My 4th great grandfather, George Conly, was born 7 March 1774 in Cumberland Co., PA and died on his cotton plantation in Yalobusha (now Grenada) Co., MS on 3 July 1856. He was the son of Jos. and Lacy Conly, as stated on his tombstone. Family tradition states that his father, Joseph, served in the Revolutionary War in the "2nd Co. Battalion, Cumberland Co. Militia, under Captain James McFarland in Virginia." There is a James McFarlane, who served as an officer of the Cumberland Co. PA Militia and as an officer of other Regiments who saw active duty in the War. A service card in the PA archives exists for a Jos. Connely, Pvt., 2nd Co., 2nd Bn., Cumberland Co., 5th Class, Roll dated Sept. 20, 1780. This is probably the correct father, but it does not prove active duty in the war.

George Conly married Elizabeth Wells on 3 April 1799. Though no location is known for the wedding, it was most likely near her residence in SC. Elizabeth was born 31 July 1780 in SC, died 24 July 1860, and is the daughter of Richard Wells and Mary Haynsworth. Her name is recorded in the Wells Family Bible located in the South Caroliniana Library. As the first six known children of George and Elizabeth Conly, born between 1801 and 1817, all give SC as their state of birth in censuses, it is certain they resided somewhere in SC for nearly 20 years. There is a George Connelly in the1800 Census in Charleston, SC, a George Conly in the 1810 Census in Abbeville, SC (and also a John Conly in the 1810 Census in Abbeville, SC). The age ranges, gender, and numbers of George Conly in Abbeville do correspond with this family, though it’s not certain they lived there. A George Conly had a plat for 36 acres surveyed on Hanley’s Creek, Saluda River, Abbeville District in 1807. George Conly does not appear in the Abbeville census in 1820, suggesting he had removed to another location, supporting the possibility that this is the correct George Conly.

Based on a letter in the UNC-CH library, located by Herb Wells, it is known that the Conly family resided at Cortland, AL, while one son attended school north of there in the 1820s. Their youngest two sons, Middleton and John (born ca. 1824 and 1825), both give AL as a birth location on later censuses. The Courtland, Lawrence, CO, AL 1820 census has a George Conley enumerated as: 1,3,1,3,8,0,8,16 (1 white male over 21, 3 under 21, 1 white female over 21, 3 under 21, 8 total whites, 0 total free of color, 8 total slaves, 16 grand total). This seems to exactly match the known children and family at that time. This letter also mentions that their daughter, Anne E. Allen, whose husband was Dr. George T. Allen, had moved from TN to IL. There is a record of marriage in Lawrence Co., AL for a George T. Allen to Ann E. Conley. In addition, there is mention that George Conly has gone "West" again, investigating a location to settle.

From Lawrence Co., AL, George Conly moves to Haywood, Co. TN, where he obtains land patents in 1834. He is found here in the 1830 Census, with a patent dated 10 May 1830 for 300a described as "from Lee Sullivan of Wilson to George Conly of Lawrence AL." One of his patents here is witnessed by two of his sons, William E. Conly and George W. Conly. I suspect he left AL just prior to this, or sold the land just after he left.

The next time we find this family is their arrival in Yalobusha County, MS, where land patents are issued to George and to several of his sons (William E., Richard H., and George W. Conly) beginning on 18 Oct 1834.  The earliest patent states "George Conly of Tennessee."  Two daughters resided just north of Memphis, TN in Tipton, Haywood and Lauderdale Counties, and records of them tie the families to these locations. Related families that also purchase land near them in Yalobusha Co., MS are Samuel W. Hankins (1836) and George T. Allen (1836), both sons-in-law of George and Elizabeth Conly.

George Conly located his 640-acre plantation across a fertile creek bottom, and built his house on a hill that overlooked the creek. The Conly cemetery is located near where the house once stood, and can be seen on the hilltop directly south of the juncture of Conley and Pleasant Hill Roads, where it overlooks the slope of the land down into the creek bottom. The plantation was an active cotton plantation, and George owned about 20 slaves usually. At the appraisement of his estate following his death, there were 28 slaves listed, named, or enumerated, several being children.  Two of his sons owned land immediately adjacent to him, and two other sons owned land within a mile or so.

George Conly appears in censuses in Yalobusha Co., MS, for the years 1840, 1841, 1845, and 1850 (regular and slave). After his death in 1856, his estate appears as an enumerated household on both the regular and slave schedules for 1860. Very little is known by the author about the personal life of George Conly, although many things can be surmised by studying the annual reports of his estate following his death. When he died testate in 1856, his Will appointed his son, George W. Conly, as his administrator. His plantation was directed to support his wife, Elizabeth, until her death. For the next few years, many working aspects of plantation life can be ascertained based on what was purchased by his widow, or his executor.

George Conly’s Last Will and Testament

George Conly’s Appraisal and Inventory of his estate

George Conly’s Slave Distribution

George Conly’s Estate Sale

Petition to sell George Conly’s real estate (names all heirs, with spouses and locations)

Notice to out-of-state heirs for sale of estate There are several errors in this 1860 publication (i.e., Conley/Conly, Joseph/Joshua, Hankein's/Hankins').

Children of George Conly and Elizabeth Wells are:

Anne Elizabeth Conly m. Dr. George T. Allen

William E. Conly m. Elizabeth L.

Mary Elizabeth Conly m. Joshua Jones Clark

Caroline Conly m. Samuel W. Hankins

Richard H. Conly

George W. Conly

Middleton Mellet Conly m. Ellen C. Palmer

John "Jack" Conly m. Henrietta L. Dye

Pictures and other graphic files related to George Conly

Views of the Conly Cemetery and Land including pictures of:

        George Conly slab on his grave

        Elizabeth Wells, wife of George Conly, slab on her grave

        Gravestones and monuments for several children and grandchildren of George and Elizabeth Wells Conly.

1) The purchase of almost all household items was done on "annual accounts." That is, the store kept a running account of items purchased until the sale of the annual cotton crop, at which time most accounts were paid in full for the entire year, with interest. This was common practice at the time for many merchants.

2) Staple foods included the slaughter of hogs and cattle, which were turned into Bacon and salted pork or beef. In addition, the estate purchased large amounts of pork from other people, suggesting that the plantation was primarily a cotton farming enterprise, and did not raise enough livestock to feed all the slaves and family members.

3) The Conlys often purchased salt, sugar, writing paper, nails, potatoes, and a large amount of clothing and shoes, or cloth to make clothes. This includes itemized purchases of buttons, calico, spun cotton, ribbon, gingham, linen, silk, velvet, flannel, pins, needles, darning needles, fine combs, and spools. I do believe they were well dressed, though I don’t know what that might mean to us today. They also purchased bar soap, pickles, vinegar, tea, sarsaparilla, cloves, pepper, nut meg, mustard, soda, castor oil, quinine, coffee, wine, candles, tobacco, whiskey, brandy, and flour.

4) The estate purchased many items that were obviously used for the daily workings of the plantation, such as padlocks, steel hoes, nails, wood planks, and often had wagons and plows repaired.

5) Several doctors visited the estate, most often caring for the slaves, or for the children of the slaves. The doctor charged more for a visit during the night ($7.50), than during the day ($5.00) in 1858. If the patient visited the doctor, it was only a $2.50 charge.

6) The plantation had a separate account for John Keeps, who dug ditches, each measured in rods.

7) Two wells were cleaned out in 1858, 1859, and 1860. I surmise the plantation had two functioning wells that may have required cleaning out on a regular, or annual, basis.

8) Property tax receipts for his fractions of land located in S23/T22/R7, S26/T22/R7, S26/T22/R7 and S34/T22/R7 was $6.72 in 1858, with an additional personal tax of $21.14 for a total of $27.86 that year, plus a Rail Road tax of $43.78. Property and Personal tax for the year 1860 totaled $51.55, which included $10.68 itemized as "Military Tax." Total tax, personal and property, for the year 1859 was $19.78. Taxes for 1856 were $52.35.

9) Elizabeth Conly, widow of George Conly, received $126 for her own use for the year ending August 26, 1859.

10) The estate purchased 1 10/12 dozen (22) "Negro Hats" in 1858.

11) The estate purchased violin strings in 1858. It is known that M. C. Allen, grandson of George Conly who lived at the home in 1850, played violin, so they could have been for him.

12) The plantation made its money from selling cotton. Receipts show that six different shipments of cotton were made by railroad to New Orleans during the year 1860. On 17 Jan 1860, 20 bales, weighing 9192 lbs. @ $0.11 per pound, were sold for $1011.12. On 26 Jan 1860, 19 bales, weighing 8800 lbs. @ $011 per pound, were sold for $968.00. On 9 March 1860, 9 bales, weighing 4161 lbs. @ $0.7 3/4 per pound, were sold for $322.47. On 25 Oct 1860, 11 bales, weighing 5176 Pounds @ $0.11 3/4 per pound, were sold for $608.98. On 24 Dec 1860, 12 bales, weighing 5592 lbs. at $0.10 per pound, were sold for $559.20. On 26 Dec 1860, 5 bales, weighing 2270 lbs. @ $0.10 1/2, were sold for $232.68.

So during the year 1860, the plantation had total cotton sales of $3702.45, although it’s possible that the early January sales should be considered as part of the previous year’s crop. The first receipt for 1861 is dated in March. One thing possible also, is that the bales were stored after the harvest and baling took place, until the market price went up, or until they needed to be sold, in order to insure the best return on the sale of this "cash crop" commodity.

In comparison, the Conly Plantation shipped 54 Bales of Cotton to Carroll Hay & Co. in New Orleans on two riverboats in 1859. 26 Bales were shipped on the "Douglass" on 19 Feb 1859, and 28 Bales were shipped on the "Jackson" on 21 Feb 1859. 44 of these bales, weighing 20834 lbs., sold for $0.12 1/2 per pound ($2604.25) and 10 of the bales, weighing 2928 lbs., sold for $0.11 1/2 per pound ($566.72), for a grand total of $3170.97.

13) Zerah Hankins, grandson of George Conly, was paid $300 for "services as Overseer for the years 1857 & 8" on August 24, 1859. This suggests an annual salary of $150 for an overseer of a plantation this size. Zerah, born ca. 1837, was the son of Samuel W. Hankins and Caroline Conly. He writes and signs his own receipt for this payment. All members of the family appear to be literate, including the females. R. R. Davis is paid $332.15 for his services as overseer on January 14, 1861, but it doesn’t specify the length of employment. He is also paid $76.66 for services as Overseer on 10 July 1860. Davis was unrelated to the family as far as I am aware.

14) One somewhat humorous receipt reads as follows:

Received of G. W. Conly, Executor of Estate of Geo Conly, Three dollars & 75/100 in payment of fifteen pounds of Wool for use of the Plantation. Oct 18, 1860. Wm. A. Cotton.

It seems ironic to me that Cotton was in the wool business.

15) They periodically purchased cow bells and sheep bells.

16) There is a receipt for six wine glasses ($1.00), and two pair of carving knives and forks ($3.00).

17) Mrs. Elizabeth Conly paid $2.00 for an annual subscription to the "Tennessee Baptist" from Oct 15, 1860 to Oct. 15, 1861. Her grandson, M. C. Allen, became a prominent Baptist minister in the counties near the plantation, and she had two daughters who were married to ministers.

18) When Mrs. Conly died (July 24, 1860) her "coffen & case, 6 ft." cost $12.00. On the same receipt is another 6 ft. coffin ($6.00) purchased on Jan. 17, 1860, but I’m not aware of any family members who passed away on this date.

19) The estate purchased a cotton gin. It was purchased from E. Carver Co., of East Bridgewater, Mass., on 15 June 1859. There seems to be a serial or model number (No. 4954), and it had 50 Saws at $4.00 per Saw for a total cost of $200.00. It was apparently purchased via an agent for the Carver Co. (A. T. Strong) in New Orleans through Murphy Sikes & Co.

20) Many different types of livestock were purchased at different times for the plantation. A yoke of work steers, purchased 17 May 1858, cost $76.50. A mule, purchased 1 Jan 1858, cost $165.00. A horse, purchased 6 April 1858, cost $158.75.

21) After the death of George Conly’s widow, Elizabeth, the land and perishable property were all sold at auction, the proceeds of which were divided among the heirs. The newspaper advertisement for the sale of George Conly’s Estate appeared in the Southern Rural Gentleman, published at Grenada, MS, for 7 weeks, between 17 Nov 1860 to 29 Dec 1860, and reads as follows:

By virtue, and in pursuance of a decree, of the Probate Court of Yalobusha county, and State of Mississippi, made at November term, 1860, thereof, I will, on Monday, the 31st day of December next, proceed to sell, on the premises, all that certain tract, or parcel of Land, known and described as follows: East half of South-west quarter of section twenty-three. East half of North-west quarter, South-west quarter and West half of South-east quarter of section twenty-six. South-east quarter of section twenty-seven. East half of North-east quarter of section thirty-four. All in township twenty two, Range seven East, and owned by George Conly, deceased, used by him as a cotton plantation, and whereon is situated a good dwelling house, gin house, negro cabins, stables and other out houses. The purchaser will be required to give bond and undoubted security for payment of the purchase money. Terms of sale, one half in twelve months, and the ballance in two years. GEORGE W. CONLY, Guardian, &c.

At the same time, and place, I will sell all the perishable and other property of George Conly, deceased, consisting of horses, mules, cattle, oxen, hogs, corn and fodder, farming utensels of every description, house-hold and kitchen furniture, &c. &c. A credit of twelve months, from the day of sale; the purchaser giving bond, with undoubted security, on all sums above five dollars; less amount cash. GEORGE W. CONLY, Executor.

George W. Conly purchased his father's land, so the plantation remained in the family at the time of this sale. After George W. Conly’s death in 1868, his brother, Middleton Conly, assumed control as his Administrator, and after a few years it appears that Middleton used the land as collateral for a loan in 1873, failed to pay that loan, and in 1876, a deed was executed (by trustee) selling the land to Jno. R. Williams to settle the debt. This deed was filed for record 20 Apr 1877. I believe J. C. James, a neighbor, later purchased the land and the James family owns it today.

George Conly set aside land on his plantation for a family cemetery. He, as well as many of his family members are buried there. This graveyard does not appear in listings for Grenada County Cemeteries, and it took several days to locate when I visited there in 2002.