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New things are going on at Kevin McKee Homepage The McKee Store, McKee Chat, What do McKee's do?, a search tool that looks through all newsletters and pages by keywords, a great Donegal search page, another Ireland link for our rich history and background, so keep the homepage on favorites so you can visit it often. I have gone through some e mails and letters (thanks to the search engine these can be quickly scanned through) so I post some of these-then John McKee of County Down, a brief capsule of his life.
Another e mail I (Scotland) Joe says "I had a wee look at the letter from Tom McKee which is very interesting to look at our name history again we have to go back a long way in time. Western Scotland was inhabited by the irish and welsh which together were gaelic nations fro which we are derived. The crest you have on your homepage is somewhat similar to the one i have however take a wee look at the attachment i send. You can see that the mackay crest is basically the same as the mckee you have. My interpretation of the antrim mckees in northern Ireland whose crest is similar but in some interpretations the bears heads are not bridled, intimating that the people were not prepared to be subjects of another. These lands were given as a token of their loyalty in the wars of that period when the english conqured ireland. This is the period when the religious persecutions began and the people were transported or forced to flee their homelands to the new worlds of the Americas or Australia and other parts of the world. Very very interesting to hear other peoples views on this subject. We have a weekly publication of the history of Scotland which I am diversifying from the main subject of the origins of our common name". The next E Mail...."Our resident genealogist (my dad) says that our branch came from County Monaghan ca 1750, ended up in Pennsylvania and founded (or were blamed for) McKeesport. Five brothers split up at this point, with two going to Canada, one to Kentucky and he has forgotten where the others went. Our "Brother" went to Kentucky, and then to Kansas, or maybe his offspring went to Kansas, from there the migration went to Ca and north to Oregon". A touching e mail- entitled "DO I BELONG" "I am an adoptee and my natural fathers name was John Mairs McKee. He migrated from Northern Ireland to Sydney Australia in 1960. I was born in 1961. He died before I knew him. My grandfathers name was Thomas Arthur McKee, b 28 March 1910 on Green Road, Conlig, Co Down N Ireland. He married Elizabeth Eileen Gore b September 19, 1906 of Dunrod, Co Antrim, N Ireland. The were married on 24 August 1928 in the district of Newtownards. Can you help me out with more information. I havent been able to find out any more than the above in tracing my ancestory". In 1998, this E Mail "Hi There! I have been doing family history research and I am looking for relatives, that I think would still be living in Northern Ireland". "William James McKee (Bill) 1886-1960 and Mary Elizabeth Mullan McKee (Molly) 1908-1956. Molly and Bill are both native to Northern Ireland. Molly born in Belfast and Bill in Bangor. Molly and Bills children are Ellen, Betty and Joan who are all in Ontario, Canada. We are looking for the relatives to these McKee's: If any of the above connects, toss me an e mail and I will connect you. You will also find on my homepage, under "view guestbook" many inquiries-and notes from other McKees as well-Kevin
John McKee, the Weaver. "John McKee was born in County Down, Ireland in 1761. He came to America about the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in the Revolutionary war in January, 1778, and was honorably discharged in June 1782. He served under Captain Smith and Colonel Boyd, also under Captain Van Horn and Sample. He was in the Battle of Monmouth and other battles and was wounded in the arm. He applied for a pension in 1818. His pension was allowed until he died at Searights, Pennsylvania in Fayette County, October 20, 1831. His wife Mary was then pensioned his widow until her death. John McKee was a private soldier. John McKee was also a soldier of the War of 1812. He enlisted October 2, 1812, and was honorably discharged April 2, 1813. He served in Captain Moores Company of Infantry, Second Regiment, Second Brigade, Pennsylvania Militia, commanded by Brigadier General Richard Crook. John McKee was a private soldier. While in Ireland John McKee was a weaver; in America he was a farmer. He married Mary Seabring in Bucks County in 1789, and removed to Northumberland County shortly thereafter, remaining there until about 1808, when he came to a farm in Westmoreland County near Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. Carl S McKee, son of Okey F. McKee, and grandson of William and Mary Shanks McKee, great-grandson of Henry McKee, born May 11, 1798 died February 3 1891; married Susanna Hornbake, November 20, 1820. Susanna Hornbake was born ?? and died February 27, 1857. He was a great, great, grandson of John McKee, who was born 1761 died 1831; and married Mary Seabring in 1789. Mary Seabring was born in 1771 and died in 1859. If necessary to make reference to authoritative records you may refer to those of Rev Daniel Harper McKee, Rev Clement L. McKee and Rev William Finley McKee, Sons of the American Revolution. The brothers above belong to the Pennsylvania Society. Rev Daniel Harper McKee is now Deceased.
Marshall and Lilly McKees children: Marshall Jr; June; Billy; Brian; Cora; Olga; Molly; BeBe; Hughie; James; Victor; Bobby; Greta.
George and Molly McKees children: Robert; George Jr.; Clark George Jr. died from Asthma attack about the age of 12 or 13.
Wesleys and Lilly McKees children: Maureen, Jim, Jean. If you know any of these McKees, could you please have them contact me. I am working on a family history book that holds valuable medical history, and would love to include them in the details". Another 1998 E Mail- "My x6 grandfather and grandmother came here from Ireland/Scotland sometime in the 1700's. Im not really sure exactly when but I do have his papers that release him from bondage in 1767. The story my grandfather used to tell was that 7-9 brothers came here on ship in bondage they got into a fight and they went their own ways and none of them ever saw eachother again. I do not know the boat that they came here on but I do know they landed in Pa. My grandfather and his father and the father before ended up in Ky. My mothers name Betty Jo McKee, My Grandfathers name Lester Blanchard McKee (1909-1983) married Ethel Ferguson. His father was George Washington McKee II (1885-1954) married three times 23 children. His father was George Washington McKee I (1842-1919) married Mary Downey. His father was William H McKee (1813-1899) married Emily Helen Lewman. His father John O McKee married Martha Parks in 1804. His father was Gulan McKee married Abigail Lane not really sure sometime I think in 1767-1777".
He was also the father of Col Joseph A McKee who lived many years in Fayette City, Pa.