Information on the EMLEY family has been compiled in 1991 by Doris (Holloway) Sleath in Descendants of John and Mary (Pharo) Holloway from New Jersey to California 1704-1991. Refer also to History of Burlington County New Jersey, by Maj. E. M. Woodward (1883, reprinted 1984). Supplemental information was received from William E. Emley, author of From Whence We Come, and a descendant of Joseph EMLEY, son of Samuel and Rebecca (PARKER) EMLEY of Burlington Co., NJ.
William EMLEY - bap. Sep. 15, 1648, Blyth Parish, Nottinghamshire, England; d. Apr. 21-24, 1704, Chesterfield, Burlington Co., NJ. Son of Thomas Emley III. William married Ruth RIDGE on Nov. 17, 1674 at Besthrope, Nottinghamshire, England, and they joined the Society of Friends, moving from the family home at Toreworth Grange to Mansfield (about 14 miles west) on Jul. 25, 1676. Soon after being fined £23 for attending a Quaker quarterly meeting, William became a commissioner from Yorkshire for the proprietors of New Jersey. After Gawen LAWRIE and Wm. PENN, William EMLEY was the third signer of "The Concessions and Agreements of the Proprietors, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the Province of West Jersey in America," dated Mar. 3, 1676/7. He and other commissioners left from Blythe Parish for America in Aug. 1677 aboard the 'Kent' to New Jersey to purchase land and establish a government. William then returned to England to bring his family to America aboard the 'Shield' of Stockton, sailing from Hull, England to the Delaware River on Feb. 10, 1678/9. The EMLEY party included William and Ruth, William, Jr., Mary (born at sea), and four servants (two men and two women). Other passengers on the 'Shield" included James PHARO and family, and his brother in law Robert MURFIN and family. William spoke five languages, and was a surveyor, judge, commissioner of boundaries, and commissioner to the Indians. He assisted in determining the line between East and West Jersey. William is found on the list of Burlington Co., NJ freeholders in 1680, and was a member of the West Jersey Assembly in 1682. His wife Ruth, who was born in 1650, died Jul. 9, 1686 in Burlington Co., NJ. The home of William EMLEY, on the banks of the Delaware near the present Fieldsboro, remained in the Emley family until 1860. William's will (dated Apr. 21, proved Apr. 24, 1704, and probated Jun. 6, 1704 in Burlington Co., NJ) leaves considerable land and personal property to his eight children and wife Mary, whom he married between 1686 and 1690. The following extract from a letter written by William and Ruth, to Samuel RACLES of Nottingham is from the Preceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society. The letter is undated, but its contents clearly indicates it was probably written in May or June or 1678.
Loving Friend:
After dear love to thyself and wife and rest of Friends: This may acquaint you we all crossed the seas very shortly and pleasantly. My wife was pretty well aboard in respect of her condition, and was delivered of a girl in Delaware river; did very well; and is very well content and satisfyed with the country, &c. We are now going to settle a town at the Falls, a place reported (and Credited) to be without compare to any other yet known; none equal for pleasant, healthful air, lovely scituations; second to none for fertility. The next, I hope, shall inform you more. Our love to Friends, &c.
William & Ruth Embly
Mary - d. after Apr. 1704. Little is known of William's second wife, but she was of Irish ancestry, had red hair, and was not a member of the Society of Friends. Upon his marriage, William was disciplined for "marrying out," but he did not leave the Society.
Samuel EMLEY - b. 1694, Burlington Co., NJ; d. by Oct. 4, 1784, Burlington Co., NJ. Son of William Emley and Mary. Samuel's will (proved Oct. 21, 1784, New Havover township, Burlington Co., NJ) left land to his surviving sons, and money to his daughters, except for daughter Mary (who had moved with her husband to NC by the date of her father's death). His estate was inventoried Oct. 4, 1784 at $300.1.5 by Israel WOODWARD and Joseph PARKER. Samuel left his Family Bible to his son William. The 200 acres of land left to son Samuel remained in the Emley family for 250 years, until 1930. Samuel married about 1720 in Burlington Co., NJ.
Rebecca PARKER - No information is currently available about Rebecca, but she is probably closely related to Joseph and Isaac PARKER, both witnesses to the will of her husband.
Modified: 8/4/03