William P. Scott, Hopwood, PA
Updated 12/4/02
One of the early pioneers in the area that is now Preston County, West Virginia was James BRAIN (or BRANN) (1741-1778), my 5th great-grandfather. He came to Preston shortly after arriving in America from England and settled on 400 acres in the Three Forks area in 1774. However, due to persistent Indian attacks, four years later he moved to the Ashby settlement on Snowy Creek. Despite his precautions, James was murdered by Indians and two of his sons were kidnapped. Fortunately his wife and his other children survived the attack.
James BRAIN married a woman named Nancy and had the following children:
1. James (1766 - ?) Captured by Indians. Fate unknown
2. Benjamin (1768 – 1830) Captured by Indians - escaped. Married Malinda Unknown, 1797
3. Rachel (1776- 1858) m. William MICHAEL, 1797
4. Isaac (1778 – 1778) Captured by Indians. Died of fever while in captivity.
5. Elizabeth
"Pioneer History of Greene County, Pennsylvania", by L. K. Evans, mentions a BRAIN male, probably James, involved in one of these early Indian attacks. This is probably one of the attacks which convinced the Brains to move to the Ashby settlement: "In 1772 we read that William Morgan settled on the Dunkard bottoms on Cheat River. On the 11th of April, 1778, a party of Indians visited his home and killed his mother and her granddaughter, Mrs. Dillion and her two children, and a young man by the name of Brain, and took Mrs. Morgan (the wife) and her child prisioners. On their way home they passed near Pricket's fort, on Pricket's creek, a few miles above Morgantown (WV). They there bound Mrs. Morgan to a bush and leaving her child with her went away to look for a horse for her to ride. By the aid of her teeth she successed in unloosing her hands, and effected her escape, wandering all that day and night and part of the next day before she found the fort - all the while carrying her babe in her bosom. A day or two after, parties from the fort visiting the spot, found a fine mare lying dead on the ground. They had become so exasperated at the loss of their prisioners that they vented their spleen by stabbing the innocent brute to the heart."
Wiley’s History of Preston County reports that on April 12, 1778 while at work on his barn, James BRAIN was attacked and murdered by Indians at the Ashby settlement. The following is the account of the attack:
"The Indians were still dreaded and invasions feared. On the anniversary of their attack on the Morgan’s house, five Indians came and lay in ambush round a house on Snowy Glade Creek, some two miles from Cranberry Summit. James BRAIN and Richard Powell occupied this house. Brain’s home was on Brain’s run, close to Newburg, but he had moved back east, to Snowy Glade Creek, for greater security, according to one account. Early on the morning of the 12th of April, 1778, ten or twelve men came out of the house and were shooting at a mark, being travelers according to the Border Warfare (Chronicles of Border Warfare by Alexander Scott Withers). The Indians despaired of success in attacking the house and withdrew to a distance. The travelers, after breakfast, unbeknown to the Indians, departed; and BRAIN and two of the Powells went to their work – carrying clapboards to cover or roof a cabin some distance from the house. The Indians in their concealment heard them, and determined to obtain a scalp, stole up on them, and shot Brain down, capturing his son Isaac."
The Indians then captured Jame’s sons Benjamin and Isaac and one of the Powell boys. The Indians then brought the three boys together. They tomahawked and scalped the Powell boy on the spot, killing him. They then tried questioning Ben BRAIN as to how many men were in the house. And with a tomahawk raised above his head, little Ben convinced them the group of men, who had actually left, were still there. The Indians considered the odds and decided to leave taking Ben and Isaac to their base in Ohio. The Indians separated the boys and Isaac was said to have been taken south where he died from a fever. Ben remained a captive of the Indians for six years, managing to escape death at least once during that period. He was eventually given up by the Indians under the terms of a treaty, after which he returned to Preston and lived out the rest of his life.
The last known Indian raid in this area occurred in 1788 when a group of Indians killed and scalped a boy named John Greene.
Surviving the Indian attack, Ben’s sister, Rachel grew-up and married William MICHAEL of Cumberland, Md. on February 14, 1797 in Allegany Co. MD with Rev. Shaw presiding. After the wedding, they lived near Bruceton Mills.
William MICHAEL was born July 26, 1775 in Frederick, MD and died August 25, 1854. He is said to have fought in the Ohio Valley Indian Wars. He was one of the founding members of the first Methodist church in 1819 in the Grant district. His parents were Phillip MICHAEL Sr. (1740-1818) and Mary (1740-?). Phillip died in Allegany Co. MD.
William MICHAEL and Rachel BRAIN had the following children:
1.Elizabeth m. Joseph JEFFERYS
2. James M. m. Nancy SNIDER
3. Mary m. Samuel SMITH
4. Naomi m. Joseph RODEHEAVER
5. Rachel m. Allen BROOKS
6. John (1799 – 1874) m. Ruth JEFFERYS
7. Phillip (1804 – 1892) m. Sophia FOLK
8. Nancy (1805 - 1867) m. Thomas JEFFERYS
9. William (1810 – 1890) m. Sarah FORSYTHE
The spouses of Elizabeth, John and Nancy were the offspring of Benjamin JEFFERYS. (Info on marriages said to have come from the FEATHER Book.)
Mary MICHAEL married Samuel M. SMITH, who was born in 1793. Samuel’s parents were Rev. John G. SMITH, who came to Preston from Somerset, Pa. just before 1800. His wife was Agnes MICHIE. Later he married Elizabeth CALE (1782-?), daughter of Christopher CALE, presumably after the death of his first wife. John SMITH died in 1851. In total, he fathered the following children:
1. Daniel
2. Samuel
3. Jacob
4. William A.
5. Joseph
6. John
7. Millie
8. Mary
9. Nancy
10. Eve.
Samuel SMITH and Mary MICHAEL had one son that I know about, John M. SMITH (1818-?), who married Charlotte CHIDESTER (1822-1912). They had the following children and possibly more:
1. Sarah Ellen (1862-?) b. Cuzzart, WV, (My great-great-grandmother)
2. Eliza Jane
3. Mary Ann (Married a CALE)
Sarah E. SMITH married Samuel Jackson HILEMAN (1858-?) in Rockville. He was born near Cuzzart, WV and served as a private in the 3rd W.Va. Cavalry during the Civil War. Samuel J. HILEMAN and Sarah SMITH had the following children:
1. Judd b.?
2. Alcineous, b. 1870, d.1887
3. Charlotte Dessi b. 1873 Albright, W.Va., d. 1940 Preston Co., m. Ben PEASLEE b. 2/2/1875, d. 1920 Albright, W.Va. buried Lutheran Cemetery.
4. Flora Olive (My great-grandmother) b. December 17, 1874, d. November 20, 1964, m. Samuel Jackson MCKINNEY
5. Lulu, b.1877, m. Jarret LIVENGOOD, 1896
6. Izona b. 1884, Cuzzart, WV. d. 1954, Oakland, MD. buried Albright, WV. m. Charles RECKART, 1899 also in Albright.
The Hilemans lived in Rockville, W.Va.
Samuel J.’s parents were Absalom HILEMAN (1820 - 1866) and Lovila (Lovilia, Lovina) CALE (1821 - ?). They had these children:
1. Absalom (1841 - ?)
2. Louisa (1842 - 1859)
3. Nancy Ann (1846 - ?) m. Greenbury HILEMAN, 1866
4. Samuel J. (1847-1913) m. Sarah E. SMITH
5. George (1850 - ?) m. Harriet SMITH
6. William (1850 - 1921)
7. Rachel (1854 - ?)
8. Jacob (1857 - ?).
9. Paul (1864-1942)
The 1850 Preston County Census shows Nancy, Samuel, and William HILEMAN at the home of William and Mary CONNER. The significance of this is unknown. The 1860 Census shows Nancy, Samuel, George and Rachel HILEMAN at the home of their grandparents Jacob and Rachel CALE.
Absalom’s father was George Oliver HILEMAN. His mother was Sophia CUTSHORT, born in 1795 in Ireland. I heard from someone that the HILEMAN family originally came from Germany through Philadelphia at some early date, possibly before the Revolution. The name may have originally been spelled HEYLMAN. Inquiries on the HILEMAN genealogical websites indicate that George HILEMAN came from Addison Twp., Somerset County, Pennsylvania to Preston County, WV about 1827. (The 1800 and 1810 census for Addison township list a Marten HILEMAN and family that had three male children that could have possibly been George. A number of Hilemans remained in Somerset.
In the 1840 Somerset census index for Addison there were: Abraham, Henry, and Marial HILEMAN. The 1850 Somerset census lists the following Hilemans: Joseph 32 and Matilda 26 and their children Marshall 3 and Sophia 1. Also Henry 66 and Nancy 60 with children Hiram 29 and Ester 10. Henry was probably Joseph’s father given their ages.) Incidently, George is not listed on the 1850 Preston Census and is presumed to have died by then. His numerous children gradually drifted out of Preston Co.
History of West Virginia Old and New and West Virginia Biography, The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, 1923, Volume III Page 458 & 459 says: "George HILEMAN, of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, came from Pennsylvania to West Virginia and was a skilled house carpenter. It was said of him that he could go into the woods, cut the timber, frame a building, haul the finished material to the place of construction, and in the erection have every piece fit to the notch. He died in the Brandonville locality. His wife was a CUTSHORT, and they had a numerous family."
The HILEMAN Genealogy (1305) 1780-1981, Compiled by: Pearl H. Cooper and Maysel Hileman Pierce Pages 27 and 28 says: "George met and married a local lass named Sophia, who recently had arrived from Ireland. Their first child Samuel , was born in 1817. Hulda arrived a year and a half later. Other children arrived in order, Isabela, Elizabeth, Absalom.
About 1827, George and Sophia decided to strike out on their own. They heard there was land available down in Virginia, so they loaded their children and their belongings into the wagon and headed northwest on the new National Road. A few miles up the road they came to ‘Mud Pike’ (now Route 26), when they turned south. Arriving in Pleasant District near Valley Point, they settled on the John G. CALE farm.
As years progressed, more children arrived-- Henry, George Jr., Leonard, Sophia, Bethlehem, and Lydia. When Lydia was just six or seven years old, the family was saddened by the death of their father, George. He was just in his early fifties. Sophia, her Irish spunk coming to fore, held the family together as the older boys kept food on the table."
Children of George and Sophia HILEMAN:
1. Samuel b. 1817 m. Harriet HENNEN, 1835
2. Isabel b. 1819 m. John ANNON (Ireland)
3. Absalom b. 1820 m. Lovina CALE
4. Huldah b. 1822 m. Bartholomew SEVERE
5. George b. 1828, m. Margaret ARTIS b. Pa. 1828
6. Henry b. 1828 m. Rebecca EDWARDS, Sarah HUDSON
7. Leonard b. 1829 m. Matilda CARROLL
8. Elizabeth b. 1829 m. John EDWARDS
9. Bartholomew b. 1833 m. Matilda WOLFE
10. Sophia b. 1834 m. Ami SPRUGIN
11. Lydia b. 1838 m. John HALL
There may also be a son John.
These children moved to Harrison, Gilmer, Barbour, Preston and Taylor Counties in WV and also to Garrett, Allegany County, Md and Fayette County, Pa. George Sr. was the son of Martin Hileman and Mariah Lichey whose children were:
Lovila’s parents were Jacob CALE (1792–1885) and Rachel JENKINS (1802 - 1884). They were married at Sandy Creek in April 1819. Jacob was born in Maryland and he served in the War of 1812. His parents were Christian (1741–1825) and Catherine CALE. Christian was born in Hanover, Germany. The original German family name was KAHL. Christian had a second mariage to Elizabeth MAY. Elizabeth was born in England in 1751 and died 1838 in Preston. Her mother was Catherine STROOPE. She and Christian were married in Maryland in 1774. All together Christian had six children:
1. Elizabeth (who married John G. SMITH)
2. Mary (1786-1878)
3. John (1790-1882)
4. Barbara
5. Jacob (1792-1885)
6. Catherine (1793-1883) (who married William A. SMITH).
Christian CALE was said to have been from "a family in good circumstances" from the Rhine area of Germany. He came to Preston in 1794. His one son, John, was famous for his great physical strength. It was said that he could cut and stack nine cords of wood in a day.
Rachel JENKINS parents were Thomas JENKINS (1760-1817) of Wales and Delilah GLADD (1765-1830). They were married about 1782 and had the following children:
1. Rachel
2. Elizabeth
3. Susan
4. Mary
5. Thomas
6. Absalom
7. Christian
8. John
9. Delilah
10. Joseph
11. Evan.
Sons Thomas and Absalom JENKINS were ministers.
Flora Olive HILEMAN, born Dec. 17 1864 in Rockville, married Samuel Jackson MCKINNEY, born December 21, 1869 in Masontown, W.Va. They married in Brandonville, W.Va. on August 17, 1892. They had the same great-grandfather, Eliphalet CHIDESTER. Samuel J. was the son of Samuel MCKINNEY (1821 - 1914) and Lydia Ann COLLINS (1837 - 1914), both of whom were recorded as being born in VA. There’s evidence that Samuel MCKINNEY Sr. had a previous marriage before marrying Lydia COLLINS around 1865 or 1868. The 1910 census mentions that Samuel was on his second marriage when Lydia and he were living in the Morgan District.
Samuel and Lydia’s children:
1. Sanford (1857-?) Possibly a son from a previous marriage. m. Lucy A.. Widowed by 1910.
2. Rebecca (1863 - ?) Possible dau. from previous marriage. m. Aurther . J. MURRAY. 1889.
3. B. E. (1865 - ?)
4. Solomon (1868 - ?) Divorced by 1900.
5. Samuel Jackson (1869-1964)
6. Elizabeth A. (1870 - ?) Unmarried in 1910.
7. Susan L. (Apr.1876 - ?) Single in 1900. Eventually had at least one daughter.
Samuel and Lydia are buried at the Mellon’s Chapel Cemetary, Morgan District, Monongalia County. Samuel’s gravestone says he was a Civil War veteran. The 1890 veteran’s schedule says he was a private and served in in 9th WV Infantry from July 1861 to January 1863. He was living in Masontown, WV when he went into the army.
Lydia Collins’ parents were William COLLINS (1799-1859) and Mary CHIDESTER (1792-1882). They had at least two other offspring: Eliphalet and Edward. William later married Lavina (Lovilia) COLLINS, who might have been a cousin, but probably not since there appears to have been at least three different COLLINS families in Preston and nearby areas. Mary’s parents were Eliphalet CHIDESTER (1750-1821) and Mary PENCE (1760-1833). They were married 1783 in Morris, NJ. Eliphalet was born either in Morris, New Jersey or Maryland. His parents were Andrew CHIDESTER (1720-1791) and Susannah (1721-?) both of Connecticut. Eliphalet and his son William came to to Preston around 1820 from Harper’s Ferry and located near the forks of Sandy. He may have had a second marriage to a Mary ADAMS. Eliphalet had the following children:
1. Sarah (1780-?) b. Morris, NJ, m. Abraham SNYDER, 1797
2. James (1785-1857) b. Morris, NJ m. Anna BRUGH
3. Charlotte (1787-?) b. Morris Co., NJ, m. John M. SMITH, 1793
4. William McCoy (1788–1869) b.Washington, MD, m. Sarah WILLIAMS, Sarah LANDMAN
5. Francis Fannie (1791-1868) b. Washington, MD, m. Isaac ARMSTRONG
6. Mary (Polly) (1794 -?) b. Preston, WV, m. William COLLINS
7. Andrew (1795-1854) b. Washington, MD. m. Christina HARTMAN, 1815
8. Peter (1797-?) b. Preston, WV, m. Mary WILSON, 1804
9. Lottie (1799-?) b. Preston, WV
James Chidester’s wife, Anna Charlotta BRUGH (1785-1836), was the daughter of Peter BRUGH, who was married to Catherine HABERSTIC/HOUVENSTAY/other spellings. Both Peter and Catherine had emigrated from Wirtemberg, Germany just prior to the Revolutionary War. I mention this particular information because The History of Preston County contains an almost certainly false story that Eliphalet and eight of his brothers served in the Revolutionary War and that his father came from Germany on a ship that took fifteen weeks to make the Atlantic crossing, but another descendant I contacted flatly denies the German origin and says that the Chidesters go back in Britain to the Norman invasion in 1066 - it is not even a German name, and they did not reside in Germany. She says Eliphalet descended from James CHIDESTER who was in the Salem/Taunton area in 1620 or so. This general scenerio is supported by other sources. Speculation is that Morton got his information for his book from Eliphalet’s grandchildren who had the story of their great-grandfather father confused with that of Peter BRUGH.
I have been able to go back several hundred years along the CHIDESTER family line, the backtrail of which leads to Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, and eventually Massachusetts, with some allied family lines going to various areas in England and finally all the way back to France in 996 AD. In any case, I’ll give a summary of the CHIDESTER family here. The parents of Eliphalet’s father, Andrew, were Samuel CHEDESTER and Mabel (Mahable, Mehitable) TULLER. Samuel was born in New Haven, CT in 1694. Mabel was born 1699 in Hartford and died in 1761 in Norris NJ. Sam’s parents were David CHICHESTER (1658-1712) and Alice BAYLEY (1658-?). Alice Bayley’s father was Joseph. Mabel’s parents were John TULLER (1642-1742) and Elizabeth CASE (1658-?). John TULLER had a second marriage to Hannah SLOWMAN. David’s parents were James CHICHESTER (1652-1696) born in Salem Mass. and Eunice PORTER (1621-?) born in Plymouth, Mass. James parents were James CHICHESTER (1617-1688) and Mary (1621-?). Both were born in Salem, although one source says James was born in Devonshire, England. Eunice Porter’s parents were Jonathan PORTER (1595-1660) and Eunice (1599-?). John Tuller’s parents were William TULLER (1620-?) and Margaret DONALDSON (1620-1662). William TULLER had a second marriage to Maria VAN VLETT (1624-?). Elizabeth Case’s parents were John CASE (1616-1704) born in Gravesend, Kent, England and Sarah SPENCER (1635-1691) born in Hartford, CT. Sarah’s parents were William SPENCER (1601-1640) and Agnes HEARN (HARRIS) (1604-1680).
Agnes HARRIS descended from Hugh CAPET, King of France, who died in 996 AD. The are several other threads of note in the tapestry of Agnes' rich heritage, including those leading to Alfred the Great, King of England, several Magna Charta Sureties, and of course Charlemagne. Agnes Harris, christened 6 April 1604, Barnstaple, Devonshire, England, living 1680, Hartford, Connecticut. She married first about 1634, probably at Cambridge Massachusetts, William SPENCER, christened 11 October 1601, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England, died 1640 Hartford, Connecticut, Deputy to Massachusetts general Court, 1634 through 1637, and representative to Connecticut General Court, 1639 to 1640. He was son of Gerard SPENCER and Alice WHITBREAD. Agnes married second 11 December 1645, Hartford, Connecticut, William EDWARDS, christened 1 November 1618, St. Botolph's without Aldgate, Middlesex, England, living 1680, Hartford, Connecticut, son of Rev. Richard EDWARDS, B.A., by his wife Anne, daughter of Mrs. Julian MUNTER. Agnes' identity is proven by the wills of her mother Elizabeth HARRIS, 1649, her sister Priscilla HARRIS 1651, and her brother Richard HARRIS 1665, all of which mention her.
Agnes HARRIS was daughter of Elizabeth COLLAMORE, christened 2 September 1566, Bishop's Tawton, Devonshire, England, buried 7 December 1647, Barnstaple, Devonshire, England; married 18 January 1586/7, Braunton, Devonshire, to Bartholemew HARRIS, yoeman, Mayor of Barnstaple, Devonshire 1602, born about 1560, buried 10 October 1615, Barnstaple, Devonshire. Bartholemew's parentage has not been establsihed but he was probably related in some manner to John HARRIS, Mayor of Barnstaple 1578 and 1596 whose will dated 1600, (died probably 1602), names Bartholemew HARRIS as a co-executor of John HARRIS' estate.
Elizabeth was daughter of Henry COLLAMORE, a second son but eventually heir, christened 12 January 1541/2, Braunton, Devonshire, England, buried 15 June 1625, Bishop's Tawton, Devonshire; married by 1563, place unknown, Margaret BLIGHT, born about 1545, buried 27 November 1626, Bishop's Tawton, Devonshire.
Henry was son of Margery HEXT, born about 1510, buried 22 August 1551, Brauton, Devonshire; married about 1532 John COLLAMORE, born about 1500, buried 17 April 1555, being of Luscott, in the parish of Braunton, Devonshire, son of Peter COLLAMORE and Isabel CUSHE. The COLLAMORE family arms were, Gules, three crescents between nine billets ore.
Margery was daughter of Thomas HEXT, a younger son, born about 1475 to 1480, buried 1 December 1555, Georgeham, Devonshire, residing at Pickwell in the parish of Georgeham at his death. He was Escheator of Devonshire 1525. He married about 1510 Wilmot POYNTZ, the widow Hyllinge, born by 1487, died 15 April 1558. She was a daughter of Humphrey POYNTZ, died 1487, of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire and Womberlegh and Langley, Devonshire, by his wife Elizabeth POLLARD, daughter and sole heir of Richard POLLARD. Humphrey was Escheator of Devonshire 1460. The POYNTZ family can be traced directly back to Sir Hugh POYNTZ, died 1220, whose wife Hawise was a daughter of William MALET, a Magna Charta baron. The POYNTZ family arms were Barry of eight ore and gules.
Thomas was son of Joane FORTESCUE, born about 1450, living in 1524, but dead by 1525, Staverton, Devonshire; married about 1470 to 1475, Thomas HEXT, gentleman of Kingston in the parish of Stacerton, Devonshire, died shortly before 8 may 1497, when a writ for an Inquistion post mortem on his estate was issued to the escheator of Devon. He is referred to as being deceased in the Inq.p.m. taken on his mother-in-law, Joan Fortescue's estate in 1501. The HEXT family arms were Ore, a tower (castle) with three battlements port open between 3 battle axes Sable.
Joane was daughter of John FORTESCUE, heir to his parents, born about 1420, died 11 March 1480/81, Inquisition post mortem taken 4 November 1481. He was Lord of Whympston, Devonshire. He married by 1450, Joan PRUTTESTON, daughter and sole heir of John PRUTTESTON of Prutteston (or Preston) in the parish Ermington, Devonshire. Joan is mentioned in the Inq.p.m. taken on her father's lands dated 1468. She died 23 May 1501, Inq.p.m. taken 26 October 1501. The FORTESCUE family later quartered the PRUTTESTON arms, they being, Ore on a bend azure, 3 crosses patty fitchy argent. John FORTESCUE is sometimes confused with his first cousin, Sir John FORTESCUE, the emeinent lawyer who became lord chief justice in England.
John was son of William FORTESCUE, heir to his parents, born about 1385; married by 1410 Matilda FALWELL, alias Mabilla, daughter and heir of John FALWELL or FAWELL. Both were mentioned in the license for an oratory granted in 1410 by Bishop Stafford to William's father mentioned below. The FORTESCUE family later quartered the Falwell arms, they being Gules, on a bend argent, 3 water bougets sable.
William was son of Elizabeth BEAUCHAMP, daughter and eventual co-heir, born by 1349, living 1410, Whympston in parish of Modbury, Devonshire. She married first Richard, son of Adam DE BRANSCOMBE. By 1394, and probably much earlier, she had married second William FORTESCUE, Lord of Whympston, Devonshire. He was born about 1345, living in 1410, son of William FORTESCUE, Lord of Whympston, Devonshire, by his wife Alice STRECHLEGH, daughter of Walter DE STRECHLEGH. In 1401, William and Elizabeth sued her sister Joan's husband, Sir Robert CHALLONS, regarding tenements in Oulescombe and Buckerell, Devonshire which had been possessed by Elizabeth's brother, Sir Thomas BEAUCHAMP. In 1410, license for oratory was granted by Bishop Stafford to William Sr., and Elizabeth, his wife, and also William Jr., and Matilda, his wife, for the mansion of the said William Sr. at Whympston. The arms of FORTESCUE were Azure, a bend engrailed Argent, cotised Ore.
Elizabeth was daughter of Sir John BEAUCHAMP, Knight and heir, born about 1315, died 8 April 1349, Lord of Ryme, Dorsetshire and of Oburnford, Oulescombe, Teignhervy and Buckerell, Devonshire. He married first about 1340 Margaret WHALESBURGH, daughter of John WHALESBURGH. She married secondly by 23 October 1353 Richard DE BRANSCOMBE, Sheriff of Devonshire in 1358, 1366 and 1374. The arms of the Whalesburghs were Argent, three bendlets, gules, a bordure sable charged with 8 besants.
John was son of Sir John BEAUCHAMP, Knight, born about 1285, living 1337, and presumed dead by 1346, Lord of Ryme, Dorset and of Oburnford, Oulescombe, Teignherby and Buckerell, Devonshire. He married first by 1311/1312 Joan, maiden name unknown. He also apparently married by 1344 Alice DE NONANT, daughter and co-heir of Sir Roger DE NONANT, Lord of Cliston or Brode Clist, Devonshire. Alice is generally accepted as the mother of the preceding John BEAUCHAMP, born about 1315. John was the son of:
Sir Humphrey DE BEAUCHAMP and Sybil OLIVER
Alice DE MOHUN and Robert DE BEAUCHAMP
Hawise FITZGEOFFREY and Sir Reynold DE MOHUN
Aveline DE CLARE and Geoffrey FITZPIERS
Roger DE CLARE, 2nd Earl of Hertford and Maud DE ST. HILARE
Richard DE CLARE and Adeliza DES MESCHINES
Adeliza DE CLERMONT and Gilbert DE CLARE
Margaret DE MONTDIDIER and Hugh I, Count DE CLERMONT
Alice of ROUCY and Hildouin IV, Count DE MONTDIDIER
Beatrix de HAINAULT and Ebles I, Count DE ROUCY
Edith of France and Rainier IV, Count of HAINAULT
Hugh CAPET, King of France, died 996 A.D. and Adelaide of POINTIU
John Case’s parents were John CASE (1590-?) born in Simsbury, Hartford, England and Elizabeth PURCHASE (1593-?) born in Gravesend, Kent, England. William Spencer’s parents were Gerald SPENCER (1576-1646) born in Edworth, Bedfordshire, England and Alice WHITBREAD (1571-1628) born in Ion, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England. Gerald Spencer’s parents were Michael SPENCER (1530-1599) born in Edworth, Bedfordshire, England and Elizabeth WHITBREAD (1538-1599) born in Edworth, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England. Elizabeth Whitbread’s parents were John WHITBREAD (1514-?) and Eleanor RADCLIFFE(?) (1518-?), both born in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England:
John WHITBREAD- b. about 1548; bur. Nov. 28, 1598, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Son of Thomas WHITBREAD (b. about 1522, Upper Gravenhurst; d. 1585). John resided at Upper Gravenhurst as early as 1571. Eleanor - bur. Nov. 20, 1628, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. "Of Elstow" in her will probated Apr. 18, 1629. Her maiden name is not known, but she may have been a RADCLIFFE or HERVEY.
Children:
1.. Elizabeth - bap. Sep 28, 1571, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire.
2.. William - b. about 1573, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; bur. there Feb. 16, 1639/40. Named in mother's will. Married by 1600 Elizabeth (bur. Jun. 5, 1612, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire). Children: Henry married Elizabeth FARNELL; William died as infant; John died young; Elizabeth married her first cousin Henry WHITBREAD; Thomas married Joan CARTER; Sibyl married Caesar LUCAS; and William married Joan COOPER.
3.. Henry - bap. Jan. 9, 1575/6, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; d. about Jan. 1634, Cardington, Bedfordshire. Will dated Dec. 14, 1633, and proved Jan. 25, 1633/4. Married Elizabeth LEVENTHORPE (perhaps bur. at Cardington, Feb. 17, 1648/9), daughter of George LEVENTHORPE of Meppershall, Bedfordshire. Children: Henry married his first cousin Elizabeth WHITBREAD; John; Elizabeth married; Frances; Eleanor probably married Robert SHEERING; Mary; and Anne probably married Samuel BAKER.
4.. Alice - b. about 1578, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Married Gerard SPENCER.
5.. Francis - bap. Apr. 30, 1581, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Probable son.
6.. John - bap. Nov. 8, 1584, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire; bur. Aug. 3, 1632, Elstow, Bedfordhire. Married Jun. 29, 1612, at Elstow, Mary NEWMAN. Children: Eleanor married William NEWMAN; William married Miss PECK; John; Judith married William EDWARDS; Mary; and Thomas.
7.. Judith - bap. Jun. 6, 1591, Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire. Married Jul. 23, 1626 Richard POULTER.
Children of Thomas and Ann SPENCER
1.. Obadiah - b. about 1639, Hartford, CT; d. about 1712, Hartford, CT. Will dated Jun. 22, 1709; codicil May 2, 1712; inventory May 26, 1712. Married 1665 Mary DISBOROUGH (b. 1641, Hartford, CT; d. before 1709), daughter of Nicholas DISBROW and Mary BRONSON of Hartford. Children: Obadiah married Ruth KELSEY; Thomas married Sarah MEAKINS; Samuel married Deborah BECKLEY; Ebenezer married Mary BOOTH; Mary married Thomas KING; John married Sarah SMITH; and Disborough married first Abigail ELMER and second Sarah (ARNOLD) CASE.
2.. Thomas - b. about 1641, Hartford, CT; d. Jul 23, 1689, Suffield, CT. Married Esther ANDREWS (d. Mar. 6, 1697/8, Suffield, CT), daughter of William and Elizabeth. Children: Esther married William PIERCE (and had a child by John BARNARD); Elizabeth married John TAYLOR; Thomas probably did not marry; Samuel married Elizabeth MASCRAFT (ancestors of inventor Philo T. FARNSWORTH); William married; and Anna died in infancy.
3.. Samuel - b. about 1643, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 8, 1726/7, Windham, CT. Heir of his Uncle Barnabas DERIFIELD. Married Sarah (b. about 1660; d. Apr. 15, 1733, Windham, CT. Children: John married; Sarah married John CRANE; and Hannah married Gershom PALMER.
Thomas SPENCER - bap. Mar. 29, 1607, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England; d. Sep. 11, 1687, Hartford, CT. Son of Gerard SPENCER and Alice WHITBREAD. To Cambridge, MA about 1631 with brothers William, Gerard, and Michael. Freeman May 14, 1634. To Hartford, CT by 1639 as orginal proprietor; chimney viewer 1650; north side constable 1658; surveyor of highways 1672; Sgt. of train band 1650, receiving grant in 1671 for his service in militia and Pequot War. His name appears on Hartford's Founders Monument. Will dated Sep. 9, 1687. Married first Ann DORRYFALL (b. 1610; d. 1645), sister of Barnabas of Braintree, MA. Married second Sep. 11, 1645, Hartford, CT.
Children of Thomas and Sarah SPENCER
1.. Sarah - b. about 1646, Hartford, CT; d. Oct. 24, 1712, probably at Suffield, CT. Married Thomas HUXLEY.
2.. Elizabeth - bap. Mar. 26, 1648, Hartford, CT. Married Samuel ANDREWS (bap. Oct. 21, 1645, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 1711/2, Hartford, CT), son of William and Elizabeth. Children: Samuel; Thomas married first Mary MASON, and second Susanna ELLIS; John married Lydia ENSIGN; Abigail married John STEDMAN; and Elizabeth married William DAY.
3.. Jared - b. about 1650/1, Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 1, 1712, Hartford, CT.
4.. Hannah - b. Apr. 15, 1653, Hartford, CT. Married first George SEXTON, Jr.; possibly second Nov. 29, 1698, Hartford, CT Daniel BRAINERD, Sr.; and possibly third Jonathan CHAPMAN.
5.. Mary - b. May 18, 1655, Hartford, CT; d. Nov. 4, 1690, Westfield, MA. Married Oct. 7, 1675 Thomas ROOT (d. Aug. 16, 1709), son of John.
6.. Martha - b. Mar. 19, 1658, Hartford, CT. Married Andrew BENTON (bap. Aug. 12, 1653, Milford, CT; d. Feb. 5, 1703/4, Hartford, CT), son of Andrew BENTON and Hannah STOCKING. Children: Hannah married Edward SCOVILLE; Martha; Andrew; Mercy; John; Dorothy married John GRIDLEY; Mary married Jonathan PRATT; Joseph married first Sarah WATERS, and second Sarah PYNCHON; Ebenezer married Elizabeth WHITE; and Elizabeth.
Michael Spencer’s parents were John SPENCER (1505-1558) and Ann MERRIL (1509-1560) both born in Edworth, Bedfordshire, England. John Spencer’s parents were John SPENCER (1477-?) and Ann GERRARD (1480-1560), both born in Edworth, Bedfordshire, England. Ann Gerrard’s father was Michael GERRARD (1454-?). John SPENCER descended from the Spencers of Southmylls who were descended from Robert DE LE SPENCER, steward to William the Conquerer (1066). Gerrard had a son named Gerrard b. 1614 and died 1685. This son came to America in 1638 from Stotfold, England, settled in Cambridge, then Hartford Connecticut. He was a member of General Court of Commonwealth in 1674, 1675, 1678, 1679, 1680, and 1683. He also served in King Philips War (Colonial Families of the United States of America, edited by George Norbury Mackenzie, Volume III, page 536). Gerrard SPENCER was baptized at Stratford, England in 1576. His name was changed to Jared when he came to America. He had 5 sons (a) John SPENCER who went to America and returned to England (b) Thomas SPENCER who was born in 1607 in England and settled in Hartford, Connecticut in 1637. He was a Sergeant and soldier in the Pequot Indian War. He married Sarah BEARDING (c) William SPENCER (d) Michael SPENCER, settled in Haddam Connecticut (e) Gerrard SPENCER, Jr. born 1610, died 1685, lived in Haddam Connecticut, married Hannah (THE ALDERMANS IN AMERICA).
Henry SPENCER (d. 1477/8) of Badby, Northants., married Isabella LINCOLN. Son William married Elizabeth EMPSON and became ancestor of Pres. F. D. ROOSEVELT, Sir Winston SPENCER-CHURCHILL, Lady Diana (SPENCER), Princess of Wales, and her sons Prince William and Prince Harry. Son Thomas married Margaret SMITH became ancestor of Pres. WASHINGTON and Pres. F. D. ROOSEVELT. Son John, as noted below, became ancestor of Pres. COOLIDGE and Pres. BUSH.
Sir John SPENCER married first Ann EMPSON, mother of Robert; and second Jane GRAUNT (d. 1498), mother of Thomas of Hodnell. Anne Empson was sister of Elizabeth EMPSON and of Sir Richard EMPSON, minister to Henry VII. Daughter Jane married Sir William COPE and became ancestor of Pres. COOLIDGE and Pres. BUSH..
Robert SPENCER of South Mylls, Bedfordshire married Anne PECKE (and/or Ann SMYTH).
John SPENCER of South Mylls married Christian BAKER: Children: John; William married Isabelle OSBORNE, daughter of Edward of Kenolmarsh, Northamptonshire; Robert.
John SPENCER (b. about 1505, St. George's Parish; bur. there Jun. 9, 1558) of Edworth, Bedfordshire married Ann (b. about 1509; bur. Jun. 16, 1560), either a daughter of MERRILL or Michael GERRARD. Children: Michael; John was buried Apr. 21, 1560; Gerard married Ellen WHYSTON.
Michael SPENCER (b. about 1530; d. after 1599) of Edworth and Stotfold, Bedfordshire married first Jan. 20, 1555/6 at Edworth, Bedfordshire, Ann LYMER (bur. Feb. 23, 1561, Edworth, Bedfordshire); and second about 1563 Elizabeth (bur. Nov. 18, 1599). Elizabeth was the mother of all but the first three children:
1.. John - bap. Apr. 20, 1557, Edworth, Bedfordshire. Married.
2.. Michael - bap May 27, 1558, Edworth, Bedfordshire; bur. Apr. 15, 1560.
3.. Anne - bap. July 24, 1560, Edworth, Bedfordshire.
4.. Joan - bap. Aug. 21, 1564, Edworth, Bedfordshire.
5.. Alice - bap. Aug. 30, 1566, Edworth, Bedfordshire.
6.. Catharine - Married Mr. BLAND, and had daughters Sarah and Anne.
7.. Thomas - bap. Mar. 12, 1571, Edworth, Bedfordshire.
8.. Gerard - bap. May 20, 1576, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. by 1646.
9.. Richard - bap. July 9, 1580, Stotfold, Bedfordshire; d. May-June 1646, London. His will dated Mar. 17, 1646.
While the substantiated backtrail of the McKinneys ends in 1821 with Samuel MCKINNEY Sr., I suspect our McKinney line is related to that of the McKinneys in Bretz, WV (See notes). One rumor heard from at least two sources is that Luke MCKINNEY was the son of a William MCKINNEY, and that Samuel’s father or grandfather may have been this same William. In any event, the McKinney’s came from Ireland or Scotland, no doubt, certainly before 1812. Family legend has it as Ireland. Although I can’t find conclusive proof that our Samuel is part of the Bretz MCKINNEY line, my speculation he is. Cole insinuates that Luke MCKINNEY moved to an existing MCKINNEY homestead in Bretz before the War of 1812, which obviously indicates an earlier MCKINNEY family was in the area. Also one of Luke’s sons had Jackson as a middle name, the same as Samuel’s son and he had a daughter Rebecca as did Samuel. This makes me suspect there is indeed a connection, since I have often found many instances of families during that time using similar first names in various family branches – naming boys after uncles, daughters after aunts, sons after grandfathers. (See notes).
While I’m at it, I’ll mention here an unresolved story that one or more of the McKinney’s served with the Confederacy during the Civil War. Rumor is that there was some kind of family split having to do with the war. Supposedly a MCKINNEY was captured by Union soldiers and hung by his toes but was saved when some Confederate soldiers, who had been hiding until the Union soldiers left, cut him down. I haven’t been able to confirm any of this, but its likely that there’s probably at least some truth to the story, even if not totally true. It could also be that this story happened to one of the Hilemans or McKinneys who served in the Union army, but in that case he would have been captured and abused by Confederates. Sometimes these kinds of stories, which have some truth in them, get all twisted around as they are passed down.
Returning to the McKinneys, Flora and Samuel J. MCKINNEY had the following children:
1. Edna Faye February 17, 1895 - 1921
2. Gettis Porter December 21, 1897 - 1920
3. Wanda Mae May 07, 1899 - May 14, 1953
4. Lydia Ella January 07, 1901 - December 27, 1987
5. Charles Norman April 02, 1903 -
6. Beatrice Armeda December 20, 1905 -
7. Edith Pearl February 13, 1907 -
8. Dephia Grace February 07, 1909 -
9. Lena Ethel July 02, 1911 -
10. Woodrow Jackson May 19, 1913 - June 19, 1914
11. Althea Ruth April 16, 1915 - November 18, 1988
12. Bernice Audoline July 27, 1917 - (My grandmother)
Samuel and Flora lived by farming on at least two farms in West Virginia, the last around the Clifton Mills area on the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia not far from the Warton Furnace. By all accounts, Samuel was a good farmer who worked hard and kept his family fed and housed to the best of his abilities. Cole mentions that the McKinneys generally were known to have been successful farmers and Samuel appears to have maintained that reputation. He started out on a smaller farm, but later sold that one to buy one consisting of approximately 180 acres.
Although hardworking, Samuel is reported to also have been a hard drinker and not the easiest person with which to live. In contrast, by all accounts, his wife, was just the opposite. Kind, tirelessly dedicated to the children and apparently long-suffering. Olive, or "Grandma McKinney" as she was know to me, had twelve children, all born at home, (of course), and when her husband took an occasional job in town or worked in the coal mines, did a day’s work on the farm bringing in crops and fodder. She lived to be 90. My Aunt Ruth recollects about her mom:
"Mother was a little woman, red hair and freckles, of Scotch-Irish descent. She bore the children, worked the fields like a man, made our meager clothing, and fed us all sometimes God only knows how. She was soft-spoken, kind, patient, loving and all those other good things too numerous to put down in writing. She gathered wild herbs and teas, canned gallons of food, and dried what was left for our winter use. Sometimes she was sorely mistreated by Dad when he had too much hard cider or home-made wine, but she never shirked her duty to the children."
Eventually, their son, Porter had his own farm adjacent to his father’s, but tragically Porter, along with his wife and two young children, died in a house fire in 1921. In her uncompleted memoirs, Aunt Ruth recounts the horrible event:
"On August 4th 1926 a terrible tragedy touched my life. I had been over to see my brother’s children the night before and a storm was brewing so I didn’t stay long. Glenna, the little girl, cried to go home with me but since her mother said she had to stay home to keep Bucky company, I sneaked off from her and ran home. That was the last time I was to see her, as she was that night. That night their house burned down. It was about 3 a.m. when I heard screaming, at first half-asleep I thought the fire and screaming were coming from Scouts camping down by Big Sandy, but after I got my bearings I realized it was coming from my brother Porter’s place. I ran to waken Dad and Mom who had also heard and met me in the hall. I ran down our lane with Dad and we found my brother trying to come for help. After he knew we were helping he lay down in the grass for he was naked and burned beyond recognition. Dad ran and got the little girl whom my brother had to throw through a window because the doorknobs had fallen off. She was burned so badly I couldn’t tell which child she was. Dad gave her to me. I just ran to meet Mom and gave her to her, then ran back for the other one. My brother-in-law and Dad lay Porter on a quilt and carried him into our house. Porter’s wife walked the half-mile distance, naked and burnt to a crisp. After we got them into our house, my brother-in-law Ray rode for help. Two doctors came but said the burns were so bad no one would withstand a trip to the hospital. Little Bucky died at 10 a.m.. Glenna an hour later. Glenna had seemed to be unconscious, but as she drew her last breath she spoke loud and clear "I’ll go Bucky." My brother died at 5 p.m. still thinking he had saved his family. Lydia, his wife, had fallen in the steps coming downstairs and had dropped the baby. My brother went back into the flames three times to get them all out. Needless to say this nearly killed my Mother and I seemed to be in such a state of shock that I was confused, crying, and nauseated. Nowadays I would have had treatment, but then we had to adjust alone."
The cause of the fire was never determined. My cousin, Janet BRASUK, told me that her mother indicated that it might have been of suspicious origin. She seemed to recall hearing that Porter had had a dispute with a neighbor over a dog, and after the fire, empty gasoline cans were found in some nearby bushes. She didn’t know if the gas cans actually had anything to do with the fire or if the disgruntled neighbor had maliciously set the fire. I got the impression this neighbor was someone of disrepute. In any case, lacking any evidence there wasn’t much they could do.
Not long after the fire, the McKinneys sold their farm and moved to the Uniontown area, and after buying and selling several properties, bought a small farm near the present Hatfield School. Samuel farmed a small plot and worked various jobs including one as greenskeeper at the Uniontown Country Club.
After Bernice, her youngest child, left home, Grandma MCKINNEY separated from Samuel Jackson and moved to Hopwood, Pa. where she rented a room in the back of a house on Rt. 40 across from the Coolspring. Later she moved in with her daughter Edith in Fairchance and lived there until she died in 1964.
Despite being at an age when most men would be thinking of retiring, after the divorce, Samuel met a younger woman and fathered at least one child to her. Although he lived for a time in Terra Alta, W.Va., he eventually died from a heart attack in January 3,1964 in Tunnelton, WV.
In the summer of 2001, I visited the old MCKINNEY farmstead and saw the stone foundation of Porter’s house. Surprisingly, one small outbuilding, that Porter built and said to have called his "barn" was still standing, but in somewhat neglected condition. The old foundation of the house is still in reasonably good shape considering its age and circumstances. In fact, many years after the fire someone erected a hunting cabin on it. Coincidentally, that burned down also.
The former McKinney farmhouse located just off Rt. 281 S. on Whirsing Road is presently inhabited and appears to be in good shape. Several outbuildings, which I understand were built by Samuel J., appear to be in use. Its my understanding that the farm is operated and presently owned by the Leasure family who grow corn on the land. Besides two newer houses close to the gravel road built in the last twenty or so years, the farm apparently hasn’t changed much since the McKinneys lived there 80 years before. Even the rather long rolling lane going from the gravel road to the farmhouse is still dirt.
Janet BRASUK told me about the time her and her mother drove up to the old farm sometime in the 1980s. Mrs. Leasure lived there and showed them around. Janet said her mother commented that not much had changed about the house in all those years. She said her mother became distraught when she noticed a particular stone near the house where she recalled that night 60-some years earlier when her own mother had became overwhelmed with emotion and sat on that exact spot the night Porter’s house burned.
(I have attached directions to the MCKINNEY farmstead and Porter MCKINNEY family gravesite.)
Our grandmother, Bernice MCKINNEY, attended South Union High School where she met Charles ANDERSON of Continental Two. His parents were Margaret ADAMS and Nicholas ANDERSON (name was changed from ANDRASY). His mother’s parents were John and Mary ADAMS (name was changed from ADAMUS). Pop told me that his grandfather, John ADAMS, lived near where he grew up and was thought to have originally come from Slovakia. His mother was born in Westmoreland Co. around Mt. Pleasant.
Charles and Bernice were married while still teenagers and eventually had three children:
1. Patricia Olive
2. Diane (Died in a car accident)
3. Edward (Died in a motorcycle accident)
My grandfather, Charles "Pop" ANDERSON, told me an humorous story about one particular visit he made to the MCKINNEY home before Bernice and he married. The story went that Samuel J. was on the front porch shooting his pistol. He asked Pop if he was any good with a pistol and handed it to him. Now Pop didn’t consider himself much of a shot, but took the gun anyway without saying anything and casually took aim at a rabbit some distance away. He shot the gun completely expecting to miss, but instead killed the rabbit. Samuel was completely amazed, thinking Pop was an expert shot. Pop never let on that the shot was pure luck as he gave the gun back.
With a family newly established, World War Two began, Pop enlisted in the Navy Sea Bees and was sent to the Pacific Theatre. As I recall, he served in the Philipines, Saipan, and probably some other islands where he operated a bulldozer building air strips and roads. After being discharged from the service, he worked at a coal reclamation plant located where the Uniontown YMCA stands today. Later, he operated heavy equipment on construction sites, before going into long-haul truck driving in the early 1950s. He finally retired from that in the late 1980s.
William Patrick Scott
Hopwood, Pa.
7/6/2003
Bibliography and Informational Sources:
Oren F. Morton, A History of Preston County West Virginia- Vol. One, Kingwood, WVa. 1914, Clearfield Co. 1997.
J. R. Cole, A History of Preston County West Virginia- Vol. Two, Kingwood, WVa. 1914, Clearfield Co. 1997.
S. T. Wiley, History of Preston County (West Virginia), Kingwood, WVa. 1882, Clearfield Co. 1997.
The Feather Book (Genealogy of the Feather family).
McKinney family Bible.
Numerous emails from people connected either directly or indirectly to Hilemans, McKinneys and other allied families.
Notes:
SAMUEL MCKINNEY AND LYDIA ANN COLLIN Children: Samuel Jackson, Susan, Rebecca, Solomon and others. Note parents of both were born in W.Va.
Confirmed in the 1880 Census for Preston County, W. Va.
Sam McKinney WM 59 Mines Coal/Farms b. WV parents b. WV
Lydia Ann Collins WF 45 wife keeping house b. WV parents b. WV
Children:
Rebecca B. WF 17 dau b. WV
B.E. WF 15 dau b. WV
Solomon WM 12 son b. WV
E.A. WF 10 dau "
Samuel Jackson WM 8 son "
Susan WF 5 dau "
They are living in the Valley District. Possible relations also living in this district are:
A.W. McKinney age 60 and wife C.C. and their family
Elisah McKinney age 39 and wife Kesiah 32 and daughter.
H. McKinney age 66 and wife Ellen 52 and their family
J.J. McKinney age 48 and wife Caroline age 44 and their family
J.W. McKinney age 25 and wife Annie, 18.
Morton writes: "Luke McKinney moved from Jefferson county to the Dorsey Knob, south of Morgantown, arriving there in 1810. In 1820, he settled on the Joseph J. McKinney farm west of Bretz." Elsewhere he writes: Luke m. Elsie Spencer of Hampshire. Their children were: John m. Ellen Sullivan of Monon-Marion; Harrison b 1813 d 1892 m. Ellen Fortney; Michael m. Jane Watson - Marion; Sarah m. Philip Menear; Wesley m. Charity Spencer; Julia m. William S. Watson; Rebecca m. Henry Fleck - Wis.; William H. m. Mary Taylor - Neb.; Alexander - KY; Joseph J. m. Caroline P. Zinn.
Morton also writes of a James Collins and his children, but I do not see a Lydia.
Looks like those folks may have been of her parents and grandparents generations.
[It is unknown at this time how all these persons are related, but I strongly suspect they are. - WPS]
From 1850 Preston Co. Census:
The following families were entered in census sequentially and suspected to be related to my McKinney line – probably cousins.
Luke McKinney b. 1783
Elsie McKinney b. 1793
Children:
Joseph McKinney b. 1832
=========
James McKinney b. 1817
Eleare(?) McKinney b. 1821
Children:
McKinney Child 1 b. 1834
Elisha McKinney b. 1842
Prisilla McKinney b. 1844
McKinney Child 4 b. 1846
McKinney Child 5 b. 1848
Charity McKinney b. 1850
=========
William H. McKinney b. 1826
Unintelligible McKinney b. 1827
Children:
James H. McKinney b. 1845
McKinney Child b. 1847
Samuel Taylor b. 1843
From the Net:
From one email by someone who I unfortunately forgot to record:
"According to Elmer and Thelma Anderson who did genealogy for over 40 years, Eliphalet was descended from 1) James Chichester b. about 1620 in Devonshire, Eng.; 2) James Chichister bapt. 1650, Salem.; 3) David Chichester, born Huntington, Long Island md. Alice Bailey; 4) Samuel Chidester (the name started to be spelled pretty much uniformly after this individual) born about 1700 in Wallingford, CT married Mehitable/ Mabel/Mahable Tuller; 5) Another Samuel Chidester who married Mary Titman, the dau of George Titman, and was listed in his will as "Mary Chidery".
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THE LUKE MCKINNEY FAMILY HOME PAGE
Have been able to trace family tree back to Luke McKinney B.3-4-1782 in Hampshire, VA. D.7-27-1862 Preston Co. WV. Married Alyse Spencer abt 1810.
Luke’s children were John Spencer B.5-25-1811, Harrison B. B.1-12-1813, Michael B.4-10-1816, Sarah Frances B.5-6-1818, Arthur Wesley B.5-13-1820, Julia Ann B.5-17-1822, Rebecca B.5-14-1824, Henry B.3-22-1826, Alexander M. B.5-17-1829, Joseph Jackson B.1-13-1832, and Gabriel B.2-6-1834.
We think , but have been unable to prove, Luke's father is William McKinney married to Sarah Miller.
My line is Joseph Jackson McKinney married to Caroline Zinn on 8-11-53. In the 1870 census they were listed as farming in Preston Co. WV in the Valley District.
Their son Albert Raymond married Harriett Drucilli Dawson. Albert died 10-26-1912 in Martin Co. IN.
Albert's son Claude Estace lMcKinney was born on 12-24-1890 in Lawrenceville, IL. Married Myrtle McCart in Dover Hill, Martin Co. IN on 3-11-1912. He died 1-1-1963.
Claude's son Roger born 11-12-1912 at Indian Springs, Martin Co. IN married Freeda Benita Ledgerwood in Lawrenceville, IL on 4-16-1934. Roger died on 9-6-1988 in Seymour, IN.
I am Roger's oldest son Gordon born 8-31-1939 at Alfordsville, IN. Married to Patricia Ann Roberts 4-6-1962 at NAAS Whiting Field Milton FL. We have 3 sons.
I am looking for Luke McKinney's father. All we have is the story that William may be his father. No facts. We would like to make the tie to Europe. ARE WE FROM SCOTLAND OR IRELAND????? We also would like any new information on the descendants of Luke you may.
I will share what I have.
New e-mail adr. [email protected]
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Thanks Gordon McKinney
Posted by: Gordon McKinney
Date: May 16, 1999 at 15:48:12
In Reply to: Re: Daniel McKinney Scotland> VA by Larry McKinney
I come from the line of Luke McKinney b. 3-4-1782 in Hampshire Co VA. Have not been able to take it any further back. Could it be that Samuuel McKinney is a brother to Luke? Rumor has it, but not proof, that William McKinney was Luke's father
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Re: Daniel McKinney Scotland> VA
Posted by: Elva June McKinney Morel
Date: January 06, 2000 at 12:38:57
In Reply to: Re: Daniel McKinney Scotland> VA by Gordon McKinney
of 2103
I am from the Luke McKinney line. Oral tradition says that William was Luke's father but I have found no proof. I did not find Luke's birth in Hampshire County. There are 2 William McKinneys listed in Rev. War records but don't know which one is our ancestor. Since Luke got a land grant in Mon. Co. it is reasonable to think William was in the war.
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SAMUEL HILEMAN AND LYDEA SMITH
Children: Dessie, Judd, Flora Olive, Ella and Lulu
From Janice Cale Sisler [email protected] at Bruceton-Brandonville, WV:
"Greetings cousin William. It seems that we are related on both the Smith and Cale sides of our families.
I have "Olie" Hileman of the approximate age of your Flora Olive, as a daughter of Samuel J. Hileman and Sarah E. Smith. Sarah E. was a sister of my great-grandmother Eliza "Lide" Jane Smith Cale. Samuel J. Hileman was a son of Absalom Hileman and Lovila Cale."
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From [email protected] who apparently misread handwritten Lovila Cale as "Viola Hall":
"I got the Viola Hall from William's death certificate so it may not be right. In the 1850 census for Preston Co., Absalom is listed with "Lovila" and Louisa age 6. Three Hileman children (Nancy A. age 4, Samuel F. age 2 and William H. age 6 months) are listed with William and Mary Conner. The Conners are listed about 20 houses away from Absalom. My g-g-grandfather was William H.
In 1860, Lovila and Jacob Hileman, age 3, are listed with Elisha and Azareal (?) Cale and Nancy, Samuel, George and Rachel Hileman are listed with Jacob and Rachel Cale. They are about 6 houses apart. Where is Absalom is 1860? Where is William H.?
In the 1850 census, William Conner is 51 and Mary Conner is 42. In the 1860 census, Jacob Cale is 68 and Rachel Cale is 58 and they reside in the Muddy Creek area. Elisha Cale is 35 and Azareal Cale is 21 and they reside in the Valley Point area.
George Oliver Hileman was my great-grandfather and his father was William H.
In the 1850 census, Absalom is 27 and Lovila is 28. The census enumeration date was 9 October 1850. The census also indicated that neither one of them could read or write.
It's a good possibility that Jacob Hileman's grandfather was Jacob Cale. I need to look further into other census records to see what happens to the other children."
Jacob Cale and four 1780 brothers came from Germany around according to the "History of Preston Co. by Wiley.
==================================================================
From Debbie aka [email protected] :
"I saw your query on the Garrett Co. list. My gggrandmother was Almelda Hileman born abt. 1852. She married John P. Uphold and had the following children: Mary, Andrew, Estella, and Daisey ( my great grandmother ). All of Preston Co. I have not been able to find any info on Almelda.
This is what little info I have on the Hilemans.
Amanda Hileman married Norman Uphold. I believe Amanda may be a sister to my Almelda. Norman and John P. Uphold were brothers.
I got this info from the Feather book and have no idea where it connects: Irma Hileman married John Ralph Teets. Mae Hileman married Richard Miller (Terra Alta)
Charlotte Dessie Hileman daughter of Samuel Hileman and Sarah Smith married Benjamin Zeke Peaslee.
Samuel Hileman was the son of Absalom Hileman and Lovina Cale.
Sarah Smith was the daughter of Samuel Smith and Mary Micheal. This info comes from the Feather Book.
The only dates are on Dessie born 1873 Albright died 1940 Preston Co. Benjamin Peaslee born 2/2/1875 died 1920 Albright buried Lutheran Cemetary. Their children: Ida Edna b. 11/22/1891 Albright married Walter Bishoff. William Bruce born and died 8/22/1894 Albright buried Lutheran Cemetary.Melva Ellen born 10/25/1897 Albright married Claude Cramer
Unnamed Infant male born and died 10/22/1889 Albright buried Lutheran Cem. Mabel Goldie born 6/30/1902 Albright married Morris Johnson
Ray Daniel born 10/26/1909 Albright married Mary Alice Garner
I can look thru the book and see if there is more info on these children. Also Sarah had a sister Mary Ann I believe. There is info on her. Also a few Cales. If you want me to look up any of these let me know and I will try to get to it in the next couple of days.
My grandmother said they [Hilemans] came into Philadelphia and some settled in Sunberry. This is about all she can remember but she does good for 90."
Also see for possible Jacob Cale relatives:
http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/i/m/Richard-K-Simpson/BOOK-0001/0005-0001.html
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From McKinney family Bible:
Samuel Jackson McKinney, born on Dec. 21, 1869 in Masontown, Wva. and died on January 3, 1964 in Uniontown, PA
Flora Olive Hileman, born on Dec.17,1874 in Rockville, WVa. and died on November 20,1964 in Uniontown, PA
Married at Brandonville, WVa. August 17, 1892 by Rev. Henry Friend.
Children:
Faye Feb. 17,1895-1921 Unmarried. Died of Typhus.
Porter Dec. 21,1897-Aug, 1925 Married Lydia Myers, 2 children
Wanda May 17, 1899-May 14,1953 Married Tom McElroy, 5 children
Ella Jan 7, 19__-Dec. 27. 1987 Married Ted Jones, 2 children
Charles Apr. 2,1902 Married Martha Maust, 2 children
Beatrice Dec. 20,1904 Married Harry Kinney, 1 child
Edith Feb. 13, 1906 Married Gus Mitchell, 3 children
Grace Feb. 7, 1908 Married Ray House, divorced.
Married Leland Lawson, 2 children
Ethel July 2,1911 Married Stanley Aspey, 6 children
Jackson Dec. 1913-June l9,1914 Unmarried. Died of Diptheria.
Ruth Apr. 16,1915-Nov. 18 l988 Married Frank Devan, 2 children
Married Fred Rankin
Bernice July 27, 1917 Married Charles Anderson, 2 children
Edith has one son, Max and two daughters, Betty June and Linda Carol.
Grace has two sons, Richard and Jerry.
Beatrice has one son, Gene.
Ethel has six children, Stanley, who drowned at Ohiopyle in 1952, Vernon, Wallace, Barbara, Lucille and Buddy.
Bernice has three children, Patty, Eddie (deceased 1962) Diane (deceased 1958)
Charles has four children, Charles(Pete) Doris Jean, Rita and Gerald(deceased)
Fay died of unknown causes
Porter died in house fire with his wife, two children, Glenna and Edwin Ray, and unborn child in 1926.
Wanda died of Cancer. Her children's names were: Stanley, Irene, Pauline,
Donald and Emily.
Ella died of Cancer and Heart problems. Her children were Ada and Mary Alice.
Jack died in infancy of Diptheria.
Ruth died of Cancer. Her children are Janet and Frances
Bill,
No idea where Dellslow is, I've never heard of it. I'm gonna call my dad tomorrow and see if he knows. It was pretty late tonight when I found out. I also found out that the WV Archives is here in Charleston, I didn't know that so I'm going to make a trip there and see if I can find a Civil War record on him and maybe an Obit or death record. I'll let you know.
I've been reading through some of the census records and found some interesting things. First, the 1910 census has Samuel Jackson and Flora Olive living in Preston Co. with Grace being the youngest at the time. All the other siblings I've been able to find were in Monongalia Co. 1910 WV Monongalia Co. Morgan Dist. ED # 78 page 164A Has Solomon age 36 single (although an earlier census had him listed as divorced), living next door to Samuel age 90 and it's indicated that this is his second marriage. And that number of years of present marriage is 42. Living with him is Lydia A. age 89 (I don't know how they got 89, the 1900 census has her as 62) married once, number of years of present marriage is 42. Now if you figure it up, that makes the year they married about 1868. The 1900 census for Monongalia Co. Morgan Dist. ED#84 page 166. has Samuel McKinney born Jan 1820 age 80 married 35 years, Lidda born June 1837 age 62 married 35 years mother to 8 children, 7 living now. Solomon Dec. 1868 age 31 divorced, Susan L. April 1876 age 24 single. Mary A. (granddaughter) Dec 1891 age 8 single. According to this census Sam and Lydia would have married in 1865. Now here is the interesting part.
1870 WV Preston Co. Valley Dist. Post office: Rowlesburg Microfilm page 238 A Twp. pg. # 19 Taken Aug. 29, 1870 Family # 147
Samuel McKinney age 50 Farmer born in Va
Lydia A. age 32 VA
Sanford 13 VA
Rosa Bell 6 WV
Rebecca 4 WV
Solomon 1 WV
Sanford being 13 in 1870 makes his birthdate around 1857 well before Sam and Lydia married, I believe he may have been a son from Samuel's first marriage, in 1910 he indicated this was his 2nd marriage.
In the 1900 census for Preston Co. Valley Dist. ED # 113 has
McKinney Sanford DEC 1857 age 42 married 13 years
Luce A. Wife Aug 1868 age 31 married 13 years
Addie daugh Feb 1888 age 12
Esther E. Daugh Jun 1896 age 3
(The spelling of Sanford's wife's name was hard to read, I believe that's what it was though I can't say for sure.)
In 1910 Samuel Jackson is listed as Jackson McKinney.
1910 WV Preston Co. Grant Dist. ED# 98 family # 186
McKinney, Jackson age 37 Married 17 years
Flora O. age 33 Married 17 years mother of 8, 8 living now
Gettis P. age 13 single
Wandie Mae age 10 single
Lidde E. age 9 single
Charlie N. age 7 single
Beatrice A. age 5 single
Edith Pearl age 3 single
Delpha G. age 1 4/12 single
Edna Fay age 15 single
1910 WV Mon Co. Morgan Dist. ED # 78 Sheet 153 A
McKinney, Sanford head age 51 widowed
Clarence son age 13 single
Mary M. daughter age 12 single
Annie L. daughter age 10 single
Clina M.(maybe Clira M.) daughter age 5 single
Emma B. daughter age 3 single
1910 WV Mon Co. Morgan Dist. ED # 78 Sheet 11B
Murray, A. J. head age 50 married 1 21 years
Rebecca wife age 44 married 1 21 years mother of 9, 8 living now
Bessie daughter age 19 single
Laura daughter age 18 single
Pearle daughter age 15 single
Fay daughter age 14 single
Florence daughter age 11 single
Minnie daughter age 8 single
Charles son age 9 single
Annie daughter age 6 single
Samans, Delmar grandchild age 2 single
Chipps, Earle grandchild age 9/12 single
McKinney, Elizabeth sister in law age 39 single
Well that's all I have so far. Talk to you later. Rhonda