George Farley

Biography George Farley, born 1631 in Archer's Hope, James City, Virginia; died 1676 in Virginia. He married Elizabeth Norvell Abt. 1647 in Charles City County, VA. Notes for George Farley: Source: Genealogical History of the Hopkins, Farley, Cook, Keaton and Brown Families by A. A. Hopkins, Bluefield, W. VA.self published about 1966 page 147 - Hanged by Gov. Berkley. Twelve Generations of Farleys: George developed into a notable mathmatician and engineer, and after the completion of his education, joined the forces of Oliver Cromwell and became distinguished by his courage and bravery. His position and well-being were established in the homeland under the Cromwells; but, at the restoration of Charles II to the throne, these conditions were reversed, and he was forced to seek refuge in the land of his birth. No sooner had the news of the Restoration reached Virginia, than Governor Berkeley issued a proclamation calling for the election of a new assembly and declaring the acts of the assembly, under the Protectorate, illegal and no longer in force. Berkeley was a willing tool of the new king. Colonial liberty had been struck a death blow. Trade was restricted to English ports, heavy taxes were imposed and the king turned a deaf ear to his Virginia subjects. He immediately indulged in the pastime of making great grants of land to his favorites of the court. Vast domains were given away overnight in Virginia, and the inhabitants of the cultivated portions of the colony sometimes awoke to find themselves and their plantations given away to a courier of the English court under whom they were subjected to a proprietorship. During the confusion and injustice the Susquehanna Indians took the war path. The assembly immediately raised and equipped an army of five hundred men to defend the populace. The governor promptly disbanded this little army without expressing a reason. Volunteers then came forward and offered their services without pay, demanding that the governor appoint a commanding officer. This he refused to do. They then determined to march to the defensless frontiers under a leader of their own selection; this was Roger Bacon. He moved to the defense, and no sooner had they begun the march than Berkeley declared him a rebel and his followers, traitors. The governor then organized a great force and followed the little band under the proclaimed intention of supressing an insurrection. Bacon reach the frontier and defeated the Indians; driving them into the interior, and was returning when he heard of the governor's intentions. He then divided his forces and by forced marches proceeded toward Jamestown, but was made prisoner by one Gardner, and carried before Berkeley. He was humiliated in every possible manner. His soldiers resented the conditions and forced the governor to issue him a commission. He again marched to the frontier and was declared a rebel for the second time. He then returned to the vicinity of Glouchester, where the governor was stationed, and forced Berkeley to retreat to Acomac. Bacon proceeded up the Potomac, and Berkeley returned from across the river to Jamestown. Bacon then returned and attacked the governor at Jamestown and drove aboard the ships in the river. The torch was then applied to the town and it was reduced to ashes. The ravages of disease saved Bacon from death by hanging. Many of his followers were not so fortunate. George Farley was one of the steadfast supporters of Bacon and participated in the armed resistance to the governor. He was captured at the engagement near Acomac and was one of the first martyrs to the cause of liberty in Virginia. There were many others. Their resentment was so intense, that some of these residents of Jamestown, set the torch to their own homes when their leader took the town. It is to be remarked that in that fire the genealogical records of the colony, to that date, were completely reduced to ashes and thus forever lost to suceeding generations. From WILLIAM and MARY Magazine, 1st series, Vol. 14, page 124, the record reads: "Lydia, wife of Major Edmund Chisman (or Cheesman) was a niece of Capt. Farley, another of Bacon's officers, who is described as not only a brave man, but expert in mathematics and engineering. Lydia had the spirit of her uncle, and when Major Chisman was arraigned before Sir William Berkely (Govenor) she took the blame of the (Bacon's) Rebellion upon herself, and desired to be hanged in his stead." Lydia was a daughter of his brother, perhaps Archer Farley. There appears no record of any real estate in the colony belonging to George Farley, and if he had owned real estate and had been married, the Acts of the Virginia Assembly, now recorded in Henning's Statutes at Large, would have referred to the confiscation of his property and precluded his heirs from inheriting his possessions. According to Henning's Statutes, George Farley was convicted of high treason, and after his execution by Governor Berkeley was denied the benefits of an Act of Pardon that also excluded Nathaniel Bacon and others. The burning of Jamestown, and the loss of early Virginia records, apparently prevent disclosure of the much sought-after confirmation. In 1655, George Farley was witness to a power of attorney in Surrey County. It was in this same year and same county that John, Joseph, "Fra" (Francis?) and Joyce appear as immigrants brought in by Edward Pettaway as redemptioners*. If George, born in America, had traveled to England and had returned from England at this time, he might not have been listed as an immigrant. Some of the children of Thomas might have been educated in England. George was one of Cromwell's soldiers, and he might have returned to America of necessity or to apply his training. also he may have had greater educational opportunities than the others. *See Early Virginia Emigrants, 1623-1660, by George Greer, pg. 10. Cavaliers and Pioneers, 1623-1800, Nell M. Nugent. "Twelve Generations of Farleys" gives George's birth date as 1631. Direct quotation from "One Ladd's Family" by Ruth Kline Ladd: "George Farley, born in 1625. He was also sent to England to be educated. He joined forces with Oliver Cromwell; but when Charles the Second came to the throne in 1660, George returned to Virginia where he was a supporter of Nathaniel Bacon (1642-1676) and participated in the armed resistance known as "Bacon's Rebellion." He was one of the force of planters, led by Bacon against Governor Sir William Berkeley, attacking the Governor at Jamestown and subsequently burning the town and destroying all records. Bacon's death left the planters to the mercy of the Governor who had some of the leaders executed, among them George Farley. He died in 1676."