aaa-0726.html
Willoughby, Griffith letter, June 9, 1862, Flemingsburg, Kentucky to Lyman Draper.
Draper Manuscripts [Calendars and documentary series] (Samford, N.C.: NYT
Microfilming Corp. of America, 1981; 9E14.
Flemingsburg June 9th 1862
Mr. Lyman C. Draper Sir
I received your letter of the 21st May be the due course of mail, and was very glad to hear from
you once more, and according to your request visited Mr. David Finley to get his answer to your
questions. I found him very willing to give all the information that he can concerning his father
and others, and requested me to make some kind of apology for his not answering your letter. I
know of nothing that I can do better then given his own reasons, at the time he received your
letter his wife was sick and on her death bed, and after her death, he could not find your letters,
therefore he could not answer them. Consequently he thinks that he has treated you badly. I will
now proceed to give your questions and Mr. Finley's answers. To your first question, Have you
any knowledge to traditions of the John Finley who was an early explorer before and with Daniel
Boone in Kentucky. Mr. Finley says that he never knew anything of him nor neither did his
father, only from history that he has read. Your 2nd question is when and where was your father,
Captain John Finley of Pennsylvania, born? What of his early life and what details can you give of
his Revolutionary services both before and during his being stationed at and near Fort Pitt. If on
any expeditions against the Indians. He was born in Pennsylvania near Shipensburg in the year
1748. In early life he traded in cattle on the lakes with the French for some time, he then left that
business, and came to Kentucky and brought a couple of Surveyors and several other men with
him to survey land in the year 1772, and explored the country from the mouth of Cabin Creek on
the Ohio River to the Upper Blue Licks now in Fleming County. He remained in Kentucky some
3 or 4 months and then returned to Pennsylvania, and went in to the cattle trade again with French
on the lakes, when the war broke out in 1776 he went into the service and remained in the service
until the close of the war I can give no account of any battles he was in except that he was under
Broadhead at the defeat at Paola. As to his service at or near Fort Pitt, I can give no account
other than that he was at one time stationed there, but when he went there, or how long he was
there I can not tell. Your 3rd question is Have you any knowledge of Capt. Saml Brady who was
an officer at Fort Pitt received from your father or others. I have heard my father speak of Capt.
Saml Brady, but I can give no account of him that would be anything like correct. Your 4th
question is was your father engaged in the frontier wars after the revolutionary war. After the
close of the Revolutionary war he was then put in the command of the fort at Wheeling, and
remained there for seven years to guard the Indians from the frontiers, but whether he had any
engagements with Indians or not I cannot tell. Your 5th where did your father settle in KY., did
he fill any Public Stations, when and where did he die his age size personal appearance and
leading traits of character. He settled in Ky in the year 1796 at the Upper Blue Lick, he
represented Fleming county in the lower Branch of the Legislature for several years, and died at
the Upper Blue Lick in Fleming County Ky in the year 1837 age 89 years, he was about five feet
ten inches high, and weighed when at himself 180 pounds, fair complected with blue eyes, his
leading traits of character led him into public live. Your 6th did he leave any old letters
commissions or other papers which have been preserved. After his death all of his old papers was
destroyed by the administrator for what purpose I can not say. Your 7th there was a Capt. Joseph
L. Finley in the same service with Capt. John Finley, Capt. Joseph L. Finley was second cousin to
my Father. After the war, he settled in Ohio near West Union and died there and I think that he
was 84 or 5 years of age. He left one son, who resides in Lewis County Ky, his name is John
Finley Post Office Tolesborough Lewis County Ky. Your 8th. Ascertain whether Mr. Finley has
any brothers or sisters living if so their names residence ages etc. I have no brothers living, I have
four sisters living at last accounts, their names are as follows, Martha Peebles, lives at Tancy farm
post office Hickman Co. Ky age 68 years; Elizabeth Farris lives in Richmond Virginia age 57
years; Jane McCabe lives near Shurburn Fleming Co. Ky age 52 years, and Sarah Dillon lives in
Indiana, I do not recollect her post office age 50 years. D. Finley is 66 years of age. This
embraces all your questions and all Mr. Finleys answers, but there is a great many other things
that he could tell about Gen. Kenton, and others of the old settlers of Ky. He says that if you will
write to John F. Fleming at Elizeville, Fleming co., Ky, you can get valuable information
concerning his father. I think Mr. Finley will take some pains to correspond with you hereafter, if
there is anything that you desire me to do you can just let me know what it is, and it will be
attended to by yours,
Willoughby Griffith.
I am for the Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws. W.G.
John J. Fleming wrote Dec 17, 1866 from Elizaville, Fleming co., Ky. Maj. John Finley was an
excellent gentleman of the old school. Capt. Brady was his Capt. for a time, & Finley was
frequently on scouting encursions, in several battles in the Revolution - was a great admirer of
Parson Weems, his works on Washington and Marion. He died 11 Apr 1838, buried near where
he died - the Upper Blue Licks . . .
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aaa-0726