|
|
Laurence McCann, of Harrison Co., [W]VA
Facts and Events
Land Records
Acquisitions [from Notebooks on West Virginia Families, the McCann Family, by Joseph M. Kellogg]
- 1790, Harrison County, Virginia: Deeds of lease and release from Elias Hughes to Laurence McCann are dated April 19th and 20th, 1790. For 60 pounds McCann obtained a tract of land on the west side of the West Fork, containing 194 acres and 28 poles, "adjoining the land Thomas Hughes now lives on and part on the tract Elias Hughes now occupies," together with two lots in "Hughestown, one lot. containing 5 acres and the other 1 acre. Acknowledged and recorded at the April Court, 1790. (Harrison Co. Deed book Mo. 1, pp. 300-501.)
Dispositions
- 1797, Feb. 20. "Laurence McCann" and wife Mary sell, for 50 pounds, to Adam Hickman, 2 lots in Hughestown on the south side of Main St, together containing 6 acres. Laurence McCann signed this by making his mark. Acknowledged and recorded at the February court, 1797. Wife Mary relinguiahed her dower* (Deed book #1, p. 564.)
- 1799. March 8. "Larence McCann" and Mary his wife, and Patrick McCann and Hannah his wife, sell to John "Coonrad" for 100 dollars, a parcel of land on the West Fork, containing 7¼ acres, next to land of said Conrad. All signed this deed. Proved and recorded at January court, 1800. (Deed book #4, p. 285).
- 1799, Sept. 15. "Lawrence McAnn" and wife Mary sell to John Conrad, for 60 pounds, a parcel of land containing 48 acres on the west side of the West Fork adjoining other land of said McCann, of said Conrad and of John Nealy, - lying on both sides of McCann's Run, said to be a part of the tract deeded to McCann by Elias Hughes on April 20, 1791. Acknowledged, proven and recorded at the Oct. court, 1799. (Deed book No. 4, p. 225.)
- 1814, March 25. "Laurence McCann" and wife Mary, and Patrick McCann and wife Hannah, sell to Adam Alkire, for 150 dollars, land, 59 acres, on the West fork river, "being part of a tract formerly patented to Ellas Hews," next land of Manuel Alkire and Isaac Kagle. Signed by "Laurence McCann," and Mary makes her mark. Patrick signs it and Hannah makes her mark. The witnesses were Daniel McCann and Peter Bash. Proven and recorded Aug. 30, 1814 (Deed book No. 12, p. 59). [Note: Adam Alkire appears to have been a grandson of Laurence McCann]
- 1814, April 20. "Laurance McCann" and wife Mary sell to Manuel Alkire, for 500 dollars, 100 acres of land "more or less" on the West Fork river. Laurence makes his mark and Mary signs it apparently. Proven and recorded Aug. 30, 1814. (Deed book No. 12, p. 114). The land was described as adjoining lands of John Bailey, Adam Alkire and land claimed by Elijah Elsworth. [Note: Manuel [Emanuel] Alkire appears to have been a grandson of Laurence McCann, and brother of Adam Alkire listed in the preceding record]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
- Kellogg, Joseph M. Kellogg Notebooks on West Virginia Families, The McCann Family.
Origin of the Family in America
Of course there is no doubt that the McCann fondly is Irish,
It is probable that they came from the north of Ireland, as is suggested in the preceding pages. There seem to have been numerous McCanns in this country, in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, before or about the time of the Revolutionary war. Whether they were all members of the same nearly related family is not known. There is a tradition in our branch of the family that deven brothers came to this country about that time and all fought in the war, two or three being killed. But like all families, especially Irish ones, various legends more or less romantic cluster about it, and it is hard to tell truth from embroidery. Patrick McCann was at one time thought to haveljeen the first of this branch of the family in this country, but it is now seen that he was the son of one Laurence McCann living in southwestern Pennsylvania and western Virginia at the time of the Revolution. Scattered data in regard to other McCanns will be collected and placed at the end of these notes. For the present just this one family in Harrison Co. Virginia, will be followed.
1st Generation
Laurence McCann
Laurence McCann, the first from whom we can trace our descent in this country, was living in Washington Co. Pa., (which included all southwestern Pa. and even territory which was still in dispute with Virginia) near the close of the Revolutionary War.
In a list of Washington Co., Pa. militia, in Capt. Timothy Downing*s company, the name of Laurence McCann appears, in the 8th class of the 5rd battalion, ordered to rendezvous May 18, 1782; roll dated May 21, 1782. John McCann was in the 2nd class, James McCann was in the 4th class and Daniel McCann was in the 5th class of the same company, ordered to rendezvous April 14th or 18th, 1782. (See Pa. Archives, 6th series, vol. 2, pp. 100, 103, 104, 117, 118). The place of Laurence McCann in the 8th class of the militia, the last to be called into service, shows that he was among the older men in the community.
Laurence McCann evidently removed with his family farther south into what was Harrison Co., Va. (or he may have been living there in a •section in dispute between the two states). At any rate his name appears in the Personal Tax lists for Harrison Co. for 1786. He is credited as having 2 male tithables over 16 years of age (including himself), 8 horses and 11 cattle. (A "Francis" McKann in the lxst for the preceding year, 1785 - the first year for Harrison Co. - having 2 tithables, 8 horses, 3 cattle, may well be a mistake for "Laurence"). In the list for 1787, the extra male tithable of the preceding lists is no* stated to be over 21 years old and named specifically as Daniel McCann, and in addition 2 other male tithables (over 16 and under 21 years) are given. He has 8 horses and 10 cattle. In the list for-1788, he is given as having the 4 males over IS (evidently himself, son Daniel and 2 other sons as yet unnamed). The list for 1789 supplies this want. Laurence is given as with 2 males over 16 (himself and son Daniel apparently-since Daniel does not appear separately), while a John McCann and a Patrick McCann appear for the first time with 1 and 2 horses respectively, evidently just starting as heads of their own families. From 1790 to 1798 Laurence McCann appears on the lists as having either 1 or 3 males over 16 In his family. His name is missing in the lists for Harrison Co. in 1799, 1800 and 1801. (Whether not having personal property or away temporarily is not known.) His son Patrick is missing from the list these same years. In 1802 his name appears again; it is missing in 1805; appears again in 1804, and from then on is missing, though from 1818 on another Laurence McCann appears, a younger man and with a different wife, as shown on county deed records.
On the Federal Census for 1810, however, "Laury McCan" appears as being of 45 years or over, with 1 female, evidently his wife, also of 45 yrs. or over. This is in Harrison Co. In 1820 no Laurence McCann appears in Lewis Co. (Lewis Co. was formed in 1817), but in 1830 the younger Laurence appears as of age 20 to 30 yrs. The first appearance of Laurence McCann*s name on the Harrison County records was on August 18, 1786, when the County Court ordered that "Lorance McCann be exempted from labouring on the highway". (Harrison Co. court minute book Ho. 1, p. 165.) Probably this exemption wae on account of his age or infirmity. A few years later, in 1792, he was similarly excused. The record has it, on January 16, 1792: "Amaziah Davison, Moses Elsworth, Lauranee McCann and Samuel Beard be exempted from working on the highway and from all publick taxes and county Levy, in their own persons.*
(same Book 1, p. 575).
At a court on August 24, 1787, a suit brought by Laurance McCann against Joseph Scott was decided by the jury in favor of the plaintiff and Judgment given in the sum of 2 pounds, 15 shillings, and an "order for sail", (same Book 1, p. 262.) The only other mention of a suit involving Laurence McCann was on April 16, 1799, when the suit he had brought against Hedgman Triplett was dismissed at his own request, (same Book 5, p. 555.)
The name of Laurence McCann appears among the signers of a petition from Harrison Co. to the Virginia Assembly dated Dec. 22, 1803, asking for the formation of a new county. The signers were mostly people who were living on the West Fork and Hacker’s Creek. It was the first of a number of similar petitions which were not acted upon favorably until 1817, when Lewis Co. was established, The only other known signature of Laurence McCann is in connection with the marriage bond of his son Patrick McCann, dated July 21, 1787, when Laurence McCann wrote a note of permission to accompany the bond. This note appears to be entirely in his own handwriting, but the signature has been clipped by trimming the original. The ink on the note is very faded. (See photostat under notes on Patrick McCann), but by holding the original up to the light it could be seen to be as follows:
"July 12 (?), 1787
Clark of harrison to John Haymond Jr. this is to request
you to_myson Patrick and hanner Jonston good and this shall be your warrant to which we have sett our hands and seals*
Test Laurence M /edge of sheet.
Daniel MeCan John McCan.
Laurence McCann’s home seems to have been on the West Fork river in (now) Lewis Co., at the mouth of the small stream which ever since has been called McCann’s Run. He acquired a tract of land here by purchase from Elias Hughes. Deeds of lease and release from Elias Hughes to Laurence McCann are dated April 19th and 20th, 1790. For 60 pounds McCann obtained a tract of land on the west side of the West Fork, containing 194 acres and 28 poles, "adjoining the land Thomas Hughes now lives on and part on the tract Elias Hughes now occupies," together with two lots in "Hughestown, one lot. containing 5 acres and the other 1 acre. Acknowledged and recorded at the April Court, 1790. (Harrison Co. Deed book Mo. 1, pp. 300-501.)
It seems evident, from these deeds and the Land and Personal Tax records, as well as the federal census of 1810, that Laurence McCann was still living until some time in 1814 anyway, but had turned over possession of his home property to his sons Daniel and Patrick. Probably he died some time in 1814 or 1815. Certainly he was dead before 1819, when his widow Mary made her will and also died.
http://wvancestry.com/ReferenceMaterial/Files/Kellogg_notebooks_on_West_Virginia_Families_-_The_McCann_Family.pdf
- .
Name: Lanry McCan [Larry Mccan] [Laury McCan]
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Harrison, Virginia
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1 [this appears to be an error perhaps by the census taker or transcriber, it likely should be for a Male, age 45 or over, which would be this Laurence McCann]
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 1
Number of Household Members: 2
|
|
