Finley and Harris Connections Need Examination

Originally published October 9, 2010 


As I was running down the Athey line, I was lead back to Charles Fenaly (Finley) who in 1711 married to Elizabeth Harris in St. John's Parish, Prince Georges County, MD. These two were supposedly the parents of ten, including an Elizabeth Finley (b 26 May 1720) who married Thomas Athey (b ca 1695 MD). At this point I have no cause to doubt Elizabeth Finley's parentage, but would love to see a parish register entry of her birth if anyone has such a thing. 

I am concerned about this Finley/Athey connection because according to other researchers, Thomas Athey (s/o Capt. George & Sarah Marsh) begins having children in 1719. Obviously these cannot be with Elizabeth Finley, not yet born. Later children of Thomas Athey, born in the late 1730's to mid 1740's could possibly be Elizabeth's, but Thomas Athey produced children at a regular rate from 1719 to 1746 with only a break of about 7 years: in 1725 he began exercising restraint, but took up his procreation efforts again around 1732 - still too early to be working with Elizabeth - and continued on until 1746, when his last known daughter was born. 

And yet, there does seem to be a Finley connection. Thomas named his 10th child Mary Fenley Athey (according to researcher Christopher Athey) and his eleventh Elizabeth.

Was Elizabeth Fenley Thomas's second, much younger wife? If so, who was his first? Am I missing something that is generally known by other researchers? If so, please use the comments area below to add to my information.

(Line Ascending: Claude T. Brooks > Ibbia Kennedy [Brooks] > Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" Talbert [Kennedy] > Thomas S. Talbert > Thomas Athey Talbot > Sarah Athey [Talbert] > Elizabeth Fenley [Athey] > Charles Fenaly & Elizabeth Harris)