Thomas Alley, Sr.

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA (Soldier). DAR Ancestor # A209521

Served in military under Captain Daniel Triggs as private

Thomas Alley Sr. is generally accepted from a long line of Thomas Alleys originating in Henrico Va

Thams Alley Sr. was elected the First Constable of Little River, District of Montgomery Co., Va in 1776. He was bonded for $500.00 and lived about one mile from the old Howerton-Alley cemetery

Settlement of Thos Ally Sr. 19May 1828 D.B. "L" p 159 list of heirs D.B. "O" page 184 03Nov 1828 D.B. "E" page 183

Thomas Alley Sr. deeded property 1796 with Susannah 1822 with Rachel Marriage register "A" page 153 03 Dec 1816 Montgomery Co., Va. accordning to M. Canfield

Title: E-mail Canfield 3/27/00 Marilyn Canfield [mlcan@worldnet.att.net] Author: Canfield, M.L.

Title: OneWorldTree From Ancestry.com, Doyle/Scott tree, posted by lkgershwin1

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It is generally accepted Thomas Alley, Sr. came from a long line of Thomas Alleys, originating in Henrico Co. VA. One theory is that the Alleys were Huguenots from the area around Criele France, leaving for England during the persecutions. One branch is thought to have gone to Spain and changed their name to Allee. Research, however, reveals credible evidence to show him as a descendant of Bishop William Alley of 16th century England and 3 earlier generations.

It has been passed down through family information that Thomas Alley, Sr. married Susannah Howerton, daughter of Thomas Howerton who was originally from Essex Co. Susannah was born in Henrico or Chesterfield County. Rachel Smallwood, the widow of William Smallwood was Thomas Alley's second wife.

Thomas and Susannah deeded property in 1796, giving a good indication that she was his first wife. Although some say John was her father, recent information on the Howerton line points to Thomas and Grysilla.

Information Marilyn Canfield received from Bryant Howerton shows Susannah as the daughter of Thomas and Grysillah (possibly a Jackson). Previous information shows a John Howerton as her father. Early Montgomery County censuses of 1810-1820 indicate John Sr. and Jr. lived in the vicinity of the Alley's. Thomas Howerton died about 1801 in Montg. Co. (12-07-2003)

Information about the County formation in this area of Virginia would be helpful. Botetourt County, Va was formed in 1770. On Dec. 1st, 1772 Botetourt Co was divided into Fincastle and Botetourt Counties. The first Court for Fincastle County was held Jan. 5. 1772. Fincastle Co. was divided into three counties in 1776, and on Dec. 31st of that year the following Counties were formed. "Kentuckie", Washington, and Montgomery County - nearly 12,000 square miles. The first Court for Montgomery County was held Jan 7, 1777. since then no less than 25 Counties either wholly or partially have been formed from Montgomery Co.

The following are records concerning Thomas Alley.

• 1766-68 At the settlement of his father's estate William was the only one available to manage it. Thus, Thomas must have already left Henrico County. 1770 delinquents - Botetourt Co V. 1-Titheables: Thomas Alley and Reuben Ratcliff Both' were listed as Tithables taken by Wm.. Ingles in 1770 - in the area of from Craigs Creek to Peak Creek. Reuben Ratcliff was on Laurel Ridge (Montg. Co) as early as 1750. He had two titheables on the Lower Dist of New River. 1771 Wm Ratcliff 1 Titheable
• Thomas Alley 1 titheable 1772 Reuben Ratcliff 1 Titheable and Richard Ratcliff 1 Titheable 1775 Thomas Ratcliff 1 Titheable (Mason's Creek- now Roanoke) 1770 Lower District of New River: Moses, John & Samuel Kelsey- 1 Titheable each
• Nicholas Allee 1 ttithe-6 slaves namely: Eamy, Abram, Hanah, Cloe, London and Absolam 23 cattle and 10 horses

Thomas Alley Sr. was elected the First Constable of Little River, District of Montgomery Co in 1773; again in 1777, 1778, 1782, 1793, 1805 and 1809. He was bonded for $500.00 and lived about one mile from the old Howerton-Alley cemetery

Thomas Alley Jr. was Admr. of the estate of his father Thomas Sr. Will book 4 page 511, Montgomery Co . Date of Settlement 5/18/1828.

Alley Deeds: Oct. 1796 Deed Bk B pg 271 Thos. Sr. and Wife Susannah deed of bargain & sale 1796 John Vancill from Thomas Alley and Susannah , his wife, 100 acres on north side of Little River.

Loyal Land Company Survey 1783 Thomas Ally 88, 92 acres 1774 Fincastle Surveys 88 acres joining other survey , 92 acres, on south side Little River opposite Jeremiah Pate's survey, 400 acres Little River 1783, 400 acres Montgomery Co , 200 acres on a Treasury Warrant assignee of James Breckenridge, assignee of George May, on the east side of Little River adjoining land he now lives on 1783. (Montgomery Co survey. Copies of deeds provided by Montgomery Co Courthouse.

Thomas Alley Sr. deeded property in 1796 with Susannah, and 1822 with Rachel

Deed Book B pgs 270-271 Thomas Alley Sr and Susannah to John Vancil 100 agers 9-5-1796 Deed Book pge 299 Thomas Alley Jr / Nancy to John B. Colwell 100 acres Mill Creek on Meadow Creek Oct 7, 1806 Deed Bk D page 229 Thos alley Jr & Nancey his wife sold 100 acres - signed Thomas Jr and Ann. 1-7-1806 Deed Book D page 447 Thomas Alley Jr. and wife Nancy. 11-7-1806 Deed Bk E page 183 Thomas alley Sr. / Susannah to John Howerton 50 acres on Little River. 2-13-1808 Deed Book E page 52 Deed of Trust Thomas Alley Sr. to John Champman 10-3-1810 Deed Book H page 243 Thomas Alley Sr. / Rachel to Stephen Lester 1822

That is a portion of the deed copies.

Land Tax records verify that Thomas Sr. Died between 1826 and 1827. Deed Book "O" page 184, 3 Nov 1828 Settlement of Thos. Alley Sr. Estate began on 19 May 1828 in Montgomery Co., VA

Deed Book "L" pg 72 - 14 Nov 1832 Thos. Alley, Sr. to Gasper Albright - $95.00 pd Thos. Alley; $100.00 pd Allen & John Christian sons of Mary Christian who was d/o Thos. Sr. - Signed Thos. Alley and Sarah Keith (brother & sister)

Deed Book "L" pge 159 2/15/1833 Legal heirs of Thomas Alley, decd 1. Thomas Alley (Jr.) 2. Carah (Sarah) Alley 3. Nancy Alley 4. Elizabeth Cumpton (Compton) of the one part and 5. Stephen Alley of the other part-for

    $40.00 pd to Abijah Whitt and $50.00  pd to Nancy Alley

100 acres lying on Howerton branch of Little Rv. Being a part of the Landed Estate of said Thomas Alley, dec'd adjoining the lands of Gasper Albright, Stephen Lester, Joseph Compton and others.

Recorded September Court 1833

Signed by Carah X Alley, Nancy X Alley, Joseph X Compton, Elizabeth X Compton, Thomas X Alley

Will Book 5 page 131 Montgomery County VA William Elliott, Admr. Of Thomas Alley, deceased.

Will Book 4 page 511 Montgomery County VA Report of settlement Sept Court 1828 Examined Jan 9, 1830 Probate papers in file mlc. Amt. of Adam Alley's exam. of him 76.21 (From this reference it would appear that Adam was a doctor.,however he could not write his name, so this is not possible.)

Other references to Thomas Alley: Titheables Head of Little River 1771 Thomas Alley Thomas Alley constable Little River 1777 discharged in 1778 Thomas Alley replaced Jonathan Elswick 1782 Thomas Alley dismissed as Sheriff 1786 Thomas Alley Revolutionary War in Capt Daniel Triggs Company 1777, 1781

    (Mary Kegley "Early Adventures on Western Waters") Thomas Alley, Abram Trigg, and Jonathan Isom are bound to John Page, Governor of VA in the sum of $500 to secure the Appointment of Thomas Alley as constable of Montgomery Co. Recorded: 1805 Charles Taylor , CMC Thomas Alley, John Smith and John Cook are bound to john Tyler, Governor of VA, in the sum of $1000 on July 4, 1809 to secure the appointment of Thomas Alley as constable of Montgomery Co  VA. Recorded July 1809 Charles Taylor, CD

Nancy Alley never married assigned her portion of Thomas Alley's estate to her son Stephen (b. 1804 d. 1873).

From the Archibald Thompson Diary: listed are pages with references to Alley, Wm Howerton and Thomas' neighbor Jerimiah Pate. Archibald Thompson was also a neighbor.

PAGE 2 PAGE 2

         May 9th 1782 Mr John Stasey

         Junr.  & lucy Skaggs was Joyned

         in the holy State of mattrimony

         All in good health we bless the

         almighty Amen ------1795

               Archibald Thompson

               October 182 (1802)?

         (Fancy scroll) Know all men that

                                 12

                                 11

         (not legible)      July 1786

         Delivered up Thos Alleys Rifel  and

         Took a Cow in security------

         Archibald Thompson

         Archibald Thompson

                      1802

                      1775

                        27

PAGE 69PAGE 69

    (6 others listed)

   Feb 26, 1787-   Elisebeth Alley Entred for six

                   months                              0:12:6

                             (written upside down)

                             1760

                             1736

                              4 (This was a school where the parents paid for the teacher. 6 others listed on page. Elizabeth, being at least 19, appears to be entering for herself since she had no school age children. All the others listed were fathers.  Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Alley, Jr. has 2 different dates recorded for her marriage - 24 Dec 1787 and 27 Feb 1785.  Use of the maiden name Alley in this diary entry would confirm the 1787 date)

PAGE 71 PAGE 71 (Pages often not in chronological order. Date not known here.)

              Mr John Elswick, Dr                      £2: 8:6

              To 3 bushels and half corn                   0: 7:0

              To Elswicks work                             1:15:6

              To one bell v                                0: 6:0

              Cr By an order on Wm Lawson                  0:13:3

              balance due,( marked thru)

              Cr by one bushel and /2

              salt at                                           0:18:3

              paid Wm Howerton                             0: 7:0

              Ballence due me                              1:18:3

         By Nathan Ratliff                            0:10:3

              To one mare to the horse                     0:10:0

PAGE 74 PAGE 74

          Mr. Thomas Alley Senr

              -------------

         To pd (symbol)  my Son Ratliff     0: 1:0

              To pd my Self Cash                           0: 1:0

          Pd 3 pattans of Skins                       0:18:0

          To cash pd                                  0: 0:9

Nov 1788-To 6 aul blades               £1: 0:9

              To one pegin Aul blades            0: 0:4

              To 6 ax                                           0: 0:6

              Pd (symbol)  Nathan Ratlif         £1: 2:7

0: 3:0

                           June  1790            £1: 5:7

              February 21st 1791 John Vancil     0:17:0

              My work                                           0: 1:8

              By my son Rodden                   0: 6:0

                        Rodden Thompson

                        Rodden Thompson

              1016      21    38

          (not legible) to mster John

                                     D spain

PAGE 89 PAGE 89

              May ye 1787   Mr Thos Alley  Sr  Dr

              To 2 Bushels Oats                            0: 4:0

              To paid (symbol) Sam lester                  0: 1:3

Jan 20 -      To pd (symbol) Clay Burn Akers               0: 1:3

              To one pair Soles                            0: 1:0

                                            May 12th

  1787 - To pd (symbol) Solloman Akers                0: 1:3

         To Cost (symbol) Vancil your work            0: 1:3

PAGE 72 PAGE 72

              Mr. Wm Lawson, Cr

              By Weaveing 15 yrds linnen              0: 7:6

  June 1801 - Mr Jeams McColgin, Dr

              To one Barrel of corn                        £0:15:0

              Dr To Mr Thos Alley Senr

    July 12 - By 2 gallons Brandy                     0:12:0

    July 16 - By 2 half pts drank at

              By one bottle full (symbol) m p

              By 3 half pts drank

              By 3 half pts Drank at your

              One pt Drank at your house

     Aug 22 - and one Quart bought away

      Aug 4 - By 5 half pts dank at your house

              one pt joynd with pate

              Sunday by 4 half pts

              To one pt when I was to Sell

              Stevenses (?)  the whole

              is 3 gallons 3 quarts

              and half pints

This was a hand written diary found under a bed of an old lady. It was transcribed by a number of people, often on whatever blank pages were available to write on. Thus the chronological order is not kept. The transcriptions were put on the web. www.public.asu.edu/~moore/archibald/archibald.html (copied here by L E Alley, III in March 2005 with full pages when Alley is referenced .)

MINUTES OF THE FINCASTLE COUNTY COMMITTEE OF SAFETY 1775-76 Among names mentioned: Thomas Alley This was a meeting where over 125 men met and Resolved the following: Wm Christian esq: chairman "The committee taking into their consideration the clandestine removal of the gunpowder from the magazine of this colony, by order of our governour, are clearly and unanimously of opinion that his lordship's conduct reflects much dishonor on himself and that he very justly deserves the censure so universally bestowed upon him.

Resolved that the spirited and meritorious conduct of Patrick Henry, esq: and the rest of the gentleman volunteers attending him on the occasion of the removal of the powder out of the magazine at Williamsburg, very justly merits the hearty approbation of this committee: for which we return them our thanks with an assurance that we will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes support and justify them with regard to the reprisal they made.

Resolved, that the council of this colony in advising and co-operating with lord Dunsmore in issuing a Proclamation of the 3d of May last, charging the people of this colony with an ungovernable spirit, and licentious practices, is contrary to many known matters of fact and us ut too justly intimates to us that those who ought to be mediators, and guardians of our liberties , are become the abject foos of a detested administration.

Resolved. that it is the opinion of this committee, that the late sanguinary attempt and preparations of the king's troops in the colony of the Massachusetts Bay is truly alarming and irritating, and loudly calls upon all, even the most distant and interior parts of the colonies , to prepare and be ready for the extreme event, by a fixed resolution , and a firm and manly opposition, to avert ministerial cruelty, in defense of our just and reasonable rights and liberties."

While Reverend Charles Cummings has been credited from time to time with being the author of the first of these resolutions, the name of Charles Cummings does not appear as a member of said committee or among those present at any of the sessions among the orginal papers, althou Wm. Thompson alleged grandson of Charles Stuart, executed King of England did do so. Thompson and his sister Kathrine Stuart Alexander lived in Montgomery County, near Blacksburg. Source: "The Montgomery County Story 1776-1957" Compiled and Edited By Charles W. Crush.

Here is my reasoning for placing William and David as children in this family.

The father of Wm and David Alley is definitely not James Alley b. abt 1753 son of James L. Alley, Sr. b. abt 1728 son of Thomas (A) Alley, all of Henrico Co., VA. The Revolutionary pension records of David Alley, son of James, prove that the David's are not the same.

It has been assumed that William and David are brothers because of the close association of the families in Floyd Co., KY. William and David Alley as well as James Kirby gave the surety bond for the marriage of William and Sally. William lived with David's daughter, Mary, for many years.

Most believe that William and David came from the Montgomery, Floyd, Wythe Co. area of VA, but until notes in the possession of Marcia Cooper were made known this was only speculation. William's children would have had ties to this area of VA because the family of his wife, Sally Akers, came from there. The families of David and William did use many of the Alley names used in the Montgomery, Floyd, Wythe Co. area of VA, but most of the names are in common use. The siblings of Lucinda that went to VA did associate with the Alley families there, but they were related through their mother Sally Akers.

"There is the name Abigail Alley July 1820 Floyd County..and her parents were James and Susannah Kelsey and she married a man named C.J. Altizer.....The name William Thomas Alley is mentioned with a Sarah Hill...no more information.......we have a Susannah Howerton marrying a Thomas Alley in Va. and it says they moved and then a note and Mingo county / Thomas Evans family....Do not know what that means...and that's just about all that I can find of my notes...but there may be more in another box....." (notes in possession of Marcia Cooper)

These notes of Marcia Cooper list names of relatives. Among the names are Thomas Alley and Susannah Howerton as well as Thomas Evans of Mingo Co. WV. These notes are not results of someone's recent research but memories of the ancestors written down years before. Thomas Evans Sr. married Jane Howerton, sister of Susannah. These names definitely tie Lucinda's father William to Thomas Alley, Sr. of Montgomery Co., VA.

Thomas Alley, Jr. 1810 census: 22210 - 31010 A good possibility is that William and David were living with their brother, Thomas Alley, Jr. in 1810. Note that 3 boys, James, William and David, are in the range 1784-1794 and only 2 slots are available. But there are 2 boys not accounted for in the 1794 to 1800 range. It is likely that the ages were not recorded accurately in 1810 or in the 1850 and 1860 census.

William and David were in Floyd Co. KY in the 1820 census (but not in the 1810 census) and married there in 1812 and 1816 respectively. If Susannah was born about 1742 she is young enough to be William's mother and old enough to be Thomas Jr's mother.

The families of Thomas, Jr. and Sr. are the only one in VA, NC, or KY where they will fit among all known records. The notes from the family of Marcia Coopers strongly favor Thomas, Sr. as the choice.

I investigated the possibility that William and David were from north western NC. Two Samuel Alleys and Joseph Alley are recorded in Wake Co., NC in 1800. Unfortunately The 1810 and 1820 census for Wake Co. is lost. However, David would be about 13 in 1800 and no 10 to 16 year old is listed. One Samuel is the son of Thomas, Sr. born 1690. He did not go to TN. The other Samuel in Wake Co. did go to TN. Also, Samuel and Joseph were in NC in 1790, and we know that David and William were born in VA.

One thread of circumstantial evidence is the 1860 census record of Lawrence Co. KY. Cary Alley is listed at age 45 somewhat near Lucinda Ann Alley Dempsey. Cary is household # 959 in the Louisa Post Office district, and Mark and Lucinda Dempsey are #1129. This is the only record of this Cary. There is no place in the 1820 or 1830 census for him as a son of William or David. He could be related or possibly their brother, an uncle of Lucinda. If Cary (b. 1815) is related to Lucinda, then it is likely that Cary Alley (son of Thomas, Sr. b. about 1740.) is a relative. Cary, at age 45, is not the son of the older Cary, since Cary's wife Mary was about 55 in 1815. So little is known about either Cary that proof is not likely to be found. It is also possible that Cary and Casey (son of Samuel, b. about 1795, and Mary) are the same person since their ages are the same. The hand writing for both names in the census records is quite clear.

Another bit of circumstantial evidence is in the 1852 Greenup Co., KY tax list. Noah Alley is listed along with other Alleys whom we know are Montgomery Co. VA Alleys. Samuel's middle name might be Noah. Regardless of who Noah is, it is interesting to note that Anderson Alley, born in Floyd Co., KY in 1820, the son of William Alley, named his last child Noah. Whoever this Noah in Greenup Co. was, this less common name is an indication of a relationship between The Floyd Co. and Boyd - Greenup Co. Alleys.

It is intriguing that a Cary Alley would show up near Lucinda in 1860. Also, that in 1850 just before Mark and Lucinda purchased the Chapman farm. William Alley (b. 1814, grandson of Cary and son of Samuel from Montgomery Co. VA) and his family are living next to the Chapman farm. (Possibly in the house behind the main farmhouse)

Another Alley in Floyd Co., KY is Mary A. Alley (b. 1845) who married Solomon Perry. She is a granddaughter of Isom B. Alley, the brother of Samuel, who founded our Alley line in neighboring Boyd Co.

William and Sally's family, except for Anderson and Nancy in VA, are in the Louisa Post Office district of Lawrence Co., KY. David's family is in the Prestonsburg district of Floyd Co., KY.