Hatley Family
compiled by Bill Brackett

Hatley appears to be of English origins. One family member says that when her nephew was studying in England, people would call him "Hatfield". They indicated that "ley" was once "lea" which means a meadow or field. The name occurs in Cambridgeshire England as early as 1560. The name has also been seen spelled Hatlee and also Hatleys.

There was a John Hatley in Virginia as early as 1656. This family settled in Chatham County, North Carolina at an early date. From North Carolina they migrated to Benton County, Tennessee about 1833. Some of them went on to Missouri, Arkansas and many settled in Texas.

Others were:

  • Sherwood Hatley b. before 1690 in Surrey, Virginia.
  • John Hatley b. before 1710 in Surrey, Virginia.
  • John Hatley b. 1794 in Virgina who died 1856 in Johnson, Iowa.
  • Richard Hatley b. 1801 in Rowan, North Carolina.

John Hatley was born about 1750 in Chatham County, North Carolina and died there in 1803. His will was written 02 Mar 1803 and probated in 1803. He married Martha Hardy? John and Martha Hatley had children:

  • Haston Hatley
  • Mark Hatley
  • Hardy Hatley b. abt. 1765
  • Uriah Hatley b. abt.1769
  • Abner Hatley b. abt. 1770 J
  • oab Hatley b. abt. 1771
  • Sherwood Hatley b. abt 1772
  • Elizabeth Hatley
  • William Hatley 14 Feb 1772
  • Nancy Hatley
  • John Hatley

The will of John Hatley mentions his wife, Martha and his sons, John, Hardy, Joab, Abner, Sherwood, Uriah, William, Hasten and his daughter-in-law, Nancy Hatley (wife of Mark Hatley) as well as his daughters, Elizabeth Beasley and Nancy Moore; Mrs. Thomas Moore.

Note: The following wills contain material that I find personally offensive and so may others. I do however understand their historical significance.

LAST WILL OF JOHN HATLEY

In the name of God, Amen, I, John Hatley of Chatham County and the State of North Carolina, being weak in body but in perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men, once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of the Almighty God that gave it to me and my body, I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to help me with in this life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First I lend to my wife, three Negro women of the name of Hanner and Fillis and Arnicah and two Negro boys of the name of Arniel and Peter and one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf and two sows and pigs induring of her natural life or widowhood and after my wife, Martha decease, for all that I lent her and all the increase of it, all is to be equally divided amongst all my sons John and Sharod and Hardy and Joab and Abner and Uriah and William and Hastin.

  • Item: I give and bequeath to my son Sharod Hatley the parcel of land whereon he now lives.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Joab Hatley that parcel of land whereon he now lives.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Abner Hatley that parcel of land that I now live upon.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Uriah Hatley one Negro man of the name Tom and one Negro girl of the name Lucy.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son William Hatley one Negro woman of the name of Sook and one Negro girl of the name of Cloak and one Negro boy of the name Ned and one Negro girl of the name Hanner.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my daughter-in-law Nancy Hatley, my son Mark’s [deceased] wife, one feather bed.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Hastin Hatley one Negro woman of the name of Rose and one Negro boy of the name Jesse and eighty dollars and one man’s saddle.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy, wife of Thomas Moore, one Negro girl of the name of Dice and one Negro boy of the name of Harry and one woman’s saddle.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Henry Beasley, five shillings.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son William one feather bed and furniture.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Hastin one feather bed and furniture.
  • Item: I also give and bequeath to my son Abner my rifle gun and the rest of my Estate to be divided equally among all my sons, John and Sharod and Hardy and Joab and Abner and Uriah and William and Hastin and I appoint my son Abner Hatley and my son Uriah Hatley Executors to this my last Will and Testament, revoking all former wills whatsoever as witness whereof hereun to I sot my hand and seal this second day of March, one Thousand Eight Hundred and three.

John [X] Hatley [Seal]

[His mark] WITNESSES

Thomas [X] Moore

Starkes Moore

John [X] Ledbetter

William (Billy) Hatley was born 14 Feb 1772 in Chatham, North Carolina and died in the same county 21 Jul 1836. He was the son of John Hatley.

THE LAST WILL OF WILLIAM HATLEY

In the name of God, Amen I, William Hatley, senior, of the County of Chatham and the State of North Carolina, being in a low state of health, but sound in mind and memory, as usual, thanks be to God for it, do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows ——

  • 1st - That all my just debts be paid
  • 2nd - I give unto Lotha Hatley, widow of John Hatley, dec’d, ten barrels of corn, one cow and calf and shucks sufficient to winter them, and to live unmolested, in the house where she now lives, as long as she thinks proper, with the privilege of fire wood and as much open ground as she and her children can tend.
  • 3rd - I give and bequeath unto Jincy Hatley, daughter of John Hatley, one negro girl by the name of Burline to her and her heirs forever.
  • 4th - I give and bequeath unto Mary C. Hatley one negro girl by the name of Elender, to her and her heirs forever.
  • 5th - I give and bequeath unto Sharwood Hatley four Negroes, namely, Abram, Nancy, Sasy and Analiza, also ten barrels of corn, one cow and calf and shucks sufficient to winter them to him and his heirs forever. Also five hundred pounds of pork.
  • 6th - I give and bequeath to my brother, Abner Hatley forty barrels of corn.
  • 7th - I give and bequeath unto Abner Hatley, son of Briton Hatley and Albert Hatley, son of Redden Hatley, one Negro boy by the name of Ming.
  • 8th - I give and bequeath unto Tilpha Hatley, daughter of Abner Hatley one Negro boy by the name of Solomon.
  • 9th - I give and bequeath unto Sintha Hatley, daughter of the aboved named Abner Hatley, one Negro boy by the name of Tim to her and her heirs forever.
  • 10th - I give and bequeath to William Hatley, son of Abner Hatley all the land that i now possess, with the exception of the land whereon Briton Hatley lives, also one gray horse by the name of Fan, to him and his heirs forever.
  • 11th - It is my wish and desire, that my old Negro man, Ming, may choose any of my relatives to live with that he may prefer and he shall be theirs, without valuation and when he becomes past laboring for his support, those receiving my Estate, in preparation thereof, throw in to his support so long as he shall live. Also it is my desire that the balance of my Negroes that I have not heretofore named, should not be sold but valued and equally divided amongst the children of my brothers and sisters, and those receiving more, pay to them that receive less, so as all to be made equal, with all residue of my Estate that I have not heretofore given away.
  • 12th - And lastly, I do hereby constitute, appoint, and ordain my trusty nephews, Briton Hatley and Redden Hatley, my Executor or Executors, as either of them, to this my last Will and Testament—— revoking all other wills by me made and acknowledge this and this only to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form as above stated. I witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, this 14th day of October in the year of our Lord, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and thirty six.

William Hatley [X] his mark

WITNESS Tho Bell

John Stone

Abner Hatley was born in Benton County, Tennessee in 1770. He was a son of John Hatley. Abner Hatley died in 1838. He married Hannah ... . Their children were:

  • William Hatley b. 1794
  • Tilpha Hatley b. 1798
  • Redding Hatley b. 1799
  • Cynthia Hatley b. 1800
  • Britton Hatley b. 1806
  • John Hatley b. 1806

Two of the sons, Redding and Britton moved to Randolph County, Arkansas about 1850-1852.

LAST WILL OF ABNER HATLEY
In the name of God, Amen, I, Abner Hatley of the County of Chatham and the State of North Carolina, being in a low state of health but sound in mind and memory as usual, thanks be to God for it, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follow.
  • Item 1st: That all my just debts be made.
  • Iten 2nd: I give and bequeath unto my son Britton Hatley five Negroes, namely, Jacob, Ruff in, Julancy, Saby and Elisha to him and his heirs forever.
  • Item 3rd: I give and bequeath to my son Reddin Hatley four Negroes, namely, Riney, Simeon, Elizabeth, and Lewis [son of Mary] also my blacksmith’s tools, with all the apparatuses, there unto belonging to him and his heirs forever.
  • 4th Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Tilpha Hatley five Negroes, namely, India, Andrew, Haywood and Martha, to her and her heirs forever.
  • 5th Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Cyntha Hatley, five Negroes, namely, Amy, Rile, Mariah, Ruben and Washington, also one sorrel mare and colt, two cows and calves, two sows and pigs to her and her heirs forever.
  • 6th Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Hatley, six Negroes, namely, Reason, Alley, Frances, Harras and Hillyard to him and his heirs forever.
  • 7th Item: I give and bequeath unto my son William Hatley five Negroes, namely, Cary, Eliza, Lewis [son of Amy], Sidney and Jane to him and his heirs forever.
  • 8th Item: I give and bequeath to my three sons, namely, Britton Hatley, Reddin Hatley and William Hatley, all my lands with certain reserves hereafter mentioned, to them and their heirs forever.
  • 9th Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Tilpha Hatley, in addition to what I have heretofore given, one sorrel horse called Starling, two cows and calves, two sows and pigs to her and her heirs forever.
  • 10th Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Hatley in addition to what I heretofore given him, one sorrel horse called Jolly, two cows and calves, one sow and pigs, also one bed, bedstead and furniture to him and his heirs forever.
  • 11th Item: I give and bequeath unto my two daughters, Tilpha Hatley and Cyntha Hatley in addition to what I have heretofore given to them, one Negro girl by the name of Mary, also all the remainder of my beds, bedsteads and furniture that I have not heretofore given away of all and every kind, also all the table cloths, toilets and towels of all and every description to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever.
  • 12th Item: It is my will and desire that my son William and my two daughters, Tilpha and Cyntha, all Hatleys, should have the use and privilege of my dwelling house with all the houses attached to the premises, that may be necessary for their use and comfort, with a sufficiency of open ground for them and their hands to tend, so long as they remain single and wishes to stay thereon. Then to be equally divided between my three sons as aforesaid.
  • 13th Item: It is further my will and desire, that all the residue of my property, that I have not heretofore willed away be equally divided amongst my above named children, viz Britton, Reddin, Tilpha, Cyntha, John and William, all Hatleys, to them and their heirs forever.
  • 14th Item: And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons, Britton Hatley and Reddin Hatley, my Executors to this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other wills by me made and acknowledge this and this only to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form as above stated in witness whereof I herewith set my hand and seal the twenty ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.

Abner [XI Hatley [Seal [his mark] TESTE

Thomas Bell [Jurat] James I. Brewer

(pg 2) I, Abner Hatley of the County of Chatham and the State of North Carolina, do make this codicil to be taken as part of my last Will and Testament as follows: That is to say, whereas I have by my said will given to my two daughters, Tilpha Hatley and Cyntha Hatley a certain Negro girl by the name of Mary, now I do hereby revoke and make void the part of legacies given to my daughters as aforesaid and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my daughter Cyntha Hatley, said Negro girl Mary, over and above the legacus given her in said will. In witness whereof I have to this codicil annexed to my will, set my hand and seal this 15th day of September 1837.

Abner [X] Hatley [seal] TESTE

Thos. Bell [Jurat]

Son of JOHN HATLEY, SR

Abner Hatley was born in Chatham County, North Carolina about 1768 and he also died there. Two of Abner’s sons, Britton and Redding Hatley migrated to Randolph County, Arkansas.

The 1850 census of Graves County, Kentucky shows Britton Hatley as a 56 year old farmer from North Carolina. His wife was listed as Mary 46 years of age from North Carolina. Their children in this census were: Mary 14, Presley 21, Abner 18, Pleasant 11. The children were all born in North Carolina. By late 1850 he was in Randolph county, Arkansas. There was a court document drawn there that gives his brother Redding his rights concerning the William Hatley will above.

Redding Hatley moved to Randolph County, Arkansas about 1852. He was involved in the building of the first cotton gin in Randolph county with the Ingram family. He was listed in the 1850 census of Chatham county, north Carolina. No wife is on this census but in the house were children: Ila 25, Albert, 18, Joseph 16, Henderson 14, and Clammancy Upchurch 30.

Sherwood Hatley was born before 1775. He was the son of John and Martha Hatley. Sherwood Hatley married Mariah Edwards and they had the following children:

  • Edward Hatley married Piety Wilson
  • Hardy Hatley married Sallie Mitchell
  • Mark Hatley married Nony Mitchell
  • Patsy Hatley married Charley Oatsvall
  • Elizabeth Hatley married Anderson Lynch
  • Nancy Hatley married Cullen Luper and possibly others

Edward Hatley married Piety Wilson and they had the following children:

  • Green Hatley married Martha Bohannon
  • Wesley Hatley married Mariah Tedder
  • Wyley Hatley b. 1838 married *Leah Nowell (Leah Nowell White’s tombstone spells her name Lear White)
  • Harry Hatley married Parlie Baggett
  • Thomas Hatley married Paralee Phifer
  • Sarah Hatley married Abraham Gossett
  • Rebecca Hatley married Chesley Dodd
  • Bettie Hatley married Charles Conley N
  • ancy Hatley married Wyley Barnes
  • Martha Hatley married Francis Smothers

This Hatley family settled along Birdsong Creek in Benton County, Tennessee. Many of them are buried in the Hatley Cemetery off the floodplain of this creek near Green Hill.

On 30 Dec 1857 Edward Hatley made his will leaving his son Wyley (Wylie, Wilie) Hatley much of the "Swindle tract of land". The daughter of Wyley and Leah Hatley, Victoria Vandora Hatley b. 1858 married a man named William Thomas Swindle, who was a medical doctor. Vandora Hatley was named in the will of Edward Hatley also. Wyley Hatley died in 1866 as his estate was sold that year on 22 Sep 1866 in Benton County, Tennessee. Wyley Hatley and Leah Nowell Hatley were divorced 13 Jan 1859. Vandora Hatley was two months old at the time of the divorce. Wyley remarried Rebecca Nichols on 08 Mar 1861. There are still many Hatley families living in Benton County, Tennessee.

There were also Hatleys who settled in Carter County, Tennessee:

  • Willy S. Hatley married Emily Green 12 Jan 1866
  • John F. Hatley married Mary White 06 May 1866
  • Riley B. Hatley married Rachel Green 13 Aug 1866

There were also Hatleys who settled in Hardin County, Tennessee, 1850 census:

  • Mark Hatley (33 years old) and wife Polly with their children, William, Sherold, Henry and Fanny.
  • Mark Hatley (60 years old) and his wife Dilly with their children, Jessee, Mary and Francis. Mark Hatley is listed as a Baptist clergyman.
  • James Hatley with his wife Lorthe and their children, Francis, Crittenden, Sarah, Elizabeth and Barnes
  • Sherod Hatley and his wife Mary with their children, Sarah, Delilah, Drusilla, Charles and Mary
  • Richard Hatley and his wife Martha with their child, Josiah

The land records of Arkansas indicate numerous Hatleys:

  • Abner Hatley 1859 Randolph County
  • Adam Hatley 1898 Van Buren County
  • Albert Hatley 1859 Randolph County
  • Briton Hatley 1859 Randolph County
  • Elizabeth Hatley 1898 Van Buren County (widow of John Hatley)
  • Greenberry Hatley 1896 Perry County
  • Isaac Hatley 1885 Pope County
  • James Hatley 1861 Searcy County
  • John Hatley 1846 Ouachita County
  • Littleton Hatley 1900 Pope County
  • Peter Hatley 1892 Greene County
  • Pleasant Hatley 1859 Randolph County (middle name Branchflower)
  • Presley Hatley 1860 Randolph County
  • Redding Hatley 1860 Randolph County
  • Richard Hatley 1846 Ouachita County
  • Thomas Hatley 1860 Jefferson County
  • William Hatley 1901 Franklin County
  • Willis Hatley 1875 Crawford County

Wyley and Leah (Nowell) Hatley's only daughter was Vandora Hatley. Vandora was born on 12 Nov 1858 and died on 02 Dec 1924. Vandora Hatley married Dr. William T. Swindle in Benton County, Tennessee in 1858. Both Dr. William and Vandora (Hatley) Swindle are buried in the Siloam Cemetery near Middlebrook, Arkansas.

Their daughter Ula (Uler) Balkus Swindle married John Francis Rapert in Randolph County, Arkansas in 1896.

Their daughter Gussie Rapert married Thad Hambrick in Randolph County, Arkansas in 1913.

Their daughter Arvena Hambrick married 2nd Harold Earl Brackett in Berrien County, Michigan in 1947.

Their son William Brackett married Jane Hauch in Lakeside, Berrien County, Michigan in 1970.




























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