Possible Error in Family Tree of Robert Finney 1668-1755 of Chester PA?
While researching the lineage of Thomas Finney and Mary Chester I believe I
have identified an error in the book 1720. This compiled with other findings leads me to believe we may need to look at Robert Finney ‘s family in a new light.
In the book “Finney 1720” on page 246 it states the marriage record shows Archibald's
marriage record for Christ Church had him listed as Alexander due to a
probable confusion between Alexander and Archibald. I have found a will
probated for Alexander Finney of Chester County, PA (Chester Co. Wills Book A
p156) and I believe this to be the same Alexander Finney who was married in Christ Church to Anne Chester and not Archibald.
The records for the Christ Church show that Alexander Finney and Anne
Chester were married there on July 7, 1740 by Rev. Archibald Cummings. The
records also show Thomas Finney married Mary Chester four years earlier on
October 27, 1736 by the same Rev. Cummings. It is it possible two brothers
married two sisters?
Minnehaha Finney lists this Archibald Finney who married Anne Chester as being a son of William and Jean Stephenson Finney. I will have to figure out to see if it is possible for William and Jean have a son old enough to marry the sister of his Uncle Thomas wife? (Remember only 4 years between marriages)
William and Jean did have a son Archibald but this is not the same man who married Anne Chester.
Alexander Finney’s will mention his sisters as being named Sarah and Jean. The will does not list a spouse or children meaning Anne Chester Finney may have died without having children.
To the best of my knowledge William and Jean Finney did not have children named
Sarah and Jean. From what I have been able to put together is that Sarah Finney was married to John Taylor and Jean Finney was married to a Thomas Nesbit.
If Alexander and Thomas were brothers then they would have sisters named
Jean and Sarah. Does this mean we have just found three additional children
of Robert and Dorothea Finney? I do not feel comfortable stating this is the case
and feel compelled to consider other scenarios such as another one of
Robert's siblings or cousins were in Chester, PA and he had children named
Alexander, Sarah, and Jean. The book Finney 1720 does not mention the Taylor
or Nesbit families but we do have a Nesbit in our Finney DNA project. It may
also be possible Thomas Finney who married Mary Chester is also a sibling of
Alexander, Sarah, and Jean and not a sibling of Robert and Dorothea Finney.
Huh?
NOTE: Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825
Name: Alexander Finney
Description: Decedent
Prove Date: 25 Nov 1766
Book/Page: A:156
Remarks: Alexander Finney. 25 July 1766. Sister Jean Nesbit. Sister's dau:
Jean. Nephew Andrew Taylor. Friend William Nesbit. John Coyl, Hance
Hamilton. Sister Sarah Taylor. Hugh Taylor, Sarah Taylor and James Taylor.
Servant John Hutton, land in Letterkenny Township. Meeting House known as
Thomas Brown's Congregation. Adam Hoops, Exs. of that part of estate left to
niece Jean Taylor. Exs., over remaining part of the estate, John Randle's,
Esq., and James Lindsey.
According to a researcher of Sarah Finney "John Taylor's will mentions
Nephew Andrew Taylor, Sister Sarah Taylor and Niece jean Taylor
Also mentions Hugh and James Taylor but not their relationship to him." We
must also not forget a son of James Finney b. 1726 and Martha Mayes, John
Finney, married a lady named Mary Taylor. I am not sure if these Taylors are
related to each other.
Would Robert Finney’s devout Presbyterian family married in a Anglican Church run by the Church of England?
We must keep in mind the time frame of the marriages. This was pre American Revolution and I have seen a transcribed copy of an Oath of Allegiance signed by Dr. John Finney to the English king so it may not be so far fetched that Finney's were married at Christ Church. Without this oath it is doubtful Dr. John Finney would have accumulated as much land as he did in Delaware Colony. Still having said this there is some documentation which may indicate what I am saying is not far from the truth. I will let you decide.
Dr. John Finney's Brother Dr Robert Finney states in his will "All Ye risidue of my Estate real and personal I devise and bequeaths to my Friend Rob Finney that lives with me & To his wife Agnes"
I have read this many times wondering why Robert was calling his nephew a friend. The Robert Finney who was married to Agnes was a son of Thomas Finney and Mary Chester. If Thomas was Dr. Robert's brother why would he refer to Thomas' son as a Friend instead of nephew? Is it possible Robert Finney b 1668 also brought nieces, nephews, or cousins from Londonderry to PA?
I suggest the Thomas Finney who married Mary Chester is more likely to be the brother of Alexander, Sarah, and Jean Finney. All we have to do now is figure out how they fit into the family. I suggest there was another Finney family from North Ireland in Chester PA, closely related to Robert Finney b. 1668.Thomas Finney and Mary Chester named their children: Robert, William, Dorothea, Ann, and Jean which are all found in Robert Finney b 1668 family.
I further suggest this may explain the lack of documentation on the parents of James Finney b. 1726 (m. Martha Mayes). YDNA appears to suggests William may not be James father and I think the documentation shows James Finney who was married to Jean/Jane ? was not James b 1726 father. Much more research and YDNA testing of Finney's in these lineages is needed. I am very certain though it was not Archibald Finney who married Anne Chester in Christ's Church and the church record is accurate.
Gerald