Handley family

 In preparation for my conference and genealogy jaunt the first week in May, I am looking at my Handley family.  I believe it quite likely that they are Scotch Irish.  I would like to look at Pennsylvania Records on this trip.  What do I know so far? 

The internet suggests that John Handley moved his family to the very Scotch-Irish area of Augusta County, Virginia around 1750.  At the time of his move, Augusta County was everything west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.  The area had been Orange County starting in 1734.  But in 1738 Augusta County was formed and Orange County became small while Augusta County was everything to the west.  However it was not until 1745 that Augusta County was organized.  

And the Chronicles of the Scotch Irish in Virginia by Chalkley do bear out the settlement of John Handley.

I have found a paper written about the family at:

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~vlwest/genealogy/handley/mortimer.htm

and from that paper I add the following:

John Handley's name first appeared in the official records of Augusta County, Virginia, on November 26, 1751, this was the date of the deed in which he purchased 257 acres from Benjamin Borden for 15 pounds. The land was located on the Broad Spring Run (Back Creek) adjoining land of Joseph Kennedy (Northern area of present Rockbridge County, Virginia)

the Borden Grant was located south of Beverley Manor
Source: Library of Congress, Carte de la Virginie et du Maryland (1757)

In 1739, the colonial government authorized a 100,000 acre grant to Benjamin Borden. The land to be selected and surveyed was to be located south of William Beverly's grant, and would be clearly out of the area claimed by Lord Fairfax.

Borden was required to recruit 100 settlers within two years. He succeeded, and patented 92,100 acres. So many settlers were Scotch-Irish that the area became known as the "Irish Tract."¹

The land was within the planned boundaries of Augusta County. The General Assembly chartered Augusta and Frederick counties, the first two completely west of the Blue Ridge, in 1738. The county courts were not appointed until there was a critical mass of settlers in 1743 (Frederick) and 1745 (Augusta). During Borden's two-year settlement period, Orange County had the only county surveyor west of the Blue Ridge. 

From Chalkley:

Page 114:  Commission for examination of Grissell, wife of John Handley

Page 137:  Wm. Christian, John Handley, James McKain, John Archer, Zachh. Johnston and John Hunter--certificates of hemp

Page 320:  Thomas Thompson vs. John and William Handley--John Handley and William Handley of West Nantmill Township, and County of Chester, weavers.  Augusta 1758

Page 437:  Petition for road from Joseph Kennedy's Mill to John Huston's, and from John Huston's to the great road from Timber Grove to Woods Gap: James Hill. Joseph Kennedy, John Wilson, James Eakin, John Handley, William Wardlaw, William Lockridge, John Edenston, William McConnell, Walter Eakin, Robert Stewart, Robert Dunlap, Andrew  Duncan, John Huston, Samuel Huston, Robert Alexander, Patrick Hays, John Montgomery,. Andrew Steel, John Stewart 1751-1752

This piece of information from Chawkley gives us what we need to know to find the land of John Handley.  On a site on werelate:

https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Joseph_Kennedy_(17)

You can see the land of John Handley next door to the land of Joseph Kennedy. #257 , 1751.  Look between the two purple lines about two plots east of the top arrowhead on Broad Spring Run

I have spent the evening trying to ascertain where John Handley and Joseph Kennedy's land was on a modern map.  I think I have figured it out.  You will need to manipulate the below map in order to see where the men lived.

If you have no luck, contact me at mosesm@earthlink.net and I'll send you a copy via e-mail.  But basically what the above map shows us is that the land on which these men lived would have been quite close to the New Providence Presbyterian Church.  The church that is in existence today is said to have been where today's church is located,.  The land was given by Joseph Kennedy and his wife.  On this close-up map you can see Moffat Creek.  And interestingly enough there is a Hays Creek.  John Handley's wife, Grissell had grandmother with maiden name Hay.

Here is the location on a map that shows more of the area:

I feel as if we now have a feeling where John Handley and his family lived in the mid 1799s.

How do I know that this is the right location?  From Chawkley:

• Page 331.--21st August, 1754. Joseph Kennedy (his mark), Gent., and Elizabeth, to Samuel Buchanan, James Walker, Robert Reagh, John Logan, Alexander Miller and William Kennedy, trustees appointed and chosen by the Presbyterian Congregation of New Providence in Augusta County for and on behalf of themselves and the rest of the said Congregation and their successors adherents to the Squad of New York of the other part. Consideration: The sincere regard, good will and affectionate love which he beareth unto the said Congregation, and with an eye to encourage the worshipers of the most Blessed and Glorious Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who is God over all, and Blessed forever, Amen; and for and in consideration of the sum of six pence sterling; for public use and benefit of the said Congregation for a Presbyterian Meeting House to worship Almighty God in and for a burying place and graveyard to them and such as shall hereafter joyn with them the said Congregation of New Providence a certain moiety piece or parcel of land whereon the said Congregation hath already began to prepare and build a meeting house containing 3 A., 1 R., 27 P., on west side Moffet's Creek in Borden's tract; said Kennedy's and Francis McCown's line being a line of land now in possession of Andrew Duncan. Delivered to Samuel Buchanan, 21st June, 1758.

And I also find evidence of Joseph and his wife having given land on the website of the church in their history.

Further proof that these people were friends and neighbors is found in Chawkley:

• Page 339.--20th May, 1760. Joseph ( ) Kennedy to John Handley, Jr., £80, 300 acres in Beverley Manor, above. Delivered: Jno. Handly, 1766.

Margaret Handley was the wife of William Clendenin. Margaret was born in 1762 and died in 1835.  Margaret would have been around 11 years old when the family made the move south.  

William Clendenin was born in 1753.  They were married in 1783.  All of these dates are only guides...perhaps even iffy.  But the fact that this couple were married is proven by a deed of gift in Greenbrier County.

Greenbrier County, VA Deed book 3, page 248.

Know all men by these presents that I John Handley Senr. of the County of Greenbrier and State of Virginia for an in consideration of the love and natural affection which I bear to my daughter, Margaret Clendinen, consort William Clendinen of Mason County and state aforesaid as well as for the further consideration of one dollar .... have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Margaret Clendinen ... one negro girl known by the name of Abbey of the age of eight years ...

Signed by John Handley Senr. Witnessed by Jn Mathews, Thomas Creigh, C. Welch, Charles B. Robins

 I found confirmation of this deed in a book on my shelf entitled Greenbrier County Deed and Will Records.  My William Clendenin is well proven so this is how the Handley family fits into my tree.  At the same time I found confirmation that John Handley was giving gifts to other daughters:  Grisey Cailes, Sally Scott of Rockbridge County, Elizabeth Morrow wife of William Morrow.  This is found on pages 95-96 of my book.

So where were they living?

I get a clue of where he lived by a story in the History of Greenbrier County by Otis K Rice.  On pages 186-188 of his book he talks about the Rev John McElhenney.  It is a good story and worth reading.  But what is relevant to today's story is that in 1807 as Reev McElhenney finished what is now Washington and Lee University, The Presbytery of Lexington sent him on a one-month missionary visit to Greenbrier County.  Stopping along the way to preach his first sermon west of the Alleghenies at the residence of William Haynes at Gap Mills, Monrow County, and other sermons at the homes of William Hamilton on Muddy Creek, Andrew McClung on Sinking Creek, and John Handley on Spring Creek.

If you look on the below map and start at Lewisburg and go up the valley on route 219 towards Renick,

I believe Spring Creek to be between 219 and the Greenbrier river which is the dark on this map flowing down from Renick.  Renick lies on the Greenbrier river.  But I can say that I feel very sure that if you draw a circle around Renick that intercepts with 219, the Handley land would lie in the circle below Renick.

Ok.  The Handley family is no longer living on the property that John Handley had bought from Benjamin Borden.  I am almost positive that I remember reading that John Handley had sold his land on the Borden grant to a man with surname Kennedy and that when I was looking at that sale, I was thinking that one of the Campbell girls had married a Kennedy.  I will try to fill this in in the next few days.