Duffey Immigration
Throwing this out for Duffey researchers to ponder.Many postings list John Nelson Duffey Sr. and wife Margaret Pharr as having immigrated from County Tyrone in time for him to serve in the Revolution from May 8, 1777 to August 16, 1780; it is assumed in these accounts that their sons John Jr. (b. app. 1770) and Samuel (b. app. 1772) came with them, and later children were born in the U.S.However, census records for the later children show Mary (b. app. 1780), Robert (b. app. 1781), William (b. app. 1786) and Jane (b. app. 1788) as having been born in Ireland.Margaret Duffey Foster, the last child is described by some writers as having been born in NC about 1794.From these records, I wonder if John Nelson Sr. did not come over alone before the revolution, return to Ireland after, and then bring his expanded family back after several years?The gap in approximate birthdates between 1774 and 1780 would tend to support that theory.Also, the 1850 census in Butts County, GA shows a Margaret Foster, age "50" as having been born in the "Atlantic Ocean".Could that be the last child, born on the return trip?Perhaps the age for her is a bit off?Welcome any ideas or comments!