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From William King's will written 3 March 1806 there seem to be a number of Finley
connections, but they are not completely defined (Washington County WB 3:80). He
refers to a niece Rachel Findlay who married William Triggs and to nieces
Elizabeth Findlay and Elizabeth Mitchell. On 27 September 1822, Alexander,
Rachel Branch, Elizabeth Trigg, Nancy Goode and Sally Hickman are described as
heirs and children of Connally Findley, deceased (DB 8:4). King's will provides
for Connally Findlay, $10,000 payable in 5 years and leaves wife, Mary, part of
his Fruithill plantation, now rented to C. Findlay & Company. So it would appear
that the nieces could be daughters of Connally Findlay, but only if Rachel who
married William Triggs, married a second time Peter J. Branch, named as her
husband in 1822. Nevertheless, it would seem that William King had a sister who
married a Findlay (Connally or otherwise). In Blount County, TN, 5 April 1819, a
document was found showing William King heirs include Nancy Trigg who married
Connelly Findley, and Elizabeth Findley who married Joseph Trigg (Blount County
DB 2:11, 18).
King also named in his will, a brother James, and sisters Nancy and Elizabeth who
married John Mitchell, plus a half brother, Samuel and a half sister, Hannah.
His father was Thomas King (mentions Fincastle house of his father) and his
grandmother was named Elizabeth (nieces Elizabeth Findlay and Elizabeth Mitchell
both received $10,000 because they were named for his grandmother who reared
him).
He allowed for his wife Mary, William Trigg and James King to carry on his
business as copartners both with his saltworks and merchandising. John Mitchell
was allowed $1,000 per month salary. Executors named were William Trigg of
Abingdon and James King of Nashfield. Witnesses were Wm. D. Nielson and Jno.
Doherty. The will was recorded 20 December 1808. Clearly, William King was a
wealthy man. In addition to the above stipulations, the executors bond was set
at $1,500,000.
The deed of 1822 which names the heirs of Connally Findley, also allowed for 1/6
share ($100) be paid to Thomas Findlay, but relationship is not stated.
Deeds involving Connally Findley are found in Washington County from 1806 to 1818
(DB 3:473, 3:543, 3:574, 3:587, 3:637, 4:94, 4:131, 4:135, 5:58, 5:447, 6:177,
6:392). On 20 October 1818, Lewis Stone and Nancy his wife, heirs of Connally
Findlay, deceased, received 1 1/2 acres on the south side of the Main Road
adjoining land of heirs of William King, deceased (DB 6:533). So clearly,
William King and Connally Findlay held adjacent land.
Connally's wife was named Nancy in the above referenced deeds. On one occasion,
Connally made a joint purchase of 20 acres on the North fork of the Holston with
William King (DB 3:574). In an Article of Agreement between John and Wm. Allen
and Connally Findley, Connally procured for the Allens, a release from contract
... made by them to Thomas King now deceased of a house and lot in the Town of
Fincastle (DB 4:94). Connally also had joint ventures with John Mitchell,
presumably the brother-in-law of William King, in buying 6 acres on a branch of
Wolf Creek (DB 4:131).
William King apparently lived near his father for a while in Botetourt County.
He is found there as early as 11 December 1770 in court records (Summers, pt. 1,
p. 104). He was appointed Constable on 13 March 1771 (Summers, pt. 1, p.106).
Thomas King first appears in court records 11 April 1787, when he was granted
leave to retail goods as a merchant (Summers, pt. 1, p. 420). Thomas King was
admitted to rights of citizenship on 9 May 1787 (Summers, pt. 1, p. 421). Hence
we assume he is an immigrant. William King married the daughter of John Sharp,
Sr. of Sullivan County, NC (Summers, pt. 2, p. 1295).
Questions
1. Is Connally Findley a brother-in-law to William King? One source says
Connally married Nancy Trigg. William King names a sister, Nancy. Is this the
same Nancy, who married (1) Trigg?
2. Who is the Thomas who received 1/6 share of estate of Connally Findley?
Could he be the youngest son of Connally? Washington County Cemetery Records
list a Thomas Findlay, b. Ireland, d. 15 May 1872, age 77y (in Trigg square). He
would have been 11 years old when the first record appeared for Connally Findlay
in Washington County. Thomas' wife was Theodosia Findlay, d. July 1862, age 70y.
Is she the Theodosia White who married a Thomas Finley? One of their children
was named Thomas King Findlay, d. 17 October 1886.
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