This post goes from 1732 to 1808.
Here they are linked in a generational chain:
William → Honour m. James Brown → Jeremiah → Patience m. Joshua Hadley → SIMON → Ann m. Thomas Leakey → Joel Leakey → Anna S. m. Thomas Gray → Margaret Nancy m. Amonet Washington Wilbourn → William Harvey → Ella Washington (Rae) (our grandmother)
Simon Hadley was born the 5th day of the 3rd month, 1737, in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. After his father Joshua moved to Virginia in about 1748, Simon remained in New Castle County, probably with his grandfather Simon. Simon the grandson married Bridget Foote in the Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware, on March 8, 1756. She was not a Friend (Quaker), so his grandfather Simon condemned the out-of-unity marriage. Nonetheless, when his grandfather died in 1756, he willed Simon the younger his farm, who remained in New Castle until 1762 or 1763, when he moved to Orange County, North Carolina, to join his mother and brothers and sisters.
Bridget Foote was born on the 17th day of the 4th month, 1732. She is believed to be the daughter of John Foote and Anne Hawkesworth. If that’s true, then she descends from Mayflower ancestry, because there are Footes and Hawkesworths in Connecticut, and at least one line through her mother was on that ship. However, the Foote Family Association does not record her connection to John and Anne in a way that I can find. I have looked everywhere in New Castle and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey for the Footes, but I have not been able to find John Foote. There are a few Footes in New Castle, who appear to be her contemporaries. They are probably her siblings. Thus I cannot confirm or deny her Mayflower ancestry, at the time of this writing.
After Simon moved to North Carolina, he did not conform to the strictures of the Society of Friends. Quakers did not allow violence, but he joined the Regulators, who were formed in the North Carolina back country to oppose taxes and fees unless government authorities were held to a strict accountability. In 1771 William Tyron, colonial governor of Britain, sent a military force to Alamance Cr. and crushed the rebellion. Simon did not stop with these rebellious activities, however. The Friends did not swear oaths, but in 1779, in the middle of the Revolutionary War, he signed an oath of allegiance to the new American government, so he qualifies to be recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a patriot (see below). However, the Society of Friends located at Cane Creek required him to renounce this involvement and his “drinking to excess” before giving him a certificate of membership at the Deep River Monthly Meeting on the 2nd day, 10th month, 1779.
In 1772, he bought land in Surry County, same state, but his land is now located in present-day Yadkin County, which was formed in 1850, long after he died. Records show he owned 1000 acres on North Deep Cr. (see below). He gradually settled into the Society’s way of life.
Thomas Hamm, historian and archivist at Earlham College, writes of Simon:
He wrote wills for his neighbors, provided a home for their orphaned children, and helped lay out roads. When Deep Creek Monthly Meeting was set off from Deep River Monthly Meeting … he became one of the leaders in the new monthly meeting. He was chosen to be the first recorder of births, deaths and marriages; the earliest meeting records are in his flowing hand. He appears many times as a representative to quarterly meetings. 1794-11mo, he was appointed to ‘transcribe and correct the minutes of this meeting into a new book.’ 1798-08mo he was one of a committee to visit ‘the little meeting of Friends held at Hunting Creek which is not kept up as much to the honour of truth and society as desired.’ In the 12th month of that year he was appointed to read testimonies of disownment after the First Day Meeting.
Simon Hadley died on his plantation on North Deep Cr., on the 24th day, 3rd month, 1803. He was buried in the Deep Creek Friends Cemetery, his grave site marked by a crude stone. Bridget died on the 15th day, 12th month, 1807. She was buried in the same place; a marker is no longer readable today, but it was recorded in 1960. It reads: “B. Hadley d. 1807.”
BRIDGET FOOTE
As noted, I have not been able to track Bridget’s family line. If she descends from John Foote and Ann Hawkesworth, then she (and we) has Mayflower ancestry through her mother. But as of right now I cannot confirm or deny that.
If you would like to dig around in the roots of that tree, here are some links to the Foote Family Association.
http://www.footefamily.org/ancestor.htm
http://www.footefamily.org/charts.htm
http://www.footefamily.org/graphcharts.html
More posts about them and their ancestors and descendants:
Hadleys of Chester Co, PA and New Castle Co, DE
THEIR CHILDREN
Chris Womack, our cousin who descends from these Hadley and doesn’t branch off from us until after Amonet, has researched this line.
She comes up with these data about their children (slightly edited):
Children of Simon Hadley and Bridget Foote are:
i. Thomas Hadley, born 25 Dec 1756 in New Castle County, Delaware; died 20 Aug 1822 in Surry County, North Carolina.
ii. Ann Hadley, born 24 Mar 1757 [another researcher says 1759] in Mill Creek Hundred New Castle County, Delaware; died 06 Oct 1841 in Warren County, Tennessee. [She is our direct line.]
iii. Patience Hadley, born 02 Oct 1761 in New Castle County, Delaware; died Aft. 1803.
iv. Margaret Hadley, born 15 Apr 1764 in Guilford County, North Carolina; died 24 May 1846 in Surry County, North Carolina.
v. Simon Hadley, Jr., born 02 Oct 1766 in prob. Orange County, North Carolina; died 08 Oct 1831 in Surry County, North Carolina.
vi. Ruth Hadley, born 11 May 1770 in Guilford County, North Carolina; died 18 May 1852 in Yadkin County, North Carolina.
vii. Rachel Hadley, born 16 May 1773 in Guilford County, North Carolina; died 29 May 1773 [one researcher says she d. in 1775] in Guilford County, North Carolina.
MORE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN
I have not researched the husbands of their daughters.
1. THOMAS (1756-1822)
He married Eunice Jones.
For his tax records, see Simon Jr., below. Please note: as far as I know he is not an esquire. That title belongs to his half-uncle Thomas. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish the two.
Grants and Deeds
11 December 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)
29 September 1788
Thomas Hadley (sic) enters 100 acs. on waters of Forbis’s Cr. border: his own land surveyed to Stephen Jaynes and William Adams; includes small improvement made by Elijah Carlton (326)
11 August 1789
John Durham, “now residing in Surry Co. to Jacob Dobbins, 170 pounds 300 acs, waters north fork Deep Cr., near Round Hill, small gut in Abraham Reese’s line, adj. John Calton (sic), Thomas Hadley, and Strickland; Simon Hadley} Lindsay X Calton; signed John Durham (D 202-03)
Court Records
14 May 1781: Richmond
Simon Hadley and Thomas Hadley, Jr. swear an oath that John Holcomb, decd. made his last will and testament
17 November 1786
Simon Hadley and Thomas Hadley (and Samuel Calloway) are ordered to view the road from Hill’s Iron Works on Elkins to begin near Henderson’s old place, road leads from Scritchfield Ford to Shallowford above John Martin near Chestnut Hill
13 February 1787
Deed from John Pettyjohn to Thomas Hadley; oath John Martin
16 February 1788
Ordered that Thomas Hadley be overseer on road from MacAnally’s Ford to Reuben George’s old place, in room (place) of Thomas Neil
2. ANN (1757 or 1759-1841)
She is our direct line, so see her own link.
3. PATIENCE (1761 to after 1803)
She married Francis Baker.
3 June 1790
Henry Speer and wife Rachel to Robert Johnson Stokes Co., 500 pounds, 500 acs., north fork Deep Cr. adj. Samuel Shinn, Peter Miers, Simon Hadley, George Hoppis, Francis Baker, Hoppis Cr. being land granted Jacob Feree; Henry Patillo} William Hough} William Adams Jr.} signed Henry Speer and Rachel Speer (D 71-72)
4. MARGARET (1764-1846)
She married John Martin.
17 November 1786
Simon Hadley and Thomas Hadley (and Samuel Calloway) are ordered to view the road from Hill’s Iron Works on Elkins to begin near Henderson’s old place, road leads from Scritchfield Ford to Shallowford above John Martin near Chestnut Hill
13 February 1787
Deed from John Pettyjohn to Thomas Hadley; oath John Martin
5. SIMON JR. (1766-1831)
He married Mary Spencer on 9 Jan. 1786, in Surry County, North Carolina; bond was John Martain (sic).
Many of the records in the next major section could belong to Simon Jr., not Simon Sr.
Here are some that belong to Jr.:
Grants and Deeds
13 November 1804
A deed from John Ashkew to Simon Lakey; Henry Speer, who is well acquainted with the handwriting of Simon Hadley, now decd., one of the subscribing witnesses to the deed, believes that Simon Hadley had signed the deed, which is ordered to be good and registered
Tax Records
1815
Simon Hadley’s land adjoins widow Carter’s land on Deep Cr. in Capt. Peter Dowel’s District
Thomas Hadley, Esq. has 600 acs. and 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
Simon Hadley 450 acs. and adjoins Thomas Hadley’s land on Deep Cr.; valued at $1000; 1 white polled, no blacks
T. Hadley’s land adjoins Jesse Patterson’s land on Deep Cr.
S. Hadley’s land adjoins Thomas Vestal’s land on Deep Cr.
1816
Thomas Hadley’s land adjoins Cason McLennon’s land on Turner’s Cr.
Thomas Hadley’s land adjoins Thomas Dobbins’ land on Deep Cr.
Thomas Hadley has 660 acs. on Deep Cr., adjoining Simon Hadley’s land, valued at $1800. 1 white and 2 blacks polled
Simon Hadley has 330 acs. on Deep Cr. adjoining Thomas Hadley’s land, valued at $750, 1 white polled
Thomas Hadley’s land adjoins that of Jesse Patterson on Deep Cr.
Simon Hadley’s land adjoins that of Thomas Vestal on Deep Cr.
Probate
15 November 1831
The last will and testament of Simon Hadley, decd. was proved in open court by the affirmation of Joseph Key and Wm Hobson, subscribing witnesses; George Reynolds is an executor; fee of $1.00 paid
6. RUTH (1770-1852)
She married (1) Joseph Martin and (2) Joseph Keyes.
7. RACHEL (1773 or 1773-1775)
She lived not even a month, or she lived two years.
SIMON HADLEY’S RECORDS IN NORTH CAROLINA
In 1850, long after Simon and Bridget Hadley lived, Yadkin County was formed out of the southern part of Surry County, where Simon Hadley had lived. His records, however, are still housed in Surry County.
Deeds in Orange County
25 March 1759
James Vestal of Orange, planter, to David Vestal, of same, planter, 20 pounds, 28 ¾ acs. on middle branch of Rocky R. begin at marked white oak on south side of Rocky R., W. 11 ½ ch., to a post, N. 25 ch., to the given line, E 11 ½ ch., S. 25 ch. to first station, part of 405 acs. Granville to William Leakey, Feb. 5, 1755, 172 acs. Leakey to Simon Hadley, Nov. 7, 175[blank], Hadley to James Vestal, Aug. 11, 1766; s. James X Vestal; wit: Jeremiah Piggott, William Hobson, Rachel Piggott; proved by Jeremiah Piggott, July term 1769 (DB 2, pages 558-59)
26 July 1766
Simon Hadley witnesses a deed between Jeffrey Beck and John Johnston, 175 acs. (Deed Register)
Tax Lists in Surry County
1774
Capt. Samuel Freeman’s District
Simon and Thomas Hadley polled at two
Grants and Deeds in Surry County
Some of the later records could belong wither to Simon Sr. or Simon Jr. I have not worked out the exact property location to tell the two apart.
12 August 1778
Jacob Ferree enters 500 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr. joining line with Simon Hedley (sic), lying on south side of his line, being the improvement he now lives on (514)
21 December 1778
Simon Hadley enters 640 acs. on both sides of Deep Cr. adj. Jacob Ferree, Ambrose Bramblet, David Crafford, Edmond Bailey, including his improvement for quanitity (1080)
21 December 1778
Edmond Bailey enters 100 acs on branch of north fork of Deep Cr. adj. Simon Hadley, including his improvement for quantity (1081)
12 May 1779
David Crafford enters 100 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr. adj. Simon Headley (sic) and Greenberry Patterson, including the same (1598)
3 April 1780
Simon Hadley granted 640 acs. on both sides of south fork of Deep Cr.; agreed lines with Thomas Bagely and David Crafford, crossing Mill Cr. (B 12-13)
3 April 1780
Ambrose Bramlett granted 640 acs. mouth of branch of Mill Cr. adj. Greenberry Patterson, Simon Hadley; agreed line with Jacob Free and George Hoppes (Hoppis) (B 20-21)
3 April 1780
David Crafford granted 200 acs. north fork Deep Cr. adj. Simon Hadley; agreed line with Thomas Holcomb (B 139-40)
14 August 1782
John Colvard, one of the bailiffs Michael Moore, Esq., sheriff to Henry Speer (land lost by Jacob Rree (sic) and wife Rachel to satisfy Michael Hunderson in judgment for 13,320 pounds), 24,000 pounds, 500 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr. agreed lines with Samuel Shinn and Peter Mires; agreed lines with Francis Baker; adj, Hadley; agreed lines with Ambrose Bramble; agreed lines with George Hoppes; crossing Hoppes Cr. Robert Lanier} William Thornton} William Hughlett} signed Matthew Moore sheriff (B 172-73)
11 December 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)
8 January 1787
John Pettyjohn to Thomas Hadley 21 pounds, 10 shillings; 43 acs. branch of Deep Cr. adj. 200 granted said Pettyjohn; John Martin, Simon Hadley Sr. John X Pettyjohn (D 46-47)
23 August 1787
David Cranford to Joseph Hinshaw, Randolph Co. 120 pounds; 100 acs. on Deep Cr. adj. Hadley and Thomas Holcomb (D 39-40)
9 November 1787
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] granted 200 acs on north fork of Deep Cr. (C 381)
28 March 1788
Thomas Holcomb to Abraham Reese, 8 pounds 100 acs on north side of Deep Cr. land granted to Thomas Holcomb by state 9 Aug. 1787; Simon Hadley [Sr, or Jr.?]} Greenberry Patterson} signed Thomas Holcomb (D 197-98)
6 August 1788
James Jones Sr. to James Jones Jr. 5 pounds, 594 acs. north fork Deep Cr.; Greenberry Patterson} Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr?]} signed James Jones Sr. (D 165)
18 May 1789
NC grants Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] 200 acs. on waters Deep Cr. land adj. Johnson, said Hadley, crossing Sanders Br. (E 2)
22 June 1789
William More and wife Margaret to John Sugart, 15 pounds 100 acs. McFee’s Cr.; Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?]} William Adams} William X Sugart} signed Willaim Moore, Margaret X Moore (D 458)
22 June 1789
William Moore and wife Margaret to John Sugart, 15 pounds, 100 acs. McFee’s Cr.; Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?]} William Adams} William X Sugart; signed William Moore, Margaret X Moore (D 458-59)
11 August 1789
John Durham, “now residing in Surry Co. to Jacob Dobbins, 170 pounds 300 acs, waters north fork Deep Cr., near Round Hill, small gut in Abraham Reese’s line, adj. John Calton (sic), Thomas Hadley, and Strickland; Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr?]} Lindsay X Calton; signed John Durham (D 202-03)
11 August 1789
John Durham, Spartanburg, SC, to Lindsay Carlton, 10 pounds 100 acs., Round Hill, water of north fork Deep Cr. granted said Durham 18 May 1789; Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?]} Jacob Dobbins} signed John Durham (D 451-52)
24 February 1790
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] to Thomas Hinshaw, 26 pounds 100 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr.; John Hinshaw} Simon Hadley} signed Simon Hadley (D 450-451)
24 February 1790
Simon Hadley to John Hinshaw, 25 pounds 100 acs. waters north fork of Deep Cr. adj. Johnson and Hadley; Thomas Hinshaw} Simon Hadley Jr.} signed Simon Hadley (D 453)
3 June 1790
Henry Speer and wife Rachel to Robert Johnson Stokes Co., 500 pounds, 500 acs., north fork Deep Cr. adj. Samuel Shinn, Peter Miers, Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?], George Hoppis, Francis Baker, Hoppis Cr. being land granted Jacob Feree; Henry Patillo} William Hough} William Adams Jr.} signed Henry Speer and Rachel Speer (D 71-72)
3 January 1791
Ambrose Bramlett to James Vestal, 82 pounds, 10 shillings, 165 acs. both side north fork of Deep Cr. adj. Mouth Mill Cr. adj. Greenberry Patterson, Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] and Iron Works Road; Daniel Vestal, David X Vestal, James X Vestal, signed Ambrose Bramlett (E 140)
3 January 1792
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] to Richard Brown, 30 pounds, 100 acs. on north fork Deep Cr. adj. Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] and Thomas Hadley; William Adams} Joseph Hinshaw} signed Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.] (E 166-67)
10 February 1792
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] to Moses Adams, 30 pound 100 acs. on north fork of Deep Cr. adj. John Hinshaw; land granted to Hadley 9 Aug. 1789; Joseph Finney} John X Vestal; signed Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] (E 270)
8 February 1799
Simon Hadley Sr. of Surry County, to Simon Hadley Jr. of Surry, 90 pounds current money, 100 acres on waters of North Fork on Deep Cr. ; signed Thomas Hadley, Simon Hadley Sr. proved in Surry Co. court by Joel Lakey (DB H, p. 118)
11 Feb 1799
Simon Hadley Sr. of Surry to Joel Lakey of Surry, 50 pounds current money, 200 acres on waters of McAfee’s Cr. adj. Aaron Speer; entered by James Jones and conveyed along to Simon Hadley; signed Thomas Hadley, Simon Hadley Sr. Simon Hadley Jr. proved in Surry Co. court by Simon Hadley Jr. (DB H 118)
Court Records in Surry County, North Carolina
11 February 1779
Simon Hadley is called to serve on the jury second Monday in May (Stephen Clayton is on list too)
14 May 1781: Richmond
Simon Hadley and Thomas Hadley, Jr. swear an oath that John Holcomb, decd. made his last will and testament
17 November 1786
Simon Hadley and Thomas Hadley (and Samuel Calloway) are ordered to view the road from Hill’s Iron Works on Elkins to begin near Henderson’s old place, road leads from Scritchfield Ford to Shallowford above John Martin near Chestnut Hill
10 November 1801
Joel Lakey’s deed to Thomas Thornton was proved in open court by affirmation of Simon Hadley Sr. and ordered to be registered; $6.00 paid
9 February 1802
Ordered by the court that David Harvey Richard Campbell, son of John Campbell, who has absconded from his family for upwards two years past, aged five years, the 20th Jan’y the last past be bound unto Simon Hadley until he be 21 years of age to learn the art of a farmer; the said Simon Hadley agrees one year’s schooling and ten pounds in money and usual freedom clothing; $6.00 paid
11 May 1802
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] is on jury to investigate the final accounts of Matthew Moore v. Hall Hudson, admin.; def. owes £13.11.6, plus costs
11 August 1802
Ordered by the court that seven-year-old Ann Campbell, daughter of John and Sarah Campbell, be bound to Simon Hadley Sr., until she reaches 18; the said Simon Hadley Sr. agrees to give her one year of schooling, one flax spinning wheel, and new suit of freedom clothes, besides her other clothing $6.00 paid
17 February 1803
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] and others are appointed to serve on a jury at next court
9 May 1803
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] and others are to be fined an unspecified amount for missing out on jury duty
10 May 1803
Simon Hadley [Sr. or Jr.?] is one of several witnesses
10 May 1803
Simon Hadley’s last will and testament, decd. proved by the affirmation of Daniel Huff and Moses Adams, two witnesses thereto; Thomas and Simon Hadley qualified according to law; letters testamentary issued; $8.00 paid
11 May 1803
David Harvey Richard Campbell, an orphan formerly bound to Simon Hadley, decd., now to be bound to Thomas Hadley, Esq., until he arrives unto 21 years old; Thomas agrees to abide by the terms of the former indenture that have not already been performed
11 May 1803
Uriah Dean, son of Fanny Dean, a base born child formerly bound to Simon Hadley, decd. is to be bound to Thomas Hadley, Esq., until he reaches age of 21; all terms of the previous indenture to be fulfilled; the boy was 6 years old the first of Sept. 1791; he was to receive one year of schooling, a horse and saddle worth £12 and a new suit of clothes at his freedom; and he is to learn the art of farming
11 May 1803
Ordered that Ann Campbell, daughter of John and Sarah Campbell, formerly bound unto Simon Hadley, decd., now be bound to Simon Hadley, son of deceased, until she reaches 18 years old; Simon Hadley is to comply in every respect with the former indenture; the girl was bound over in 1802 court May or August; the boy in 1802
10 February 1808
Last will and testament of Bridget Hadley, decd., was proven in open court by the affirmation of William Hough and William Hinshaw, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded; no executor qualified
10 February 1808
Inventory and appraisement of estate of Bridget Hadley, decd., was returned to court by Aaron Speer and ordered to be recorded
5 May 1808
Thomas Hadley, Esq. is qualified to be the executor of will of Bridget Hadley, decd., the will being approved last court
Important Sources
Hadleys of Surry County, North Carolina
Hadleys of Orange County, North Carolina
Hadleys of Chester County, North Carolina and New Castle County, Delaware
SIMON AND BRIDGET’S PROBATE
Simon’s Will
March 1, 1803: Surry County, North Carolina, Will Book 3, p. 57.
Transcription begins:
The first day of ye third month in ye year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three. I Simon Hadley sen’r of ye State of North Carolina in Surry County, being sound in mind and memory do make and ordain this [caret in: to be] my last will and testament and doth dispose of my Estate in ye following manner and form (To wit):
First of all my debts and funeral charges must be paid.
And as I have give [sic] my son Thomas Hadley 310 acres of land off the upper part of the plantation I now live on; I maintain ye same good as far as ye Original Grant will enable me and leave him one half of all my wearing apparel to be freely enjoyed by him.
Item
I give to my son Simon Hadly jun’r all ye tract of land I now live on containing three hundred and thirty acres with all ye appertenances [sic] thereunto belonging by him freely to be possessed and enjoyed except ye cleared land that is of this north side of ye creek that I hold by fence lines with handy firewood and rail timber. I reserve for my wife to live on her lifetime without any interruption and then to be his lawful property without any let hindrance or molestation; likewise I give him one half of all my wearing apparel to be freely enjoyed by him.
Item
I give and it is my will that my beloved wife Bridget Hadley shall have the whole of my Personal estate except what is hereafter mentioned [during] her life time without rendering any account to any person or persons whatsoever and at her death to divide it among my four daughters hereafter named as she thinks most convenient and they desire it. And further it is my will that my executors shall sell as much as my personal Estate such [careted in: as] my wife can best spare as will pay of [sic] ye following legacies (to wit)
First of all I give to my son-in-law Thomas Lakey one English crown his whole legacy, and to his wife Ann Lakey twenty-five silver dollars or currency at ye exchange to be freely enjoyed by her;
Secondly I five to my son-in-law Frances Baker one English crown his whole legacy, and to his wife Patience Baker twenty-five silver dollars or currency at exchange to be freely enjoyed by her.
Thirdly I give to my son-in-law John Martin and his wife Margaret Martin twenty-six silver Dollars freely to be enjoyed by them.
Fourthly I give to my son-in-law Joseph Marshall and his wife Ruth Marshall twenty-six [careted in: silver] Dollars, freely to be enjoyed by them.
And further it is my will that my Grandsons John and Simon Martin shall have ye plantation of two hundred acres of land lying and being on ye North fork of deep creek, joining George D. Holcomb line with all ye appertenances [sic] thereunto belonging by them freely to be possessed and enjoyed without any let, hindrance or molestation with this reserve that their father John Martin sen’r [carted in: may] if he chooses sell said land and divide it as he thinks best between said sons.
Likewise, I constitute, make, and ordain my two sons Thomas and Simon Hadley my only and sole executors of this my last will and Testament utterly revoking all other wills, legacies, or Executors before this time nominated, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal ye day and year above written.
Simon Hadley
Signed, sealed, and delivered by ye said Simon Hadly [sic] as his last will and testament in ye presents [sic] of us the underneath subscribers
Joshua Hadly
Daniel D [his mark] Hough
Mos. Adams
State of North Carolina Surry County [cut off] Daniel Hough and Moses Adams two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Simon Hadly [sic] made affirmation that they saw the said Hadly [sic] sign, publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory: which was ordered to be recorded.
Recorded accordingly by D J Williams Cl [Clerk]
Transcription ends.
Bridget’s Will
May 17, 1803, Surry County, Will Book 3, pp. 80-81
Transcription begins:
This seventeenth day of the fifth month in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & three; I Bridget Hadly [sic] (widow of Simon Hadly, disceast [sic] of North Carolina in Surry County being in sound mind and memory do mak [sic] & ordain this my last will and testament and doth dispose of my estate in the following manner and form, to wit:
First of all my debts and funeral charges must be paid.
I give unto my son Thomas Hadly [sic] one English crown to be freely enjoyed by him.
2’only I give unto my son Simon Hadly [sic] one English crown to be freely enjoyed by him being their whole legacies of my estate.
It is also [careted in: my] will & I hereby order that the whole of my estate that remains at my diseas [sic] be equally divided between my four Daughters, namely Ann Lakey, Patience Baker, Margaret Martin, and Ruth Marshall, each of them freely to enjoy the same.
Likewise I constitute, make, and ordain my son Thomas & son-in-law Joseph Marshall my only & sole Executors of this my last will and testament utterly revoking all other wills, legacies, and Executors before this time nominated, ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have [careted in: here] unto set my hand and seal the date above written.
Bridget (X) Hadly [sic]
Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Bridget Hadly [sic] as her last will and testament in presence of us the underneath Subscribers
William Hough
William Hinshaw
John Stanfield
State of North Carolina, Surry County, February Session AD 1808
William Hough and William Hinshaw (two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Bridget Hadly [sic] made Affirmation that they saw the said Hadly [sic] sign, publish, and declare the same to be her last will and testament, that she was of sound and disposing mind and memory and at the same time they saw John Stanfield sign as a witness thereunto; which was ordered to be recorded.
Recorded accordingly by Jo. William CC [Clerk of Court]
Transcription ends.
During the transcription of these two wills, especially Bridget Hadley’s since the copy was of poor quality, we glanced over at Thomas D. Hamm’s transcription in The Quaker Yeoman, Volume 13, Number 5, January 1987.
SUMMARY
Many people have researched the Hadleys, and there is even a Hadley Society. Researchers have especially focused on this Simon. The Introduction to this chapter outlines his life from those researchers.
So what follows is brief.
Simon grew up in a privileged household. His father was a son of a judge. Simon lived with him in Delaware until his death in 1756 and remained there until his move in 1762 or 1763 to Orange and Surry Counties, North Carolina.
He was a nonconformist about his Quaker upbringing. He married Bridget Foote in a Swedish Church in Delaware, an act that placed him out of unity with the Society of Friends. When he moved to North Carolina, he joined the regulators, though his Society did not allow violence. He swore an oath to the new American government, though his Society does not permit oaths. He had to renounce this old way of life. The Quakers accepted him back in their strict community. Then he settled down, getting involved in people’s lives, like recording their births and marriages and taking in orphans.
They died in 1803 (Simon) and 1807 (Bridget). By all accounts they seemed happy after he settled down.
We examine their daughter Anne’s life, as she marries into the Leakey (Lakey / Lackey) family. So we leave behind the Hadley name from here on.
SOURCES
W. O Absher, Surry County, North Carolina Abstracts Book D (1779-1790), North Wilkesboro, NC, privately published, 1976
—. Surry County, North Carolina Abstracts Book E (1799-1793), North Wilkesboro, NC, privately published, 1976)
—. Surry County, North Carolina Abstracts Deed Books A, B, C (1770-1788), rev. ed. Easley, SC: Southern Historical P, 1981.
—. and R. K. Hayes, Surry County, North Carolina Court Minute Abstracts, (1768-1789), vols. 1 and 2, Easley, SC: Southern Historical P, 1985.
William Bennett, Orange County Records, vol. 1, Granville Proprietary Land Office, Abstracts of Loose Papers, Raleigh: privately published, 1987.
—. Orange County Records, Vol. II, Deed Books 1 & 2 Abstracts, Raleigh: privately published, 1989.
LeRoy and Jeanette White Ford, Our Niche in History: Letters to Our Children, privately published, 1994.
Iris Moseley Harvey, Surry County. North Carolina 1816 Tax Lists, privately published, no date.
— and Agnes M. Wells, Surry County, North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, vol. IX (9), 1829-1832, published privately, no date.
—, Surry County, NC Court Minutes, 1801-1804, vol. 3, published privately, 1992.
—, Surry County, NC Court Minutes, 1805-1809, vol. 4, published privately, 1993.
Brent H. Holcomb, Marriages of Surry County, North Carolina, 1779-1868, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1982.
Jo White Linn, Surry County, North Carolina Wills, 1771-1827, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992.
A. B. Pruitt, Ph.D., Abstracts of Land Entries, Surry Co, NC, 1784-1795, privately published 1984.
Carol Leonard Snow, Taxables in Surry County, North Carolina for the Year 1835, Toast, NC: privately published, 1990.
—, Surry County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, Volumes G & H, 1795-1800.
Eve B. Weeks, Register of Orange County, NC, Deeds, 1752-1768, 1793, Danielsville, GA: Heritage Papers, 1984. Copyright by Mary B. Warren.
Agnes M. Wells and Iris M. Harvey, Surry County, North Carolina, 1815 Tax List, Raleigh, N.C., privately published, 1990.
—, Virginia G. Philips, and Carol J. Leonard, Joseph Winston His Entry Book, Surry County, NC, Land Entries, 1778-1781, privately published, 1987.
Carl J. York, “Surry Co., NC, Taxables: 1774 and 1775,” North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, vol. XXVI, no. 2, May 2000.
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