Handley
Welcome to the Handley family history blog. We hope to share information about this family with details previously unknown. We also hope to add additional records from those that might know more than the author of this blog.
Where to start? We could start from the beginning with details that haven’t fully been verified, or go with what we know. Files from this family prior to entering America are based more on family lore and some church records. So, let’s start here.
The Handley's are described as being of Scotch-Irish heritage and were of the Presbyterian faith. The Irish surname Hanley, also found in England, is an anglicized
form of the Gaelic name Ó hÁinle meaning “descendant of Áinle,” a
personal name meaning “champion.”This is the name of a ruling family in
the western province of Connacht; it is now common in southern Ireland.
When found in England the name Hanley is an habitational name from any
of various places, such as Handley in Cheshire, Derbyshire.
Northamptonshire, and Dorset and Hanley in Staffordshire and
Worcestershire.
There are variations on the family crest. Below are two. Neither is the complete crest, as these change by location and family.
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The first record of a Handley member in the United States in this particular family line took place in New Castle, Delaware in about 1745. There was a boundary dispute between Delaware and Pennsylvania. By 1746 this Handley family had moved to Virginia.
There was a land transfer between John and David Handley of Augusta County, Virginia to a John Dickinson of the same county of the Port Wilnespell, Virginia, for and in consideration of 5 shillings containing 542 acres. Evidently, the cost of filing the land transfer was 5 shillings.
James Handley (1689-1725
So of this first family, father James Handley was born in Northern Ireland, around 1689, and died around 1725. His wife was Jane Baycliffe and she was born in 1689. They had two sons, William Handley who was born 1715 and died 1756; and John Handley who as born in 1710. It is unknown when or where John Handley died.
John Handley (1710- )
John Handley was married to a woman named Grizel, and of this marriage they had the following children:
- John Handley II who was born 1724
- Archibald Handley who was born 1730
- William Handley who was born 1738
- James Handley who was born 1740 and died 1817
- Elizabeth Handley
- Alexander Handley
James Handley (1740-1817)
Alexander Handley was born about 1770, married Sarah McElroy on December 8, 1791 and died in 1832.
John Handley, was born September 7, 1777, married Elizabeth Hall, died September 28, 1865, in Atchison County, Missouri. She was born November 17, 1793, and died October 1, 1865.
Margaret Handley was married to John Harding.
Grisal Handley was married John McColgan.
Sarah Handley was married Henry Purdy (she was his 3rd wife).
Anne Handley was married Barlis/Barless Stone. They were both still living, in 1850, in Lincoln County, Missouri.
Mary Handley was married Samuel Tilford.
Jinny Handley was married George McKay.
On October 9, 1787, James bought 129 acres from John Muldrough for 25 pounds. The land was situated on the Rolling Fork of the Salt River in Nelson County, Kentucky (later Washington County and today Marion County).
On February 7, 1797, James Handley registered his brand with the Washington County Court. The ear mark was "A crop of the right ear and an under bit in the left and his brand as follows -1-H on the near shoulder.
James Handley and his son, Alexander, appeared in Washington County Court to report on Thomas Doran's petition for a grist mill on July 4, 1797.
On November 6, 1798, James was paid 1.40 pounds for three wolf scalps above six months old by the County Court.
James and Mary Handley sold 12 and a 1/2 acres of their 129 acre farm to Thomas Doran for $20.00 on September 6, 1804. The 1810 census showed that James and Mary were over age 45, a male age 26-45 and a male age 16-26 and two daughters. This would have been Sarah and Margaret. James and Mary sold 31 acres on January 1, 1816 to Martin Everhart for $155.00. There would have been only 85 and 1/2 acres left of their farm at that time. Evidently, Martin Everhart had bought Thomas Doran's grist mill before this transaction.
James Handley died in 1817. He had written a will on April 11, 1817, and it was recorded by the court June 9, 1817.
"In the name of god, amen, this eleventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.
I, James Handley, of the County of Washington and State of Kentucky being weak in body, but of a perfect mind and memory thanks to god and calling to mind the uncertainty of life and that it is appointed for all men to die, to make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (to wit, I do hereby declare all and every other will and testament heretofore by me made to be null and void.) Item. I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife the one third of the plantation on which I now live during her life to be kept in peaceable possession and at her death the land to be my son, John Handley's. Also, one gray mare ten years old, the colt she has now at her feet I give to James Stone Balis Stone's youngest son. I, also, give to my son Alexander Handley a certain quantity of land included in the following boundary (to wit, Beginning at an elm on the north bank of the Rolling Fork and running an westerly course with John Muldrough's preemption line to the mouth of a stream nearly at the lower corner of my meadow then a north course out to the ? and thence with Ewing's former Westerly to three hickory’s in the bottom thence mostly south to the Beginning. I, also, give to my daughter, Sarah Handley, one gray mare foure years old this Spring and sixty dollars in money I lent to Doctor Gather. Also, ten dollars to Margaret Handley and ten to my son John Handley out of eighty dollars lent to Gaither (Gaither this time). Also, one year old black horse colt to John Handley's son, James R. Handley. Also, the loom and apparatus to be Margaret Handley's and if any money is ever got on the suit against Marples, the money to be equally divided between Margaret, Sarah and John Handley. Also, the farming tools to be left to John Handley for the benefit of the farm. I do hereby appoint my son, Alexander Handley, and John McColgan Executors to this my last will and testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written.
James [his mark] Handley, Seal
Test
James Handley, Junior
David Kenley
William [his mark] Thurmond
John Handley (1777-1865)
John Handley was born September 7, 1777, married to Elizabeth Hall, and died September 28, 1865, in Atchison County, Missouri. She was born on November 17, 1793, and died October 1, 1865. They moved to Scott County, Missouri about 1823 and later moved to Atchison County, Missouri. Their children were:
- James R. Handley was born 1814, married first Cassandra Cooley on January 22, 1835, and second Mary Read on December 6, 1846.
- Sarah Handley was born June 18, 1816, married Callaway Millsap on May 1, 1834, and died January 15, 1874. Both she and her husband are buried in the Millsap Cemetery near Rock Port, Missouri.
- Archibald Handley was born October 18, 1818, married Anna Croslin and they lived in Nemaha, Nebraska.
- Mary Handley was born 1820, married Asa Jackson on January 30, 1837, and they lived in Sidney, Iowa.
- Matthew Alexander Handley was born January 23, 1822, married Elizabeth Carolina Scott on April 18, 1852, died December 12, 1883.
- John Mason Handley was born 1823, married Elizabeth Ann Hale on February 24, 1853, and died August 3, 1904, in Hamburg, Iowa.
- Eliza Handley was born 1826, married first Joshua Keelison on July 24, 1845, and second to a man named Young. She and Young are buried in Sidney, Iowa.
- Julia A. Handley was born December 1828, married William Archibald Haynes. They are buried in Watson, Atchison County, Missouri.
- William Handley was born 1830, married a woman named Margaret and died in Hiawatha, Kansas.
- Harvey Handley was born May 2, 1832, married Harriett Read on September 18, 1853, and died in Soledad, California. February 18, 1916.
- Margaret Handley was born November 11, 1833, married Henry Harmon on March 1, 1849. They lived in Auburn, Nebraska and are buried there.
- Nathan H. Handley, born 1837, married first Mary Plasters on June 12, 1859, and second Elizabeth (Lizzie) Arnold on February 28, 1865. He was murdered during the Civil War just a short time after his marriage.
Harvey Handley (1832-1916)
• William Frederick Handley (1857-1934)
• Thomas L. Handley (1860-1946)
• James Handley (1861-1945)
• John Handley (1862-1953)
• Charles Norton Handley (1869-1940)
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| This map is from 1907 and is for reference purposes only |
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James Handley (1861-1945)
James Handley was born on April 24, 1861 in Sonoma County, California. James is living with his father in the 1870 census, living in Salinas, Monterey County, California. James married Ida May Walker in Salinas on March 31, 1887. Ida was born on October 4, 1871, in Missouri, the daughter of John Orrin Walker and Celia Sophia White. Here is an early image of James and Ida.
From this marriage the following children were born: • Effie Mae Handley (1880-1987)
• Roy James Handley (1889-1939)
• Elsie Birdie Handley (1893-1994)
• Alexander Handley (1894-1960)
• Harold Handley (1896-1960)
• Lloyd Jackson Handley (1903-1957)
• Bertha Edith Handley (1905-1999)
• Earl Harvey Handley (1907-1991)
• Clarence Handley (1909-1909)
James is listed as living in Soledad in the 1892 city directory. Stories describe that he lost his wheat farm in 1898, and then had to work in the wheat fields.
Below are some of the address James Ida lived throughout the years: 1896 - Soledad, Monterey County
1900 - Templeton, Salinas Township1910 - Lucerne Township, Hartford City, Kings Co1924 - 16 Rooney, Santa Cruz1927 - 116 Chestnut Ave, Santa Cruz1930 - 1500 Hanna Ave, Corcoran City, Kings County1938 - 109 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz1941 - 89 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz
Here is a later picture of James and Ida.
James Handley died on August 2, 1945, and is buried in the Soledad Community Cemetery. Ida May Handley died on June 21, 1953 and is buried next to her husband.
• Roy James Handley (1889-1939)
• Elsie Birdie Handley (1893-1994)
• Alexander Handley (1894-1960)
• Harold Handley (1896-1960)
• Lloyd Jackson Handley (1903-1957)
• Bertha Edith Handley (1905-1999)
• Earl Harvey Handley (1907-1991)
• Clarence Handley (1909-1909)
Earl Harvey Handley (1907-1991)
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1947 - 1620 W Walnut, Oakland
1949 - 2601 El Caminito, Oakland
1962 - 18640 Farragut Ln, Los Gatos, Santa Clara
1963 - Manager of Monroe Calculating Co, Ojai, Ventura
1968 - 18640 Farragut Ln, Los Gatos
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