Hello, I just checked census pages  (through my library)  and this spelling of the name only shows up once: FININLEY, GEORGE   (1860 U.S. Census) MASSACHUSETTS , NORFOLK, 3-WD ROXBURY Age: 23, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: MA Series: M653 Roll: 517 Page: 858 He is single, a blacksmith,  and living in someone's home. The FINENLEY name doesn't show up at all.     The  FINNLEY spelling shows up 3 times in 1860, but 2 in Ohio and one in NYC: FINNLEY, JAMS   (1860 U.S. Census) NEW YORK , NEW YORK, 17-WD NEW YORK CITY Age: 25, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: NY Series: M653 Roll: 808 Page: 72 I see the  FINLEY spelling shows up many times,  but not in New England until 1900.     There are 2 Henry FINLEY's in MA that year actually living in bordering towns.    One has a wife, Catherine, and the other is single. FINLEY, HENRY   (1900 U.S. Census) MASSACHUSETTS , MIDDLESEX, ARLINGTON Age: 39, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA Series: T623 Roll: 655 Page: 114 FINLEY, HENRY B   (1900 U.S. Census) MASSACHUSETTS , MIDDLESEX, LEXINGTON Age: 30, Male, Race: WHITE, Born: CANA Series: T623 Roll: 659 Page: 4 With that kind of name, someone could try a dozen, different spellings.   But some others aren't show up. Out of curiousity,  I checked    www.familysearch.org    and  Henry FININLEY's name shows up a few times.     One mention is of his marriage to Jane BLAISDELL in RI in 1849.     Another mention is that he fought in the Civil War.      Another mention is that Henry and Jane had a son, Robert, who died at Age 6 in Boston in 1857.   Hope this helps a little. Betty                   (near Lowell