Donna - I think I know who your William L. Dooley was... just put it together sitting here tonight. I think he was the son of

Allen Davis Dooley and Letty M. Brantly.

This is what I've pieced together:

 

Allen Davis Dooley married Letty M. Brantley on April 22, 1824 in Elbert Co., Ga. Before May 4, 1829, Allen had died and his brother became guardian to their children.

Source:

 Elbert Co., Ga. Deed Book V, 1828-1831, compiled by Michael Martin Farmer, page

182. "William W. Dooly & William Dooly are bound to the Justices of the Inferior Court sitting for Ordinary Purposes, for $1200,  4 May 1829.  William W. Dooly was appointed guardian of William Dooly & Elizabeth Dooly, minors & orphan children of Allen D. Dooly, decd. If William W. Dooly performs his duties this to be void. (signed) Wm. W. Dooly, Wm. Dooly. Wit: Job Weston, C.C.O. Rec. 18 Aug. 1830."

 

Allen Davis Dooly was the son of William (d. 1851 Hart Co., Ga.) and Elizabeth Dooley (d. 1859 Hart Co., Ga.).

His brother, William W. Dooley was married to Mary Brantley (her relation to Letty is not know by me - but they were both born in NC).

It is tempting to think they were sisters - but I have found no proof. Incidentally, Allen also had a sister named Nancy who married Joseph M. Brantley; and a brother Mitchell N. Dooley who married Catherine Brantley.

 

On July 7, 1829, Letty married (2nd) Lewis Bobo (1806-1861). Lewis probably died in Floyd Co., Ga. He was the son of Benjamin B. Bobo and his (1st) wife, Mary Parks. Benjamin was married 3 times and can be found on the 1850 Floyd Co.,Ga. census. Lewis and Letty Bobo are also on that census. However, by that time Letty's Dooley children had apparently married (or died) and left the house as they are not on in the Bobo household in 1850.

 

The children of Allen Davis Dooley and Letty M. Brantly were born between 1825 and 1828. We know that a William Dooley married twice in Floyd County - first in 1848 to Rhoda Bobo (daughter of Benjamin B. Bobo and his (2nd) wife Sarah Highsmith). You did not indicate the ages for William and Rhoda from the 1850 Floyd Co. census. However, William Dooley was probably born ca. 1825.

 

I believe that William Dooley came to Floyd Co., Ga. in the household of his mother, Letty, and his step-father, Lewis Bobo and later married Rhoda Bobo (who was Lewis' younger half-sister).

 

I have found additional Floyd County, Georgia, information which supports my theory regarding the parents of William Dooly. I believe I have also located and identified his only sibling, Mary Elizabeth Dooly.

 

"Marriage Record "A", Floyd Co., Ga., 1834-1848" compiled by Catherine Cleek Mann, 1970; p. 9, lists only 2 Doolys. This shows me that there weren't many of them in the county. I believe they were brother and sister and I believe they came to

Floyd Co. with their mother, Letty, and their step-father, Lewis Bobo.

 

Dooly, Miss Mary E. m. John N. Dodgens, Nov. 28, 1844; by Whitfield Anthony, M.G.

 

Dooly, William m. Rhoda Bobo, Jan. 12, 1848, by Whitfield Anthony.

 

There is a transcription error in this marriage record. Census records and "The Dodgen Story" by Mary Dodgen show that Mary's husband's name was John Lewis Dodgen. On the 1870 Polk Co., Ga., census, one of their daughters is listed as "Lettie O." age 15.

 

As I stated in my previous message, I believe that William Dooly was the son of Allen Davis Dooly and Letty M. Brantley. The guardianship record I posted stated that the orphans of Allen D. Dooly were "William and Elizabeth".

 

"The Dodgen Story" gives a birth date for Mary Elizabeth (Dooly) Dodgen of March 16, 1827, Ga. which falls exactly in the time frame between the date of Letty Brantley's marriage to Allen D. Dooly and the date of the guardianship record.

 

Further, 1860 Floyd Co., Ga. census records list William Dooly as age 35, b. GA. 1870 Floyd Co., Ga., census lists his age as 45. Hence, he was born ca. 1825, which also fits in the allotted time frame.

 

Sincerely,

Maria Bobo