About us
The participants in the Owsley Surname Project have been placed into different groups based on their Y-DNA test results:
1 - MAIN OWSLEY (R-BY164644) GROUP:
Eleven members of this group are known direct male descendants of John Owsley (Owslie), who was born about 1524 and died in 1592 in Misterton, Somerset County, England.
NOTE: Ten of the participants in this line are direct male descendants of Thomas Owsley I (1658-1700), who came from England to America around 1677. Participant #39877 is a direct male descendant of William Owsley, uncle of Thomas Owsley I.
Extensive Y- (SNP) testing has revealed Participant's #39877, #B10218, and #723231 are members of the R-BY164644 Haplogroup. The SNP R-BY164644 is located downstream of SNP R-A98 and is one of a block of twenty-four (24) SNP's.
#22712 – Descendant of John Jackson Owsley (1855-1929), son of John Jackson Owsley (1816-1900), son of Zachariah Owsley (1792-1854), son of Thomas Owsley IV (1752-1825), son of Thomas Owsley III (abt.1731-1796).
#25217 – Descendant of Eli Housley (1851-1919), son of Charles Housley (abt.1815-aft.1860), son of John Ousley (1781/90-1833), son of Weldon Owsley (abt.1750-aft.1814), son of Thomas Owsley II (bef.1698-1750).
#26839 – Descendant of William Anthony Owsley (1837-1919), son of Moses Martin Owsley (1810-1850), son of Anthony Owsley (1790-1850), son of Thomas Owsley IV (1752-1825), son of Thomas Owsley III (abt.1731-1796).
#29750 – Descendant of William Owsley (1842-1919), son of Bryan Young Owsley (1820-1853), son of William Owsley (1779-1822), son of Anthony Owsley (1757-1824), son of Thomas Owsley III (abt.1731-1796).
#33293 – Descendant of James Marien Owsley (1825-1908), son of John M. Owsley (1800-1870), son of William H. Owsley abt.1763-1820/30), son of Newdigate Owsley (abt.1738-1797), son of Thomas Owsley II (bef.1698-1750).
#39316 – Descendant of Joseph Hamilton Owsley (1842-1916), son of Mason Henry Owsley (1807-1870), son of Thomas Taylor Owsley (1776-1860), son of Henry Owsley (1755-1811), son of Thomas Owsley III (abt.1731-1796).
#39564 – Descendant of Thomas Miller Owsley I (1875-1960), son of John Samuel Owsley (1840-1914), son of Samuel Owsley (1778-1851), son of William Owsley (1749-1819), son of Thomas Owsley III (abt.1731-1796).
#39877 – Descendant of William Poyntz Mason Owsley (1812-1868), son of John Owsley (1742-1835), son of John Owsley (1717-1808), son of John Owsley (1692-1742), son of William Owsley (1662-1733), son of William Owsley (1635-?), uncle of Thomas Owsley I (1658-1700). (POSITIVE FOR R-BY164644)
#44637 – Descendant of Robert Lee Owsley (1871-1953), son of Charles Thomas Ousley (1827-1911), son of Points Ousley (abt.1792-1863), son of Weldon Owsley (abt.1750-aft.1814), son of Thomas Owsley II (bef.1698-1750).
#396561 – Descendant of James Robert Owsley (1845-1920), son of William B. Owsley (1803-1880), son of William H. Owsley (abt.1763-1820/30), son of Newdigate Owsley (abt.1738-1797), son of Thomas Owsley II (bef.1698-1750).
#B10218 – Descendant of Wiley Jackson Owsley (1825-1885), son of John M. Owsley (1800-1870), son of William H. Owsley (abt.1763-1820/30), son of Newdigate Owsley (abt.1738-1797), son of Thomas Owsley II (bef.1698-1750). (POSITIVE FOR R-BY164644)
#508424 – Descendant of John Ouseley (1758-1826), son of Benjamin Ouseley (born abt.1730), Devon County, England. (POSITIVE FOR R-A98)
#723231 – Descendant of Edward George Housley (1884-1954), son of John Berrien Whitehead Housley (1845-1917), son of William Housley Jr. (1794-1852), son of William Housley Sr. (1766-bef.1835), son of Richard Howsley (abt.1740- ?) (POSITIVE FOR R-BY164644)
2 - JOHN OWSLEY (R-A14796) GROUP:
Direct male descendants of John Owsley I, who was born about 1732 in Virginia, and died in 1764 in Loudoun County, Virginia. John was raised as a son of Thomas Owsley II, who died in 1750 in Fairfax County, Virginia. DNA results have revealed that John was not a biological son of Thomas Owsley II and may have been a descendant of the Irish King - Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Extensive Y-DNA testing has revealed Participant's #26340, 227450, and #467977 are members of the R-A14796 Haplogroup. The SNP R-A14796 is located downstream of SNP R-M222 and is one of a block of fourteen (14) SNP's. For more information, please visit the following website: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/R1b1c7
NOTE: All but one of the participants in this line are direct male descendants of John Owsley II, son of John Owsley I. Participant #39645 is a direct male descendant of Robert Housley, son of John Owsley I.
#7794 – Descendant of Elihu Owsley (1889-1981), son of Robert Rainey Owsley (1849-1920), son of Emmanuel M. Owsley (1826-1892), son of Robert Owsley (abt.1802-abt.1858), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#7795 – Descendant of Alfred Sharp Ousley (1856-1936), son of Christian Ousley (1816-1867), son of Matthew Ousley (1789-1862), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#7796 – Descendant of Pleasant Housley (1857-1921), son of Robert Housley (1818-1886), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#26340 – Descendant of George Washington Owsley (1860-1924), son of John Housley (abt.1839-1868), son of Robert Housley (1818-1886), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845). (POSITIVE FOR R-A14796)
#39645 – Descendant of John Pittman Housley (1855-1902), son of James Madison Housley (1814-1889), son of John W. Housley (1780/90-1850/60), son of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40), son of John Owsley I (abt.1732-1764).
#39818 – Descendant of William Thomas Housley (1863-1933), son of Samuel D. Housley (1823-1887), son of Isaac Owsley "Housley" (1785-1840/50), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#40443 – Descendant of William Thomas Owsley (1853-1909), son of William Houston Owsley (abt.1830-aft.1870), son of Bennett Houston Owsley (abt.1810-bef.1850), son of John Owsley III (1783-1811), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#41004 – Descendant of Claude Ernest Owsley (1886-1956), son of Malkijah V. Owsley (1853-1902), son of David Owsley (1823-1864), son of William Owsley (1796-1875), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#45324 – Descendant of John Henry Owsley (1854-1932), son of John Owsley (1812-1900), son of Stephen Owsley (1787-1881), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#72278 – Descendant of Joseph Sherman Ousley (1865-1939), son of Crawford Ousley (1836-1908), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#81334 – Descendant of William M. Housley (1837-1918), son of John Housley (abt.1814-1895), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#227450 – Descendant of George Washington Owsley (1892-1938), son of Robert Rainey Owsley (1849-1920), son of Emmanuel M. Owsley (1826-1892), son of Robert Owsley (abt.1802-abt.1858), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845). (POSITIVE FOR R-A14796)
#279756 – Descendant of William Pleasant Ousley (1867-1909), son of Crawford Ousley (1836-1908), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#467977 – Descendant of John Hunter Owsley (1894-1972), son of Malkijah V. Owsley (1853-1902), son of David Owsley (1823-1864), son of William Owsley (1796-1875), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845). (POSITIVE FOR R-A14796)
#466937 – Descendant of James Housley (1862-1958), son of John Housley (abt.1839-1868), son of Robert Housley (1818-1886), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#551510 – Descendant of Walter Burton Ousley (1875-1916), son of Crawford Ousley (1836-1908), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#844222 – Descendant of Benjamin Weaver Owsley (1885-1963), son of William Burton Owsley (1848-1923), son of Emmanuel M. Owsley (1826-1892), son of Robert Owsley (abt.1802-abt.1858), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#IN116471 – Descendant of John Housley (1868-1910), son of John Housley (abt.1839-1868), son of Robert Housley (1818-1886), son of Joseph Owsley "Ousley, Housley" (abt.1790-1870/80), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
#984103 – Descendant of Gavin Pugh Ousley (1837-1888), son of Christian Ousley (1816-1867), son of Matthew Ousley (1789-1862), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
3 - JOHN OWSLEY (R-M269) GROUP:
This participant was believed to have been a descendant of John Owsley I, who was born about 1732 in Virginia, and died in 1764 in Loudoun County, Virginia. The results of Participant #39820 didn't match closely with the rest of participants in the Owsley (R-A14796) line. It seems clear that a Non Paternal Event occurred in this particular line.
#39820 – Descendant of Franklin Toliver Owsley (1854-1940), son of Spencer B. Owsley (1822-1917), son of Stephen Owsley (1787-1881), son of John Owsley II (1757-1845).
4A and 4B - ROBERT HOUSLEY GROUPS (HAPLOGROUPS I AND R):
Direct male descendants of grandsons of Robert Housley (Owsley), who was born about 1759 in Loudoun County, Virginia, and died between 1835-1840 in "probably" Jefferson County, Tennessee. Robert's wife was named Lydia Ann. These participants are believed to be descended from sons of daughters of Robert and Lydia Ann. These grandsons all bore the Housley surname.
NOTE: Robert Housley was a son of John Owsley I, who was born about 1732 in Virginia, and died in 1764 in Loudoun County, Virginia.
#12692 – Descendant of William Mattison Housley (1889-1981), son of John T. Housley (abt.1859-abt.1898), son of James Matt Housley (1836-1915). James Matt was a son of Rebecca Housley (abt.1800-1850/60), daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
#32898 – Descendant of William S. Housley (1864-1933), son of George Madison Housley (1840-1913), son of Robert Housley (1805-1876). Robert is believed to have been a son of a daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
#49574 – Descendant of George C. Housley (abt.1861-bef.1900), son of James Housley (1840-1910/20), son of John Housley (abt.1807-aft.1870). John is believed to have been a son of a daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
#60466 – Descendant of Charles Johnson Housley (1868-1928), son of William Mitchell Housley (1829-1905), son of Howell Housley (1808-1872). Howell is believed to have been a son of Mary Housley (born abt.1785), daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40). After the birth of Howell Housley, his mother, Mary Housley (born abt.1785), was married to a man with the last name of Williams.
#79433 – Descendant of Samuel Henry Housley (1895-1979), son of John Wesley Housley (1867-1935), son of Samuel Housley (abt.1814-1870/80). Samuel is believed to have been a son of a daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
#85356 – Descendant of Jeptha H. Housley (1862-1940), son of Robert L. S. Housley (abt.1834-1862), son of William Housley (abt.1809-1870/80). William is believed to have been a son of a daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
#85357 – Descendant of William Monroe Housley (1876-1930), son of Robert Joseph Housley (1840-1897), son of George W. Housley (1818-1881). George was a son of Rebecca Housley (abt.1800-1850/60), daughter of Robert Housley (abt.1759-1835/40).
5 - DAVID BALDWIN AND LUCY OWSLEY GROUP:
Direct male descendants of David Baldwin, most likely the biological father of the children of Lucy Owsley "Ousley," who was born in 1780 in Georgia, and died in 1870 in Muscogee County, Georgia. Lucy was a daughter of William H. Owsley, who was born about 1763 in Loudoun County, Virginia, and died between 1820 and 1830, probably in Putnam County, Georgia. Lucy Owsley "Ousley" is believed to have had at least eight (8) children by David Baldwin. David Baldwin was married to Lucy Owsley's sister, Elizabeth Owsley.
NOTE: For ancestry of William H. Owsley (abt.1763-1820/30), see Participant's #33293, #396561, and #B10218 in Group #1.
#526292 – Descendant of William James Owsley (1867-1899), son of Pleasant Marion "Dink" Owsley (1835-1907), son of Pleasant Owsley (1806-abt.1857), son of Lucy Owsley "Ousley" (abt.1780-1870) and most likely David Baldwin (1783-1850).
#749152 – Descendant of William Thomas Owsley (1894-1984), son of William Jackson Owsley (1847-1911), son of George Washington Owsley (1814-1898), son of Lucy Owsley "Ousley" (abt.1780-1870) and most likely David Baldwin (1783-1850).
6 - OWSLEY, OUSLEY, AND WOOSLEY GROUP - (DESCENDED FROM THE WOOSLEY FAMILY OF VIRGINIA):
Direct male descendants of Thomas "Moses" Woosley, who died about 1796 in Halifax County, Virginia. Shadrick Owsley "Ousley, Woosley" was born about 1800, probably in Virginia, and died between 1850 and 1854, probably in Floyd County, Kentucky. Shadrick settled in the Eastern Kentucky area, where a lot of his descendants still reside. Descendants of Shadrick spell their name either "Ousley" or "Owsley."
#185158 – Descendant of Nathaniel Owsley (1877-1942), son of Robert Lee Owsley (1848-1934), son of Benjamin Owsley (1820-1876), son of Shadrick Owsley "Ousley, Woosley" (abt.1800-1850/54), son of Benjamin Woosley (1764-1841), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#431254 – Descendant of Judge Halsel Woosley (1884-1976), son of Samuel Woosley (1844-1923), son of Joshua Woosley (1810-1901), son of Samuel Woosley (1775-1843), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#496623 – Descendant of Curtis G. Woosley (1857-1930), son of George W. Woosley (1827-1883), son of Thomas Burl Woosley (1790-1852), possible son of Samuel Woosley (1775-1843), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#535450 – Descendant of Henry Martin Woosley (1853-1935), son of Jesse Lewis Woosley (1826-1882), son of Thomas Woosley (1782-1864), son of William Woosley (1757-1838), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#566596 – Descendant of William Bird Owsley (born 1871) in probably Floyd County, Kentucky, most likely descendant of Shadrick Owsley "Ousley, Woosley," son of Benjamin Woosley (1764-1841), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#B390767 – Descendant of Unknown.
#897800 – Descendant of Martin T. Woosley (1861-1932), son of Henry Woosley (1824-1886), son of Thomas Woosley (1782-1864), son of William Woosley (1757-1838), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
#B628990 – Descendant of James Marshall Woosley (1873-1950), son of Aaron Woosley (1848-1925), son of Joseph B. Woosley (1808-1864), son of Samuel Woosley (1775-1843), son of Thomas "Moses" Woosley.
UNGROUPED:
The ungrouped members of the project are not direct male descendants of men with the surname of Owsley, Ousley, Ouseley, Housley, Howsley, or Woosley.