McKee Family Matters
Hello!

This page is dedicated to the McKee name and all those who are interested in news on our heritage, backgrounds, family stories, letters, and anything that might be sent this way to share with other McKees from around the world. I have been asked to do something like this, and time permitting, and with interest and input, I will endeavor to diseminate information that I and others run across that would be interested in sharing.

Featured McKee History --William McKee and Elizabeth Hammond (Ontario)

The book, History of the County of Perth-states- "Near the stream northward came, in 1847, James Reed, Robert Miller, Robert, John and William McKee; John Nicklin, John Gillespie, John Armstrong, with the families of Crawford, Henderson, Teskey, McMullen and Strachen. Nearly all of these were North Ireland Scotch immigrants and unacquainted with pioneer life. This intensified their difficulties in a marked degree. No survey having been made, they necessarily became squatters, and for any improvements were entirely at the mercy of the government. When a survey was effected, great hardship arose. Where a patch of clearing had been done and a shanty erected, it not infrequently happened that a concession line would pass through the little plot of stumps and even compel the removal of the shanty to another location." They settled in the township of Mornington.

In Elma, the pioneer Methodist minister was Rev John Armstrong, who preached in the shanties of old settlers from the earliest period of settlement. Rev Mr Dyer followed Mr Armstrong and he was the first minister appointed by confederation to Elma, as a seperate mission. During Mr. Dyers pastorate, services were held in may homes including Mr. McKees (now Molesworth) and radiated the principles of Methodism throughout Elma.

The history of the County of Perth also tells of several settlers who settled in Wallace. In the southwest were North of Ireland and Scotch, and the McKees, Everals, Coughlins, Smiths and Thompsons were first settlers. Wallace lies at the extreme northern limit of Perth County. On the southern side, it is partly bounded by Elma, yet is nearly seperated from Perth by Grey, in the County of Huron. Other points of interest from this book are:

Deputy Reeve in Mornington was Robert McKee, from 1863 to 1868 and George McKee from 1876-1878. Municipal officers in Wallace George McKee was a collector in 1869 and an auditor in 1869 and 1870. Councillors- R McKee and P McKee. Hammond Families mentioned are James, John R., Thomas E and William. THis is noted for interest sake as someone may want to research the Hammond family tree.

Williams McKees obituary mentions him crossing the pond with two brothers and a sister. As mentioned in the History of Perth, his two brothers were likely Robert and John. In Molesworth Cemetary, there is an R.J.McKee grave and buried there are Mr and Mrs McKee and a daughter. THere was no McKee Family histories in the History of the County of Perth. I was unable to locate the name of the third daughter of William and also the name of his sister who crossed the pond with him. The large monument of William and Elizabeth is in Molesworth Cemetary and it says: WM. McKee died Nov 20, 1885 age 81 & 8 months a native of Donegal, Ireland. Elizabeth Hammond, wife of Wm. McKee died Dec 28, 1880 age 74 years 11 months 21 days a native of County Donegal, Ireland.

I have been shopping for McKee tidbits to insert in this updated version-in time for the holidays 1999.

Tom McKee sent me an E Mail in August and mentions: " I was re-reading some old John McKee of Brooklyn letters when I came across something I had forgotten abount and should be of interest to you but you maybe already aware of it. If so, just deep six it. I will copy the pertinent paragraph."

"Fifty years after the Battle of the Boyne, McKees came over from Scotland and settled near Ballymena, County Antrim, and are still there. They have got the name of Patrick in their family. Other McKees settled about the same time at BALLYSHANNON. They emigrated to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada where they still are, but in Ireland they have become extinct."

-I can't remember if it was Tom, but I did receive word that this branch- which is likely my own clan, and others were mentioned in James Y MCKEEs book David McKee of Anahilt. If anyone can access a copy of this or knows where I can, please e-mail me at KvMcKee@aol.com.

I was lucky to receive a note from a fellow genealogist who shares the same area and family names who, as I did discovered similarities in the surnames of my ancestors and those who settled around them. This similarity blossomed into discovering my ancestors home in Ireland. By reading through histories of families who also settled in Ontario, Donegal was common mention. I then contacted and hired Donegal Ancestry and received the news! His note in part says "In the course of my research on Irish emigrant correspondence, I had occasion to investigate the Brown family of Donegal. In the course of this investigation I discovered the place of origin of the Freeborn family, many of whose members emigrated to Smith Township and thence further afield to Perth County and to the US. In the same parish, I also discovered the olace of origin of the McKee family and the Loves, both of whom intermarried extensively with the Freeborns and who also came to Smith TOwnship area of Upper Canada about the same time (1833-34). Indeed the families may have come together".

A Couple of the references provided to me in this correspondence was: Marriage, Andrew McKee to Ann Love 24 January 1694 (Place of residence is usually not given in the earliest years of the parish entries).

Marriage-John McKee son of Adam McKee of Rossnowlagh townland by License to Christian Paine of the townland of Ardeenlan, Daughter of William Paine now living in Farmanagh dated 9 May 1787 (Note that Rossnowlagh is on the coast of Donegal Bay in the southern part of the parish, about two miles from Ballintra and about eight from Donegal. Ardeelan townland is immediately south of Rossnowlagh).

Marriage-Robert McKee, Son of Adam McKee of Rossnowlagh townland to Eleanor Graham daughter of Arthur Graham of the townland of Durinish (modern spelling Durnesh) Durinish is just east of Rossnowlagh.

A cousin of Elliott connections recently made a trip to the homeland (Donegal, Ireland) and was able to obtain the following information of Elliott McKee connection -which migrations included Ontario;

William Elliott of Lisminton (Father) William Elliott married Margaret Love of Carrick West-her father William Love on 25 July 1786. Their children were: Anne baptised 25 July 1786 (married Robert McKee 19 August 1802); Jane 30 April 1788; Elizabeth 12 Oct 1790, George 5 Feb 1793, Mary Bevan 30 May 1795 (married Samuel McKee 22 Sept 1812), William 30 May 1797, Elsy 21 Aug 1799, Hannah 4 Aug 1802, John 1 Aug 1805.

Robert McKee Ballybulgan son of William McKee Ballybulgan to Anne Elliott daughter of William Elliott Lisminton. Children William, 4 Aug 1806, Sarah 17 APril 1809, Samuel 3 Dec 1811, Margaret 19 April 1821, George 16 April 1824, John 5 Oct 1828.

Samuel McKee Ballybulgan father was William McKee married Mary Bevan Elliot Lisminton her father William Elliott married 22 October 1812. Children 22 Sept 1813, Margaret 23 Sept 1819, Sarah 10 April 1823.

Sarah Thompson, wife of William McKee Ballybulgan buried 28 Jan 1790.

William McKee Ballybulgan buried 10 Feb 1807.



[ Kevin McKee Homepage ]   [ Next Newsletter ]   [ McKee Surname Origin ]