Mary McCord McElheny
Birth 1743 • West Hanover, Dauphin, Pennsylvania
Death 04 AUG 1807 • Dauphin, Pennsylvania
Mary's husband was the topic of yesterday's blog post...THOMAS MCELHANY 1744–1828. I admit I thought I'd be speaking more about
Ireland today, but I think I'll save that for her father, John McCord's
post, tomorrow.
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| Flag of Ireland |
Thomas and Mary McCord McElheny were my 6th great grandparents in my Booth Family Tree.
Mary McCord was the daughter of John McCord and his wife, Mary MacIntyre McCord.
What
was it like for the McElhenys in West Hanover, Dauphin County,
Pensylvania in the years before, during and after the Revolutionary War? I took a course through Yale History Classes On-Line last year, which taught the amazing fact that most people had allegiance to their own town, then their own state, before the states became united through the revolution. So most people only had local concerns that they thought a lot about, and were finally willing to fight for.
I was reminded when reading a history of the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it, how I don't know much about the Revolution, and am amazed how many citizens fought for the formation of this country. Yet the Quakers of Pennsylvania had a peaceful outlook on conflicts, and often refused to fight in battles...though it's unlikely the the McCords or McElhany's were Quakers. They might have joined that religion however, once they settled in America.
And another thought to consider is the language that they spoke. Having probably come from lowland Scotland to Derry Ireland, the MacIntyres and the McCords into Stewartstown Ireland, would not have had the Irish accent as much as a Scottish one. Even today most English speaking people can hear the diference. So when they arrived in America, they obviously would have gathered to like speaking and similar cultured peoples...much as immigrants do everywhere.
The actual township of West Hannover, or Hanover itself before being divided up, didn't come about until 1785, after Pennsylvania had become a state...and there were the beginnings of a constitutional government.
To the best of my knowledge, Mary and her husband were wed about 1741, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Mary is listed as 74 years old when the Presbyterian church recorded her death in 1807, (thus was born around 1733, rather than the Ancestry listing on most trees of around 1743.)
It is interesting to note that another Mary McCord was living not far away from Dauphin County, in Chester County, whose father was also a John McCord. Those McCords were Quakers, and Mary married in 1777 to John Patterson, son of John Patterson. But both of the newlyweds were under age, because there's a record of their stating their intention to marry, and being asked to get their parents consents...and in the next month they are given the blessing to marry. (Source: Quaker Meeting minutes, Uwchlan, PA) This couple was too young to have become my ancestors. But it would be easy to confuse these people who had same names and lived nearby.
The Old Hanover Presbyterian Church had "The English Cemetery "moved when a new school was being built. So the Old Burying Ground is now in East Hanover, PA. But the records are in existence. They are a bit confusing to me however.
Thomas Sr. is listed as "84 when he died on 9/1/1828.
Mary was 74 when she died 8/4/1807."
Next listing is for "John, son of Thos. dec'd," a date for perhaps a birth "2-1777, " then in the column for death "8/19/1859." So if he'd been born in 1777, he would have been 82 at that death date.
Next listing is for "Thomas, age 1 year 11 months, died 12/3/1818."
Next: "Mary, age 14 years, 6 months, died 7/27/1805."
Then: "John, age 53 years, 10 months, 14 days, died 6/25/1866"
That's all that's listed under the name McElhany in that cemetery record. The list is only 6 pages long.
Mary and Thomas McElhany's son, William McElhany was born in about 1766. He went on to fight in the War of 1812.
I was reminded when reading a history of the Revolutionary War and the events leading up to it, how I don't know much about the Revolution, and am amazed how many citizens fought for the formation of this country. Yet the Quakers of Pennsylvania had a peaceful outlook on conflicts, and often refused to fight in battles...though it's unlikely the the McCords or McElhany's were Quakers. They might have joined that religion however, once they settled in America.
And another thought to consider is the language that they spoke. Having probably come from lowland Scotland to Derry Ireland, the MacIntyres and the McCords into Stewartstown Ireland, would not have had the Irish accent as much as a Scottish one. Even today most English speaking people can hear the diference. So when they arrived in America, they obviously would have gathered to like speaking and similar cultured peoples...much as immigrants do everywhere.
The actual township of West Hannover, or Hanover itself before being divided up, didn't come about until 1785, after Pennsylvania had become a state...and there were the beginnings of a constitutional government.
Originally a part of the County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Paxton Township, West Hanover Township was formed by action of the court of Lancaster in 1785. On March 4, 1842 East and West Hanover Townships of Dauphin County were finally designated as separate governmental precincts.
Historical sources list the earliest settlements in the area of West Hanover as prior to 1735. Many of these settlers, were of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian origin that came in large numbers with English Presbyterian and Protestant refugees to Penn’s Woods.
Census records from 1800 list 1,862 inhabitants and thirteen (13) slaves. Source: West Hanover Township, Township History.
To the best of my knowledge, Mary and her husband were wed about 1741, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Mary is listed as 74 years old when the Presbyterian church recorded her death in 1807, (thus was born around 1733, rather than the Ancestry listing on most trees of around 1743.)
It is interesting to note that another Mary McCord was living not far away from Dauphin County, in Chester County, whose father was also a John McCord. Those McCords were Quakers, and Mary married in 1777 to John Patterson, son of John Patterson. But both of the newlyweds were under age, because there's a record of their stating their intention to marry, and being asked to get their parents consents...and in the next month they are given the blessing to marry. (Source: Quaker Meeting minutes, Uwchlan, PA) This couple was too young to have become my ancestors. But it would be easy to confuse these people who had same names and lived nearby.
The Old Hanover Presbyterian Church had "The English Cemetery "moved when a new school was being built. So the Old Burying Ground is now in East Hanover, PA. But the records are in existence. They are a bit confusing to me however.
Thomas Sr. is listed as "84 when he died on 9/1/1828.
Mary was 74 when she died 8/4/1807."
Next listing is for "John, son of Thos. dec'd," a date for perhaps a birth "2-1777, " then in the column for death "8/19/1859." So if he'd been born in 1777, he would have been 82 at that death date.
Next listing is for "Thomas, age 1 year 11 months, died 12/3/1818."
Next: "Mary, age 14 years, 6 months, died 7/27/1805."
Then: "John, age 53 years, 10 months, 14 days, died 6/25/1866"
That's all that's listed under the name McElhany in that cemetery record. The list is only 6 pages long.
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MCELHENY_section of Old Hanover Presbyterian Churchyard |
Mary and Thomas McElhany's son, William McElhany was born in about 1766. He went on to fight in the War of 1812.
Today's Quote:
Nearly
all creative possibilities are related to the muses that inspire us.
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