Joshua and Hannah had seven children:

1. William Hadley (1778 - 30 July 1842)
2. Denny Porterfied Hadley (17 June 1797 - 19 May 1872)
3. Amelia Hadley (08 September 1799 - 11 February 1875)
4. James Holmes Hadley (17 December 1806 - 15 February 1836)
5. John L. Hadley (1808 - 1865)
6. Evaline Hadley (15 May 1809 - 12 January 1833)
7. Emeline Hadley (1810 - 11 February 1833)

The great-grandson of Simon Hadley I, Joshua was a militia captain in Cross Creek, North Carolina (Fayetteville). Joshua was a captain in the Continental Army under General George Washington. He was at the battle of Cane Creek to assist his Quaker family members who would not defend themselves.

Thomas and his children were kicked out of the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting for fighting. They held slaves and were instrumental in the early Regulator Movement.

A Hadley Genealogy Vol I, p. 43-45:

"Joshua was one of the fifty-two citizens who formed the Association of the Sons of Liberty in 1775 at Liberty Point, Fayetteville, North Carolina. He entered the Continental Army as an Ensign in Captain Jean Baptiste Ashe's company of General Abner Nash's brigade. In 1776 his rank of Ensign was confirmed by the Continental Congress, which promoted him to Lieutenant in 1777, and to Captain in 1779. Joshua went north with General Nash's brigade in 1777 and took part in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown. General Nash was killed at Germantown and his brigade almost annihilated. Joshua escaped unscathed, and he and remnants of the brigade were returned to North Carolina to reorganize and attempt to restore order to that turbulent area. Aside from his promotion to Captain in 1779, nothing is again known of Joshua's activities until September 8, 1781 when he was wounded in the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina. The next year, General Jethro Sumner, commander of the North Carolina Continentals, appointed Joshua to the command of the military district of Wilmington, North Carolina, where he probably served out the remainder of the war. Joshua did not leave the Army at the close of the war. Four years later, in 1787, he and his company were ordered to Tennessee to quell the Indian outrages in that area. No doubt this is when he got is first glimpse of Nashville and vicinity which he described at the time as "A half dozen frame and log houses and twenty or thirty log cabins." He returned to North Carolina in Nov of 1787 to take his seat in the State Assembly. He and Hannah Holmes were married at this time and, apparently he resigned his commission at about the same time. Obviously Joshua had been impressed by what he saw in Tennessee. He was granted 7500 acres of public land in recognition of his military services, which he chose to take in Williamson and Sumner Counties, Tennessee, and which he proceeded to occupy about 1790. For years thereafter he continued to accumulate land, mostly by buying up land grants of Revolutionary War soldiers who preferred a quick dollar or were reluctant to occupy their lands in such an unsettled community. Mr. Robert T. Quarles, Director of Archives, State of Tennessee, told me (Lyle Hadley) in 1958 that at one time Joshua owned about one-half of Williamson, Sumner and Davidson counties. An exaggeration, no doubt, but he did show me card files of some ninety parcels of land ranging from a few acres to well over 1,000 acres, which Joshua had owned. Joshua was a member and one of the organizers of the North Carolina Cincinnati, and his grandson, James Alexander Hadley, was, at the time of his death, the family representative in this order. Joshua's burial place has not been definitely established. He is reported to have died at Hadleywood, the home of his son Denny Porterfield Hadley, and probably is buried beside his wife Hannah in the family cemetery situated near Hwy 431 about ten miles south of Franklin, Tennessee. However, other sources say he is buried near Gallatin, Tennessee.

OUR VALIANT MEN by Louise Gillespie Lynch:

"Joshua HADLEY was born July 13, 1753 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. His father, Thomas HADLEY, was born in England and emigrated to America, settling on Cross Creek in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Joshua's mother was Mary THOMPSON HADLEY. Thomas HADLEY was Captain of a troop of light horsemen and was killed while defending his home near Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1781. Joshua HADLEY received his rank as a Captain at the age of 22 in the First North Carolina infantry. He was at the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Cave Creek, and Kings Mountain, where he was wounded. Joshua HADLEY first married a Miss LIVINGSTON and then he married Hannah HOLMES in 1786. Hannah HOLMES was the daughter of Archibald and Margaret (MUCULLOCK) HOLMES of North Carolina. She was born May 13, 1768. Joshua HADLEY was paying tax on land in Williamson County, Tennessee in 1805. He lived on land located on the Lewisburg Pike near the Duplex Community that he is said to have received for his Revolutionary War services. He was living in Sumner County when he died, February 8, 1830, but he is said to have been brought back to Williamson County for his burial in the family graveyard on his farm. Tradition is that Andrew JACKSON attend HADLEY's funeral. Hannah HADLEY died April 28, 1837... [7 children named]"

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS - WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TN. Vol 2, Louise Lynch Chancery Court 1823--April 1823 at the house of Joshua Hadley:

Deposition of Joshua Hadley, age 70 years:

"I knew Captain Robert Raiford, a Continental officer in the army, he being a mess mate of mine and he had a mulatto boy, his slave and waiter and cooke in the mess which boy was returned as a soldier by the name of Parker Rogers and I believe he was returned as a drummer in the North Carolina line and was in that service about the conclusion of the war in South Carolina."

EARLY HISTORY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE by Edward Albright, 1909, Chapter 29. Events Of 1787 - Continued: (Retyped by Sherry Falcon 1998)

The Cold Water Expedition:

"While the colony was being so greatly harassed by the Indians in 1787, the parent State legislated in behalf of her dependents on the Cumberland, thereby ordering to their aid a battalion of men. It was commanded by Major EVANS, a brave soldier, and was called "Evans' Battalion". These troops were to receive for their services four hundred acres of land each, the officers thereof being granted a greater amount in proportion. One company was led by Captain William MARTIN, afterwards Colonel MARTIN, who died in Smith County. Another was under command of Captain Joshua HADLEY, who died many years ago in Sumner County. This battalion remained in the settlement about two years and rendered good service in guarding the various forts and in pursuing the enemy when the latter had committed murders or stolen horses. The Legislature, however, as was its custom in pursuance of such acts of generosity, provided that these soldiers should be sheltered, clothed and fed by the people whom they were sent to guard. At the October terms of the Davidson County Court, 1787, a tax was levied for their support. The resolution authorizing same was as follows:

"Resolved, That for the better furnishing of the troops now coming into the county under command of Major EVANS, with provisions, etc., that one-fourth of the tax of this county be paid in corn, two-fourths in beef, pork, bear meat and venison; one-eighth in salt, and an eighth in money, to defray expenses of removing provisions." In fixing the rate at which the above provisions should be valued, it was provided that beef should be reckoned at five dollars per hundred; pork, eight dollars per hundred; "good bear meat without bones," eight dollars per hundred; venison, ten shillings per hundred, and salt at sixteen dollars per bushel. The "superintendent" was directed to call for such a part of the aforesaid tax as the commanding officer of the troops might direct. If any person or persons failed to deliver his or their quota or quotas, at the time and place directed, the said Superintendent should give notice thereof the sheriff of the county who was directed to "distrain immediately."