Hello Mr McKee, My name is Janet (Mackey) Bodine - I am very interested in your family line regarding Alexander McKee and his father Thomas McKee, who were both Indian Agents with the Shawnee, and who both may have had Shawnee wives. I would very much like to detail some of my own research data here for your attention.

Some recent DNA evidence seems to indicate that we have some sort of family connection with some members of Blue Jacket's family in the Shawnee Tribe - although I am usually very skeptical of anyone famous popping up in the research, this case might just possibly have some validity after all? - several leads and clues seem to support this possibility at any rate - as I understand it from viewing family trees and reading reference material, Alexander McKee (the Indian Agent in Ohio)had a nephew by the name of James McKee (a son of Hugh McKee) who moved into Hardin County, Kentucky. My ancestor, James Mackey or McKey, was first noted on record in Breckinridge County, KY when he married Susanna Miller in 1812. Breckinridge and Hardin counties are side by side (Breckinridge was once part of Hardin County). The nephew, James McKee is in close enough proximity, and of an appropriate age, to possibly have been the father of my ancestor, James Mackey or McKey (his children went by the spelling of McKey for many years), who was born about 1790. Very little data is available on my ancestor as he died in a log rolling accident in the Anderson River in Perry County, IN in 1820. Of added interest is the fact that one known daughter of James McKee died in Hardin County, KY in 1820 - the same year my ancestor died young as well (hmmm). James McKee is reported to have died in Hardin County, KY, but there are two very different dates proposed: 1795 or 1832. If he was indeed my ancestor's father, and if he did indeed die in 1832, that could explain how the Widow of our ancestor suddenly had enough money in 1832 to purchase 300 acres of land for herself as well as for each of their 4 children - very curious as James himself had been listed as insolvent in Breckinridge County, KY just shortly before his death in 1820. James' wife, Susanna Miller, was supposedly a daughter of Barnabas Miller and Mary Kiesecher -- Barnabas was born near Josephstown, PA, and one of his great grand daughters was named Aloquippia (I suspect in honor of Queen Alloquippia of PA). The oldest son of our James and Susanna Miller-Mackey was named Jacob - Jacob married Lepha Selma Barnett and they were remarkably active and devoted abolitionists, even adopting several mulatto children - they were even listed as mulatto themselves in some early Census records. Lepha's Barnett ancestors can be placed in Lancaster County, PA at the same time as the McKee ancestors. Lepha's family line showed very common given names until her generation: some of her siblings were named Othniel, Narcissa, Ninevah and Friend - I am just wondering about the remote possibility of some Native American blood in her family line as well? I think I have seen the Barnett name associated with some family members in Blue Jacket's supposed family line, but I lack the skill/ability to be able to determine any actual connection or not. James and Susanna's youngest son, Mathias, lived long enough to include his father's birthplace in the 1880? Census record as Virginia. A William Mackey (born about 1800) may have purchased the exact same property where our James died and was buried, and we suspect they were probably brothers or possibly cousins, but the background on William is very sketchy as well. He reported on his first available Census Record that he was born in Ireland, but on the next Census record he said that he had been born in Ohio. Some family tree information on this man believes he had been married and fathered a few children in Ohio before moving to Perry County, IN.

In short, I believe there may be at least a slight possibility that my ancestor, James Mackey or McKey, could possibly have been a son of the James McKee who moved into Hardin County, KY (at least there are one or two unknown males listed in the McKee family tree?) - or perhaps our James could have been one of some other extended family members who may have migrated to Hardin County, KY along with James McKee and his family? I would be most grateful if you could please consider this information and let me know if you think it might actually be worth our time and investment to submit a DNA test with the McKee family project. My brother has submitted 2 other DNA tests, but not specifically with the McKee family project (we thought we were Mackeys). I am just a novice researcher and any advice you may be able or willing to offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time and attention.

Respectfully yours, Janet (Mackey) Bodine