Farley Family Research
The name Farley is sometimes found in old records as Farlie, Farle, Farlar, Farler, Farloe, Farlow, etc.
Farley is not one my surnames, but one of interest in Womack research - Mary Farley, daughter of John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akins, married Thomas Womack. This family has a lot of good research, and a lot of misunderstandings. One large controversy involves whether John Farley Jr's wife was Elizabeth Akins or Archer. Here is my attempt to do some research, and my conclusions.
John Farley was born circa 1648, probably in Charles City County, Virginia, in the area which is now Prince George Co, VA.
Image of the end of John Farley Jr's will. Chesterfield County, Virginia Will Book 1, page 200 - 201 (image 228). Note that John Farley signed with mark "I F", and the "I" had a middle cross bar. Witness Richard Nunnally signed with "R N", the "N" backwards.
1679 Deposition
There are claims of a 1679 deposition in which John Farley said he was aged 31. Some sources claim this deposition was in Henrico County, Virginia, but the pre-1700 records of Henrico have been indexed, and though John Farley is mentioned a few times, a check of the records reveals no depositions. Early deed books of Henrico Co, VA also included wills and other probate documents, as well as dozens of depositions in which the person deposing gave their age. Benjamin B. Wesiger, in his book Henrico County Virginia Colonial Deeds 1677-1705, has a list of persons who deposed that includes the book, page number, and stated age; no Farley is listed. The book Twelve Generations of Farleys, on page 27, says the deposition occurred in 1679 in Charles City Co, VA. The book Charles City County, Virginia, order book, 1676-1679, does not mention any Farleys. The early records of Charles City Co are extremely fragmented, and few survived. It would be good to locate this deposition, if it really exists, since the birth years of John Farley Sr is based upon this.
Bacon's Rebellion
Members of the Farley family joined Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, and suffered the consequences. In the Virginia Colonial Records Project at the Library of Virginia, Survey Report Page 3, there is a "Proclamation of Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, 10 February 1676/7 [1677 New Style]. Pardon to all followers of Bacon..." other than a long list of persons not included in the pardon, including the estate of "John Farloe" who was executed. Henning's Statutes, p.375, states it was George Farloe who was executed.
Timeline of John Farley Sr, John Farley Jr, and children of John Farley Jr
About 1648 - John Farley Sr born according to deposition in 1679 stating he was 31. Note that I have been unable to find that deposition, see above.
1676 - Bacon's Rebellion - George Farley, supposedly John Farley's uncle, executed. John Farley Sr always signed his own name, but his son John Farley Jr always signed with his mark "I F" (the "I" had a middle cross bar, see example from his will above). This may be an indication the Farley family fell on hard times, and although John Sr had been educated, he could not afford to educate his son. It is possible the Farleys had property seized for their part in the rebellion. There is no indication that John Farley owned land until about 1690.
1678 - John Farley Sr was renting land from John Worsham in Henrico County, VA, as shown by Order Book 1678-1693:64, 2 Dec 1678, John Worsham gives to brother Charles Worsham land in Bristol Parish land leased to John Farloe at the expiration of the lease.
Prior to Oct 1692 - John Farley Sr purchased 150 acres in Charles City County, VA from Hercules Flood. The land was on Blackwater Swamp (actually a small river) in what it today Prince George Co, VA. John Farley Sr gave half of this land to son John Farley Sr, and exchanged land with John Womack - 75 acres in Charles City Co, VA for John Womack's 100 acres in Henrico Co, VA, which had been conveyed to John Womack by his brother Richard Womack. This is shown in two deeds in Charles City Co, VA (both in Record Book 1692-1700:155) and one deed in Henrico Co, VA (WD 1688-1697:378) dated 20 Oct 1692. Mary, wife of John Farley Sr, relinquished her dower for the land. Note that John Womack was married to Mary Akin, and John Farley Jr to Elizabeth Akin, and these Akin women were both the daughters of James Akin Sr, so for a few years these sisters lived on adjoining land.
1693 - apparently a dispute about items taken by John Farley Sr from the property he had leased from John Worsham. WD 1688-1697:413-414 [Image 470], depositions of Mary Garrett aged 28 years, Margaret Dison aged about 50 years, William Puckett aged about 30 years, and John Hatchett aged about 20 years; note that John Hatchett deposed that John Farley was his master. The property leased from Worsham was called Clarksfield, and the depositions talk about items taken from there to Farley's house at "Blackwater" and "Womacks". John Farley is referred to as both John Farley and Goodman Farley, with Goodman being an old form of address like Mister.
15 June 1696 - Henrico Co, VA WD 1688-1697:654 [Image 596], 15 June 1696, James Eakin [Akin] Sr and James Eakin Jr sold to John Farley Jr 80 acres, witnesses John Farley Sr and Nich [Nicholas] Dison. Signed James his IE mark Akin Senr, James +++ his mark Akin Junr.
3 Aug 1696 - Charles City Co, VA Record Book 1692-1700:455, 3 Aug 1696, John Farley Jr with consent of wife Elizabeth sold the 75 acres conveyed to him by John Farley Sr. This proves John Farley Jr was married to wife Elizabeth by 1696. John Farley Jr signed the deed with his mark, I F.
Dec 1698 - Henrico Co, VA W&D 1697-1704:144 [Image 76] - marriage license granted, Daniel Steward to Elizabeth Farloe [Farley]. Note the source record says nothing about Elizabeth being a widow.
24 Apr 1703 - Virginia Land Patent Book 9:528 - Farlar [Farley], John Jr, 24 Apr 1703, Henrico Co, 471 acres. Described in patent as south of James River in the forks of Procters [Creek]. For the importation of ten people whose names are listed.
1704 - Quit Rent Rolls of Henrico Co, VA list all land owners with acreage:
Farloe, John Senr - 100 - this is John Farley Sr with the 100 acres of land formerly belonging to John Womack, see above.
Farloe, John Junr - 551 - this is John Farley Jr with the 80 acres he purchased in 1696 from James Akin Sr and James Akin Jr, plus the 471 acres he was granted in a patent in 1703.
24 Oct 1706 - Inventory of John Stewart Sr taken by Samuel Newman, Henry Walthall, Nich Dison & John Farley Sr. WD 1706:1709:12.
9 Aug 1707 - slaves of John Stewart Sr appraised by John Farley Sr, Samuel Newman,Henry Walthall, Nich Dison. WD 1706:1709:54.
29 Oct 1708 - John Farley, Sr. of Bristol Parish, Henrico Co., for love and affection to my daughter Mary Baugh, wife of Thomas Baugh, my old plantation, it being formerly by deed from Richard Womack to John Womack and from said John to me. Dated 29 Oct 1708. No witnesses. Signed: John Farley, Sr. Recorded 1 March 1708/09. WD 1706:1709:15 [Image 332]. At this point John Farley Sr had no land, having given it all to his children. He appears at least one more time in records, in 1709 see below. John Farley Sr died some time before 1732, and because he had given his property to his children, there are no probate records. See my article on meaning of Junior and Senior. John Farley Jr, some time after the death of his father, began going by John Farley Sr to distinguish from his own son John Farley (III). The fact John Farley Jr is designated "Jr" in records through at least the early 1720s indicates his father was likely still living.
20 Aug 1709 - Inventory of John Mescaskoe by John Farley Sr, Samuel Newman, Henry Walthall, William Pride, John Wilson Jr. WD 1706:1709:182.
21 Apr 1712 - James Akin Sr makes his will in Henrico Co naming wife Sarah, and four children Jame Akin Jr, Mary Womeck [Womack], Elizabeth Farlow [Farley], and Sarah Nunnoly [Nunnally]. WD 1710-1714:240.
30 Aug 1712 - WD 1710:1714:164 [Image 465] - deed dated 30 Aug 1712, Robert Thomson to John Stewart, witnessed by "Jno I F Farler Junr, Jno Farley son to above said". Some notes on this deed:
This was John Farley Jr (who signed with mark I F), and his son John Farley III, who could sign his own name, and was at least 14 to be a witness. As noted above, John Farley Jr was married to Elizabeth Akin by 1696, and probably a few years earlier, so John Farley III could have been at least 16 by 1712. By naming patterns of the time, it makes sense John Farley Jr would name his eldest son John after his (John Jr's) father.
It is interesting that in this deed, the Farley surname is spelled both Farley and Farler.
The Richard Thomson [Thompson] grantee in this deed at some point married Sarah Farley, daughter of John Farley Jr, but it is unknown if they were married yet at the time of this deed.
In another Henrico deed, dated 31 July 1712, Thomas Womack sold land and wife Mary relinquished her dower (WD 1710-1714:155). This was Mary Farley Womack, married to Thomas Womack by at least 1712; she was likely the eldest daughter of James Farley Jr, named after his mother. Mary Farley Womack's grandson, Abraham Womack Jr (son of Abraham Sr) was born circa 1726 according to his Bible record stating he was 74 when he died in 1800. Abraham Womack Jr was at least 16 in 1746 when he was listed as a tithable in the household of his father, Abraham Womack Sr, in the 1746 Amelia Co, VA tax list. The fact Abraham Womack Jr was born circa 1726 means his father, Abraham Womack Sr was likely born circa 1708. This in turn means Mary Farley married Thomas Womack circa 1707, meaning Mary Farley was likely born circa 1691, meaning John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akin were likely married circa 1690. Again, the Charles City Co 1696 deed above proves John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akin were married by 1696. They were very likely married by 1692, when John Farley Sr gave his son John Farley Jr the 75 acres in Charles City Co, so John Jr could provide for his own family.
2 Feb 1713/1714 [New Style 1714] - Sarah Akin, widow, makes her will in Henrico Co naming son James Akin, grandson Daniel Nunnoly, daughter Elizabeth Farlow [Farley], daughter Sarah Nunnoly, son-in-law John Womack. Sarah Akin was the widow of James Akin, whose will is abstracted above. Note that John Farley Jr and wife Elizabeth Akin named children James and Sarah after Elizabeth's parents.
23 Dec 1714 - Virginia Land Patent Book 10:217 - Farlar [Farley], John Jr, 23 Dec 1714, Henrico Co, 300 acres. Described as in forks of Proctors [Creek], adjacent John Curtee [?] and James Akens [Akin]. Note that on 3 March 1706 [1707 New Style], Richard Ligon surveyed 300 acres for John Farley (WD 1706-1709:97, Image 305); it was not unusual for the patent process to take several year. At this point, John Farley Jr owned 881 acres.
29 March 1722 - WD 1725-1737:118 [Image 244] - Richard Nunaley makes his will in Henrico Co naming wife Sarah, son Richard (gets land adjacent John Farley Jr), son William, son Daniel (get land adjacent John Farley), son John, son Joseph, son Walter, grandson James Nunaley son of Richard. This proves Richard Nunnally, husband of Sarah Akin, owned land adjacent John Farley Jr, who was married to Sarah Akin Nunnally's sister, Elizabeth Akin Farley. Since John Farley is still designated Jr, this may indicate his father, John Farley Sr, was still living in 1722.
Sep 1724 - OB 1719-1724:356, Sep Court 1724, James Akin Jr to John Farlee Jr, deed. The actual deed is lost, this is just the court record of when the deed was proved. In Nov 1724 Court, Mary, wife of James Akin, relinquished her dower to the land sold to John Farlee Jr. Note that James Akin Jr (III) was the grandson of the original James Akin and his wife Sarah; after James Akin Sr died in 1712, his son James Akin Jr later went by Sr to distinguish from his own son James. Multiple records show the second James Akin's wife was named Anne. So, the James Akin Jr (with wife Mary) who sold land to John Farley Jr was the nephew of John Farley Jr and wife Elizabeth Akin. Since the deed itself is lost, we don't know the location or quantity of the land.
17 Aug 1725 - Virginia Land Patent Book 12:287 - Farlowe, William, 17 Aug 1725, Henrico Co, 137 acres. William Farley, son of John Farley Jr, got a patent grant for 137 acres, which was reflected in the 1736 tax list of Henrico Co with 237 acres - the 137 acres from this patent, plus 100 acres his father gave him in 1732. Note that William Farley had 3 levys (tithes, meaning white males over 16 or slaves) in the 1736 Henrico tax list. By 1737, William Farley Sr was on the Amelia Co, VA tax list, and his 3 tithables are named as himself, William Farley Jr, and Daniel Farley. The fact he had 2 sons aged 16 or older in 1737, and likely in 1736, coupled with his land grant in 1725, point to William Farley Sr, son of John Farley Jr, was likely born in the 1690s.
Feb and March 1733 - In a series of 5 deeds recorded in a row, dated Feb and March 1732/1733 [1733 New Style], WD 1725-1737:383-385 [Image 382-383], John Farley gave land to 5 sons. All the deeds were signed by John Farley's mark of I F. All the deeds were witnessed by Charles Clay, Wm Nunnally, and John Green; William Nunnally was the son of Richard Nunally and Sarah Akin and thus the nephew of John Farley and his wife Elizabeth Akin. In one deed, he is designated John Farley Sr, to distinguish from his son John, and likely indicating his father John Farley was dead. The total acreage of the deeds is 550 acres, likely the same as the 551 acres John Farley Jr owned in 1704. The deeds were to the following sons:
to son James Farley, 100 acres
to son John Farley, 140 acres. To the male heirs of son John, but if he has none, to son Peter and his male heirs, and if has none, to next male heir at law, but son John's wife Mary to have land for her life. NOTE: This deed caused confusion, because it was misread, and the Mary referred to was thought to be Mary wife of John Farley Sr. Thus, all these deeds were incorrectly interpreted to be from John Farley Sr (wife Mary), not John Farley Jr (wife Elizabeth Akin). Also, early researchers did not understand that the same person could be designated Junior early in life, then be designated Senior later in life (meaning of Junior and Senior).
to son Matthew Farley, 110 acres
to son William Farley, 100 acres
to son Joseph Farley, 100 acres
25 March 1735 - Amelia County, VA was formed from Prince George Co, VA. It is very likely that Peter Farley and Joseph Farley, sons of John Farley Jr, already had surveys in Prince George Co before Amelia Co was formed, because each had a land patent in Amelia Co, both dated 15 Mar 1735 [which was actually 15 Mar 1736 New Style, about a year after the county was created].
1730s, 1740s - I won't list all the deeds and grants for Farleys, but John Farley Jr's sons had grants in both Henrico Co and Amelia Co. See list of Farley Land Patents, below.
1736 - tax list of Henrico Co, VA - see below
25 May 1749 - Chesterfield County formed from Henrico Co south of the James River.
7 Mar 1751 - Robert Thompson of Chesterfield Co makes his will, he was the husband of Sarah Farley, daughter of John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akin. Chesterfield Co, VA WB 1:128.
6 Apr 1754 - John Farley (Jr) of Chesterfield Co makes his will. Chesterfield Co, VA WB 1:200. Contrary to various transcriptions of this will, he did not sign with an X, but with the mark he always used, I F; see image above. He named his wife Elizabeth, son John, daughter Mary Womack, son William, daughter Sarah Thompson, sons James, Joseph, Matthew, Francis, Henry and Peter. The witnesses were Jno Archer, James Clay, and Richard his R N mark Nunnally. The John Archer reference is the one and only known record with Archer associated with John Farley Jr's family. The Richard Nunnally witness was the son of Richard Nunnally (1722 will referenced above) and Sarah Akin, and thus the nephew of John Farley Sr and Elizabeth Akin. John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akin did not have a son named Forrest; that is confusion with a grandson named Forrest Farley.
4 May 1761 - Elizabeth Akin Farley, widow of John Farley Jr was dead by this date when an inventory of her estate was taken. Chesterfield Co, VA WB 1:362.
Wills of children - most of the children of John Farley Jr and Elizabeth Akin lived long lives and left wills, which is remarkable (see https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/farley/2029/):
Mary Farley Womack, will dated 23 July 1750, Chesterfield Co, VA WB 1:188.[Image 216]
John Farley, will dated 10 Sep 1775, Chesterfield Co, VA WB 2:255 [Image 851]
William Farley, will dated 18 Nov 1781, Amelia Co, VA WB 3:247 [Image 324]
Sarah Farley Thompson, will dated 24 July 1776, Charlotte Co, VA WB 1:143 [Image 247], names grandson Archer Farley
James Farley, will dated 19 Feb 1779, Chesterfield Co, VA WB 3:216 will [Image 245]
Joseph Farley, will dated 3 May 1761, Chesterfield Co, VA WB 1:359 [Image 394]
Matthew Farley, will dated 1 Aug 1791, Powhatan Co, VA WB 1:244 [Image 130]
Henry Farley, will dated 23 Aug 1767, Halifax Co, VA WB 0:243 [Image 125]
Peter Farley, will dated 22 Aug 1756, Amelia Co, VA WB 1:125 [Image 147]
Elizabeth Archer vs Elizabeth Akin as the wife of John Farley Sr
The preponderance of evidence is that John Farley Sr married Elizabeth Akin, daughter of James Akin and wife Sarah, who each named daughter Elizabeth Farlow in their wills. Various other records of Henrico, Charles City, and other Virginia counties, show that the Farley surname has many variations in old records including Farloe and Farlow. Failure to consider records with these spelling variations means certain Farley researchers have missed important clues.
Furthermore, John Farley Jr bought land from James Akins Sr and James Akins Jr, and he got a Virginia land patent adjacent James Akin. John Farley Jr owned land in Charles City Co, VA adjacent John Womack, who was married to Mary Akin, another daughter of James Akin Sr. Also, Richard Nunnally, married to Sarah Akin, another daughter of James Akin Sr, owned land adjacent John Farley Jr. Another Richard Nunnally, son of Richard Nunnally and Sarak Akin, witnessed the will of John Farley Jr.
Many researchers believe her name was Elizabeth Archer, and tried to fit her in various Archer families. See below for my analysis of Elizabeth Archers, and why none fit.
See:
https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/farley@rootsweb.com/thread/32697419/
Most important is this quote from researcher Tom Farley: "Lastly, and most importantly for me until something concrete turns up, the family tree passed down to me was from written family records dating from before the turn of the 20th century, and these specifically say that Elizabeth Archer (died May 1761) was the wife of John Farley Jr. "
Are these Bible records, or family research that was done in the late 1800s? Many families were doing research in the late 1800s, so much so that the old records of Henrico County, Virginia were being damaged by too much handling, and hand-written copies of the record books prior to 1700 were made in 1892. My thought is that the Archer surname for Elizabeth may have been a mistake made by a researcher long ago, and accepted as family lore.
Another explanation is that Archer is a misreading of Akin. Akin has many spelling variations. In old, faded cursive handwriting, a spelling of Akin like Ackin or Aecken could easily be misread as Archer - both start with A, the lower-case k and h are often confused, and the lower-case n and r are often confused. Having read thousands of old handwritten records, I can say these types of misreading are common.
Books and articles purported to state John Farley Jr married Elizabeth Archer (but several don't really say that)
These records state specifically that Elizabeth Archer was her name:
1. Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors National Genealogical Society pp. 87
2. Vanocaten: A Farley-Reid Genealogy Baltimore Gateway Press 1993 William S. Farley Page 23
3. 17th Century Colonial Ancestors-National Genealogical Society-Page 87. Simon of Antigua is s/o John and Elizabeth Archer Farley.
4. Amelia Lodge 101 Leslie Howard Farley Grandson of Cornelius Creed Farley. In this book the wife of John is named as Elizabeth Archer.
5. Francis Marion Farley and Lulu Cain Farley: More Ancestors and Descendants. By Lucille Farley Speer. In this book the wife of John Farley is named as Elizabeth Archer.
6. Original research Notebooks of Mrs. Leslie Howard Farley. States marriage of Elizabeth Archer and John Farley
7. Gulf States Historical Magazine May 1903. Marriage took place 1700 in Charles City County,Virginia, names Elizabeth as an Archer of the Umberslade Archers.
8. Miscellaneous Birth and Death Records of the Tri-State Area of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. By J. Danile 1998 Both birth and death dates given. Named as son of John and Elizabeth Archer Farley, with wife named as Elizabeth Crostic.
The list above comes from (https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/farley@rootsweb.com/thread/32697419/), but of the books/articles I could actually find, most state the opposite - that Elizabeth was Elizabeth Akin, or her maiden name is unknown. Also, information purported to be in these books does not exist.
#1 - Note that #1 and #3 are the same, with "17th" spelled out as "Seventeenth" in the first citation; both cite page 87. The correct title of this book is Seventeenth century colonial ancestors of members of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII century, 1915-1975, and the authors are Hutton, Mary Louise Marshall and Bott, Nydia Reynolds,
National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. The book is available online via LDS. Sure enough, Farleys are mentioned on page 87 [Image 95 of 325]. It says nothing whatsoever about Simon Farley of Antigua. It just lists a few Farley men and their wives:
Farley, John (1647 - ) Va.; m. Mary ____, Landowner.
Farley, John (1670 - 1758) Va.; m. Elizabeth ____, Landowner.
#2 - Vanocaten : a Farley-Reid genealogy. By William S Farley. The book is available online via LDS. On p.23 [Image 34 of 502], the author recognizes that other sources have stated Elizabeth's maiden names was Archer, and cites Amelia Lodge 101 (#4 above) and Francis Marion Farley and Lulu Cain Farley: More Ancestors and Descendants (#5 above). However, the author made an extensive search and could find no proof, and left Elizabeth's maiden name unknown. On p.1 [Image 5 of 502], under Errata 10/96 (October 1996), the author states "The wife of John Farley Jr b c 1670 was probably Elizabeth Aikens [Akin], dau of James and Sarah Aikens Sr of Henrico VA (Letter from Ms Mary Elizabeth Ferrell 7/94)".
#3 - see #1
#4 - Amelia Lodge 101, by Leslie Howard Farley. I have not seen it, but a copy is at the Library of Virginia in Richmond, VA. See https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/farley@rootsweb.com/thread/32695572/, which lists the Farley lineage in Amelia Lodge 101. Note that Elizabeth Archer is listed as the daughter of George Archer. See below, both George Archer Sr and George Archer Jr of Henrico Co had daughters named Elizabeth, but they have documentation that shows they married Thomas Branch and a Mr Granger respectively.
#5 - Francis Marion Farley and Lulu Cain Farley: More Ancestors and Descendants. By Lucille Farley Speer. The book is available online via LDS. On page 3 [Image 19 of 230], an ancestry chart shows John Farley Jr b 1670 m Elizabeth Archer. No documentation to support this is given. On p.6 [Image 22 of 320], the same assertion is made, again with no documentation.
#6 - Original research Notebooks of Mrs. Leslie Howard Farley. I could not find these, but they are of course related to #4.
#7 - Gulf States Historical Magazine May 1903. Available online via HathiTrust. The Farley article starts on p.428, Farley Gleanings, by Mrs Wm C Stubbs. On p.429, the author talks about Elizabeth, wife of John Farley [Jr] and states "Her family name is greatly desired.". Nothing is said about Elizabeth being an Archer.
#8 - Miscellaneous Birth and Death Records of the Tri-State Area of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. By J. Danile 1998. I cannot find this anywhere, it may be incorrectly cited.
Books on Farley Genealogy
Twelve Generations of Farleys, published 1943, by Jesse Kelso Farley. - available on Family Search.
Notes on Twelve Generations of Farleys:
I am not verifying any of the early research prior to John Farley. This research has been re-visited by others, and like all very early American research, needs to be approached with a very critical eye, and not simply accepted wholesale. Much of the research in this book appears solid, but it should all be re-verified. Some of the supposed children of John Farley have no documentation and appear to be confusion with Farley family members from much later generations.
There is conflation of John Farley with his son John Farley Jr on page 28, concerning a series of deeds in Feb and March 1732/1733 (1733 New Style) from John Farley Jr to his sons James, John, Matthew, William and Joseph. These deeds are found in book Wills & Deeds 1725-1737, pages 383-385. Because of this conflation, some of the sons of John Farley Jr are wrongly attributed to John Farley Sr. More on these deeds above in Timeline.
On page 32 through 33, it is stated "John Farley Jr, and Elizabeth ____ his wife, were married about the year 1700 and he died 1754 while she survived him until 1761." This is followed by a list of children. In that list, it is noted that son Francis Farley married second "Elizabeth Crostic, born April 19, 1718." Immediately after that is a listing for Peter Farley, son of John Farley, Jr, stating he was born "April 19, 1718, m[arried] Miss Turpin". This appears to be a mistake, that Elizabeth Crostic, second wife of Francis Farley was born on the exact same say as Peter Farley. It is probably a printing mistake made while type-setting the book.
On page 35, it is stated John Farley Jr signed his will with an X. He actually signed with "I F", which was the mark he always signed documents with, and which distinguishes John Farley Jr from his father, John Farley Sr, who signed his full name.
On page 55 of the Appendices, it is noted that the birth and death dates of Francis Farley and second wife Elizabeth Crostic were "copied from family Bible of James Gore by Joseph Elmer Goar, Kansas City, MO".
Nowhere in Twelve Generations is Francis Farley, son of John Farley Jr, listed as "Francis Marion Farley". This appears to be a later embellishment. He had descendants named Francis Marion Farley. Francis Marion was a hero of the American Revolutionary War, and many boys were named after him. Middle names were very rare when Francis Farley was born, and is seems unlikely he was given the name Francis Marion decades before the Revolutionary War.
Mary Farley Womack's grandfather, John Farley Sr could sign his own name - WD 1706-1709:151 (image 332) - John Farley Sr to daughter Mary Baugh and her husband Thomas Baugh, his land sold to him by John Womack, conveyed to John Womack by Richard Womack. Dated 29 Oct 1708, recorded 1 Mar 1708 [1709 New Style]. Signed John Farley Senior.
Mary Farley's father, John Farley Jr, could not, or chose not to sign his full name, and signed with mark "I F" (the I with a short middle cross-bar). WD 1710:1714:164 (image 465), deed dated 30 Aug 1712, Robert Thomson to John Stewart, witnessed by "Jno I F Farler [sic] Junr, Jno Farley son to above said". This was John Farley Jr, and his son John Farley III, who could sign his own name, and was at least 14 to be a witness.
Note that John Farley (Jr) also signed his will "John I F Farley". Chesterfield Co, WB 1:200, image 229.
Henrico Co, VA W&D 1697-1704:144 [Image 76] - Xber 98 Lycense granted Dan'll Steward for maryage with Elizabeth ffarloe. [Dec 1698, marriage license granted, Daniel Steward to Elizabeth Farley. Note that in some old handwriting, two lower-case f's were used to form a modern capital F. The book Annals of Henrico Parish, Diocese of Virginia on p.227 has this marriage abstracted with Elizabeth's surname as Farloe but says she was a widow, though the source record says no such thing. The book Marriages of Henrico County Virginia 1680 - 1808 has her surname incorrect as "Harloe".]
1704 Quit Rent Rolls
Land Tax - Names with acreage
Henrico County, April 1705
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1920), pp. 207-218 (12 pages)
Akins, James Senr - 200
Akins, James Junr - 218
Farloe, John Senr - 100
Farloe, John Junr - 551
1736 Henrico Southside tax list
John Farley, 5 Levys, 320 acres
Joseph Farley, 3 Levys, 100 acres
James Farley, 1 Levy, 100 acres
Matt Farley, 1 Levy, 100 acres
Wm Farley, 3 Levys, 237 acres [William Farlowe, patent book 12:287, 137 acres, Henrico Co, 17 Aug 1725]
Fran'c Farley, 1 Levy
John Farley, 4 Levys, 140 acres
Virginia Land Patents - Farley name before 1801
Colonial Grants - Northern Neck
3:51 - Farlow, Ambrose, 15 Sep 1704, Stafford Co, 150 acres
Colonial Grants
9:528 - Farlar, John Jr, 24 Apr 1703, Henrico Co, 471 acres
10:217 - Farlar, John Jr, 23 Dec 1714, Henrico Co, 300 acres
12:287 - Farlowe, William, 17 Aug 1725, Henrico Co, 137 acres
17:19 - Farley, Peter, 15 Mar 1735, Amelia Co, 250 acres
17:22 - Farley, Joseph, 15 Mar 1735, Amelia Co, 500 acres
17:386 - Farley, Joseph, 15 Aug 1737, Amelia Co, 400 acres
19:733 - Farley, Henry, 20 Aug 1740, Amelia Co, 318 acres
20:416 - Farley, Henry, 30 July 1742, Amelia Co, 902 acres
20:467 - Farlow, James, 12 Feb 1742, Henrico Co, 275 acres
24:237 - Farley, William, 5 June 1746, Amelia Co, 487 acres
24:326 - Farley, Wm Jr, 25 July 1746, Amelia Co, 200 acres
24:347 - Farley, Daniel, 25 July 1746, Amelia Co, 400 acres
25:249 - Farley, Joseph, 12 Jan 1746, Henrico Co, 44 acres
27:389 - Farley, Francis, 5 Sep 1749, Henrico Co, 376 acres
27:396 - Farley, John, 5 Sep 1749, Henrico Co, 17 acres
42:634 - Farley, James, 5 July 1744, Prince Edward Co, 418 acres
42:635 - Farley, James, 5 July 1774, Prince Edward Co, 345 acres
State Grants
M:214 - Farlor, Matthew, 1 June 1784, Bedford Co, 204 acres
O:147 - Farler, Francis, 20 Mar 1785, Montgomery Co, 10 acres
R:294 - Farler, Thomas, 14 Sep 1785, Montgomery Co, 350 acres
R:296 - Farler, Thomas, 14 Sep 1785, Mongomery Co, 340 acres
R:299 - Farler, Thomas, 14 Sep 1785, Montgomery Co, 200 acres
R:301 - Farler, Thomas, 14 Sep 1785, Montgomery Co, 40 acres
Y:520 - Farlor, Daniel, 1 June 1786, Bedford Co, 218 acres
3:628 - Farlor, Daniel, 23 June 1786, Bedford Co, 1750 acres
3:414 - Farley, Thomas, 5 July 1786, Montgomery Co, 100 acres
5:96 - Farler, Thomas, 5 July 1786, Montgomery Co, 330 acres
6:37 - Farler, Henry, 20 Sep 1786, Montgomery Co, 100 acres
6:300 - Farler, Francis, 15 Oct 1786, Greenbrier Co, 80 acres
6:381 - Farlow, Matthew, 10 Oct 1786, Greenbrier Co, 151 acres
10:422 - Farley, Daniel, 5 July 1787, Rockingham Co, 66 acres
12:344 - Farley, Matthew, 6 Aug 1787, Greenbrier Co, 100 acres
21:426 - Farley, Forrest, 26 Nov 1789, Montgomery Co, 400 acres
27:486 - Farler, Thomas, 13 Feb 1793, Montgomery Co, 700 acres
27:487 - Farler, Thomas, 13 Feb 1793, Geeenbrier Co, 300 acres
28:24 - Farley, Francis, 25 Aug 1792, Greenbrier Co, 220 acres
32:399 - Farley, Matthew, 31 Aug 1795, Greenbrier Co, 50 acres
36:615 - Farley, Matt, 20 Oct 1797, Greenbrier Co, 50 acres
42:124 - Farley, Francis, 14 Jan 1799, Greenbrier Co, 124 acres
46:164 - Farley, Forest, 19 Aug 1800, Montgomery, 39 acres
47:110 - Farley, Forest, 26 Aug 1800, Montgomery Co, 500 acres
Chesterfield Co, VA wills
Farley, Joseph WB 1:359 - dau Mary Farley, sons Joseph Farley, Forrest Farley, Joseph & Forrest executors, dated 3 May 1761, Signed Joseph Farley, Wit: Jas Watkins, John Nunnally, Walter Nunally.
WB 2:104 - Farley, Forrest's Estate - 1767
WB 2:107 - (image 703) Farley, John's account - by John Farley, executor, 1755 - 1758, 1762
WB 2:255 - (image 851) Farley, John's will - to wife Mary, debt due me from estate of Forrest Farley; to Peter Farley son of William Farley all my lands after death of my wife; to William Farley son of my brother William slaves Sharper, Joe, Ned & Moll; to Stewart Farley slaves Salle, Lucy & her son Dick; to Daniel Farley son of William slaves Bess, Betty, Lucy, Patt, Will, Robin, Frank, Hal & Peter; remainder of estate equally divided between William Farley and Stewart Farley; Daniel Farley, Stewart Farley; Joseph Bass executors; dated 10 Sep 1775; signed John Farley; Wit: Thomas Sadler, William Beasley, Isham his X mark Farmer.
Farley, Elizabeth 1:362, 365 - Inv & Sale - image 396, 399
Farley, Joseph 1:359 will
Farley, John 1:200 will
Farley, John 1:203 - Inv
Farley, Forrest 1:104 - Inv
Farley John 2:255 - will
Farley, John 2:107 - account
Farlar, James 3:243 - appr
Farley, Edward 3:283 - acct
Farley, James 3:216 will - image 245 - 19 Feb 1799, son James, Henry, David, Edward; granddaughter Elizabeth Wooldridge; dau Betty Phillips Hopkins; property to be sold & money divided between all my daughter, not named.
Farley John 3:64 inv - image 76
Thompson, Robert will 1:128, inv 1:165
Will - wife Sarah; son Robert, son Peter, son John Farley, dau Sarah, dau Elizabeth, dau Mary, son William, dau Martha, son Drury, son Isham; dated 7 Mar 1751.
Amelia County, Virginia tax lists: an every-name index - p.59-60 - Farley & spelling variants.
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1737Tith/01.jpg
1737, List A - John Dawson's List, above Flatt Creek
Henry Farlow, Kent a Negroe - 2
Wm Farlow Senr, Wm Farlow Junr, Danll Farlow - 3
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1738Tith/01a.jpg
1738, List A - John Burton's List, above Flat Creek
Col 1
William Farley Sen, William Farley Jun, Danil Farley, John Farley, Jes [?] negro - 5
Henry Farley, Kent negro - 2
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1739Tith/01a.jpg
1739, List W - Edward Bookers List, between Deep and Flat Creeks
Col 3
Larrance Farley - 1
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1739Tith/03b.jpg
1739, List A - above Flat Creek
Col 1
William Farler Sen, William Farler Jun, Dannel Farler, John Farler, Negro Joe - 5
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1739Tith/03c.jpg
Col 1
Henry Farley, Negro Kt [?] - 2
Farley 40a - Danil, Henry, John, William Jr, William Sr, John Burton's List, above Flat Creek
Farley 41f - Dannell, Henry, John, Sturt, William Sr (2), John Burton's List, above Flat Creek
Farley 41e - Law - Edward Bookers List
Farley 42e - Law - Edward Bookers List
Farlow 42f - Daniel, Henry, John, Stord, Wm, Wm Jr
Farley - 44e - Law - Edward Bookers List
Farley - 44f - Step(?), William, - William Clements List
This is partial, the index has Farleys for many more years.
1755 - http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/VirginiaTaxListCensuses/VaColonialTitheLists/Amelia/1755Tith/03d.jpg
Col 3 - Henry Farley Sr, Henry Farley Jr, John Farley
https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/farley/2029/
Archer records, Henrico Co - examination of women named Elizabeth Archer
Various Elizabeth Archers have been claimed as the wife of John Farley Jr. None seem to fit the timeline, and most have documented husbands.
The only Archer landowners in Henrico Co, VA in 1704 were brothers George and John Archer (Henrico 1704 Quit Rent Roll). They were the sons of George Archer Sr who died before Aug 1678, on which date Joseph Royall was the guardian of three of George Sr's children - Elizabeth, Margery & John - all of whom must have been under age 21 to have a guardian (Henrico Co, VA Orphans Court p.4). George Archer Jr was not listed as an orphan must have been over 21 in Aug 1678; he deposed in Feb 1680 [1681 New Style] that he was 26 (WD 1677-1692:153). Elizabeth Archer, daughter of George Archer Sr, married Thomas Branch by Aug 1689, as proved by Henrico Orphans Court records, below (Henrico Co, VA Orphans Court p.24).
George Archer Jr's will, dated 15 Oct 1729 (WD 1725-1737:320) names daughter Elizabeth Granger among other children, so this Elizabeth Archer married a Mr Granger.
John Archer, son of George Archer Sr, was under 21 in 1678, so unlikely to be the father of Elizabeth wife of John Farley Jr. In 1694, George Archer Jr confirmed to brother John Archer the tract their father George Sr had left John in his 1675 will. This may indicate John Archer turned 21 in 1694. John Archer first married Frances Shippy (WD 1688-1697:631) daughter of Thomas Shippy (OB 1694-1701:212). John Archer's second wife was Martha Field. daughter of Peter Field, as proved by WD 1710-1714:92, 1 Aug 1711 John Archer & Martha his wife sell 961 acres devised to Martha by the will of Peter Field. John Archer left a will, Misc Henrico Records, Part 2:393, dated 14 Mar 1717, in which he names several children, including son Field who was described as underage, and daughter Elizabeth. John Archer's daughter Elizabeth Archer was likely unmarried, and far too young to be the Elizabeth who married John Farley Jr.
An Elizabeth Royall, daughter of Joseph Royall, has been suggested as the wife of John Archer and the mother of Elizabeth Archer, wife of John Farley Jr. There were three generations of Joseph Royall. The second Joseph Royall was the guardian of the orphans of George Archer Sr. See the "The Colonial Royalls of Virginia" articles cited below. Neither the first nor second Joseph Archer had a daughter named Elizabeth (the second Joseph Royall had a daughter, first name unknown, who married a Mr Maschell), nor did they have a daughter who married an Archer. The third Joseph Royall mentions daughter Elizabeth Archer in his will, dated 6 Feb 1747 (Henrico WD 1744-1748:375), dated 6 Feb 1747, but this is much too late for this Elizabeth Royall Archer to be the mother of Elizabeth, wife of John Farley Jr.
In conclusion, none of the Elizabeth Archers were born early enough to have been the mother of Elizabeth, wife of John Farley Jr, Most of the Elizabeth Archers have documented husbands. The only Elizabeth Royall married to an Archer, claimed as Elizabeth Archer's mother, was much too late in time.
John Royall Harris author of:
The Colonial Royalls of Virginia, The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 32, No. 4 (Oct., 1924), pp. 411-412 (2 pages)
The Colonials Royalls of Virginia (Continued), The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 33, No. 1 (Jan., 1925), pp. 103-107 (5 pages)
Henrico Co, VA Orphans Court p.4 [Image 216] - Aug 1678 - Joseph Royall guardian of orphans of George Archer deceased - Elizabeth Archer, Margery Archer, John Archer.
WD 1677-1692:153 - 10 Feb 1680 [New Style 1681] - George Archer "aged 26 years or thereabouts", deposition mentions Joseph Royall, "sister Margery".
Henrico Co, VA Orphans Court p.24 [Image 229] - Aug 1689, Thos Branch married Eliza. orphan of Geo Archer dec'd, Joseph Royall her Guardian.
from Marriages of Henrico County, Virginia 1680-1808, Compiled and Published by Joyce H. Lindsay:
January 1695. John ARCHER and Frances Shippy. Sur. Capt. James Royall. Deeds, Wills, etc. 1688-1697. p. 631.
OB 1694-1701:212 [Copy, Image 105] - Oct 1698, John Archer in open court doth acknowledge the receit of the portion due to Frances his late wife out of her dec'd father Thomas Shippys Estate...
1704 Quit Rent rolls
Archer, John 335 acres
Archer, Geo 1738 acres
Henrico Co, VA WD 1688-1697:515 - George Archer [Sr] by his will dated 24 Nov 1675 bequeathed a tract to his son John Archer therefore for brotherly love, I George Archer [Jr] confirm to said John Archer the said tract. 1 Oct 1694. Wit: Jos Royall, All Clerke. Signed George Archer. Recorded 1 Oct 1694.