William Motley Genealogy
Record modified: 2010-04-15
Born: 1670-00-00 Old Rappahannock Co, Virginia USA
Died: 1727-00-00 Essex Co, Virginia USA
Notes:
died after 1727
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married 1726 Hannah Cook
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another researcher sends:
He had one known son named John and in late 1766 or early 67 this John and his wife Tabitha and the children moved from Halifax Co. to Spartanburg Co., SC on a strip of land claimed by both North and South Carolina. ( Interestingly enough this is where President Andrew Jackson was born about the same time as SC and NC fought over the right to claim him as a native son for a long time.)
On June 3, 1781 a band of Indians under the leadership of "Bloody Bill Bates" made a raid on the Motlow’s Creek community and massacred a number of families. Most of the Motley family were killed. His son John Jr. daughter Susanna and her family, who were living apart from the others, and the wife and child of his son William were the only survivors. John’s (Jr.?) wife, Elizabeth, was wounded and died four days later.
"Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina" by Landrum contains this statement: "Among the cruel barbarities charges against Bates was that he visited the house of old Mr. Motley on Motlow’s Creek in Spartenburg County and killed him and several others.".
Bill Bates was supposed to have fallen in love with Elizabeth, but she rejected him and married John Motlow. He had organized the raid to kill John but Elizabeth was not to be hurt. John was captured and the Indians told to kill him slowly (Indian style) but he managed to escape. John and Elizabeth had been married less than two months.
Several years later Bill Bates decided it was safe for him to return, but he was arrested for stealing. John Motlow and several of his friends went to the jail and forced the jailer to turn over the keys to his cell. John took Bates from the jail, gave him time to say his prayers, and shot him.
The source on that is the "Motleys" by Mary Moltenberry Rabold and Elizabeth Moltenberry Price. I found the book in the LDS library in Salt Lake City.
Hinds Site: Genealogy of Ken Hinds -- page 692
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