Biography
William Exley, born 1727. Direct ancestor of Victor Exley, through whom Victor descends from the Rawdon branch of the Exley family.
Victor’s pedigree sketch identifies William (b.1727) as the point where his line diverges from the NZ branch: “1727 William → my line, 1732 Thomas → Lionel’s line.” Thomas (b.1732) was the son of Robert of High Royds and ancestor of the NZ emigrants.
William’s parentage is uncertain. He is tentatively attributed as a son of John Exley (1679-1763), who was Robert of High Royds’ elder brother. William does not appear among Robert’s children in the Exley Chronicle (Typed), and the birth year of 1727 falls between John’s documented children (ending 1721) and Robert’s (starting c.1730).
The intermediate generations between William and his descendant John Exley (b.1840) (Victor’s great-grandfather) are not documented in the existing sources. Victor’s full article TABLE 2 traces this descent but the handwritten annotations are unclear at scan resolution.
Evidence
- Victor Exley Pedigree Sketch: “1727 William → my line”
- Victor Exley Article Full PDF, TABLE 2: traces Victor’s descent back through the Manningham/Rawdon line (details unclear at scan resolution)