This document is in two parts. Part I, which follows, covers the first 5 generations of the Harley family. Part II covers generations 6-9 to the present day living descendants.
 

The first English settlement in the Carolinas was established on the coast near Charleston in 1670, so the Harleys were one of the early families to settle in the region. Only in 1710 did it become divided into North and South Carolina.

Joseph Harley shows up in a deed abstract as having been granted 400 acres by the Lord's Proprietors on 2 March 1711. In Book K, page 392 , date of 18 April 1733, a mortgage was paid off by Joseph Harley, planter, to Royall Spry as security for 2 bonds made by Harley to Benjamin Goding and John Guerrard, merchants, for payment on 410 acres. Sum was 1000 pounds.
 
Joseph Harley was more than moderately successful in comparison to others of this period. He  raised cattle and engaged in planting. His cattle brand was one of the few brands recorded during the first 65 years of the province. In his Will recorded on May 19, 1736, there were listed 136 head of cattle, 20 horses, 55 hogs, plus miscellaneous furniture and household goods.

Children of JOSEPH HARLEY and SARAH WILLIAMSON are:

3.  i. JOSEPH HARLEY III, b. 1712, Colleton County; d. 1756,  Colleton County.

4. ii. SARAH HARLEY, b. Abt. 1710; d. 1743.

   iii. MARY HARLEY, b. Abt. 1716.

Book O-O, page 486, 28 March 1754. Confirmation. Philemon Jackson, planter, of St. Bartholomew's Parish, grandson of Alexander Clark; & Joseph Harley, planter, of same parish, & Jane his wife, grand-daughter of said Alexander Clark. Whereas Alexander Clark by will dated 17 March 1718 bequeathed the plantation to his daughter, Elizabeth Clark, who later married Joshua Sanders...... & whereas in Alexander Clark's will it is apprehended that the 300 a. were given to his daughter for her life, but Philemon Jackson, Joseph Harley, & Jane his wife, are convinced that Clark intended to bequeath it to her absolutely in fee; & it being also apprehended that Philemon Jackson & Jane Harley, eldest son and only daughter of Jane, daughter of Alexander Clark, or their heirs, may after the death of Elizabeth (other daughter of Alexander Clark) claim an interest in the 300 a; therefore, for 10 pounds currency, Philemon Jackson & Joseph Harley confirm William Ladson in his possession (p. 478). Religion: Bethel Presbyterian Church, 3.5 miles from Jacksonboro.

Notes for JEAN CLARK JACKSON:

Jean is also referred to as Jane in several places. There are several legal documents cited in the records, Book Q-Q,  page 403, 21/22 April 1752; Book V-V, page 274, 29/30 May 1759; Book W-W, page 145, 5/6 May 1757 and Book Y-Y , p. 63, 15/16 March 1757, which indicate that Jane, or Jean as she was also known, was the widow of Captain John Jackson, of PonPon. John Jackson was granted 400 a. on 28 August 1700. Captain Jackson's will was dated 24 March 1747, and gave Jane and George Jackson authority to sell his lots.

Children of JOSEPH HARLEY and Susan Saunders are:

5.  ii. JOSEPH HARLEY IV, b. 1748, Colleton County; d. August 17, 1807, Barnwell County, South Carolina.

SARAH HARLEY (4,2,1) married RICHARD RANDALLS (REYNOLDS?). Child of SARAH HARLEY and RICHARD RANDALLS (REYNOLDS?) is MARY RANDALLS(REYNOLDS?), who married. RICHARD OSWALD in 1748.

Register of St. Phillip's Parish, Charles Town, SC, compiled by A.S.Salley, page 187 indicates that Joseph Harley and Elizabeth Jackson were married on 9 January 1768. Was buried at Old Three Runs Cemetery outside of Barnwell, SC. Joseph Harley IV was active in the Revolutionary War serving as lieutenant and, at one time, captain in Capt. Joseph Vince's Company, in Colonel William Harden's Regiment attached to Colonel James McCoy's Regiment of Rangers. More Revolutionary War  battles were fought in South Carolina than in any other state.

Notes for ELIZABETH JACKSON: Buried at Old Three Runs Cemetery outside of Barnwell, SC.

Children of JOSEPH HARLEY and ELIZABETH JACKSON are:

6.    i. JACKSON HARLEY, b. 1776; d. 1812.

      ii. REBECCA HARLEY, b. 1787; m. ____ BAXTER.

     iii. TARLETON HARLEY, b. 1783.

7.  iv. WILLIAM HARLEY, b. 1786.

8.   v. HENRY JACKSON HARLEY, b. Abt. 1770; d. February 03, 1815.

     vi. JOSEPH HARLEY V, b. 1771; d. September 23, 1819; m. JANE SHEAPHERD..

9.  vii. JAMES HARLEY, b. 1779; d. October 28, 1825.

    viii. ELIZABETH HARLEY, b. 1790; m. SAMUEL H. PRESSY in January 1813 and had two children with him.

10. ix. PRESTON HARLEY, b. May 16, 1792; d. October 10, 1837.

      x. ANN ELIZABETH HARLEY, b. 1782, d. 1853. Married Robert McCreary and had seven children.

     xi. SUSANNAH HARLEY, b. November 28, 1775; m. ADAM MCCREARY. They lived in Barnwell until 1821 when they moved to Conecuh County, Alabama.

11.   i. JOSEPH J. HARLEY, b. March 23, 1801, d. March 10, 1857.

12.   ii. JOHN H. HARLEY, b. October 20, 1809; d. June 23, 1881.

13.  iii. JACOB Rueben HARLEY, b. March 29, 1808; d. Jan. 2, 1862. He attended Furman Theological Seminary.

       iv. JAMES EDWARD HARLEY, b. 1802, d. December 11, 1874. Attended Furman Theological Seminary. He married his first cousin Susanna Eva Harley, daughter of Joseph Harley V.

14.  v. WILLIAM ISAIAH HARLEY, b. 1806; d. 1870.

15. vi. JACKSON HARLEY,  b. 1811, d. 1838.

    vii. MARTHA ANN HARLEY, b. 1804

Their mother, Ann Hayes was the daughter of Joseph Hayes and Anna Hayes. She had one brother, John, who also married a Harley. Ann was born in about 1778 and died Jan. 4, 1848.

7. WILLIAM HARLEY (7,5,3,2,1) was born 1786. He married ADELINE KILLINGWORTH 1837. Child of WILLIAM HARLEY and ADELINE KILLINGWORTH is:

   i. PRESTON ANDERSON HARLEY.

 
HENRY JACKSON HARLEY (8,5,3,2,1) was born Abt. 1770, and died February 03, 1815. He married ZILPHIA DRUMMOND 1803. Children of HENRY HARLEY and ZILPHIA DRUMMOND are:

   i. WILLIAM WHITE HARLEY.

   ii. ANN ELIZABETH HARLEY, m. ELI O'NEALL.

   iii. REBECCA HARLEY, m. JOSHUA BAXLEY, 1838.

 JAMES HARLEY (9,5,3,2,1) was born 1779, and died October 28, 1825. James was a member of the 15th General Assembly (1816-1817) from Barnwell District.  He married JANE ANNE CREECH 1798, daughter of RICHARD CREECH and MARY WILLIAMS. Her father was a lieutenant in Capt. Joseph Vince's Company during the Revolutionary War, along with James's father. James, himself, was a captain in the local militia. Children of JAMES HARLEY and JANE CREECH are:

      i. RICHARD CREECH HARLEY, d. September 04, 1820.

     ii. JACKSON HARLEY, d. June 21, 1846; m. ELIZABETH HEXT.

     iii. RICHARD W. HARLEY, d. February 07, 1845.

     iv. REBECCA HARLEY, d. March 27, 1840.

      v. MARTHA CARY HARLEY, d. July 17, 1840.

     vi. MARY S. HARLEY, d. May 25, 1840; m. JOHN ANDERSON. HAYES.

    vii. SUSAN W. HARLEY, d. July 26, 1835.

   viii. JOSEPH ELLEN HARLEY, d. August 13, 1834.

16. ix. JAMES MILES HARLEY, b. 1818,  d. April 01, 1872.

17. x. ELIZABETH HARLEY, b. 1810..
 

18. xi. JANE ANN HARLEY, b. 1814.

 PRESTON HARLEY (10,5,3,2,1) was born May 16, 1792, and died October 10, 1837. He married ALMEDIA ANN BROWN, daughter of Colonel TARLTON BROWN and AMELIA MATTHEWS. Preston owned considerable property and he was commissioned High Sheriff of the District of Barnwell. He was also a captain in the local militia. Children of PRESTON HARLEY and ALMEDIA BROWN are:

19.    i. SUSAN FRANCES HARLEY, b. March 15, 1832; d. June 30, 1893.

       ii. ALMEDIA ANN HARLEY, b. January 31, 1830; d. November 02, 1833.

20.  iii. JAMES PRESTON HARLEY, b. January 20, 1828; d. December 20, 1867.

       iv. ELIZABETH BROWN HARLEY, b. January 02, 1818; d. July 11, 1866.

21.  vi. WILLIAM JACKSON HARLEY, b. January 20, 1812; d. April 20, 1861, Barnwell City, South Carolina.

22. vii. JOSEPH TARLTON HARLEY, b. November 02, 1814.

23. viii. SARAH REBECCA HARLEY, b. May 02, 1813; d. February 03, 1878, Snelling, SC.