William Croley was born around 1773 in Pittsylvania Co., Virginia. He married Abigail Kimsey and they had children:
2. Daniel Croley, b. 1802 in Powell Valley, Campbell Co., TN
3. Littleberry Croley, b. 1805 in Campbell Co., TN
4. Elizabeth Croley, b. abt 1806 in TN
5. Samuel Croley, b. abt 1814 in TN
6. William Croley, Jr., b. 1816 in MO
7. Esquire "Squire" Croley, b. 1818 in TN
8. Benjamin F. Croley, b. abt 1822
William died around 1846 in Bates Co., Missouri.
The following is from http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2600009&id=I581347484
William Crowley was born in 1773 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and raised on Rockcastle Creek in Henry County, Virginia in the same neighborhood where the Kimsey family lived. In 1792, William Crowley migrated from Patrick County, Virginia to Wilkes County, Georgia with his widowed mother, Elizabeth, and his brother Littleberry Crowley. They traveled with his Aunt Mary Crowley Kimsey, her husband, James Kimsey and their four children; Samuel Crowley, James II, Elizabeth (Simpson) and Littleberry Kimsey.
They were all found together on the 1793 Tax Digest of Wilkes County, Georgia. Elizabeth Crowley was listed as a widow with one slave and no land. The James Kimsey family was living nearby on land joining William Crowley's younger brother, James Crowley. William and Littleberry were shown as tax defaulters. In 1799, James Kimsey sued Lawrence Briers and William Crowley stood as Kimsey's security.
William Crowley and his brother, Littleberry migrated to the Powell Valley, Claiborne County, Tennessee, where their brother John Crowley was living. (Campbell County was formed from Claiborne County in 1806.) On 4 December 1805 the Claiborne County Court ordered that William Crowley (Sr.) be overseer of the road that Charles Bratcher was overseer of and that he have the same hands that Bratcher had to work said road. William Crowey and his brother, Littleberry Crowley, are listed on an 1813 petition in Campbell Co, TN. Jeremiah Crowley (probably the oldest son of their brother, John Croley) is also listed on this petition.
In 1814, William Crowley was indicted by the State, in Campbell County, Tennessee, for a debt of $500. In 1815, Thomas Shoemake sued William, Littleberry and Isham Crowley, (son of James) and the same year William was in court again for malicious mischief and fined $200. In April of 1816, Littleberry was acquitted and by June 4, 1816, Littleberry had died.
An old family tradition in Littleberry Crowley's family was that the Crowley brothers, William, Littleberry and John, had all planned to move to Missouri Territory but Littleberry became sick with yellow fever and died. John Crowley sold his land to his relative, Thomas Mcclain, and moved to Missouri with William Crowley about 1816. William Crowley probably moved to Missouri to escape his creditors as many others did.
William Crowley is found on the 1819 Delinquent Tax List for Howard County, Missouri. It is speculated that William Crowley
executed the following bill of sale to transfer all of his assets to his wife, Abigail Crowley to escape his creditors.
"January 3, 1823 - Howard County, Missouri - Deed Book 4 - Bill of Sale: William Crowley to Abigail Crowley . Know all men
by these presents that I, William Crowley Sr of Howard County on this day bargain sell and deliver unto Abigail Crowley of said county and state the following property:
One bay mare about 14 hands high; One brown filly 3 years old next spring; One bay colt with streak of white in his forehead; One brown cow 8 years old next spring called Willy; One brindle cow called Brownsy; One little brown cow called Mowney (?); One brindle and white heifer 2 years old next spring; One red and white heifer 2 years old next spring; One red steer 3 years old next spring; One brindle heifer yearling; Three cribs of corn, supposed to be 500 bushels in the 3 cribs; also 5 fodder stacks and all my stock of hogs and all my barns... (?) and the house which I now live and also all my farming utensils and house furniture also 2 rifle guns and equipment possessed (?).
For value received, I do warrant and forswear any other person or persons having any claim or claims against the above named property of any description (?) the true (?) as above named Abigail Crowley to have and to hold and dispose of said property and profits thereof as she sees cause from this day forward - given under my hand this 4th day of January 1823. /s/ William (x) Crowley.." Witnessed by: Thomas Kimsey, Littleberry Crowley. The witness, Thomas Kimsey (1796-1866) was son of James Kimsey (I) and Mary Crowley and Littleberry Crowley (1805-1852) was eldest son of William Crowley Sr.
Father: Samuel CROWLEY b: ABT. 1741 in Orange Co, VA
Mother: Elizabeth STRONG b: 21 July 1744
Marriage 1 Abigail KIMSEY? b: ABT 1788 in Henry Co, VAChildren
Jeremiah CROWLEY b: Between 1808 and 1812 in Campbell Co, TN. Daniel CROWLEY b: 1802 in Powell Valley, Campbell Co, TN Littleberry CROLEY b: 1805 in Campbell Co, TN Elizabeth CROWLEY b: ABT 1806 in TN Samuel? CROLEY b: ABT 1814 in Campbell Co, TN William CROLEY JR. b: 1816 in MO Esquire? "Squire" CROLEY b: 1818 in TN Benjamin F. CROWLEY b: ABT 1822