The origin of the branch of the Bailey family of Little Falls, New York, is best expressed in the following letter written by Charles Bailey, of Little Falls, to his son:
"Agreeable to your request, I have collected the following facts in relation to the genealogy of the Bailey family since the year 1745, which is as far back as we can trace the history which has been faithfully kept by our family from that time up to the present writing. Both my sister, Mrs. Samuel Mitchell, of Hanging Heaton, Yorkshire, England, and myself are as conversant with all the particulars of our family history as we can possibly be.
"In the year 1745 Charles James Edward Stuart, known as the Young Pretender, landed in Scotland in July, with seven followers, while a French force of fifteen thousand men stood ready to cross to England at the first favorable moment, but, as so often before in English history, the winds fought for England, driving the French transports ashore and compelling a delay until fresh ones could be provided. Meanwhile the Pretender, being impatient to invade England, rallied to his standard ten thousand Scotchmen, mostly Highlanders, and captured Edinburgh, thus securing a supply of arms. He then invaded England by Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancastershire, arriving at Preston, November 27, Wigan the 28th, and Manchester, November 29th. Leaving Manchester December 1st, he arrived at Derby on the 2nd of December and, upon being advised that three armies were approaching to intercept him, decided to retreat, on December 5, arriving at Ashton, the 7th, Leek, the 8th, Macclesfield, the 9th, Manchester, the 10th, Wigan, the 11th, and Preston, the 13th. Marshall Wade, who was at Ferry Bridge, in Yorkshire, eleven miles from Wakefield, was ordered to cut off their retreat and make all speed into Lancastershire to intercept them. He reached Wakefield, on the 10th day of December, which shows that a portion of the retreating army, or army followers, were scattered into Yorkshire, and as large numbers of the wives and some of the sweethearts of the soldiers accompanied the invading army, a woman, one of the scattering ones, passed over Hanging Heaton Hill, on account of being sorely pressed by Marshall Wade's soldiers, and also on account of her condition, was forced to abandon her baby boy. The child, wrapped in her shawl and other wearing apparel, was found at "Hill Top Well," and taken to the county house. Here he remained until he was able to work, when he was apprenticed to a farmer who owned the farm upon which "Hill Top Well" is located. (This well is in existence at this writing.) After the child had grown to a young man, his mother came from Scotland to see if she could locate him. After some inquiry she found him in a field, plowing, upon the very farm where she had been obliged to leave him when a child. She tried to induce him to return with her to Scotland, but was refused. She then told him his name, 'Joseph Beeley,' but owing to the fact that the name 'Beeley' was spelled in Yorkshire at that time 'Bailey,' the name has been spelled that way ever since.
"Attached hereto you will find a copy of the lease taken out by Joseph Bailey (the first), who leased land from Lord Saville's estate, consisting of a cottage and croft at Heaton Common End, in the year 1771, at one pound rental. This cottage, known as "Ivy Chapel," is now occupied by Alfred Bailey, a direct descendant. On October 28, 1812, Joseph, the original leasee, consented that his son, John Bailey, should have a portion of land twenty-three by thirty-two yards to build on at three shillings a year rental. In searching out the history of our family I am impressed with the fact that we are of Highland Scotch descent, and that our forefathers may have been Roman Catholics, although the army of the Stuarts was composed of both Catholics and Protestants.
"Joseph Bailey married Elizabeth Buckley, born 1752, died July 4, 1838. Both my sister and I remember attending her funeral. Joseph died September, 1817. The inscription on his tombstone, in Dewsbury churchyard reads: 'Joseph Bailey, Cordwainer, died September 7, 1817.' The records of burial in the parish church at Dewsbury give the date of burial as September 10, 1817, which would make him at least seventy-two years old."
Children:
- Benjamin, christened June 28, 1772;
- John, June 5, 1774;
- George, November 24, 1775;
- William, October 12, 1777;
- Joseph; May 31, 1780;
- David, February 12, 1782;
- John, April 11, 1784;
- Elizabeth, October 4, 1786;
- Sarah, February 4, 1788.
(II) John, seventh son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Buckley) Bailey, was christened April 11, 1784, died July 27, 1859. He had a portion of his father's leasehold on which to build a cottage. The following children are recorded in Dewsbury church records:
- Mary, baptized March 11, 1804;
- Thomas, November 27, 1806;
- Charles, September 23, 1807;
- Jabez, May 26, 1809;
- Eliza, June 23, 1811;
- John, April 25, 1813;
- Jabez, June 30, 1815.
There are four others, whose births are recorded elsewhere: Ann; Robert; Mark, Jane.
(III) Thomas, eldest son of John and Elizabeth Bailey, was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, baptized November 27, 1806, died 1872. He married Susey Castle; children:
- Charles, of further mention;
- Emma, born May 1, 1832;
- Ellen, March 21, 1834;
- Job, died in infancy;
- Thomas, died in infancy.
(IV) Charles, eldest child of Thomas and Susey (Castle) Bailey, was born March 9, 1830. He began working in the woolen mills at the age of nine years, as a piecener. He went to school for a time, at a regular day school, then to one held on Sunday only. This was not a church Sunday school, but one held to teach the children the rudiments of reading, writing and spelling. Two sessions were held, forenoon and afternoon. He obtained an old arithmetic from a friend of his father, and, without a teacher, began the study of numbers. He continued his work in the mill as piecener until 1842, when he was advanced to a hand loom weaver. Until 1857 he continued working hand and power looms. In 1852 he married, and in 1857 settled in Little Falls, with wife and child. He secured employment in the "Stone Mills" as a weaver. In 1860 his wife died, leaving him with two young sons. In August, 1860, he removed to Fly Creek, Otsego county. He was a skillful performer on brass instruments and had a great deal of experience with military music, which he now put to practical use. He became instructor of a band in Otsego county, and with them took a prominent part in the first Lincoln campaign. He remained in Otsego county until 1863, when he returned to Little Falls and married a second wife. In that year he began the buying of woolen rags, which he shipped to mills in England. He later entered into a partnership with William Butcher, and engaged in the manufacture of woolen yarn. Their factory was located at Oriskany. They afterward converted it into a knitting mill, which was burned to the ground in 1866. He then returned to Little Falls and resumed the buying and shipping of rags. He associated with Jeremiah Mitchell and Titus Sheard, and under the firm name of Mitchell & Bailey, manufactured shoddies. This continued until he erected the first building of the present plant, known as the Little Falls Knitting Mill Company, of which he was manager and president of the company. This was the first knitting mill in Herkimer county. He remained at the head of the Little Falls Knitting Mill Company until 1900, when he sold his entire interest and removed to Fort Plain. There he bought the mill formerly operated by Dunn, Smith & Company, as the Dunn, Smith & Company Knitting Mills. He is now engaged in the manufacture of underwear, shifts and sweaters, employing five hundred hands. The corporation, of which he is president, is known as the Bailey Knitting Mills Company. Associated with him are his sons, Squire, vice-president and manager, and Thomas, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Bailey has had connection with military bands ever since he grew to manhood. He organized the first brass band in Herkimer county, and was its leader in Little Falls in 1858. He is an expert performer on several instruments and retains his old-time love for martial music. He is a vestryman of the Episcopal church of Little Falls, and of the Masonic order, Lodge No. 181, Free and Accepted Masons; also of Lodge No. 42, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Little Falls. He is a Republican in politics.
He married (first), in 1852, Ellen Senior; born in Batley, Yorkshire, England, died in Little Falls, New York, in 1860. He married (second), in 1863, Ann Cynthia Brooks, born at Fly Creek, Otsego county, New York. Children:
- Squire, born June 8, 1854; vice-president and manager of the Bailey Knitting Mills; he married (first), Hannah Levee; married (second) Lottie Staurin, and had one child, Lena, married Stanley Wells, child, Staurin Bailey Wells; married (third) Jennie I. Smith.
- Thomas, born October 2, 1857; secretary and treasurer of the Bailey Knitting Mills; he married Rose McGovner; child, Charles Senior Bailey.
Children of second wife:
- Jennie, born August 21, 1864; married George Boyle.
- Emma Lincoln, married Charles Clackner.
- Nellie, born September 20, 1875; married Charles E. Ebner.