Who We Were, Are & Will Be Our Family: McKee

Showing posts with label McKee. Show all posts

26 June 2021

Future Families Mixing (1900)

From The Walnut Valley Times (El Dorado, Kansas), February 27, 1900, Tuesday, Page 4 --

A pleasant surprise was given by the members of the Walnut Valley Sunday School on Mrs. James Knox at the home of her brothers In Rosalia township Monday evening, February 19. Alex Surplus in behalf of the Sunday school presented Mrs. Knox with a lovely parlor table. The evening was pleasantly spent and refreshments formed a part. The company dispersed at a late hour with a cordial invitation to visit Mr. and Mrs. Knox in their new home on the Purdy farm a mile south of Harmony church. Those present, Mr. and Mrs. J Knox, Mr. and Mrs. George Hall, Mr. Bonnel, Mary Bonnel, Miss McKee, Carrie Young, Elsie Hall, Agnes Long, Arthur Young, Alex Surplus, George Clark, Will and John Long.

Have you ever sat in a crowded and room and just people watch? It is a beautiful thing! We are enlightened beings that puts us above the beasts, but at our base, we are still animals, and every thing we do, we say, we gesture, has a meaning to communicate. And for those of us who enjoy people watching, the above get-together would have been pure, almost choreographed, theater.

Mr. and Mrs. George and Miriam Hall are my 2xg-grandparents. I am assuming "Miss McKee" is Candace McKee, my2xg-grandaunt and Miriam Hall's sister. Elsie Rue Hall is George and Miriam's daughter, she would shortly marry Alex Surpluss, and they would become my g-grandparents. The John Long mentioned would marry Elsie's older sister Jennie.

24 June 2021

Death of George Hall (1845-1908) in Newspaper Back Home

From The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), November 3, 1908, Tuesday, Page 3 --

Danvers
DEATH OF GEORGE HALL OCCURS AT ELDORADO, KAS.
Remembered by Older Residents

The news of the death of George Hall was received here Monday from Eldorado, Kas. Mr. Hall was born here about 70 years ago, was the son of Jeremiah Hall. He was wounded in the army and this was the cause of his death. For many years he resided near Gibson City and Fairbury. He later moved to Kansas. His wife was Miss Marion McKee, a daughter of William McKee, near Oak Grove. He will be remembered by the older residents here and at Carlock.

George Hall was my 2xg-grandfather on my mother's maternal side. I did not know he lived near Gibson City and Fairbury! Clues for more research.

17 June 2021

William McKee's Horse is Stolen

From The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), April 17, 1873, Thursday, Page 2 --

----We have a novel case of horse-thieving. A man named Wm. Barret stole a horse below Forest City, Mason county, rode him up toward Green Valley, stopped at a stable where he was well acquainted with the stock, swapped for the best horse in the lot, road on into Dillon and doubled his stock by stealing another from Wm. McKee, and thence pushed on to Mackinaw. There he traded again. By this time men were in pursuit, and one man got into town in time to see McKee's horse ridden in by a boy. He took possession and told the boy that he had his horse. The boy told him that his father had traded for it, and that he could show him the man, and the horse that he had let the fellow have. Search was made and the horse found, but the man had smelt a mice and "broke for tall timber." One man too McKee's horse and rode to Delavan, another pursued the thief to Hopedale, where he had just taken the cars south. The lightning went ahead of Constable Cobean, who met the gentleman in the cars at Delevan, and took him into custody. He gave his name as Hudson. He is now in jail in Pekin awaiting trial.

Wow. I am not used to the use of catchwords in news stories. I am guessing that means the story is mostly for amusement? I am guessing "cars" means railway cars. I am guessing "lightning" means telegraph. I am guessing "smelt a mice" is what we mean when we say "smelled a rat."

One thing I am not guessing -- William McKee (1810-1873) was my 3xg-grandfather on my mother's maternal side.

25 May 2021

Tombstone Tuesday: Jennie Mariam Long (nee. Hall, 1879-1968)

Jennie Mariam (Hall) Long
Born: 24 Mar 1879, Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, USA
Died: 3 Aug 1968 (aged 89), El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Sunset Lawns Cemetery (El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA),
Section: B Lot: 210 Space: E3

I have been doing genealogy and family history for about two decades now. One thing I have noticed is how easy it is to find the fingerprints (metaphorically speaking) of my ancestors who were also family historians. Here is my favorite example. I was searching the holdings at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and I discovered a picture of my 3xg-grandparents William (1810-1873) and Sarah (Moore) McKee (1817-1895). And who donated it? Jennie (Hall) Long.

Another? I found a published family history on the descendants of my 5xg-grandfather Guian McKee (1750-1827), and whose research does the the author include? Jennie (Hall) Long. Jennie was even able to identify the location of the grave of my 4xg-grandmother Martha Moore (nee. Cunningham, 1773-1853), no marker in a forgotten overgrown cemetery.

Jennie was remarkable, and she did all this before the digital age -- paper research, and lots of correspondence. It took lots of time, lots of patience, and lots of dedication. You will not be surprised to know she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Thank you Jennie.

Jennie Mariam (Hall) Long was my great-grandaunt, on my mother's maternal side.

03 August 2020

Civil War Relatives

For the last month I have been obsessed with the Civil War, from a family history perspective. I have been working on getting the National Park Service to give the grave of my gg-grandfather a marker; I have been researching the current location of the regimental flags for the 33rd Illinois, and I have been researching the oral history that one of my gg-grandfathers was a Union spy.

In the meantime, I did put together a list of all my grandfathers and granduncles who served. I have not done cousins yet. This list is complete as best as I can determine (the seven names of gg-grandfathers have been bolded; the five names of those who died in service have been italicized) --

RANK NAME REGIMENT STATE COMPANY

Henry M. Walker, Sr. 33rd Illinois A

Capt Harvey J. Dutton 33rd Illinois A

Horace S. Dutton 108th Illinois E

Charles H. Chesley 8th Cavalry Illinois K

John P. Chesley 13th Illinois G

Leonard Chesley 13th Illinois G

Sgt Luman F. Ward 98th New York D

David Ward 2nd Artillery Ohio C

Corp Arthur H. Needham 2nd Cavalry Iowa E

John H. Needham 155th Ohio A

Horatio E. Needham 29th Iowa E

Sgt George E. Needham 177th Ohio A

Benjamin E. Needham 41st Ohio D

Samuel R. Porter 17th Illinois I

Lt Col Dr. Frank G. Porter -- Surgeon --

Alexander W. Porter 39th Pennsylvania B

Sgt John W. Porter 39th Pennsylvania B

Corp Alfred Gibson 33rd Kentucky D

Sgt David Gibson 27th Kentucky E

Thomas R. Gibson 35th Kentucky B

William Gurwell 14th Ohio E

Jesse Jones 13th Kansas B

Lt Edward W. Hall 3rd Iowa B

George Hall 26th Illinois K

Corp Levi Hall 33rd Illinois C

Wilbur Hall 2nd Artillery Massachusetts M

Josiah McKee 33rd Illinois C

-- Twenty-seven names in total. All blue, no grey. My gg-grandfather James G. Gurwell is said to have served, but I can find no record, so he is not included. Six of these Illinoisans were at Vicksburg, and their names are cast in bronze inside the Illinois memorial there.

Expanding the list to include cousins will be quite a chore but is within my plans. I know that will expand my connection to the 33rd Illinois even further, at last count I had seven ancestral relatives in that regiment. And I am not sure, but I think I have one Gibson cousin who went to Texas and fought on the side the Confederacy, ruining my perfect record of all Union ancestral relatives.

20 June 2020

At Least Five Civil War Ancestral Relatives Have Their Names in Bronze

(Click to Enlarge.)

From a Vicksburg Mississippi website:

The Vicksburg National Military Park, established by Congress on February 21, 1899, commemorates the campaign, siege, and defense of Vicksburg during the Civil War. The 1,800 acres of the park are dotted with over 1,300 monuments, the most impressive being the Illinois Monument, which was dedicated on October 26, 1906 and modeled after the Roman Pantheon. On its walls are 60 bronze tablets which record the names of the 36,325 Illinois soldiers who participated in the Vicksburg campaign.

On those bronze tablets are the names of at least five of my ancestral relatives, most notably my gg-grandfather Pvt. George Hall (1845-1908) --

-- Three other more distant ancestral relatives 3xg-uncle Pvt. Josiah McKee (1844-1921), and First Cousin 4x removed Pvt. Levi W. Hall (1841-1923) and First Cousin 4x removed Pvt. William P. Lamphier (1839-1865) --

-- And finally we have the ancestral relative of whom I am the most proud, 2xg-uncle Capt. Harvey J. Dutton (1836-1928), who was only a Lieutenant at Vicksburg. He was also shot in the leg in the battle and kept fighting --

(Click to Enlarge.)

-- The Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg were both completed on the same date -- July 4, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg got most of the attention from the press at the time for a number of reasons, including that it involved the defeat of the great General Robert E. Lee, and happened closer to Washington D.C. But arguably, the Battle of Vicksburg was much more important to the ultimate Union victory. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's victory at Vicksburg gave the Union Army control of the entire Mississippi River, and cut off the Confederate deep south from the supplies of the commodity-rich southwestern states like Texas.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

19 June 2020

Thirty-miles and One Hundred Years

(Click to Enlarge.)

I have never had a familial affinity for Illinois. My heart has always belonged to Nebraska. It was Nebraska that I associated with family, and my family history. But truth be told, Illinois could reasonably lay a claim to my heritage. Direct ancestors of both my father and mother made homes here. And startlingly they did it only thirty miles apart from each other.

(Click to Enlarge.)

Around 1855 in Woodford County, in and around the town of Metamora were my Dad's ancestors 3xg-grands Aaron and Submit (Clark) Walker, my 2xg-grands Henry and Louisa (Dutton) Walker Sr., and my g-grandfather Henry M. Walker, Jr. Also my 3xg-grandmother Nancy (Smith) Dutton.

At the same time, only thirty miles away in McLean County, in and around the town of Danvers were my Mom's ancestors 3xg-grands Jeremiah and Jane (Combs) Hall, and also 3xg-grands William and Sarah (Moore) McKee.

One hundred years later in northern California, my Mother from Phoenix, Arizona would meet my Dad from Dix, Nebraska, get married and produce me.

As I currently reside in Illinois, this state reminds me of her involvement in my development everytime I travel her highways, and of course visit the graves of my deceased ancestors. I am blessed that I live so close to where I can walk the same ground my ancestors walked on.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

24 March 2016

CDV of Josiah McKee (1844-1920)

Professionally cleaned up CDV of my 3xg-uncle Josiah McKee. Brother of my 3xg-grandmother Mariam (McKee) Hall, on my mother's maternal side.

Josiah served as a private in Co. C, of the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, mustering in 1861 and mustering out in 1865. He is part of my strange relationship with the 33rd Illinois, where I had two ancestral relatives of my mother serving in Co. C, and two ancestors of my father serving in Co. A. A hundred years later my mother from Arizona and my father from Nebraska would meet in California, marry and conceive me. No way they could have known.

Anyway, I have a lot more reporting to come on this interesting individual.

Thank you to my friend Christopher Evey who inherited from his ancestor this picture and still more of others of boys from Co. C. He shared this with me and gave me permission to share it with you. He is researching his ancestor John Leys who also served in Co. C. If you want to contact him you can find him on Facebook or drop me a note and I will pass it along.

Copyright © 2016 by Kevin W. Walker

12 June 2015

Certificate of Marriage: George Hall to Mariam B. McKee

Click to Enlarge.

State of Illinois, Woodford County

Certificate of Record of Marriage

I Ed. C Engel Clerk of the County Court

of said County Hereby certify that Mr. George Hall

was married to Miss. Mariam B. Mckee in said County

on the twenty-first day of December A.D. 1871

by J. B. McCorkle a Minister of the Gospel

duly authorized to solemnize marriages by the Statute of the State of Illinois

as appears by his return and certificate of marriage attached to the license

granted therefor by the Clerk of this Court and now on file in my office.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and

attached the seal of said County Court, at my Office in

Eureka, Ill this seventeenth day of October A.D. 1898

Ed. C. Engel

Clerk of the County Court

by John Leys, Dep.

George Hall and Mariam (McKee) Hall were my 2xg-grandparents on my mother's maternal side. It still amazes me that I have THREE ancestral lines to Woodford County, two behind my Dad and one behind my Mom. The two behind my Dad eventually met up and married, however the ancestors behind my Mom lived many miles away, but you never know! Maybe they walked the same ground, or perhaps were even acquainted with each other.

Their minister Joseph Byram McCorkle is a character worth researching. Son of another minister.

29 May 2014

Treasure Chest Thursday: Photo Restoration

I was so happy with the last photo restoration I had done by Miles at 399Retouch.com I always said I would go back to him with another. So naturally when we discovered the picture of my 3xg-grandparents William McKee (1810-1873) and his wife Sara (nee. Moore, 1817-1895) was found in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, I knew immediately it was the candidate.

Before:

After:

There is a certain romance to the original, and I indeed am a romantic. But just for the practical purpose of seeing what the ancestors really looked like? A photo restoration is worth every penny.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

24 May 2014

Surname Saturday: McKee

From page 528 of The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History by George F. Black, as transcribed by James O. McKee in his book Descendants of Guian, McKee, Snr. and Abigail Lane, and Allied Families (self-published, 1979) --

MACKIE. This name is of considerable antiquity in Sterlingshire, and can be traced in Stirling to the fifteenth century. William Makke, charter witness in a Scone charter, 1491 (Scone, p. 199). John Make was 'Factour and inbringer of all annualis pertenyn to Sir John Patonsoun in Stirling, 1520 (SBR). Andrew Makky was burgess of Stirling, 1574 (RPC., ii, p. 418). Donald McCay in Porte of Locharne to answer to charge of violence and robbery, 1592, (RPC., v, p. 27). The Mackies of Mid Calloway, a powerful and prosperous family of the sixteenth and first half of the seventeenth century, were enthusiastic supporters of the Covenanters. Vthreid McKie in Innermessene was accused of slaughter, 1606 (Trials, ii, p. 515). Alexander Makkie of Stranord, 1628 (Retours, Kirkceudbright, 173). McKie, McKee, McKey, Makie, Kee, all 1684 (Parish). Cf. MACKAY and MACKIESON.

19 May 2014

Amanuensis Monday: McKee Family Letter

COPY of a letter written by: William McKee of Danville, Illinois, Vermillion County, december 9th, 1845. (To his nephew William McKee, son of Guian McKee, Jnr.)

Dear Nephew:

I take up my pen to inform you that we are in a tolerable state of health at present thanks be to a kind Providence over us hoping these few lines may find you and all yours well.

I now have a letter before me which you sent to Elijah A. McKee requesting him to try to get William Perry Lamphier from Benefield but word came up from Perrysville that the boy was bound but we have found out that it was a mistake, true the boy was taken to Perrysville with the intention of having him bound but William Hutsinpillar, our soninlaw living in Perrysville objected to him being bound believing that the man that wanted him was not capable of raising an orphan child. William Hutsinpiller said when the boy went to Perrysville he was nearly naked and had one foot badly frostbit so that he will be hardly able to wear a shoe this winter, we told William to bring the child up to us and we would keep him till we would get word to you, so you could come and get him, so we have him safe and he is a smart healthy looking child. Likewise I think it would be very proper for the administrator if there are one to look after Susannah's plunder. I understand that Benfield never took it away from where she had lived till after she was dead, if it had been me I would not have touched it, therefore, I think it would be necessary for you to come prepared to look into it. As to myself I have no grounds nor yet, not authority to do anything with it as I do not know anything about the arrangements of things. Come on we live two miles East of Danville on the Covington road.

I come to a close for the present by saying I still remain your loving Uncle and Aunt.

William and Hester McKee

To: Mr. William McKee
Wilkesborough, McLain County, Illinois
Postmarked Danville, Illinois., December 15th, 1845

This is a letter to my 3xg-grandfather William "Billy" McKee of McLean County, IL from his uncle William McKee of Danville, Vermillion County, IL. There is a tremendous amount of meat still left on this bone!! What I do know is very little so far. Susannah was Billy's only sibling, she was married twice once to Lamphier, and once to Benefield. Like I said, a lot of meat still left to chew on this bone. What happened to William Perry Lamphier? Did Billy McKee raise him? What is the story about Susannah and her husbands? More to follow.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

12 May 2014

Amanuensis Monday: From Family Researcher to Family Researcher -- "Cousins" II

This is the transcription of a letter from my g-grand aunt Jennie (Hill) Long to her cousin and fellow McKee family researcher James O. McKee, Jr. The first letter dated two months earlier is published HERE. (click to enlarge) --

El Dorado, Kansas
July 24, 1966

Dear Cousin:

Im sure I've received all your data, even tho i've been out of town. Many years ago I tried to identify all 11 McKee Brothers. Some encouragement from solicited lines I believe I have the most of them in written notes. In the interim I had mother 15 years and my gr-son (whose father died) 4 years. My notes are in various places. My trouble is, I loan magazines and other data and its sometimes returned some months later. I got discouraged and stopped trying. a Mr. & Mrs. Dick Woodward, here, both Attys are interested in research, one of her ancestors is a Dillon McKee. I discontinued my subscriptions to most of the magazines and you contacted me thru Washington Genealogy and History. I got Guians War data and become a member on his line I had to have his wife's name and data so I sent to G & H. A Miss Mary Dea Carter of Danville, Ill., wrote me, She's a D.A.R., and had a Vermillion County, Ill History, she copied Williams record for me. I was born in that part of Vermillion County that became Ford County, Ill, Well, a Mrs. J.W. Nagge of Emporia Kansas contacted me as her Gr-mother was Abigail (McKee) Hutsonpillar, was daughter of William McKee, and wanted Guian's Military record as she was joining D.A.R. Her husband had to go to Army. Her parents lived in Denver, had a lumber yard. Name was Hughes. we corresponded all the time. Parents dec'd and they run the yard. Then there is a Gertrude Perishes at Douglas Kansas a dec'd of Samuel McKee of Kentucky. I'm enclosing some very precious letters you may copy and return to me. My typewriter is out due to 3 generations of use. Do you have photostatic reproduction near you? If so, photostatic them. I feel that Guian, Jnr., was married 3 times. He was very stoop shouldered from carrying a load. He and Mary Hays had 2 children, Wm. (Billie) McKee, my grandfather, and Susanna (McKee) Lamphere. I have a letter from William and Hester Adams McKee, about her son, for Gr-pa to come and get us, she had passed away. Anyway Wm (Billie) McKee, said his father died and his step mother was a mule driver and he just walked off and never looked back. He never corresponded with Ky. Susanna Lampheres husband was once living in Peoria, Ill. Census might tell us something. I feel if Abigail Lane was born in England the family could have been Quakers. We should be able to get a History, Guian McKee, Snr., had frozen feet at Valley Forge. Hunt Pa records for confiscated estates, maybe reason he had 100 acres by 1788. Rather early for Soldiers given land. Somewhere I have "Your Family Tree'" giving the year he (Guian McKee, Snr) came to Pennsylvania, and the name of the man who took him to work his passage over, and I've a letter from Mary D. Carter of John McKee, at Danville and across the line in Indiana, and a Lela welch of K.C., Mo., her mother a McKee of Kentucky, Murdered and her brother accused. Hope I've helped you. Return the Letters.

very sincerely,

/s/ Jennie M. Long

Note: Jennie was about 90 years when this letter was written. She died in August 1968. She had been working on our McKee Line for more than thirty years. (J.O.M.)

I have the same problems with this letter as I did the previous one I posted. Jennie was an incredible family historian! But without her records I have to treat most of these anecdotes as "clues" and not facts. I hope they prove true! A few of them already have. But I need to find the proof for all of them.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

09 May 2014

SCORE!!! Genealogy Happy Dances All Around -- Meet my 3xG-Grandparents! (Picture)

William McKee (1810-1873) and his wife Sara (nee. Moore, 1817-1895), found in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, Illinois (click to enlarge).

Research is ongoing, but I couldn't wait to brag about it. It was apparently donated to the IL State Library by their daughter and my 2xg-grand Miriam (McKee) Hall, or her daughter and my g-grand aunt Jennie (Hall) Long. After the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library was built, it was transferred over there from the IL State Library, and it was at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library where it was found. More to follow.

The date on the back says "1883" but we know William died in 1873. We are guessing circa 1870, maybe earlier.

To give you a sense of the age, William was too old to fight in the Civil War of the 1860s. He fought in the Black Hawk War of 1832. Sarah's father fought in the Revolutionary War.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

06 May 2014

Tombstone Tuesday: William "Billy" McKee (1810-1873)

"William McKee

Died

Aug. 22, 1873,

Aged

63 Ys & 11 Ds"

William McKee is my 3xg-grandfather along my mother's maternal line: William McKee -> Miriam (McKee) Hall -> Elsie (Hall) Surpluss -> Thelma (Surpluss) Gibson -> Brenda (Gibson) Cox -> me.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

05 May 2014

Amanuensis Monday: From Family Researcher to Family Researcher -- "Cousins"

This is the transcription of a letter from my g-grand aunt Jennie (Hill) Long to her cousin and fellow McKee family researcher James O. McKee, Jr. (click to enlarge) --

El Dorado, Kansas
May 23, 1966

Dear Cousin:
I was so glad to hear form you. I am almost the youngest of 27 grand children of William McKee and wife Sarah Moore of Eureka, Illinois (Woodford, County) and the line is Guian McKee, Snr., (1).,Guian McKee, Jnr.,(2).,William (Billy) McKee.,(3).,and Miriam (McKee) Hall,.(4).,of El Dorado, Ks., and I am the only one of the 27 of the 5th generation who ever joined the D.A.R. or S.A.R., organizations. I joined on the Charles Moore and Sarah (Moore) McKee who was a real daughter of Charles Moore Revolutionary Soldier of North Carolina who was only 18 years old in the battle of Kings Mountain which turned the cause for the Colonists. I'm chuck full of History and my youngest grandson finished Boot training on Friday last, the 20th. Is home for a week but I don't know where to next. He didn't enlist for Combat. He's a Hi School grad, a grad of Drury College of Springfield, Missouri, and has one year of Law at Washburn at Topeka, Kansas, said he wouldn't be drafted. He passed the mental test for the Pentagon. So we are waiting.

Guian McKee was born in Scotland, I'd like all data on Abigail Lane, his wife, so as to complete my supplemental lines. Guian's son William married an Adams of Kentucky and came to Danville, Illinois, and Guian's son, Guian, Jnr., and wife Mary Hays of Bowling Green, Kentucky, his parents. At death of his father, came to his uncle William of Danville, got to Eureka, Illinois, was in the Black Hawk War with Abraham Lincoln, and in Jefferson Davis Company. And Abraham Lincoln spent Sunday at their home whenever in the vicinity. I'll be glad to exchange data. There have been many events in their lives. I've consulted the Genealogical Shelf in the Wichita Kansas Library plus magazines etc,., and have many places vacant to fill.

I see you are located on the Miss-River. My father of Yankee extraction, served 4 years in the Civil War, was wounded at Jackson, Miss., the Federal Hospital at Keokuk, Iowa had him for 3 months. He later joined his Company and in all served 4 years. I was raised on History. I hope to hear from you again. Guian was in the 8th Pennsylvania to fight the Indians in Western Pennsylvania and was needed so bad he was moved to Valley Forge.

very sincerely,
Jennie M. Long

Added by J.O.M. -- Jennie M. (Hall) Long was descended from Guian McKee, Jnr., and his wife Mary (Hays) McKee of Fleming County, Kentucky

I don't know where to begin. My great-grand aunt Jennie was eighty-seven years old when she wrote this. She took her family history seriously, everything she has reported as factual, that I have been able to check out, has proven to be factual. But I am unable to yet concur on some of her assertions in this letter. My research so far says William McKee of McLean County was in the Fifth Regiment, Captain Covell's Company; Abraham Lincoln commanded a company in the Fourth Regiment, and Jefferson Davis was in the First Regiment and was on leave through most all of the Black Hawk War. The comment about Guian McKee and Valley Forge does not make any sense yet. And how could I ever document Abraham Lincoln being tight with the McKees?!

But I wouldn't put it past Jennie to have it all documented. I am seeking out her descendants looking for copies of her research.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

03 May 2014

DESCENDANTS OF GUIAN MCKEE, SR. & ABIGAIL LANE, by James O. McKee, Jr. (1979)

The Descendants of Guian McKee, Snr., & Abigail Lane and allied families was self-published by James Oscar McKee, Jr., in Avon, Illinois in 1979. The "book" is really nothing more than the following introduction, then copies of his family group sheets, then copies of all his primary sources and correspondence with other McKee descendants. I don't mean to sound like I am demeaning it, I am not! Just the opposite! If only all the genealogy books were so research focussed. "Here are the facts as I found them, now you make up your mind." Wow. I am seriously, seriously indebted. It is worth noting that some of the correspondence he reproduces are that with my great-grand aunt Jennie (Hall) Long, whom we are all here on this blog quickly becoming more and more acquainted with as we research her related lines. Here is the introduction --

The undersigned and compiler of the McKee Genealogy started his search for his Ancestry in the year 1963, and in 1979 is still finding new evidence and Descendants. The search goes on and on. The past 17 years of research has been most interesting and at the same time most difficult due to the fact that every shred of evidence obtained has been ferreted out of County Court House Records, Military Records, Census Records, School Records, Cemetery Records, Death Records, Wills, Deeds, Probate, Tax, and Marriage Records. Obtaining family data from living descendants of Guian McKee, Snr., in the State of Kentucky (Fleming and Lewis Co) has been an impossible and disappointing experience since they have been reluctant to talk about their family or branch of the McKee-Line. Whenever they do, the common phrase is spoken. “Quote: We know nothing about our McKee-Line, all the old folks are gone, anyway we are from a different branch than you”, Unquote.

Guian McKee, Snr., came to the Colony (Pennsylvania) when he was a small laddie of ten. The first trace of him was found in the Court House at Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was apprented out to James Moore to learn the trade and mystery of a Miller. In James Moores Will of Sept 18th, 1767, he gives and bequeaths various items and money to his children. To Guian McKee he makes the following statement: I give and bequeath to Gaven McKee, the sum of five pounds (Current Money), also his freedom dues provided he stays with my sons until he arrives at the age of twenty-one years.

In 1776 he entered the Army and served in the Revolution for a period of three years in the 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line. He must have been discharged in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, since he patented 133 acres of land in that County on June 15th, 1787, in Plum Township, later Allegheny County, where the present city of Pittsburgh stands. His first child was born while he was in service. All of his children were born in Pennsylvania, except for the youngest son, David, he was born in Fleming County, Ky (then Mason Co) in 1791.

From the early Tax Records for Westmoreland/Alleghany Counties, Pennsylvania and for Mason County, Kentucky, Guian McKee, Snr., migrated to Kentucky circa 1788/89. It is believed that the migration took place via the Ohio River on Broadhorns which landed on Limestone Creek where present city of Maysville stands.

Guian McKee, Snr., was married to Abigail Lane. She was the mother of his children. The compiler searched all available church and court house records for their marriage but did not find any record. The early marriage must have been lost. Very few remain available from that early period.

Available records indicate that he lived for a short time near Washington, Ky before removing to Fleming County where he lived the remainder of his years on Fleming Creek, Fox Creek, Pea Ridge, Park Lake, Anderson Branch, and on Brushy Fork where he died in 1827. He was born in Scotland in the year 1750. Abigail Lane, his wife was born in England in 1754, and died in Fleming County, Kentucky in 1830. Some Folklore and traditions indicated they are buried on Anderson Branch. They had the following children:

Sarah McKee, John O. McKee, David McKee, Margait McKee *, William McKee, Mary (Polly) McKee, Guian McKee, Jnr., Robert McKee, Abigail McKee

The compiler has proven from available records that the above are his children of Guian McKee, Snr., and his wife Abigail Lane with the exception of Margait McKee. Additional research must be conducted to determine if Margait was their daughter. It is believed that she was since her husband was listed as witness on several marriage bonds for the above when they married.

Researching and tracing Guian McKee, Snr. Has been most difficult because others spelled his name in various ways, such as Guien, Gyon, Guion, Guyon, Guyian, Garven, Gavin, Guyan, Guyann, and Guian. Since most of his records show his name as Guian, that is the one we chose to use. The Complier found only one record believed to have been signed by the old pioneer. It was signed in a shaken manner and was definitely signed as Gavin McKee.

In his application for a pension, Guian McKee, Snr., stated that he enlisted at Peters Creek, Pennsylvania in August 1776. He served as a private in Capt. James Montgomery’s Company, under Colonels McCoy, Broadhead and Bayard, in the 8th Regiment Pennsylvania Line, for a period of three years. He was honorably discharged by Colonel Bayard.

In 1818, thirty seven years after the surrender of the British at Yorktown, Congress enacted the law authorizing the payment of an $8 monthly pension to indigent Revolutionary Soldiers who had faithfully served the full term of their enlistment. The documents which he (and others) executed to establish his pension eligibility constituted almost all we know about him, except for the research performed by the compiler.

These pension documents unfortunately do not disclose Guians place of birth in Scotland. I made it a primary objective of my trip to Scotland in 1963 to find the birthplace of the old pioneer. I did not succeed. From bits and pieces that I did find indicate that he might have been born in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.

While I did not find the birthplace of Guian McKee, Snr., I am content. I found that the Scots are the most charming people I have ever encountered. There is a complete absence of what we call “Hurry Sickness” in their Country. I never asked directions of a Scot who was not courteous. All were willing to take the time to give me the directions I sought. Their sense of humor is always evident. I frequently noticed a characteristic I had been told in advance to expect – the tendency to carry a point to its logical conclusion even though that point may be considerably past to its point of absurdity. Their country is beautiful beyond description. Guian must have been very much like the people I met.

(signed)

James O. McKee, Jnr., Avon, IL

* - Margait McKee (page 1), and Abigail McKee turned out to be one and the same. Additional research into old marriage Bonds in Fleming County, KY Court House revealed one record had her name spelled Margait while all the others showed her name as Abigail. She married John Williams on April 4th, 1810. Her marriage Bond Shows her name as Abigail. The marriage register showed her name as Magait.

11 April 2014

Another Revolutionary War Soldier Ancestor Discovered: Charles Moore (1763-1839)

From OLD FAMILY RECORDS - NUMBER FOUR, originally compiled and printed by Milo Custer, 1914, Reprinted by the Bloomington-Normal Genealogical Society (click to enlarge) --

CHARLES MOORE, Revolutionary Soldier from North Carolina, b. in Hanover County, Virginia, Jan. 11, 1763, m. Martha ............... at Salisbury, N.C. about 1792, settled in what is now Woodford County Illinois, 1826, and d. Sept. 19, 1839. Wife b. 1774, d. about 1845. Ch.
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(10) SARAH (?) MCKEE b. Jan. 11, 1817, m. William McKee, March 10, 1836, Ch. Martha (McK) Richardson, Candace, Amanda (McK) Kirkpatrick, Miriam (McK) Hall, Richard, Josiah, and Emma. Information from U.S. Pension Records, McLEan County, Ill. Marriage Records, and Aaron Richardson, husband of Martha (McKee) Richardson, Lexington, Ill. 1914)

Miriam McKee (1851-1936) is my 2xg-grandmother in my mother's maternal (Surpluss) line. William McKee (1810-1873) and Sarah McKee (1817-1895) were my 3xg-grandparents, and that makes Charles Moore and his wife Martha my 4xg-grandparents.

I am learning when you get six generations or so out from the Revolutionary War how easy it is to qualify for the D.A.R. and S.A.R.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker