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Margaret Heinek is a Tolley descendant who has woven stories passed down by her family into her genealogical research to provide an in-depth look at her ancestry. She published several articles about the North Carolina branch of the Tolley family in the heritage book "Carter County and Its People, 1796-1993". Those articles are provided here through her permission.
TOLLEY FAMILY
In the 1790 Rutherford County, NC census appears Elias Tolley and family. Both over 16, with 2 sons and 1 daughter under 16. Elias does not appear in any other census. There is a deed for land conveyance in Burke County, NC dated 30 Aug. 1815, from Strobrige (Strawbridge) Young and John Staly to Daniel Tolley. Daniel sold land to Right Hutchens on 28 Dec. 1827, witnesses James Howell, John Gardner and Charles Bailey. On 23 March 1835 Eleany Tolley sold land to Edward Francis Tolley in Yancey Co. On 11 June 1835, Daniel Tolley sold to Edward Francis Tolley, land in Yancey County.
The 1850 Pike County, Ky. census has an Elkaney ToIley, (97 yr b-1753 Virginia) living, in home of Hartwell Newsom and wife Sarah, both born North Carolina 1800-15. Elkanah died 20 Aug. 1854. Other Tolley children; Rachel m.-William Brown, John m.-Martha Taylor, both living in Logan County, KY.
William Tolley b.-1755 in Rutherford County, NC, a Revolutionary War veteran, applied for a pension at 78 yrs old in Mercer County, KY. He died 20 April 1835, with a wife Elizabeth (Hays). They were married in April 1822, probably a second marriage.
Were William and Elkaney brothers?
Elkanah Tolley, b.-1770-80, in the 1800 Rutherford County census had 2 males - 10 (Francis and Daniel, 2 females -10, male and female 26-45; 1810 Buncombe County census; male and female over 45, 2 males and 4 females. 1820 Burke County census no new children added: male b.-1795-97 females b.-1795-99, female b.-1800, male 1805, female 1805-07, female 1807-9. 1830 no sons left at home, just 4 females. Elkorah and wife 50-60 yr old.
The 1810 Burke County, 1820 and 1830 Rutherford County has William Tolley and wife born 1780-90, 3 sons and 3 daughters.
Francis Tolley, 50-60 yr old, b.-1770-80 m.- Rachel, b.-1780-90; with 9 children was in 1830 Burke County Census. Known names: female m.-John Davis, Francis m-Susan and Joseph R., m.-Frances Howell and Edward F. (?) Are these 3 men, Elkorah, Francis and William brothers, and sons of Elias or William? Is Elias another name for Elkorah?
ELKORAH TOLLEY
The Reverend Sampson Tolley of Hampton TN reported that Elkorah was the first of the Tolley clan. He told me that he had seen a paper, listing the name as Elkorah Daniel or Daniel Elkorah, he may have married a Betty French/France from South Carolina, after her death, he remarried, moved to Kentucky and died there at 108 years old. Is this the same Elkorah found with the Newsoms?
Reverend Sampson Tolley's grandfather Francis, (son of Elkorah and Betty France was born about 1796 in North Carolina) married Dorothy Bennett in 1833. He registered to vote in Carter County in 1866. Francis and his son, William, game hunters, traveled back and forth from North Carolina to Tennessee and settled in Unicoi County about 1850. Francis died 1885 in Tennessee and Dorothy died in North Carolina after the 1860 census. Children: William (m.-Nancy Willis daughter of James Hoke Willis and Martha (Howell) Willis), Nancy, Judith, Elizabeth, Rachell, twins Martha and Daniel, all b. North Carolina; Francis, Eli, Icem and Elkanah b.-Tennessee.
William and Nancy married in North Carolina in 1851. Children: b.- North Carolina, James Avery, Sester, Elizabeth, E.K., Martha: born Tennessee Wilburn, Caney Sinclair, Bill D., Bunavista, Nancy Ann and Samuel Sampson (Rev. Sam). Sampson m.-13 Oct. 1900 Laura Willis, daughter of Bear Creek John and Elizabeth (Smith) Willis, witness' James and Martha (Howell) Willis, Sam's grandparents.
Daniel Tolley b.-1793, son of Elkorah and Betty France, m.-1830 to Jane Howell. Children: Nancy, Jane, William (m.-Louisa McComb, died Chickamanga Battle, Chattanooga, TN), Sanders, Swinfield (m.-1st, Hulda McConb and 2nd Elizabeth daughter of David Tolley and Susan Wilson), Olivia, Elizabeth, Leonard, McDaniel and Margaret. I believe John Pinkney Tolley was a brother to Daniel and Francis, sons of Elkorah Daniel Tolley.
A story I was told, and was also told to a grandson of William, (son of Daniel): the Tolley family received a letter from Ireland, which they could not read. They took it to a minister to read, the trip taking most of a day. The oldest girl was in charge of the youngsters, and told if anything was wrong, she was to take the children into the attic of the cabin, out of harms way. The father had butchered hogs the day before and the fresh meat was hanging in a room off the main room of the cabin.
Suddenly the dog started barking, and howled as he was mauled, the children went to the attic. They covered the attic opening with a large bread board, placed the baby on the board and the children held the edges down. The door was knocked off the hinges, allowing "something" to enter the cabin. They heard noises like an animal eating the fresh meat, then quiet. When the family returned, after dark, they found most of the meat was eaten. The following morning a hunting party went out with dogs, to track the animal and found a panther, which weighed about 300 lbs.
DAVID TOLLEY FAMILY
David Tolley (b-1837), served in Co. E, 6th Reg., North Carolina troops, during the Civil War. He was captured at Rappahannock Station, VA Nov 7,1863. He was confined at Point Lookout, Maryland until March 14, 1864. It is reported he was poisoned by "someone, in Yancey County, NC. He married Susannah Wilson (b.-1834 Yancey County, d.-8 Feb. 1916 in Asheville, NC.) Susan was a daughter of James and Mahalah Wilson. Children:
1. Sarah A. b.- Oct. 1856, d.-28 Jan. 1920, m. 1st Frank (Pink) Tolley, 2nd, Walter Wray. Children: Richmond, Stokes Sterling, WilliamDock and Dulsie Tolley. Sara was a mid-wife.
2. Mary A. b-Oct. 1856, m.- James Boone, son of Bob Boone of Mexican War. Children: George, Bob and Omie Boone.
3. Dosia Aletha b.-1859, d.-1933. Dosia married a Delviciao, they divorced after he returned from World War I and she may have married a Satterfield.
4. Harriet Margaret, b-1 Mar. 1861 d.-6 Feb. 1912 in Asheville, m.-at 17 yr. old, on 25 May 1878 Stephen Zebulon Willis, son of William Willis and Lucinda Wilson. Children: Brisco, Susan, Dora Ida Jane (my Mother) and Roscoe Willis.
5. Joseph b.-1864 d.-in Tennessee, married Frances Howell. They moved to Tennessee and reported he worked as a "ranger" or Tennessee. He may have changed his name to Joe Howell.
6. Donald H. b.-1868 d.-1946 in Hamilton, Ohio, m.- Lee County, VA 26 Oct. 1892, Frances Ann Campbell, daughter of W. Taylor and Sally (Wiedner) Campbell. Children: Sally, Lilly, Laddie, Nellie Mae, Joseph, Daisy, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard & Eva Tolley.
7. Elizabeth b.-1871 m.-Swinfield Tolley (his 2nd wife), son of Daniel Tolley and Jane Howell. Children: Harry, Henry and Creed (twins), Elizabeth and John Washington. All born in Hampton, Carter County. The boys were in anorphan's home in Asheville in 1900. Creed was "lost" through adoption by an Osborn family from Cherokee, NC. John tried for years to locate him, was never successful. Harry lived in Virginia. Elizabeth m.-John Mays.
8. Lillie b.-1873 m. a Staples.
9. Melvina b.-1875 d.-Jan. 1912 m.- Mack Howell (Thomas Howell and Olivia Tolley). Children: Ruth and Wilfred Howell.
10. Ella b.-28 Mar. 1878 d.-26 Mar. 1920 m.- Lafayette Blankenship. Children: Donald, Lynn, Edd, Mary Lee, Myrtle and Hoffman Blankenship.
Harriet Margaret was always willing to help anyone, especially in a birth or illness. She was known to carry scissors, a needle and thread and sometimes to use her petticoat for baby clothes. She might have to wade streams, and many times she came home with her clothes frozen to her waist.
Once a neighbor had been "bewitched" by a woman when she asked for some milk and was refused. The husband became very ill with a stomach ache. Grandma was called to take the "spell" away. Being very religious, and not believing in "bewitching", she asked how she could remove the curse. The remedy was "hat band tea", which must not be made by the family. She took the hat band from his old dirty hat, boiled it, he drank the hot "tea" and his stomach ache went away. Grandma was ill for a year. The following story was told to me by my Mother and grandma's neighbors:
As Grandma was dying, with all of the family at her bedside, a sudden gust of wind came through the window, blowing across the foot of her bed and out the door of the room. At the foot of the bed there was a stand with a wash basin and pitcher, which crashed to the floor in many pieces. When the family turned back to Grandma, she was dead. Those who heard of the wind, said the angels came to take her to heaven. After her death, a man she had tried to convert to Christ, asked if he could purchase her tombstone, which is a heart with the engraving, "She did all she could".
JOHN P. TOLLEY
The first Tolley family, I can prove is my 2nd great-grandfather, John Pinkney Tolley born 1810-14 died 1876, married Susannah Howell (b.-1814 NC) daughter of James A. Howell Sr. Children: Olivia b.-1835: David b.-1837 d.-22 Sept. 1879, (m.-29 Jan. 1856 Susannah Wilson): William b.-1838 (m.-9 Dec. 1857 Cynthia Thomas): Catherine b.-1839: Sarah b.-1842: James H. b.-1844 (m.- Sarah Amanda. James served in Co. L, 12th Tennessee Cavalry): Joseph/John b.-1848 d.- 1877 Jonesboro, TN. (m.- Almedia Weatherman, daughter of James Weatherman) and Jacob b.-1849.
Almedia m.-2nd Swin Howell d.-Somerset, KY 12 Sept. 1913. Joe and Almedia's children: Laura, m.-John Bean: John Martin Tolley b.-1872 Jonesboro, TN, d.-26 Oct. 1946 in Erwin, TN; m.- Jane Howell b.-1873 d.-1953 Erwin, TN