Here are some messages from the 1998 Digest, #54 Maybe it will shed some light on where the confusion began. _____________________________________________ Whaley Digest V98 #54 1 Apr 1998 Msg. #1-Alexander and Abigail Leverich--From Weeden's notes " I recently received an alphabetical list of WSP Members with their ancestral data from Lyn and also an alphabetical list of Oldest Ancestors with a list of the descendants of each from George. I noticed that some of the TN Whaleys list Alexander Whaley and Abigail Leverich as the parents of Middleton Whaley or William M. Whaley. In David L. Beckwith's note to Deb Mayes in June 1997 he tells her that there is no connection between their Middleton Whaley and Alexander and Abigail. I agree and am puzzled as to the source for the TN Whaley descendants using this connection. It it in "Smoky Mountain Clans" by Donald B. Reagan or where? Alexander was b in CT and Abigail in NY and their 9 children William L., David, James, Elizabeth, Sarah L., John, Francis, Thomas and Alexander were all born in NY between 1774 and 1791. Alexander died in NY. Data on this family will be found in Rev. Samuel Whaley's book "The Whaley Family" and also "The Whaley House" and "Consignments to El Dorado" by June A. Reading. Alexander is mentioned in the DAR Patriot Index showing his Revolutionary War service from NY. #143264 material entered by descendant Clara Heiss Brandenburg notes that Alexander was a member of the Boston Tea Party and assisted in throwing the tea overboard!! The Abstract of his Will located by Suejp and his obituary verify the family data given above. For what it is worth, there was also an Alexander Whaley born between 1790 and 1800 in TN or SC. He served in the War of 1812 from TN and married Ruth McAnally 9-10-1812 in Roane Co TN. They moved to Blount Co AL. Alexander left his famiy in AL and moved to Poinsett Co AR. In 1850 he was listed there with a 36 year old Margaret and 6 children born between c. 1834 and 1850. The oldest of these children of his second family was named Middleton B. There seems to be some similarities here. There are also several WSPers listed under this Alexander who married Ruth McAnally. Someone has asked where the name Middleton comes from. As I recall, Edward the Regicide married Mary Middleton as his second wife." JW _________________________ Msg #2 Apr 1998 Alexander Whaley & Abigail Leverich--David L. Beckwith The source of the connection with the Sevier County TN Whaleys was "Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage" 1994, p. 200 submitted by Aileen Whaley Fowler. I then included this in my web page (http://www.smokykin.com/) After other evidence tended to disprove the connection, I personally phoned Mrs. Fowler. She gave as her source stories her grandfather (George Bradford Whaley 1838-1914) told her. In an attempt to explain the connection between the New York Whaley she said this Alexander traveled extensively as part of his occupation. She said her grandfather said they descended from the Regicide. She said our proven progenitor (William M. Whaley 1786-1880) had a brother named Middleton after the regicide's mother's maiden name. Mrs. Fowler was passionately offended by those who doubted her story and I feel uncomfortable sharing this as she did confide what she knew to me. The Middleton connection may have some credence, but she was unable to give me enough evidence that I feel indicate a connection to this Alexander. I think her grandfather did tell her stories on her ancestrry; unfortunately, I am unable to corroborate his stories with any facts. In fact, most facts tend to disprove the connection. I even have doubts that William M. Whaley's father is named Alexander. I can't find any primary source indicating his name. One researcher indicates it may be John Alexander Whaley, however, I have not seen her sources. The only evidence I have on his parents are the 1850 mortality list which lists their birth place as South Carolina. Does anyone have any evidence to share here? The Alabama Alexander you mention is too young to be the Sevier County, TN ancestor since he was born after William M. Whaley. The Middleton son tends to indicate a connection could be possible. I've been a little lazy at not notifying Lyn and George to change my progenitor to William M. and Mary (Ogle) Whaley. Does anyone else have anything to add? David L. Beckwith _________________________________________ Msg #3 1 Apr 1998 RE: Alexander Whaley and Abigail Leverich by LynVos David Beckwith and Others: Don't feel badly about stories told from generation to generation later being found out to be just that--stories! People in my family have for years said that my g-g-g-grandfather Edward Whaley was named for Lord Edw. Whaley, cousin of Oliver Cromwell, and that 'fact' has been printed in many Marion Co. MO histories, As yet, I've not found anything to prove it.! Lyn _________________________________________ Msg #4 0 Apr 1998 Re: Alexander Whaley and Abigail Leverich by George Whaley Hi David, I've changed your progenitor (what a neat word) . Is there anyone else who needs to be moved? I would rather not move anyone without their concurrence. Let me know. It only takes a couple of seconds to make the move and it may keep someone from going down the wrong branch in the future. BTW please remember my list probably has at least a dozen more errors. Its only purpose is to get cousins talking to each other. _______________________________________ Msg #5 2 Apr 1998 Kentucky Biographies by George Whaley The following site has several biographies mentioning Whaley and one biography devoted to a James Whaley. http://www.starbase21.com/kybiog/ George ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Dec. 11-06 David Beckwith said back then that he was taking the erroneous material out of his web (http://smokykin.com/). I checked the web tonight and he still has that Alexander and Abigail are the parents of William M. So how do you get rid of that erroneous material???? Ruby Nelson