Wiley and Dorcas Worley
Jemima Worley
Sarah Worley
Isaac Worley
Willis Worley
Pleasant Worley
Reuben Worley
Abbey Worley
Keziah Worley
Elijah Worley
Cader Worley

List of Descendants

The Worleys of North Carolina
False Leads

Credits

This Worley Webpage is
dedicated to my grandmother:
Nan Ellen Worley (1884-1983)

Click to email Phil Crowther

Wiley Worley is a family mystery. He first appears in Knox County, KY in 1809 and is last mentioned in the Whitley County Tax Records in 1828. There is no definitive list of his children. The records indicate that he was born in North Carolina. A Wiley Worley is shown as a witness to an Indenture made in 1800 between Thomas Meadows, Jr and Sr of Anson County, North Carolina. Some believe that he is the son of Joseph John Worley who lived in Anson County. Even the death of Wiley Worley is a mystery. He is said to have met with foul play while on a trip to Anson County in the mid-1820s. Interestingly, there is a similar story about a Willis Worley of Tennessee, who is also thought to be a son of Joseph John Worley and who is said to have disappeared along with an unnamed brother (Wiley?) in the mid-1820s.

His wife, Dorcas Worley is also a mystery. It is said that her maiden name was Meadors and that she was the daughter of Thomas Meadors and Keziah Mobley. However, no proof can be found, and the birth date ordinarily assigned to her (1785) is an impossibility.

Regardless of their origins, they left a living legacy of many descendants. I am not aware of any famous Worley descendants, only ordinary people like you or me. By all accounts, they were hard-working people, who were moderately prosperous, took their religion seriously and loved their music.

Please take a look at the list of descendants. Let me know if I have missed any or gotten anything wrong.

Thanks for stopping by.

Phil Crowther