William Franklin Coley was twenty-six and Nancy M. Hickman was nineteen when they married on November 3, 1863 in Jefferson City, Jefferson County, Tennessee.

The 1870 census of June 22, revealed William was a Carpenter and their personal property value was $200. They were living in District 3, Roane County, Tennessee and their post office was in Williams Mills. Household members: W. T. (William) Coley (30), Nancy (25), William's sister, Mary (26), W. F. (William Jr.) (5), R. M. (Robert) (3) and F. H. (Frederick) (1).

The 1880 census of June 4, revealed William was a Carpenter and they were living in District 15, Roane County, Tennessee. William and his parents were born in North Carolina. Nancy and her father were born in Tennessee and her mother was born in Virginia. Household members: W. H. Colley (44), Nancy M. (37), William F. (15), Robert M. (12), Frederic A. (10), Samuel R. (8), Ethney J. (6) and Thomas R. (3).

The 1900 census of June 8, revealed William was a Farmer on his own account and owned their farm free of mortgage in District 15, Roane County, Tennessee. William was born in April 1837 and Nancy was born in February 1844. They had been married thirty-seven years, had ten children and eight were still living. Household members: W. F. (William) Coley (63), N. M. (Nancy) (56), Rule (28), Thomas (23), Harriet (17), Lizzie (14), granddaughter, Sethie (6) and grandsons; Thomas (5 and James (3).

Their known children:

William Franklin Coley Jr. (b.1864 d.1939), Robert M. Coley (b.1867 d.1936), Frederick Coley (b.1869 d.1880), Samuel Rule Coley (b.1871 d.1935), Ethney J. Coley (Johnson)(b.1873 d.1911), Thomas R. Coley (b.1876 d.1945), Harriet Coley (b.1883 d.1903), Lizzie Coley (Stringfield)(b.1885)

They had been married forty-six years when Nancy died in 1909 at age 65.

The 1910 census revealed William was a widower and lived on Copper Ridge Road in Roane County, Tennessee. Household members: Frank Coley (62) and grandson, James (14).

The 1920 census revealed William was a widower and owned his farm with a mortgage on Bogle Ferry Road in Roane County, Tennessee. William could not read or write. Household members: W. F. (William) Coley (82).

W.F. Coley’s estate was settled by S.R.(Samuel) Coley, administrator 25 May 1923. All his possessions were sold, grossing $204.65. After bills and debts were paid, his estate was $84.10, which was divided equally among W.F. Coley, Jr., R.M. Coley, F.H. Coley, T.R. Coley, S.R. Coley, Effie Johnson, Lizzie Stringfield, and Violet Grubb.

William lived to age 83.