| Notes |
- THE SEARCH FOR THE FOREBEAR OF JOHN MCKINNEY
After searching for over 30 years for the forebear of John McKinney (1788-1862) I finally met with some success.
BACKGROUND
Details in the following two paragraphs were sent to me in an e mail on November 16, 2003 by Gary McKinney of St. Petersburg, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He confirmed it in a telephone call on November 23rd, in which he advised further that a descendant of John McKinney and Mary Llewellyn in Venango County informed him that the second son was named Anthony or John. Gary followed this up with the following additional information and documentation that I received on December 5, 2003.
In a History of Venango County, Pennsylvania, published 1890, it states that a John McKinney was a soldier in the American Revolution, emigrated from the North of Ireland and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania where he reared a family. From a DAR application paper dated 1966, information states that John McKinney was a volunteer in the Continental Army as a private. He was on the payroll of Captain Andrew Lang’s (should be Long) Company of the first Battalion of the Rifle Regiment in the service of the Province of Pennsylvania, commanded by Daniel Broadhead. He enlisted in April 1776 and was quartered in camp near King’s Bridge in the militia, 5th class of the 4th Battalion, Chester County, Militia, Captain John Rowland. The application lists his children as: Anthony, Samuel (married Rachel McKinney, see paragraph following) Mary and Susan. He is the son of James Collin McKinney, born in Ireland, and Sarah Boone.
“Mrs. Rachel McKinney, aged 96 and one of the first settlers in Venango County died in her home in Salem, near Oil City last Friday night. By marriage she was the aunt of Mrs. John Turney of Sligo of Clarion County and was thus related to a large number of residents of this county. Being a great aunt to some of them and being a great Aunt to others of them. She was the mother of 12 children. Her husband was born in 1796 and died in 1871. Received a silver medal for conspicuous gallantry in Perry’s victory on Lake Erie in the War of 1812”. Clarion County Democrat dated March 7, 1895. Mrs. John Turney is Jane Emerick McKinney, the youngest daughter of John McKinney and Mary Magadalene Emerick. It is interesting that Anthony McKinney, the youngest son, was residing in Sligo, at that time, but is not mentioned in the article. Whether Federick Roy McKinney was aware of this article and elected to ignore it in his research, I do not know.
CONCLUSION
Circumstantial evidence continues to indicate that John McKinney married to Mary Magdalene Emerick may be the son named Anthony in the DAR application above. Whether Anthony (John) is the oldest son is not known. If so, his date of birth would be prior to May 14, 1785, the date of birth of Mary, the oldest daughter and after October 31, 1786, the date of birth of Samuel. I suspect that he was born after Samuel, thus making his date of birth about 1788, the generally accepted date of his birth. Also the DAR application states that the family was reared in Chester County. This is not correct as daughter Susan was born on April 13, 1790 and does not appear on the Federal Census for Northumberland County, Pennsylvania with the family of John McKinney the American Revolutionary Veteran, married to Mary Llewellyn.
John McKinney, the American Revolutionary veteran, owned the property adjacent to John Nicholus Emerick in Northumberland County, later Walker Township, Centre County. As shown in the census information below he had two sons residing at home in 1790. There is, however, no documentation in support of the information on Anthony (John) such as a record of his baptism or date of birth. The Affidavit of Rachel McKinney, dated April 22, 1893, states that her husband Samuel was born in Centre County (at that time Northumberland County), Pennsylvania on October 31, 1786, contributing further to the confusion. The fact that a John McKinney married Mary Magdalene Emerick who lived on the adjacent farm and they named their youngest son Anthony continues to fuel the speculation that he is the son of the American Revolutionary veteran.
On the other hand, the fact that son Anthony (John) did not appear to share in any inheritance and the fact that he was a “Scotchman by birth”, raise a question as to the authenticity of this line of descent. Contributing to the skepticism is the fact that Frederick Roy McKinney, born August 22, 1886, and who had done extensive research on the McKinney line in the 1920’s, did not identify this line and alluded that John’s father was Samuel. Also Anthony McKinney, son of John, died in Sligo on June 19, 1901. He resided next to his sister, Jane Emerick McKinney Turney, but did not appear in the write up in the Clarion County Democrat, dated March 7, 1895.
It may be that John McKinney, born 1748 in Ireland, followed the practice of many Scotch-Irish settlers in preparing his Will. Under Scottish law property fell into two categories. Buildings, anything to do with land and mineral rights, known as heritable property, went to the eldest son (the law of primogeniture). The rest, called movable property consisted of goods, money, and other items. Traditionally this was divided into thirds. The widow received a third (jus relictae), another third was divided equally among the children (legitim), with the remainders, the deid’s part, consisting of bequests by the deceased. In the absence of either widow or children, movable property would be divided into two parts, or simply became all the deid part, although that always had to be confirmed by the court. If the above assertion is correct then John (Anthony) is the second son and was born after Samuel.
It also appears somewhat strange that there does not appear to be any record of correspondence or contact between the two brothers and/or their families after their arrival in Clarion and Venango Counties from Centre County.
I was always intrigued by the fact that John McKinney who came from a Presbyterian background married a Reformed German. It may be that John was estranged from the family and his brother Samuel.
While not answering all of the questions above, and recognizing that additional work will have to be done to establish conclusively this relationship, the weight of evidence indicates that there is fair degree of probability that John McKinney, born about 1788, is indeed the son of John McKinney and Mary Llewellyn and the brother of Samuel. Until evidence to the contrary surfaces, I have elected to treat it as such.
DETAILS OF THE EARLIER SEARCH
AND ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
There is little in the published record and what there is, appears somewhat contradictory.
In early manhood, William Divins married Miss Mary, daughter of John McKinney a native of Scotland. In 1846 James Laughlin was married in Porter Township, Clarion County, to Miss Susan McKinney a native of that township and a daughter of John McKinney, one of the pioneers of Clarion County. In Centre County William Divins married Miss Mary McKinney, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was born in that county, a daughter of John McKinney, a Scotchman by birth. (a) All the locations are in Pennsylvania, unless otherwise noted.
Mary Magdalene Emerick, born 3 May 1791, married John McKinney ca 1810, born 1780, died 1862. Mary died 11 Nov 1860. Mary Magdalene Emerick's parents are John Nicholas Emerick (1763-1815) and Maria Barbara Riegel (1768-1854). He bought land from Peter Ulse and sold it to Peter Neice. He was a farmer and blacksmith. He bought 307 acres of land in Walker Township, Centre County on June 15, 1802. John and Maria Barbara are buried in Dunkle-Emerick Cemetery in Walker Township. (b) Kenneth D. Haines does not cite a source as to the date of birth for John McKinney.
Riegell to Riggle also gives the date of John McKinney's marriage to Mary Magdalene Emerick as ca 1810 and lists his year of birth as 1780. © As this was published later than Haines’ work, and as there was no citation given, I suspect that it may have been copied from it.
Our Great Grandfather, John McKinney, was about three years older than his wife. She was born May 3, 1791. He about 1788, he was past 73 years of age, he died about January 8, 1862, and he was buried at Squirrel Hill Cemetery, Porter Township, Clarion County. (d) This citation is from the work of Fred Roy McKinney, who resided at Sligo, Clarion County, about six miles Northwest of Squirrel Hill Cemetery. All distances are based on a straight line between the two points. I suspect the gravesite marker may have stated his age in years or the year of birth but may not have been distinguishable, thus the estimate. John Mogle, a Trustee of the Squirrel Hill Cemetery, advised that it is a combination of three church cemeteries in the 1930’s, Methodist, Lutheran and Reformed. There are no records prior to that date. There is a replacement marker at the gravesite for John McKinney and Mary Magdalene Emerick, erected by Gary and Mark McKinney that shows John’s year of birth as 1788. Gary stated that the date of birth was obtained from the work done by Fred McKinney. He also informed me that when he visited this site with his father in the early 1970’s there was no marker for John McKinney. An analysis and reconciliation of John McKinney’s year of birth with the 1810 and 1820 Federal Census for Centre County indicates that the date of birth is about 1788.
The earliest surveys made in the area around present day Walker Township were in November 1770 at which time it was part of Cumberland County that was formed in 1750 from Lancaster County. In 1771 it became part of Bedford County when Bedford was formed from Cumberland. In 1772 it became part of Northumberland County when Northumberland was formed. On February 13, 1800 it became a part of Centre County when it was formed. Mifflin County was formed in 1789 from Northumberland County. It is adjacent to and southwest of Northumberland County and adjacent to and southeast of Centre County.
Walker Township, is situated in Nittany valley proper, and is traversed by Little Fishing creek. Its villages are Zion, Hublersburg, Snydertown and Nittany, and it has considerable ore deposits. The township was erected at January sessions, 1810, and called for the then present Judge Jonathan H. Walker. Logans Gap, was built by Judge Isaac McKinney in 1825. At January session 1810, Howard and Walker Townships were erected out of Centre Township and the latter name abolished. Centre was one of the original townships in Centre County. (g)
Villages and towns in Walker Township also include Forest, Peck's Store, Huston, Strunktown, Helca Park, also known as present day Mingoville. Hublersburg is about 10 miles Northeast of Bellefonte, the county seat of Centre County.
Walker Township lies between Eagle Mountain and Nittany Mountain, which mountain ranges run Southwest to Northeast.
THE McKINNEYS
The 1790 Federal Census for Pennsylvania lists the names of 15 McKinneys. Five in Northumberland County, unknown township, Rebecca, Abram, William, Daniel, and John; one in Mifflin County; William, four in Cumberland County, David, Jean and two Patricks, all in Hopewell, Newton, Tryborn and West Pennsboro Townships, three in Washington County, and one each in Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties.
John McKinney one free white male 16 years and upward including head of household, is the American Revolutionary War Veteran; two free white males under 16 years of age, Samuel (1786-1871), later married Rachel McKinney, John, later married Mary Magadalene Emerick; two free white females, Mary, born May 14, 1785, later married John Fulton, Mary Llewellyn, wife. Daughter Susan, born April 13, 1790 is not listed in the census.
John McKinney, a volunteer in 1776 in the Continental Army, serving in Capt. Andrew Long's Company, 1st Battalion, Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, commanded by Col. Daniel Broadhead. He was born in Ireland, before 1760, died in Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Mary Llewellyn. (j) Mary was the daughter of David Llewellyn who lived in Haverford, Chester County.
Colonel Broadhead commanded the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment, Pennsylvania Line that was formed in July 1776 of men from Westmoreland and Bedford Counties in western Pennsylvania. Colonel Broadhead's regiment was in the Penn's valley area of Northumberland County, later Centre County on July 15, 1778. Broadhead received the thanks of Congress for his expedition against the Indians who were devastating the western frontier. He was born in Ulster County, New York and died in Milford, Pennsylvania.
A ‘Captain Lee’ was in the area of Sunbury in 1778 ……… Included were some military warrants, one in the name of John McKinney, late a soldier in the Pennsylvania Line, for 100 acres, No. 10113. (k) This may be John McKinney above, who came to Northumberland County after 1786 and before 1790. It may be that he came to Northumberland County as a result of his military service.
A 'John McKinney' was a surety on the Estate of Felix McClaskey in Northumberland County on August 26, 1794. Whether this is the same individual referred to in the preceding paragraphs, I do not know.
The McKinneys have been in Venango County for the better part of a century. Their first ancestor in America came from the North of Ireland and settled in Haverford, Chester County where he reared his family. He served on the American side in the Revolution. His son Samuel McKinney was born in Chester County, October 31, 1786 and when the War of 1812 broke out was living in Centre County. He was awarded a silver medal by the legislature in 1819 (while a resident of the Nittany Valley in Centre County where he farmed and operated a fulling mill). He died on September 20, 1871. He married Rachel McKinney (1799-1895) from Sunbury on May 23, 1816. She died after 1871. He brought his family to Venango County in 1832-33, securing two hundred acres near Salem City. (f) Samuel McKinney (fulling mill) is listed as an inhabitant of Walker Township in 1810 at which time, Samuel, son of John McKinney would have been 24 years of age. In 1828 this fulling mill is listed as being owned by George McCormick.
Rebecca is Rebecca Lane (1727-1823) the widow of David McKinney (1735/1740-1784). They were married in 1761. David McKinney is of Scotch-Irish origin and lived in New Jersey and Virginia before he came to Sunbury, Northumberland County, where he located in the spring of 1772. (m) In the year 1774 a David McKinney is listed as a taxable inhabitant of Augusta Township (embraced that part of Northumberland County south of the North Bend of the Susquehanna River). In the Augusta Township tax list for 1778-1780 a David McKinney, Esq., is listed as owning 739.3 acres. There is an affidavit of Richard Manning, dated October 23, 1783, which states that David McKinney was living on Indian land and that he kept his family in Sunbury. (p) He was a miller by trade, but he established one of the first distilleries at Sunbury and carried on the business for some years. Late in life he removed to a farm on the West Branch, near Great Island, and there he died.
Rebbeca McKinney, widow of David, received a land grant consisting of 300 acres on July 20, 1785. Deed records show that she sold this land to her son in 1802.
David and Rebecca had a family of nine children, Abraham, Mary, John, Isaac, Sarah, Jacob, James, Elizabeth and Rachel. (m) John married Elizabeth Dunn and they had at least one child, Rachel McKinney (1799-1895). John died in 1806. Rachel was raised by her grandmother, Rebecca McKinney, in Sunbury. There is no information available as to Elizabeth Dunn. Rachel later was residing with her uncle, Isaac McKinney and his wife who had removed to Centre County where he became a prominent citizen, establishing an iron furnace and serving as associate judge. Rachel met her future husband, Samuel McKinney (1786-1871) at the home of her uncle, Isaac McKinney. Rachel and Samuel were married May 23, 1816 in Centre County.
Census information for Rebecca McKinney lists two white females and one free white male of 16 years and upward. I believe this is Rebecca Lane (1737-1823) married in 1761 to David McKinney, (1735/1740-1784) who settled in Sunbury, Northumberland County in 1770. (The date of birth is in conflict with the year 1727 above.) I believe the male in the census listing is Isaac McKinney who married Jane Flemming in 1794. Isaac was a millwright, later a merchant. He was commissioned associate judge in 1819. He built Heckla Furnace at Logan's Gap in 1825. Isaac's sons, David and John became eminent ministers of the gospel, Presbyterian. (h)
An Isaac McKinney came to Kishacoquillas Valley in 1791 from Centre County. Isaac's parents settled at Sunbury in 1770. Isaac was a millwright, later a merchant. He married Jane Fleming in 1794. (h) This is confusing as Kishacoquillas Valley was in Mifflin County in 1791 and was about 28 miles (Bellevue area) Southwest of Sunbury. Centre County was not formed until 1800 and is to the northwest of this area of Mifflin County. Isaac went to Kishacoquillas Valley from Sunbury prior to his marriage. I believe that he went to Walker Township later.
Abram McKinney: I believe this is Abraham McKinney (1762-1835). Abraham McKinney, son of David, was born November 12, 1762, and came to Northumberland County from New Jersey. He first lived at what is now the site of Herndon, being one of the earliest settlers thereabout and later moved to Sunbury, where he followed his trade of stonemason and built many of the stone houses in that section. As he was 10 years of age when he came to Northumberland County with his parents it is presumed that David, his father above, may have also settled at Herdon, later moving to Sunbury. Abraham died at Sunbury, September 13, 1885 and was the first person buried in the lower cemetery. He was married to Abigail Lomison and appears to have been a prominent man. Listed as a witness on the Estate of Joseph Pumroy, November 25, 1783. Listed as a surety on the Estate of William Moore, Sr., on August 28, 1798. Listed a surety on the Estate of Adam Fisher, dated December 28, 1798. Listed as an executor for the Estate of John Lyon of Borough of Sunbury, Northumberland County, dated July 24, 1800. The land that John Lyon purchased in Buffaloe Township was from a Jacob McKinney (presumably Abraham's brother). Among Abraham's children were Jacob (1797-1861) married to Rebecca Barbara (1801-1860), Rachel married to John Burrell at Sunbury, John and James, the latter born in 1805 at Mahanoy, Northumberland County. (a)
William McKinney: wife and one son under 16 years of age. This may be the son of David McKinney and Rebecca Lane. No other information available.
Daniel McKinney: one free white male of 16 years and upward, one free white male under 16 years and two free white females including heads of families. No other information available.
JOHN EMERICK IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, LATER WALKER TOWNSHIP, CENTRE COUNTY
Our forebear, John Adam Emerick (1729-1813) had three sons with the first name of Johannes or John, all of whom went to Northumberland County prior to 1790, the date of the first Federal Census. The distance from Stouchsburg, Tulpenhocken Township, the area in which they initially lived to Hublersburg, the area where John Nicholaus Emerick settled, is about 85 miles.
The 1790 Federal Census for Pennsylvania, Northumberland County, lists a John Emerick with one free white male 16 years and upward including head of household, one free white male under 16, and one free white female including head of families. There are no other Emericks and no Emerichs or Emmerichs listed in Northumberland County.
Johannes George Emerick, born 1759, Tulpehocken Township died 1805 in Centre County. He went to Northumberland County in 1789. Married first, Regina Brua daughter of Peter Brua. She died in Centre County in 1799 leaving six children. The children were taken back to Berks County by relatives. Johannes George married second Barbara Elizabeth Ohl Shook in 1802, widow of John Shook who died in 1798. (b)
Johannes Casper Emerick, born 1761, married Christina Haak. (b) They were in Tulpehocken Township in 1783-1786 where three of their children were born and baptized. They moved to Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where they attended Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at Erdman where the last few children were born and baptized. They moved to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania about 1788 and are shown as taxpayers in Haines Township in 1804 and in Potter Township in 1806-1807, both in Centre County. Johannes Casper and his family moved to Fairfield County, Ohio now Perry County, Ohio. Johannes Casper was a citizen and voter in Perry County as early as 1816-1817. The distance from Stouchsburg to Erdham is about 32 miles. The distance from Erdman to Hublersburg is about 53 miles.
John Nicholas Emerick, married to Maria Barbara Riegel, came to Centre County about 1788, bought a farm from Jacob Ulse, later selling it to Peter Niece, and bought 307 acres in Walker Township, June 15, 1802. John was a farmer and a blacksmith. (d) There was a note in Fred McKinney’s handwriting, in the ‘loose leaf files on John Nicholas Emerick’ at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum at Bellefonte, Centre County’ that John Nicholas Emerick came to Northumberland County in 1788. The reference quoted is ‘Church Records at Christ Lutheran Church’ (Stouchsburg).
A more precise description would state that John Nicholaus Emerick came to Northumberland County in 1788 and settled in the area that was later Center Township, Center County in 1800 and then Walker Township, in 1810. Haines has him buying land from Peter Ulse while Fred McKinney has him purchasing it from Jacob Ulse. Fred McKinney is specific that the Ulse purchase occurred when he first arrived in Northumberland County and that the sale of this property to Peter Niece was followed by the purchase of the 307 acres in present day Walker Township. The 1790 Federal Census for Pennsylvania, Northumberland County, includes the names of a John Niece and a Michael Niece but no Peter Niece or Jacob Ulse.
In my opinion, John Nicholas Emerick is the John Emerick listed in the 1790 Census based (1) on the compelling evidence cited by Fred McKinney above, and (2) the fact that Johannes George’s and Johannes Casper’s family data do not match up as well with the census data as that of John Nicholaus. One free white male 16 and upwards, including heads of families, one free white male under 16 years and one free white female.
A question remains, however, as to where the older children were during the period 1788 to 1790; John Adam, born, July 29, 1786, baptized September 3, 1786, John, born September 17, 1786, baptized October 14, 1787, Maria Margaret Elizabeth, born, January 10, 1789, baptized January 12, 1789, all at Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, Berks County. Mary Magdalene, was born May 31, 1791 and no date or location of her baptism has been found. It may e that the male under 16 is John Adam and that John and Maria Margaret Elizabeth (1) were not included in the census or (2) remained in Berks County with relatives. In reviewing the literature on the Emericks in Northumberland County and later in Centre County during this period, there appeared to be some amount of travel between Tulpenhocken Township and what is now the area of Walker Township, notwithstanding the distance between these two locations, about 85 miles. Further work will need to be done in establishing the date of the land acquisition from Jacob Ulse and subsequent sale to Peter Niece. The question on John and Maria Margaret Elizabeth may never be resolved.
Catherine Emerick, born about 1793, daughter of John Nicholaus Emerick, married Michael Heckman in Centre County. (b) A Catherine Emerick, daughter of a Nicholas Emerick, was baptized September 27, 1800 at the Loop, Tusseyville, Centre County. Assuming that John Nicholaus Emerick resided in the Hublersburg area at that time, it was a distance of about 12 miles between Hublersburg and Tusseyville, over the Nittany Mountain. It may be that this is the same individual.
John Nicholas Emerick inherited one eighth of his father's estate. The will was probated February 11, 1813 in Berks County. (e)
Original Land Warranties were issued in the early 1800's in Centre Couty to John Emerick (the 1802 purchase), William McKinney, John McKinney, Samuel McKinney, Isaac McKinney and David McKinney.
There is a cemetery about a mile across the field known as the old Emerich and Dunkle cemetery from John Nicholaus Emerick's farm on the old Dunkle farm about one and one-half miles beyond Hublersburg or one and one half mules on this side of Syndertown where Elizabeth Emerick and her husband Henry Dunkle are buried. This is where I think John Nicholaus Emerick and John and their wives are buried. Only three stones in the cemetery, erected about 1860. About 15 or 20 graves are about four or five hundred feet back of the house. (d)
On July 26, 1999, I visited the Walker Township offices and obtained a map of the Township. The length of the Hublersburg - Snydertown Road is about three plus miles between the two towns. This road is bisected by State Route 64. The cemetery which Fred McKinney referred to above, is approximately three miles slightly southwest of Hublersburg on present day Heritage Lane. The owner of the farm is Deitrich. The cemetery is known as the Private Graveyard on the Dunkle Farm. There are no markers at the gravesite, but I did inspect a record of the tombstones, dated July 1929, at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum that listed 10 Dunkles, including Henry Dunkle and his wife (Maria Margaret) Elizabeth Emerich Dunkle. The librarian stated that the Graveyard is maintained and that a number of Emericks are buried there. While there, I also inspected a copy of the Petition for Partition in Walker Township, dated August 25, 1824.
Dunkle Farm (private) Walker Township. Directions: From intersection of Route 550 and 64 near Zion, it is 3.2 miles to farm lane on right side. It is located on this farm. (i)
The land that John Nicholaus Emerick acquired on June 15, 1802 was awarded to his children according to a Petition for Partition of Land in Walker Township, dated August 25, 1824. For John Emerick, son of Nicholas Emerick, deceased, who left a widow Barbara (Maria Barbara Riegel) and issue of six children (including Mary Magdalene Emerick married to John McKinney). Land consisting of 307 acres joins Francis McEwen, Samuel McKinney, James Clark, George Snyder and Jacob Candy. Messrs. McEwen, Clark, Snyder and Candy are not listed in the 1790 Federal Census in Northumberland County. As we shall see later in this memorandum, these individuals are listed in the 1810 Federal Census for Pennsylvania, Walker Township, either next to or near the listing for John Nicholaus Emerick.
Mary Magdalene Emerick and her husband John McKinney sold their interest in the family farm to John Emerick and Maria Margaret Elizabeth Emerick Dunkle and her husband Henry for $900 each (total $1,800) on June 30, 1824. (d) It appears that the sale was made prior to the formal award under the petition. Although Mary Magdalene Emerick and John McKinney sold their interest in 1824, they continued to reside in Walker Township, presumably in the area around Hublersburg and Snydertown, until they left around 1833 for Leatherwood, Porter Township, Armstrong County, later Clarion County. It is doubtful that they remained on the farm after the sale.
John McKinney removed to Leatherwood, Armstrong County, later Clarion County in 1833. (d)
OTHER RESEARCH
In the Mifflin County listing, William McKinney, one free white male of 16 and upwards, including heads of families, four free white males under 16 years of age and three free white females. William McKinney is located north of the Juniata River.
By way of information, a Michael Jack and a Jacob Jack are listed in Mifflin County, north of the Juniata River.
John McKinney a native of the Kingdom of Ireland and now an inhabitant of said county of Centre proffered his petition preying to be admitted a Citizen of the United States...... he did entirely renounce and abjure all allegiances and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate state or Sovereignty whatever particularly to George the third King of Great Britain and Ireland to whom he was heretofore a subject ....... David Craig, a citizen of the United States being duly sworn according to law says that he is well acquainted with John McKinney the within Petitioner. That to this deponents knowledge that the said Petitioner was residing within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States of America between the eighteen day of June one thousand seven hundred ninety eight and the fourteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and two and has resided for more than one year in the State of Pennsylvania. David Craig X his mark. Fourteenth Day of April AD 1802. By Order of the Court 26 August 1806. (l)
I have been unable to locate any information on David Craig who purported to know John McKinney from the date of his apparent arrival in Northumberland County in June 1798. A question arises, that if this John McKinney had McKinney relatives in the area, why didn’t they sponsor his naturalization.
This John McKinney may be the grandfather of a Mrs. Gardner who was born at Pennsylvania Furnace, Center County, July 31, 1826. Her parents, William and Mary (McKinney) Newell were also natives of Centre County, where the maternal grandfather, John McKinney located on his emigration from Ireland. Later he became a resident of Clarion County and his death occurred in Rimersburg. Throughout his life he was engaged in the manufacture of cloth. William and Mary McKinney Newell came to Clarion County in 1841. Mary McKinney Newell died in 1862 at the age of sixty-five. (a) I would presume that John McKinney also came to Clarion County in 1841, however, I have not been able to locate either him or a William Newell in Clarion County in the 1850 or 1860 Federal Census for Pennsylvania. I also searched the census records of Ferguson Township (where Pennsylvania Furnace is located), Centre County for the year 1820 for a John McKinney but none was listed. As Mary McKinney Newell was born in 1797, John McKinney was born about 1775 to 1780 in Ireland. He would have been about 25 to 30 years of age on the date he was naturalized.
Robert Newell, with his family, came from Centre County and settled in Churchville, Monroe Township, (Clarion County)in 1821. (n) He may be related to William Newell but I have not been able to establish any relationship at this point.
John McKinney married Betsey Shultz (no residence given) on 25 August 1810, Reverend William Stuart. (o) This is not the John McKinney who was naturalized in 1806 as his granddaughter, Mrs. Gardner, was born in 1826. It may be his son, the father of Mrs. Gardner above. It is interesting that the year of this marriage is 1810 which is also the estimated date of the marriage of John McKinney to Mary Magdalene Emerick.
There is a John McKinney listed in Bellefonte Boro, Centre County in the 1830 Federal Census for Pennsylvania. There are two females of twenty and under thirty, one male of thirty and under forty, one male under five years of age and two females under five years of age. As Mary McKinney Newell was born in 1797 this John McKinney does not appear to be the same individual listed in the preceding paragraph. It is not the John McKinney listed in Walker Township in 1830.
Census Records For The
Years 1800, 1810, 1820 AND 1830
The 1800 Federal Census for Centre County, Pennsylvania - None Available
The 1800 Federal Census for Miles Township, Northumberland County, lists a John McKinney, one free white male 10 thru 15, one free white male 16 thru 25, one free white male 25 thru 44, one free white female under 10, one free white female 10 thru 15 and one free white female 26 thru 44. This may be John, father of Rachel McKinney (1799-1895), married to Samuel McKinney.
The 1810 Federal Census for Walker Township, Centre County, lists:
Nicholaus Emerick: one male under 10, (unknown); one male 10 thru 15, David - 1795; three males 16 through 25, John Adam - July 29, 1786, John - September 17, 1787, (one unknown); and one male 45 and over, John Nicholaus - 1763; one free white female 10 thru 15, Catherine - 1793; and one free white female over 45, Maria Barbara Riegel 1765. Maria Margaret Elizabeth, baptized January 10, 1789 married Henry Dunkle about 1808 to 1809. Mary Magdalene, baptized May 3, 1791 married John McKinney about 1809 or 1810 and is included in the listing following.
John McKinney, is on the line immediately following Nicholaus Emerick I believe this is John McKinney married to Mary Magdalene Emerick. Listing is as follows: one free white male under 10, (unknown); one free white male 10 thru 15, (unknown); one free white male 16 thru 25, John - 1788; one free white female 16 through 25 Mary Magdalene Emerick - May 3, 1791.
Samuel McKinney appears eleven lines below the listing for John McKinney. Two free white males 16 through 25, Samuel - October 31, 1786, (one unknown); one free white female 16 thru 25 (one unknown) and one free white female over 45, probably Mary Llewellyn, widow of John McKinney and mother of Samuel. It would appear that John McKinney, the father, died prior to 1810 and that Samuel inherited the property.
Isaac McKinney: Listing includes, among other categories, two white females, 26 thru 44 – one of whom is his wife. I cannot account for the other female. His mother Rebecca Lane (1727-1823) is too old to fit in this category. Listing also includes one other free person and this may be Rachel McKinney (1799-1895) daughter of John McKinney, who is believed to have died young. Isaac and his wife may have been raising Rachel. She met her future husband, Samuel at Isaac’s house.
Francis McEwen in on the line above the listing for Nicholaus Emerick and Philip Walker is on the line below the listing for John McKinney.
The 1820 Federal Census for Walker Township, Centre County, lists:
John McKinney: two white males under 10 years, Joseph - October 15, 1813, David June 10, 1817; one free white male ten and under 16 (unknown); one free white male twenty six and under forty five, John 1788; two white females under 10, Mary Catherine - 1812, Margaret - 1818; one free white female of 10 and under 16, Barbara 1811; one free white female twenty six and under forty five, Mary Magdalene Emerick - May 3, 1791. Two persons are listed as engaged in agriculture. I assume this is John and the unknown male, age 10 and under 16.
John Dunkle, Henry Dunkle, Jacob Emerick, John Emerick, Adam Emerick and their families are also listed.
Isaac McKinney, a family of eight including two white females of forty five and upwards. These are apparently the two females commented on above. Rachel McKinney – 1799, is now married, see following listing. Cannot account for Isaac’s mother, Rebecca Lane (1727-1823)
Samuel McKinney: one free white male under 10, one free white male twenty six and under forty five, Samuel October 31, 1786; one free white female of sixteen and under twenty six, Rachel - 1799.
Mary McKinney: one free white female twenty six and under forty five (unknown) and one free white female of forty five and upwards, Mary Llewellyn McKinney, mother of Samuel.
The 1830 Federal Census for Walker Township, Centre County, lists:
John McKinney: one male under five (unknown); one male of ten and under fifteen David - June 10, 1817; one male of fifteen and under twenty, Joseph - October 15, 1813; one male of thirty and under forty (unknown); one male of forty and under fifty John - 1788; three females of five and under fifteen, Sarah - March 31, 1821, Elizabeth - April 12, 1823, Susanna 1824; two females of fifteen and under twenty, Barbara - 1811, Mary Catherine - 1812; one female of thirty and under forty, Mary Magdalene Emerick - May 3, 1791.
Samuel McKinney: one male of five and under ten, one male of ten and under fifteen, one male of forty and under fifty, two females under five years of age, one female of five and under ten, one female of ten and under fifteen, one female of thirty and under forty.
Isaac McKinney is listed with a family of eight, including two females of sixty and under seventy. Again, the same question as in the 1810 and 1820 census listings above.
Mary McKinney: one male thirty and under forty, one female of thirty and under forty and one female of sixty and under seventy, Mary Llewellyn McKinney.
Henry Dunkle and family also listed.
The 1830 Federal Census for Centre County also includes a John McKinney in Logan Township and in Lamar Township.
Other
Frederick Roy McKinney, in his work, alludes to a Samuel McKinney as the father of John McKinney, born 1788, but does not cite any documentation. Following are some citations on individuals with the name Samuel McKinney
Samuel McKinney married Nancy Allen around 1797 in Williamsport. He died August 20, 1832 - may have been the son of David McKinney (1725-1785) of Sunbury and may have been the minor mentioned in Orphan’s Court Records of Sunbury at David’s death. Letter in loose-leaf files at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum at Bellefonte, from Alice McKinney Fisher, 501 Via
Casitas #523, Greenbrae, CA 94904, dated February 11, 1981. On the basis of the work I have done, David did not have a son name Samuel.
On August 28, 1798, a Samuel McKinney appears as a surety on Letters of Administration on the Estate on William Moore, Sr.
Samuel McKinney, of Scottish descent, from Bellefonte, married Eliza Flack. Their daughter, Mary A. McKinney married on February 19, 1852, John T. Johnston of Bellefonte. (a) Samuel McKinney of Bellefonte married Elize Flick on November 25, 1828, Reverend George Miles. (o) Samuel McKinney died when his daughter was ten years of age. Assuming that she was about twenty years of age when she married in 1852, then Samuel may have died around the year 1842. Assume further that he was about 20 years of age when he married, then his year of birth would be around 1810. There is only one Samuel McKinney listed in the 1830 Census in Centre County and that is Samuel, son the John the American Revolutionary War Veteran as discussed above. No Samuel McKinneys are listed in the 1840 Census in Centre County, Samuel McKinney, son of the American Revolutionary War Veteran, having moved earlier to Venango County.
While the reference to Scottish descent is interesting and, while there is a remote possibility that this Samuel is the younger brother of John, born about 1788, and that their father was named Samuel, I have not been able to establish this.
A ‘John McKinney’ is listed on the web site for The Church of the Latter Day Saints, (AN: 11ZX94B) born about 1762 in Ireland, married to an Ada (AFN:I IZX-95J) born about 1766 in Walker Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. There are two sons listed, a William McKinney (AFN:1 SCB born 1789 in Pennsylvania and a John Nicholas McKinney (AFN:103D-GL4), born May 3, 1788, Walker Township, Centre County. William's wife is listed as Betsy and John's wife is listed as Mary Magdalene Emerick. The submitter is Harry James Divins, 34 Wakefield Drive, Medford, NJ, 08055. Address changed to 28 Pizzulo Road, Trenton, NJ 08690-3207. I talked to Harry by phone on June 9, 2002 and he informed me that he received this information from a relative and could not add anything further, at this time. He stated that he may have some information in his files and, if so, would let me know later.
The above John McKinney does not appear in the 1790 Census for Pennsylvania, Northumberland County as the number of individuals does not agree with the number listed in the census tabulation as enumerated above under John McKinney, the American Revolutionary War Veteran. The month and day of birth for John Nicholas McKinney is the same as that for Mary Magdalene Emerick, which does not appear to be correct. Also, the middle name 'Nicholas' appears to be somewhat unusual for a 'Scotchman by birth'. I have been unable to locate a William McKinney married to a Betsey.
There was an Elizabeth McKinney who died in Centre County in 1826. She was married to a James Clark who was on the Census Rolls in Walker Township in 1820 and 1830. After her death he remarried and moved to Venango County, Pennsylvania.
SOURCE
a. Commemorative Biographical Record of Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers, 1883, pages 1415, 1436 and 1441, 1588, 246, 112.
b. By the name of Emerich, Emerick, Emmerich, Emerich and Emrich, Kenneth D. Haines, Published Dayton, Ohio
c. Riegell to Riggle, A Genealogy, 1390 to 1995 by Carl Robert Riegel and James Earl Reigle. Penobscot Press, First Printing, May 1996.
d. Taken from notes prepared by Frederick Roy McKinney of Sligo, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, in 1928 and 1929 in his search for the ancestors of John Nicholus Emerick, a partner of John Jacob Astor. A copy of some of his work is also of file at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
e. Berks County, Pennsylvania, Wills and Testaments, 1800-1825, page 118)
f. Commemorative Record of Pennsylvania, Venango County, Pennsylvania, pages 825 to 827.
g. Eleventh Census of the Population of the United States Published by Boroughs and Townships, in Connection with a Business Directory of the Same, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, 1890.
h. Genealogical and Personal History of Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania, Editorial supervisor, John W. Jordan LLD, Librarian of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., Volume 2 and 3. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York 1913.
i. Centre County Library, Spangler Book, page 57.
j. The Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books, DAR #81725, Mrs. Priscilla Anna Gosser, born in Franklin, Pa.
k. Excerpt from miscellaneous papers furnished by the descendants of Captain Andrew Lee of the American Revolution which appeared in Egle's Notes and Queries-1885, Volume I, pages 167-176.
l. Examination of the naturalization records for Centre County for the August Term in 1806, petition number 69.
m. Floyd’s Northumberland County Genealogy, pages 247 to 270.
n. History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, A. J. Davis, Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1887
o. Marriages 1800-1850, Centre County, Pa., by Harold O. Thomen, edited by Gladys C. Murray.
p. The Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, Volume VIII, page 302.
Joseph Philip Rhein
3010 Dick Wilson Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34240
Updated December 6, 2003
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Abt 1788 - 1862 (~ 74 years)
