Connelly

CONLEY FAMILY

Sketches related to the Conley Family are recorded under numbers 190, 191, 192 and 193.

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O’CONNELLY, JOHN AND CONNELLY, HUGH

190

John O’Connelly came into North Carolina from Pennsylvania in 1743 to settle in the Lovelady Ford Section of Catawba. Four sons and three daughters were born to the John O’Connelly family. Many are the decendants of these sons and daughters in Burke County.

Hugh Connelly, born in 1761, was the sixth child of this family. Hugh Connelly was married to Lucy Ballew, a name common to eastern Burke County. Their decendants feel that the family moved into the western part of Burke looking for farm land late in the 1700’s.

They settled on land in the Linville River area (according to court recordings, at one time these families owned large areas of land.) The community was called Fonta Flora, a self-contained community with it’s own stores, school, churches and post office.

Hugh and Lucy Ballew Connelly had four sons. The spelling of the name Connelly was thought to have changed O'Connellys came into North Carolina. Dropping the 0 and shortening the name to Conley. Today it is spelled both Connelly and Conley.

Sources: North Carolina Division of Archives and History.

– Sarah E. Annis

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CONLEY, HUGH II

191

Hugh Conley II, son of Hugh and Lucy Ballew Conley, was born in 1792. Hugh Conley married Hazey Fox, in May of 1823. Hazey Fox Conley was the daughter of John Fox (soldier hero of the American Revolution, Battle of Kings Mountain, North Carolina).

They lived in the Linville River area, part of the Fonta Flora Community. Their farm was located in the area near the location of the present Linville Methodist Church. They had four sons, three of whom sewed in the Confederate Army.

The farm land and their graves are now covered by the waters of Lake James. The stones from their gravesite have been moved and placed on a grassy knoll overlooking Lake James, near the Power House site.

The Old Sardis Church was the oldest church in the area where the Conley family lived. The oldest stone in the cemetery here is dated 1838. It is thought by descendants that the Conley family attended church here, for later families did attend here and later helped form Linville Methodist Church. The earliest school in this community was the Rhyne School.

This family, the forebears of the Conleys in Burke County today, were a strong people who lived on the land through hard times and good times. They raised families, kept their families together, and enjoyed long lives. Many of their descendants live in Burke County today.

Sources: North Carolina Division of Archives and History.

– Sarah E. Annis

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CONLEY, ALFRED L.

192

Alfred L. Conley, son of Hugh and Hazy Fox Conley, was born 1830. Alfred was the third of four sons. He grew up on his father's farm in the Linville River area near the present Linville Methodist Church. Alfred married Mary Roderick, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Spainhour Roderick.

Alfred and Mary had five children. In July of 1862, Alfred left his family to serve in the Confederate Army. In September after he left, Mary gave birth to their fifth child, Alfred L. Conley, II. According to his military record the latest date Alfred was accounted for was in February, 1863. Alfred was either killed or died of wounds or an illness. He is thought to have been buried somewhere in Tennessee.

In Alfred's father's will, dated July 1869, Alfred's widow, Mary Roderrick Conley, is given her husband's part of the Conley farmlands.

This family was one that lived through many hardships to raise their families and never leave their land. They are spoken of as community leaders and good neighbors in a time when people depended upon each other for their very survival.

Sources: North Carolina Division of Archives and History; National Division of Archives and History.

– Sarah E. Annis

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CONLEY, ALFRED L. II

193

Alfred L. Conley, II son of Alfred and Mary Roderick Conley was born in September1962. He was born two months after his father left for the Confederate Army. His father was killed or died of wounds or an illness. Alfred and two brothers and two sisters grew up on the farmland inherited from their grandfather (part of the lands of Hugh Conley).

Families of this period of our Burke County history are to be much admired for their forbearance and hard work. Theirs was a time of beginning over again. Young Alfred stayed with his mother after the other family members moved away.

At a church social Alfred met his future wife, Julia Bowman. Alfred and Julia were married in 1887. Seven children were born to this marriage so AJfred added more rooms to their home.

They were a self contained farm family, raising their food, keeping needed livestock and farm tools. The entire family stayed on the farm until they reached adulthood and became workmen and had families of their own. One son of this family served in the U.S. Army during World War l.

"Julie and Bud" Conley, as they were affectionately called by their neighbors, worked hard to raise their family. They were strong leaders in the Linville Methodist Church and the Linville School in their community. Many are their decendants who live in Burke County today.

Julia and Alfred Conley are buried in the Linville Methodist Church Cemetery.

Sources: Family recollections.

– Sarah E. Armis

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CONNELLY FAMILY

195

According to Thomas Walton in his Sketches of the Pioneers, the Connellys form one of the most extensive families of what was originally Burke County." The Irish pioneer, John O’Connelly, came to the American colonies in 1743 and settled in the Lovelady Ford section of the Catawba River valley. His offspring are today scattered throughout Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties.

John O’Connelly was the father of four sons and three daughters: Mary, John, Elizabeth, Rebecca, James, Hugh, and William. His eldest son was Captain John Connelly who took the first Burke County census in 1790. Connelly also commanded a regiment at the Battle of Kings Mountain. According to the 1790 census, Burke County was divided into thirteen companies of militia. The Second Company consisted of seventy-eight heads of household and was commanded by Captain John Connelly.

Captain John's marriage to Jane Ballew produced ten children: William, Joshua, Elizabeth, Caleb, John, George, Sussannah, Joseph, Allen and Mary. His eldest son, William, was the father of Colonel William Lewis Connelly.

Like his grandfather, Colonel Connelly commanded a militia of North Carolina volunteers. In 1838, he and his company were called upon to assist Major General Winfield Scott in the removal of the Cherokee Indians from their territory. In later years, William Lewis Connelly was known as a prominent land owner, a loyal member of the Methodist Church and one of the early supporters of the newly established Rutherford College.

Many of the Connellys now living in Burke County were descended from William Connelly, the brother of Captain John and the great uncle of Colonel William Lewis Connelly. William Connelly was born on August 5, 1764. He married Mary Sanor Cooper, an English widow who was fourteen years his senior. Mary lived to ninety-nine years of age and had four children: Dutch John, Bryant, Elizabeth, and William, Jr., who was known as "Big Bill". Following her husband's death in 1807, Mary moved into Big Bill’s home in what is now McDowell County.

"Big Bill" Connelly married Sara Massey Moore and had eleven children. His daughter, Margaret Salina was the great grandmother of Beatrice Cobb who was the publisher-owner of The News Herald until her death in 1959.

According to documents filed at the Burke County Courthouse, "Big Bill" Connelly and his brother Dutch John were neighbors in the Linville River and Paddy Creek section of the county. The late Amos Connelly recalls that Dutch John’s property was situated "at the upper end of North Cove, near the old lime quarry".

Dutch John Connelly was born on August 7, 1783. He married Elizabeth Wakefield and had thirteen children: Joseph, Ambros, Polly (Mary), William, Albert, Mira, Matilda, Charles, Christain and Sidney, Louisa, Eliza and Sophronia. Dutch John was listed in the 1850 census as a slaveowner. His home, which he referred to in his will of 1868 as the Manor House was where he lived with his son Sidney and his daughter Louisa until he died at eighty-five years of age. The remainder of his children had by then scattered throughout Burke and McDowell counties. His son, Dr. William Connelly was the first dentist in Burke County. His daughter Louisa married William Parks McGimsey, the great grandfather of Boger McGimsey, who currently serves as the Register of Deeds in Burke County.

Many Burke County residents trace their lineage back to Dutch John’s son, Albert Connelly. Albert was born on March 4, 1813. He married his first cousin, Mary Ann Conley, the daughter of "Big Bill". Albert and Mary Ann lived in a large white house that still stands in the Glenwood section of what is now McDowell County. Albert and Mary.Ann had four children: Henrv Bascombe. Mirah Louise. Sarah (Sallie), and Laura.

Like his forefathers, Albert was a slaveowner and a farmer. Following his death in 1885, albert's estate was taken over by his son, Henry Bascombe.

Bascombe was born on September 11, 1854. He married Sarah Melinda Hicks on March 16, 1876. They had six children. Albert, John Marvin, James David, Joseph, Floyd Asbury, and Charles Alvin Connelly.

Like many families, the Connellys were affected by the abolition of slavery. Following the Civil War, the breakdown of the plantation system and the weakened condition of the southern economy forced many families to turn away from farming and find other means of livelihood. Prior to his death in 1911, Bascombe rented his house and property in McDowell County and moved to Marion, where he found work at the railroad depot as a drayman.

His son, Charles Alvin Connelly was born on March 13, 1884. Except for a brief stint as a carpenter in the Norfolk shipyard during World War I, Charles lived and worked in Morganton until his death in 1955. He was employed as a carver for Drexel Furniture Company at the Table Rock plant.

Charles married Essie Maude Greene, the daughter of the well known Morganton grocer, E.A. Greene. They had eight children: Charles Edward, Robert Leith, Vivian May, James Albert, Jack Lane, William Franklin, Joseph Greene, and Sarah Alice.

Charles Edward Connelly lives in Greensboro, N.C. He is married to Sarah Scott More of Greensboro, and they have two children: Charles, Jr. and Maurine C. Ford. He is retired from Cone Mills, where he served as Vice President, Treasurer and Director.

Robert Leith Connelly lives in Morganton, N.C. He is married to Miriam Dickinson of Wilson, N.C. They have four children: Daphne C. McKee, Melinda (Linda) C. Armstrong, Karen, and Robert, Jr. He is retired from Drexel Enterprises, where he served as a Director and as Executive Vice-President for finance and administration.

Vivian is married to Glen B. Moody, a photographer, and they live in Charlotte, N.C. They have two children: Glen, Jr. and Michael.

James A. Connelly lives in Morganton, N.C. He is married to Mabel Arney of Morganton, and they have two children: David and Scott. He is the founder and President of Nite Furniture Company.

Jack Lane Connelly died in 1962. He was married to Betty Wall of Rutherfordton, N.C. They have three children: Charles Evans, Christine C. McAdams, and Elizabeth (Beth). Jack was Manager of the Owens-Illinois Vineland, New Jersey Plant, Kimball Division.

William F. Connelly lives in Toledo, Ohio and is married to Joan Webb of Findlay, Ohio. They have two children: Anne C. Gulley and Kay. He is Vice-President – Corporate Staff of Owens-Illinois.

Joseph G. Connelly is a self-employed businessman in Bradenton, Florida. He is married to Bettie Barringer of Hickory, N.C. They have two children: Steve and Andrew.

Sarah Connelly White is an executive secretary for Nite Furniture Company in Morganton. She was married to the late Claude Nelson White, Jr.

Sources: Nancy Alexander, Here will I Dwell, 1956: Connelly genealogical papers compiled by Anne Abernathy Connelly; Interview with Paul Giles; Papers compiled by Paul Giles; Edward W. Phifer, Jr., Burke: History of a North Carolina County; and Col. T. G. Walton, Sketches of the Pioneers in Burke County History.

– Robert L. Connelly, Jr.

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CONNELLY, HENRY HIGHLAND

194

Henry Highland Connelly (1798-1878), son of William Connelly, Esquire (1774-1820) and Rebecca Sherrill (1775-1857), was born in Burke County, N.C. on June 4, 1798. His parternal grandparents were Captain John Connelly (August 1, 1744 – July 16, 1826) of Revolutionary War fame and Jane Ballew.

His maternal grandparents were Jacob Sherrill (March 20, 1748 – March 8, 1831) and his second wife, Sarah Massey (September 21 1754--November 11 1822), daughter of Nicholas Massey. His great grandparents on his mother's side were William Adam Sherrill, Jr. and Agnes White.

Henry had seven brothers and five sisters. His brothers were Jacob Sherrill, John Wesley, Richard M., William Lewis, Alfred C., Israel Pickens, and George A. His sisters were Jane, Sarah, Rebecca Mira, Margaret Susan, and Agnes E.

On August 21, 1822, Henry married Nancy Anne Brown in Burke county. Their marriage bond is #000005349. While living in North Carolina they had two daughters: W.M. born about 1826 and W.A. "Addie" born about 1832.

Sometime between 1832 and 1834, the family moved to Georgia to the part of Habersham County which is now White County. There they had six more children, three sons and three daughters. H.R.M. was born about 1834. S.L. "Sally" was born about 1837. John H. was born about 1839. G.H. was born about 1842. Sam Oswal was born June 3, 1844. H.J. "Hattie" was born March 2, died January 13, 1866, and is buried in Nacoochee Valley, Georgia.

Henry was named for a prominent citizen of Burke County, Henry Highland. During his lifetime the spelling of Connelly was changed, and on his tombstone Henry's name appears as Henry H. Conley.

Henry Highland Conley died February 28, 1878 and was buried in the Nacoochee United Methodist Church cemetery at Nacoochee Valley, Georgia. His: wife, Nancy Anne Brown, died October 22, 1881 and is buried beside him.

Sources: Diary of Sam Oswal Conley; Letter from Allen Poe, genealogist, Lenoir, N.C. to Miss Bain Johnson, ex-librarian of Thomasville, N.C., April 11, 1959 (Copy in possession of Mrs. J. Clark Connelly, Morganton, N.C.); Marriage and Death Notices from Western Carolinian, 1820-1842, Salisbury, N.C., compiled by Albert M. Topkins, Buncombe County, N.C. (copy in Asheville Library); Marriage Bond 000005349, Dallas (Texas) Library; Marriage and Death Records, Old Tryon County (now Lincoln County); Military Pension of John Connelly, National Archives and Service Records; Records from material by R.L. Hefner, former President of the Catawba County Historical Society, George Ivy Memorial Library, Hickory, N.C.; Tombstones in the Nacoochee United Methodist Church cemetery at Nacoochee Valley, Georgia; and the1850 U.S. Census.

– Ann Louise Kelly Conley

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JOHN CONNELLY

123

Jacob Connelly, James Connelly, and John Connelly were brothers. There were more, but at this time I do not know them. John Connelly married a Ballou and was Captain of the Militia from this area during and after the Revolutionary War. He was over about 200 heads of household at that time, from Eastern Burke County and lower Caldwell County formed in 1841. Before this time, lower Caldwell County was Burke County.

Captain John Connelly and his men met at Quaker Meadows, (Morganton, N.C.), with Col. John Sevier and his men from Eastern Tennessee and other Western North Carolina sections, along with other men from this section of North Carolina before they marched to Kings Mountain, N.C. and Cowpens, S.C. These two battles were the turning point of the Patriots against the British during the Revolutionary War.

The above Connellys owned several hundred acres of land in this area at that time.

This is the family history of the Connelly’s from this area near Granite Falls, N.C. The old home place was on Connelly Creek where it enters the Catawba River at the Lenoir, N.C. water fitter plant. The old Connelly graveyard is also there.

Jacob Connelly – born 1750 – died 1830; William Connelly – born 1774 – died 12/24/ 1820; Wife – Rebecca Connelly – born 1776 – died 1/1/1857; Isreal Pickens Connelly –born Feb. 10, 1810 – died Apr. 20. 1882; Wife – Seady M. Sherrill Connelly – born May 24, 1842 – died Apr. 20, 1890; Charles Connelly – dates of birth and death unknown; William Connelly – dates of birth and death unknown; Henry Connelly – dates of birth and death unknown; I. Pickens Connelly, Jr. –dates of birth and death unknown; Rebecca Elmiral Connelly – born July 21, 1859 – died Oct. 5, 1899; Patricia Connelly – married a Ballou from Connelly Springs, H.C.; Agnes Connelly – married Burl Lngle and lived in Hudson, N.C. Sons of I.P. Connelly – late 1800’s; Charles Connelly – killed in South Dakota; William Connelly – killed in S.D. when investigating the killing of Charles; Henry Connelly – killed by brother Charles near Catawba River between Granite Falls, N.C. and Hickory, N.C. Charles then left for S.D.; Isarel Pickens Connelly, Jr. – killed in one of the Western States; Andrew Connelly – killed by Jim Aderhoit in Lenoir, N.C. at the Court House.

Isarel Pickens Connelly, Sr. was named after Isarel Pickens of Burke County, who served in Congress in the early 1800’s. Israel Pickens was married to the daughter of General William Lenoir who served in the Revolutionary War from this area.

Sources: Family Bibles, Court Records.

– William J. Icard

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CONNELLY, FLOYD ASBURY

196

Floyd Asbury Connelly was born in McDowell County, March 18, 1887. He came to Burke County around the same time as his brother, Charles, and worked at Morganton Furniture Company, Table Rock Furniture Company, and was later a barber.

On July 16, 1912, he married Beulah Ismay Clark, daughter of John Moulton and Sarah Correll Clark of Morganton.

To this union were born six children; Floyd Alden Connelly who married Virginia Oare Butler Harper; James Clark Connelly who married Anne McDowell Abernethy; Harold Vardell Connelly who died as a child; Sarah Katherine Connelly who married Paul Newnam of Norfolk, Virginia; Ervin Lamar Connelly who married Helen Barnes of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and Joanne Correll Connelly who married Robert Jackson Shepherd.

Mr. Connelly died on October 8, 1933, and he and his wife are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton, N.C.

Sources: Birth and death records, Register of Deeds office, Burke County, N.C.; Immediate family information; and Marriage records, Register of Deeds Office, Burke County, N.C.

– Anne A. Connelly

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