Nicholas Walley Biography

Nicholas Walley
Biographical Information

Documentary evidence for Nicholas Walley includes land records in Armstrong
County, Pennsylvania in 1799 and in 1802; sponsorship with his wife Maria at
baptisms in “Catholic Baptisms in Western Pennsylvania 1799-1828”
(Father Peter Helbron’s Greensburg Register); signing of a petition to the
Catholic bishop in 1803 in “Catholic Trails West”; the 1810 census
for Sugar Creek Township as Nicholas Walhee; his 1810 will probated at
Kittanning on 18 June 1811; and sale of his remaining land in Kiskiminetas
Township in 1840. There is also reference in biographies of two of his
grandsons as to his origin being French. Three of his sons and some of his
married daughters are on the 1800 census, but his name is not to be found.

The last name has been spelled in at least a dozen ways. Nicholas owned 427
acres in Allegheny Township, Armstrong County warranted in the name of
Nicholas Wallhile on 7 May 1799, 200 acres in Kiskiminetas, and land formerly
leased to David Allen, which he leased to Owen Sharkey and John Curry in 1802
for a six year lease at $20 a year. In addition to his land in other townships
he resided in Sugar Creek Township by 1810.

Will
Nicholas Walley
Estate #26 Reg. Dkt. Vol. 1 [Spelling Corrected]
18 June 1811 proved by the subscribing witness Same day Executor sworn

In the name of God amen. I Nicholas Walley of Sugar Creek Township in the
County of Armstrong and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yeoman being of sound
mind memory and judgment through the mercy and goodness of God do make this my
Last Will and Testament as follows viz. first I do order all my just and
lawful debts and also the expenses of my funeral, which I Desire may be as
moderate as decency will permit, to be honorably paid and discharged by my
Executor hereinafter mentioned; And I do hereby give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife Maria all my plantation and land and cattle and all the stock and
household goods, likewise the young mare, bed and furniture all belonging to
my estate situated in the County of Armstrong to hold the said Maria for and
the term of her natural life or widowhood; But if the Said Maria Should choose
to marry then and in that case my Executor hereinafter mentioned shall sell
all the cattle and all the loose property belonging to her whatsoever she got
of my estate and give her the one third of the money, the remainder to be
divided among my children as follows. The Land or plantation after my beloved
wife Maria’s decease or breaking of widowhood the executor give the rights and
title of the Lands as above mentioned to my son Nicholas and to my daughter
Catherine two parts there of to Nicholas and one part to Catherine and charge
them one hundred and fifty pounds therefore in lawful money to be paid to the
remainder of my children; that is Nicholas to pay one hundred pounds and
Catherine fifty that is to be paid after they get to be the proprietor of said
land to pay fifteen pound yearly and every year until the whole sum thereof is
paid which Nicholas two shares thereof, Catherine one share, I Do hereby allow
my beloved wife Maria to keep all in her own hands until she alters her name
or is deceased. Land Cattle and all the money that is coming due to me to keep
as before mentioned. Further I order my Executor after the decease of my
beloved wife is to sell all the property and the goods for the highest price
that can be gotten for the same with all the money and accounts and to divide
the Same to my children at the expiration of one year after the property is
sold, to my nine children share and share alike namely– Peter Walley, John
Walley, Thomas Walley, Nicholas Walley, and Mary the widow of James Benson
Margaret the widow of John Miller, Magdalena the Wife of Thomas Conner,
Elisabeth the wife of John Orr, Catherine. Further I empower my executor to
give all my right and title of the land and plantation after my beloved wife
is deceased to Nicholas and Catherine Walley by them given their application
for the payments for the land as before mentioned, they to have equal shares
out of the money arising from the land, and lastly I do hereby nominate and
empower Paul Deansend to the sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament
hereby revoking all other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and
declaring this only as my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I the
said Nicholas Walley have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of
July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.

N. Walley

Signed Sealed published and Declared by the Testator as and for his Last
Will and Testament in the presence of us as are Signing. It is agreed that
Nicholas Walley Junior Shall have the young mare which was formerly allowed to
his mother for his use.

Witness
Bartel Saffer (or Laffer)
JacobTruby
Armstrong County Seal 18 June A.D. 1811

Orphans Court, March Term, 1840. Armstrong Co., Pa.
Armstrong Co. SS:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the Sheriff of the County of Armstrong,

GREETING: Whereas at an Orphans Court held at Kittanning in and for the Co.
of Armstrong on the 19th March 1840 before the judges of the same court, the
Petition of Nicholas Walley, son and heir at law of Nicholas Walley, the
senior, late of Sugar Creek twp., dec’d, was presented setting forth that the
petitioners said father died intestate as to the following described tract of
land on or about the 18th day of June, 1811, leaving a widow who died about
nine months afterwards and issue, nine children, to Wit:
1. Peter Walley, who is since dec’d, leaving eight children to Wit: John;
Mary, intermarried with John Moore; Nicholas Walley; Thomas Walley; William
Walley; Margaret, intermarried with F Shillinger; Lena intermarried with Ferry
Heffron and Anne.
2. Mary Walley, intermarried with James Benson, both of whom are dead97leaving
seven children, to Wit: Peter Benson; Hannah, intermarried with John Gregg;
Margaret, married to Henry Hines; Mary, married to Robert Gregg; William
Benson; Elizabeth, married to Andrew McIntire; and Catherine, Married to
______ McMillen.
3. Margaret, intermarried with _____ Miller.
4. John Walley, since dec’d, leaving issue five children, to Wit: Catherine;
Elizabeth, married to Peter Silves, Silvas?; Margaret; John; and William.
5. Modelena (Magdalena) intermarried with Thomas Connor both of whom are dead,
leaving six children, to Wit: Catherine, married to Patrick McCue; John
Connor; Peter Connor, Mary Connor; Elizabeth Connor. Married to John
McNaughton.
6. Elizabeth Walley, intermarried with William Robinson.
7. Thomas Walley.
8. Nicholas Walley, the petitioner.
9. Catherine Walley, intermarried with Patrick McGlaughlin.