aaa-0359.html
History of our Finleys in "Elkhorn Country," a name given to this area of the Bluegrass by the Indians, according to B.O. Gaines History of Scott Co., pub. 1904.
For clarification:
1776 Ky County established out of Fincastle Co., VA
1776 McClelland's Fort near the Royal Spring
1780 Ky Co. divided into Fayette, Lincoln, Jefferson
1784 McClelland's Fort renamed Lebanon Station
1785 Bourbon Co. was established out of Fayette Co. north to the Ohio River
1792 Ky became a state with Frankfort as capitol
1792 Scott Co. out of Fayette Co. with Georgetown as county seat
1793 Harrison Co. from Bourbon Co.
The Elkhorn Creek runs through Fayette Co. and Scott Co. on west to the Ky River.
The Licking River runs through Bourbon Co., Harrison Co. on to the Ohio River.
Daniel Boone and William Bryan had a preemption of 1000 a. between Miller's Run and Cherry Run by 1776 (both empty in Elkhorn). First settlement at Boonesboro 1775. Hagan's preemption was "near Boone's" in 1776, certified in 1780.
Old KY Entries & Deeds an index by W.R. Jillson
Finley, John 1,000 a. 14 Nov. 1783 on Licking River
Master Index VA Surveys & Grants 1774-1791 Brookes-Smith 1976
Finley, John 1,000 a. Bourbon 3-15-1790
KY Census index
1790 John Finley, Fayette Co., 2-27-1790
1800 John Finley, Gerrard Co. [probably David's son]
1810 Samuel Finley, Scott Co.
Samuel Finley, Gerrard [probably David's son]
Samuel Finley, Lincoln Co. [David's brother?]
Samuel Finley, Christian Co. [married Betsey Corday]
1820 John Finley, Scott Co.
John T. Finley in Kentucky [in Scott County, I presume; this is the son of John of Augusta who left 1807 will]
Deeds 1808-1813 - John and Elizabeth Finley to Samuel Gregg, land obtained from his father in his will. The land on No. Elkhorn bordered by Hogan's preemption, Bradford line;
DB A:330.
Deeds 1821-1823 - 1822, John and Elizabeth Finley to Lewis Thomson, 20 a. bordering Bradford, Samuel Finley;
DB E:167.
11 September 1837 - Elizabeth Finley, widow of John Finley, dec'd, deeds to James H. Finley and B.F. Finley, 3 slaves with children, $500 for each year, 1838-1840.
DB O:116.
12 September 1837 - Sale of John's estate.
WB F:42-46.
16 October 1840 - I, Elizabeth Finley, wife of John Finley, dec'd, relinquish all my interest in my dower of the estate of John Finley to his heirs, James H. Finley & B.F. Finley.
B.F. Finley, b. 8 February 1816, d. 25 June 1862 m. Susan Graves, b. 16 November 180?, d. 15 February 1888; marriage date was 10 September 1845.
According to B.O. Gaines History of Scott Co., published 1904, Joseph [son of B.F.] Finley's father hailed from "Old Virginny." It is possible that he was born before John came here permanently.
5 February 1848 - A deed to B.F. Finley from Garland Webb, exec Willis Webb, 209 a. on waters of No. Elkhorn bordered by Cynthiana Rd., Garland Webb, Henry Prewitt and Paris Rd. This is the HOME PLACE.
DB V:292.
18 September 1854 - B.F. Finley to L.L. Herndon, 76 a. on Miller's Run, $40 per a.
18 October 1856 - B.F. Finley and Susan from William C. Graves (Susan's father), 286 a. formerly John Higgins land.
8 November 1860 - B.F. Finley & Susan bought a slave for $1100.
25 June 1862 - B.F. was killed on the farm - only 46 yrs. old. Susan raised the six children and died in 1888.
By 1810, Samuel Finley was established in Scott Co. 1807 The first courthouse burned by 1816 so some of the records that were saved were charred. The earliest legible date is 1807. It was a deed to Samuel Finley from Cornelius Duvall;
DB B:67.
no date - A deed to Samuel & Martha Finley as adm. from S. DeHaven to Ash Emison.
May 1813, in an order book, A deed from Samuel & wife to William Finley of Augusta Co, VA.
OB B:290.
1817 - A deed to Samuel & Patsy Finley from Benjamin Bradford (James Hogan's
preemption) on N. Elkhorn bordered by Gregg, Finley, & Spoon;
DB B:438.
There are many more deeds in Samuel's name and they are all in the eastern section of Scott County.
In the Georgetown Patriot, April-December 1816 there was an advertisement for bricklayers for the new courthouse. It was signed by Samuel Finley, J.P.
Samuel Finley died 21 December 1833 in 64th year. That means he was born in 1759 - 56 years old when S. Thomson born and 60 when Martha Jane was born. I guess it's possible for him to be John's (d. 1807) son, but I think it's more likely to be John's 1/2 bro. But, what was he doing here instead of John's (d. 1807) son, Samuel? I am totally confused. I shall continue with the information I have on the Finleys here in Scott Co. Maybe it will help someone else.
Samuel Thomson Finley, son of Samuel and Martha Finley, born in Bourbon Co., Ky, 2 August 1815, d. 24 January 1879, m. Ellen Bryan on 25 March 1841, then moved to MO, 1842-43 [from "Marion County Democrat," Palmyra, MO, 27 February 1879, obituary of S. Thomson Finley].
History of John S. Finley written by Stella Finley
John S. Finley is first mentioned in Scott County in 1834. It was a deed for 92 acres bordering Torrance, Hogan's settlement, etc. His address was Harrison Co. (Cynthiana, county seat). His wife was Adeliza. He purchased a lot of land. In 1842, 1843 he gave his address as Covington, Ky.
He died by 15 April 1855 in Scott Co. leaving a sizable estate to his 2 daughters Mary Eliza (Mollie) m. --- Nott and Martha Wardlow (Mattie) m. --- Amends. B.F. Finley administrator.
His will read that until age 21 or until marriage he wanted his girls in a private school. No one by the name of Broadwell was to have anything to do with his daughters.
Interesting footnote: Some of my "cold" notes of 15 years ago - In 1796, James Finley was given a certificate for 6 slaves (Charles, Emily, Henry, George, Lenos, Anna). There were many deeds in Cynthiana (Harrison Co.) 1806 - 1821. His wife was Rebeccah. She took over after James death in 1825. Her name stopped in 1834.
Another footnote: Samuel Broadwell was mentioned in Trustees of Methodist Episcopal at Mt. Garrison, Harrison County.
I wonder if John S. was James & Rebeccah's son. To have 6 slaves, James evidently was rather wealthy. If John S. inherited in 1834 from his mother that would explain his wherewithal to purchase so much land - and also a plausible reason for castigating Broadwell if he were a relative on his mother's side.
Could this James be John's (d. 1807) brother" "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we start" to believe. Especially, without proof.
There is a James W. Finley who sold to John S. Finley 1854-55 after moving to Hempstead, Ark. about the same time that S. Thomson sold out to John S. Finley, 1851-52.
James H. Finley was a brother to Frank Finley - no more information on him.
In 1842 Joseph Walker Finley - a deed to William Rozell. He wrote a will 16 October 1843 leaving everything to B. Frank Finley (real & personal); will probated May 1844. One of Frank's grandchildren named Joe Walker.
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