The Crest of Clan Conley The design of the shield is known as Saint Andrew's Cross, signifying strength and resolve. Set at the center and the points of its arms are scallop shells which represent a successful commander, especially one who has made a long journey. The crest is almost always shown in black and white, which represent constancy and sincerity, peace and—sometimes—grief. Crests were carried or worn as a sign allegiance to a clan or sept and it was considered a matter of great pride to display them. We think it still is....

First Generation:
George Conly of the 24th New Jersey Volunteers

Family tradition says that George Conly was the original Irish ancestor of the South Jersey branch of the Clan Conley. Records on George are few and far between, and much of his story is pieced together from bits of memories, census records, general information about the period of Irish immigration in the mid-1800's and a little bit of inductive reasoning.

Deductive math from dates on military and census records indicates that George was born sometime in the summer of 1822. Family memory says he came to this country from Ireland, possibly from County Cork in Munster. We can find no US record of him prior to his enlistment in the Union Army in August 1862. The Great Famine forced many Irish to leave their homes in the mid 1800's. When they got to this country, it was sometimes necessary to deny their Irish birth to get jobs—so although he claims to have been born in New Jersey in the official records, it may well be that George was giving the answer he thought he needed to give. This is one of the many mysteries that surround him. Research continues and we will update this page as more information becomes available.

We do know for a fact that George Conly served as a Private in Company I of the 24th New Jersey Volunteers from August 1862 to June 1863, and that he was mustered out at the end of his nine-month enlistment. The 24th NJ saw action as part of the first waves to attack the Stone Wall at the Battle of Fredericksburg. His military record indicates only that George was "sick in General Hospital" for the period November/December 1862, so we have no way of knowing whether George was with his company for those horrible nights. The 24th also saw action at the Battle of Chancellorsville, but again George's record cannot confirm or deny his actual presence at that battle.

The Battle of Fredericksburg December 11–15, 1862 For more information about Fredericksburg and the fighting men of New Jersey, try these links: American Civil War Union Regiments of New Jersey Fighting Men of New Jersey

George Conly next appears in the offical record in the Third Ward of Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey in the Census of 1870. He is listed with his wife, Charlotte. Here again, we run into another of the mysteries of George—we see the four children that are known and confirmed by name—however, there are not six, but twelve people at that address.

The names of George, Charlotte and the four known children are highlighted. But who are these others also living in the same house? 28-year old Daniel, 26-year old George, 23 year-old Robert? Who are Mary and Catherine? And why two "Anna's"—one is a known daughter—is the other someone's wife or a cousin?

Did George have other children unknown to family members? There is a young Civil War soldier named George Conly buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Millville, who would match the younger George Conly on this perturbing document—and with him are buried two young sons... there is also a grave, also in Mount Pleasant, for a Civil War veteran of the 12th New Jersey named David or Daniel... a Robert Conly shows up in Vineland in 1880 with a wife and family, again with an age that would match this record.... The questions are haunting but, for now, unanswered.

Anna (Annie) CONLEY was born about 1849-51.

Anna/Annie is another of the "mystery" Conlys—one story says she married a man named Ogburn and had a son named Tony—another says she never married at all. The most that can be said about Annie with surety is that she smoked a corncob pipe and "cussed like a man."

Aaron CONLY was born about 1854.

The Census of 1870 finds him at the home of his parents in Millville, employed as a glasshouse worker at age 16. Aaron married a woman named Anna (b. 1856) about 1878. By 1880, Aaron and Anna are shown to be living on Green Street in the Third Ward of Millville. Aaron is employed at a cottonmill, most likely Millville Manufacturing.

Millville Manufacturing Company, about 1910. Also known as "The Bleachery," or "The Cotton Mill."

Aaron died on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17, 1936, at age 82. His residence at the time of death was listed as 433 Howard Street.

The known children of Aaron and Anna were:

William CONLY, born in 1878 and Ella CONLY, born in Feb 1880.

No other records or memories of Aaron and his family are known.

Philip G. CONLEY was born in 1856.

Philip married Hannah Townsend EARNEST (b. 18 Jun 1864) on 2 Jul 1881.

Thomas (Connelly) CONLEY was born on 24 Jul 1866 in Millville Township, Cumberland County, NJ.

The Census of 1880 finds young Tom at home with George and Charlotte, working in a glasshouse at age 13. Story after story speaks of his musical talent as an accordion player. One cousin wrote, "I heard them say that Uncle Tom was a child prodigy on the accordion, that his mother would take him around and he would sit on her lap while he played."

He married, but his wife's name is not known. He is said to have had a son named Tom, but no one seems to know what happened to him. Tom the elder lived into his 80's, living in his later years with one of his Finch relatives in Millville. A grandniece remembers him as "a happy person with beautiful white hair and the bluest eyes I've ever seen—the good old Irish look." The exact date of his death is not known, nor is his final resting place, although it is possible that he rests in Greenwood Memorial Park with other Conley family members.

In February 1898, George Conly passed away of Brights Disease, a form of chronic nephritis. The grave registration lists his home address at that time as Dennisville, New Jersey. He was buried in Dennisville Methodist-Episcopal Cemetery, Cape May County, NJ.

US Flag: 24th NJ Volunteers

For more New Jersey Regimental flags: NJ National Guard Militia Museum

Regimental Flag: 24th NJ Volunteers