William Oats Marley aka William "Billy" O'Malley?
I am seeking Billy O'Malley whom I have learned from my grandmother is really William Oats Marley from Ireland/England. He was born 1844 in England or Ireland and he killed his brother in law for beating his sister. In order for him to survive punishment his family sent him here to the United States. He ended up in Boston and then in Florida where he built the bridges in Jacksonville. He then travelled up to Eastman Georgia and built that town. He was known there as Billy O'Malley. We are guessing he changed his name because he feared being punished for killing his sister's husband. I am told that he was twenty or so years old when he killed the brother in law. He did marry late in life in 1894 to a Lila Buchanan. He and she had Lillie Mae O'Malley in April of 1898. Lila was 24 when she married him and died at child birth four years later. He died in 1907 or 1911 at the age of 62 or 67. He died in Dodge County in Eastman Georgia. I have been told that his family (Mother, Father, and sister) did move here to the United States to the Boston area. Lillie Mae is said to have corresponded with them by mail. If you have any Marley's in your family from the Boston area and you think these stories seem familiar please respond. I have the pictures of the mother, father, and sister but none of William (Billy) himself. Please email me if you have any information. [email protected]
Thanks,
Dawn