Rev John H. Corley Biography



Of Welch descent, on his father's side and of Irish on his mother's
Rev. J. H. Corley was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina,
October 2, 1824.  When seven or eight years of age he moved with his
father to Augusta, Georgia where he attended school for three or four
years. His father then moved to Macon, Georgia, and it was during his
residence there that he was converted. The great meteoric shower in
1833 spread general gloom over the inhabitants  of the city and
country, and seriously impressed him in reference to the salvation
of his soul.  He became converted. In 1835 or 1836 his father settled
in the country near Jonesboro and there young Corley joined the church
at Tanner's by baptism, and began to preach.  It was here he married
Miss Julia A. Youngblood on the 26th of January, 1844 and was licensed
to preach two days afterwards. He was uneducated and was distressed
about himself for that reason, but near the close of 1845,
Elder L. Towers offered to educate him either at Mercer University
or Cave Springs, or at his own private school, Eusebia Institute.  
He selected the last named place and spent three years there in school
In 1848 he moved his little family and took charge of the little
school there, and at the same time preached to a number of churches
in the country.  He was called to ordination by the Mariah Church in
Coweta County, and was ordained on the 28 of May 1848, by Elders
Joshua S. Calloway, George B. Davis, Trustin Phillips and Joel C.
Tommy. His ministry was quite successful and he baptized many converts
From here he moved to a farm on Flint River in the winter of 1852-'53.
The result was disastrous in the extreme, for within a year he lost
his two children by sickness and also lost his home, besides being
involved in debt between two and three thousand dollars.  From there
he moved to McDonough and entered in law partnership with Col. L. T.
Doyal but remained in the law practice for only a short time.
He accepted a call from Forsyth Church and two country churches and
spent two years at that place.  When the war came on he entered the
army and remained over a year.  In 1863 he settled on a farm ten miles
west of Buena Vista and preached every Sunday to some of the various
churches.  He remained there until 1871 when he moved to Dawson and
took charge of the church there and also of the church at Ft. Gaines.
During the five years he thus preached, many were added to the
membership of both churches. He withdrew from their pastorate in
1877 that he might enter on mission work among the freedmen.
He remained in the Bethel Association preaching for many and various
churches until he became too feeble to attend his meetings.
 
He died on April 2, 1900 at his home in Ft. Gaines.
He left at his death a minister son, J. G. Corley 
and two daughters, who were provided for by the Bethel Association.


 The following notes added by Debra Crosby
1850 Coweta County Ga. Census page 348 19th division 
914 Jeremiah Corley   56 m Carpenter 1000 SC
    Charlotte         55 f SC
    Arminta M.        16 f Ga.
    James             14 m Ga.
    E. J. Stafford    18 f Ga.
    Georgia A. C.      1 f Ga.
1850 Coweta County Ga. Census page 349 19th division 
918 John H. Corley    27 m B. Clergyman 1300 SC
    Julia A.          29 f  SC
    Nancy C.           5 f  Ga.
    Martha A.          4 f  Ga.
    John L.            2 m  Ga.
    Jeptha G.       7/12 m  Ga.
    Richmond Prusky   24 m Farmer Ga.
    Willis B. Corley  63 m Farmer SC
    Nancy             62 f Ireland
    Bethelehem        18 f SC
1850 Coweta Co. Ga. census page 368 19th division
1216 Elbert D. Corley  35 m farmer SC
     Mary              33 f GA
     Willis F.         10 m Ga.
     George             8 m Ga.
     William A.         7 m Ga.
     John J.            6 m Ga.
     Elbert J.          3 m Ga.
     Martha E.          1 f Ga.




1840 Census Richmond Co. Ga
Willis Corley age 50/60 page 288

1820 Edgefield SC census page 127
Abner Corley 1 m 16/18 1m over 45, 2f 16/26 1f 16/45  1f over 45

1810 Edgefield SC. census 
Abner Corley 3m 0/10, 1m 10/15, 1 m 45 over ; 1f 0/10, 1f 10/15, 2f 16/25, 1f 45over
Willis Corley 1m 0/10, 1m 16/25; 2f 0/10, 1f 16/25

American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)  
CORLEY, Abner   
  Birth Date: 1759 Birth Place:  South Carolina, 
  Volume: 34 Page Number: 357 
  Biographical Info:  Rev.War 
  Reference:  Census of pensioners for Rev. military services. Washington, DC. 1841. (195p.):142 


SOUTH CAROLINA - FEDERAL PENSION REPORT 1835 
ABNER CORLEY
EDGEFIELD DISTRICT
PRIVATE
INFANTRY AND CAVALRY
$55.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$165.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED
DECEMBER 14,1833 PENSION STARTED
AGE 76

Rev. John H. Corley