John McConaughy b.1795 Chester/Washington CO. PA.
I am searching for parentage of John McConaughy born Chester CO. PA., and moved at some point to Washington CO. PA., then onto Delaware CO. OH., and died here in Jones CO. IA.. My husband descends through the eldest son Thomas Alexander, I feel I have alot of information but just can't put the puzzel together, the family name as far as know has stayed with the spelling McConaughy, this is what I have.
John McConaughy was born April 6, 1795 Chester CO. PA. died May 1, 1856 in Jones CO. IA., married April 1, 1824 in Washington CO. PA., to Jane Duncan who was born April 15, 1807 in Cumberland CO. PA. died Oct 27, 1889 Jones CO. IA. (these places and dates are from the bible of Jane McConaughy who recieved it from her daughter Melissa McConaughy Sackrider July 6, 1864, so John's birth was written in some 8 years after he died, so it is very possible that the birth date of John is only as good as the memory) But the bible and the headstone of John clearly reads he was born in Chester CO., April 6, 1795.
I found this: This entry would be close enough, as it's a date for a Baptism, Sep. 15, 1793 at Faggs Manor Presbyterian Church; Chester County, Pa. By Rev. John Evans Finley. Either the Church record date, or someones's memory of his vital birth year information could be off. Anyway, the name was spelled MC CONNEHY, JOHN, s/o DAVID & [name not given]. God, I hate when that happens! Anyway, that was the only entry, any variation, of the surname.
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Interesting that the Rev. David McConoughy at one point supplied the pulpit when it was vacant. However I do not feel comfortable with John's father being a David as he doesn't name any of his sons first or middle name as David. More likely the name of Thomas or Alexander is the name of the father.
Children of John and Jane (Duncan) McConaughy:
1) Thomas Alexander b. July 22, 1825 WA. CO. PA. our line
From "Abstracts from Misc. Delaware Co. OH Newspapers 1821-1857" by Mary Reed: p.125- Olentangy Gazette, 28 Jan 1853: On Thurs. 20th inst. in Cardington, Elder R. Chase, Mr. Thomas A. McConaughy of Delaware & Miss Catharine Wilson of that place, married.
2) James Buchanan b. Feb 8, 1828 WA. CO. PA.
died while crossing a river in Ohio Sept 14, 1848
3) Atkinson T. b. May 16, 1830 WA. CO. PA. (he is the only one that the full name was not written out and to this day family of this line do not know the middle name only as "T"
4) Nancy Hannah b. July 24, 1834 WA CO. PA.
Named after Jane's mother Nancy. A Hannah McConaughy in 1810 WA. CO. PA., could she be related?
Abstracts from Misc . Delaware Co. Ohio Newspapers 1821-1857 by Mary Reed, page 132-Olent angy Gazette Oct. 7, 1853 reads, "On the 29th day of Oct. Rev., W.D.C . Redrock, married Moses Barton and Nancy McConaughy" The date is about a month different then that of the bible. This could be due to a misprint in the newspaper or perhaps Jane herself made an error in writing it in the Bible. Also you will see the slight error in Moses last name as Barton, should read Barto.
5) Ard (Argus) Duncan b. June 29, 1837 WA. CO. PA.
named after mother Jane's maiden name Duncan
6) Samuel Richey b. Aug 19, 1840 WA. CO. PA.
7) Sarah Margaret b. April 8, 1844 OHIO
8) Melissa Ann b. Jan 3, 1848 Delaware CO. OH.
We know that Thomas Alexander McConaughy married a Catherine Wilson and her parents were Isaac John Wilson and Lydia Devore. The Wilson's and Devore's were also in Washington CO. PA. Isaac Wilson was a shoemaker and so were some of the Devore's. Lydia Devore father was Jacob Devore and his will was written and probated in 1835 WA. CO. PA., the will names his wife and children one Lydia Wilson the wife of Isaac Wilson, one of the wittness was a Samuel Richey. Interesting that John McConaughy names a son this same name.
Rebecca McConaughy (surely John’s sister)marr. Philip H. Dally 15 Apr 1824 by Rev. Boyd Mercer at Williamsport, Nottingham Twp., Wash. Co.Boyd Mercer was pastor of Pigeon Creek Presby.Church, 1794-98. He was commissioned as an
associate judge of Wash. Co. in 1806. (One of the early elders at Pigeon Creek was John Atkinson, who was buried there in 1842. There were also Devores in this church, and interesting note is that John names one of his sons Atkinson McConaughy.
The 1860 census shows Rebecca b. abt. 1802 PA; the 1870
census shows her b. DE. Dally family from this line is certain that Rebecca’s mother’s name was Hannah. They believe Hannah was b. 1768; Rebecca was b. 1802. There is some thought that Hannah McConaughy may have married a second time to a Beattie, since Rebecca named her second son Addison Beattie Dally. The Dallys didn’t name a son Thomas. Both John McConaughy and sisiter Rebecca named their oldest sons with middle names of Alexander. Was that their father’s name? The Dally tradition also says that the McConaughys came from Brandywine. Rebecca & Philip had 4 children: Herbin Alexander, Addison Beattie, Sidus, and Rebecca.
The names Herbin & Sidus occur in the name of one of our Iowa line. John McConaughy's son Ard uses the names Herbin and Sidus. This circumstantial evidence is quite strong to relate the two families of Rebecca McConaughy Dally and John McConaughy. Both name their eldest sons with the middle name Alexander, it does appear to be an important family name.
Nancy Duncan mother to Jane Duncan McConaughy died Sept. 24, 1846" written in the bible in our possession. I have previously sketched in James & Nancy (Morrison) as Jane’s parents. I’ve looked at a lot of Nancy Duncans, and this one seems the most likely, but not proven. Biography of Daniel Duncan son of James, grandson of Alexander Duncan pg. 989 from Beers J.H. & CO. 1893. (Jane fits as the daughter of James and 2nd wife Nancy Morrison)
John and Jane McConaughy name their first born daughter Nancy Hannah McConaughy., We know the name Nancy comes from Jane's mother...is Hannah the name of John's mother? They name their 2nd son James after Janes father....
1810 Washington CO. PA.
Hannah MCCONOUGHY Nottingham twp., 2 males 10-16, 1 female 0-10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45, 1 female 45 and up., Our John b. 1795 would fit in this family.
David MCCONOUGHEY Nottingham twp., 4 males 0-10, 1 male 26-45, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45, (John doesn't fit here)
(one interesting thing about this census is there is a Thomas DUNCAN with no female girls less then 10 yrs, but also a James DUNCAN who does have a duaghter less then 10 yrs old both living nearby)
James MCCONAHEY Buffalo twp., 1 male 0-10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 and up, 2 females 0-10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45 (maybe)
David MCCONKEY Mt. Pleasant twp., 2 males 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 and up, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 45 and up. (maybe)
(A John DUNCAN is living in Smith twp., listed only 4 families away from this David., he does have a daughter under the age of 10 yrs in the family with several other children, next door to him lives a James Buchanon?)) interesting in the fact that John and Jane name one of their sons James Buchanon!
Chester Co. PA. 1790 Heads of Households
David MCCONAHY Honeybrook twp., 3 males 16 and up, 2 males under 16 and 3 females.
John MCCONAHY West Nantmill twp., 1male 16 and up, 2 males under 16, 0 females
James MCCONAUGHY West Marlborough twp., 2 males 16 and up, 2 males under 16, and 3 females.
Since John McConaughy was born in Chester CO. PA., one would think that one of these 3 above named men would be his father. Maybe the father hadn't moved there yet, or the father is in the home of one of these 3 men?
We know that the family of John and Jane McConaughy left Washington CO. PA., abt. the year 1842 per biography of son and birth dates and places written in the bible. Here they are in the 1850 census and the spelling is so far off that one might never find them. However the frist names of the family does prove to be ours, but most show they were born in Ohio but only the last 2 were.
1850 census, Delaware Co. OH:
p. 123 – Berlin Twp
#2016 Machonchire [spelling not clear]
John 52 b. PA Tailor
Jane 44 PA
Ackerson McIntyre [spelling not clear] 20 b. O
Nancy H. 16 b. O
Ard 13 “
Samuel 10 “
Sarah M. 6 “
Lucy A (Melissa 3 “
[So where is son Thomas? we know that son James Buchanon McConaughy died proir to this census]
Who was John's father? and was his mother Hannah?
Does anyone have any possiblities or leads that you can share.
Thankyou
Terri McConaughy