Individual Details

1840 Johnson Co., TN, Elias Worley, head
1 m 20-30 (1810-1820) Elias
1 f 20-30 Lavina
1 m under 5 (1835-1940) Unknown
1 f under 5 Mary Jane ?
Info available to date indicates there should have been two girls under 5 and no boys, as James H. wasn't born until after the census in 1840.

1 Jun 1850, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, stamped page 4;
Elias Worley, 37 (1812-13) born VA, farmer, Real Estate owned $250
Levina Worley, 28 (1821-22), born TN
Mary J. Worley, 13 (1836-37), born TN
Margaret E. Worley, 11 (1838-39), born TN
James H. Worley, 9 (1840-41), born TN
William H. Worley, 7 (1842-43), born TN
Delila C. Worley, 5 (1844-45), born TN
Luemma C. Worley, 3 (1846-47), born TN
Robert R. Worley, 1 (1848-49), born TN
Margaret Grace, 63 (1786-87), born South Carolina

1 Jun 1860, Post office Wards Forge, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, stamped page 2;
Elias Worley, 39 (1820-21), born VA, farmer, Real Estate of $1,040, personal of $300
Lovina Worley, 37 (1822-23), born TN
Margaret E. Worley, 21 (1838-39), born TN
James H. Worley, 19 (1840-41), born TN, Wagnor [sic]
William H. Worley, 17 (1842-43), born TN, farm laborer
Delilah C. Worley, 15 (1844-45), born TN, housewifery
Susannah C. Worley, 13 (1846-47), born TN
Robt R. Worley, 12 (1847-48), born TN
Edward C. Worley, 10 (1849-50), born TN
Martha M. Worley, 7 (1852-53), born TN
Hester A. L. Worley, 3 (1856-57), born TN
Cynthia R. Worley, 2 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10/12 (abt Aug 1859), born TN.
All children from Margaret through Martha listed as attending school within the year.

1 Jun 1870, P.O. Wards Iron Works, District 1, Johnson Co., TN, pg. 14;
Elias Worley, 56 (1813-14), born VA, owns real estate of $450, personal estate of $800
Lavinia Worley, 49 (1820-21), born TN
Lou Emma Worley, 23 (1846-47), born TN
Edward S. Worley, 19 (1850-51), born TN, farm laborer, married within the year - in Jan.
Martha M. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Hester A. Worley, 15 (1854-55), born TN
Cyntha R. Worley, 12 (1857-58), born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 10 (1859-60), born TN
William H. Worley, 25 (1844-45), born TN, farm laborer
Sarah E. Worley, 21 (1848-49), born TN, married within the year - in Jan.

1 Jun 1880, 1st Civil District, Johnson Co., TN, ED 1 pg 2;
Elias Worley, head, 68, (1811-12), b. VA father's place of birth Not Known, mother born Virginia, farmer, could not read or write
Lavina Worley, 61 (1818-1819) born TN father born VA mother born South Carolina, cannot read or write
Milton L Gentry, grandson, 6 (1873-74), born TN both parents born TN
Joseph A. Worley, 19 (1860-61) born TN, father born VA mother born TN both parents born VA. Going to school. In home of parents.

This deed is for property in Carter Co., TN, now Johnson Co., TN

Book 8 Page 360, Johnson Co., TN

The State of Tennessee No. 26,904
To All Whom These Presents Shall Come
Greetings,
Know ye that in consideration of an Entry made in the entry takers office of Carter County of No. 1?,72, dated the 11th day of October 1828 by Elias Worley assignee of James Able.
There is Granted by the state of Tennessee unto the said Elias Worley and his heirs a certain tract of land containing fifty Acres lying in the County aforesaid on the waters of the Laurel fork of Holston, Beginning on a pine and white oak corner to Snodgrass then with the same South fifty East forty poles to a chestnut & red oak with pointers then north fifty five east one hundred poles to a chestnut oak & pointers then north fifty west eighty poles to a stake, then south fifty five west one hundred poles to a Stake and pointers then South fifty east forty poles to the beginning, [following is a space equal to 4-5 digits with "surveyed 27th February 1834"] written in a smaller and possibly different hand between that line and the one above] with its appurtenances, to have and to Hold the said Tract of Parcel of Land with its appurtenances to the said Elias Worley and his heirs forever - in witness whereof N. S. Brown Governor of the state of Tennessee has hereunto set his hand and caused the Great seal of the State to be affixed at Nashville on the 2nd day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, - and of American Independence the 74th year.
By the Governor W. T____dale
W.B.A. _______, Secretary
Elias Worley has title to the within described tract of land.

Signed Isaac Lewis, Regr of E. Tenn.
"Recorded in vol 28th page, 33,"

State of Tennessee
Johnson County}}} The foregoing Grant was record [sic] and registered January the 7th 1877 in book H vol 8 page 360
F. M. Chapell Register
Johnson County

The Lost Children of Wythe County, Virginia 1790 -1878, Poor School Children, Orphans and Apprentices from County Records, Compiled by Mary B. Kegley, 1995, page. 175, Cites "May 11, 1829, Jac. Gose and James Brawley, overseers of the poor agreement with John Gose to bind out Elias Worley, age 16 years, 13 days, until age 21 to learn farming and "black smyth" business, and to learn reading, writing and arithmetic, to the rule of three, and to be paid $12 at the expiration of the term."
If the above is this Elias Worley, that would have made his birthday April 28, 1813. Since it is the exact day and month, it seems highly likely that it is this Elias.
There is a John Gose family in Wythe Co., VA, in 1830 and has one male that could be Elias.

January, 2011, I contacted Mary Kegley via email. She went to the courthouse for me and made a photocopy of the indenture. Following is a full transcription:

Cover page:
Elias Worley
apprentice Indenture
to
John Gose
filed 11th May 1829"


"This Indenture Made this 11th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine between Jac. Gose and James Brawley Overseers of the Poor of the County of Wythe and State of VA of the one part and Jon Gose of the sd County of the other part witnesseth That the sd Jac. Gose and James Brawley Overseers of the Poor as above stated, by virtue of an order of the Court of the afore said County hearing date the [blank] day of [blank] in the year above written have put placed and bound and by These presents do put place and bind [blank] of the age of sixteen years and 13 days ??? to be an apprentice with him the sd John Gose and as an apprentice to ????? From the date of these Presents until the sd Elias Worley shall come to the age of Twenty one years, according to the act of the General assembly in that case made and provided by and During all which Time and Term the said Elias Worley shall the said John Gose his said master will and faithfully ???? in all such Lawful business as the Elias Worley shall be put unto by his said master according to the policies ???? and ability of him the said Elias Worley and honestly and ?????ley shall behave himself towards his said master and the rest of the family of the said John Gose and the said John Gose for his part for himself his Executors and administrators; doth hereby promise and Covenant to and with the Overseers of the Poor and Every of them therein and Every of their executors and administrators for the time being and to and with the said Elias Worley that he the said John Gose shall teach the said Elias Worley in the Craft Mistery and occupation of farming and blackSmyth business as fair as said Gose's work extends and the said Gose shall find and allow unto the said apprentice sufficient meat drink apparel ???? ???? and all other ????? ????? ???? for an apprentice. [The rest of this line is just too dark to read] The said John Gose shall give unto [illegible again] Rule of three and twelve dollars [illegible]. These presents have Interchangbly set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
Jacob Gose
James Bralley
John Gose"

Near the bottom of the page and on the right 5/8, it is very dark and a lot of the writing is illegible. Mary Kegley told me that the original is very fragile and she got the best copy she could. Bear in mind that this document is almost 182 years old at the time it was copied. It is located in the basement of the Circuit Court in Wythe County, VA, in a locked file.

Elias and "Luvenia" share a gravestone with son, Joseph A. Worley, at Hufft Cemetery, Eldridge, Laclede Co., MO. They state "Elias Worley Born Apr 28, 1812 Died Apr 20, 1897" and "Luvenia A. Worley Born Oct 27, 1818 Died Jan 14, 1898.

The list of heirs of Joseph A. Worley names his parents and all of his siblings, confirming that family.

Information not otherwise cited was obtained from Tom Gentry, Mountain City, TN.

Some data from gedcom at:http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=earl60&id=I3255.Vicki Peterson posted 29 Jan 2007. vickipeterson49@hotmail.com. She had a lot of information, but didn't cite any sources.

The following postings were at Genforum:
James Able, Johnson Co. Tn/Wash. Co Va
Posted by: Sue Starr Date: December 20, 2001 at 06:37:46
of 1529

James Able sponsored my great great grandpa Elias Worley in a land deal in Johnson Co Tn in 1828. Elias was only 16 years old at the time, and I would like to know more about James and to find the connection between them. I do not know how old James was or where he came from. There is a James Able listed in Washington Co Va on the 1830 according to Ancestry.com however I could not find him on the census. I'll post some info about my Elias. Maybe it will give someone a clue.
Elias was born somewhere in Va. abt 1812.
Married Lavina Grace (dtr of David Louis Grace and Margaret Scrimshire.) in Johnson Co. Tn in 1837. (Lavina had 3 brothers who married Ward sisters.)
Had the following children beginning in 1837/38: Mary Jane, Margaret,James Ham, William Haskew, Luemma or Susanna, Delilah, Edward, Martha,Robert (my great grandpa, born 1849), Emma Hester, Joseph.
Please let me know if you have any clue about this James or how he maybe connected with my Elias Worley. Thanks
Sue (Worley) Starr

Re: James Able, Johnson Co. Tn/Wash. Co Va
Posted by: Sue Starr Date: January 07, 2002 at 05:34:41
In Reply to: Re: James Able, Johnson Co. Tn/Wash. Co Va by Rochelle Robinson of 1529

Rochelle,
Do you have any idea where William and Elizabeth were born? Were they in Washington Co. Va. before they were in Tn?
I believe William either had a brother named James or his middle name was James, which seems to make more sense. If it wasn't William who actually signed for my GG'grandpa Elias Worley when he claimed the land in 1826, this other person named James sure came into and went out of the picture fast.
In 1850 Leander Abel was listed as a property owner living right next door to my Elias Worley, with Elizabeth Abel living a couple of doors away. Living right next door to Elizabeth in 1850 was a James M. Abel age 32 with wife Nancy Jane (Gentry) (Note: 3 of Elias Worley's daughter's also married Gentry's.) I don't have the information in front of me but I am sure one of William and Elizabeth Abel's sons was living in the household of Cole. Sorry don't remember the head of household's name, however son named David Nave Cole age 4 was in that household. He married Elias Worley's daughter Hester later on. I believe the Abel in the Cole household was Valentine.
I think most of the families if not all in that general area of District one in Johnson Co. were either directly or indirectly related. I really need to find out how Elias fits in with this James or William James Abel. I believe Elias father had to be out of the picture somehow for someone else to sign for him when he got the property. Perhaps Elizabeth Abel was Elias mother or sister. Any help will be appreciated.
Sue (Worley) Starr

The following from ancestry board:
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.worley/32.96.157.230.1/mb.ashx
Re: Worley family of VA
Donna Morris (View posts) Posted: 24 Sep 2001 8:50 PM GMT

Classification: Query
Surnames:
Daniel - I am looking for Elias Worley born bet 1810-1821 in Va. and Lavinia Grace born 1823 Tn. They md. Dec. 24, 1837 in Johnson Co., Tn. and had 12 children. Lavina's parents were David Louis Grace and Margaret Scrimshire Nicholas died in N.C. Elias' daughter Delilah Worley married Wiley Christopher Elrod. They are my gggrandparents. Do you have any info. on these families? One source says Elias' parents were Nicholas and Patience Worley. Another says Grey Jernigan and Nancy Lavinia Odom were his parents. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Donna Morris

Note that eldest child Mary Jane Worley-Parker-Arnold's death cert says Elias was born in NC.

Birth	28 Apr 1813	VA or NC
Bound Out	11 May 1829	Bound out to John Gose. See Notes for full transcription. - Wythe Co., Virginia
Marriage	24 Dec 1837	Johnson Co., Tennessee - Lavina A. GRACE
Census	1840	Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property	2 Aug 1841	Tennessee land grant No. 26,904, Elias Worley assignee of James Able. - Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property	2 Aug 1849	Book 8 page 360. obtained from Grant State of TN, Elias Worley, Assignee of James Able. 50 acres. Copy of deed in file. Tennessee land grant No. 26,904. See Notes for description - Johnson Co., Tennessee
Census	1 Jun 1850	District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property	1 Nov 1859	Patent No. 55658 granting to Elias Worley of Laclede Co., MO, NW qtr of the NE qtr of Sec 27, T 36 of Range 16, 40 acres. - Laclede Co., Missouri
Property	2 Apr 1860	Patent No. 55656 granting to Elias Worley of Laclede Co., MO, NW qtr of Sec 27, T 36 of Range 16, 160 acres. - Laclede Co., Missouri
Census	1 Jun 1860	District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee
Tax List - Real property	1862	District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee
Census	1 Jun 1870	District 1, Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property	3 Sep 1878	Book 8 pg 440, purchased from Joseph H. Grace. - Johnson Co., Tennessee
Census	1 Jun 1880	1st Civil District, Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property Sale	8 Aug 1882	Bk 10 pg 193, Elias and Lavina sold 50 acres to J. A. Worley. - Johnson Co., Tennessee
Property Sale	10 Aug 1882	Bk 10 pg 194, Elias and Lavina sold 10 acres to J. A. Worley. - Johnson Co., Tennessee
Death	20 Apr 1897	Laclede Co., Missouri
Burial	Aft 20 Apr 1897	Hufft Cemetery, Laclede Co., Missouri
Reference No		839

Spouse	Lavina A. GRACE (1818 - 1898)
Child	Mary Jane WORLEY (1837 - 1921)
Child	Margaret Elizabeth WORLEY (1839 - 1911)
Child	James H. (Ham) WORLEY (1840 - 1909)
Child	William Hascue "Hass" WORLEY (1843 - 1922)
Child	Delilah C. WORLEY (1845 - 1922)
Child	Luemma C. WORLEY (1847 - 1873)
Child	Robert R WORLEY (1849 - 1934)
Child	Edward C. "Ned" WORLEY (1850 - 1878)
Child	Martha Malinda WORLEY (1854 - 1934)
Child	Hester Anna Lucinda WORLEY (1857 - 1944)
Child	Cynthia Rebecca A. WORLEY (1858 - 1934)
Child	Joseph A. WORLEY (1859 - 1897)

Father

Mr. OGLE ( - )