About Simon Hadley
Simon Hadley I, was one of the early American settlers sharing the Hadley surname. Simon, was born around 1625-1640, very likely in the Claverley area of England. Many of his distant cousins are still living in the Birmingham area.
In Ireland, he was industrious with iron works in Ballynakill, Kings County (now County Offaly), fisheries in Dublin, and other properties. The earliest known record of Simon Hadley (Symon Hadly) is from 1665 when Simon was listed in a tax roll in Dublin. Simon Hadley's address in the 1665 City Tenants, Rental of lands and other city dues (D.K.P.R.O.I., vol. 57, 1936, App. 4, pp. 526-58).
Listed in the 'Roll of Langeable common fines and sense money within the city of Dublin', was found "Symon Hadly, common find 6d" resident at "Hamon Lane & Loghboy". (letter from Fiona FitzSimons 14 Aug 1999)
On Easter 1668, Symon was made a "Freeman of Dublin City". He was a blacksmith (more likely he owned iron works), and in December 1667, the city of Dublin enacted legislation that prohibited those who were not born in Dublin from practicing their trade there, without achieving the status of "Freeman".
Symon Hadley applied for Freeman status at the earliest opportunity and was granted Freeman status on Easter of 1668 by Special Grace.
This means someone of influence likely pulled some strings on his behalf. It is also key evidence that Symon was not a Quaker in 1668, and that he was not born in Dublin. Becoming a Freeman also involved swearing an oath and Quakers refused to take any oaths. The next piece of supporitng history is from 1672 and also provides the basis of the theory that Symon was not yet a Quaker at this date.
In 1672 Symon Hadly and wife Catherine had a son named Sollomon baptised at St Michans church in Dublin. St. Michans is an Anglican church.
The records at St. Michans also show that Symon was a "smythe" and lists several other Hadleys who were also smythes. There has been no further evidence of these other Hadleys, and also no other references to Sollomon Hadley. It is possible that Sollomon died young.
Another important documented reference for Simon was in 1685 when he made a contribution of 8 shillings to the Dublin Meeting. This is the first Quaker reference for Symon and it can be assumed that the family became Quaker some time between 1672 and 1685. Until this writing it has been assumed the family became Quaker when they moved to Moate in 1694.
About 1680 Symon Hadly submitted a petition to retain a fishery he had built and maintained for 7 or 8 years. Irish property ownership was tenuous at best and many landowners who had been granted properties in earlier regimes, were stripped of it as the political power changed hands. It is likely that Symon and Catherine came to Ireland from England after the Cromwell invasion. Cromwell sold choice Irish lands to loyal English Protestants. Symon's fisheries at Ballynakill were in jeopardy because the lord from whom he rented, was losing these properties as a result of the Restoration of the English monarchy. The petition reads as follows:
To the Honorable the Trustees appointed by an Act of Parliament made in England Instituted an Act for granting an ayd to his Majestie by Sale of the forfeited and other Estates and Interests in Ireland, & c.
The Petition and Claims of Symon Hadley of Ballynakill in the Kings County, Gentleman, Showeth
That there was a Custom given by Edward Vernon Esquire late Lord of the Mannor of Clantarfe in the County of Dublin that any person or persons should have liberty to build Shedds at Ballyscaddan, being part of the said mannor for Incouragment of the ffishery there and those who builte the said Shedds were to hold the said Shedds during their upholding the same, paying dureing the Season and whilst ffish was made there Sixpence for every Barrell of ffish they should make: That the Claimant did build according to the said Custome four Shedds and has enjoyed the same these Seaven or Eight yeares past two of the said Shedds being builte by the Claimant with Lime and stone and the other two Shedds with Clay and Stone. That the Claimant being apprehensive that the said Mannor of Clantarfe may be forfeited and vested in your Honours by the said Act and soe the Claymant may be prejudiced and deprived of the said four Shedds soe builte by him as aforesaid.
May it therefore please your Honoure to receive and allow of this your Petitioners Claim and if itt shall hereafter appear that the said Mannor is or will be forfeited that then your Honours would grant the Claimant a Saveing of his said improvements soe made by him as aforesaid and to grant him such releife as to your Hounours shall seem most equitable.
And the Claimant will pray
Symon Hadly
Signed by the Claimant in the presence of us
Ste: Duffe
Paul Lovelace
Richd Darling
Public Record Office (Four Courts) Dublin 10-16-1907. Another copy of this document is found in "Hadley Family Record, Vol. 1., (microfilm of records at Genealogy Library, Indianapolis, Ind.)
With the research contained in this work, we now have three authentic records that predate Symon's petition of 1680.
Quaker records regarding the death of Catherine Hadley indicate the family moved to Moate in 1694. There are several Quaker records for Simon Sr. and his sons Simon Jr and John. All three seemed to be in hot water with the local Quaker Meeting. Simon Jr was censured in 1697 for marrying a woman whom another man had permission to speak to regarding marriage. This was no doubt Ruth Keran, so it's a good thing for all of us that he did, or this would not be written by me or read by you! Simon Sr. was also reprimanded for allowing his son too many liberties regarding his courtship and marriage out of Meeting to Ruth. Brother John also married out of Meeting in 1697 and was not reinstated until 1699. John was later admonished for frequenting ale houses. John stayed in Ireland and became a gunsmith. Simon Sr was called on the carpet again in 1711 when he married out of meeting, shortly after the death of Katherine.
The will of Simon Hadley Sr. was recorded in 1712, but the will itself has not survived.
The following records from the Moate Meeting were kindly provided to the Hadley Society by Bob Norfleet.
QUAKER MEETING MINUTES - MOATE - 1697 - 1710
6D 9M 1697
To the Frinds of the Moate Mens Meeting:
"Where as I Simon Hadley having erred from the way of Truth, in letting my mind out after youthful lusts, which now I seeing the evil of them my evil lusts, it has brought me into deep sorrow of heart, for the same, but I can truthfully say that I am free from the______ part of this my lust so the time past shall be a sufficient warning for me and for the time to come I shall be more careful, all which I give under my hand this 6th day of the 9th month 1697
Simon Hadly Jun"
This note followed :
"After the above note was given to friends by said Simon not withstanding his______ promises and friends tender care towards him, he soon run out to a priest to take a wife, for which transgression he gave in another paper of condemnation which will be recorded in its proper place."
26D 11M 1697
At our Monthly Mens Meeting - 1697 the 26th of the 11th mo
"Whereas Simon Hadly the elder hath acted contrary to the order of truth by giving way to his son to proceed in relation to marriage with a young woman whom another man hath liberty to speak to her before him and friends having talked with him and hath given him until next months meeting to consider what he will give friends to clear truth for his so doing. Jacob Fuller and John Mickell are desired to speak to Simon Hadly, the younger, and know of him whether he will give friends such satisfaction as will clear truth against his runing out to marry with a priest or other _____ friends _____ ________ against him. Those under named are desired to visit friends familier upon the account of truth and give account to the next men's meeting how they find things in their visit. Anthony Roberson, John Wyley, Will _outher, Jacob Fuller.
Anthony Roberson and Jacob Fuller are to give a verbal account to the next Men's meeting."
The following note appeared on the next page:
"Simon Hadly the elder having formally acted contrary to the truth in giving way to his son to proceed with a young woman in relation to marriage whom another hath had liberty to speak to her before hath given a paper of condemnation against his son's doing."
8D 4M 1698
At our Mens Meeting at the Moate - 1698 8th of 4th Mo
"Simon Hadly the younger having been guilty of commeting transgressions greatly to the dishonor of truth and severity, friends, having been very tender in dealing with him, from time to time and the said Simon having not satisfied friends with clear truth, it is the mind of this meeting that a paper be drawn against him and his actions; john Wyle, John Mickle and William______ are to draw us the said paper."
20D 3M 1699
"I Simon Hadly the younger having professed and owned the principles of the people called quakers, amoung whom I humble myself in worship to God, but for want of living up to what I professed, and truly fearing him who only ought to be feared; I was carried away with carnal lusts so that I was only preserved from actual fullfilling... therefore, which when the said people understood they carfully and moderatly reproved______ and laid the inconsistancy of such actions, with their principles before me and the evil I had done in so doing, which I being sorrowful for and promised that the time past should suffice, and for the time to come I would be more carfull, but instead of humbling myself, I soon went to a priest, and was married in all which transgressions of said people called Quakers and their principles are clear; and I desired that my inequity may be a caution to all and not a cause for to stumbal which I can truly say these my evil hath brought sorrow on my heart and a exercise upon my mind many times, for running into such evil contrary to the truth, this given under my hand the 20th of the 3rd mo 1699.
Simon Hadly Jun"
6D 11M 1702
"Where as Jane Keeron who several years ago before she came to dwell in this part of the country, as her own choice took him whom she now hath to be her husband contrary to the principles and practice of the people called Quakers, and hath since she came here to dwell came to our meetings as one of us, therefore least any should go esteem her and reproach our holy profession through her uncivill and ungodly behavior towards her husband upon the account of his going to that way of worship he was educated in, though a way of worship we don't aprove, yet can not strive by force as she hath done to restrain any from their liberity on that account, wherefore we disown her to be of us. Signed in behalf for our Monthly Meeting held at the Moate, the 6th of the ii month 1702.
Anthony Robinson, Thomas Lightfoot, John Mickle"
7D 12M 1710
"Symon Hadly the elder came to dwell in our neighborhood after the late wars and as he then was a commer to our meetings so he has continued but soon after his comings, by too much indulging his children and his carelessness in religious matters, it appeared that he had little more than a shew of religion which we propently admonished him of as he appeared faulty, after exorting him to be more zealous and not to content and deceive himself with a show of religion, but instead of receiving our exortation and practicing the same, he desired we might let him alone and in about three weeks after the death of his wife, who was a woman of good repute in the neighborhood, he being a man of about seventy years of age, ofered himself to a woman in marriage who was not of that persuasion he made profesion of, and contrary to what he preposed not only offered himself but was married, as he saith to the said woman in about half a year after the death of his said former wife, tho he often said and pretented that he did not intend to marry her so soon all which imoderation, disimulation and irreligiousnes of his, we publickly disown and hereby declare him the said Symon to be none of us the people called Quakers.
Signed on behalf of the said people, by order of our mo meeting at the Moate the 7th of 12 mo 1710
John Wyle John Mikle Abraham Fuller, Thomas Lightfoot, John Rupell, Benj Parvin., Joshua Clifforn, Bra. Clibborn, Gregory Rupell, Jonathan Robinson, Christopher Coates, Joseph Robinson, John Turnor"
From Volume I of A HADLEY GENEALOGY:
Simon HADLEY, son of Simon and Catherine (TALBOT) HADLEY, was born in 1675, probably in Ireland, died 1756 and is buried in the New Garden burial grounds, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married (1) Ruth (KERAN) MILLER, a widow, who was born 1677 in Ireland, died 1750, and is also buried in New Garden. Simon married (2) in 1752, Phoebe (GRUBB) BUFFINGTON, widow of Richard BUFFINGTON, and daughter of John and Frances GRUBB.
Simon HADLEY came to America in 1712* with his first wife, Ruth, and 6 children, having 2 more children after his arrival in America. Simon purchased 1000 acres of land about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia in the Manor Steyning. When the Pennsylvania-Delaware line was drawn it passed through Simon's property, placing his residence in New Castle Co., Delaware, and the bulk of his property in Chester County Pennsylvania.
Simon and his family were members of the Society of Friends. They received certificates of removal from Moate Monthly Meeting in West Meath County, Ireland. Four years after his arrival in America, Simon presented the certificates to Newark Monthly Meeting in Centerville, DE. About that time New Garden Meeting was set off from New Garden, and records of Simon's family can be found in New Garden meeting minutes and records.
*Authority for the statement that Simon arrived in 1712 comes from two sources, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, by Futher and Cope, and GENEALOGY OF THE NEW ENGLAND HADLEYS, by D. L. Tappan. Neither source offers source documentation. ** SEE Quaker references for notes about the Quaker dating system. Many dates have discrepancies since over the years researchers have erroneously converted the Quaker dates to standard dates
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