Wadley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Wadley were among those contributors:

Wadley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Thomas Wadley, who arrived in Virginia in 1661 2
• Robert Wadley, who landed in New England in 1684 2

Wadley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Wm. G. Wadley, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1894
• Gertrude Wadley, aged 57, who landed in America, in 1896

Wadley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Eliz. C. Wadley, aged 66, who landed in America, in 1904
• Horace Robert Wadley, aged 36, who settled in America from Wivenhoe, in 1904
• Rupert H. Wadley, aged 26, who landed in America from Rorwhedge, Essex, in 1905
• Horace Wadley, aged 37, who landed in America from Ipwich, in 1906
• Norah Madge Wadley, aged 20, who settled in America from London, England, in 1907
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Wadley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. James Wadley, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 11th August 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
• Mr. Thomas Wadley, English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Mr. William Wadley, English convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
• Miss Elizabeth Wadley, English convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
• Mr. James Wadley, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6

• Marie L. Wadley (1906-2009), American co-founder of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma
• John Borland "Jock" Wadley (1914-1981), English journalist
• Veronica Judith Colleton Wadley (b. 1952), British journalist, former editor of London's Evening Standard (2002 to 2009)
• Trevor Lloyd Wadley (1920-1981), South African electrical engineer, best known for his development of the Wadley Loop circuit, recipient of the Frank P. Brown Medal (1970)