Kevin, Per previous e-mail's, for some time I have been puzzling why my McKee ancestors moved from Ireland to Kingston upon Hull on the east coast of England. This move seems to be at odds with most migrations where Irish either moved to Liverpool area (west coast of england) or the US. I may have stumbled across a potential link in the City Archives office of K-u-H. To explain, in the early 1820's there were two distinct family groups of Mckee's. The first group were located in small villages on the coast. The second (my group) were located in Hull. Now, in the 1820's, I have found an entry, yet to be fully researched, which details a George Barnett McKee of Londonderry being an owner of Hull merchant ships. This I suspect may hint of a mercantile reason for the relocation of my ancestors to the UK. My suspicion is that they reloacetd for trade (i.e. mercantile) reasons and kept up communication with Ireland for some time. I will research this a little further and advise you accordingly. Regards Bruce Robinson

There has been much speculation as to how the name McKee was originally spelled. Many have argued that McKee, McKay, McKie, MacIye, Magee, McHugh, McDonald, and others, are only different spellings of the same name. We can find no connecting links, but it seems both possible and probable that such is the case.

The first real knowledge we have of the McKees dates from over two hundred years ago, when four brothers bearing that name left Scotland for bonnie England. There they soon joined the army of William, Prince of Orange, and shortly afterwards, in 1690, we find them with the rest of the army, in the northern part of Ireland. We have been unable to learn the Christian names of these four brothers. All we know of one is that he returned with Williams army to England, where we lose all trace of him. Three were induced to remain in Ireland by grants of land for services rendered. One married and settled in County Antrim; but even tradition has no further information for us concerning either himself or his decsendants, although from actual knowledge in our possession concerning the other two brothers and their descendants, it seems almost a certainty that he and his family emigrated during the exodus from Ulster to America, about 1735 and were the progenitors of the McKees in Kentucky and Virginia, whose history has been written by George Wilson McKee, Major of Ordnance, U.S.A. Another settled in the Ards, in Northeastern County Down, where he has had numerous descendants until this day.

The fourth settled in Lisban, near Saintfield, County Down, where with a fellow soldier named Edgar, both of whom have may descendants in the neighborhood still, who have inter-married for several generations. This soldier-pioneer, whose name was probably Hugh, had settled, built his house, married, and possibly had some children born to him before the year 1700. On the Lisban Road, going from Lough Henney to Saintfield, about half mile after crossing the Belfast road, your attention will be attracted towards the right by an ivy-covered gable, which is all that remains standing of the original Edgar house. If you should go about a quarter mile farther on towards Saintfield, and turn to the left where the road from Tonaghmore to Carricknaveah crosses the Lisban road, you will see the remains of the old McKee house, about a hundred feet from the crossroads, and on the left-hand side. The front wall is still standing, and is used as a fence between the road and the field. You are now on land once granted by the Crown to the pioneer for his services in the cause of the Protestant succession. If you are a "Logstown McKee," or a descendant of David McKee, the subject of this book- or of Hugh or John his brothers, you must feel an interest in this spot. Two centuries ago your ancestor was living within these walls. Two centuries ago he had beaten his sword into a plowshare, and was laboring to put the land about you in its present state of beauty.

The patent which accompanied the grant, with its crest and motto, is now beyond our reach, having been recalled by the Marquis of Downshire, the lord of the soil, at the expiration of some stipulated period of life, or after the passage of some land act increasing the powers of the landlord, of which there were forty-four. The pioneers grandson, Hugh McKee of Poagsburn, became a successful linen merchant in that latter part of the eighteenth centrury, and acquired from Lord Donegal the privilege of creeting a stone in the old linen market in Donegal street, Belfast, on which to buy and sell linen. This neccessitated his having a stamp for marking the linen thus purchased or sold, and so he had one made from the original crest on the patent, using however the English translation of the motto. This stamp was lost, but his son John, who was killed in 1812, was one of the few men in that neighborhood to get a watch, and with it he go a seal with the family crest; both of which are now in the possession of his grandnephew, Mr David McKee, Oughley, Saintfield, County Down, Ireland.

As to the pioneers wife and as to the number of his children we knew nothing, although in all probability he had a large family. There are, however, only four of whom we have any definate knowledge.

The oldest of these was probably James, who settled about a mile from the old homestead, in Tullywest, near where the national school-house stands. Tradition affirms that he was the father of twenty children, and that he lived to be one hundred and twenty years old. This may or may not be true, but we feel reasonably certain that the McKee pioneers of western Pennsylvania were his children and grandchildren. Out of the alleged twenty we have positive knowledge of only four. Of these the one most prominent in local history was David, who got a grant of land from the Marquis of Downshire in the townland of Carricknaveagh, on which he built a house known as Moor Hall "on the south side of the Lisburn Road about two minutes' walk from the Temple toward Lisburn". He was known to fame as "Big Davie of the Temple". He dealt in cattle, going up the country and buying a drove which he would take to Scotland and sell.

Big Davie and his May-pole were known and respected in every cattle market in the north of Ireland. His encounters were more numerous that those of Con of the Hundred Battles or of Little John and his crab-tree, and yet they all, without a single exception, ended in a way favorable to himself. When still quite a young man his reputation was such that no one was willing to meet him in pugilistic encounter. Upon receiving a challenge to fight a man with a shillalah, the Irish national weapon, he immediately began the practice of that arm, and was soon able to overcome his challenger. Ever afterwards he carried his stick with him.

His children were James, John, Hugh, Richard and a daughter who married a Mr. Monroe. His great grandson David McKee is now the propietor of Moor Hall and has a large family of sons, Address: Temple, County Down.

Another son of James McKee of Tullywest, was Hugh who got a farm in the townland of Crevytenant, about a mile from his father's toward Ballynahinch, where his great grandson Hugh McKee, who had married a Miss Gill, died childless about the year 1880, and the farm passed out of the family name.

Still another son of James of Tullywest was Johnm who raised on the farm, lived a large part of his earlier and middle life in Saintfield as propietor of the "Prices Arms", a hotel which then was, as it is even yet, the largest and best public house in that section. While living there John McKee was an active Free Mason- at one time Master of Saintfield Lodge- and of convivial habits, as his son James, late in life, declared that certain resolutions, including one against secret societies, dated back to his early experience of his fathers condition when he returned from the lodge. It may be mentioned as illustrative of John McKee's force of character, that he gave up the hotel, resumed his farm life, and cut himself off entirely from all undesirable associates and habits belonging to his hotel life, scarcely ever going down to the village though only about a mile distant. After his return to the farm he had stated, perhaps annual, dinners for his descendants, and these reunion dinners were part of the recollections of his grandchildren to their latest days.

He was twice married. His first family consisted of James, Lucretia (Mrs Scott), Betty (Mrs. Gibson), Mary (Mrs Thompson), and several other daughters. Of the second family nothing is known, tradition says it consisted of seven daughters.

His son James married Betty Young and settled on a farm under Mr. Price, about a mile from Saintfield, on the Belfast and Downpatrick road, in 1790, engaged in the rebellion of 1798 and had his house searched for arms, although the Government failed to find them. He was an active and enthusiastic worker in the organization and erection, in 1797, of the Second Saintfield Church, being one of its first elders, and occupying a double pew which he put up in the northwest corner. His son, Thomas Walker McKee was the first male child baptized in the new church by the newly ordained clergyman, Rev. Thomas Walker. When he was leaving for America in 1812, James gave his double pew to his first cousin Robert McKee of Killynure, was a ruling elder in that church for over forty years, and whose descendants are active members of the church yet. On arriving in America with his family of two boys and five girls he settled in Beaver County, Pennsylvania where his descendants are known as the "Logstown McKees". He brought with him his grandfathers silver-headed cane, on which is engraved "James McKee of Tullywest, 1760", probably the date either of presentation or of purchase. This he left to his son Thomas Walker McKee, whose grandson, Mr James L. McKee, Richland Center, Wisconsin now possesses in lineal succession this family relic, being the great,great,great grandson of James of Tullywest. Of Jane, the only daughter of James,of Tullywest, of whom we know anything, we have a relic also, a sampler which she gave her grandneice Mary McKee McCune, and which is now owned by Miss Eliza McCude of Woodlawn, Beaver County Pennsylvania. The Sampler bears her name and its date thus: "Jane McKee, her sampler ended Aprile, 1761." From this date it is pobable that Jane was one of the youngest children. SHe married a Mr Oliphant, who was a stucco worker in Belfast, where he acquired a comfortable fortune, but had no family. When he gave up work he left the city and sccupied a house on the farm of James McKee, his wifes nephew. Both husband and wife seem to have been most lovable in character and disposition, and they thus overcame the prejudice which existed against him as being a Scotchman and as only a hand-worker, while the McKees were farmers. When James built or repaired his (?) house, "Uncle Oliphant" offered his services as a plasterer and, by the loving exercise of his are, so beautified the house as to make it superior in appearance to any other of its class in that community. The Oliphant cottage also and its surroundings were made so beautiful as to be an Eden, a "joy forever" in the memory of the McKee children.

Another son of the pioneer, Hugh McKee, got a large tract of land under Squire Price, of Saintfield, in the townland of Craigy, running from the Lisburn road west, on both sides of Craigy road, where he had several sons and daughters.

He divided his farm between his sons John, James, and Hugh, giving John the western portion with its outlet on the Lisburn road, James the southern part on both sides of the Craigy road, and Hugh what was the northern part on both sides of the road, with what was probably the old homestead.

Hugh was engaged to be married to a girl in the Ards. He went on the day appointed to the tavern where, according to Scotch fashion, the marriage was to take place. The clergyman, bridesmaid, and all were there except the bride. After what seemed an endless wait, and everyone had given up hopes of the bride's appearance, Hugh, deeply chagrinned and dissappointed, turned to the bridesmaid with the question, "will you have me, then?". She consented, and the ceremony was immediately performed. The last word had scarcely been spoken, when the intended bride came galloping up to the door on horseback, having been delayed by her dressmaker. On learning the turn which matters had taken, she violently upbraided her friend and bridesmaid, and left telling her that some judgement would fall on her for what she had done.

The bride and groom came home to Craigy where they were blessed with worldly success. Five sons and three daughters had grown up to manhood and womanhood when the Rebellion of 1798 occurred.

McKee was a loyalist, and consequently unpopular with his neighbors, who were all "crappies". His house was attacked and the threat of the disappointed bride was fearfully realized. Upon his refusal to join the insurgents they organized an assault on the house. The storming party is variously estimated at from ten to thirty thousand people. They attacked the house about noon; McKee, with his sons and daughters resisited, and held them at bay for some time, the women loading, the men firing, until the enemy succeeded in putting a torch to the store of flax on the second floor. Then their choice was either death from the infuriated mob without, or death from the fire within. And so they continued firing, pausing only for a moment, now and then, to throw some milk, the only liquid available, on their heads and clothes. The shots gradually became more and more infrequent, and finally ceased sometime before the slated roof fell in. An hour or two later the "crappies" carried the charred remains into the field across the road, and laid them side by side in a hole which they had dug. Over the grave they raised a cairn of stones, which remains to this day. The same house with a thatched roof is now occupied by Mr. Hugh Dales and family, who have also the farm.

John, James and perhaps other children of Hugh of Craigy have numerous descendants in that vicinity yet. Many of them, however, emigrated to America, where they are to be found in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Peterborough, Ontario.

David McKee was probably the third son of the pioneer. As his life and that of his descendants is the subject of the following pages, nothing will be said here except that he married Rebecca Irvine, settled in Anahilt, and had six sons and three daughters, who grew up, married, and have descendants living today.

The only other son of the old pioneer of whom we know anything was John, who inherited the old farm at Lisban. It is not known whom he married, but he left a large family behind him.

His son James inherited the farm, where his descendants lived until the year 1860.

His second son John settled in Killynure, about three miles from Saintfield, toward Belfast, on the Belfast road, on ground owned by Mr. Price, where his descendants lived until about 1865, when the last one, Robert McKee sold it.

A third son of John of Lisban, was Hugh, who purchased Poagsburn farm about 1760, where he raised a large family. He was better known as "Linen Hughie", as he was a linen merchant in Belfast, where he owned a stone in the old market. His oldest son was Robert, who saw the stone erected; another was John, whose watch and seal still exist. Still another son was the celebrated Rev. David McKee, who preached at Annaghlone, for over sixty-years. The sons of the latter all died unmarried except David, who was Rev. Dr. John Halls successor in Dublin when he left for fifth avenue, New York and who went to New Zealand for his health a few years since; and died two years later. His family are still at Raccerton, Christs Church New Zealand. The Poagsburn farm is now occupied by Linen Hughies grandson, Robert McKee.

All we know of the other son of John, of Lisban, is that his name was David, and that the Rev. David McKee, of Annaghlone, was his namesake.

Margaret, the daughter of John, of Lisban, married a farmer named Edgar. He seems to have been a fine carpenter as well, for at the time of his brother-in-law Hugh McKees marriage, he made for him a chest of drawers, which are still in the Poagsburn house, and use as the safe deposit of the family. One of Margarets sons became the celebrated Rev. Samuel Edgar, D.D., LL.D., of Ballynahinch, and Professor of Divinity for the Succession . He married his first cousin, Elizabeth McKee, of Poagsburn. Two of his sons became clergymen; David as his fathers successor in Balynahinch for fifty years, and John as a minister in Belfast, where he was Professor of Systematic Theology for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland. (It is here pg 18 that a tree is provided showing the authors view on McKees- I will endeavor to repeat it).

Begininning with McKee- the four brothers are listed as only "returned with the army. Hugh(?)settled in Lisban. Settled in the Ards. Settled in Antrim. Then from Hugh settled in Lisban are... James of Tullyest who begat Big Davie of the Temple,Hugh of Crevytenant,John of Prices Arms and Jane (Mrs. Oliphant). Hugh of Craigy who begat John of the Hill, James and Hugh of the Burnt House. David of Anahilt (which is the subject of this book and a large family names list is published in second part (km.) begat James, William, David, Joseph, George, John, Elizabeth, Martha, Rebecca. Then lastly John (inhereted the old farm) begat John of Killynure, James, Hugh of Poagsburn, David and the Margaret (Mrs Edgar)

From Mr.John McKee, of 30 E Thirty ninth street, New York, we learn the most of the McKees, and nearly all of the Edgars, of County Down bury at Lough Henney graveyard. The bodies of James, of Tullywest; John, of Lisban, and all of their descendants who had spent their lives in that locality are interred.

Mr. McKee writes: The graveyard is situated on an eminence overlooking the lake, surrounded by large firs, which sigh mournfully when fanned by the breeze from the water. It is certainly a very old burial ground. There is no church at it or near it, but tradition says the ruins of some building were once visible. Here rest the remains of James Davidson, the subject of Dr Edgars most popular publication, "Jamy, a True Story," to whose memory a tablet has been raised.

Opposite the graveyard, out in the water and in what was once the centre of the lake before it was drained, rised up a little island known in the neighborhood as Robbin Wrights Island. It covers almost half an acre and is a perfect circle. Robbin owned it and took a great deal of pleasure in working on it. It is not natural but artificial, but when or by whom made even tradition fails to offer a hint. One day while Robbin was working on the north side of the island he struck a tomb in which lay the remains of some Irish king or chieftain (who in life must have stood about eight feet high) clad in a coat of mail, made out of small rings, which Robbin presented to the Belfast museum and which is there to be seen.

It is known that Irish wolves visited the cemeteries and disinterred the dead, and the supposition is that this island was made for a royal burying ground while the rest of the clan buried on the eminence overlooking the island, where Lough Henney graveyard now stands. This may be true or otherwise, but one thing is certain, that nobody bearing the name McKee or Edgar can walk over Lough Henney graveyard without treading on the dust of his relatives or ancestors.

(This is the extent of the first 19 pages entitled "A General Sketch of the Early McKees. There follows a considerable listing of David McKee of Anahilts descendants, consisting of over about 90 pages-including some narrative and sketches). (Remembering that this book was pubished in 1892-putting everything in perspective, there could be other discoveries or opinions we come across-including Raymond Walter McKees lifelong research and book published in 1954 etc.)

I have available, as of 6/07/2000, only 8 copies of the David McKee of Anahilt pamphlet remaining. This pamphlet is 110+ pages, has some sketch illustrations and is bound. Those that would like one can send 25.00 to Kevin McKee, 27 N Grand Ave, Woodland, California 96595. Please E Mail me so I know you are interested, I will hold a copy for you. This 25.00 covers the cost of handling this endeavor- the copying of the book was 14.00 each, the spine with cover and back at 1.75 each, the envelope and postage and handling. km