JAMES BARCLAY brother-in-law of JOHN FINLEY
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania: with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men
Edited by Boyd Crumrine
Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882
Pg. 964
The land embracing the site of Finleyville is a part of a tract that was warranted to John Wall, Dec. 3, 1787. The part called “Mount Pleasant,” containing 405 acres, was conveyed by deed May 3, 1788 to JAMES BARCLAY, who in the same year was licensed to keep a tavern. JAMES BARCLAY is said to have been a sea-captain; he was a brother-in-law of JOHN FINLEY, and he continued to live upon a part of this place until his death. His sons, ROBERT and JAMES, also lived in this vicinity, but died leaving no descendants. JAMES BARCLAY sold 100 acres of his land, June 15, 1791, to HUGH BARCLAY, and in 1802 sold 133 acres to JOHN FINLEY for 608 dollars. He also sold a portion to David Mellinger. Both Finley and Mellinger lived in this section as early as 1794. JOHN FINLEY lived and died here, leaving a family of 11 children, of whom LEVI and GEN. ROBERT FINLEY settled at Finleyville. LEVI FINLEY married and had five children who settled in and near Finleyville. JAMES, a son of his, lived and died at Limetown. BARCLAY FINLEY, another son, is connected with the Monongahela Bank at Monongahela City. DR. WILLIAM FINLEY, a third son, lives at Finleyville. JOHN and F. M. FINLEY, the other two sons of LEVI, now own the 100 acres of land that belonged to HUGH BARCLAY, of whom their father purchased it. GEN. ROBERT FINLEY was a bachelor, and lived and died at Finleyville.
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania, by Earle R. Forrest, Vol. 1
Author: Forrest, Earle R. (Earle Robert), 1883-1969
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1926
Pg. 735
Finleyville- Laid out by JAMES BARCLAY in 1788, when he opened a tavern. This was an important point on the old stage road from Brownsville to Pittsburgh, and it was known in early times as Rogue Alley, from the name of an early tavern “Row Galley,” which degenerated into “Rogue Alley.” A post office was established in 1826 with GEN. ROBERT FINLEY as postmaster. It was incorporated as a borough February 19, 1896, from Union Township, and is an important town in the east section of the county.