Background Info: This letter was written to Mont and Amanda Conley from their 5th child, Paul Conley who is my Dad.  Paul lived in Bonaire, Georgia and Mont and Amanda lived in Lackey, Kentucky at the time.  I changed the names to protect those still living.  Otherwise, names stayed real.

Amanda Conley was sick at the time and did pass away later in 1981.  We had already lost Monte in 1979.  Dad had 2 kids in college/tech school in 1981 with 2 more to college educate in the near future.  Dad kept the South Georgia land even through the financially tight times.  Dad worked overtime at Robins AFB and Mom going back to work helped us.  Again, this letter is from my Dad to his parents.

Dear Dad and Mom,

I have been intending to write for sometime, but have been pretty busy.  I have so much to do, if I don’t stop and take time, I never will write.  This morning it is pretty cold outside and I just got through building the fire.  We sure do use a lot of firewood.  Sure wish I had some coal.  Mick is pretty good keeping the firewood cut.

Well, we had a pretty good Christmas.  I hope you all enjoyed Christmas and had a Happy New Year.

Dad, I guess we are going to have to sell the land in South Georgia.  Sarah is going to have to go back to work full time to make ends meet.

Bess was home this weekend from school.  She will get through this year.  I sure wish we could help her more.

Mick starts to school the 19th of January.  We finally got his car running pretty good.

Jane and Carol are doing good in their school.  Carol is playing on the basketball team.  Sarah worked last night, so she just went to bed.

It is about farming time down here.  Going to start turning ground next week.  We are going to try and plant potatoes on the 14th of February.  I have about 20 acres to plant this year.  The corn didn’t do too good this past year and hope it does better this year.  Mr. Clark is letting me have the field next to the road as you come off of 96 to the house, and Mr. Wood is letting me have some for farming.

I hope your legs are getting better. Mine bothers me sometimes.  Mother, if you would eat a little more, I think you would get along better.

Babs, do you intend to move back to Florida?  If so, when?  Well, guess what?  Jo is pregnant.  I hope she has a boy this time.  Lizzie is growing and just as pretty as always!  Jo and Jabo are getting along fine.

You all take care now and enjoy yourself!

We love ya,

Paul, Sarah & Kids

As a boy growing up, he worked hard helping on the farm.  He also played hard.  Monte built tree forts, rode motorcycles, loved to horseback ride, played football, walked on walking stilts (http://www.ehow.com/how_4376_walk-stilts.html) and many other stunts.  The tree fort required special permission to enter and  seemed to be 8 feet off the ground.  Like yesterday, I can recall Monte strategizing on where I needed to run to catch the football. He would use a stick to draw game plans in the dirt road.

Monte was thrown off a pony Dad bought for us from Kentucky.  Dad was even bucked off.  We did finally successfully ride that pony who we named Star!  Star did bite one of my friends and I’m not sure what happened to Star thereafter- just know we no longer had her.

Monte pretended to forget how to drive his motorcycle and I would have to take control.  Scared to death, we made it through the narrow, hilly wood paths somehow with no bruises or scratches. Monte built a homemade see-saw for us.  He also tied a rope to a small, already bending pine tree.  He pulled it down and we all jumped on like a ride at Six Flags.  I am amazed we survived to tell about it!

We played hide- and-seek near dusk.  My other brother spotted a black bear while my sister and I were “it”.  I was thirsty and went to the house for a kool-aid break leaving the one sister as being ‘it’.  Next, there was my brother running in the house screaming, BEAR!  Mother gathered all of us kids together, left us girls in the house and went to investigate.  The black bear did leave, leaving bear tracks and did leave a lifelong memory.

Another memory was the time we embarrassed our Mother.  Dad was adding a garage to our existing house and had a huge mound of dirt from footers being formed.  Monte connected several water hoses together and made a water/mud slide.  We were all having a rip-roaring time until Mother’s church company arrived unexpectedly in the driveway.  We ran and hid in the stinky pig pen until we thought they were gone.  We were covered head to toe in mud to include Georgia red clay!  Needless to say, the church company was still there and we were caught upon entering the house.  We never did another adventure like that again!

The snow- I think of 1973 built more Monte memories.  Yes, even Georgia received over a foot of snow that year.  Monte and my other brother helped Dad build a snowman, a snowwoman and an igloo-like fort.  Monte also hitched the snow sleigh to our horse and rode to the store to pick up milk and bread.  Georgia, a typical non-snow state closes most schools, workplaces, etc to protect the citizens.  We always enjoyed snow days and I’m sure current Georgia kids still do!

Monte graduated from Abraham Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia and really loved horticulture.  He had plans of becoming a farmer in South Georgia.  He was attending Valdosta State University and working an internship at Fuller Farms in Lanier County when his fatal car accident occured in Lowndes County, Georgia.  He drove a Chevrolet Vega that had an eight ball for a gear shift knob with an 8 track tape player.  Monte listened to southern rock which to this day, I still listen to Eagles and think of him.

The above synopsis is a glimpse of who my brother was.  On his tombstone, my Mother had drawn etchings of corn and pigs.  He had a love of the outdoors and of farming.  Although he’s gone, he is permanently etched on my mind and forever in my heart.

In my family, I have one uncle who served in both Korean and Vietnam War and two Uncles who served in World War 2. For them today, I have the privilege to say the pledge of allegiance in their honor.

• Uncle James (Jim) Conley served in the US Army in Korea and Vietnam (my Dad’s brother).  He was a MSgt sent world-wide.  He received a medal of honor for his service in Africa.   He went to Peru during a flood and Somalia to address a medical epidemic.  Uncle Jim and my Aunt Ermal had the privilege to visit the Holy Land and walk where Jesus walked.  While assigned to Vietnam, Uncle Jim’s medical helicopter was shot down. Survivors were in water up to their shoulders.  He grabbed the radio and put on another soldier’s head to keep out of water while fixing it. The radio signal was received by the rescue party and they were discovered. Uncle Jim was exposed to Agent Orange during the spray of foilage during the rescue and he was thankfully rescued.  However, he unfortunately developed symptoms that led to his death due to Agent Orange passing away in Walter Reed hospital.  Vietnam soldiers were not treated with kindness for the most part due to antiwar sentiment.
• Uncle Theodore (Ted) McDonald aka T.R. McDonald served as a Naval Seabee in World War II  (my Dad’s brother-in-law).  Ted was married to Dad’s sister, Ermal Conley McDonald who went to heaven in 2005.  Uncle Ted received a purple heart for his combat duty in the South Pacific.  He did not talk much about World War II and now I wish I had his story to tell.
• Great Uncle Frank Griffis served in World War II (my Mom’s Uncle).  Mom told me Uncle Frank was blown off of 2 ships at Pearl Harbor; thankfully, rescued both times.  He rarely talked about war time.
• My Dad served and retired USAF being stationed in many locations to include England and mainly state-side in Maine, Florida and Georgia.  However, my Dad never saw front-line action.  He was a crew chief for B-52s for many years indirectly supporting Korean and Vietnam Wars.
• Others who served our country within the United States were Uncle John Conley (Dad’s brother) in US Army and my Aunt Barbara in USAF.  A neat tidbit about Aunt Barbara is… her picture was used in Chicago on billboards to recruit women into the USAF.
• We have many additional relatives who served.  I do want to take time to thank my cousin, Randy.  He’s retired Army.  We are descendants of people who protected our freedom throughout to include Revolutionary War.  We have relatives who fought on both sides of the civil war and in the Indian Wars.  And yes, we even have relatives who are Cherokee Indian who are definitely interesting to study.  They had their own language and structure within their villages.  The name that I know is Cherokee is Lawhorn.
• THANK YOU!!  I salute you!
• Now the photo gallery.  You will find pictures of all except Uncle Frank.
• 

In Honor of Our Veterans Written By: Sarah Conley Nov, 1986

For our country, they gave their all,

Uplifted God and fellow man,

as they answered the call,

Many have suffered and bled and died,

Widows were left and children have cried.

Now we honor these on Armistice Day,

Let’s be thankful for them in an exalted way.

Many serve today to keep our land free,

A country that’s safe for you and me.

It is they who keep the flag waving high,

Subs in the sea and planes in the sky!

You’re cherished today and all through the years.

In a land of freedom where soldiers hear cheers.

SURNAMES: CONLEY, CONNELLY, GIBSON, TRIPLETT, SLONE, LAWHORN, WALLEN, HOLBROOKS, JACOBS, PHILLIPS, THORNSBERRY, NEELY, TERRY, JENKINS, REYNOLDS, MACGREGOR, FERGUSON, STARNES, ADAMS, SIZEMORE, PERKINS, VAN HARLINGDEN, MacALPIN, HODGES, THORNBURGH**, MENDENHALL, MEEKS, HARGIS, JACKSON, HOLLAND, EDGEFIELD, STANWAY and this list keeps growing!!

**THORNBURGH=THORNSBERRY- name changed due to relative marrying someone who was not a Quaker.

1st Generation starting with Paul G. Conley (B. 1932) m. Sarah Elizabeth Ganas Conley (B. 1934) both buried in Burnt Church Cemetery near Lakeland, GA. Paul was USAF retired and USAF retired civilian.  Sarah was a nurse and church secretary.

2nd Generation- Paul’s Parents: Amanda Gibson Conley (B. 1906) and Monte Conley (B. 1903) both buried in RL Conley Cemetery in Knott Co, KY

3rd Generation-

Amanda’s Parents: Miles M Gibson (B. 1867) and Margaret Slone Gibson (B. 1868) both buried in Gibson Cemetery near Knott Co, KY off of Thornsberry Rd.

Monte Conley’s Parents: Robert Lee Conley (B. 1868) and Fannie Mae Triplett (B. 1873) both buried in RL Conley Cemetery in Knott Co, KY

4th Generation-

RL Conley’s Parents: John Conley (B. 1825) and Lee Esther Lawhorn (B. 1826) buried Salt Lick, KY

Fannie Triplett Conley Parents: Lindsey Triplett (B. 1846) and Margaret Wallen (B. 1855)

Miles M Gibson Parents: Hiram P Gibson (ABT 1841)  and Margaret Holbrooks (B. 1845)

Margaret Slone Gibson Parents: Pleasant Slone (B. 1832) and Manerva Jacobs

John Conley was born 7 Feb 1825 (Census), died 13 July 1903.  He was married to Lee Esther Lawhorn about 1846 according to the census.  She was born 15 Dec 1826 and died 13 Mar 1916.  They are buried on Snaggy Fork of Salt Lick, Knott County formerly Handshoe Hueysville, Ky.

They settled on Middle Fork of Quicksand.  It was Breathitt Co then.  When Knott Co. was formed in 1884 this part became Knott Co.  They moved to Salt Lick.  Snaggy Fork (it seems) in their latter days where they died and were buried.

John was nicknamed “Huckle Berry John” (I do not know why).  He was an “Herb Doctor” and traveled around the country to see his patients, on a white horse.  While on a call, the horse threw him, or he fell off.  He received an injury to his hip that eventually led to his death at the age near 78 1/2 years.

Lee Esther was part Cherokee Indian-(This I was told).  My father, Bob, told us that she came from North Carolina.  Her mother died when she was a very small girl, and her father brought her to KY.  Dad said her mother left an estate, from her mother in N Carolina, and she never returned to claim it.

Lee Esther’s father married again.  It was not said where the marriage took place.  Anyway, she had a half sister who married a Frasier or Frazier.  The half sister had a son named Jim Frasier.  He brought his mother to visit in our home.  She stayed a week or longer.  She was blind, played a Dulcimor and was a good singer.  I think Jim lived at Estill, Ky (Floyd Co).  It was said he followed the coal mines.  This was around 1924, 25,26 or 27.  His mother lived with him.

I see from IV-E page 413 you have Elijah Lawhorn aged 27 and a John Lawhorn age 2.  This may be a half brother and a nephew. (I don’t know).  I never heard of these two before.

IV-E Page 413- Child, John, Jr.  Yes, this is true.  My father, “Bob”, told this many times: “John, Jr was crawling on the floor one morning and found a grain of parched corn in a crack in the floor near the fire place.  He got choked on it.  They tried everything-took him many places.  It was all in vain.  He died. He is buried near where they lived on Quicksand.”

IV E-13-page 427 Wesley Conley (died infant)… I don’t know about him.

Here are two short stories our father told many times.  I am sure there were others.  These two stand out in my memory.  I will name them:

“Living In the Wilderness”

They lived in a log house with punchion floors and in the time of wild animals roaming the forest.  At times bears and other wild animals ventured around their cabin at night.  When the children were small and grandfather (John) was away, one night, a bear tried to get down the chimney.  Chimneys were built low in those days.  That particular night, the dog fought most of the night to keep the bear out.  Every time the baby made a sound the bear tried to overpower the dog.  The biggest problem was to keep the baby quiet.  To do this, she had to keep the baby to her breast.  The bear did not get in, and the didn’t get any sleep.

“To The Store”

One day grandmother (Lee Esther) went to the store.  It was a good distance to walk.  On her return home, a bear chased her.  She said in this case if you threw down something a bear would stop and tear it up.  She threw down a spool of thread, and, a little distance on, she threw down something else.  This gave her a headway on it.  Soon, she came upon some men splitting rails to make a fence.  She told them a bear was chasing her.  She kept on running.  The men hid behind some trees.  When the bear came running by, they shot and killed it.  This, probably, saved her life.

BY: Norcia Conley daughter of Bob Conley son of John and Lee Esther (Lawhorn) Conley

Mr. Robert Conley, aged 75, of Jones Fork, died at the Pikeville hospital Sunday after undergoing an operation on Saturday.  Mr. Conley had been in ill health for the past year, and was removed from his home several days ago to the hospital, where he gradually declined until death.

He had lived in Knott County all his life and had many friends and was known as a good citizen.  He was also one of the largest land owners and tax payers in the county.  Funeral and burial services were held at the Conley Cemetery Tuesday.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Slone, Hindman, Mrs. Hattie Cox and Mrs. Norcia Triplett of Lackey, fours sons, Milt, Mont, Green and Ervin Conley, all of Jones Fork.

Headline:”KNOTT COUNTY FARMER DIES SUNDAY”-Floyd County Times

Long Illness, Operation Fatal to ‘Bob’ Conley at 75 Years

Robert Lee (Bob) Conley, prominent Knott County farmer, died Sunday at the Methodist hospital, Pikeville, following a three-year illness and after he had submitted to an operation for removal of a tumor.  Mr. Conley was 75 years old.

A son of the late John and Lee Esther Conley, he was born and reared in Knott County.  He resided on Jones Fork, near Lackey, and was one of this community’s best citizens

Surviving are four sons and three daughters: Milton H Conley, Lackey; Green Conley, Mousie; Mont Conley, Lackey; Irvin Conley, Newport News, Va; Mrs. D. G. Slone, Hampton, Va; Mrs. G. W. Cox and Mrs.  J.E. Triplett, both of Lackey.  He also leaves two brothers and one sister, J M Conley of Handshoe; Reuben Conley, Estill; Mrs. Josephine Carpenter, Leander, Ky.

Funeral rites were conducted Tuesday morning from the Conley residence, the Revs. Alex Coburn, LD Mosely, Banner Manns and Earl Howard officiating. Burial was made in the family cemetary under direction of the Ryan Funeral Home.

** Note by Norcia Conley -Irvin should be Erwin

“In Memory of My Mother”- copyright March, 1998

My mother, Fannie Triplett, was the daughter of Lindsey Triplett and Margaret Wallen Triplett.  She was born in 1873, on Jones Fork Creek in Knott County, Kentucky.  She married Robert Lee “Bob” Conley, the son of John Conley and Lee Esther Lawhorn Conley.

My mother attended school even though at that time girls did not go to school as much as the boys.  They were taught to be homemakers – learning how to cook, sew, knit, weave, can and perserve food, wash clothers and clean.  In other words, they learned how to run the household and care for the family.  I never heard her say what age she was when she went to school, but it was in latter 1800′s.  At that time schoolhouses were built from hewn logs.  The floors were sometimes just dirt, but some had puncheon floors made from split shaved down to make smooth floors.  The seats were benches with no back support.  Mother said it was tiresome to sit like that.  The desks were made in the same way.  The children used slate pencils and slates to do their school work while studying their lessons.

The school that my mother attended was located near the curve above our old homeplace.  It was said to have been on the property line between my day and John Bud Wicker.  It was near the creek on the opposite side of old highway 80 and Jones Fork Creek.  On the hill above the school was an old Indian burying ground.  This Indian graveyard is supposedly still there on the hill above the John Bud Wicker Cemetery.

My mother said the school children were interested in Indian relics and were always looking for them.  One day during the noon hour a bunch of children, including my mother, was on the hill roaming around when they decided to dig down to the cinders.  Everyone said that the Indians always sprinkled cinders on or near the body when they buried it.  Mother said when they got down deep enought they found the cinders and that frightened them so much the jumped up and ran for their lives, leaving the grave open!

Back at school the children feeling safe again began whispering and tittering about their experience.  Finally the teacher got the story, but being of a humorous nature, he said that it was a good lesson.  Being scared out of their wits, maybe they would never try that again!

They were not punished because all rules were posted and children were punished when they broke a rule.  There was no rule about Indian graves — that time the children got by without punishment.  The teacher sent some boys to fill the grave back up again and I suppose he added one more rule to the list.

Paul Conley- 1st Generation m. Sarah E Conley – 6 children

Mont Conley- 2nd Generation m. Amanda Gibson Conley- 7 children

Robert Lee Conley- 3rd Generation m. Fannie Mae Triplett- I counted 11 children, but probably  more

John Conley-4th Generation- m. Lee Ester Lawhorn (NC Cherokee Indian)- 13 children

David Connelly-5th Generation m. Margaret Phillips

Henry Connelly-6th Generation m. Ann MacGregor

Thomas Connelly-7th Generation m. Mary Van Harlingden

Edmond Connelly-8th Generation m. Mary Edgefield

That is just one Conley/Connelly line.  The Triplett line is even further back to 9 Generations using Dad, Paul Conley as point of reference.  So if you are my son and reading this, that would be 11 generations back for you.  If you know where you came from, you know where you are going.

I plan to download Brother’s Keeper today http://www.bkwin.net/ and see where it takes me.

COPYRIGHT: 2008

A close look at the “concrete proof” submitted by Joseph Eugene Conley to support his conclusion that David H. Conley (instead of David Conley, husband of Margaret “Peggy” Phillips), was the son of Captain Henry Connelly.

Published By: Gary I. Conley

February 20, 2008

I. Introduction.

In browsing through a website regarding the descendants of Capt. Henry Connelly/Conley (“Capt. Henry”), I came upon a link to an essay titled “The Unknown Children of Captain Henry Connelly.” This essay (the “Paper”) was written by Joseph Eugene Conley (the “Author“) in 2001. A copy of the Paper as obtained from the website is attached as Exhibit A for reference. As an alleged descendant of David Conley (DC II), husband of Margaret “Peggy” Phillips, I was especially interested in the assumptions made and evidence relied on by the Author to reach his conclusion that DC II was not the son of Capt. Henry. In his Paper, the Author asserts he has “eliminated” the DC II descendants from the family of Capt. Henry, and heralds the family of a David Conley, husband of Mary Fugate Davis, originally from Russell County, Virginia as the true descendants of Capt. Henry.¹ Having orphaned the DC II descendants, the Author suggests for them another worthy ancestor in David Conley, a Revolutionary War Veteran born in 1741 (DC I). This could be, but as it contradicts what I have heard was passed down through the DC II family, I undertook a careful reading of the Paper. After having reviewed the evidence and interpretations set forth in the Paper, I seriously question the premises on which the Author bases his conclusion, and have set forth my impressions for the benefit and scrutiny of anyone who takes interest. Unlike the Author, I have not endeavored to prove the identity of David, the son of Capt. Henry. My point is simply that regardless of the true identity of Captain Henry’s son David, the Paper falls far short of proof that DC II was not Capt. Henry’s son or that the Russell County David Conley (apparently David H. Conley) was Capt. Henry’s son.

Faced with the complexity of the subject, rather than analyze the Paper carefully, it would be tempting to accept the Author’s conclusions and accord the Paper a presumption of validity. Such would be the easier path – a path which (based on various websites concerning the Conley family) has already been eagerly followed by others. However, while the Paper sounds logical on a superficial reading, a closer analysis reveals many fallacies in the assumptions and purported evidence.

In an effort to simplify the points and reasoning of the Author for analysis, I have paraphrased them based on my personal interpretation of the Author’s words. Should there be any misinterpretations, they are unintentional. Further, for the sole purpose of analysis, I have paraphrased certain inferences as though they were stated as fact. If the paraphrasing is questioned, please refer directly to the Paper. With all this in mind, I submit the following analysis of the Author’s assumptions and evidence:

II. Analysis.

1. Point: It is unlikely that Peggy would have married a man 14 years her senior.

Reasoning: Since Peggy’s parents gave consent for her to marry DC II, she must have been under 18 years of age. If DC II had been born in 1781 (birth year of David, Capt. Henry’s son) there could have been an age difference of at least 14 years. It is unlikely that a man and woman with such difference in age would marry. Therefore, it is unlikely that Peggy’s husband was born in 1781. If not born in 1781, he was not Capt. Henry’s son.

Response: The fallacy of this argument is two-fold. First, it relies on a broad generalization as proof; and, second, it is based upon an incorrect assumption that the age of majority in Kentucky in 1813 was 18 years of age instead of 21.

BASIS: The age of majority in Kentucky until modern times was 21, not 18. State Law of Kentucky, Vol. 2, sec 1, pg. 1158 (1834), enacted 1799. If DC II had been born in 1871, there could have been an age difference of at least 11 years, not 14. To assume that in a pioneer society such age differences in marriages were uncommon is an unfounded broad generalization. Indeed, Capt. Henry Conley’s second wife, Temperance Hitchcock, was born the same year (1781) as his fourth child David. W.E Connelly, The Founding of Harmon’s Station (1910), pgs. 103, 105 and 108. Capt. Henry, being born in 1752 would have been approximately 29 years her senior.²

2. Point: Since a John Conley and DC II married sisters, they most likely were brothers. Therefore, as John was not a child of Capt. Henry, DC II could not have been.

Reasoning: Peggy’s sister, Polly Phillips, married a John Conley on June 16, 1813. This John was not a member of Capt. Henry’s family. Since it was common for children of one family to marry children (siblings) of another family, DC II could have been a brother to Polly’s John. Therefore, if John was not a member of Capt. Henry’s family, neither was DC II.

Response: This point assumes facts based on a broad generalization without supporting evidence.

Basis: This argument assumes that this John and DC II were brothers because they were Conleys who married sisters. The Author thus assumes that two Conleys who were not brothers, were unlikely to marry sisters. It is conceded that sometimes brothers of one family will marry sisters of another family. However, without supporting evidence, there is no reasonable basis to assume that it happened in this case. ³

3. Point: Since Elijah Phillips, Peggy’s father, lived in the same neighborhood as DC I, Peggy’s husband DC II must have been the son of DC I, as DC II (if the son of DC I) would have known the family.

Reasoning: The 1820 Federal Floyd County Census lists a John Phillips as living in the same neighborhood as DC I. The census shows a man old enough to be Peggy’s father living with John Phillips. This could have been Peggy’s father Elijah. Therefore, it is likely that DC II is the son of DC I, not Capt. Henry, as DC II (if the son of DC I) would have lived in the same neighborhood as Peggy.

Response: The author’s assumptions in support of this point have no reasonable basis.

Basis: The 1820 Census names only the head of the household and lists the ages of the household members. If two or more individuals are old enough to be the head, it may not be possible to determine which age pertains to the head. This argument assumes that the younger male (age 16-26) instead of the older male is John Phillips, the head of the household. The elder male in the household (age “over 45”) is treated as the unidentified man. Then it is assumed that the unidentified man is Elijah, the father of Peggy. Then it is assumed that Peggy was living there with John Phillips, along with the unidentified man assumed to be her father (and presumably with her mother [also named Peggy] and other siblings) prior to her marriage to DC II in 1813.

Having the same surname does not necessarily mean Elijah was related to or even acquainted with John Phillips, and certainly does not prove he was the unidentified man living with John Phillips in 1820. Nor does it prove that in 1813 DC I and his family were living in the same neighborhood as John Phillips or this unidentified man assumed to be Elijah Phillips.⁴

4. Point: DC II was born in 1787. The year of birth of Capt. Henry’s son named David was 1781. This is “Concrete Proof” that DC II was not Capt. Henry’s son.

Reasoning: The 1850 Federal Census lists a David Conley living with a Margaret Conley in Floyd County and gives David’s age as 63. This would put his birth date as being 1787. This is “concrete proof” that this David (DC II ) is not the son of Capt Henry, as he is six years younger than Capt. Henry’s son.

Response: This conclusion unwarrantedly assumes that birth years given in Census Records are concrete proof of one’s birth date and ignores other conflicting evidence.

Basis: It is common knowledge that census data is only as good as the dedication of the person taking the census. Allen and Billingsley, Beginner’s Guide to Family Research. Chap. 5, (Federal Census Records). The following explanation is from the Perry County 1850 Census, same which is quoted in the on-line version of the Floyd County 1860 Census: “Often times the enumerator did not walk up a hollow but instead asked the families that lived nearby the names and ages of those that lived in the hollow above them…That could be why there are so many conflicting ages between census years and names of people.” Quoting from the publication by Thorndale and Dollarhide, The Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses 1790 – 1920 (1987) regarding the accuracy of census records: “Judging from such duplicate entries, age was the most unreliable information, though name, sex and birth place were also subject to error or garbling. A person’s age has a habit of changing every year. Today’s custom of giving gifts makes family members very aware of each others’ birthdays, yet this ceremony has been widespread only in the last 100 years. A person in 1850 reciting family ages to a census taker likely had an uncertain idea of family birth dates, was probably poor at arithmetic and certainly found it difficult to state ages that changed every year for each person.”

The 1860 Federal Floyd County Census lists David Conley living with Margaret Conley and gives David’s age as 76. This would have made his birth date 1784. Thus we have the 1850 and 1860 census records showing different ages for DC II. This contradiction would seem to support the notion that ages stated in census records are often unreliable.⁵ It should be noted that copies of both the 1850 and 1860 Floyd County Census which I viewed refer to the David Conley married to Margaret (Peggy) as “David Conley, Sr.” Although not conclusive, such reference does not seem to support the conclusion that his father was also named David. It should be noted that although the Author relies on census records in his effort to prove that DC II is not the son of Capt. Henry, he cites no Census or other document to prove the age of David H. Conley.

5. Point: Since the DC I, John Smith and Elijah Phillips families were acquainted, DC II must have been the son of DC I, and not the son of Capt. Henry.

Reasoning: In 1813 David Conley and John Smith signed the bond for the marriage between DC II and Margaret “Peggy” Phillips. I perceive that the Author is inferring these two were the Revolutionary War soldiers John Smith and DC I. The older John Smith was an acquaintance of DC I, as they testified together concerning the war record of Thomas Lovelady before the Floyd County Fiscal Court on August 25, 1823. John Smith, Jr. married Peggy’s sister Nancy in 1814. David Conley (DC I?) signed the bond for this marriage. Therefore, the DC I family, the John Smith family, and the Elijah Phillips family were closely intertwined. Therefore, DC II must have been the son of DC I.

Response: This argument appears to have been based on the questionable inferences that DC I and an older John Smith signed the Marriage Bonds for the marriages of DC II to Margaret “Peggy” Phillips, and John Smith, Jr. to Nancy Phillips; that DC I knew the elder John Smith prior to 1823; and, that the John Smith who married Nancy Phillips was the son of the elder John Smith.

Basis: Prior to issuing a marriage license, the law required the clerk to take bond with good surety. The bond was required, conditioned that there was no impediment to the marriage. Apparently the groom signed the bond as principle, along with a surety as bondsman. 55 C.J.S. Marriage, sec. 28; State Law of Kentucky, Vol. 2, sec. 8, pg. 1156, (1834) enacted in 1798. Caldwell’s Kentucky Form Book, 3^rd Edition, Form 44.1, pg 604,605 (shows the groom as principle). For numerous examples of the groom signing the marriage bond as principle, reference is made to the chapters on Marriage Bonds contained in The Annals of Floyd County 1800-1826 (1983). Therefore, it would seem that it was DC II (not DC I) who signed the bond for his marriage to Margaret (Peggy) Phillips, with a John Smith as his surety; and, DC II may have returned the favor by signing as surety on the subsequent marriage bond for the same John Smith to marry his sister-in-law Nancy Phillips. I fail to see how this in any way connects DC II to DC I, DC II to the older John Smith; or, the older John Smith to the John Smith who married Nancy Phillips.

The evidence presented is not conclusive that DC I and an older John Smith were even acquainted prior to1823. Although it appears that in 1823 both testified on behalf of a Thomas Lovelady in support of his Revolutionary War pension application, I did not find where they testified for each other. It does not appear from the testimony that DC I and John Smith were at any of the same battles or served under any of the same commanders. The Annals of Floyd County 1800-1826, supra, at pgs. 203,

204, 212 and 213. ⁶DC I and John Smith testifying at the same hearing in 1823 doesn’t necessarily mean they were acquainted in 1813 and 1814. Nothing can be safely assumed from the testimony except that they both served with Thomas Lovelady, but at different times, under different commanders. Even assuming that DC I and the elder John Smith actually knew each other prior to 1823, the Author submits no evidence that the John Smith who married Nancy Phillips was the elder John Smith’s son.

1. Point: The October 1, 1838 Deed from Capt. Henry, along with the deeds from David H. Conley in 1841 and 1842 prove that David H. Conley (husband of Mary “Polly” Fugate Davis) was the son of Capt. Henry.

Reasoning: David H., who was married to a Mary “Polly”, witnessed Capt. Henry’s signature on a deed dated October 1, 1838. This clearly shows that David H. was active in his father’s real estate transactions. David H. later purchased the home place of Capt. Henry from his siblings and sold same to Mathew Codill on January 31, 1842 (See Deed Book E, Page 8, Floyd County Clerk’s Office). The other known David Conleys would not have been in a position to have purchased the property. Therefore, David H., husband of Mary “Polly”, must have been Capt. Henry’s son.

Response: In general, this argument is based on unfounded assumptions, conjecture, circular reasoning and a stretched interpretation of the deeds referenced.

I will attempt to respond more specifically to this argument by examining the allegations individually:

Point A: Because David H. Conley witnessed Capt. Henry’s signature to a Deed dated October 1, 1838 (sic), it is clear that David H. was active in “his Father’s” real estate transactions.

Response:

1. The October 1, 1838 (sic) deed shows the witness to be “David Conley”, not “David H. Conley”; and,

2. Regardless of which David Conley witnessed the deed, witnessing a grantor’s signature to one deed does not make a person “active in another’s real estate transactions”; and even if he was, it doesn’t prove that he was a son.

Basis: The deed referenced is apparently the deed dated October 1, 1839 (instead of 1838) from Henry Conley to Harston Littrell, recorded in Deed Book D, Page 362, Floyd County Clerk’s office. The Conley Clan of Eastern Kentucky, Vol. I. pg. 271. A copy of this deed is attached hereto as Exhibit D. The Paper indicates this deed was witnessed by David H. Conley. This is conjecture, pure and simple as the “H” is just not present. Since the spouse did not also sign as a witness it would seem impossible without the aid of other evidence to know which David witnessed the deed. Regardless, it does not seem to follow that being a witness to one deed would justify the conclusion that a person was active in another’s real estate transactions (plural) and thus a son. Further, assuming that the Author is correct in his statement that a David M. was in fact signing as a witness to his father’s deeds, that does not prove that the witness to Capt. Henry’s 1839 deed was David H.; and, even if David H. had been the witness, that would not prove he was Capt. Henry’s son. A witness with the same surname as the grantor, is not necessarily a son or daughter.⁷

Even assuming the witness was a David “H.” Conley (though the “H” was omitted in the signature), since no spouse signed as witness to the deed, it is unknown whether this David was the husband of Polly/Mary. In fact, to make matters more confusing, there appears to be a David Conley living in Floyd County born in 1807 who married a Polly Howes. The Conley Clan of Eastern Kentucky, Vol. II, Pg. 517. One possibility is that even if this David was a David H., he was John Conley’s son, thus a grandson of Capt. Henry. John Conley, Capt. Henry’s son, whose wife was Leah Joynes, had a son named David H. who was born in 1806. According to author William Elsey Connelly, John Conley, the son of Capt. Henry, lived near Capt. Henry on Little Paint Creek prior to moving to Morgan County in later years. W.E.Connelly, The Founding of Harman’s Station (1910), pg. 106. Thus John’s son David H., who would have been around 33 years old in 1839; and, who was raised near his grandfather, was a probable witness to the deed.

Point B: The deed dated January 30, 1842 from David H. Conley to Mathew Codill, recorded in Deed Book E, Page 8, Floyd County Clerk’s Office, unlocks the mystery. The Paper states: “According to the Deed recorded on Page 8, it is clear that this is the son of Captain Henry (emphasis added). The farm being sold is the Connelly home place which has been left to Captain Henry’s Heirs. David has bought his sibling’s shares (emphasis added) and is now selling the farm to Mathew Caudill (sic). For the first time we see David’s middle initial is “H”.

Response:

A. If the David Conley from Russell County, Virginia never used his middle initial in his Russell County deeds, one could question if he was the grantor in the 1842 deed recorded in Deed Book E, Page 8, Floyd County Clerk’s Office.

B. Secondly, as a spouse did not sign the deed (E-8), it is not evident which David H. Conley was selling the property; and,

C. Regardless of which David H. Conley was the grantor in the deed (E-8), it is not evident from the deed language that he was Capt. Henry’s son because:

(1) The deed (E-8) does not indicate “David H. Conley” is an heir of Capt. Henry; and,

(2) The deed (E-8) does not indicate that David H. Conley had purchased the property from his siblings. It simply says that he had purchased the property from Henry Conley’s heirs.⁸

Basis: In order to consider the Author’s interpretation of the subject deed, one must first accept that the David Conley from Russell County, Virginia had the middle initial “H” in his name. As stated in footnote 1, I do not question that fact. But as it would seem unusual for him and his wife to begin signing legal documents differently if they moved to Kentucky, it could be questioned whether he was the David H. Conley who signed the 1842 Floyd County deed recorded at Deed Book. E, Page. 8. Also, using the Author’s logic, since David M. did not sign as a witness, David H. may not have been the Russell County David. Since the grantor’s spouse did not sign the deed as required to release her dower interest, it is not known whether this David H. was married; and if married, whether Mary /Polly was his spouse. As referenced above there may have been more than one David H. Conley living at the time. A David H. Conley of the age range to be Capt. Henry’s son does not appear to be listed in the 1840 Floyd County Census, same which would have been taken just two years before the 1842 deed (E-8). The Author cites no evidence for his surmise that the other David Conleys were not in a position to have purchased the property. It appears that David H. Conley, son of Capt. Henry’s son John, is listed in the 1840 Floyd County census. He would have been approximately 36 years old in 1842, the date of the deed (E-8). Being a grandson and apparently having lived near his grandfather’s farm as a child, it is conceivable that he would have had an interest in owning and the ability to purchase his grandfather’s home place. It is unlikely that evidence could be found regarding the financial situation of the 36 year old grandson or the 60 year old Russell County David.

Regardless of which David H. Conley was selling the home place, it is not apparent from the deed language that he was Capt. Henry’s son. The statement “David has bought his siblings shares…” is a conclusion unsupported by the language of the deed. The plain language of the deed is quite to the contrary. Nothing contained in the deed indicates that David H. is an heir of Capt. Henry. According to the Paper, David H. Conley conveyed Mathew Codill a tract “containing 100 ac. on Little Paint Creek adjoining the tract of land on which Henry Conley died and being a survey that said Henry Conley made in his lifetime & which was devised to his heirs & purchased by me (D.H. Conley) from them.” The deed, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto, does not indicate that the grantor, David H. Conley had been devised an interest in the land as an heir of Capt. Henry and was selling that interest along with the interests he had purchased from the other heirs. In fact, the deed says that the grantor purchased the property “from them.” i.e., from the heirs. The mere fact that he was a Conley doesn’t prove he was an heir. The deed simply does not say he had purchased the interests of his siblings in the property. Following the description, the deed states: “for more certainty as to the boundary reference is made to the deed made by the heirs of Henry Conley to me …” In addition to looking at what is stated, it is important to consider what is not stated. The deed does not reference a deed made by the other heirs of Henry Conley to the grantor. Nor does it reference a deed made to the grantor by his siblings. Further, the deed states: “…I will forever defend the same by meself (sic) my heirs to.to (sic) the said Caudill and his heirs free from myself my heirs Henry Conley and his heirs and all persons claiming by or through them.”

To say that the deed is unclear as to whether David H. Conley is the son of Capt. Henry may be an understatement, as the language of the 1842 deed (E-8) seems much more susceptible of an interpretation that David H. Conley is not an heir of Capt. Henry. The plain language of the deed refers to the heirs of Henry Conley as a separate group of people from whom the property was purchased.

In his book, The Founding of Harman’s Station, on page 105, William Elsey Connelly quotes from the family Bible of Capt. Henry: “David Connelly, a son of Henry and Ann Connelly, was born June 24^th, A.D. 1781.” In parenthesis Connelly notes: “(Of him I have not learned anything.)” It may be of significance to note that the family Bible of Capt. Henry refers to his son as David Connelly, not David “H” Conley”, or David “D” Conley. Further, if David H. was actually Capt. Henry’s son and had helped Capt. Henry with his business affairs (as alleged in the Paper) and later purchased Capt. Henry’s home place; and, if he continued to be involved in real estate transactions in the area, it would seem that William Elsey Connelly would have learned something about him, as the author was born in Johnson County, Kentucky in 1855 and taught school in Johnson County for 10 years. Papers of William Elsey Connelly 1883-1914.⁹ It appears that a David Conley and Polly, his wife made a conveyance to Jacob Salyer in September of 1858 for land on Oil Springs Fork, in Johnson County, Kentucky; and, also in 1858 made a conveyance to John Literal for land at the same location. The Conley Clan of Eastern Kentucky, Vol. I, Page 281.

1. Conclusion:

It is my opinion, based upon the above analysis, that the evidence set out in the Paper is insufficient to warrant the Author’s decree that David Conley, husband of Margaret “Peggy” Phillips, was not the son of Capt. Henry Conley; or, that the Russell County David Conley (David H. Conley) husband of Mary (“Polly”) Fugate Davis, was the son of Capt. Henry Conley. I recognize that I am no expert in genealogy, and this opinion is based primarily on my analysis of the work of others, as referenced above, and copies of certain recorded documents and census records mentioned in the Paper. Perhaps other records will be found in the future which will further the discussion. I respect the fact that with the passage of time, reliable evidence becomes scarce; and, I see nothing wrong with any person expressing his/her opinion on a matter, as did the Author. I further see nothing wrong with questioning the interpretations, assumptions and evidence used in forming that opinion. This, I have attempted to do with the expectation that others will question my analysis. Again, I have not attempted to prove the identity of DC II’s father. I have mentioned evidence and interpretations conflicting with the Author’s conclusions that perhaps should be considered. Regardless of the true identity of DC II’s father, it appears that both DC I and Capt. Henry were honorable men. As with the Author, I mean no disrespect to the lineage of DC I or of David H. My analysis is only intended to further the dialogue and perhaps assist in eventually arriving at the truth. It is hoped it will be taken in a scholarly way. Although I question the interpretations and conclusions contained in the Paper, I mean no disrespect. Perhaps the Author can shore up his conclusions with information he may have had available but did not mention in the Paper or with further research. It is my belief, however, that when evidence is not clear and convincing, conclusions should be qualified; and, perhaps arguments should also mention non-supporting evidence so descendents can review the totality of evidence presented to reach their own conclusions.