Ruby, There is a lot of documentation that has been brought out indicating that Elias may be the father of our Thomas Whaley. Elias Whaley was married to Martha Dale, dau.of John Dale, Sr. and Martha McKnight. In 1760 John Dale, Sr. sold 180 acres of "Bear's Quarters" to Elias Whaley and in 1770 sold 10 acres to a Seth Whaley. Later Elias sold 100 acres of 'Bears Quarters' to his wife's brother, Thomas Dale but there's no record indicating Elias purchased any more land and his son Seth Whaley/Hester Baker were named as the only next of kin in the household inventory that was settled some years after his death and just before the death of Martha. There probably wasn't a need to list all of his children with so little in the inventory.. John Dale, Sr.'s will bequeathed a slave to his dau. Martha (Dale) Whaley and upon her death to her dau. Hannah Whaley and Seth Whaley. Martha is listed as being married to Elias Whaley. Adam Dale, son of Thomas Dale formed the group that went to Tn. Thomas Whaley, the Evans, Duncans etc were among them. Adam Dale searched for the site I believe abt 1797 or so, and the trip was made a few years later. Knowing that plans were being made to migrate, it might possibly have been a reason to list only one 'next of kin- Seth' on Elias's inventory. Seth remained in Md. Martha McKnight Dale, dau. of Thomas Dale & Elizabeth Evans, md/Josiah Duncan. They had 2 daughters: Nancy Duncan and Henrietta Duncan. Nancy was the 1st wife of Thomas G. Whaley and when she died, Henrietta married Thomas G. Whaley. Thomas G. Whaley was a son of Thomas Whaley and brother of our Elijah Whaley and also went to Tenn. Georgia