George W. Conly, the sixth child of George and Elizabeth Conly, was born about 1817 in SC, and died in 1868 in Yalobusha Co., MS. He apparently never married and his tombstone has not been located, although undoubtedly he would have been buried in the Conly Family Cemetery on the plantation. He would have migrated with the family as a young child through AL and TN, and purchases land in Yalobusha Co., MS not only by himself with land patents, but also with his brother, William E. Conly, in 1836. In addition, there is a land patent with he and Malcolm Gilchrist in Coahoma County on the same date. Gilchrist purchases over 200 patents during this time, so it’s unlikely there is really any connection to he and George W. Conly, as he was an obvious land speculator, and appears as the "assignee" of George W. Conly on this patent.

George W. Conly seems to have assumed a major role in the affairs of the Conly plantation, as well as the various estates of his deceased brothers and sisters. He was appointed guardian of the three minor children of his sister, Caroline Hankins, as well as the administrator of his father, which made him responsible for running the plantation and caring for his mother. It is largely due to his record keeping and annual returns on these many probate cases that so much is preserved regarding this family.

George W. Conly was apparently a businessman and merchant, and owned lots in the town of Grenada. Both he (age 33), and his brother, Middleton (age 26), appear as "Merchants" residing in a hotel in Grenada in the 1850 census where they would have been close to the affairs of the lots they owned there. Several deeds with transactions for land, etc., in Grenada are on record, though it’s not known exactly what type of business they might have actually done. Middleton’s later appointment as a commissary purchasing agent for the Confederate Army suggests he had substantial experience buying and selling all types of goods. One known fact is that on 15 Jan 1850, George W. and Middleton Conly lease two lots (101 and part of 102) in Grenada, MS to build a warehouse. George W. Conly is involved in several land transactions including the purchase of Lot 21 (N1/2 W1/2 NW 1/2 of 15/22/5E) from the President & Trustees of Grenada Male & Female Academy on 6 Jan 1852, as well as the purchase (along with James M. Townes) of Lot 117 in the town of Grenada (East Ward) on 19 July 1852.

There is one business, Conly & Powell, which is mentioned in records for some of the probated estates of the Conlys and in land deeds. The "History of Grenada County" by Hathorn states that the mercantile firm Conley and Powell (Capt. John Powell) burned out in 1857. I believe it shows it being established in 1855. Deed records support this date. On 2 Mar 1855, Conly & Powell purchased lot 69, measuring 30 ft. by 104 feet. There is a deed where George W. Conly purchases the remaining 1/2 interest in lot 69 in Grenada from John Powell, dated 26 Sept 1855. Just after this, 14 Dec 1855, George W. Conly sells part of Lot 69, located in the town of Grenada East Ward, and measuring 9-1/2 ft. x 94-1/2 ft., to Levin Lake. Levin Lake is a known merchant in Grenada at this time period, and I have copies of receipts of his mercantile establishment from George Conly’s estate. On 29 May 1856, Levin Lake and wife, H. A. Lake, sell lot 70, which measures 25 feet x 94-1/2 feet, to George W. Conly, and then on 6 Feb 1866, George W. Conly deeds lots 69 and 70 in Grenada to Robert Williams.

George W. Conly appears in the 1860 census for Yalobusha Co., (age 47) where his niece, Caroline Hankins, is residing with him. When George W. Conly dies in 1868, his brother, Middleton, assumes administration of their father’s estate, which has been reduced to only the land acquired by George W. Conly, apparently. There is no probate or will for George W. Conly, so it’s not clear as to why his purchase of the land was not clearly in his name, along with that of his own land patents, with a deed of sale for the land recorded at some point. Further investigation of this property could prove fruitful, as there are several deeds yet to be examined.

Although George W. Conly appears to be named for his father, all records seem to identify him as George W., and never as George, Jr. It is not known what the ‘W’ represents, and his father never appears with any middle initial in any documents, nor on his tombstone, although his father does have the notation "sr." after his name there.  I do note that his mother’s maiden name was Wells, however.