Nathaniel Thomas Corley (abt. 1828 - 1855)

Born about 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Died 19 May 1855 at about age 27 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Nathaniel Thomas Corley was born about 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Nathaniel used his middle name "Thomas" as his given name. Thomas was the son of Nathaniel Corley.

Thomas, age 22, appears in the 1850 Federal census in the household of his father Nathaniel Corley in Edgefield County, South Carolina.^[1]

Thomas married Martha E. Jennings sometime before 1855. No marriage record has been found.

Thomas' father, Nathaniel Corley died intestate on the 8th of April 1855. The petition for letters of administration read as follows: South Carolina - Edgefield District - To Henry T. Wright Esq Ordinary of the District aforesaid - The humble petition of the undersigned Burdett Corley showeth that Nathaniel Corley being a resident of the said District died intestate on the 8th day of April instant, possessed in his own right of a personal estate of value, and leaving as the distributees of his estate his nine children to wit: Elizabeth wife of Sampson Corley of Barnwell District, West Corley, Jemima wife of Josiah Padgett, your petitioner Burdett Corley, Thomas Corley, Wilborn Corley, Benjamin Corley, Sarah Ann wife of Mancester Padgett, and John Corley, and his two grand children Martha Padgett, and Henry Padgett children of his pre-deceased daughter Susan, who was the wife of the said Manchester Padgett, which said John Corley Martha Padgett, and Henry Padgett are infants within the age of twenty one years. Your petitioner further shows that all of the said distributees are of full age willing and have consented that the administration of the said Nathaniel Corley's estate shall be granted to your petitioner; and that your petitioner is willing to accept the trust - wherefore your petitioner prays that it may be ordered accordingly [signed] Burditt Corley Subscribed this 12 April 1855 in presence of J. P. Carroll"^[2]

Thomas died on the 19th of May, 1855, forty-one days after his father's death on the 8th of April, 1855.

Thomas' widow Martha E. Corley filed a petition in Edgefield County, South Carolina for letters of administration on Thomas' estate as follows: "South Carolina Edgefield District - In Ordinary To H.T. Wright Esqr ordinary for Edgefield District: The Petition of Marth E Corley, and John J. Jennings respectfully showeth that Thomas Corley, the late husband of your Petitioner Martha E. of said District & State departed this life intestate, or or about the19th day of May A.D. 1855 seized and possed in his own right of some personal estate and it is necessary that letters of administration should be taken out on said estate: And your Petitioners further show, that the said Thomas Corley lived on rented land, and although he had planted a portion of his crop, it is unpracticable to keep up the premises on which he lived and to make a crop thereon, in as much as the said Thomas left no hands on the said premises sufficient to make a crop, and your petitioners believe that is will be to the interest of the said intestates estate that the whole of said estate be sold at as early a day a practicable. Wherefore your petitioners pray that letters of administration may be granted to them on the usual terms And your petitioners will ever pray & c [signed] W W Adams Atty for Martha E Corley J.J. Jennings"^[3]

An obituary for Nathaniel appeared in The Edgefield Advertiser as follows: "Died, in this District, on the 19th of May last, Mr. Nathaniel Corley, son of the late Nathaniel Corley, Esq., in the twenty-seventh year of his age. Mr. Corley lived a virtuous and well regulated life, and was beloved and respected by all who knew him. Mr. C. became a member of the church at Sardis in July or August 1854, under the Pastoral care of Rev. H.T. Bartly, by being buried in Baptism, in which relation he lived in full fellowship until his death, adorning the profession he had made with a well-ordered life and Godly conversation. Mr. Corley was confined to his bed on Tuesday the 15th May, and on the day following the writer visited him and found him not yet low, but Friday he grew worse and spoke freely of his happiness in the love of God, and exorted his wife not to grieve after him, but to meet him in a better world than this. On Saturday the writer again visited him and on arriving at his bedside quickly observed that death was preforming his stern office. When Mr. Corley saw me he reached out both his hands, and in a clear and distinct voice asked the writer if he was well. I answered in the affirmative. He then said, "I am glad - but my eyes are weak and my hands cold." Being asked if he enjoyed the love and presence of God, with a smile on his face, he answered yes; and in less than an hour after breathed his last. Mr. C. leaves an affectionate and amiable widow and many relatives and friends to mourn his loss. A.M.G."^[4]

Thomas and Martha E. Corley had no children and the heirs of Thomas were his widow and his siblings listed in Thomas' intestate estate records in Box 73 Package 2932; Edgefield County, South Carolina probate records.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8QN-HVJ : 23 December 2020), Thomas Corley in household of Nathaniel Corley, Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ Estate of Nathaniel Corley; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PT-PS3Z-1; Citing: Edgefield County, South Carolina Minutes (1840-1875) page 210
3. ↑ Estate of N.T. Corley; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PY-N98R-H?i=38&cat=363944: Citing: Edgefield County, South Carolina Probate Estate records Box 73 Package 2932
4. ↑ Historical Newspapers of South Carolina, University of South Carolina Libraries: https://historicnewspapers.sc.edu/lccn/sn84026897/1855-06-20/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=01%2F01%2F1855&index=13&date2=12%2F31%2F1855&words=Corley&searchType=advanced&sequence=0&lccn=sn84026897&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&andtext=Corley&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1: Citing: Edgefield Advertiser 20th June 1855