The Parents of James Michael Barley

My paternal great-grandfather, James Michael Barley, was born October 22, 1870, in Rhea County, Tennessee, and died there on February 27, 1941. My Great-Aunt Altha Ann Barley, his daughter, and my Grandmother Delia, married to his son, shared his name with me. James and his wife, Mary Myrtle Roddy Barley, rest in Spence Cemetery alongside relatives, including his siblings Thomas Henry Barley (1880–1965), Melissia Tennessee (Tennie) Barley Roddy (1869–1948), and Mary Barley Ottinger (born ~1865).

But who were James’s his parents?  Altha claimed her grandmother was Malissa Ann Barley, her namesake, and believed her grandfather was Jasper Barley. Family stories need verification through solid genealogical research to confirm the truth. That doesn’t imply a lack of trust in what I was told, just that sound genealogical practice requires exhaustive research to eliminate any other potential truth. How do I verify the information? What records should I consult?

Marriage Record of Jasper and Malissa Byerly

I researched potential marriage records for James’s parents, Jasper and Malissia Barley, in Rhea County, Tennessee. My search for Jasper and Malissa Barley yielded no results, but I did find a record for Jasper and Malissa Byerly, married on June 21, 1857. This discovery raised questions, as Byerly differs from Barley. My grandmother explained that the family name was originally Byerly, but James Michael was asked by the postmaster in Campbell County, Tennessee to spell it as Barley while he lived there. Not one to complain and in order to obtain mail from home, James complied with the request and the Byerly family became Barleys! Given this, I hypothesized that the 1857 marriage record pertains to the Jasper and Malissa Barley I was searching for.

Census Records for Jasper and Malissa Byerly and their Children

James Michael Byerley was born after the 1870 census had been taken so the first census he would have been present in would be the 1880 census, more than likely in Rhea County, Tennessee.   But since the Jasper and Malissa Byerly marriage record showed a marriage date of 1857, I decided to start with the 1860 census and bring the family forward starting with that year to create a consolidated view of Jasper and Malissa Byerly with their children based on the census information.

 First stop, the 1860 Census –   The 1860 census in Rhea County, Tennessee was taken on 30 June 1860. In District 5, page 497 I found the family of Jasper Barely with Malissa a young female Sarah J.

The next stop is the 1870 Census. That census was taken on 23 June 1870 in Rhea County, Tennessee. Residing in the 5th Civil District on page 272B, I find Jasper with Malissa along with 5 other individuals ranging in age from 1 to 13.  These are more than likely their children but as relationships are not given that cannot be gleaned from the census information.

The 1880 census is next. That census was taken on 15 June 1880 in Rhea County, Tennessee.  James Michael Barley would have been included in this census – so a key validation point is whether he is included as a son in this family.   Another connection point would be the two siblings that I am aware of, Mary and Melissa Tennessee. Residing in the 7th District on page 273c, I find Jasper, his wife Malissa and his nine children.  This is the first census were relationships are given.  The son listed as Jas M. Byrely fits the age of James Michael Barley based on him being born in October 1870.  The daughter represented with initials M.A. fits the age of Mary Barley Ottinger and the daughter represented as Tenn fits the age of Melissia Tennessee Barley Roddy.  This looks to be the census record with James Michael Barley included in the household of his parents, Jasper and Malissa Byerly, but more research is needed to solidify the relationships.

The 1890 census was burned so the next available census is 1900.  A search of those census records did not find a household containing Jasper and Malissia Byerley.  

From the census records encompassing the years 1860 to 1880, the following table contains the assumed children of Jasper and Malissa Byerley.  Any children born after the 1880 census was taken would not be included.  The absence of the 1890 census presents a problem for identifying all of them though I should be able to use the 1990 census to uncover some of them.  Of note also is that by 1880, Malissa was nearing the age where her childbearing days were coming to a close.

Given the 20-year timeframe between the 1880 and 1900 census and the ages of the children, most may have been married by the time the 1900 census was taken.   Research of the marriage records of Rhea County, Tennessee uncovered the following marriages that may align with the children of Jasper and Malissa Byerly.

• Alex Clingan married Allice Byrley on 6 December 1884 in Rhea County, Tennessee.   This could be Margarette A. Byerly.
• Sarah J. Byerley married Marley Yates on 27 Dec 1899 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• J.C. Ottinger married Mary A. Byrley on 14 Oct 1884 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• Will Roddy married Tennie Byerley on 20 Aug 1899 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• Emma Byerley married James Webb on 24 March 1900 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• J.M. Byerley married Mamie Roddy on 2 October 1896 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• Jacob Byerley married Ella Webb on 2 Jan 1896 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• Hannah Byerley married Will Hall on 3 March 1901 in Rhea County, Tennessee.
• No marriage found for Martha Byerley.

The 1900 census in Rhea County, Tennessee took place in June of 1900.  The households of the children of Jasper and Malissia Byerley were recorded between June 12th through June 20th.  Of the 9 previously identified children, 6 have been found in the census.  Additionally, a brother, Thomas was found in the household of one of his siblings.  He was born in 1880 after that census was taken. The three children that were not found, Melissa Tennessee, Emma and Hannah were living as indicated by their presences in the 1910 census and/or by their appearance in other records in 1901 or later.

Based on the census research, the children of Jasper and Malissa Byerley included the following:

The next step is to validate any birth or death related records available for the children to determine if those records list parent information.   This will be correlated with the census information to identify and resolve any conflicts.

Birth and Death Records

All of the children were born before birth records were recorded in the state so the presence of any official birth records would not be expected.  There could however be delayed birth records if any child lived long enough to request one after 1935.  Birth dates may also be included on death certificates or inscribed on tombstones or be derivable from death records.

Let’s look at each child individually to determine what records may be available and whether any of those records identify the parents.  The two tables below summarize the information around parents and siblings from death certificates and obituaries for each child.  Information was found for only 8 of the 10 children.  It is likely, but not proven, that the 2 children not found died before death certificates were generally created at the state level.

From the summary the conclusion is –

• The parents were Jasper Byerly and Malissia Ann Barley.
  • Lissy (Lizey) is a nickname for Malissia. It is also a nickname for Elizabeth which would explain the references to Elizabeth Ann. 
  • Of consideration also, is that Altha Barley, daughter of James Michael Barley, had communicated to me that her grandmother’s name was Malissia Ann.
• The references to surviving siblings align to who would have been alive at the time of the death.

DNA Testing Validation:

The historical research provided supports the hypothesis that Jasper Byerly and Malissa Byerly are my second great grandparents and parents of James Michael Barley.   But is the relationship also genetic?  Prior to DNA testing being readily available, the “paper” connection was all that could be proven – but now with DNA it is sometimes possible to answer the genetic relationship question.

Descendants of the children of Jasper and Malissia Byerley must be utilized to validate the genetic relationship for myself.  But first the connections must be proven between myself and each generation back.  There are four generations between me and my second great grandparents.  This requires either testing of those individuals or also connections to relatives at each generation level.   None of my direct ancestors have tested so proof will be through other relatives that have tested.

The connections can be proven by triangulation either at the individual chromosome level or via triangulation of shared matches.  Triangulation of shared message involves finding descendants from different children that all match each other and match me.

I have Autosomal DNA test results available at all of the major testing sites and as such have options.   At this time, as Ancestry does not provide a chromosome browser and I do not have the combination of matches at the sites that do, I will be using the triangulation of shared matches as the approach to prove the connection to Jasper and Malissa Byerly.  With that approach what are the steps to secure and document proof of a biological connection:

1. Identify matches that prove the connection point at each generation.  This will be siblings of the ancestor in question or their descendants. Ideally there will be matches from three siblings provided three siblings with children existed.
2. Validate the connection between the match and Jasper and Malissa Byerley via traditional research, eliminating any other possible connection that may exist.
3. Validate the parent alignment in Ancestry.  The matches should be classified at paternal.
4. Validate that the shared matches share DNA with each other.
5. Use of the Banyan tool to statistically compare the shared DNA between all testers and ensure all relationships are statistically valid.

The testing group:

1. Fourteen testers were included in the analysis.  All are matches to me at Ancestry.
2. Ancestry indicated that all the connections were on my paternal side.
3. The relationships to me ranged from siblings through 3C1R.
4. The relationship to Jasper and Malissia Byerly ranged from Great Grandchild through 3rd Great Grandchild.
   1. One Great Grandchild
   2. Eight Second Great Grandchildren
   3. Five Third Great Grandchildren.
5. The testing group includes the following shared matches triangulation groups:
   1. Descendants of James, Emma, Jacob, Mary Ann and Margaret Byerly to support the connection to Jasper and Malissa Byerly.
   2. Descendants of two or James Barleys children, Descendants of 3 of the children of my Grandfather, son of James Barley to support the connection to James Barley

Results:

1. The Banyan Tool was utilized to validate the amount of shared DNA between me and each member of the test group to the anticipated relationship.
   1. 11 of the matches were within 0.5 standard deviations or less than the average shared DNA for the relationship with all being within the shared range.
   2. The other 2 matches were within 1.3 and 1.8 standard deviations from the average shared AND for the relationship. The shared DNA for both was greater than the higher point of the expected range, possibly indicating that there could be an additional connection further back in time.
2. The Banyan Tool was utilized to validate the amount of shared DNA between each of the testers and their anticipated relationship to each other.
   1. Of the 182 combinations, 32 did not have shared DNA information in Ancestry.  The cut off for Shared Matches information is 20, so this implies that the shared DNA for those 32 could be from 0 to 19 cM shared.
      1. All 32 were in the relationship range where the probability of sharing DNA is lower (fourth cousin or equivalent).
      2. The other 150 combinations were all within an acceptable standard deviation range for the expected relationship.

DNA conclusion – It is highly likely, that my relationship to Jasper and Malissa Byerly is biological and the DNA comparison within this group of 14 testers supports them being my second great-grandparents.

The loose ends for further research:

• I know that Melissa Tennessee, Emma and Hannah all were still alive when the 1900 census was taken but did not find them on my first search through the records.  While their information is not required to support my conclusion, it would help with ensuring I have completed the family of Jasper and Malissa Byerley.
• While I have performed exhaustive research for Martha and Hannah and feel confident with the conclusions, revalidating those research steps as more records become available may provide additional information about the family.
• Expanded research on the testers where the quality of the DNA relationship was not “excellent” to determine or eliminate connections at the 3rd or later great grandparent level.

Sources List:

1. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 5, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1268; Page: 497; Family History Library Film: 805268
2. Year: 1870; Census Place: District 5, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1554; Page: 272B
3. Year: 1880; Census Place: District 7, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1275; Page: 273c; Enumeration District: 111
4. Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 6, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0084
5. Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 5, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0083
6. Year: 1900; Census Place: Dayton, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0089
7. Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 8, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 0086
8. Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 6, Rhea, Tennessee; Roll: 1593; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 0084
9. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002; Marriage record of Jasper and Malissa Byerly
10. Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1965
11. Georgia Department of Health; Certificate of Death for Margaret Alice Clingan, 1943, #6493
12. The Chattanooga News, 29 June 1934, page 2, Chattanooga, Tennessee
13. The Chattanooga Times, 30 August 1948, page 7, Chattanooga. Tennessee
14. The Chattanooga Times, 13 June 1940, page 9, Chattanooga, Tennessee
15. The Chattanooga Times, 11 September 1965, page 11, Chattanooga, Tennessee
16. The Chattanooga Times, 29 May 1958, Chattanooga, Tennessee
17. The Chattanooga Times, 23 March 1943, Chattanooga, Tennessee

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