This post covers the years from a bout 1700 to 1760.

Here they are linked in a generational chain:

William Clayton → Honour m. James Brown → Jeremiah → PATIENCE m. JOSHUA HADLEY → Simon → Ann m. Thomas Leakey → Joel Leakey → Anna m. Thomas Gray → Margaret Nancy m. Amonet Washington Wilbourn → William Harvey → Ella Washington (Rae) (our grandmother)

Joshua Hadley was born in Ireland and came to America when he was ten to twelve years young, with his family. We don’t know how he lived exactly, but he was a yeoman farmer’s son whose father eventually worked in the law courts. Thus Joshua became a son of privilege, in an American sense.

On the 2nd day of the 7th month, 1725, at New Garden Meeting, Chester County, PA, he married a widow as his first wife: Mary Rowland. On the 12th of December 1726 (New Style of dating) his father gave him two hundred acres in Mill Cr. Hundred, in New Castle Co. DE, right across the border. Joshua and Mary had three children. Mary was born in 1706 and died in 1733 in New Garden.

Joshua married Patience Brown in 1735; the ceremony was performed by a “priest” (probably an Anglican vicar or for sure a non-Quaker minister). For this infraction the Society of Friends at New Garden Monthly Meeting disowned them on 24th day 2 mo. 1736. However, Patience made acknowledgement and got a certificate to the New Garden Meeting on the 30th day, 5th mo., 1737. Joshua and Patience had nine children, and the first born is our direct line: Simon (next chapter).

Joshua seemed to have trouble conforming to the strictures of the Quaker denomination. At his wedding performed by a priest, strong drink was served – or that was the accusation. In the spring of 1736 he was also accused of fathering a child by Margery Lindley. He denied the charge. The pair was supposed to meet together with the church leaders, but Joshua never showed up. The Society wrote letters to two meeting houses, to let them handle matters as they thought proper.

In any case, Joshua lived in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, his father’s land crossing the moveable boundary between the two states. He had a four state journey – or since his own property crossed Pennsylvania and Delaware, one could call it a three-state life: Pennsylvania / Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina.

In 1748 he bought property in the Shenandoah Valley, part of which was then in Augusta County, now in Botetourt (Bote) County (formed in 1770) in Virginia. He lived a little less than a decade in Virginia.

In 1756, he moved with other Pennsylvania Quakers to Cane Cr. in Orange County, North Carolina. “In the records of New Garden Monthly Meeting, Pennsylvania, ‘7-31-1756 it was represented that Patience Hadley, having been removed for some time, writes for a certificate to Friends at Cane Creek, NC which was granted her and children 8-28-1756,’ and in Cane Creek minutes ‘10-2-1756 Patience Hadley with husband and children received on certificate from New Garden Monthly Meeting, PA.’”

Joshua finished out his life at Cane Cr. Monthly Meeting, dying on 21 Oct. 1760, 57 years young. Patience died 23 years later: 23 May 1783, also at Cane Cr. Since she was born 25 May 1715, she lived 68 years.

More posts about him and his siblings and descendants:

Hadleys of Chester Co, PA and New Castle Co, DE

Hadleys of Orange Co, NC

Hadleys of Surry Co, NC

HADLEY SOCIETY

We are blessed to have the Hadley Society, because we don’t need to do raw research. They have done the hard work.

Here are the key links:

Joshua Hadley and Patience Brown:

http://www.hadleysociety.org/pages/history.html

Joshua himself:

http://www.hadleysociety.org/photo_gallery/ancestors_gallery/index230.html

Signature:

http://www.hadleysociety.org/photo_gallery/ancestors_gallery/index230.html

Here is an updated link:

http://www.hadleysociety.net/

You can also go to facebook.

THEIR FAMILY HISTORY

Here are more basic facts (slightly edited) from the Hadley Society.

Joshua’s First Spouse

Mary Rowland was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mason) Rowland. She was born about 1706, New Garden Monthly Meeting, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mary’s mother had purchased 700 acres in the northeast corner of Steyning Manor in 1708. Her father was possibly closely related to John and Thomas Rowland, brothers who came with William Penn on the ship Welcome. Joshua married this widow as his first bride on the 2nd day of the 7th month in 1725, at New Garden Society of Friends. She died at Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. She died in 1733, aged 27 years young.

The copy of the original marriage record had some dark blotches in the margins. A reconstructed reading is indicated by brackets, and the completely illegible parts by blank underlines. But the important words were still legible.

Transcription begins:

Whereas Joshua Hadley of ye County of [New] Castle on Delaware & Mary Rowland of _____________ in ye county of Chester & province of Pennsylvania, having declared their Intention of Marriage with Each other before severall Monthly Meetings of ye people of God called Quakers att Nottingham & New garden In ye County of Chester afforesaid [sic] according to ye good order Used among them and having consent of parents & relations their s’d proposals [crossed out: was] of Marriage was allowed of by ye s’d Meetings.

Now These are to certifie [sic] whom it may concern ye for ye [sic] full accomplishing their s’d Intentions this second day of ye seventh Month in ye year of our Lord 1725 [= September 7, 1725] they ye s’d Joshua Hadley & Mary Rowland appeared In a publick [sic] Meeting of ye s’d People at New garden [sic] afforesaid [sic] & ye s’d Joshua Hadley takeing [sic] ye s’d Mary Rowland by y’e hand did In solemn Manner openly [de]clare y’t [= that] he took her ye s’d Mary Rowland to be [his] wife, promising w’th [= with] ye Lord’s assistance to be un[to] her a Loving & faithfull [sic] husband untill [sic] dea[th] should separate them.

And then & there In ye s’d Assembly ye s’d Mary Rowland did In like manner openly declare y’t [= that] Shee [sic] took ye s’d Joshua Hadley to be her husband, promising w’th [= with] Lord’s assistance to be unto him a Loving and faithfull wife untill [sic] death should separate them.

Moreover, they ye s’d Joshua Hadley & Mary Rowland {Shee according to ye Custom of Marriage, assuming ye name of her husband} as a farther confession thereof did unto these presents set their hands; & we whose names are hereunder subscribed, being present at ye s’d marriage, have as witnesses sett our hands y’e day [& month] above written

[First Column:]

Abigail Willy
Elizabeth Jones
Isaac Starr
Mary Starr
Elizabeth Swaine
Elinor Lindley
Mary Dell
Martha Townsend
Mary Jackson
[M]argret Jonson
[M]artha Willy
[De]borah Chambers
[__n] Jackson
Rachel Starr
Margret Starr
Anne McVitte
Rachel Miller
Mary Hutton
Mary Ashmore
John Chambers

[Second Column:]

James Miller
John Paine
Wm Miller
Tho’s Carleton
Nehemiah Hutton
Joseph Hutton
Robert Halliday
Joseph Chambers
Tho’s Hugh
Joseph Starr
Jeremiah Cowman
Thomas Pard
Benj. Ford
Simon Hadley
James Lindley
John Smith
Joseph Gilpin
Caleb Pusey
Wm Swaine
Henry Reynolds

[Written between the two columns, vertically:] James Starr

Transcription Ends.

Source: New Garden Monthly Meeting Marriages Church minutes

The Hadley Society reports that Joshua and Mary (his first wife) had three children:

1. Ruth Hadley (1726 – 29 March 1812) married John Marshall – 14 August 1742

2. Thomas Hadley (ca. 1728 – 01 September 1781) married Mary Thompson – 13 June 1750

3. Sarah Hadley (16 August 1730 – ??) married Joseph Fredd – 18 October 1753

JOSHUA’S SECOND SPOUSE (and a Little Extra?)

Patience Brown was born on the 25th day, 5th month, 1712, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She married Joshua in 1735. Their marriage was performed by a “priest”; for a Quaker this means a non-Quaker, probably an Anglican vicar, but he could have been minister in another denomination. She died the 23rd day of the 5th month in 1783, in Surry County, North Carolina.

The following was received from Thomas Hamm, archivist and Quaker historian from Earlham College, Indiana.

From New Garden MM Men’s Minutes, Chester County, Pennsylvania:

1st Mo. 27, 1736: Complaint from New Garden Preparative Meeting: “Margery Lindley says she is with Child by Joshua Hadley which he denyes yt she says true & he has since gone and married an other young woman by a priest therefore this meeting appoints Michael Lightfoot, Joseph Sharpe & Wm Miller to Endeavor to have Joshua and Margery together & here what they have to say & to prepare a Testimony for ye Clearing of Truth.”

2nd Mo. 24, 1736: “Joshua Hadley declining to meet those appointed before Margery Lindley A Testimony is signed against each of them & Isaac Jackson Senr to see them read to Newgarden and send Joshua’s to Notingham that friends there may have such use of it as they think proper.”

3rd Mo. 29, 1736: New Garden Preparative Meeting informs that James Harlan “was assistant to Joshua Hadley in his marriage by ye priest and it was intimated several times Drinks strong Liquor to excess.”

The Hadley Society continues about their children:

Joshua and Patience had the following children:

1. Simon – born 3 mo 5, 1737 [he is our direct].

2. Mary – born 1 mo 30, 1739

3. Jeremiah – born 1 mo 7, 1741

4. Joshua – born 5 mo 23, 1742

5. Joseph – born 10 mo 5, 1745

6. Deborah – born 12 mo. 29, 1747

7. Hannah – born 2 mo. 26, 1749

8. Catherine – born 9 mo 24, 1752

9. Lydia – born 11 mo 24, 1756

MORE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN

I have not researched all of their children, but here are the records I have come across.

Children of Joshua and Mary:

1. RUTH

14 8m 1742

Ruth Hadley, daughter of Joshua Hadley, of Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle, m. John Marshill (sic), township of New Garden in Chester Co. at their meeting house in New Garden (p. 137)

Orange County, NC

Dec. 1756

Josiah (Joshua) Hadley is ordered to be overseer of the road from the court house to Mary William’s house to Haw R. along with John Hadley, JOHN MARSHALL, William Johnson, Charles Johnson, and Charles Johnson, Matthew Words, Thomas Cate, Jr., Thomas Cate, Sr., Capt. Robert Cate, Joseph Cate, Robert Willey, William Roseberry, Edmund Davis (OB 1, p. 193)

Mar.-Apr. 1757

Ordered that John Marshall be appointed overseer of the road in place of Joshua Hadley, and William Craig in place of David Bradford, Jr. (OB 1, p. 215)

2. THOMAS

As an esquire and judge, Thomas Hadley became prominent in Orange and Surry Counties, North Carolina. Since his records there are numerous, many have not been included in his section – too many of them.

13 4m 1750

Thomas Hadley, son of Joshua Hadley of Augusta Co. in Province of Virginia, m. Mary Thomson, daughter of John, twp. of Londonderry in Chester Co. at meeting house (Chester Co. PA Marriage Record)

Orange County

Sep. 1759

Ordered that Thomas Hadley to have license to keep a tavern at his dwelling house, after he gives bond and security (OB 1, p. 395)

Sep. 1759

Ordered that Thomas Hadley and Robert Rainey be overseer of a road to be laid out on western path where Alexander Mebane, Esq., lives to John Woody’s ferry on Hico R. (OB 1, p. 397)

Surry County

11 Aug. 1778

David Crafford enters 200 acs beginning north fork of Deep Cr., beginning at Thomas Headley (sic) old line, north side of said creek, running north thence west, including his improvement for complement (459)

11 Dec. 1783

Simon Hadley to Thomas Hadley, 5 shillings 310 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr., adj. Hadley on north; Henry Speer} Thomas Johnson} signed Simon Hadley (B 295-96)

5 May 1808

Thomas Hadley, Esq. is qualified to be the executor of will of Bridget Hadley, decd., the will being approved last court

1815

In a tax list Thomas Hadley, Esq. has 600 acres, which adjoins Simon Hadley’s land on Deed Cr.; his land also adjoins Thomas Dobbins’ land; Hadley’s land is valued at $2000; 1 white polled and two blacks.

3. SARAH

In this marriage record, note that Joshua Hadley is reported to be living in Virginia

18 10m 1753

Sarah Hadley, of New Garden in Chester Co. (sic), daughter of Joshua Hadley of Province of Virginia m. Joseph Fred, son of Nicholas, decd. of same, at public meeting at New Garden (p. 144)

30 Apr 1759

Simon Hadley is said to be decd. in a deed: Benjamin Davis of Chester Co., sheriff, to Fred Taggart of Kennett, yeoman; Jacob Johnson and JOSEPH FRED, assignees of the executors of Simon Hadley, decd., recovered against Robert Wickersham of East Marlborough (Chester Co. PA DB N13, p. 1)

CHILDREN OF JOSHUA AND PATIENCE

1. SIMON: he is our direct line, so see his own post.

Simon Hadley and Bridget Foote

For now we can say he was born July 3, 1737, Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Bridget Foote was born April 8, 1756, same place. They married on March 8, 1756, Old Swedes Church, in Wilmington, New Castle County. He died March 24, 1803, in Surry County, North Carolina. She died December 15, 1807, same place.

2. MARY:

She was born the 30th day of the first month, 1739. She married Mr. Piggott. A certain Jeremiah appears in one record in Orange County.

3. JEREMIAH:

He was born the 7th day of the 1st month, 1741.

Orange County, North Carolina

22 Mar. 1762

Jeremiah Hadley has 700 acs. on Nicks Cr. on waters of Rocky R. including improvements Elijah Teague lives on (Granville Proprietary Land Office)

May 1763

Jeremiah Hadley is appointed overseer of road in place of Edward Teague, on Cape Fare Road, from Terrell’s Cr. to the fork of the road, this side of Zachary Martin’s Jr. (OB 2, p. 581)

May 1763

Ordered that John Hornedy be appointed overseer of the road called Cape Fare Road, from Jeremiah Hadley’s to the fork of the road where Joshua Hadley did live (OB 2, 584)

May 1763

Ordered that John Johnson be appointed overseer of the road from a black oak above his house to Jeremiah Handley’s (sic) place, in the place of Brumley Barnes (OB 2, p. 584)

4. JOSHUA:

He was born the 23rd day of the 5th month, 1742.

Orange County, North Carolina

Mar. 1760

Ordered that William Morrow be overseer of Cape Fare Road, from Woody’s Ferry to Terrell Cr. and Joshua Hadley thence to the fork of the road (OB 1, p. 423)

Mar. 1760

Deed a sale from William Virnal to Joshua Hadley for 300 acs of land was proved in open court on oath of William Reed, Esq., (OB 1, p. 427)

Nov. 1760

Ordered that Letters Testamentary be issued unto Patience Hadley and Joshua Hadley, executors of the last will and testament of Joshua Hadley, decd., their having brought the will into court and proved by their oath, and ordered to be recorded (OB 1, p. 441)

Aug. 1761

Joshua Adley is appointed to a jury to lay a road to begin where the road crosses the county line leading from where the John Pryor, Esq., lives to Orange Co. court house thence … to … Granville Co. line (57-252)

Aug. 1763

James and Joshua Adley are bondsmen for Elizabeth Johnson who was granted Letters of Administration for John Johnson, decd., bond: £200 (Vol. Aug. 1762 to Aug. 1766, p. 52)

Feb. 1765

On a motion by Joshua Hadley it is ordered that his mark be recorded, to wit: a crop in the left ear and a half (sic) in the upper right (OB 2, p. 857)

Feb. 1765

Isaac Beverly, orphan child of John Beverly, decd, aged about 11 years is given to Joshua Hadley until he reaches 21 years; he is to get £12 above his freedom dues (OB 2, p. 858)

Aug. 1765

Joshua Hadley appointed overseer of the road in the place of Joseph Kirk (Vol. Aug. 1762 to Aug. 1766, p. 406)

Aug. 1765

John Salling v. Joshua Hadley, TVA (Vol. Aug. 1762 to Aug. 1766, p. 430)

Nov. 1784

Joshua Hadley and Henry Holloday proved in open court, as subscribing witnesses, the will of William Lindley (OB 3, p. 1488)

5. JOSEPH:

He was born the 5th day of the 10th month, 1745.

Orange County, North Carolina

Aug. 1766

William Teague is appointed overseer of the road in place of Joseph Hadley (Vol. Aug. 1762 to Aug. 1766, p. 450)

6. DEBORAH:

She was born the 29th day of the 12th month, 1747.

7. HANNAH:

She was born the 26th day of the 2nd month, 1749.

8. CATHERINE:

She was born the 24th day of the 9th month, 1752.

9. LYDIA:

She was born the 24th day of the 11th month, 1756.

HADLEYS IN DELAWARE AND PENNSYLVANIA

We can now get back to Joshua and Patience, the subject of this chapter. Let’s track them in the four-state (or three-state) journey.

They lived right on the border between Pennsylvania and Delaware, their property crossing the state line. This border moved around, depending on the political disputes that erupted often enough.

JOSHUA’S (AND MARY’S) DEEDS

Chester County, Pennsylvania

13 Oct 1712

Mary Rowland is named in a deed as a widow of Thomas Rowland, yeoman (DB 4, p. 91)

25 Mar 1714

Note Mary Rowland in this deed:

Simon Hadley’s land is mentioned in a deed: William Penn, Jr. Esq., eldest son of William Penn, Esq., Griffith Owen, practitioner of physic; James Logan; and Robert Ashton of Philadelphia, gentlemen to Thomas Garnett of Chester Co; … chain of possession is laid out … Now for £120.00 William Penn, Jr. grants to Thomas Garnett 2 tracts: one bounded by land of John Lowdin, Simon Hadley, Thomas Jackson and John Wiley, 300 acres; other tract bounded by first tract, land of Michael Lightfoot, Joseph Sharps, MARY ROWLAND and John Miller, 300 acres, totaling 600 acres; signed Griffith Owen, James Logan, Robert Ashton; delivered in presence of Nicholas Pyle, George Miller, James Boyden (DB 4, p. 19)

30 May 1729

A deed is delivered in presence of Joshua Hadley: Evan Powell of New Garden, yeoman and his wife Mary, to our daughter Rachel Rowland of New Garden; Evan and his wife for £40.00 granted to their daughter Rachel Rowland a tract joining land of William Pyle, bounded by other land of Evan Powell and Ellis Lewis, 219 acres, being ½ of a tract in Letitia’s Manor that Mary Powell bought (at the time of her widowhood before her marriage to Samuel Powell) from Samuel Carpenter and James Logan; signed Evan Powell and Mary Powell; delivered in presence of Joshua Hadley and William Miller (DB G7, p. 285)

20 Aug 1730

Mary Powell of New Garden, now wife of Evan Powell, formerly the wife of Thomas Rowland, decd., William Miller and his wife Ruth, of New Garden, Thomas Wily of Kennett, and his wife Rachel, unto Joshua and Mary Hadley, 250 acs. in Aston; Ruth Miller and Rachel Wily are daughters of Thomas Rowland (DB E5, p. 144)

New Castle County, Delaware

12 Dec 1726

Simon Hadley of Mill Creek Hundred, to his son Joshua of Mill Creek Hundred, miller; Simon for love and affection grants 200 acs. at Mill Creek Hundred, bounded by Thomas Worley, and land of Joseph Hadley; signed Simon Hadley (DB H1, p. 155)

17 Dec 1726

John Hadley and Simon Hadley witness a deed between John Jordan of Mill Creek Hundred, blacksmith, Robert Barr and Thomas Barr, husbandmen; John Jordan and Martha Jordan appoint Simon Hadley their attorney; delivered in presence of Ruth Hadley and Joshua Hadley (DB H1, p. 174)

HADLEYS IN VIRGINIA

It is not known exactly when Joshua and family went to Virginia. He bought land there in 1748 in Augusta County, which is now Botetourt County (formed in 1770). He may have located there prior to that time or at some later date. One researcher notes that his son Thomas by his first wife Mary Rowland was married at London Grove Meeting, Pennsylvania in 1750. Thomas was 20 years old in 1748. So Thomas was old enough to remain in Pennsylvania, while his father was located in Virginia. So it’s best to say Joshua and Patience and their younger children moved to Virginia around 1748, in the Shenandoah Valley.

Source: http://i.rngweb.com/maps/1308.jpg

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botetourt_County,_Virginia#mediaviewer/File:Map_of_Virginia_highlighting_Botetourt_County.svg

I have not researched the property and other records in Virginia. However, the researchers at the next two links have done so:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rmbtoronto&id=I06245

http://www.hadleysociety.org/photo_gallery/ancestors_gallery/index230.html

HADLEYS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Joshua and Patience lived a very interesting life in Orange County, North Carolina.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_County,_North_Carolina#mediaviewer/File:Map_of_North_Carolina_highlighting_Orange_County.svg

Here is what the Hadley Society reports about their life:

Transcription begins:

In 1756, at the age of 53 and within a few months after his father’s death, he joined his sisters Ruth and Hannah and their families at Cane Creek, North Carolina. Patience applied for a certificate for her family to transfer to Cane Creek with the New Garden, Pennsylvania Meeting which was granted her and her children 8 mo 28, 1756. In the Cane Creek minutes we read: “10-2-1756 Patience Hadley with husband received on certificate for New Garden MM, PA.”

It would appear that Joshua was not as well received as was Patience. It is possible that Joshua was still upset with the local chapter for kicking them out of Meeting as newlyweds. They had apparently been removed from the influence of the Friends while in Virginia, and it was Patience who petitioned for certificate, not Joshua.

Joshua lived only about four years after going to North Carolina. He accumulated several tracts of land and built a mill in Alamance County. He apparently established a reputation as an earlier founder of that area, because in 1931 the South Alamance Pioneer Association erected a memorial monument to him and his wife Patience at Spring Meeting near Snowcamp, North Carolina. The memorial is actually misplaced, as Simon and Patience are buried at Cane Creek Meeting cemetery and not the Spring Meeting cemetery. Joshua died in 1760, around September 17, the date on his last will and testament. The Spring Meeting wasn’t established until 1762. It was not the custom of Quakers to have headstone markers in their cemeteries, so there are only the records of the Society of Friends to verify Joshua’s and Patience’s resting places.

The two branches of Joshua Hadley’s family diverged widely. The children of Mary Rowland were very active in the Revolution and were therefore disowned by the Quakers. This branch also became slave owners. Earlier Hadley writers have intimated that this was possibly due to the mother, Mary Rowland. The children of Patience Brown remained devout Quakers, took no part in the war, and were against slavery. This is more likely the effects of the qualities and efforts of the mother, Patience Brown Hadley.

Transcription ends.

Source: http://www.hadleysociety.org/photo_gallery/ancestors_gallery/index230.html

RECORDS IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Dec. 1756

Josiah (Joshua, see next entry) Hadley is ordered to be overseer of the road from the court house to Mary William’s house to Haw R. along with John Hadley, John Marshall, William Johnson, Charles Johnson, and Charles Johnson, Matthew Words, Thomas Cate, Jr., Thomas Cate, Sr., Capt. Robert Cate, Joseph Cate, Robert Willey, William Roseberry, Edmund Davis (OB 1, p. 193)

Mar.-Apr. 1757

Ordered that John Marshall be appointed overseer of the road in place of Joshua Hadley, and William Craig in place of David Bradford, Jr. (OB 1, p. 215)

Mar. 13, 1759

William Vernon to Joshua Hadley, 300 acs. wit: William Reed (Deed Register)

Mar. 1760

Ordered that William Morrow be overseer of Cape Fare Road, from Woody’s Ferry to Terrell Cr. and Joshua Hadley thence to the fork of the road (OB 1, p. 423)

Mar. 1760

Deed a sale from William Virnal to Joshua Hadley for 300 acs of land was proved in open court on oath of William Reed, Esq., (OB 1, p. 427)

Nov. 1760

Ordered that Letters Testamentary be issued unto Patience Hadley and Joshua Hadley, executors of the last will and testament of Joshua Hadley, decd., their having brought the will into court and proved by their oath, and ordered to be recorded (OB 1, p. 441)

Nov. 1760

Ordered that Edward Tyrie be appointed overseer of the road in the place of Joshua Hadley, decd. (OB 1, p. 444)
GRAVE PLAQUE

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=47596822&PIpi=60396704

JOSHUA HADLEY’S PROBATE

Will written: September 20, 1760
Will proved: Second Tuesday in November, 1760
Wife Patience: she is to get property and commodities from the plantation, working utensils, furniture, horses, cattle, sheep, and swine; if she dies or remarries, the land is to go to son Joseph;
Daughter Lydia: she is to get 50.00 pounds from her mother, 5.06 pounds from brothers Jeremiah and Joshua, each; and Joseph is to pay 25.00 pounds, for Proclamation money at her marriage or when she reaches 18;
Son Joshua: he gets horses; two tracts of land on the James River in Virginia;
Son Joseph: he gets horses
Son Jeremiah: he gets one tract of land on the James River in Virginia
Son Thomas: he gets five shillings sterling
Daughter Ruth Marshall: five shillings; she had been already portioned by Joshua’s father and himself;
Daughter Mary Pigott: five shillings; she had been already portioned by Joshua’s father and himself;
Daughter Deborah: five shillings; she had been already portioned by Joshua’s father and himself;
Daughter Hannah: five shillings; she had been already portioned by Joshua’s father and himself;
Daughter Katherine: five shillings; she had been already portioned by Joshua’s father and himself;
Daughter Sarah Fred: bonds and money due Joshua in Pennsylvania;
Son SIMON (our direct line): Sarah Fred is to pay him five pounds within six months, next, after Joshua’s decease;
Unnamed Stepmother: ten shillings, yearly, during her widowhood;
Executors: son Joshua and wife Patience;
Geography: the will was written in Orange County, North Carolina; it mentions land on the James River in Virginia; and it says Joshua has bonds and money still in Pennsylvania. These places reflect Joshua and Patience’s three-state journey

Transcription Begins:

In the name of God, amen. I Joshua Hadley, of Orange County in the province of North Carolina, being weak in body, but of sound memory (blessed be god) do this the twentyeth [sic] Day of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand & Seven hundred & sixty make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say):

First, I give & bequeath unto Patience my Dear and beloved Wife all the property, Commodity’s [sic] arising from the Plantation I now live on until the Day of her death or the Day of her Marriage; it is [my] Will that at the Day of my Beloved Wife’s Death or the Day of her Marriage if it should please God to enjoy [her?] with it [?] that the plantation I now live on shall be my son Joseph’s, his heirs and assigns forever in fee simple.

Also it is my Will that that my son Joseph shall pay the sum of twenty five pounds Proclamation money to my Daughter Lidia at the Day of her marriage or at the age of eighteen.

Also I give & bequeath unto Patience my Dearly beloved wife all the working utensils, furniture, and also all the stock of Horses, Cattle, sheep & swine;

Also, it is my will that my Dearly beloved Wife Patience shall pay the sum of Fifty pounds Proclamation money to my Daughter Lydia at the Day of her Marriage or at the age of Eighteen.

But the horse Beasts that I give my sons Viz., Joshua & Joseph before shall be their own Property.

& likewise it is my Will that my Just debts & funeral is to be paid first

& the Remainder of my moveables & money that is [crossed out: to] coming to me it is my Will that it should be my Beloved Wife only the bringing up my Children to the age of maturity & Giving & Giving [sic] their Education Excepting some small legacies I propose to Will my Beloved Children hereafter –

I Will and Bequeath to my Son Jeremiah one tract of Land Called the half moon Bottom on James River in Virginia, containing one hundred & fifteen acres and to him, his heirs, and assigns forever in fee Simple.

I give & bequeath to Joshua my son two tracts of Land one Called long Bottom, containing one hundred & eighty six acres & the other Called the [Found’s, Pound’s?] Bottom, containing fifty, both lying on James River, to him, his heirs & assigns forever, in fee simple.

Also it is my Will that my sons, Viz, Jeremiah & Joshua, each of them, shall pay the sum of Six pounds, five shillings Proclamation money in sum to my Daughter Lydia at the Day of her marriage or at the age of Eighteen.

I will & Bequeath unto my son Thomas Hadley the sum of five shillings Sterling & to my Daughter Ruth Marshall & my Daughter Mary Pigott, Deborah, Hannah & Katherine I will & Bequeath unto each one of them five Shillings Sterling, they all being already Portioned by my Father & myself.

I Will & Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Fred all the Money & Bonds due to me now in Pennsylvania.

Also it is my will that my Daughter Sarah Fred shall pay unto my son Simon the sum of five pounds to be paid within six months next after my decease, also to pay my step mother ten Shillings yearly during her Widowhood;

I further appoint my Beloved Wife Patience & my son Joshua to be my Executors of this my last Will & Testament & I do hereby revoke all other Will [sic] & Testaments by me made & I do declare this to be my last Will & Testament Given under my hand & seal the day & year above written.

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced & Delivered by the Said Joshua Hadley to be his Last will & Testament in Presence of us

NB: It is my will that if any of my Children should die before they come of age that their Legacy should be Equally Divided amongst the rest that Survive

Simon Dirgan
William (his X mark) Holmes
Francis (his X mark) Dorset

[Signed] Joshua Hadley

At an Inferior Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions begun & held for the County of Orange at this Court house in Childsburgh on the Second Tuesday in November in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty, Present his Majesties Justices & so the Executors of the aforesaid Will was Duly proved by the Oaths of William Holmes & Francis Dorset & ordered to be Recorded

Test. James Watson, Clk [Clerk]

Transcription ends.

Sources:

This link has a transcription, but they get the date wrong:

http://www.hadleysociety.org/photo_gallery/ancestors_gallery/index230.html

SUMMARY

Joshua Hadley lived a – how shall we call it? – a robust life. He did not respond very well to the strictures of the Quakers. Some believe that this could come from his first marriage to Mary Rowland. Her three kids through him became slave owners, after all. It seems they ignored the Quaker prohibition against that abominable institution. After she died, he got involved in other “non-Quaker” activities, like visiting taverns and drinking. He was accused of getting a woman pregnant around the time he was courting or married to Patience Brown, Jeremiah’s daughter. He denied the charge.

(Press pause: I wonder how we would feel if our life were aired out in public 250 years later? So I don’t write this to judge him. I have some sympathy for him. I hope you do too. “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” [Hebrews 10:17]). I believe he sought God’s forgiveness and got it.

Anyway, Patience married him and kept the household together. She had nine kids with him. She lived up to her name: Patience. She comes across as a high quality woman of the 1700’s.

They moved to Shenandoah Valley in Virginia in about 1748. Living there less than a decade, they then moved to Orange County, North Carolina. His life seems to have settled down. He lived a mere four years after his move.

Patience lived 20 years past him. I hope they were peaceful and enjoyable, as she enjoyed her grown kids and their kids, her grandkids.

SOURCES

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