Halley Diary
An old Halley history written by Henry Simpson Halley, Jr. on 7 September 1860
Sent to Rhoda Taylor Fone by Jean Holley Day
A short history of the Halley Family, by H.S. Halley, the great grandson of Thomas Halley.
The said Thomas Halley was born in Wales, the southern part of England - and
emigrated to the United States at an early period, the writer don't know at
what time, but I suppose about the latter part of the 16th century [should be
the 17th century]. He settled in Fairfax County, at a place called Dogreen, on the
Potomac River, a short distance below Mt. Vernon - then Alexandria, an Indian
Village, and built him a log cabin and raised a family of children, how many, I
don't know - And while he resided at his log cabin he was taken prisoner and
tied by the Indians, and carried up the Potomac, near Harper's Ferry now stands
- and one night while he was sleeping between two Indians, he cut the rope that
he was tied with, with a mussel shell, he picked up, they were asleep, he got
up and took his back track homeward, and got home safe - a short time after he
got home, the Indians came in pursuit of him, and looked in at his little window,
and said "Tom, is that you!" and did not interrupt him.
Well, I have no account of any of his children, but my Grandfather James
Halley. I suppose they scattered in the west of Virginia - But his son
James Halley married Elizabeth Simpson, and they settled in Fairfax County, on
Popeshead Run, now Pleasant Green, near Fairfax Court House, I reckon about
1730, on a small farm about 120 acres of land - built him a log cabin in the
woods, that is 130 years ago - the farm is yet in cultivation by Newman Burke,
my brother-in-law - they raised then mostly tobacco, that was all the money
they had, and rolled it to market - This was 46 years before the Revolutionary
War - then a British Colony.
The said James Halley was born in the year 1707[?], and his wife in 1717. They
had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, their names are as
follows - William, James, John, Richard, Frank and Henry, Mary, Susan, Sallie,
the two youngest daughters died young in Fairfax. John, Richard and Frank
moved to the State of Kentucky, at an early period, and died in that
State. Three of his daughters died without heirs, and two of his sons,
William and John. James, Richard and Frank raised families.
The above said James Halley was a Protestant and my Grandmother was a Baptist -
the Baptists then were very much persecuted by the Protestants. All
citizens were compelled by law to pay the established clergy one tenth of what
they made.
My father Henry S. Halley and my mother Elizabeth Hampton were born in the same
year 1762, and were married, I think, in about 1786, each in the 25th
year. The said Henry S. Halley was a Baptist, baptized by the Rev. ---
but my mother made no profession after the death of my Grandparents, but
Grandmother Hampton, the others died before I could recollect.
My Grand Mammy Hampton was a Pierce form Westmoreland County - my Mother had
four brothers, Joseph, John, William and Samuel, one sister Mary, who married
John King, all raised families in Fairfax Co. They moved to Kentucky,
except John and Wm. Hampton, who died in Fairfax and left some heirs. The
Halley family, at least James H. Halley, my Grandfather's children, nearly all
lived to be old. Grandfather died in his 85th year, and my
Grandmother before he did - and William, his son, died 85 yrs. old, and Uncle
John Halley nearly 100, and Uncle James nearly as old, and Uncle Richard quite
old, and nearly all my Father's sisters died very old. My Father died in
his 76th year in 1837, and my mother died in 1824, 62 years
old. My Father enjoyed good health and died very sudden, was quite
fleshy; he ate a hearty dinner as usual and walked out to a shop where a
servant was at work, about 60 yards from the house, and after standing awhile
observed to the servant that he felt a little chilly. The servant then
walked to the house with him, and supported him with his arms, as he appeared
to need assistance. As they went on he said "O, My Blessed Jesus", was
the last words he said - when he got to the house, he laid down, sent for a
doctor, but he died quite easy - breathed a few times and that Righteous Soul
prepared by grace divine, was called home, to the place of rest that God had
prepared for him in Heaven. He there rests from his sorrows and his works
do follow him.
My mother was a delicate woman and only lived four days after she was taken
sick - both are now, not doubt, praising God in Heaven together - how happily
they lived together here - mutual happiness - a bright example, they set for
their children, loving and kind always.
My father Henry S. Halley, and my mother Elizabeth Hampton had ten children
given them by God to train them for Heaven, and if ever any two discharged
their duty, that God required of them, to train up their children for Heaven,
they have - All love - and they manifested it daily, for never were there two
more affectionate parents born. Their light shone at home and abroad,
kind to all, no partiality, all equal alike dear to them. I don't
recollect of my Father ever failing to read God's work and sing and pray to God
most fervently, night and day, and nothing should prevent him. He was
sweet to praise God and to pray for his little children and wife, and for the
conversion of sinners everywhere. He delighted in serving God more than
any one I ever knew, and it was heavenly food to the soul.
The names of my Father's and Mother's children are a follows: - John Hampton
Halley, the eldest was born on the 5th. Day of January 1788 - he
married Catherine Coffer of Fairfax - She died not very long after they were
married, she left no heirs. He died in Fairfax at this home "Pleasant
Green", I think Apr. 2, 1844, in his 56th. Year, after a protracted
illness, of three months, with a disease of the digestive organs - resigned to
God's will, died quite easy, not a murmur, perfectly resigned, no sign of
disquietude. He was a kind and affectionate brother, and although he made
no open profession of religion, but I have no doubt that he was a true believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ, and trusted in Him alone for Salvation , and spent
much of his time in reading God's word. I hope now he is reaping the
reward of the truly Righteous, with his Father in Heaven. I went to see
him a short time before he died. I was sitting by his bedside when he
breathed his last, he had just taken some medicine, and the doctor remarked -
we wont give you any more medicine now, we will give you something to eat that
will strengthen you. He said - this is right, and he laid down and
breathed his last, without moving any part of his body, lay as if in a sweet
sleep, soon he ceased to breathe, his eyes and mouth opened, the soul so pure
that it left its body behind without any tokens of regret at parting.
The second son was the writer of this little narrative - Henry S. Halley, born
on the 2nd. Day of October 1789. The third was Mary Montjoy
Halley, born, I think, the 25th of March 1791 - she married John
Reid of Fairfax, had four daughters, two of them married - Martha Ann to
William Ayer and Lucreceia[?] married William Thrift, the other two died
a short time of each other, they were just grown up.
My sister Mary died with consumption, I think in the 35th
year. Her husband John Reid died in his 74th year, the first
of May, 1860, after a protracted illness, I think his disease was a ----- I did
not see him while he was sick because I was sick, myself.
The fourth child was James M. Halley, he was born the 25th. Nov.
1792, is yet living in Washington, he married Betsy Simpson of Fairfax, Edward
Simpson's daughter. They have eight or ten children, I believe.
The fifth child was Catherine, born on the 29th. July 1794 - she
married Edmond Payne of Fairfax, Col. Wm. Payne's son. They were married
in September 1816, 22 years old, and I think, in 1820, they moved to the State
of Kentucky. They had, I think, seven or eight children. He followed
farming and had some public office, very well-to-do, a sturdy pious man. He
and my sister belonged to the Presbyterian Church - he was a very sprightly
business man and much esteemed by all that knew him. He died, I think, in
the - years - She died I think, in 1859, with the ureast[?] complaint.
The sixth was Fanna Halley, born the 16th June 1796 - She married
Capt. John DeBell of Fairfax, a young widower, I think, in 1815, in the 18th
year. They moved to Kentucky with Edmond Payne and sister Kitty, - went
to farming, but neither of them enjoyed good health, and in a few years they
moved back to Virginia, in Fairfax, and went to merchantdising. He lived
many years in Virginia, then, and enjoyed good health, finally he died in Centerville,
where they resided, I think in or about 1850. He was a very pious and
good man, and much esteemed by all who knew him, and his walk through life gave
good evidence that he had made peace with God - kind and affectionate to all
was very popular, a kind husband. They never had any children - the tree
is known by its fruit. I think in some five or six years after the death
of Capt. DeBell, she married again to Capt. Reason Wilcoxen, an old widower, at
Fairfax Court House, but very rich - I suppose he was over 80 years old when he
was married, but a fine looking man, and made a very agreeable companion. In
all respects, said to be a good man, that was his name. Eventually he
died after they had lived together perhaps five or six years. My sister
is now a widow again, living at Fairfax Court House, on the property her
husband left her, her annual income, house rent and servant's hire, can't be
much less than a thousand --- I think Mr. Wilcoxen died in his 85th
year. She is --- for one of her age.
The 7th child of our parents was Samuel Halley, born on the 29 th April
1798, now 72 years old. After leaving his father, he went
to Alexandria, and got a berth in a store awhile, and there got to be a Deputy
Marshall of Alex. From there he went to Loudon County and commenced
merchantdising, for a few years, and then went to Kentucky, and married Marion
Elkin, and went to farming, owned a farm, I don't know how many acres, near
Lexington, and I suppose, is now worth $100 per acre, doing very well - has
several children, I don't know how many. He is yet living.
The next child, the eighth, was Elizabeth,
born in 1800. . She married Newman Burke of Fairfax about 1840. They had
no children. She died, I think, about 1850, with the bilious fever.
The next child was the 9th, Thomas Jefferson, born on the 13 th of
May 1802, and died in Loudon County on the 17th of October, 1826, with the bilious
fever, in his 24th year - sick about
3 weeks. He went to see brother Hampton, who was very low at the time
with the fever, and caught it there. He had just commenced business for
himself in Brentsville, keeping store. Brother Hampton at the time was
merchantdising in Loudon. I lived so far off that I did not get to see
him until he was dead. O, it was so heart rending to see a beloved
brother taken off so suddenly. He had just commenced life - He was the
flower of the flock, doted on by all of us. At the same time brother
Hampton was so low, not expected to live, mere skin and bones, a mere skeleton,
has to be lifted about like a child, still he recovered and lived eighteen
years longer.
The next and last child, 10th of our parents, was Margaret, she was
born on the 15th May 1804. She married Allen Elkin of Kentucky,
a brother of Brother Samuel's wife, and moved to that State soon after they
married. She has a number of children.
This, now, is a little sketch or history of the writer, Henry, and his family
from an early period of his life to the present time, September 7, 1860.
