Person:William McGaughey (4)

Will of William McGaughey

Last Will and Testament of William McGaughey From Will Book 1750, Book A-12, York County, PA. Transcribed and printed by Polly McGaughey Sutton.

Dated 5 Jan 1749, proven 24 Apr 1750

In the name of God, Amen, the fifth day of January, anno dom., 1749, I, William McGaughey, of the Township of Hamilton Bann in the County of York in the Province of Pennsylvania, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefor, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all. I give and recommend to the soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God; as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life. I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

IMPRIMIS: I give and bequeath to Margaret, my beloved wife, the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be raised out of my estate, also the Negro girl, bed and bedding and furniture, a white mare and a dark-couloured colt, saddle and bridle, and her maintenance, as long as she lives my widow.

ITEM: I give to my son, John McGaughey, the mill with all the land and appurtenances belonging to the same, as also the mare and colt that goes by his own name, as also the money which he, the said John hath a gond (note) for nine pounds.

ITEM: I give to my son, James McGaughey, the plantation I now live on and his horse, saddle and bridle.

ITEM: I give to my sons, William and Alexander, two hundred and fourteen acres of land which I bought in Maryland and two hundred acres joining the same on the Pennsylvania side. Four hundred and fourteen acres of land I order to be sold if my executors seeth proper and the price thereof to be put to interest for the use of said William and Alexander and to be equally divided between them both. I order also that as much money shall be raised out of my estate as will take out a deed for the two hundred and 14 acres in Maryland and also to pay for the surveying of the two hundred acres in Pennsylvania side and that my two sons, viz: William and Alexander shall not be charged with some or any part thereof.

ITEM: I give to my daughter, Isabella McGaughey fifty pounds to be taken out of my estate, as also a bed and bedding and a horse valued by two neighbor as also a saddle and bridle. I give the gray colt three years old next spring to my son William I also give to my son Alexander a bay colt two years old next spring. I order and will that my beloved wife be maintained, as long as she remains my widow, by my two sons, viz: John and James, each of them at equal cost and charges in maintaining and building her a good warm commodious house on any part of the plantation that she shall think proper, in case she will not be satisfied to live with any of them. I order the sorrel horse to be kept still on the plantation as long as he is fit to work. I order that my sons William and Alexander be schooled and brought up, the charges to be taken out of my estate.

I order and will the disposing of my hogs, horned cattle, beds and bedding (not already bequeathed) pewter, and all the household good to my beloved wife to dispose of the same to my children still as they marries. I order and will that if any one or more of my children be removed by death before he, she or they be of age, that his or their share or shares willed and bequeathed, shall be equally divided between the living children named above.

I order also that my son, John, shall grind toll free to the rest of my children that shall think fit to go to the same. I order that my dear wife and all my children shall abide and continue together until the first day of June next ensuing before they divide or separate. I also give and bequeath to my cousin, William McGaughey, five pounds to be paid out of my estate. I also order that whatever more of my estate remains after what I have willed and bequeathed, that the same be equally divided among my children.

I likewise constitute, make and ordain my well beloved wife and John McGaughey, my son, my sole executors of this my last will and testament and give them full power to sell and dispose of the land bequeathed to my two sons, viz: William and Alexander, and the price thereof to put to the best of use, that they, the said executors shall think proper for the benefit of said boys. And I do hereby utterly disavow, revoke and disannual all and every other former wills, testaments, legacies and bequests and executed by me in all ways before named.

Willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, ordering and desiring that my trusty friends James Agnew and Walter Sharp shall see this my last will duly executed. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day of year above written. Will McGaughey (seal)

Information on William McGaughey

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/patmcgaughey1.htm

William McGaughey

Born Ireland? Died 1750 YorkCo, Pennsylvania

Married Margaret

Children:

1. John (bef 1715-1777) m. Mary Jane Neely

2. James (bef 1728-1798) m. Agnes McKean

3. Isabella

4. William (abt 1738-1812) m. Elizabeth Lackey

5. Alexander m. Rachel Thompson

Like many original immigrants of our family lines, we have only family legend about the origin of the above couple. Family legend says William left Northern Ireland for Glasgow, Scotland where he met Margaret. They and four children are thought to have landed in America in 1738. First record of William is in Wilmington, DE court records. Many Irish immigrants landed in New Castle, DE on their way to PA. William’s will in 1750 where he died in YorkCo, PA is the most detailed document about the family. He left considerable lands to his sons.

A significant part of the information on this page is from the work of Polly Rachel McGaughey Sutton, author of Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughey/y (Settled in York County, PA. 1740's) 1740-1984. Copies of the two volume set may still be available by writing to Polly Rachel (McGaughey) Sutton, 6001 Brookline Ave. #209, Oklahoma City, OK 73112-4257.

The McGaughey Family

Ireland/Scotland to Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas

According to author Polly McGaughey Sutton, the surname McGaughey can be traced to the 4th or 5th century to the family name MacGeoghan (also Mac Eoghain or Mac Geoghagan). The name was founded by Eachagan, son of Fiacha, who was the fifth son of Niall, son of Eochy, who occupied Ulster as an inheritance. He belonged to Clan Colman. Mag Eacaio is a variant in Gaelic. The Gaelic stem and different spellings worldwide has given rise to McGaughey (pronounced "MaGoy"), MacGahey, MacGahy, MacGaughy, MacGaggy, MacGaughie, Gahey, Gaffey, Gaughy, and variations with Mc substituted for Mac.

MANOR OF MASQUE

The story of William Penn's establishment of the "Manor of Masque" is found in a History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, published in 1876. This grandson of the first William Penn had purchased all land lying west of the Lower Susquehanna in 1736 from the Indians and had reserved as an estate for himself and family 30,000 acres lying on the banks of Marsh Creek and its branches, which he attempted to survey in 1739.

Settlers had been attracted by the rich and beautiful country with its gently rolling hills, and had already located in this region. The first settler in Lancaster County (now Adams County) seems to have been Andrew Schrieber in 1734, who lived under his wagon until three acres of land were cleared and the log cabin built. Dense forests were all about him and Indians surrounded his clearing in every direction. He was soon followed by other men with the same spirit of adventure and daring. "Lowly obscure men of the wilderness" who came, victims of persecution for conscience's sake in older lands, hoping here to find fullness of life and liberty.

These settlers resented and obstructed Penn's survey, which was not completed until 1764 when Penn's grandson, together with the grandson of Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore) carried through the so-called Mason-Dixon line from the names of their surveyors. This line, which is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, was marked by stones placed five miles apart, having Penn' name on one side of each stone, on the other that of Baltimore. These stones, prepared in England, cost Penn 34,300 pounds. The famous Carrol's tract, known as Carrol's Delight, is just a few miles across the border in Maryland.

The boundary settlement gave to Penn 43,500 acres, but out of this, grants were made in 1765 to 71 settlers and the dates of their settlement entered on their warrants. A paper published in 1876 gave the record of the surveyors' notes, with both the names of those receiving grants in 1765 and others recorded later in 1775. Among these 71 names are the following: James McGaughey, settled April, 1740; John McGaughey, settled April, 1741; Robert and David Grier McPherson, October, 1767.

The County of York was organized in 1749 out of territory included in Lancaster County, and in 1800 the southwestern part of York County was set up separately as Adams County. The Manor of Masque included all of what is now Cumberland and parts of Freedom, Highland and Strabane Townships of this county, and extended for six miles on the Maryland border line. Many of the settlers lived within the Manor limits. An historical account, published 1876 in the Gettysburg Sentinel Star, written by Edward W. Mc Pherson, indicates that the William McGaughey home was within the eastern and McGaughey's Mill near the western limits of Manor. The text of the grant of land made to James McGaughey in 1768 by the Penns is to be found in this book. A list of payments made to the Proprietaries extending to 1795, is in existence and the names of James and John appear, but the statement is made that William McGaughey paid nothing. Among these first 71 settlers given grants are names familiar in our family record of those later related by marriage are Robert Bigham, Thomas Douglass, Hugh Ferguson, David Grier, Alexander and Joseph McKean, Wilsons, Walkers, and others.

In the first census of Pennsylvania, taken in 1790, we find the names of twenty McGaugheys as heads of families; the larger number still in York and Cumberland Counties, but very soon they began to move westward to newer territory. In a peculiar way, the Scotch-Irish (so-called) people of this period seem free from any attachment to locality. A member of their group, in speaking of this characteristic, said, "They would hesitate to enter Heaven unless assured they could go further West", and soon we find them as pioneers in the newer territories and states, such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, and Kentucky, so it is not surprising that we reach from coast to coast. An attempt was made to point out several of these more distinctive removals.

As previously stated, the earliest records of the family history are found at York, Pa., though early records have been found in other places. The search has been made more difficult by the fact that many of the Gettysburg records were taken to Chambersburg for safe-keeping and were lost in 1864 when the town was burned by the Southern Army. At least two colonies from Lancaster Co., Pa. went to North Carolina. There are McGaughey marriages recorded as early as 1786 in Rowan County. Rev. Robert McMordie, pastor of one of the Marsh Creek churches from 1753 to 1761 had been in North Carolina. This branch of the family largely adopted the "McGahey" spelling of the name.

Old letters reveal that at an early date there was visiting of the Indiana McGaugheys in Putmanville, Indiana (near Greencastle) by member of the Gettysburg family on their way to Illinois. Also included are the McGaugheys of Bedford, Pa. for there are indications of family acquaintance and a strong possibility that this family lived for some time in the Marsh Creek settlement for they do not appear in Bedford until 1785 and a record of this family made in 1835 by Arthur McGaughey of Kentucky, says they came to America in 1762. They played an honorable part in the history of Kentucky as well as Bedford, Pa., for as others of the name, they moved westward to new frontiers.

William McGaughey was the first of our line to settle in America. No primary records have been found concerning his birth and parentage; we only have information handed down that he was born in Northern Ireland and sailed from Glasgow, Scotland for America about 1738. Your writer checked with the Genealogical Office in Dublin, Ireland and was informed that the family came from County Antrim. There have been so many William McGaugheys in Northern Ireland and Scotland, without more definite family data and due to the lapse of time, it would be a remote possibility for locating any records.

The only information we have pertaining to his wife is that her name was Margaret, as named in William's will, and that she was born in Scotland. William died in 1750, his will having been proven 24 April, 1750. The first record of William is found in Delaware where the Wilmington Court records show he was executor for Patrick Cannon who had recently arrived in this country from Ireland. New Castle, Delaware was the disembarkation point for the colonists from Ireland going to the northern part of Pennsylvania. The next record of William's early activities in this country is a court indenture dated 1741 when land was purchased from Abigail Cannon of New Castle Co., Del. William apparently left Delaware sometime between 1741 and 1745 and moved on west into Pennsylvania. In 1745, the court records of Lancaster County show William McGaughey, Hugh Clark and John McDowell appoint Andrew McDowell as attorney to collect money from the estate of Dr. John McDowell of Rocking Valley, New Jersey.

It is very likely, as shown by the land records, that the two oldest sons of William - John and James - went ahead of him and made arrangements for the family in the Marsh Creek settlement. John was about 30 years of age at the time and James at least 17. In the published record of settlers and the dates of settlement as referred to in "Manor of Masque", we find James recorded in April of 1740 and John in April of 1741. The records in the Land Office at Harrisburg, Pa. show two grants of land to James and the name of John appears twice as having applied for and been granted land, but it is evident that much of the land owned by the McGaugheys lay within the Manor of Masque and was not always recorded on the list of grants. After the final adjustment had been made with the early settlers, warrants were granted them on payment of fixed fees in 1768. We find the name of John and James on the list of having made payment, but after William McGaughey's name was the comment "nothing paid", however the regular fees were not fixed until after his death in 1750.

In the earliest established limitations of the Manor, we find it noted that the land of the McGaugheys lay partly within and partly without the Manor. The southern limit of the Manor ran for six miles on the Maryland border line, as the line is now As nearly as possible, the first home of the McGaugheys has been located as within a mile of this line. A large old stone and brick house was still standing in 1933 on the farm owned by the Bighams and was said to be another early McGaughey home. Freedom Township in the southwest corner of the Manor lies a very short distance from the home of Walker Woods and Margaret (McGaughey), who owned the farm and had in their possession the old deed given to James McGaughey dated 6 June 1768 by the Penns.

In William's will, the land in York County was left to the two older sons, John and James, but 400 acres in Maryland and on the Pennsylvania line, were left for "the boys", William and Alexander. As their father died in 1750, the oldest could hardly have been more than fifteen years of age thus William 2nd was born about 1735/38 and Alexander later.

The foregoing was the introduction from Ms. Polly Rachel (McGaughey) Sutton's genealogical work, Descendants of William and Margaret McGaughey/y (Settled in York County, PA. 1740's) 1740-1984.

http://kinnexions.com/smlawson/mcgaughe.htm#WMcGaughey

William McGAUGHEY - b. Northern Ireland; d. 1750, York Co., PA. Will dated Jan. 5, 1749, and proved Apr. 24, 1750 (Will Book 1750, Book A-12, York Co., PA Courthouse). William, said to be from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, came to America with his family about 1738 from Glasgow, Scotland, apparently arriving in DE where he appears in the Wilmington Court records. William subsequently purchased land from Abigail CANNON of New Castle, DE in 1741, and he appears in Lancaster Co., PA by 1745. He owned land in York Co. (formerly part of Lancaster Co.), PA, and adjacent land in MD, a total of more than 400 acres in addition to "the plantation." William also mentioned a cousin by the same name in his will.

Margaret - b. Scotland. She was named in William's will, as were the children listed here.

Children of William and Margaret McGaughey John - b. 1711-1715, probably in Northern Ireland; d. 1777, York Co., PA. Married Mary Jane NEELY, daughter of Thomas NEELY. Mary Jane appears to have been the widow of a Mr. MARSHALL. A security document dated Jun. 22, 1765 in York Co., PA names Thomas NEELY, Sr. and his children Thomas, Samuel, John, Jackson and Mary Marshall, wife of John McGAUGHEY. Refer to the Neely brothers for further comments. Children: Thomas married Margaret MARSHALL; Alexander; Jann (daughter); Jean; Mary; and Martha. James - b. 1724-1728, probably in Northern Ireland; d. Jun. 10, 1798, York Co., PA. Married about 1756 Agnes McKEAN (b. 1734; d. Oct. 15, 1804, Adams Co., PA), daughter of Hugh and Agnes McKEAN. James was left the family plantation in his father's will, and added 369 additional acres through grants in 1768 and 1778, with 230 acres sold in 1787. In his will dated Feb. 4, 1797, James names his wife Agnes, children Agnes CARNAHAN, William McGAUGHEY, Ann SCOTT, Hugh McGAUGHEY, and Alexander McGAUGHEY, and granddaughters Jane LEEPER and Agnes McKean LEEPER. The latter grandchild is called Agnes McKean SCOTT in the Nov. 27, 1804 will of James' widow. Children: Agnes married David CARNAHAN; William mried Anne; Jane married Mr. LEEPER; James married first Maret 'Peggy' McCLURE, and second Nancy Agnes GRIER; Hugh married first Jane (McCLURE) MOORE, and second Mary 'Polly' DOUGLAS; Mary Ann married David SCOTT; and Alexander married Rebecca TORRENCE. Isabella - William - b. about 1738, possibly in Scotland; d. 1812, Maury Co., TN. Married in Jan. 1760 to Elizabeth LACKEY (b. 1742; d. 1804, Sevier Co., TN; bur. Boyd's Creek Cemetery). William and Elizabeth were in Lee Co., VA by 1771, and moved to Greene Co., TN by 1786. After his wife's death, William moved with two sons to Maury Co., TN. Children: Samuel married Jane McLAUGHLIN; Elizabeth married first James EDMONDSON, and second William H. JOHNSTON; Agnes; Margaret 'Peggy' married David ROBINSON; Ann married William GAMMILL; William married Serene Margaret BOYD; James Harvey married Margaret 'Peggy' McCAIN; George Washington married Mary; and Mary 'Polly' married Eli McCAIN. Alexander - b. say 1740-1745, Lancaster Co., PA; d. after 1800, Rutherford Co., NC.