Elijah Whaley (1792 - 1859)

Born 24 Feb 1792 in Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca P. (Daugherty) Whaley — married 20 Jun 1816 in Liberty, DeKalb, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1859 at age 67 in Lawrence, Missouri, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Whaley Name Study.

This profile is part of the Liberty, Tennessee One Place Study.

Some of Elijah Whaleys descendants are still in DeKalb Co., Tenn. area. Others went to vicinity of Lawrence Co., Missouri ca 1850. The Goodspeed History of Lawrence Co. has some biographical information of them.

Elijah Whaley was appointed postmaster in 14 Dec 1848

US Census, DeKalb Co., TN 1002-141, age 58.

Also in 1830 Census.

SOURCE: WHALEY FAMILY BIBLE

Have picture of tombstone.

Merchant with farming interests. Anne Arundel Co., MD. Soldier in War of 1812, a Whig and served as postmaster of Smithville, TN.

MORTALITY SCHEDULE FOR 1860, says, "Elijah Whaley 67, male, born in MD; Died in Dec., was a merchant, cause: casualty fall.

Elijah served in the War of 1812 in Capt. William Hodge's Co., 3rd Reg't, Tenn. Militia. He received two land grants for his service.

1. land warrant signed 28 Sept 1850 in DeKalb Co., Tenn.
2. warrant, signed 22 Mar 1855: mentioned as "past a resident of DeKalb Co., Tenn."

He possibly went to missouri with some of his sons, although Rebecca is in the 1860 census of DeKalb Co. Elijah was an early merchant in DeKalb Co. They were living in Smith Co in 1830 census, in DeKalb Co. (2nd district) 1840 census and in 9th District 1850 census.

• 1820 CENSUS, SMITH CO., TN. Elijah Whaley's household. 2 males under 10,1 male 26-45, 1 female under 10, 1 female 26-45.
• 1850 CENSUS, DEKALB CO., TN. Elijah Whaley's household. Elijah Whaley 58, male, merchant,$600, born in MD. Rebecca Whaley, age 50, born in VA the dau of John Dougherty. Lemuel B. Whaley, age 15, clerk, born in TN.

ELIJAH WHALEY AND REBECCA DOUGHERTY

Elijah Whaley was born on February 24, 1792 on the eastern shore of Maryland in Worcester County. His parents were:

• Thomas Whaley
• and Peggy Spear.

He was just entering his teen years, when his father sold all he had and struck out for the Tennessee land that was reported to be fertile farm land.

His family joined other distant relatives in the Smith Fork Creek area of Liberty and Smithville, Tennessee.

He married Rebecca Daugherty' (b. 08 Feb 1800 Augusta co., Virginia), his school days sweetheart, on June 20, 1816 in the area of Liberty, Tennessee. She was the daughter of:

• John Daugherty
• and Nancy Davidson .

Elijah and Rebecca had seven children.

Elijah served in the War of 1812 in Capt. William Hodge's Co., 3rd Reg't., Tenn. Militia. He received two land warrants for his military services. One of these land warrants was signed the 28 Sep 1850 in DeKalb Co., Tenn. In the other warrant, signed 22 Mar 1855, he was mentioned as "past a resident of DeKalb Co., Tenn."

In 1830 we find them living with six of their children (one will be born in 1835), living in Smithville, Tennessee. His was listed as a farmer, although just before his death, we find his occupation as a merchant. We also can see that he had a female slave and a female free colored person. How he came to have these persons is not known. His brother Thomas was living close by and he had slaves also.

They lived in:

• Smith Co., in the 1830 Census,
• DeKalb Co (2nd District) in the 1840 Census
• and the 9th District in the 1850 Census.

Tennessee Mortality Schedules, show that he died as the result of an accidental death.

Little more is known of him at this time. According to Bible Records Elijah died November 16, 1859 and was buried in the Whorten Springs Cemetery^[1]. Some of his descendants relocated to Lawrence Co.,Missouri, and live there to this day.

In 1860 we find Rebecca Daugherty Whaley living alone on the homestead with her son, John D. Whaley, living close by on his farm. Rebecca died July 30, 1868, and she also is buried in the Whorten Springs Cemetery.

The following excerpts are from a letter written by Faye J. Bowman, whose great grandparents were James Beckwith and Matilda Goggin Whaley, to the Lawrence County Historical Society dated 10 March 1977.

"Now for some history of the Whaleys as I have been able to establish it - The Whaley family originally came from Maryland (probably Worcester Co) and settled in the area that is now DeKalb County, Tenn. c 1805. The early settler was Thomas Whaley and records indicate that he had two sons,

• Thomas G.
• and Elijah.

It also seems that he probably had:

• a daughter Mary (Polly), b. c. 1798 MD,
• and a son, Seth b. c. 1804.

This Seth is probably the one from Mr. Vernon City Cemetery. He was living in DeKalb Co., Tenn in the 1850 Census."

"I am disappointed that Elijah Whaley did not leave a will that you can find in Lawrence County, but was glad to know that he did die there. I had not been sure of his place of death. His widow was living in DeKalb Co. in the 1860 census."

"Please indicate in the Whaley Bible records that the person I transcribed as being "Talitha" was actually named Tabitha. I have verified this from several sources."

"Until a few years ago there was an old musket, powder horn, and bullett mold in our family that the Whaleys supposedly tood on their first trip to Missouri. It had been made by a local gunsmith and the trip took 40 days. This sounds as if they probably were taking wagons--with family goods?"

Elijah Whaley served in the Tenn Militia during the War of 1812.He received bounty land in the area of DeKalb Co. Tenn. My parents still live on a portion of this land and I also own some of it. Although Elijah owned a considerable amount of property at one time in DeKalb County I do not know if he still did at the time of his death. I have not found a will of his in Tenn."

Elijah Whaley served in the 3rd Reg't (Copelands) West Tenn. Militia

I have picture of gravestones. Mary Murdock

Possible source for family:

Lindsley, Phillip, History of Greater Dallas and Vincinty (Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, 1909), page 320.

1910 Soundex Census, Dallas, Texas, e.d. 94, Vol. 37, Sheet 13.

BIBLE RECORDS

Recorded in the Isaac Whaley Family Bible

• Elijah Whaley died, Nov 16, 1859.
• Rebeca P. Whaley, departed this life July 30, 1868.
• L. B. Whaley was born Feb. 12, 1835, in Elijah Whaley Bible

(Lemuel Bratun Whaley)

:Whaley Bible and Family Record

• Elijah Whaley and Rebecca Daugherty was married June 20, 1816.
• Rebecca Whaley was born Feb 8, 1800

THE HOLY BIBLE

McCARTY & DAVIS

No. 171 Market Street

Philadelphia

I. Ashmead & Co. Printers

(NOTE:) There is two sets of pages in this Bible. One set is the original Elijah Whaley pages.

The other set is loose in the bible with a different border and different handwriting,

and are pages from Isaac Whaley Bible. (maybe taken from a dam aged Bible and passed down this way.)

BIRTHS

Elijah Whaley Was born Feby the 24 1792

Rebecca Whaley Was born Feby 8th 1800

Thomas R. Whaley Was born Sept 27th 1817

Isaac Whaley Was born Sept 14 1819

Wm H Whaley Was Born March 14th 1821

Seth M.Whaley Was born June 18th 1824

John D. Whaley Was Born June 4 1826

Matilda G Whaley Was born October 28 1832

L.B. Whaley Was Born Feby 12th 1836

Elijah Thomas Whaley was born Feb 3rd 1876

Lena Patton Whaley was born 2nd Jan 1893

DEATHS

Elijah Whaley Died November the 16th 1859

Rebeca P Whaley Died July the 30 Day of 1868

Thomas R. Whaley Died October 30th

William H. Whaley Died December 30th, 1872

Seth M. Whaley Died June 19th 1899

Isaac Whaley died Feb 18th 1901

Matilda G. Beckwith Died June 2nd 1907

J.D. Whaley Died May 26, 1911

L.B. Whaley Died June 15 1911

Lucetta A. Whaley Died January 26th, 1875

Mary A.C. Whaley died September 29th 1905

Mrs. Minnie Hass Whaley Died March 29 1933

Elijah Thomas Whaley Died Oct 29, 1957

MARRIAGES

Elijah Whaley and Rebecca Dougherty Was married June 20 1816

Thos. R. Whaley and Eliza Eavins Was married May 31 1838

Isaac Whaley and Nancy A. Moore Was married March the 9 1841

Seth M. Whaley and Nancy C. Kelly Was married Sept 6th 1842

John D. Whaley and Lucetta A. Bratten Was married Jany 20th 1847

Jas R. Beckwith and Matilda G. Whaley Was married March 28 1849

Wm. H Whaley & Sarah A. Moore Was married Dembr the 24 1840

L.B. Whaley and Mattie Hash Was married Dember the 5th 1860

E.T. Whaley and Minnie Hass Was married Sept 28th 99

E.T. Whaley & Lena Patton married June 3 1934

(NOTE: On a paper attached to the inside back cover is the following:)

Family Record

John Dougherty born Oct 12th 1768

Nancy Davidson Jan 10th 1772

Married July 28th 1790

Peggy R. Dougherty born June 18th 1791

Sallie Root Dougherty born March 24th 1793

Betsy D. Dougherty born April 6th 1795

Polly N. Dougherty born August 27 and died July 1797 aged two years

Rebecca R. Dougherty born Feb 8th 1800

John R. Dougherty born July 29th 1802

Nancy D. Dougherty born Feb 12th 1805

Harriet B Dougherty born August 22 1808

Charlotte R. Dougherty born Oct 3 1810

James H. Dougherty born April 26th 1813

Peggy died Nov 2 1828

Nancy died May 17 1830

Betsy died July 26th 1837

Harriet B. died Jan 17th 1841

Pages from Isaac Whaley Bible

BIRTHS

Isaac Whaley was born Sept the 14th 1819

Nancy A Whaley was Born february the 12th 1825,

Elijh. Madsen Whaley was Born July the 21 1842

Talitha Jane Whaley was Born Sept the 29 1844

Lemuel M. Whaley was Born October the 19 1846

Nancy D. Whaley the Daughter of John and Elizabeth Borum was Born April the 8 1817

Jacob E Moore was born August 4th 1831

John Willliam Whaley was Born July the 15 1850

Martha Evaline Whaley was Born August the 19 1852

Eliza Whaley was Born March 2nd 1859?? (very hard to read)

Nancy E. Whaley was Born the 3 June 1863 Formerly Hawker

Robert Stark Born 21 Jany 1882

Lofto. J. Stark was Born Mar the 25th 1886

James P. Stark was born Dec the 1 1853

Martha E. Stark was born Aug the 19 1852

John R. Stark was born Jan the 21 1882

James Lofton Stark was born Mar the 25 1886

Anie Lee Stark was born May the 27 1904

MARRIAGES

Isaac Whaley & Nancy A Moore Was Married March the 9th 1841

Isaac Whaley & Nancy D Borum was Married July the 24 1849 Daughter of John & Elizabeth Borum

Abram Witt and Talitha J Whaley was married April the 12 1866

Eligh. M. Whaley and Eliza Bethel was Married January the 2 1868

Eliza M Whaley was Married to R F Jones March 17 1877

M E Whaley was Married to J. P. Starks on Sept the 23 1879

Isaac Whaley & Nancy Elizabeth Hawker was Marred Janry the 11 1888

Abner S. Leach & Martha J. Sanford was Married on the 30th July 1854

Lemuel M. Whaley was Married to Magrett Evins

John Robert Stark was married to Carie Drifoos December the 23 1902

DEATHS

Nancy A. Whaley Departed this life Oct the 1st 1847 aged 22 years and 7 Months and 20 Days

John W. Whaley Departed this Life July the 28 1881 Age thirty one years & thirteen Days

Nancy D Whaley Departed this Life on the 9 Day of December 1881 at three o clock

in the Evening aged sixty four years eight Month and one Day

Mrs Eliza Jones wife of R F Jones Departed this life Feby 17 1899 aged 42

Tlitha Ja Witt departed this life May the 22 on 1899

Iisaac Whaley departed this life February the 18th 1901

Elijah Whaley Died Nov 16 1859

Rebeca P Whaley Departed this Life July 30 1868

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY, TX, 1892

Elijah Whaley was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Bratten) Whaley, natives of Maryland, who moved to Tennessee in 1800, locating in what was known as the "waters of the Cumberland river." near where the town of Liberty now stands. Elijah was brought up on the farm until of age, a few years after which he married and entered the mercantile business on his farm near Liberty, afterward he moved into town where he continued merchandising, in connection with farming. He was a merchant in both Liberty and Smithville most of the time until his death in 1859.

Merchant with farming interests. Anne Arundel Co., MD. Soldier in Warof 1812, a Whig and served as postmaster of Smithville, TN.

Elijah Whaley served in the 3rd Reg't (Copelands) West Tenn. Militia

Death

Date: 16 Nov 1859

Place: Smithville, De Kalb, Tennessee, USA

Place: Lawrence Co., MO

Cause: Fall

Burial

Date: NOV 1859

Place: Whorten Springs, Dekalb, TN

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #14855023 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14855023/elijah-whaley: accessed 19 September 2023), memorial page for Elijah Whaley (24 Feb 1792–16 Nov 1859), Find a Grave Memorial ID 14855023, citing Whorton Springs Cemetery, Smithville, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Mary (contributor ).

• 1860 Federal Census Mortality Schedule, DeKalb Co., TN
• Name: Mary A. Murdock, Address: 430 S. 3rd W. #23, Rexburg
• Will of Elijah Whaley, DeKalb Co., TN, Will Book #2, page 319. Micro Film Roll #39
• mostrecentforgramps.ged on 13 September 2010.
• William Moore 1751.ged on 28 January 2011.