Solley, the first Solley of the Connecticut branch of the Solley Family in America, supposedly born 14th August 1759 in England (according to his gravestone - see [FindAGrave]) see also ["Thomas Solley and his descendants- The Story of a Hunt for an Ancestor" by George Willis published by Edward Jucket Morgan 1911] which appears to have been written by George Willis Solley (b. 1864 Bethel, Connecticut).

Although unsourced Ancestry trees give Thomas's birth place as either 1) Connecticut or 2) London (from DAR application) it would appear that he was actually Mary's cousin and born & baptised at Ash, Kent.

Research Notes

Many of the DAR/SAR applications of descendants of Thomas give incorrect dates and places that do not match the original primary documentation.

In fact Thomas' widow Eunice gave the incorrect year of marriage, stating in her pension application in 1837 that they had been married on the 13th December 1779 and gave her husband's death date as the 4th of June 1829^[8] although his gravestone records his death as 1st June (maybe he was buried on the 4th).

The Sons of the American Revolution membership Application of Thomas' great-grandson Edward Juckett Morgan in 1908 records Thomas referring to three daughters Eunice (aged 12), ?rcy (aged 10) and Julia (aged 8) in 1820. The application also mentions "Copy of Military Record from Pension Bureau, Washington D.C. hereunto attached" but they are not with this archived document^[7]

Edward Juckett Morgan's grandson Edward East Harrison b. 1920 also applied for membership of The Sons of the American Revolution in 1948^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "St. Nicholas, Ash, Kent, England Baptism register entry of Thos SOLLEY" 1758. Canterbury Cathedral Archives. Image available at FindMyPast Accessed 20th November 2018
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Grave of Thomas Solley at George's Hill Cemetery, Southbury, New Haven, Connecticut, USA" [FindAGrave]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} "Daughters of the Revolution Lineage Book: NSDAR : Volume 105 : 1913 Entry of Mrs. Edna Lowe Morgan HARRISON". Pg 233 Entry 104702. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 20th November 2018
4. ↑ "Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) entry of Eunice DUFFEE b. 27th December 1767 m Thomas SALLY {sic} 13th December 1782" Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 20th November 2018
5. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch Thomas Solley, 31 Mar 1818; citing Connecticut, United States, NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962), roll 2; FHL microfilm 1,319,382. Accessed 20th November 2018
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch Thomas Solley, Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 104, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1; FHL microfilm 281,229. Accessed 20th November 2018
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 of Edward Juckett MORGAN" 1908. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 20th November 2018
8. ↑ "Widow's Pension Application File of Eunice SOLLEY" 1837 Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 20th November 2018
9. ↑ "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 of Edward East HARRISON" 1948. Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Image available at Ancestry.co.uk Accessed 20th November 2018