Handley, William Claiborne

Summary

Father: Samuel Handley
Mother: Susannah Cowan

Birth: 25 Jul 1803, Tennessee
Birth Source: Gravestone and census

Death: 19 May 1862, Franklin County, Tennessee
Death Source: Gravestone in Bean's Creek Cemetery

Spouse1: Nancy Reeves, m. c1828 Franklin County, Tennessee

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Narrative

Children of Nancy Reeves and William Claiborne Handley:

1. Sarah "Sallie" Ann Handley, b. 1830
2. Samuel Avery Handley, b. 1834
3. Robert Clinton Handley, b. 1837
4. Jonathan "John" R. Handley, b. 1839
5. Rebecca L. Handley, b. 1842
6. Claiborne Reeves Handley, b. 1844

Although there are no documents that prove positively that Nancy Reeves was the daughter of Avery Reeves, there is an abundance of Franklin County records linking Avery to his probable son-in-law William C. Handley. There is even an 1833 bill of sale wherein a slave was sold to Dudley Johnson by both Avery Reeves and William C. Handley who apparently owned the slave jointly.

After Avery Reeves's death, William was involved in numerous transactions with Avery's presumed son, Hance Henderson Reeves.

The amount of records connecting the two leave little doubt that Avery Reeves was the father of Nancy Reeves Handley.

Sources