Handley Genealogy (2007 update)

Back to:	Handley Genealogy Index Page	Greenbrier Co., WV links
Go on to:	Puzzles \| "Generation 3"	Some "Generation 4"

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Early American Handley family members

Spelling was not always an issue when writing one's name or having it written for you, so there are several ways to spell the surname "Hanley", "Handley", "Handly", and "Hanly". No matter how you spell it, many Americans with this surname in their family history are descended from the John (and Grizel) and William (and Margaret) Handley families, who came to North America around 1740 from Northern Ireland. If your line is not related here, please check the page with Handley's listed alphabetically by spouse, or the one listed by state. Other lines may be mentioned from the index page as time goes on.

This list began with names and dates from Randall J. Handly's book "Handley/Handly/Hanley Collection", but grew to contain information from many other resources especially from the e-mail discussion group members and guestbook postings. Any published Handley book will include many details not given here. The goal of this site is to make family researchers known and available to each other for help in solving some of our own missing links. The goal for this page is to identify and list 3 generations of descendants of John and Grizel and of William and Margaret. Corrections and additions are welcome, but your best bet is to post your information. Posted data can be read by others immediately, on the guestbook.

Thanks to all contributors to and volunteer editors of this site. Please send corrections to Nancy.
Judy (Newland) Oldiges noted that William Handley [d:1756 Monroe Co VA; father of John Handley who was the husband of Mary Harrison and a Major in the Va militia)], came from Ireland, Cumberland Parish, Lunenberg Co. He was a weaver by trade. She found this info in the Vestry Book 1751 while she was doing research in Greenbrier Co. WV.

"Generation 1"

John HANDLEY (b early 1700s)	William HANDLEY (b early 1700s)	Daughters?
Grizel (maiden name?)	Margaret (maiden name?)	possible, but unknown

In-Laws of John & Grizel's and William & Margaret's children:

ADAMS CAILE/ CALES/ KALES CAMPBELL
John & Hannah, Augusta Co VA COWAN ERSKINE HARRISON HENDERSON PAULEE

John and William were brothers born in Northern Ireland in the early 1700s. They immigrated to North America about 1740 with their wives, children, and perhaps their father. (Did they have other siblings?)
Per Jay Banks, Monroe County Historical Society, the brothers came to Newcastle, Delaware. Another source said New Castle, in Chester Co., PA. Both sites are within a few miles of each other. The two families checked out North Carolina for awhile, before John and Grizel's family mostly settled in Greenbrier, Augusta, and Botetourt counties of Virginia, with some of William and Margaret's descendants nearby and some settling in South Carolina.
There is some dispute as to whether certain people were children or nieces/nephews, and many unknown spouses and children yet to identify. Also, there was a Mark Handley in North Carolina. Was Margaret Handley's family name "Christie" and is there proof?

"Generation 2"

Later research shows that the following information is NOT NECESSARILY ACCURATE HERE. The Handley family on-line books disagree as to which children belong which set of parents.

John and Grizel HANDLEY branches:
(were there also daugthers?)

William (1749)	James (1750)	John (1752)
Keziah CAILE	Mary unknown	Sarah CAMPBELL

In-Laws' & parents' lines of John and Grizel's grandchildren:

BARBEE Ezekiel & Mary Bryan	CAMPBELL	CARAWAY	CARTER	CLEAVER	GEBBERT	HALL
HANNA	HANDLEY John & M.Harrison	HARDING	LIVESAY Thomas & Margaret WALTON	McCLINTIC	McCOLGIN	McELROY
McKAY	PRUDY	SHANKLIN	STONE	TELFORD	TILFORD	WELCH
WILSON

William and Margaret HANDLEY branches:

Archibald (1730)	William Jr. (173-)	James (173-)	Alexander (174-)	John (1746)	Nancy (174-)	Samuel Carroll (1748/51)	Margaret (1753)
married: Jean HENDERSON	unknown	unknown	unknown	Mary HARRISON	unknown	1) Mary ADAMS 2) Suzannah COWAN	1) John PAULEE 2) Michael ERSKINE

In-Laws' & parents' lines of William and Margaret's grandchildren:

AKINS	BURKE	CLARK	ELDER	FOSTER of Jackson Co., IN	GEORGE	HANDLEY Wm. & Keziah Caile	HARMAN
HENDERSON	KEYES of Keyes Ferry VA	KINCAID	LEACH	MILLER	SHANKS	WALKER	WYLIE

Eldest known child of John and Grizel HANDLEY, son William (1749-1836) married Keziah CAILE-or-CALES-or-KALES and lived on the Borden Tract on Cowpasture in 1765 (at age 16?), Lewisburg 1784-1790. Next child, James Handley (1750?-1817), with wife Mary, lived in Augusta, WV until 1787, then moved to Washington Co, KY. Third son John (1752-1834) and wife Sarah (CAMPBELL) HANDLEY may have had 4 more children, deceased before John's 1834 Will (Greenbrier Historical Society). They lived in Greenbrier Co, WV

John and Grizel HANDLEY's Children
Name Born Father Mother Spouse Died Lived Contact

William HANDLEY 1749 John HANDLEY Grizel (unk) HANDLEY Keziah CAILE/ CALES/KALES 1836 Lewisburg, WV Marcia Croye

James HANDLEY 1750? John HANDLEY Grizel (unk) HANDLEY Mary (?) 1817 Washington Co KY Brian Handley

John HANDLEY 1752 John HANDLEY Grizel (unk) HANDLEY Sarah CAMPBELL
1756-1824 1834 Falling Spgs, Greenbrier Co, WV Carol Berry

Should Margaret (Handley) PAULEE ERSKINE be here? See below.

**John and Grizel HANDLEY's Children**
Name	Born	Father	Mother	Spouse	Died	Lived	Contact
William HANDLEY	1749	John HANDLEY	Grizel (unk) HANDLEY	Keziah CAILE/ CALES/KALES	1836	Lewisburg, WV	Marcia Croye
James HANDLEY	1750?	John HANDLEY	Grizel (unk) HANDLEY	Mary (?)	1817	Washington Co KY	Brian Handley
John HANDLEY	1752	John HANDLEY	Grizel (unk) HANDLEY	Sarah CAMPBELL 1756-1824	1834	Falling Spgs, Greenbrier Co, WV	Carol Berry

William (1700?-1756) and Margaret (possibly CHRISTIE??) HANDLEY's Children
Name Born Father Mother Spouse Died Lived Contact

Archibald HANDLEY 1730 William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY Jean HENDERSON 1796 WV ..

William HANDLEY, Jr. 173- William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY unk unk unk ..

James HANDLEY 173- William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY unk unk unk ..

Alexander HANDLEY 174- William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY yes 1781 Augusta Co? ..
Here is information about an Alexander Hanley Handley, a captain in the Revolutionary War. Source:
"Historical Records of Old Crab Orchard, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky" compiled by Mrs. Carl W. (Lucy Kate) McGhee Privately Published by the author, Washington D.C., date of publication not given...
p. 88 Revolutionary War Pension Applications Section 46, W 27678, Virginia Drury Ham, Applicant Maria Perkins, former widow State of Kentucky, Lincoln County June 4, 1832
Age 73. States that he entered the service of the US about the first of March 1778, as a drafted militiaman in Captain Thomas Wright's Company in the county of Greenbriar, West Virginia, for 3 months....
...after he returned home he went to the county of Botetourt, Virginia. In 1780, he again entered the service as a volunteer under CAPTAIN ALEXANDER HANLEY in the company aforesaid, to serve a tour of six months. The company marched to the county of Montgomery, Virginia, on the Holston River, where there were attached to Major Campbell's Battalion, and from that place, they marched through North Carolina and South Carolina, where they were joined General (Daniel) Morgan's brigade and after joined that aforesaid brigade, they marched to the Cowpens. They then marched with the prisoners toward Salisbury, North Carolina, in which time they joined General Green's army. They started from Salisbury toward Virginia and some 6 or 7 miles from Salisbury, on the Adkin River, they were overtaken by Cornwallis's army, when a portion of the army was defeated. He then marched to Guilford, where he was discharged, his term of service having expired, but he does not recollect by whom, but he supposes that it was by his lieutenant, HIS CAPTAIN BEING KILLED in the engagement on the Adkin." Ann M (Could this refer to Alexander, above?)

John HANDLEY 1746 William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY Mary HARRISON
1745-1829 1811 Monroe Co WV David Handley,
Lowell,
Bev,
Gail
Web site: John D. ADAMS and John HANDLEY genealogies on-going research by [email protected]

Gail wrote Aug 7 1998: I received the nicest letter on my Hanley family from a man at the Cabell County, West Virginia Historical Society. They sent me relevant pages from a publication called "The Handley/Handly/Hanley Collections. He was a descendant of John and Mary (Harrison) Handley, and wrote a great letter about her. Anyway, it didn't illuminate how Mary was related to the President William Henry Harrison, nor of the Declaration of Independence signer, Benjamin Harrison, but said "according to family data, she was a relative of ..." the above. She was killed by a team of runaway oxen which she tried to stop and drive into the barnyard gate. She is buried in the Guyandotte Cemetery near Huntington, where she had gone to make her home with her son Isaac, after her husband's death. Had 12 children, and I do have a list of them. She was born 1745 and died 4 Dec 1829.

Nancy HANDLEY 174- William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY unk unk unk ..

Samuel Carroll HANDLEY 1751 PA
(1748 NC?) William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY 1) Mary ADAMS
2) Suzannah COWAN m 1782 1840 PA; Wash.Co.NC; Franklin Co.TN Joe,
Robbie
Margaret HANDLEY 1751 -53 William HANDLEY Margaret HANDLEY 1) John PAULEE
2) Michael ERSKINE 1842 Union, Monroe Co, WV Elizabeth Burns

But per Jay Banks (and others), Margaret was born in PA in 1751, to John Handley, Sr. She is best known for being captured in 1779 by Shawnee while on her way to KY with her first husband, John PAULEE. She later returned to live in Union, Monroe Co, WV. Read her story contributed by Elizabeth Burns at the West Virginia Indian Captive Page.

**William (1700?-1756) and Margaret (possibly CHRISTIE??) HANDLEY's Children**
Name	Born	Father	Mother	Spouse	Died	Lived	Contact
Archibald HANDLEY	1730	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	Jean HENDERSON	1796	WV	..
William HANDLEY, Jr.	173-	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	unk	unk	unk	..
James HANDLEY	173-	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	unk	unk	unk	..
Alexander HANDLEY	174-	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	yes	1781	Augusta Co?	..
Here is information about an Alexander Hanley Handley, a captain in the Revolutionary War. Source: "Historical Records of Old Crab Orchard, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky" compiled by Mrs. Carl W. (Lucy Kate) McGhee Privately Published by the author, Washington D.C., date of publication not given... p. 88 Revolutionary War Pension Applications Section 46, W 27678, Virginia Drury Ham, Applicant Maria Perkins, former widow State of Kentucky, Lincoln County June 4, 1832 Age 73. States that he entered the service of the US about the first of March 1778, as a drafted militiaman in Captain Thomas Wright's Company in the county of Greenbriar, West Virginia, for 3 months.... ...after he returned home he went to the county of Botetourt, Virginia. In 1780, he again entered the service as a volunteer under CAPTAIN ALEXANDER HANLEY in the company aforesaid, to serve a tour of six months. The company marched to the county of Montgomery, Virginia, on the Holston River, where there were attached to Major Campbell's Battalion, and from that place, they marched through North Carolina and South Carolina, where they were joined General (Daniel) Morgan's brigade and after joined that aforesaid brigade, they marched to the Cowpens. They then marched with the prisoners toward Salisbury, North Carolina, in which time they joined General Green's army. They started from Salisbury toward Virginia and some 6 or 7 miles from Salisbury, on the Adkin River, they were overtaken by Cornwallis's army, when a portion of the army was defeated. He then marched to Guilford, where he was discharged, his term of service having expired, but he does not recollect by whom, but he supposes that it was by his lieutenant, HIS CAPTAIN BEING KILLED in the engagement on the Adkin." Ann M (Could this refer to Alexander, above?)
John HANDLEY	1746	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	Mary HARRISON 1745-1829	1811	Monroe Co WV	David Handley, Lowell, Bev, Gail
Web site: John D. ADAMS and John HANDLEY genealogies on-going research by [email protected]
Gail wrote Aug 7 1998: I received the nicest letter on my Hanley family from a man at the Cabell County, West Virginia Historical Society. They sent me relevant pages from a publication called "The Handley/Handly/Hanley Collections. He was a descendant of John and Mary (Harrison) Handley, and wrote a great letter about her. Anyway, it didn't illuminate how Mary was related to the President William Henry Harrison, nor of the Declaration of Independence signer, Benjamin Harrison, but said "according to family data, she was a relative of ..." the above. She was killed by a team of runaway oxen which she tried to stop and drive into the barnyard gate. She is buried in the Guyandotte Cemetery near Huntington, where she had gone to make her home with her son Isaac, after her husband's death. Had 12 children, and I do have a list of them. She was born 1745 and died 4 Dec 1829.
Nancy HANDLEY	174-	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	unk	unk	unk	..
Samuel Carroll HANDLEY	1751 PA (1748 NC?)	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	1) Mary ADAMS 2) Suzannah COWAN m 1782	1840	PA; Wash.Co.NC; Franklin Co.TN	Joe, Robbie
Margaret HANDLEY	1751 -53	William HANDLEY	Margaret HANDLEY	1) John PAULEE 2) Michael ERSKINE	1842	Union, Monroe Co, WV	Elizabeth Burns

Go on to: "Generation 3"

Some Generation 4

Some puzzles

Sources:	Addresses:	Line:
Ann Johnson,	[email protected]	John & Elizabeth (HALL) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Beverly Jones,	[email protected]	John & Mary (HARRISON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Bob Miller,	[email protected]	Griselda (HANDLEY) & James FOSTER [William & Margaret's line]
Brian Handley,	[email protected]	James & Mary HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Carol Berry,	[email protected]	John & Sarah (CAMPBELL) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Charlene,	[email protected]	Alexander & Sarah (McELROY) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Cora,	[email protected]	Jane (HANDLEY) & Esom LEACH [William & Margaret's line]
David Handley,	Mesa, AZ	John & Mary (HARRISON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Dick Lowe,	[email protected]	Samuel & Sarah Walker (HARMAN) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Ellie Handley,	[email protected]	Samuel & Suzanna/Susan (COWAN) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Elizabeth Burns,	[email protected]	Margaret (HANDLEY) PAULEE ERSKINE [William & Margaret's line?]
Jacki Thomas,	[email protected]	Jane (HANDLEY) & Esom LEACH [William & Margaret's line]
Jo Marie McKinnis,	[email protected]	Robert H. & Mary (McCLINTIC) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Judith Board,	[email protected]	John & Elizabeth (HALL) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Judy [Newland] Oldiges,	[email protected]	Archibald & Jean (HENDERSON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Lowell McKinster,	[email protected]	John & Mary (HARRISON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Lynn,	[email protected]	Griselda (HANDLEY) & James FOSTER [William & Margaret's line]
Marsha Croye,	Tempe, AZ	William & Keziah (CAILE) HANDLEY [John & Grizel's line]
Melva Wheelwright,	Surnames, Raines line	Esom LEACH; Wm. ARNOTT; others? [William & Margaret's line]
Mickie Blankenship,	[email protected]	Grissel (HANDLEY) & John McCOLGIN [John & Grizel's line]
Nancy Sween,	[email protected]	Archibald & Jean (HENDERSON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Richard Hanley	[email protected]	William & Margaret (HENDERSON) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Robbie Farley	[email protected]	Samuel C. & Suzannah/Susan (COWAN) HANDLEY [William & Margaret's line]
Susan	[email protected]	Alford line
Search pages:	Surname Helper	Interactive Genealogy
Web pages:	Greenbrier Co, WV	Greenbrier County Historical Society

Leave a message or query on a Handley (or other) Family Forum at * Ancestry * GenForum * Rootsweb

Nancy Sween, [email protected].

To the: Handley Family Index Greenbriar Co WV links