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Families in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, associated with McGoughs from Harford County, Maryland—Burke, Dempsey, Dimond, McConnell, McGuire, Plummer, Skelly by Hugh McGough

This page is a potpourri of genealogical information that I have stumbled across while looking into the relationships among the several families mentioned on this page. This page explores connections among the McGoughs and several other families in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in the early part of the nineteenth century. The genesis of the page was a request that I explain the relationship between two Mary Ann Skellys, one of whom married Thomas McGough and the other of whom married Thomas McConnell.

Thomas McGough was born in about 1785 (or 1788), in Deer Creek Upper Hundred, Harford county, Maryland, and married Mary Ann Skelly on June 9, 1812, in St. Michael's Church, Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Thomas McGough and Mary Ann Skelly were married by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, whose church was St. Michael in Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. A witness was John Burke, who was almost certainly the same John Burke who married Thomas's sister Esther McGough.(Ledoux, volume 1 page 146; Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 138; see also: U.S./International Marriage Records, 1340–1980 on Genealogy.com.). Thomas was a farmer and a teacher. He was the son of James McGough (and Esther James), who was the son of Miles McGough (senior) (and Elizabeth Spencer). Thomas died on May 14, 1870, in Summerhill, Croyle Township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and is buried at the church of St. Bartholomew, Wilmore, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann Skelly was born in about 1795 in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, to John (Joannis) Skelly, Sr. and Catherine Whitestone, and died in about 1870. John Skelly, Sr., was born 1760 to 1770 in county Antrim, Ireland, and settled in Cambria county in 1809. Mary Ann Skelly McGough died in about 1870 in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's cemetery, Wilmore, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. See my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Thomas McConnell married another Mary Ann Skelly (O'Skelly) on August 3, 1830. The marriage was performed by Father Gallitzin at St. Michael Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 156, #3280), and the newlyweds lived in territory that later became part of St. Bartholomew parish, Wilmore, Pennsylvania. Thomas McConnell was born on June 19, 1809, and was the son of Arthur J. McConnell (1765–January 21, 1861) and Catherine Moury (1771–November 18, 1844). This Mary Ann Skelly was born on June 19, 1809, to Philip (Felix) Skelly, Jr., and Margaret McAfee Skelly, and baptized (as Maria Anna Skelley) by Father Gallitzin at St. Michael on September 17, 1809 (Ledoux,volume 1, page 11). She died March 19, 1886, and is buried St. Bartholomew's. Her father was the son of Philip Skelly, Sr., one of the six Skelly brothers from county Antrim, and brother of John Skelly, Sr., who was the father of the Mary Ann Skelly who had married Thomas McGough 18 years earlier. Mary Ann Skelly McGough, therefore, was the first cousin Philip (Felix) Skelly, Jr., who was the father of Mary Ann Skelly McConnell. The two Mary Ann Skellys were first cousins once removed.

Mary Ann McGough, a daughter of Thomas McGough and Mary Ann Skelly, was baptized on May 15, 1820, by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 41); married Francis McConnell on June 10, 1843, in St Michael's, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania (Ledoux, volume II, page 55). Francis McConnell was born in Maryland and was possibly a son of Francis McConnell and Sarah Shield. (But see (in O'Neill Ancestry): Francis McConnell married Mary Ann McGough on June 10, 1843, in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Thomas McConnell and Mary Ann Skelly (Ledoux, volume II, page 55, #1454). She was born about 1820 in Croyle Township, Cambria County, Pennslvania, was christened May 15, 1820, in St Michael's, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of Thomas McGough and another Mary Ann Skelly. Her godfather was James Burke. (Ledoux, volume 1, page 41, #0877).) See: O'Neill———— Ancestry.

Elizabeth McGough, who was born about 1799 in Harford county, Maryland, married John Skelly, Jr. (born on February 23, 1792, in Tuckahoe Valley, Bedford county, Pennsylvania) in about 1819 in Cambria county; died about 1872 in Pennsylvania. 8 children born in Cambria county. John Skelly, Jr. who married Elizabeth McGough, was the brother of Mary Ann Skelly who married Thomas McGough on June 9, 1812, and of Michael Skelly, who married Elizabeth's sister, Rachel McGough. They were the sons of John Skelly, Sr., one of six brother who came from county Antrim and ultimately settled in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. See: Haid Family Tree. I have not found a record of the marriage of John Skelly, Jr., and Elizabeth McGough, but Ledoux (volume 1, page 47) records the baptism of a child of theirs by Father Gallitzin at St. Michael on October 27, 1821. Godparents were James Burke and Mary Skelly, daughter of Michael Skelly.

Rachel McGough, who was born on May 16, 1800, in Harford county, Maryland; married Michael Skelly (born about 1793 in Cambria county); died on June 26, 1832 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 168), in Summerhill township, Cambria county; and is buried at St. Michael's cemetery, Cambria county). Michael and Rachel McGough Skelly had 6 children, all born in Cambria county. Rachel was a sister of Thomas McGough (who married Mary Ann Skelly) and Elizabeth McGough (who married John Skelly, Jr.). See: Haid Family Tree.

Resources

Here are the counties in Ireland where the surnames discussed on this page most frequently occurred in the latter half of the 1800s, according to Irish Ancestors (published by the Irish Times):

Burke (Galway, Tipperary, Mayo); Dempsey (Wexford, Offaly, Laois); Dimond (Derry); McAfee (Antrim, Derry); McConnell (Down, Tyrone, Antrim); McGough, including McGeough and McGeogh (Monaghan, Louth); McGuire (Fermanagh); McKinney (Antrim, Derry, Tyrone); Skelly (Down, Longford, Westmeath, Meath)

The “Index of Parish Records, Loretto, Pa. 1800-1896” or Kittle Index lists these families:

Father Albert Ledoux has published a five volume set of nineteenth century Catholic parish records of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths, of the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Counties included are Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset. (Ledoux, Rev. Albert H. Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania, Vol. I (1783–1839) Altoona, Pa.: A. H. Ledoux, 1994-1996. The four subsequent volumes cover the later years through 1869. See Bibliography (under Records) on Cambria County Pennsylvania Genealogy.) I cite these volumes (as Ledoux) thoughout these pages.

See: History of Cambria County, by Henry Wilson Storey, volume 1, page 209 — Loretto.

Cambria County Pennsylvania Genealogy (part of the Pennsylvania GenWeb project).

Cambria County Pennsylvania Township Maps or go to: Image: Map of Cambria County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.

Firstmom's Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources—including All Surnames in Family Tree, a GEDCOM that includes: Burke, Dempsey, Dimond, McGough, Plummer

O'Neill ancestry—includes Burke (43), Dempsey (18), Dimond (13), Kaylor (51), McConnell (17), McGuire (1), McGough (431), McKinney (8), Plummer (7), and Skelly (77). A thoroughly-researched gold mine of information.

Haid Family Tree—includes Burke (27), Dempsey (11), Dimond (6), Frueh (1), Glass (47), Helsel (6), James (13), Kaylor (84), McConnell (110), McGeehan (15), McGough (35), McGuire (214), McKenzie (10), McKinney (3), McKinzie (11), Noel (165), Parrish (423), Plummer (22), Skelly (41), Spencer (1), Storm (192).

Topper Tree—includes a GEDCOM with Burke, Glass, McConnell, McGough, McGuire.

PACAMBRI-L Archives on RootsWeb—especially these threads:

Skelly and McGough

Skelly

Michael McGuire

Prince Gallitzin

McGuire, Michael and Margaret

Michael Joseph McGuire 1785–1835

Luke McGuire, son of Michael and Rachel Brown McGuire

Michael and Patience Wells McGuire

Richard McGuire, son of Michael and Rachel Brown McGuire

Michael Joseph McGuire,son of Michael and Rachel Brown McGuire

Capt Mike McGuire

Diamond, Dimond

Michael and Patience Wells McGuire

Andrew McGuire of Maryland

Cambria County, PA Genealogy Forum.

Servant of God —Demetrius Gallitzin "Apostle of the Alleghenies"—Commemorative/Anniversary Publications

The Main Indian PathsAnd Migration Trails In Pennsylvania—especially Old Kittaning Indian Trail to Loretto. See also the Conemaugh Trial on Cambria County.

Early Catholic Migration from Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland to Clarion, Cambria, Armstrong, and Westmoreland Counties, PA.

The Mission Trails in Pennsylvania.

History of Cambria County Pennsylvania by Henry Wilson Storey (The Lewis Publishing Company, New York Chicago 1907) - in three volumes.

Cambria, Huntingdon, and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania all are part of the original Bedford county. See: Genealogical and Historical Research in Old-Bedford County on the Mother Bedford website maintained by Larry D. Smith, who says:

"In 1773 the County of Westmoreland was erected out of the western half of Bedford. Bedford County was left with the region encompassed by present-day Huntingdon, Fulton, Blair, Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties. It is that region that is Mother Bedford."

The Mother Bedford site includes A Map Of The Present-Day Counties Of Old~Bedford.

In the Fifty Fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, under Colonel Richard White, in the Civil War, there were two companies from Cambria county, one of which, Company C, "was recruited at Johnstown by Capt. Michael O'Connell, who was succeeded by Capt. James Metzger, he by Capt. Patrick O'Connell, and he by Capt. James Burke." History of Cambria County, by Henry Wilson Storey, volume 2, page 171. "Serg. James Burke; prom. to corp. Aug. 1, 1863; to serg. Jan. 5, 1864; com. 2d lieut. Dec. 21,1864; 1st lieut. March 21, 1865; captain March 25, 1865; not mustered; must. out with company Aug. 30, 1865; Veteran.", page 178. (Enlisted as a Private on 13 September 1861. Enlisted in Company C, 55th Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 13 September 1861—American Civil War Soldiers on Ancestry.com.)

"Hugh McConnell; prisoner from May 16, to November 19, 1864; must. out Jan. 27, 1865, to date Nov. 24, 1864; expiration of term." page 179.

Captain James A. Skelly of Wilmore commanded Company G, which joined Harlan's Light Calvary, which became part of the One Hundred and Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, or the Eleventh Cavalry. "Capt. Skelly was promoted to major, October 1, 1864, to lieutenant-colonel May 25, 1865, and commanded the regiment at various times." He was mustered out of the regiment on August 13, 1865, page 187. Serg. John A. Skelly: was discharged from Company G on August 27, 1864, upon expiration of his term of service; Corp. Joseph A. Skelly was promoted to corporal on July 1, 1865, and mustered out with the company on August 13, 1865, page 188.

Here is a section from Presidents, Soldiers and Statesmen (H. H. Hardestry, Publisher, New York, Toledo and Chicago 1898, volume II, page 1287:

JAMES A. SKELLEY.

The subject of this brief sketch was born in Cambria county, Pa., in 1825, and was a son of Michael and Rachel (McGough) Skelley, dec. He was engaged in farming when the late war of the Rebellion was inaugurated. He was 37 years of age when he was enrolled Oct. 24, 1862, in Co. G, 171 Pa. V.I., as Corp., and has an honorable war record. He took part in the battle of Swift Creek, and considerable scouting, skirmishing, guard and garrison duty, and he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 8, 1863. His great uncles Patrick Skelley and Huey Skelley were killed by the Indians during the Revolutionary war. His great uncle, Felix Skelly, was held prisoner for a short time during that war. The subject of this sketch embarked in farming after the war closed, and has successfully conducted it ever since. His post office address is Summerhill, Pa.

On the list of voters in Cambria township on October 8, 1805, were: Michael Sully (Skelly), John Skelly, Daniel Dimond Jr., and Philip Scholley (Skelly). See: History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 23.]

Signatories to an 1807 Petitition Supporting Father Augustine Gallitzin

St. Michael's Parish at Loretto, Cambria county, was founded in 1799 by a Russian prince turned Roman Catholic priest, Reverend Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin. In 1803, Prince Gallitzin laid out the town of Loretto. In 1807, he was engaged in a contest with Edward V. James who was promoting real estate in the adjoining township of Munster, about 4 miles south of Loretto, which was in Allegheny township. James was supported by a dissident faction in the Loretto parish led by two brothers, James C. McGuire and Cornelius McGuire. (On October 24, 1807, Edward V. James was appointed by Governer Thomas McKean to these offices in the newly organized Cambria county government: Recorder of Deeds, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, Clerk of Courts of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, Register of Wills, Clerk of Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail, and a commissioner with the power to administer oaths.) See: Tony Bentivegna's entry of May 12, 2001, on RootsWeb's PACAMBRI-L Archives, Subject: Re: [PaCambri] more on the James Gang/Gallitzen feud. See James Miller's contribution of May 13, 2001, on PA Cambria Archives: The James Gang/ Troubles in Camelot. A second part and a third part are on a separate pages. (See also Miller's pages Troubles in Camelot. and Troubles in Camelot/ Epilogue.) See also: Sainthood cause of prince-priest, Father Gallitzin, advances by Monsignor Timothy P. Stein, from the Catholic Register of March 5, 2007.

For more background, see Brian L. Cartwright's entry of May 11, 2001, on Rootsweb (PA Cambria Archives) Subject: Re: [PaCambri] more on the James Gang/Gallitzen feud. Brian refers to a petition supporting Father Gallitzin signed by 112 male members of the parish. More from Catholic Trails West, volume 2, page 647:

"James went to Baltimore to meet with Bishop Carroll armed with a petition asking for the Prince's removal. The Prince counteracted with a petition dated April 24, 1807. The petition was read to the congregation and 112 male members of the parish stepped forward to sign it, including, not surprisingly, a great many of the pioneers from Conewago. According to the Prince's accompanying letter to the Bishop, even his 'Protestant neighbors' had offered to sign the petition and some of them were converting to Catholicism.

"The legible signatures to the Gallitzen petition include: Nicholas BURKE, John BURKE, John McGOUGH, John BURGOON, Henry GLASS, Jacob GLASS, Jr., George GLASS, John GLASS, Mathew McCUE, Robert BURGOON, John McAFEE, William BURKE, William GLASS, Luke McGUIRE, James BURKE, John STORM, Richard McGUIRE, John WELSH, Nicholas NOEL, Michael SKELLY, Sr. and Jr., John SKELLY, Philip SKELLY, Patrick BURKE, Jacob GLASS, John DIMOND, Daniel DIMOND Sr., and Jr., John McKINZIE, Philip DIMOND and Patrick DIMOND." (selected names only).

Arthur and Susan McGough from New Castle County, Delaware

In adddition to Myles and Elizabeth James McGough, another McGough family moved to Cambria county before 1800. Arthur and Susan McGough had settled in New Castle county, Delaware, in 1786. They settled in the Mill Creek Hundred in in the northwestern part of New Castle county. They were not on the tax assessment lists of New Castle county in 1787, but were there, with two acres, in 1787. Their son Arthur McGough (junior) was born there in 1790, and their son James was born there in 1796. Arthur and Susan McGough and their family moved from Delaware to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, sometime before April of 1798. In 1800, in the Allegheny township of Huntingdon county (later Cambria county), Arthur McGough (senior) is listed in a household of 10.

In Pennsylvania, two additional sons were born to Arthur and Susan McGough: Thomas McGough and Peter McGough. The five sons, John McGough, Arthur McGough (junior), James McGough, Thomas McGough, and Peter McGough, all raised large families in and around Cambria county, Pennsylvania. The list of all their children is as follows:

# John McGough (1784–1856)
# Arthur McGough (junior) (1791– )
# Bridget McGough (1793–18 )
# James McGough (1796–1871)
# Thomas McGough (c.1798– )
# Margaret McGough (1799–18 )
# Mary A. McGough (1801–18 )
# Agnes McGough (1802– )
# Peter McGough (1808–1893)

For the history of this McGough family, see my page: McGoughs in America before 1790: Arthur and Susan McGough. This present page deals with families in Cambria county associated with the family of Miles McGough. I have made no effort to discuss families with connections only to Arthur and Susan McGough. (For a web page that points out that the families of Miles McGough and Arthur McGough were two separate families in Cambria county, see: Cambria County Folks on PACAMBRI-L on Roots Web.)

McGuire Settlement at Loretto—Michael McGuire, Jr.

For a history of the roles of Michael McGuire, Jr., and Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin in the founding of the colony of Loretto, see the Wikipedia article: Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin.

Here is a history of Michael McGuire, Jr., extracted from the Ancestors of Susan Kathryn Hahn by Susan K. Hahn:

Michael McGuire, Sr was born about 1695 and died 1792 in Pipe Creek, Frederick county, Maryland. [He married Patience Wells in about 1830 in Baltimore, Maryland. [Pipe Creek is near Taneytown (about 7 miles east by road), which is in Maryland. Taneytown is about 13 miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.]

Michael McGuire, Jr was born 1717 (more likely in 1731 or later; 1717 was apparently arrived at by subtracting the age of his wife Rachel at her death, 76, from the date of Michael's death; see the email of Brenda Wallace, below) and died 17 Nov 1793 in Allegheny Township, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Michael McGuire, Sr. [and Patience Wells]. He married Rachel Brown 3 Oct 1766 in Taneytown, Frederick county, Maryland. [Some sources say that Michael Jr. was also married to Mary Burke in 1739 and that Mary died before 1766. This may be confusion with the Mary Burke who married Henry McGuire on February 10, 1824. (see below)] [Two other sons of Michael McGuire, Jr., and Patience Wells were Nicholas and Peter McGuire. They were born on Great Pipe Creek farm, Frederick county, near Taneytown, Maryland. Nicholas McGuire married Ann Dorcas Shirley (1765–February 25, 1843) and Peter McGuire married Ann's sister, Charity Shirley (died 1846). Ann Dorcas McGuire and Charity McGuire were daughter of John Shirley (November 17, 1728–August 26, 1821) and his wife, Charity. Nicholas McGuire was an American Revoluntionary soldier who died in 1813 and is buried with his wife, Ann Dorcas McGuire, "in a small cemetery on the Nelson farm, midway between Newry, Pennsylvania and Catfish, near the James Hammet farm. It is also known as the Kladder cemetery, Blair Co. PA., as stated in the Altoona Tribune, May 30, 1914." See: The Early Settlers Of Old~Greenfield Township (Bedford county).]

Luke McGuire was born 2 Oct 1768 in Pipe Creek, Frederick, Maryland and died 17 Apr 1831 in Allegheny Township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Michael McGuire, Jr and Rachel Brown. He married Margaret O'Hara 30 Jan 1794. Margaret O'Hara was born 1774 and died 10 Jan 1833 in Allegheny Township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Henry O'Hara and Margaret. [When James McGough died in Cambria county, his wife, Esther James McGough, petitioned in December, 1814, as widow & Executrix of James McGough, deceased, to have Luke McGuire, Esq, appointed guardian over persons & Estates of the children of the deceased that are under the age of 14 years. The court appointed him on September 5, 1815. See Esther James on O'Neill ancestry.]

Michael Luke McGuire was born 28 Aug 1811 in Allegheny Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania and died 24 Dec 1852 in Allegheny Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Luke McGuire and Margaret O'Hara. He married Sarah Glass 20 Jul 1841 in Loretto, Cambria, Pennsylvania. Sarah Glass was born 29 Jan 1819 in Cambria Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania and died 28 Dec 1906 in Allegheny Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of George Glass and Susan Dougherty. [George Glass was born 1 May 1770 in Maryland and died 9 Nov 1847 in Cambria Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Jacob Glass and Anne _____. Jacob Glass was born 25 Jul 1741 and died 18 Jan 1821 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He married Anne.]

See also: Descendants of James Wells, which contains this list:

Children of Michael Mcguire and Rachael Brown are:

+ 68 i. Mary MCGUIRE, born September 2, 1767 in Frederick Co. [Pipe Creek Hundred], MD, USA; died December 17, 1835 in Cambria Co., PA, USA. [married Thomas Bond Durbin, son of Thomas Durbin.]

69 ii. Luke Mcguire, born October 20, 1768 in Near Taneytown, Carroll Co., MD, USA; died April 17, 1831 in Loretto, PA, USA. He married Margaret O'Hara [in Taneytown (or on January 30, 1794, in Baltimore)]

70 iii. Henry Mcguire, born Abt. 1770 [born 20 FEB 1770 in MD, and died 8 OCT 1843]..[MCGUIRE Henry and Mary Burke. Married February 10, 1824. Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 140. See: Haid Family Tree.]

71 iv. Richard Mcguire, born December 12, 1771; died January 13, 1855. He married Eleanor Byrnes/Byrne May 15, 1800 in in Cambria Co..

72 v. Patience Mcguire, born April 22, 1773. She married Michael Mcguire [born 22 APR 1773 in Frederick County, Maryland, and died 30 JUL 1847 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. She married Michael McGuire, son of Bartholomew McGuire and Bridget ???.]

73 vi. Appolonia Mcguire, born February 10, 1779; died May 24, 1861. She married James Mcgeehan.

74 vii. Michael Joseph Mcguire, born April 08, 1785. He married Sarah Byme/Byrne in in Cambria Co..

75 viii. Ruth Mcguire.

Here is a summary of the settlement in the Loretto area of Michael McGuire from The Benedictine Fathers in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, by the Rev. Modestus Wirtner, O.S.B. (1925), pages 11 and 12:

"The First Settlement on the Allegheny Mountains

"The history of Catholicity on the Allegheny Mountains begins with the first permanent settlement in Cambria County. Up to the year 1768 Frankstown, at the foot of the mountains was the last frontier settlement. Captain Michael McGuire, a hero of the Revolutionary war for Independence, was a noted trapper and hunter. Before the revolutionary struggle broke out, he was accustomed to start at intervals from his home in Taneytown, Md., and to make expeditions far into the interior of Pennsylvania.

"By a law of Pennsylvania, such as built a log house and cleared a few acres of land acquired a presumptive right to purchase at $5.00 per 100 acres. On one of his trips, about the year 1768, traveling up the Kittaning or Indian Trail, he crossed the Alleghenies and established his hunting camp near the present Chest Springs, on land later owned by Mr. Robert Sisk, then for over 20 years by Lawrence Sutton. This location is to be seen on an old draft of the country made as far back as 1793, which shows the exact location of "Captain McGuire's Camp." It is practically beyond all dispute that the Captain was, as Robert L. Johnston, the historian of early Cambria wrote, 'The first white man who settled within the present bounds of Cambria County.' Records, deeds, papers, etc., in the possession of his many descendants are more than sufficient to verify this statement.

"When the Land Office was opened Captain McGuire was among those who 'took up' land on which he subsequently planted the 'McGuire Settlement.' His first and for several years his only neighbors, were the settlers at Blair's Mill, more than 12 miles away, with a dense, unbroken forest between.

"According to the Rev. Edwin Pierron, O.S.B., of Patton, John McGuire (who built the McGuire grist mill, about the year 1845, on the site which is now within the borough of Patton) in relating his reminiscences stated that his grandfather, Captain Michael McGuire, built a second log cabin near Ashville, which later became the homestead of Augustine Hott, Father Gallitzin's hostler. No doubt the majestic oak trees at Loretto indicated better land, so he built, with the assistance of his nephew, Michael McGuire, a third cabin in 1784, at Loretto.

"The exact spot, chosen by him for a settlement was the valley just below the present town of Loretto to the east. In a short time a few log cabins were built, and these served for shelter and protection until more permanent structures could be erected. This land is now part of the tract owned by the Franciscan Brothers.

"Captain McGuire brought his family to McGuire's settlement in the year 1788. In 1790 Luke McGuire, eldest son of the captain, took up his residence on the farm now owned and cultivated by his grandson, George Luke McGuire. He completed his house in 1794 and at present it still stands well preserved. Captain Richard McGuire the younger son of Captain Michael McGuire, was married in 1800, located and built in the vicinity of his brother.

"Taking advantage of the law, Captain Michael McGuire lost no time in providing for the church, for which his wonderful faith alone could have given him hopes, and took up 400 acres of land which he made over to Bishop John Carroll, who had been just consecrated, and returned to the United States. On this land Prince Gallitzin built the first church, used for divine services, between Lancaster, Pa., and St. Louis, Mo.

"The settlement founded by Captain McGuire attracted other pioneers to the Alleghenies, and he was soon followed by Cornelius McGuire, Richard Nagle, William Dodson, Richard Ashcraft, Michael Rager, James Alcorn and John Sturm. These were followed by others. John Trux, John Douglas, John Byrne, William Meloy and many others whose names together with the names of their descendants, are preserved in a Register of St. Michael's Parish, Loretto. ...

"In the summer of 1796 Father Gallitzin came here on a sick call. Mrs. John Burgoon, a protestant woman, was taken very ill (5), and begged so hard to see a Catholic priest, that Mrs. Luke O'Hara McGuire, a good Catholic neighbor and another lady set out on horseback through the wilderness of Conewago, 130 miles distant, to find a priest who would be able and willing to visit her. The message came to Father Smith, now revered as Father Gallitzin, who returned with them, and received the sick woman into the church. He said Mass in Luke McGuire's log house, administered baptism to a number of children, and even to one or two adults, exhorted them to faith, prayer, courage and perseverance. After that he made several visits.

"In the beginning of 1799 there were ten or twelve families at the McGuire settlement, sometimes also called Clearfield, and also Allegheny. These people with those of Frankstown and Sinking Valley petitioned Rt. Rev. Bishop Carroll, D.D., to give them a resident priest. Father Gallitzin made this request his own and the Bishop cordially acceded to it. On March 1, 1799, Bishop Carroll appointed him pastor of Clearfield, Frankstown and Sinking Valley."

...

"Genealogy holds little appeal for me, and I am not an adherent of ancestor worship – but I surely admire and thank my ancestor who reached the shores of Virginia in 1633. I shudder to consider the possibilities had he stayed in County Fermanagh, Ireland!

"In 1775, my great, great, great, great-grandfather, Michael McGuire, joined the Continental Army. He served as a captain directly under General George Washington. In 1787, he was awarded a land grant as payment for his service during the Revolutionary War. This meant he could claim all the land around which he could walk his horse from sunup to sundown. He had previously traveled through Central Pennsylvania and decided to stake his claim there.

"At the time, he was co-owner of a tavern in Taneytown, Maryland. His partner, also a veteran, traded his land grant for Michael’s share of the tavern. Now Michael had two days in which to block out his territory. Naturally, he chose the time of the summer solstice! Upon taking possession, he became the first white man to inhabit that part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

"This land is largely in what is now Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Captain Michael McGuire died in 1793, bequeathing one-third of his property to Bishop Carroll of Baltimore, to be held in trust for resident clergy. Part of it became the Borough of Loretto. In 1796, Rev. Demetrius Augustine Smith (the alias used by the Russian prince/priest, Demetrius A. Gallitzin) arrived at McGuire’s Settlement, as it was then known. He saw the potential of the area as a sanctuary for Catholics and invested $150,000 of his personal fortune in land adjoining that which Michael McGuire had given to Bishop Carroll.

"It is mainly because of McGuire’s largesse that Catholicism flourished in this region of the state, but Gallitzin’s legend of trading princely robes for priestly ones gets more attention. The town of Loretto has been under church control for centuries. It once included St. Francis Seminary, which was sold to the federal government when vocations to the priesthood faltered. It still boasts Prince Gallitzin’s Chapel House (historic site), the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Francis University, and the Carmelite Monastery (strangely named, since it houses nuns). Retired Franciscans live at the former estate of Charles M. Schwab, steel magnate.

"Prince Gallitzin is much revered locally. Presently, he is under consideration by the Vatican for canonization. The small town of Gallitzin was, of course, named in his honor. It is into this complacent nest of Catholics that we move for “the rest of the story!”

From: Atheist Station by Lorie Polansky.

The 1790 census of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. lists Michle McGuire (3-1-4) and Cornelius McGuire (2-1-2), side by side (M-637, roll 8, page 115 (or 3). On the next page of the census return are Michle Skelly, John Skelly, Daniel Dimond, Elizabeth Plummer, Richard Plummer, and Michle McAfee. On page 129 (or 10) are Jame McGuire (1-3), Bartholomy McGuire (1 - 3), Alexander McConnell (1 - 3) and William McConnell (1).

George Glass, the father of the Sarah Glass who married Michael Luke McGuire, had two sisters who married two McGough brothers: Sarah (Sally) Glass and Margaret Glass. Their common father was Jacob Glass. Sarah (Sally) Glass married Colonel John McGough, the son of Arthur and Susan McGough; and Sarah's sister, Margaret Glass, married John's brother, Arthur McGough (junior). George Glass not only had a sister named Margaret Glass, but he also had a daughter by the same name. This younger Margaret Glass was a sister of the Sarah Glass who married Michael Luke McGuire. This younger Margaret Glass married James McGough, another son of Arthur and Susan McGough, and the younger brother of John and Arthur McGough. James' wife, Margaret, therefore, was the niece of the wives of his older brothers, John and Arthur. For a more detailed explanation, go to my page: McGoughs in America before 1790: Arthur and Susan McGough.

"The first settler in Northern Cambria, was Captain Michael McGuire, who, in 1788, brought his family from Taneytown, Maryland, where they had resided. During the Revolution, Captain McGuire had served in a Maryland company, but his first visit to Cambria county had been made on a hunting trip in 1768, when he established his camp near the borough of Chest Springs, which appears on a map of 1793; and is designated 'Captain McGuire's Camp.' With his nearest neighbors at Blair's Hills on the eastern slope of the mountains, about twelve miles distant, he located the 'McGuire Settlement' in the valley east of the borough of Loretto, now Allegheny township, in this county, but at that time in Frankstown township, Huntingdon county. He died on his farm, November 17, 1793, in his seventy-sixth year, and was the first person interred in the Loretto Cemetery.

"Captain McGuire was a devout Catholic, and donated a very large tract of land for the use of the church and its schools to Bishop John Carroll, of Baltimore, a cousin of Charles Carroll, of Carrolltown, who was the last survivor of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This fact was the moving cause which influenced Prince Gallitzin to locate at Loretto and establish a Catholic colony on the western slope of the mountains. The following letter from Bishop Carroll to Prince Gallitzin is pertinent:

'Washington City, March 1, 1799.

'Rev. and Dear Sir:

'I fear you have been disappointed in not receiving an earlier answer to your letter, which covered a list of subscribers in Clearfield, Frankstown and Sinking Valley. I had come hither on immediately before the arrival of yours at Baltimore.

'Your request is granted. I readily consent to your proposal to take charge of the congregations detailed in yours, and hope that you will have a house built on the land granted by Mr. (Michael) McGuire and already settled or cleared, or if more convenient, on your own, if you intend to keep it. * * * I meant to have offered you with your present congregations that of Emmitsburg and the mountain (Mount St. Mary's) united in one.

'JOHN, Bishop of Baltimore.'

"Captain Richard McGuire was also a pioneer of northern Cambria. He was a son of the preceding, and was born in Frederick county, Maryland, December 12, 1771, and died at Loretto, January 13, 1855. He was seventeen when his father located the 'McGuire Settlement' at Loretto, and on May 15, 1800, he and Eleanor, daughter of John and Ann Byrne, were married.

"Captain Richard McGuire, like his father, was a farmer and a patriot; he organized a company at Loretto and commanded it in the War of 1812."

From: History of Cambria County, by Henry Wilson Storey, volume 1, pages 78–9.

"Another catholic center developed about the same time at Loretto in Cambria County, where Captain Michael McGuire from Maryland began a settlement in 1790. With the coming of Prince Gallitzin in 1799 to serve as priest and promoter, the settlement grew rapidly. Gallitzin acquired more than twenty thousand acres of land, which he sold to settlers on easy terms; and by 1813 his church had over 500 communicants and Catholic settlements had been established at several other places in Cambria and Blair counties. The majority of Catholics in the mountain regions were Irish, while Germans predominated among them in communities farther west."

From: The Planting of Civilization In Western Pennsylvania by Solon J. Buck and Elizabeth Hawthorne Buck, 1939, University of Pittsburgh Press page 222–223

"Luke McGuire, Esq., and Captain Richard McGuire were sons of Michael McGuire, and came with him. Thomas Blair, of Blair's gap, Huntingdon county, was at this time the nearest neighbor Captain McGuire had. He resided at a distance of twelve miles."

From: Egle's History of Cambria County—Cambria County by Robert L. Johnston.

Among the many McGuires buried in St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, are:

McGUIRE, Michael, 1717–17 Nov 1793. Captain, Soldier of the Revolution; first to be interred in the ground which he donated for the purpose of a cemetery. [In an email of January 23. 2010, Brenda Wallace said: "The stone of Capt. Michael McGuire does not have the year 1717 on his stone. Nor does it have his age at time of death. The stone of Capt. Michael McGuire does not have the year 1717 on his stone. Nor does it have his age at time of death. The 1717 comes from an error in the Centenial book which confused his stone and Rachel's stone and came up with the 1717."]

McGUIRE, Rachel (BROWN), (died) 1 May 1818, aged 76 years, widow of Michael McGuire.

McGUIRE, Luke, 2 Oct 1768–17 Apr 1831, husband of Margaret (O'HARA), son of Michael & Rachel (BROWN).

McGUIRE, Margaret (O'HARA), 1774–10 Jan 1833, widow of Luke.

McGUIRE, Richard, 12 Dec 1771–13 Jan 1855, Captain, husband of Eleanor (BYRNE), married 15 May 1800, the first of European extraction to settle in Cambria County, son of Captain Michael McGuire.

McGUIRE, Eleanor, 1782–5 Aug 1855, widow of Captain Richard, married 15 May 1800, daughter of John & Ann BYRNE

"Although Father Gallitzin is styled 'Prince-Priest and Apostle of the Alleghenies,' and founder of St. Michael's Parish, Loretto, and also of the town of Loretto, it was Captain Michael McGuire, a brave soldier in the Maryland contingent in Washington's army during the Revolutionary War, and possibly, a commander in Colonel Stephen Moylan's Maryland Riflemen, who notwithstanding that it was a violation of the Puritanical laws of the colony of Massachusetts for Catholics to enter the province, went to the aid of Colonel Prescott, on that eventful seventeenth day of June, 1775, arriving, after a forced march through Pennsylvania and New York, on the morning of that day, when they were assigned to a position behind the rail fence which ran from the redoubt on Breed's (not Bunker) Hill down to the Mystic River, and did terrible execution on the ranks of the advancing British as did those within the redoubt until after the second repulse of the redcoats the ammunition of the patriots gave out and they were forced to retreat, and his nephew, Michael McGuire, came in 1787, according to a history of Cumberland County, and having built cabins to house their families, moved from Maryland the following year to a sheltered location to the eastward of the present town of Loretto.

"A priceless relic of the Revolutionary War, and also of the War of 1812, is the sword worn by Captain Michael McGuire in the former war, and by his son, Captain Richard McGuire, in the latter war. This sword made of the best of steel with a substantial and ornate hilt, now in the possession of the venerable Mr. Joseph Zerbe, a great grandson of Captain Michael McGuire, who lives near St. Augustine, from whom money cannot buy this precious heirloom descended from patriotic ancestors.

"The McGuires were devout Catholics and were visited, probably at irregular intervals, by priests from Connewago. Captain Michael McGuire died on Nov. 17th, 1793, and his was the first corpse interred in St. Michael's cemetery, the nucleus of which was blessed by Father Stephen Badin, probably at or about the time of the funeral.

"We have undoubted evidence that at least one other priest visited the McGuire colony before Father Gallitzin, in two receipts furnished by the late Squire E. R. Dunegan of St. Augustine to Raymond J. Kaylor, and by him published in the Cambria Tribune, of which he was Editor, October 29th, 1889. A copy of the receipts are here reproduced:

'I received from Mrs. Rachael McGuire a dollar for her part of the sum that ought to be spent in buying a horse for the priest serving the parishes of Huntingdon, Sinking Valley, Allegheny, Path Valley, etc.

'Lewis Sibourd, Priest.'

'Allegheny, December 15th, 1794.'"

From: History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa., pages 14–5.

"MAGEEHAN, Apollonia, 10 Feb 1779–24 May 1861, widow of James Mageehan, daughter of Michael & Rachel McGuire." (Her husband is recorded as MAGEHAN, James, 10 Feb 1778–12 Oct 1852, husband of Apollonia (McGUIRE), born York County, Pennsylvania.)

From: St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Six Skelly Brothers from Ireland

The six Skelly brother who originally came from Ireland—probably county Antrim—included John, Philip (Felix), Hugh (Huey) and Patrick. See: All Surnames in Family Tree on Firstmom's Genealogy Resources & Records. Michael Skelly, who is listed in the 1790 census of Cambria county, Pennsylania, who was born in 1745 and died on November 27, 1827 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 168) was probably another of the brothers. Sources list the county of origin of these Skellys as both county Antrim and county Down. Irish Ancestors lists 36 Skelly families in county Down in 1890, and only 2 in county Antrim. There are, for example, many Skellys (and several McConnells) listed in Griffiths Valuation of Ireland for Saintfield, County Down. (The town of Saintfield is 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of Belfast in county Antrim.) For names of Skelly families in counties Antrim, Armagh and Down in the 1700s and 1800s, go to PRONI's Freeholders' Records and search for Skelly. There were 4 John Skellys in county Down (townlands of Creevytenante and Downpatrick), and 2 in county Antrim (townland of Smithfield). There was a Robert Skelly in the townland of Saintfield, county Down, and a Hugh Skelly in the townland of Skillee, county Armagh. There was a William Skelly, and a James Kelly, Sr., and Jr., in Griffith's valuation of Dromore, county Down. (There were also 6 McConnells listed.) John Warrent of Saintfied, county Down, maried a Mary Ann Skelly, who gave birth to John Skelly Warren on August 29, 1870. Surnames of Co. Down: War.... For this Mary Ann Skelly, and several other Skellys in Saintfield and elsewhere in county Down, see: Surnames of Co. Down: Si.....- Sl.... There is a Matthew Skelly and Patrick Skelly on the list of County Louth Freeholders 1822. The same source lists Eliza Skelly as leasing land in Ardee to John Boland.

History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania, by J. Simpson Africa Philadelphia, PA: Louis H. Everts, 1883, in chapter XLII, Hopewell Township, pp. 288-292, says:

"Pioneers. - It is not known who were the first settlers in what is now Hopewell, nor when they came. The original settlers, as stated before, came on the old Indian trails along the eastern base of Warrior’s Ridge. Of these, the names Skelly brothers, Michael and Felix are known. The settled near Elk Gap in Woodcock Valley, on the land now owned by John B. Weaver. What was known as Elk Lick was near the house of the Skellys. This was much frequent by the elk and deer at that early day, and even at the present time they often come here. Of these brothers, Michael was killed here and Feliix was taken prisoner by the Indians. ...

"George Elder—With his sons George and William were among the pioneers here. They located in Woodcock Valley, about a half a mile from what is now Cove Station. William Elder’s wife was made a prisoner of the Indians at the same time Felix Skelly was captured. None of the descendants of the Elder family are here."

Michael Skelly (1745–November 27, 1831) is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery, Loretto. The inscription on Michael's gravestone reads: "MICHAEL SKALLEY. Born 1745. Died Nov. 27, 1831. Aged 86 years." See: Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 196, on Cambria County Pennsylvania Genealogy. In the same cemetery are Philip (also called Felix) Skelly (December 16, 1759—July 2, 1835), and his wife Mrs. Philip (Margaret McAfee) Skelly (June 12, 1771–January 11, 1851). Philip's death is recorded by Ledoux (volume 1, page 168), as that of Felix Skelly. The inscription of Philip's (Felix's) gravestone reads: "PHILIP O'SKALLEY. Born 1759. Died July 2, 1835. Aged 76 years." These later Skellys are also buried in St. Michael's Cemetery, Loretto:

Michael 1786 Jan. 18, 1817
Patrick 1792 July 6, 1834
Rachel May 16, 1800 June 26, 1832
Philip Dec. 2, 1800 May 5, 1834
Mrs. Philip (Ann _____) 1785 Oct. 2, 1825
Mrs. Daniel (Susan Noel) May 25, 1898
Philip Apr. 8, 1836 Feb. 27, 1897
Daniel Apr. 19, 1798 Dec. 7, 1870
Ellen June 4, 1804 Jan. 18, 1876
Catherine Feb. 17, 1807 Apr. 17, 1879
Mary Ann June 19, 1809 Mar. 19, 1886
Nicholas Feb. 16, 1832 Sept. 22, 1861
Margaret Apr. 17, 1834 Jan. 22, 1894
Luke Mar. 14, 1845 May 29, 1859
Susan Nov. 29, 1849 June 15, 1897

From: The Revolutionary War—Soldiers of Blair County (PDF), page 45

"PHILLIPS, WILLIAM Served as a Captain of Rangers, Bedford County Militia; and was captured the 16th of July, 1780, in Woodcock Valley, Bedford County, now Huntingdon County, when the Rangers were attacked by a band of Indians. An account of this massacre is found in a letter written the 6th of August, 1780, by Colonel John Piper to President Reed, as follows: 'Your favor of the 3d of June, with the blank commissions, has been duly received. Since which we have been anxiously employed in raising our quota of Pennsylvania volunteers, and, at the same time, defending our frontiers; but, in our present shattered situation, a full company cannot be expected from this county, when a number of our militia companies are entirely broken up and the townships laid waste, so that the communication betwixt our upper and lower districts is entirely broken, and our apprehensions of immediate danger are not lessened. but greatly aggravated by a most alarming stroke. Captain Phillips, an experienced, good woodsman, had engaged a company of Rangers for the space of two months for the defense of our frontiers, was surprised at his post on Sunday, the 16, day of July (1780) when the Captain with eleven of his Company were all taken and killed. When I received the intelligence, which was the day following, I marched with only ten men directly to the place, where we found the house burned to ashes, with sundry Indian tomahawks that had been lost in the action, but found no person killed at that place. But, upon taking the Indian tracks, within about half a mile we found ten of Captain Phillips' Company with their hands tied and murdered in the most cruel manner. This bold enterprise so alarmed the inhabitants that our whole frontiers were on the point of giving way; but upon application to the Lieutenant of Cumberland County, he hath sent to our assistance one company of the Pennsylvania volunteers, which, with the volunteers raised in our own county, hath so encouraged the inhabitants that they seem determined to stand it a little longer." The names of those who were massacred are believed to be as follows: Philip Skelly, Joseph Roberts, Hugh Skelly, Philip Sanders, Thomas Sanders, Richard Shirley, M. David, Thomas Gartrell, Daniel Kelly, and one other.

A monument now stands at the spot where the massacre took place and while grading around the site, members of the Saxton American Legion Post, on the 25th of January, 1933, unearthed the bones of seven of the Rangers. The bones, discovered only eighteen inches under the ground, were re-buried at the spot where they were found. Captain Phillips with his son Elijah, were taken into captivity by the Indians and not released until the close of the War when they returned to their home which was located about two miles south of Williamsburg, along Clover Creek. William Phillips disposed of his property in 1796, and moved his family to Boone County, Kentucky.

For a detailed account of the massacre, see: The Massacre Of Philips' Rangers on Mother Bedford—a website devoted to the history of Old-Bedford County, Pennsylvania during the American Revolutionary War period.

Henry Wilson, History of Cambria County Pa., volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907; Chapter XXII. Old Families in the County, page 563:

Skelly, Philip. He was also known as Felix O'Skalley, but the name has been anglicized to Skelly. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. In 1778 he and a Mrs. Elder, a relative, were captured by the Indians in the Juniata valley. Skelly escaped and joined the Continental army and fought with it until the surrender. He married Margaret McAfee, and resided on his farm near Wilmore. He died July 3, 1835, and is buried in the Loretto cemetery. They had nine children: Daniel, Hugh, Michael, Margery, Eleanor, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth and Ann Skelly.

Philp (Felix) Skelly signed his will as Philip O'Skalley. Here is a posting on PA-Roots by: Lila Baier on March 24, 2006:

"Philip O'Skalley, late of Sommerhill Twp. Dated 10 May 1835, probated 3 Jul 1835. Mentions burial rites according to the Holy Roman Catholic Church; wife Margaret; 9 children: Daniel, Hugh, Michael, Margery, Elinor, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth, and Ann. N. B. Esedore Skalli and Mary Meffes. Real estate divided into 3 tracts: Home Tract, road leads to widow Crums to Frankstown Road; Middle Tract and Upper Tract. Executors: Oldest son Daniel and wife Margaret. Witnesses: Daniel Dimond and Thomas McConnell."

See: WILLS: Index, Cambria County, PA; Will Book, Vol. 1; Wills under Philip O'Skalley.

(Source: Abstracts of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pa. Wills, Vol. I, pp. 106, 107, 108.)

The Hearth Money Rolls of 1669 for the townland of Cullagappack (Coolnagoppoge), parish of Culfactory (Culfeightrin), barony of Carey (Cary), poor law union of Ballycastle, county Antrim, Ireland, list Patricke O Skelly and Daniell O Skelley, in the townland of Ballyloghan (Ballinloughan) in the same parish, Owen O Skelly, and in the townland of Ballindeweight (Ballyvennaght) in the same parish, John O Skelley and the widow Skilly. In the parish of Culfeightrin there were also several Askelly families, which is probably a form of Skelly. See: 1669 Hearth Money Rolls for North Antrim sorted by Surname, Barony, Parish and Townland.

Peter Skelly, who is listed as the two year old son of Michael Skelly (age 48) and Rachel (McGough) Skelly (age 30), living with his grandmother Margaret Skelly (age 85, born in Ireland) (line 31), is listed as Peter O'Skelly, age 32, in the 1880 census of Gallitzin borough, Cambria county.

A submission on Family Search (Compact Disc #121 Pin #439164) by David W. Johnson of Lancaster, Ohio, says that Philip (Felix) Skelly, Jr., was born in 1759, married Margaret McAfee in 1794, and died in 1835. His father is listed as Philip Skelly, who was born in 1738, and who died in Saxton, Pennsylvania, in 1780; his wife was Mary Ann; his father was William Skelly, who was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1710, and who died in Woodcock Valley in 1783.

Here is an except from Souvenir of Reunion and History of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Pennsylvania, (1909) (Chapter II—The First Catholic Settlers), page 13:

Probably the first Catholic to settle within the bounds of the Original congregation of St. Bartholomew's was Felix Skelly, or as he was then known, O'Skally, sometimes called Phillip Skelly, a soldier of the war of the Revolution, who sometimes after the close of that war, while doubtless yet a single man, and possibly contemporaneous with Captain Michael McGuire, of the "McGuire Settlement" near Loretto, built a cabin on land now owned by John Mangus, a mile southwest of Wilmore. Skelly, while yet in his teens, in the latter part of the year 1777 or the beginning of 1778, had been along with a cousin—a Mrs. Elder—captured somewhere in the Juniata by Indians in the service of the British, but had while on the way to detroit escaped from his captors by jumping at night from the second story of a gristmill in which they were lodged into the milldam beneath, and hiding for a day under an overhanging bank on the opposite shore with just his head above the water until the following night when he made good his escape, and afterwards served in Washington's army in which at the capture of the last redoubt at Yorktown his brother—Patrick Skelly—was killed.

Felix Skelly married Margaret McAfee, and went to live on the farm now owned by his grandson—James F. Skelly—on the Frankstown Road, two mile south of Wilmore, and raised a large family, the generality of whose descendants rank among the most respected people among the communities in which they live. He died July 2, 1835, and his remains lie interred at St. Michael's Cemetery, Loretto, and on the "Record of Interments" in that cemetery he is given a dual entry as Felix Skelly and as Phillip Skelly. His widow died January 11, 1851.

Here is an excerpt from an article entitled William Skelly and His Descendants by Michael H. Kennedy which accompanies The Massacre of Captain William Phillips' Rangers, an address delivered on May 28, 1933, by C. Hale Sipe, Litt. D., of Butler, Pa., author of The Indian Wars of Pennsylvania and other historical works, upon the occasion of the re-interment of the bones of the victims, and which is published on the Internet as part of the Bedford County Genealogy Project:

William Skelly was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to America in 1729, landing at Philadelphia, according to the family record in his own Bible. He resided there for several years, and then went to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Later, with his wife and children, he settled near Elk Gap in the Woodcock Valley, in what was then Bedford County. It was probably as early as 1758 that he settled in the Woodcock Valley, as such has been the family tradition. He had three sons—Philip, Hugh and Michael. Both Philip and Hugh were killed at the massacre of Captain William Phillips' Pennsylvania Rangers, near the present Saxton, Bedford County on Sunday July 16, 1780, an account of which massacre is given elsewhere in this booklet, the same being the historical address delivered by the noted Pennsylvania historian and author, C. Hale Sipe, as the occasion of the re-interring of the bones of the victims on Sunday, May 18, 1933. J. Simpson Africa, in his History of Blair and Huntingdon Counties, says that the Indians, but does not state the time nor the place, killed Michael. William Skelly, the father of these men died in the Woodcock Valley about the end of the Revolutionary War.

In the Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. IV, page 504, is the pension application of Mary Skelly, a minor daughter of Hugh Skelly, by her guardian, George Buchanan, reciting that the widow of Hugh Skelly had married Richard Clark and went to parts unknown, leaving the said Mary Skelly destitute of means of sustenance.

Philip Skelly, who was massacred, left a son, Philip Skelly, Jr., who was often called Felix in order to distinguish him from his father. He was born in Bedford County (in the Woodcock Valley), on December 16, 1759. According to Jones' History of the Juniata Valley, Philip (Felix) Skelly and Mrs. Elder, who was his aunt, the wife of William Elder, were both captured in May 1780. This was near Cove Station. They were carried to an Indian town on the Allegheny River, family tradition says Kittaning, and later to Ohio. Both were compelled to run the gauntlet. Skelly escaped from his captors somewhere in Ohio and made his way to Fort Pitt. Mrs. Elder was taken to Detroit, where she lived in the British garrison in the capacity of a cook. From there she was taken to Montreal where she was exchanged and made her way back to her home by way of Philadelphia. Philip Skelly remained at Fort Pitt for about two weeks after arriving there from his escape from the Indians. From Fort Pitt he went to Fort Bedford in company with a band of soldiers going east to join Washington's army, and from Fort Bedford he returned to his mountain home. Upon his arrival at home, he learned the news of the murder of his father (Philip Skelly, Sr.) at the hands of the Indians.

This Philip (Felix) Skelly, Jr., married Margaret McAfee, a resident of the Woodcock Valley, about 1794. A few years after his marriage, he, in company with his brothers and Luke McGuire, Michael McGuire, Daniel Dimond, Michael McAfee, Richard Plummer and several other neighbors, migrated to the vicinity of the present Munster, Cambria County. Shortly after arriving there, he bought a 300 acre farm near the present Wilmore, in Summerhill Township. Here he spent the remainder of his days, dying July 2, 1835. He is buried in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Loretto, PA. His wife died on January 11, 1851, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's Catholic Cemetery, Wilmore, PA. [See St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania where these entries are found: Skelly, Felix 16 Dec 1759– 2 Jul 1835—see Philip Skelly —same dates (LB/K); Skelly, Margaret (McAfee) 12 Jun 1771–11 Jan 1851 w/o Philip (LB/K); Skelly, Mary Ann 19 Jun 1809 19 Mar 1886 (K). See also Margaret McAfee Skelly posted on GenForum by: Patricia J. Bobbitt on : September 05, 2001.]

The children of Philip (Felix) Skelly, Jr., and Margaret McAfee Skelly were:

(1) Margaret, born June 10, 1796, married John Kearns, and died November 2, 1848. She is buried in St. Bartholomew's Catholic Cemetery, Wilmore, PA [The Souvenir of Loretto Centenery records the marriage by Father Demetrius Gallitzin of John Kearns and Margaret _____; and the baptism of these children by Father Gallitzin from 1823 through 1834: Philip, Catherine, William, Anastasia, Mary Ann, Michael.]

(2) Daniel, born April 19, 1796, married Susan Noel, and died December 7, 1870. He is buried in the above cemetery.

(3) Hugh, born January 23, 1800, married Elizabeth Bridget Kennedy, and died on February 17, 1879. He is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Cameron's Bottom, Indiana County, PA.

(4) Michael, born April 4, 1802, married Rachael Wilt, and died on February 20, 1873. He is buried in St. Benedict's Catholic Cemetery, Carrolltown, PA.

(5) Eleanor, born June 4, 1804. She never married. She died June 18, 1876, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's Cemetery, above named.

(6) Catherine, born February 16, 1807 married Patrick Skelly (not a relative), a native of Ireland. She died April 23, 1879, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's above named.

(7) Mary Ann, born June 19, 1809, married Thomas McConnell. She died March 19, 1886, and is buried at St. Bartholomew's.

(8) Elizabeth, born February 21, 1812. She married Michael Rockett, May 27, 1833. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Prince Demetrius Gallitzin, in St. Michael's Catholic Church, Loretto, PA. She died November 6, 1870, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's Cemetery, Wilmore, PA. (She was the grandmother of the present writer, Michael H. Kennedy.)

(9) Ann, born January 13, 1813, married Joseph Lecky. She died December 6, 1871, and is buried in St. Bartholomew's Cemetery above named.

Margaret Rockett, daughter of Michael Rockett and his wife, Elizabeth Skelly (No 8 above), married Charles A. Kennedy of Carrolltown, PA. on November 4, 1861. The writer, Michael H. Kennedy, is their only son. Four daughters were also born of this union, three of whom are still living. The deceased daughter was Mary, who died unmarried. The surviving sisters are: Mrs. Elizabeth Gardner, Mrs. Agnes Foley and Miss Rose Kennedy, all of whom live in Pittsburgh. Mary the deceased sister, died in 1899 and is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA. Her parents being buried in the same cemetery.

SOURCE; History of the Massacre of Captain Phillips' Pennsylvania Rangers, Saxton American Legion, Post No. 169, Saxton, PA., 1933

There is a partial list of the descendants of Philip (Felix) Skelly and Margaret McAfee in a posting of December 31, 1997, by David Monahan on PACAMBRI-L Archives on RootsWeb.com.

Margaret McAfee Skelly's Orphaned Nephew—John McAfee

For nine years, from about 1809 to 1818, Philip and Margaret McAfee Skelly raised Margaret's orphaned nephew, John McAfee (or M'Affee), who had been born on June 20, 1804, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, to Andrew McAfee* and Elizabeth Cannum on June 28, 1804, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He was baptized in St. Michael's by Father Gallitzin on September 5, 1802. His godparents were Nicholas Burke and Margaret Skally (Ledoux, volume 1, page 2).

For the tragic story of John McAfee, see: Life and Confession of John M’Affee—who was executed at Dayton, Ohio, for the murder of his wife on the 28th of March, 1825. Eleven days before his hanging, John McAfee said in an affidavit: "I can say I was well raised; and, had I followed the advice of my dear uncle (Philip Skelly) and aunt, I am certain I never would have come to this shameful death." In his affidavit, John McAffee describes how, in about 1821, he went to work for a Michael Lutsinger. This was probably the Michael Letzenger (indexed by Ancestry.com as Letzenget) who, in the 1820 census of the township of Summerhill, Cambria county, was living next to Thomas McGough and his wife, Mary Ann Skelly (M-33, roll 98, page 179). (The surname is spelled Litzinger in the Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 130.)

Here is an excerpt from the History of Montgomery County, Ohio (Chicago W. H. Beers & Co. 1882) (page 81):

"MC AFFEE MURDER.

"In the year 1824, the John Keener farm was the scene of the murder of Mrs. McAffee by her husband, John McAffee. This grew out of the intense love of the man for a Miss Hettie Shoup, then a resident of the neighborhood. The deed was committed while the wife lay sick in bed, and was accomplished by choking her. McAffee was tried and found guilty of murder in the first degree, and hanged at Dayton. near the Great Miami River, in the presence of 5,000 people, the execution taking place at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 28th day of March (Monday), 1825.

"The prisoner addressed the crowd from the scaffold, confessing his guilt. The sentence was pronounced by Judge Crane, and the execution performed by Sheriff George C. Davis. This was the first murder in the township, and the first public execution occurring in the county."

*I assume Andrew McAfee was Margaret's brother. Perhaps another sibling of Margaret McAfee was Catherine McAfee who married Peter McGra (McGraw?) on June 22, 1807 in one of the first marriages performed in St. Michael's by Father Gallitzin (Ledoux, volume 1, page 146; see Margaret McAfee Skelly posted on GenForum by: Aisha Jenkins on May 31, 2004). In the affidavit he signed shortly before his hanging, John McAfee said:

"I JOHN M’AFFEE was born in year of our LORD 1804, on the 20th of June, of that year, in Huntingdon county, Pa. about fifteen miles from the town of Huntingdon. My father’s name was Andrew M’Affee, a respectable farmer. My mother’s name was Elizabeth Cannom,* before she married my father.—My father and mother were both Catholics. My mother died when I was three years old. I was then left entirely to the care of my father, who three years after my mother’s death married a Miss Sally Abbott. About two years after he married the second time, he went in company with one James Entrokie (James Entrican is listed in the 1790 census of Huntingdon county and a James Entriken in the 1800 census of Hopewell township, Huntingdon county)† down the Juniata, with a boat of flour. In attempting to pass the Canawago falls in the Susquehanna, the boat with all its contents was lost, and my father and six others who were on board, met with a watery grave. I was then placed in the care of my uncle Phillip O’Skelly, with whom I lived till I was 14 years of age. My uncle being a Roman Catholic, I was brought up by him in the doctrines of that Church. My uncle and his wife used me like their own son—gave me good advice from time to time and cautioned me continually to keep holy the Sabbath day and to shun all kinds of wickedness."

*The Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 133—under Baptismal Records of Father Gallitzin—on Cambria County Pennsylvania Genealogy, lists the birth of a John McAfee in 1802 to Andrew and Elizabeth McAfee. The same document, at page 103, records the marriage by Father Gallitzin of a William Cannum and Mary ----, and the baptism of their daughter, Theresa Cannum, who was born on March 19, 1802, and baptized by Father Gallitzin at St. Michael's on April 25, 1802 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 2).

†A James Entrekin, born in 1755 in Pennsylvania (another source says 1760 in county Antrim, Ireland), who married Sarah Guthrie, was the oldest son of Samuel Entrekin (1720–December 16, 1800) and Mary Huey (1734–December 19, 1821). The town of Entrekin was named after James Entrekin. See: James F. Entriken, Entriken, Huntingdon Co., Pa.—where a grandson of James Entrekin is discussed. A James Entrekin who died in 1815 is listed in the Raystown Lake Cemetery Relocations as completed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. See also: James Entriken in RootsWeb's Hibben Family of Chester Co., PA 1730 to early 1900s, where it says that Samuel Entrekin was born in county Antrim, Ireland.

See also: Spilt Blood — Love Thy Neighbor — The McAffee Affair and A serious warning to Young Men, or The Life and Confession of John M’Affee on Dayton History Books Online.

The Huntingdon Gazette of 1807 reported: "April 30: Andrew M'Afee (McAfee) of Raystown drowned below Middletown, Dauphin Co., on the way down the river with a load of wheat." This is doubtless John McAfee's father—although the year of death does not precisely don't match John McAfee's affidavit.

The only McAfee I could find in Huntingdon county (no township listed) in the 1790 census of Pennsylvania was Michle McAfee 1 (free white male 16 and up) 3 (free white males under 16) 4 (free white females) - - (M-637, roll 8, page 117). See McAfee/McDuffee: Pennsylvania Census posted on GenForum by J McAfee on August 30, 2000. Michle McAfee is listed on the same page and close to John and Michle Skelly, Daniel Dimond, William Cennem (Cannom?)* 1 1 4 - - (M-637, roll 8, page 117), Richard Plummer, and others of some of these surnames. There were many McAfees in Pennsylvania in these years, however. See: McAfee Family Genealogy Forum (All Messages), and search for Pennsylvania and PA.

In the 1800 census of Hopewell township, Hungtingdon county, Pennsylvania, there was a William Cannum 1 1 - - 1 4 1 1 1 - - (roll 40, page 117).

Here is an excerpt from Indian Eve and her Descendants—An Indian Story of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, by Mrs. Emma A. M. Replogle (1911 Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, J. L. Rupert, Book and Job Printer), Chapter V. Life at the Fort (page 22-23):

As Mrs. Elder who was captured on the branch must have been in the fort at Detroit as a companion of Mrs. Earnest, I give her history from Jones' History of Juniata Valley in full. I was impressed when I read that Mrs. Elder was captured while visiting the sick.

I have known one family of her descendants all my life - George Elder's of Buffalo Mills, Pa. I think he was a grandson of this Mrs. Elder. I have known of Mrs. George Elder (Peggy Cessna) walking miles and visiting the sick and carrying things to the poor, and of her children doing similar deeds of kindness.

My aunt Agnes says, "Mrs. Elder heard her children coming singing through the woods to meet her just when she was captured. She told the Indians to hurry off for she heard the whites coming and thus saved her children from being killed, or captured with her."

Mrs. Elder was gone two years. The family have in their possession a Bible printed in 1748, presented to her by a British subject for her bravery when she was exchanged, also other relics. She was born in 1741.

I quote also from "Jones" about her husband, which does not agree with the sketches of the Elders in later histories, giving it that Mrs. Elder and her husband settled in Cumberland Valley Township in 1781.

"The first murder committed in Woodcock Valley during the Revolutionary struggle occurred at Coffey Run near the present residence of Mr. Entriken. The victim was a man named Elder, the husband of the woman mentioned in a preceding chapter as having been carried a captive to Detroit by the Indians. He was on his way home with Richard Shirley*, when he was shot and scalped. This was in 1778."

*Richard Shirley, a widower and a farmer, born in Maryland, died of "old age" in December of 1869 at age 87 in Juniata township, Blair county, Pennsylvania (mortality schedule, M-1838, roll 3, page 169, line 14). This Richard Shirly was born in 1764 in Washington County, Maryland, married Sarah Jane Cassidy (daughter of Patrick Cassidy and Mary Jane Mooney) in Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and died on December 21, 1849, in Juniata Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania. See: Cassity/Cassidy Family Association—especially All the Surnames in the C.C.F.A. Database! "Richard Shirley, son of John Shirley, and his wife, Sarah Jane, homesteaded in the northeast corner of Old Greenfield circa 1793 near the farm of Sarah's parents, Patrick and Mary Cassidy." The Early Settlers Of Old~Greenfield Township.

"The country between the mouth of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata and what is called the Crossings was thinly settled prior to the Revolution. The land, and general appearance of things, did not strikesettlers very favorably; hence it may be assumed that it was only taken up about 1772, when the new-comers from the eastern counties had already taken up the choice tracts lying contiguous to the river .

The first depredation committed on the Branch, near its mouth, by the savages, occurred in May, 1780. A band of roving Indians were known to be in the country, as several robberies had occurred in Hartslog Valley, at houses belonging to men who with their families were forted either at Lytle's or at Huntingdon. A scout had ranged the entire frontier in search of these depredators, but could not find them. They were seen in Woodcock Valley, and information immediately conveyed to the commander at the fort in Huntingdon. A scout was sent to Woodcock Valley, but got upon the wrong trail, as the Indians had crossed the Terrace Mountain, where, it appears, they divided into two parties. One of them went to the house of one Sanders, on the Branch; and just as the family were seating themselves at the table to eat dinner, five of the savages bounded in, and killed Sanders, his wife, and three children. An Englishman and his wife, whose names are not recollected, were in the house at the time, both of whom begged for their lives, declared they were loyal to the king, and would accompany them. The Indians agreed to take them along as prisoners, notwithstanding at that period scalps commanded nearly as high a price as prisoners. The Englishman and his wife were taken to Montreal.

The day following the above massacre, the other party of savages, who it appears had taken the country nearer the Juniata to range through, made their appearance at the house of a Mrs. Skelly, who was sick in bed at the time, and her nearest neighbor, Mrs. Elder, being there on a visit. It was a beautiful May-day Sabbath afternoon, when Mrs. Elder prepared to go home, and Felix Skelly, the son, agreed to accompany her part of the way. They had gone probably a hundred rods through a meadow, when Mrs. Elder noticed a savage, partly concealed behind some elder-bushes. She stopped suddenly, and told Felix, who had got a little in advance, to return, as there were Indians about. Skelly said he thought not, and advised her to come on, or it would be night before he could return. Mrs. Elder stood still, however, and soon saw the figure of the Indian so plainly as not to be mistaken, when she screamed to Felix to run, and, when in the act of turning around, a savage sprang from behind an elder-bush into the path, and seized her by the hair. Another seized Skelly, and in a moment the shout of victory went up, and three or more Indians came from their places of concealment. Finding themselves captives, and unable to remedy matters, they submitted with a good grace.

Fortunately for them, the warrior who had command of the party could speak a little English, and was a little more humane than the generality of savages of the day. He gave Mrs. Elder positive assurance that no harm should befall her. He would not, however, give the same assurance to Skelly. They took up their line of march over the Terrace Mountain, crossed over to the base of the Allegheny, avoiding as much as possible the white settlements, and crossed the mountain by the Kittanning Path.

Skelly, although but seventeen years of age, was an athletic fellow, well built, and weighed in the neighborhood of one hundred and eighty pounds. The Indians, noticing his apparent strength, and in order probably to tire him, so that he would make no effort to escape, loaded him down with the plunder they had taken in Hartslog Valley. In addition to this, they found on the Allegheny Mountains some excellent wood for making bows and arrows, a quantity of which they cut and bound together, and compelled Skelly to carry. Mrs. Elder was obliged to carry a long-handled frying pan, which had been brought all the way from Germany by a Dunkard family, and had, in all probability, done service to three or four generations. Of course, Mrs. Elder, burdened with this alone, made no complaint.

At length the party reached an Indian town on the Allegheny River, where it was determined that a halt should take place in order to recruit. One of the Indians was sent forth to apprise the town of their coming; and on their entering the town they found a large number of savages drawn up in two lines about six feet apart, all armed with clubs or paddles. Skelly was relieved of his load and informed that the performance would open by his being compelled to run the gauntlet. Skelly, like a man without money at one o'clock who has a note to meet in bank before three, felt the importance and value of time; so, walking leisurely between the lines, he bounded off at a speed that would have done credit to a greyhound, and reached the far end without receiving more than one or two light blows. He was then exempt, as no prisoner was compelled to undergo the same punishment twice.

The Indians, disappointed by the fleetness of Skelly, expected to more than make up for it by pummelling Mrs. Elder; but in this they reckoned without their host. The word was given for her to start, but the warrior who had captured her demurred, and not from disinterested motives either, as will presently appear. His objections were overruled, and it was plainly intimated that she must conform to the custom. Seeing no method of avoiding it, Mrs. Elder, armed with the long-handled pan, walked between the lines with a determined look. The first savage stooped to strike her, and in doing so his scant dress exposed his person, which Mrs. Elder saw, and anticipated his intention by dealing him a blow on the exposed part which sent him sprawling upon all fours. The chiefs who were looking on laughed immoderately, and the next four or five, intimidated by her heroism, did not attempt to raise their clubs. Another of them, determined to have a little fun, raised his club; but no sooner had he it fairly poised than she struck him upon the head with the frying pan in such a manner as in all likelihood made him see more stars than ever lit the "welkin dome." The Indians considered her an Amazon, and she passed through the lines without further molestation; but, as she afterward said, she "did it in a hurry."

The squaws, as soon as she was released, commenced pelting her with sand, pulling her hair, and offering her other indignities, which she would not put up with, and again had recourse to her formidable weapon— the long-handled pan. Lustily she plied it, right and left, until the squaws were right glad to get out of her reach.

In a day or two the line of march for Detroit was resumed, and for many weary days they plodded on their way. After the first day's journey, the warrior who had captured Mrs. Elder commenced making love to her. Her comely person had smitten him; her courage had absolutely fascinated him, and he commenced wooing her in the most gentle manner. She had good sense enough to appear to lend a willing ear to his plaintive outpourings, and even went so far as to intimate that she would become his squaw on their arrival at Detroit. This music was of that kind which in reality had "charms to soothe the savage, " and matters progressed finely.

One night they encamped at a small Indian village on the bank of a stream in Ohio. Near the town was an old deserted mill, in the upper story of which Skelly and the rest of the male prisoners were placed and the door bolted. That evening the Indians had a grand dance and a drunken revel, which lasted until after midnight. When the revel ended, Skelly said to his comrades in captivity that he meant to escape if possible. He argued that if taken in the attempt he could only be killed, and he thought a cruel death by the savages would be his fate, at all events, at the end of the journey. They all commenced searching for some means of egress, but none offered, save a window. The sash was removed, when, on looking out into the clear moonlight, to their horror they discovered that they were immediately over a large body of water, which formed the mill dam, the distance to it being not less than sixty feet. They all started back but Skelly. He, it appears, had set his heart upon a determined effort to escape, and he stood for a while gazing upon the water beneath him. Every thing was quiet; not a breath of air stirring. The sheet of water lay like a large mirror, reflecting the pale rays of the moon. In a minute Skelly formed the desperate determination of jumping out of the mill-window.

"Boys," whispered he, "I am going to jump. The chances are against me; I may be killed by the fall, recaptured by the savages and killed, or starve before I reach a human habitation; but then I may escape, and, if I do, I will see my poor mother, if she is still alive, in less than ten days. With me, it is freedom from this captivity now, or death." So saying, be sprang from the window-sill, and before the affrighted prisoners had time to shrink, they heard the heavy plunge of Skelley into the mill-dam. They hastened to the window, and in an instant saw him emerge from the water unharmed, shake himself like a spaniel, and disappear in the shadow of some tall trees. The wary savage sentinels, a few minutes after the plunge, came down to ascertain the noise, but Skelly had already escaped. They looked up at the window, concluded that the prisoners had amused themselves by throwing something out, and returned to their posts.

The sufferings of Skelly were probably among the most extraordinary ever endured by any mortal man. He supposed that he must have walked at least forty miles before he stopped to rest. He was in a dense forest, and without food. The morning was hazy, and the sun did not make its appearance until about ten o'clock, when, to his dismay, he found he was bearing nearly due south, which would lead him right into the heart of a hostile savage country. After resting a short time, he again started on his way, shaping his course by the sun northeast, avoiding all places which bore any resemblance to an Indian trail. That night was one that he vividly remembered the balance of his life. As soon as it was dark, the cowardly wolves that kept out of sight during the day commenced howling, and soon got upon his track. The fearful proximity of the ravenous beasts, and he without even so much as a knife to defend himself, drove him almost to despair, when he discovered a sort of a cave formed by a projecting rock. This evidently was a wolf's den. The hole was quite small, but he forced his body through it, and closed the aperture by rolling a heavy stone against it. Soon the wolves came, and the hungry pack, like a grand chorus of demons, kept up their infernal noise all night. To add to the horrors of his situation, he began to feel the pangs of both hunger and thirst. With the break of day came relief, for his cowardly assailants fled at dawn. He ventured out of the den, and soon resolved to keep on the lowlands. After digging up some roots, which he ate, and refreshing himself at a rivulet, be traveled on until after nightfall, when he came upon the very edge of a precipice, took a step, and fell among five Indians sitting around the embers of a fire. Uninjured by the fall, he sprang to his feet, bounded off in the darkness before the Indians could recover from their surprise, and made good his escape.

In this way he travelled on, enduring the most excruciating pains from hunger and fatigue, until the fourth day, when he struck the Allegheny River in sight of Fort Pitt; at which place he recuperated for a week, and then returned home by way of Bedford, in company with a body of troops marching east.

His return created unusual gladness and great rejoicing, for his immediate friends mourned him as one dead.

Mrs. Elder gave a very interesting narrative on her return, although she did not share in the sufferings of Skelly. She was taken to Detroit, where she lived in the British garrison in the capacity of a cook. From there she was taken to Montreal and exchanged, and reached home by way of Philadelphia.

Felix Skelly afterward moved to the neighborhood of Wilmore, in Cambria County, where he lived a long time, and died full of years and honor."

Here is a part of posting entitled Mulhare-Skelly Irish ancestory kinship on Genealogy.com by Robert Christopher Skelly on November 22, 2000:

"I have Irish roots of ancestory that probably link up with the Mulhare name. This goes back some 8 generations from me beginning with:

William Skelly (born prior to 1760, and is from Antrim County, or Down, in Ireland)

William Skelly had a son, Philip Skelly Sr.

Philip Skelly Sr. had a son, born 1760, and his name was John Skelly Sr.

John Skelly Sr. had a son, John Skelly Jr. who was born 23rd Feb. 1792, in Wilmore, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

John Skelly Jr. had a son, he was named James Skelly, born 15th Oct. 1821 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

James Skelly had a son, my great grandfather, he was named James Buchanan Skelly, born 3 Sept. 1861, in Harrison County, Iowa, U.S.A. He died 5th Nov. 1938 in CA. He is supposedly buried in an unmarked grave at "Ivy Lawn Cemetery" in Ventura County, Ventura, California, U.S.A. Cause of death mentioned was some sort of pulmonary complication.

James Buchanan Skelly had a son, my grandfather, Robert Lee Skelly, born 20th Aug. 1888 in Caldwell, Burleson County, Texas, U.S.A. He died 2nd May 1962, at age 73, and is buried in a cemetery just east of Lexington, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, U.S.A. ..."

The posting goes on to bring this branch of the Skelly family up to date. See also: PA Skelly Info, a posting by Kristy on GenForum.

Members of the Sons of the American Revolution of Blair County, Pennsylvania, who claim "Philip Skelly Jr (Private, Capt. William Phillips' Co, Bedford County Militia)" as a "compatriot ancestor" include Francis E. Plummer, Jr., and Frederick A. McConnell.

In 1713, William Skelly married Alesse McNish in the Presbyterian church, Drumbo, county Down, Northern Ireland. Irish Records Extraction Database on Ancestry.com (1st Presbyterian Church, Drumbo, 1706–1721).

Donaghadee is a town in county Down situated on the east coast, about 18 miles from Belfast. It lies on the Ards Peninsula about five miles south east of Bangor. The townland of Miller Hill is in the civil in the parish of Donaghadee, barony of Ards, county Down, and is in the poor law union of Newtonards. In Templepatrick Graveyard, Miller Hill, Donaghadee in county Down, there are two William Skellys under a gravestone inscribed: "Here lieth the body of William Skelly who died 12 Jan 1709 aged 45 years. Also his wife Margret Cannon who died 2 Nov 1725 aged 40 years. Also their son William Skelly who died 27 Feb 1725 aged 21 years." See: History in Headstones—Templepatrick, County Down, Civil Parish Donaghadee, Townland Miller Hill (OS Reference: J594775). The old graveyard is seaward of the Donaghadee to Millisle road; 2 kilometers north of the village of Dopnaghdee. See: Churches and graveyards of Co. Down A...-I...., under Donaghadee parish (the last entry). There is a Skelly Hill in Donaghadee that overlooks Donaghadee town and the Irish Sea. See: Place Names of Co. Down: S....

The 1843 Belfast / Ulster Street Directory lists, in the town of Donaghadee, county Down: "Skelly, Rev. William, Independent Minister, Mount Street." William Skelly was a Presbyterian clergyman in Donaghadee in 1846. He was born in 1819 and died in 1857. Here is an entry from Donaghadee—First Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee; 1642–1992, Ministers:

"1812 - William Skelly, the second son of Samuel Skelly, a farmer at Saintfield. In 1818, he married a daughter of Mr. Alexander Patterson, a merchant in Newtownards. Differences arose between he and his congregation. Revd. Skelly formed a second Presbyterian congregation in Donaghadee, Shore Street Presbyterian Church. He died 09 March 1857 and was buried in Donaghadee."

Skellys in Censuses of Cambria County, 1790–1840

John Skelly and Michael (spelled Michle) Skelly are listed in the 1790 census of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania: John— 1 (free white male 16 and upward), 1 (white male under 16) 1 (free white female) - -; Michael— 1 2 1 - -. On the same page are Elizabeth Plummer, Marey Plummer (spelled Plommer), and Richard Plummer (M-637, roll 8, image 0316).

In 1810, John Skelly is listed in Conemaugh, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: 3 (free white males under 10), 4 (free white males 10 through 15) - - 1 (free white male 45 and older), 2 (free white females under 10), 1 (free white female 10 through 15) 2 (free white females 16 through 25) - 1 (free white female 45 and over) (roll 46, page 21).

In 1820, John Skelly is listed in Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: - 1 (male 10 to 16), 1 (male 16 to 18), 4 (males 16 to 26) 2 (males 26 to 45), 1 (male 45 and upward) - 1 (female 10 to 16), 2 (females 16 to 26), total 13. Living next to him was Felix O. Skelly - - - 3 (males 16 to 26),- 1 (male 45 and upward), 3 (females to 10), 2 (females 10 to 16), 1 (female 16 to 26), total 11; and Michail (sic) Skelly - - - 2 1 1 - 1 1, total 8. On the same page is Elizabeth Skelly 1 (free white male under 10) - - - - - - - - - 1 (free white female 45 and upward) (total 2), John Plummer, and William Plummer. The Plummer families are enumerated below. On the previous page are Thomas McGough, 2 - - - 1 - 1 - -, and Esther McGough, - - 1 1 - - - 1.

In the 1830 census of Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, listed living next to each other are John Skelly, Jr 1 (male under 5), 2 (males 5 to 10) - - - 1 (male 30 to 40) - - - - - - - 3 (females under 5) - - - - 1 (female 30 to 40) - - - - - - - ; and John Skelly (of Michael) - 1 (male 5 to 10) - - - 1 (male 30 to 40) - - - 1 (male 70 to 80) - - - - - 1 (female 5 to 10) - - 1 (female 20 to 30) -- 1 (female 60 to 70) - - - -. On the same page was Michael Skelly 2 (males under 5 years), 1 (male 5 to 10 years) - - - - 1 (male 40 to 50 years) - - - - - - 1 (female under 5) - - - - 1 (female 30 to 40). Also on the same page were: William Plummer, John Plummer, Abraham Plummer, Elisha Plummer, Isaac Plummer, John Plummer, John P. Plummer.

On the previous page of the 1830 census of Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, were: Thomas McGough, 1 (male under 5), 2 (males 5 to 10), 2 (males 10 to 15), 2 (males 15 to 20), - - 1 (male 40 to 50) - - - - - - 1 (female under 5), 1 (female 5 to 10), - - - 1 (female 30 to 40), - - 1 (female 60 to 70), - - - - ; John McGough 1 (male under 5), 2 (males 5 to 10), 2 (males 10 to 15), 2 (males 15 to 20) - 1 (male 40 to 50) - - - - - - 2 (females under 5), 1 (female 5 to 10), - 1 (female 15 to 20), - - 1 (female 40 to 50) - - - - - - ; James J. McGough, - - - - 1(male 20 to 30) - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 (female 20 to 30) - - - - - - - -. Two pages forward were listed: Elizabeth Skelly (40 to 50), Captain Philip Skelly (30 to 40), Patrick Skelly (30 to 40), Philip O. Skelly (70 to 80), Philip Skelly (30 to 40), Daniel Skelly (30 to 40), Hugh Skelly (30 to 40).

In the 1840 census of Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, living side by side, were John Skelly and Philip Skelly (roll: 451, page: 54). John Skelly 1 (male under 5), 1 (male 5 to 10), 1 (male 10 to 15), 2 (males 15 to 20) - - 1 (male 40 to 50)- - - - - - - - 2 (females 10 to 15),1 (female 15 to 20)- - - 1 (female 50 to 60) - - - - -; Philip Skelly - - 1 (male 10 to 15) - - - 1 (male 40 to 50)- - - - - - - - - 1 (female 15 to 20) - - - - - 1 (female 70 to 80), - - -. (There was another John Skelly (age 40 to 50) in Cambria township, with a wife (50 to 60) and a son (15 to 20).)

There was not much consistency in the spelling of Skelly in Cambria county as illustrated by this posting on PA-Roots, in which the family names is spelled Skalley, Skalley, and Scally—but not Skelly:

"Skelley, Patrick (Posted by: Lila Baier—March 24, 2006).

"Patrick Skelley, late of Summerhill Twp. Dated 3 Jul 1834, probated 15 Jul 1834. Mentions brother Daniel Skalley one tract land adjoining Godfrey Knepper, Esq. on S. E. and land Jacob Slick etc.; nieces Catharine Scally, susana Knave and Margery Knave; nephew John Skalley son of Philip Skalley; brothers John Skally, Michael Skally and Daniel Skally. No executor named. Witnesses: Joseph Burgoon and Jacob Knave.

"(Source: Abstracts of Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pa. Wills, Vol. I, pg. 103.)"

Mary Ann Skelly, wife of Thomas McGough

"Mary Ann SKELLY was born ABT 1795 in Somerset County, PA, and died ABT 1870 in Cambria County, PA. She was buried in St Bartholomew, Wilmore, Cambria County, PA. She married Thomas McGough 9 JUN 1812 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County, PA, son of James McGough and Esther James. He was born ABT 1785 in Deer Creek Upper, Hundred, Harford County, MD, and died 14 MAY 1870 in Summerhill, Croyle Township, Cambria County, PA. He was buried in St Bartholomew, Wilmore, Cambria County, PA." O'Neill Ancestry. See also: History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 19.

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560–1900 on Ancestry.com lists the marriage in Pennsylvania of Thomas McGough, born in Maryland in 1788, to Mary Skelly, born in Pennsylvania in 1795.

Thomas McGough and Mary Ann Skelly were married on June 9, 1812, in St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann Skelly was born in about 1795 to John (Joannis) Skelly, Sr. and Catherine Whitestone, and died in about 1870. John Kelly, Sr., was born 1760 to 1770 at: county Antrim, Ireland, and settled in Cambria county in 1809. John Kelly, Sr. died in September, 1842. Ref: Biographical Cyclopedia of Cambria—Samuel Wiley and Carole J. Skelly. His brothers were Felix Skelly, Huey (Hugh) Skelly (who was killed by Indians in Blair county, Pennsylvania), and Patrick Skelly (who was killed by Indians in Blair county, Pennsylvania). John's parents were Philip and Mary Ann (maiden name unknown) Skelly. Philip Skelly was born in 1738 and died on July 16, 1780. Philip Skelly's father was William Skelly who died in about 1782. A son of Thomas McGough, Sr. and Mary Ann Skelly, Thomas McGough, Jr. (October 17, 1817–May 14, 1870) married Isabella Plummer on June 26, 1855, in Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.

John Skelly, Sr., and Catherine Whitestone, had these children:

Daniel Skelly

Elizabeth Skelly

Margery Skelly

Patrick Skelly

Philip Skelly

John Skelly, Jr., born February 23, 1792, at Tuckahoe Valley, married Elizabeth McGough in 1819, died on December 12, 1867, at: Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Michael Skelly, born in 1793, married Rachel McGough, died in 1880.

Mary Ann Skelly, born about 1795, married Thomas McGough, Sr., on June 9, 1812 at St Michaels, Loretto by Father Demetrius A. Gallitzen, Prince of the Alleghenies, died about 1870.

Catherine Skelly, born in 1796, married Elisha Plummer. [Their children were Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Daniel, Susan, Patrick, James, and Augustine, who were born from 1823 through 1834. See: History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909).]

Susanna Skelly, born in 1805, married Isaac Plummer, died in 1881 at Croyle township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. [Their children were John, Sarah, Ann, and Philip, who were born from 1822 through 1834. See: History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 21. See: Susan Skelly + Isaac Plummer ~ Marriages~Baptisms~St. Bartholomew's Cambria PA.]

Here are McGough marriages and baptisms by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin recorded in the Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, pages 138–9:

MCGOUGH Arthur and Susan _____.
Agnes. (1802.)

MCGOUGH Arthur and Margaret Glass. Married April 21, 1812.
John, James, Thomas, Susan, Juliana, Mary, Margaret. (1813-27.)

MCGOUGH Miles and Mary _____.
Margaret. (1803.)

MCGOUGH Thomas and Sarah _____.
Thomas, James. (1810-13.)

MCGOUGH John and Sarah _____.
Thomas, Julia Ann, Samuel, William, Joseph, Susan, Jesse, Sarah, Peter, Mary, Martha, Catherine Caroline. (1812-34.)

MCGOUGH Thomas and Mary Skelly. Married June 9, 1812.
James, Mary Ann, William Augustine, Thomas, Daniel. (1814-33.)

MCGOUGH John and Elizabeth _____.
John. (1823.)

MCGOUGH James and Margaret Glass. Married November 1, 1822.
Ellen, George Chrysostom, Susan, Charles, Ann, James Edward, Silas Augustine, Andrew Tobias. (1823-38.)

MCGOUGH James and Sophia Früh.
Esther, Mary Ann, William Augustine, Thomas, Philip. (1827-35.)

MCGOUGH James and Elizabeth Dimond. Married May 11, 1834.
Catherine Matilda, Mary Ellen. (1835-37.)

Here are Skelly marriages and baptisms by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin recorded in the Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, pages 155–6:

SKELLY Michael and Mary _____.
William, Ann Mary, Margaret. (1801-07.)

SKELLY Philip and Margaret _____.
Michael, Ellen, Catherine, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Ann. (1802-15.)

SKELLY Patrick and Mary _____.
Julia. (1819.)

SKELLY Joseph and Catherine _____.
Elizabeth. (1823.)

SKELLY Michael and Rachel _____.
John Augustine, James, Thomas Augustine, Susan, Michael. (1823-30.)

SKELLY Philip and Elizabeth _____.
John, Catherine, Patrick, Esther. (1824-30.)

SKELLY John and Elizabeth _____.
Sarah Ann, Elizabeth, Daniel Augustine, Alexander Augustine. (1825-33.)

SKELLY Hugh and Emily Todd. Married October 29, 1826.
William Augustine. (1827.)

SKELLY Daniel and Susan Noel. Married May 12, 1831.
Margaret, Philip, William. (1834-38.)

SKELLY Hugh and Bridget Eliz. Kennedy. Married February __, 1832.
Mary Ann. (1832.)

SKELLY Patrick and Catherine _____.
Philip. (1836.)

SKELLY Patrick and Margaret Skelly. Married September 28, 1834.

Mary Ann Skelly, wife of Thomas McConnell

Thomas McConnell and Mary Ann Skelly were married on August 3, 1830, in St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Pennsylvania.

Mary Ann McGough, wife of Francis McConnell

Here is a daughter of Thomas McGough and Mary Ann Skelly:

"# ID: I481
# Name: Mary Ann McGough
# Birth: ABT 1820 in Croyle Township, Cambria County, PA
# Christening: 15 May 1820 St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County, PA
# Baptism: by Father Gallitzin: Godparents: James Burke/Omitted [birth date omitted in record]

Father: Thomas McGough b: ABT 1785 in Deer Creek Upper, Hundred, Harford County, MD
Mother: Mary Ann Skelly b: ABT 1795 in Somerset County, PA

Marriage 1 Francis McConnell b: in MD [possibly a son of Francis McConnell and Sarah Shield].

* Married: 10 Jun 1843 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County, PA

Children

1. Ellen McConnell b: 12 Dec 1843 in Cambria County, PA
2. Thomas McConnell b: 1 Jun 1845 in Cambria County, PA" O'Neill Ancestry.

"# ID: I1386
# Name: Francis McConnell
# Birth: in MD
# Note:

!Marriage: by Father Matthew W. Gibson
!Residences: The family lived in Blair County, PA.

Marriage 1 Mary Ann McGough b: abt 1820 in Croyle Township, Cambria County, PA

* Married: 10 Jun 1843 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County, PA

Children

1. Ellen McConnell b: 12 DEC 1843 in Cambria County, PA
2. Thomas McConnell b: 1 JUN 1845 in Cambria County, PA" O'Neill Ancestry. Thomas was christened by father Andrew P. Gibbs on July 20, 1845, at St Bartholomew, Wilmore, Cambria County, PA; Godparents: Thomas McCONNELL/Mary McGOUGH.

Elizabeth McGough, wife of John Skelly

"John Skelly and Elizabeth McGough" are listed under 1823–1830 (under marriages and baptisms by Father Gallitzin) on page 21 of The History of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Pennsylvania. John and Elizabeth Skelly are named as the parents of an unnamed child who was baptized on October 27, 1821, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 47).

John and Elizabeth O'Skelly are listed as parents of Sara Anna O'Skelly, who was born on January 9, 1825, and baptized on May 1, 1825, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 64). Witnesses were William Hudson and Esther Hudson.

John and Elizabeth Skelly are listed as parents of Daniel Augustin Skelly, who was born on Auust 12, 1828, and baptized on April 30, 1829, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 85).

John Skelly, son of John Skelly, and Elizabth Skelly, are listed as the parents of Elizabeth Skelly, who was born on June 4, 1826, and baptized on September 24, 1826, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 72). Witnesses were John Skelly, son of Michael Skelly, and Juliana McGough.

John and Elizabeth Skelly are listed as parents of Alexander Augustin Skelly, who was born on May 25, 1833, and baptized on November 17, 1833, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 109; witnesses were Thomas McConnell and Sara McGough). Here is a biography of their son, Alexander J. Skelly. Of John Skelly, this article says:

"[Alexander J. Skelly was] born near Wilmore, in Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1833. His paternal grandfather, John Skelly, Sr., was a Scotch-Irishman, and with six brothers came from County Antrim to Maryland, settling on Antietam Creek, where the great battle of Antietam was fought in 1862. ... John Skelly, Sr., ... came to Cambria county, where he died fifty-three years later. His son, John Skelly, was born in the Tuckahoe Valley, February 23, 1792, and attended the old district or subscription schools but three days. He was a self-educated man, and in 1827 came to Cambria county, where he followed farming as an occupation, and died December 12, 1867. He was a Jacksonian democrat, served one term as county auditor, and held most of the township offices. He was a member of the Catholic church and an active and industrious man. In 1819 he married Elizabeth McGough, and their children were: James, who died in Texas aged seventy years; John, died in this county at sixty-two years of age; Sarah, widow of John Wolf and a resident of Oklahoma; Elizabeth, widow of Frank Christy; Mary; Alexander J.; and Philip, a farmer of near Wilmore. Mrs. Skelly, who died in 1872, aged seventy-three years, was a daughter of James McGough, who was a slave-holder of Baltimore Maryland, and came at thirty-five years of age to Cambria county, where he manumitted his slaves and afterwards accumulated quite a large amount of property. James McGough married and his children were: Thomas, James, Jr., Elizabeth, wife of John Skelly; and Sarah, all of whom are dead."

The John Skelly who married Elizabeth McGough, therefore, was a brother of the Mary Ann Skelly who had married Thomas McGough on June 9, 1812.

Elizabeth McGough was a daughter of James McGough and Esther James. Elizabeth's sister, Rachel McGough, married Michael Skelly. Michael Skelly was a brother of the John Skelly who married Elizabeth McGough. See: Susan Skelly + Isaac Plummer ~ Marriages~Baptisms~St. Bartholomew's Cambria PA, a posting on GenForum. See also my pages: McGoughs in Pre-Revolutionary America: Miles and Elizabeth Spencer McGough and McGoughs in the 1790 Census of the United States under Harford county, Maryland. See: History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 21.]

Rachel McGough, wife of Michael Skelly

Rachel McGough, who was born on May 16, 1800, in Harford county, Maryland; married Michael Skelly (born about 1793 in Cambria county; died on June 26, 1832, in Summerhill township, Cambria county; and is buried at St. Michael's cemetery, Cambria county). Michael and Rachel McGough Skelly had 6 children, all born in Cambria county. Rachel was a sister of Thomas McGough (who married Mary Ann Skelly) and Elizabeth McGough (who married John Skelly, Jr.). Here is the entry from the website of St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania: SKELLY [O'SKELLY], Rachel 16 May 1800 26 Jun 1832 aged 32 years, 1 month, 10 days; main section / same row HS-family (see also Ledoux, volume 1, page 168).

Rachel McGough was the daughter of James McGough and Esther James. James McGough was the son of Miles McGough and Elizabeth Spencer. See my page: McGoughs in Pre-Revolutionary America: Miles and Elizabeth Spencer McGough. See also: Descendants of James M. McGough.

Michael Skelly was born in about 1793. His father was John Skelly who was born in Ireland. Michael Skelly and Rachel McGough had a daughter, Susan Jane Skelly, who was born on October 11, 1828, in Ebensburg, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, and who died on January 27, 1916, in Ashville, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Michael's brother, John Skelly, Jr., married Elizabeth McGough. Michael's sister, Mary Ann Skelly, married Thomas McGough. Michael's sister, Susanna Skelly, married Isaac W. Plummer, Sr. Michael's sister, Elizabeth Skelly, married Philip Plummer.

Here is a posting on RootsWeb by Carolyn Burns on September 23, 1998:

"I would like help searching for Joannis "John" SKELLY, Sr., d. 1842, Cambria Co., PA, his parents Philip and Mary Ann (?) SKELLY. Children of John are; Patrick; John, Jr., b. ABT 1792, PA, m. 1819, PA to Mary Elizabeth MCGOUGH; Michael b. 1793, m. Rachel MCGOUGH; Mary Ann b. 1795, m. Thomas MCGOUGH, Sr., d. 1812, Loretto, PA; Susanna b. 1805, d. 1881, m. Isaac W. PLUMMER, Sr.; Catherine; Daniel; Elizabeth b. 1837, m. Philip PLUMMER, 1860, Wilmore, PA; Margery, and Philip. I would like to swap info with other searchers of these and would be happy to pay for copies sent to me."

Michael and Rachel Skelly are listed as the parents of John Augustin Skelly who was born on December 16, 1823, and baptized on June 24, 1824, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 59).

Michael and Rachel O'Skelly are listed as parents of James O'Skelly, who was born on March 20. 1925, and baptized on May 1, 1825, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 64). Witnesses were James McGough and Maria Brawley.

Michael and Rachel Skelly are listed as parents of Thomas Augustin Skelly, who was born on December 26, 1826, and baptized on February 21, 1827, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 73). Witnesses were Hugh Skelly, son of Michael Skelly, Sr.; and Mary Skelly, daughter of Michael Skelly, Sr.

Michael and Rachel O'Skelly are listed as parents of Michael O'Skelly, who was born on June 11, 1830, and baptized on August 22, 1830, by Father Gallitzin in St. Michael's Church, Loretto (Ledoux, volume 1, page 92).

[A Michael O Skelly (indexed by Ancestry.com under Skelly) is listed in the 1850 census of Summerhilll township, Cambria county, as age 48, a farmer born in Pennsylvania, with his wife Rachel, age 30, born in Pennsylvania, and their three children, Martha, age 4, Peter, age 2, and Margaret, age 1. Also with them was Margaret Skelly, age 85, born in Ireland, and presumably Michael's mother. (M-432, roll 761, page 87, line 27). This family does not fit the profile of Michael Skelly and Rachel McGough.]

William McConnell and Sarah McCann of Ireland

For a list of McConnells in county Down in the 1800s, see: Surnames of Co. Down: McConnell on Ros Davies' Co. Down, Ireland Genealogy Research Site.

William McConnell and Sarah McCann were the parents of Arthur J. McConnell [They were also the parents of Francis McConnell who was born on January 20, 1763, in county Down, and Arthur J. McConnell who was born in 1765 and died on October 6, 1804. Another source says that Arthur J. McConnell was born in county Antrim, Ireland, in 1765, and died in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in 1865.

Francis McConnell married Sarah Shield (or Sally Shields), and their children were: Ann (or Anna) McConnell (born October 24, 1801, in Pennsylvania; married Peter Storm in about 1823; died on August 10, 1853, in Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsylvania; buried at St. Michael's Cemetery); Susan McConnell; Sarah McConnell; Elizabeth McConnell (born in 1798; died on August 21, 1883); Francis McConnell (born April 22, 1800); and Hugh McConnell (born March 4, 1803).]

Arthur J. McConnell (1765–January 21, 1861) married Catherine Moury (1771–November 18, 1844) in Ireland, and was the father of the Thomas McConnell who married Mary Ann Skelly. Here is a posting by Denny Rose on of September 25, 2003, on McConnell Family Genealogy Forum:

"Arthur J. McConnell born in Ireland in 1765 and dies Jan 21, 1861 in Cambria County, PA. (Allegheny township). He marries Catherine Moury in Ireland and emigrates in 1792 to Cambria County, PA with nine children. Catherine Moury dies on Nov 18, 1844 and is buried in Old Holy Name Cemetery in Ebensburg, PA. She and Arthur have a daughter, Catherine McConnell, who is born at sea enroute to America in 1792. Catherine married Jacob Kaylor (Storey says Peter Kaylor at page 47 of volume 1) on April 23, 1816 in Cambria County, PA. She died April 1, 1861 in Cambria County, PA. Both she and her husband are buried in St. Michael's Cemetery in Loretto, PA." [See the biography of Raymond J. Kaylor at page 67 of the Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania (1896), which says in part:

"His great-grandfather was a native of Germany, whence he emigrated to America about the time of the Revolutionary war. He enlisted as a soldier in that famous struggle for American independence. After the war he located on a farm in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where he died. Two of his sons, Peter and Jacob Kaylor (the latter was the grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch) came to this (Cambria) county about the time Father Gallitzin arrived, and located with the colony at Loretto. There Jacob Kaylor met and married Katie McConnell, who was a member of the Loretto colony. This marriage resulted in the birth of several children, one of whom, James J. Kaylor, became the father of our subject. ]

The Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 125, records the marriage of Jacob Kaylor and Catherine McConnell by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin on April 23, 1816; and the baptism of these children by Father Gallitzin from 1817 through 1838: Matilda, Elizabeth, Catherine, John, James J., Mary Ann, Peter William, Esther Caroline, Francis Augustine, Hilary, and Robert (1817-38).

Here are the McConnell marriage and baptisms by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin as recorded in the Souvenir of Loretto, pages 134–5.

MCCONNELL Henry and Margaret _____.
Cornelius, William, Alexander. (1806-10.)

MCCONNELL Arthur and Catherine _____.
Augustine, Francis. (1808-10.)

MCCONNELL John and Margaret _____.
Cornelius. (1811.)

MCCONNELL James and Margaret _____.
Ann. (1811.)

MCCONNELL Francis and Margaret _____.
Mary Ann, Hugh, Sarah, Elizabeth, James, John William, Lydia Matilda, Catherine. (1823-37.)

MCCONNELL John and Margaret Tierney. Married April 26, 1825 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 152; John is recorded as the son of Francis McConnell, deceased).
Sarah Ann, Margaret, Francis, John William. (1827-33.)

MCCONNELL Barnabas and Margaret McIntosh. Married April 11, 1826. (Ledoux, volume 1, page 153; Bernard is recorded as the son of Daniel McConnell, deceased, and Mary McConnell.)

MCCONNELL John A. and Hannah Watt. Married May 15, 1827 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 154).
John Arthur, David Augustine, Catherine Jane, Francis William. (1831-38.)

MCCONNELL Thomas and Mary Ann Skelly. Married August 3, 1830 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 156; Mary Ann Skeely is recorded as the daughter of Philip Skelly).
William, Susan. (1831-38.)

MCCONNELL Hugh and Elizabeth Walters. Married April 28, 1835 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 161).
Demetrius Augustine, Mary, Ann Elizabeth. (1836-39.) [See Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 388, for a photograph of Elizabeth McConnell, when she was about age 87, and a brief biography. The article mentions that Elizabeth's husband, Hugh McConnell, was reared in the house of Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, and that Elizabeth also lived for a time with Father Gallitzen. There is an obituary of Hugh McConnell in the November 1, 1880, issue of the Cambria Freeman. He died on October 28, 1880, at about 81 years of age. He left a wife, 2 sons, and 2 daughters. Hugh McConnell was a witness and executor of the will of Michael Erheart, which was dated April 26, 1845, and probated in Ebensburg, Cambria county, on September 30, 1845.]

MCCONNELL Augustine and Rebecca Branniff. Married February 5, 1837 (Ledoux, volume 1, page 163; Augustine is recorded as the son of Arthur McCopnnell; Rebecca's parents were Thomas Braniff and Mary Braniff (deceased); witnesses to the marriage were Francis McConnell and Mary Kettle).
Mary Elizabeth. (1839.)

Thomas McConnell and Mary Ann Skelly—their son Francis McConnell

Thomas McConnell and Mary Ann Skelly married on August 3, 1830. Their children included William T. McConnell, who was born in 1831, and Susan McConnell, who was born in 1833. History of St. Bartholomew Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 19.

The 1850 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, lists:

(1850) Thomas McConnell, age 45, farmer, real estate $400, born in Pennsylvania (M-432, roll 761, page 93, line 36) [age 54 in the 1860 census].

Mary A. McConnell, age 40, born in Pennsylvania. [age 51 in the 1860 census]. [Mary Ann Skelly]

William McConnell, age 19, laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Susan McConnell, age 17, born in Pennsylvania. [age 24 in the 1860 census].

Margaret McConnell, age 14, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Phillip I. McConnell, age 11, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Catherine McConnell, age 8, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Francis McConnell, age 3, born in Pennsylvania

Augustine McConnell, age 3, born in Pennsylvania.

[1860 census adds: James H. McConnell, age 9 (in 1860), born in Pennsylvania.]

[Neighbors of Thomas McConnell in 1850 were the families of Patrick Skelly, age 45, farmer, born in Ireland, who could not read or write (and a daughter Mary, age 6, born in Pennsylvania) and Hugh A. Skelly, age 50, farmer, born in Pennsylvania (?) (and a daughter Mary A. Skelly, age 18, born in Pennsylvania.)]

The 1880 census of Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, lists:

(1880) Francis McConnell, age 33, married, a coal miner, born in Pennsylvania, to a father born in Ireland and a mother born in Pennsylvania, (T-9, roll 1111 page 364, line 15; Family History Film 1255111) [Great-great- grandfather of Jeff McConnell—email of February 7, 2007, from Jeff McConnell.]

Louisa McConnell, age 34, wife, keeping house, who could not read or write, born in Pennsylvania to a father and mother born in Pennsylvania. [Sarah Louise Howell]

Thomas McConnell, age 8, son, attended school within the year, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Alice McConnell, age 6, daughter, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Annie McConnell, age 4, daughter, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Henrietta McConnell, age 2, daughter, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania. [Here is an excerpt from a posting by Kristy on GenForum, SKELLY's of Ireland & Pennsylvania: "Philip and Hugh were both killed July 16, 1780 near the present day Saxton, Bedford Co. PA. We are descended from Philip—his son Philip (Felix) who died July 2, 1835. His daughter Mary Ann Skelly married Thomas McConnell and they are the parents of Francis McConnell who married Sarah Louise Howell and their daughter Henrietta McConnell married Daniel Rooney—who are my fiance's great grandparents." ]

Julia McConnell, age 3 months, born in March, 1880, daughter, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

["Francis McConnell and Sarah Louise Howell were the parents of Joseph Ralph McConnell,* who was born February 12, 1887 and passed away in April 1966. (email of February 7, 2007, from Jeff McConnell). He is listed as Ralph McConnell, age 14, in the 1900 census of Lilly, Cambria county, below.]

Lucy Howell, age 26, sister-in-law, (idiotic), born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania,

Albert Howell, age 17, step-son, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Mathias Hoffman, age 31, boarder, laborer, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Germany.

*Email of Jeff McConnell: "Joseph Ralph McConnell married Emma Viola McGinnis and they had 4 sons: James Merle, Pius Eugene, Earl, & whatever Uncle "Windy's" name was—plus a daughter who is a half-sister to the boys, Jesse, the mother of Bill & Timmy Hahn. [Cambria County Marriage Index by Bride's Name 1885–1920 lists the marriage of Emma V. McGinnis to Joseph R. McConnell in 1912.]

"James Merle McConnell married Geraldine Irene Hughes and they had 7 children: 2 boys and 5 girls - one who died shortly after birth, Geraldine.

"The children of James & Geraldine are: Shirley, Daniel James, Geraldine, Roxanne, Kathleen, Debra, and Jeffery Patrick."

Here is a more detailed posting by Jeff McConnell on February 7, 2007, on McConnell Family Genealogy Forum:

"I am trying to get as much detailed info as possible about the descendants of William McConnell and Sarah McCann from County Down, Ireland.

"William & Sarah were the parents of Arthur J (b. 1765 Ireland & died Jan 12, 1861 in Cambria County, Pa.) and Francis (born in Ireland Jan 20, 1763 and died on Oct 6, 1804 - but not sure of location)

"******See below for comment

"I come from the line of Thomas McConnell (born of Arthur J & Catherine Moury on June 19, 1809—not sure of location or date of death)

"Thomas married Mary Ann Skelly on August 3, 1830 in Loretto, Pa (by Father D. Gallitzin) and was the parents of 7 children—among them Francis McConnell. (born Sept 16, 1847)

"Francis McConnell and Sarah Louise Howell (married in 1871) were the parents of Joseph Ralph McConnell (who was born Feb. 12, 1887 and passed away in April 1966) and Philip Joseph.

"Joseph Ralph McConnell marries Emma Viola McGinnis, and they have 4 sons. (Emma had a daughter, Jesse, prior to her marriage to Joseph Ralph - and this daughter became the mother of 2 sons: Timothy & Patrick Hahn)

"These are my 3 uncles & my father. I'm not sure of my one uncle's name, because the 4 were usually called by their nicknames more often than their given names. This is what I have:

"Earl 'Bud', Pius Eugene 'Frosty', James Merle 'Pat', and my uncle I only know by 'Windy'.

"James Merle McConnell (born on July 11, 1916 in Glenn White/Kittanning Point Pa—and died in April of 1980) married Geraldine Irene Hughes (born Jan 13, 1928 in Bennington, Pa—and died on Jan 1986) and they had 7 children, one who died shortly after birth. (Geraldine)

"Shirley Marie (?), Daniel James, Geraldine, Roxanne Louise McConnell Dignan, Kathleen Marie McConnell Johnston, Debra Anne McConnell McGarvey, and Jeffery Patrick.

"Jeffery Patrick McConnell is the father of Stefan James McConnell.

"[children of Francis McConnell & Sarah Shields: Ann, Susan, Sarah, Elizabeth, Francis, & Hugh]

"[other children of Thomas McConnell & Mary Ann Skelly: Philip, Martha, Henrietta, Thomas, Anna Mary, & Alice]

" [Philip Joseph, son of Francis McConnell & Sarah Howell, married Elizabeth May Dewalt - no listing of their surviving children]

"As you can see, I am missing a lot of information—and if anyone can help me fill in the blanks I would be greatly appreciative.

"I am also wondering if someone can clear up whether Arthur J McConnell & Francis McConnell—the sons of William McConnell & Sarah McCann—were born in County Antrim, Ireland (as listed in footnote [1379] according to 'William Mackey's Rootsweb GEDCOM' at the website: http://www.dsolar.com/mcconnel/d0006/g0000043.html) OR were they born in County Down, Ireland (as listed in footnotes [104] & [105] of the website: http://www.serventi.com/ServSankCards/wc02/wc02_122.html). [which cites: PA/0-62a Catholic Trails West; The Founding Catholic Families of Pennsylvania, v. 1 Adams, Edmund and O'Keefe, Barbara Brady Genealogical Publishing Co. Library of Congress: 257. 87-83153: Adams, Edmund. Catholic trails West : the founding Catholic families of Pennsylvania / Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1988-<1989 > v. <1-2 > : ill. ; 24 cm. LC CALL NUMBER: E184.C3 A15 1988]

"Also, any information about the birth/death dates & location for William McConnell & Sarah McCann (plus anything about when/how they came to America) would be greatly received."

The 1900 census of Lilly, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, lists:

(1900) Francis McConnell, age 52, born in September, 1847, in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Pennsylvania, married 29 years, coal miner (T-623, roll 1389, page 5A, line 47). [Living next door was Francis' twin brother, August McConnell, also age 52, born in September, 1847, in Pennsylvania, and also a coal miner; August's wife, Henrietta, and 6 children).]

Louise McConnell, age 56, born in January, 1844, in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Pennsylvania, married 29 years, mother of 8 children, 7 of whom were living.

Julia McConnell, age 20, born in March, 1880, in Pennsylvania, single, no occupation listed.

Philip McConnell, age 17, born in March, 1883, in Pennsylvania, single, no occupation listed.

Ralph McConnell, age 14, born in February, 1886, in Pennsylvania, single, coal miner (line 1 on page 5B) [Joseph Ralph McConnell].

Joseph Ralph McConnell, age 30, born on February 12, 1887, whose address was Hemlock, Gallitzen, Pennsylvania, registered for the Word War I draft in Gallitzin on June 5, 1917. He was born in Lilly, Pennsylvania, and was employed as a coal miner by the Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Corporation in Gallitzen. He was married with 3 children. He was described as tall, of medium build, with brown eyes and sandy hair. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 on Ancestry.com.

The 1920 census of Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, shows Ralph McConnell living in a home headed by his single brother-in-law, Merril McGinnis (who is probably the person listed in the 1910 census of Gallitzin as George M. McGinnis, age 16), age 25, a laborer in the woods. Including Merril and Emma, there were 11 McGinnis brothers and sisters in the house, which was on the road leading from Asheville to Gallitzen:

(1920) Ralph McConnel (sic), brother-in-law, age 33, married, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, a coal miner (T-625, roll 1546, page 2B, line 99).

Emma McConel (sic), sister (of (George) Merrill McGinnis), age 27, married, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, housekeeper. [Emma Viola McGinnis, who is listed in the 1910 census of Gallitzin, Cambria county, as Emma V. McGinnis, age 17, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, living with her parents, William G. McGinnis, age 46. born in Pennsylvania, a wood worker in the forests, and his wife of 24 years, Annie M. McGinnis, age 41, born in Pennsylvania, mother of 16 children, 15 of whom were living (T-624, roll 1323, page 7A, line 99). (The Cambria County Marriage Index by Groom's Name (1885–1920) lists the marriage of William G. McGinnis and Annie M. Segur (or Sager) in 1886.) Children at home were: William R. 19, John B. 18, Emma V. 17, Verna 14, Blair 13, Leo 12, Scot 11, Mary 7, Warren 9, Irene 5, Charles 4, Mary 2, and Joseph 2. Also in the family was a granddaughter Jessie McGinnis, 5 months.]

Jessie McConnel (sic), age 10, daughter, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania. [In the 1930 census of Gallitzin township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, Jesse McConnell, age 20, single, female, born in Pennsylvania, is listed as a servant in the home of George Eichenlaub, age 52, a coal operator in the coal mining industry (roll 2011, page 6A, line 43). Jeff McConnell says she was a half sister to the sons. Apparently, she was an illegitimate child of Emma V, McGinnis McConnell. In the 1910 census of Gallitzin township, she is listed as a granddaughter of William G. McGinnis. In the same household is his oldest daughter, Emma V, McGinnis, age 17.]

Wilson McConnel (sic), age 6, son, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Merril McConnel (sic), age 3 years, 2 months, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Joseph Ralph McConnell, age 55, registered for the World War II draft in Blair county, Pennsylvania, on April 27, 1942. His address was "Gallitzin-R-D-1-Red Row-Blair PA." He was born in Lilly, Pennsylvania, on February 12, 1887. His contact person was Mrs. Emma V. McConnell at the same address. He was employed by the Argyle Coal Company of Gallitzin at the Seanmon (?) mine number 1 in Gallitzin, Blair county, Pennsylvania. He signed his name as "Joseph R. McConnell." He was described as 5'5", 135 pounds, with a light complexion, blue eyes, and grey hair. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, on Ancestry.com.

The Social Security Death Index shows that Joseph McConnell (SSN: 193-05-5745) whose last residence was (16641) Gallitzin, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, United States of America, and who was born on February 12, 1887, died in April of 1966. His SSN was issued in Pennsylvania before 1951.

For biographies Mentioning McConnells, McGoughs, Plummers, and Skellys, go to: Cambria County Genealogy—Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia.

See also: All Surnames in Family Tree on Firstmom's Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources by Kathy Huish; Cambria Co. Genealogy on RootsWeb.

Three McConnells are listed on the same page of the 1800 census of the borough of Huntingdon, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania: William McConnell, Alexander McConnell (indexed by Ancestry.com as Alexander M Connell), John McConnell (roll: 40, page 155).

Thomas McGough and Isabella Plummer

Graves at St Bartholomew's Church Cemetery, Wilmore, Cambria County, PA:

Thomas Jr. McGough October 17, 1827-May 14, 1870
Isabella (Plummer) McGough August 31, 1831-January 29, 1911

Here is a biography of Daniel McGough from Cambria County Pennsylvania Genealogy—Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia, pages 198–9.

DANIEL A. McGOUGH, ex-register and recorder, and a descendant of two very old and highly respectable families of the county, is a son of Thomas and Isabella (Plummer) McGough, and was born in Croyle township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1856. His paternal great-grandfather, James McGough, was a native of Ireland, and came to this country with his brother, Patrick, who fought under Washington, and fell at the battle of Princeton. James McGough first settled near Baltimore, in Harford county, Maryland, where he married Esther James, of Welsh descent, and in 1806 came to what is now Croyle township, in which he died six years later. He was a farmer, school-teacher and a civil engineer, and ranked as one of the pioneer settlers of Croyle township, in which he owned a large tract of valuable land.

Of his sons, Thomas Sr., was born in Harford county, Maryland, and died in 1870, at eighty-five years of age. He was a man of better education than was usually enjoyed by the men who lived in that time, and belonged to that old school of school-masters characteristic of the day, and to whom the early educational progress of this country owes so much. Thomas McGough, Sr., like his father, was a farmer and teacher. He was a Catholic, served for twenty-five years as a justice of the peace, and wedded Mary Skelly, by whom he had ten children, six sons and four daughters. Next to the youngest of these children was Thomas McGough, the father of the subject of this sketch.

Thomas McGough was born October 27, 1827, and resided on a farm in his native township until his death, which occurred May 14, 1870. He was a farmer and cooper by occupation and trade, a democrat in politics and a Catholic in religion. He married Isabella Plummer, of Summerhill township, in 1855, and to their union were born three sons: Daniel A., Charles and George, who are both in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, at Conemaugh.

Mrs. McGough, who is still living, is a daughter of John and Mary (Fye) Plummer, belongs to the Plummer family of western Pennsylvania, so well known for its many good qualities.

Daniel A. McGough grew to manhood on the paternal acres, received his education in the common schools, and then was engaged in farming and teaching school until 1885, in which year he was appointed as clerk to the board of county commissioners. In that position Mr. McGough served continuously for seven years, and his services had so recommended him that he was nominated and elected, by the Democratic party, as register and recorder of Cambria county, for a term of three years. His services in his elective offices were as valuable and as acceptable as had been his labors in his appointed position, and at the expiration of his term in 1895 he retired with credit to himself. A democrat in political associations, he has never accepted office but once at the hands of his party, although sufficiently popular to have been so honored frequently. The burdens and responsibility of public care have no special charms for him, yet he is not averse to the labors and duties of public life. Exact, careful and accurate, he is well fitted for private and public business.

On June 14, 1888, Daniel A. McGough was united in marriage with Harriet Eberly, a daughter of Francis Eberly, of Munster township. Their union has been blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters: Mary, Esther, Thomas Francis and James.

Another son of Thomas McGough and Isabel Plummer was George Gallitzin McGough who was born on May 16, 1862, in Croyle township, Cambria county, and who married another McGough, Harriet A. McGough, who was born in Cambria county on May 27, 1867, the daughter of Philip McGough and Mary E. Conrad. See my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Susan McGough, a daughter of John McGough and Elizabeth Ream, who was born on July 2, 1856, in Wilmore, Summerhill township, Cambria county; and who was christened on July 28, 1856, at St. Bartholomew's, Wilmore, Cambria county; married Lemon Plummer on February 17, 1903, in Portage, Cambria county. The couple had no children. See my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Rachel McGough, daughter of James J. McGough and Sophia Frueh, who was born about 1830 in Cambria county; married a man named Plummer. See my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Eliza Jane McGough, a daughter of James J. McGough and Sophia Frueh, who was born about 1841 in Cambria county, married Joseph Martz. Philip Plummer's brother, Joseph Plummer, who was born about 1841 in Summerhill township, married an Eliza McGough, who was born about 1842 in Summerhill township, in August of 1862 in St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Cambria county. This Elizabeth McGough Plummer died on August 16, 1885, in Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania. Plummer genealogy. See my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Philip Plummer married Elizabeth McGough (or McGeogh) on January 17, 1860, at: St. Bartholomew's, Wilmore, Pa., Rev. J. Hacket married them and baptized their children. Philip Plummer was born on April 26, 1834 at: Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Isaac Plummer and Susanna Skelly. Isaac Plummer was born about 1800 at Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, to John Plummer (born about 1780), son of Richard Plummer. Susanna Skelly was born about 1805. Her father was John Skelly, Sr., who was born between 1760 and 1770 in county Antrim, Ireland. Susanna's mother, and John Skelly's wife, was Catherine Whitestone. This information, and information listed immediately below, will be found through All Surnames in Family Tree on Firstmom's Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources by Kathy Huish.

Here is a geneaogy from the Patriarch Page of the Plummer DNA Project:

"Richard b. ca 1740, d. ca 1820 PA - Marie Plummer [meplummerdna AT earthlink.net]

* John b. 1780 PA

o Isaac b. 1800 PA m. Susan SKELLY d. 1846

+ Samuel b. 1827 m. 1860 Martha LONG d. 1897

# John b. 1866, m. Mary Ann WARD d. 1949 - P- 1"

Excerpt from Timeline for Richard Plummer based on actual records found by Kathy Huish:

"Prior to 1774—Resided in MD prior to migrating to the banks of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, Bedford Co. Pennsylvania prior to 1774. ---Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol XXII, page 39 ...

"Richard, who owned a large farm near Wilmore, left it to his son John, who left it to his son Isaac, who left it to his son Samuel, who left it to his son Frank, who left it to his son Charles E. - per wills/land deeds."

"Births/Christening

PLUMMER, Richard Christening
Sex: Male
Christening Date:1 Jan 1739 Recorded in:Purton,
Wiltshire, England
Father: Richard PLUMMER
Source: FHL Number 1279304 Dates: 1559-1842

PLUMER, John Christening
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 17 Oct 1762
Christening Date: 14 Nov 1762 Recorded in:
Wheathampstead,
Hertford, England
Father: Richard PLUMER
Mother: Elizabeth
Source: FHL Number 1040663 Dates: 1690-1861"

Excerpt from a biography of J. Lee Plummer of Blair county, Pennsylvania, in Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania, edited by Samuel T. Wiley and W. Scott Garner, Philadelphia, Gresham, 1892, page 320:

"The family is of English extraction, and was planted in America at a very early day. Richard Plummer, the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a resident of Woodstock valley, Huntingdon County, this state. His son, John Plummer (great-grandfather), was one of the first settlers in Cambria County, having located there in 1804. William R. Plummer (grandfather) was born in that county in 1812, and while yet a young man removed to Huntingdon County. He was a forgeman by occupation, and worked at different forges in that and Blair Counties. He became a policeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and after being employed in that capacity for several years, was accidentally killed by a train at Tyrone, this county, in 1879, when he had attained the age of sixty-seven years. ... John Plummer, the great-great-uncle of the subject of this sketch, was killed by the Indians in Bedford County in 1780."

The 1790 census of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, lists Richard Plummer, 2 (free white males 16 and upwards)1 (free white male under 16) 4 (free white females) - - . (See PLUMMER-L Archives on RootsWeb.) Nearby, and listed on the same page, were Elizabeth Plummer, 1 (free white male 16 and upwards)- 2 (free white females) - - , Michle Skelly, 1 (free white male 16 and upwards) 1 (free white male under 16) 2 (free white females) - - , and John Skelly, 1 (free white male 16 and upwards) 1 (free white male under 16) 1 (free white females) - - (M-637, roll 8).

"Richard, who owned a large farm near Wilmore, left it to his son John, who left it to his son Isaac, who left it to his son Samuel, who left it to his son Frank, who left it to his son Charles E. - per wills/land deeds. ... Richard possibly immigrated from England in 1767 to Maryland and then settled in Bedford Co., PA prior to 1774. - John stated that Susannah married to Isaac Plummer Sr. was Susannah Skelly (church record had shown her as Susannah Kelly at Isaac's baptism at his death)." Richard Plummer -PA on RootsWeb (a posting by AnoleLady on Novmber 5, 1998). The same posting quotes J. Simpson Africa's Book (1883): "Hopewell township lists Richard Plummer as Constable in 1792–1793. ... Hopewell twp (Lincoln) Assessment list of 1788 lists: Richard Plumer, 450a. L (Reub. Haines) 1h. 1c, Elizabeth Plummar 450a. L (Reub. Haines) 2h. 2c." Here is more from the same book, page 306— Lincoln Township— from section on Pioneers and Settlers:

"John Plummer came to Lincoln prior to the Revolutionary War and settled on a farm on the Bedford road, near the southern boundary of the township. Early during the Revolution Mr. Plummer was killed by the Indians near Coffee Run, and at the same time one of his daughters, Nancy, was made a prisoner. She died before she reached Canada where the indians were taking her. Eli, his son, then ten years of age, and Sarah, another daughter, were captured and taken to Canada, where the girl remained with the indians during her life. The son was kept during three years and then liberated. He rejoined his mother and sisters, who had returned to Maryland, and subsequently came back to Lincoln. He was the progenitor of all the Plummers in Huntingdon County, and his descendents by four daughters still remain here."

The book is History of Blair and Huntingdon Counties, Pennsylvania by J. Simpson Aftica. This book is still regarded as the prime reference source for this region's history. See: Manuscript Group 14, J. Simpson Africa Papers in the Pennsylvania State Archives. See: History of Huntingdon County, written by J Simpson Africa of Huntingdon, in Egle's 1876 "History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." See also Egle's History of Huntingdon County, 1883 excerpted and transcribed by Sue Palmer on Huntingdon County PAGenWeb.

Lincoln township in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, is near Hopewell township. J. Simpson Africa says that Lincoln township was formed from Hopewell township on August 18, 1866. History of Huntingdon County. A portion of Bedford county was taken to form Huntingdon County in 1787. "The entire valley of the Juniata was included in the county of Cumberland. From this county Bedford was formed in 1771. Huntingdon was erected from Bedford by an act of Assembly, passed on the 20th day of September, 1787." J. Simpson Africa, supra.

The 1820 census of Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, listed John Plummer, 3 2 1 3 1 1 - 2 - 1 - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - (total 13) (M-33, roll 98, page 180). Nearby, and listed on the same page, were William Plummer, 1 - - 1 - 1 2 1 1 - 1 - 1 - - - - - - - - - - (total 8), and John Skelly (total 13), Felix O. Skelly (total 11), Michail Skelly (total 8), and Elizabeth Skelly (total 2). The Skelly families are enumerated above.

In the 1850 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, Susanah Skelly Plummer, the wife of Isaac Plummer, apparently a widow, was living next door to her sister, Mary Ann Skelly McGough, and her husband Thomas McGough. Susanah's family was listed as follows:

(1850) Susanah Plummer, age 45, born in Pennsylvania, real estate worth $1000, could not read or write (M-432, roll 761, page 9, line 31) [Susanah Skelly Plummer, widow of Isaac Plummer, Sr. She was living next door to Thomas McGough and Mary Ann Skelly McGough, and two propertes removed from John Burk and Esther McGough Burk.]

Michael Plummer, age 26, farmer, born in Pennsylvania (listed as head of the family).

Samuel Plummer, age 21, laborer, born in Pennsylvania, could not read or write. [Samuel b. 1827 m. 1860 Martha LONG d. 1897]

Thomas Plummer, age 21, laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Margary Plummer (female), age 18, born in Pennsylvania.

Ellen Plummer, age 17, born in Pennsylvania.

Philip Plummer, age 14, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Mary Plummer, age 12, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Joseph Plummer, age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

John Dimond and Elizabeth Dempsey

John Dimond married Elizabeth Dempsey on June 21, 1818. Their children, born from 1819 through 1827, were Patrick, Daniel Augustine, William, and John Michael. History of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, PA (1909), page 37. The 1830 census of the township of Conemaugh, Cambria county, Pennsylvania; lists John Dimond, a male of 40 to 50, with a female of 40 to 50, and 11 younger persons in the household, 8 males and 3 females up to age 30 (roll 161, page 180).

The family of John Dimond and Elizabeth Dempsey moved from Cambria county, Pennsylvania, to Perry county, Ohio, in April, 1834. John Dimond died there in December of 1844.

In 1840, John J. Diamond (sic) was living in Jackson township, Perry county, Ohio. In the household were 1 male age 60 to 70, 1 female 60 to 70, and 1 male 50 to 60, 1 male 20 to 30, 2 males 15 to 20, 1 male 10 to 15; and 2 males 5 to 10; 1 female 40 to 50; 2 females 20 to 30; 1 female 15 to 20; 1 female 10 to 15; and 1 female under 5 (roll 419, page 124). Jackson township is immediately west of Pike township. (Junction City is located within Jackson township.)

Patrick Dimond, the son of John Dimond and Elizabeth Dempsey, is listed in the 1850 census of Pike township, Perry county, Ohio. He was 31 years of age, a stone cutter, born in Pennsylvania, living with his wife Ann, age 25, born in Ohio, and three children, all born in Ohio: Elizabeth,6, Joseph 3, and Mary, 4 months (M-432, roll 719, page 230, line 9). Living next door was his brother, Daniel Dimond, age 28, a stone cutter, born in Pennsylvania, living with his wife, Mary, age 28, born in Ohio, and 4 children under age 7, all born in Ohio: Francis (female) 6, John 5*, Sarah 3, and James, 10 months; and a James Dimond, Jr., age 15, born in Ohio (M-432, roll 719, page 230, line 2).

*This is the John M. Dimond who married Julia Ward in about 1870. John and Julia were the parents of Januarius Dimond who was born in Jackson township, Perry county, Ohio, on April 14, 1883. See: Perry Co., Ohio, Families Database—John M. Dimond.

Here is a biography of Daniel Dimond from the History of Perry County—Biographical Sketches, page 385–6 (which I have broken into smaller paragrpahs):

"DIMOND DANIEL, Jackson township, Maholm post office, Ohio; farmer and stone mason; was born November 20, 1822, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania; son of John and Elizabeth (Dempsey) Dimond. Was raised upon a farm to the age of 14 years, when he went to the stone mason trade, which he followed for 30 years. During the summer season, and during the winter season, was engaged in farm work, and since the expiration of the 30 years has given much attention to agricultural pursuits, but still worked some at his trade.

"Came to Ohio in April of 1834, with his father, who lived in Thorn township one year, Jackson township one year, Pike township three years, Clayton township one year, and again moved into Jackson township, where he continued his residence up to the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1844.

"Daniel lived with his father until he was twenty years of age, when he began business for himself, and has been engaged (385) at the following places: Marietta, three months on river dam; Hocking canal, about three months on locks; Zanesville, three months on Catholic church; in vicinity of New Lexington, five or six years in all and at different times; on Catholic church in Jackson township, one summer; at St. Joseph's College, one summer; Catholic church at McLuney, one summer; Catholic church in Somerset, one summer; court house in New Lexington, one summer; Knox county, Ohio, on bridges, one season; remainder of mason work was done principally in Pike and Jackson townships.

"In 1848 he bought a farm of forty acres, a part of which Dicksonton is now built upon, which he sold in 1852 and purchased the farm he now lives upon, containing eighty acres, which had a hewed log house upon it, and which he has supplanted by a fine brick mansion, in which he now lives.

"Was married May 24, 1842, to Mary McGahan, born December 1, 1822, in Pike township, this county, daughter of James and Francis (Brown) McGahan. They are the parents of eleven children, viz.: Frances, now in Knox county, Ohio; John, married to Julia Ward; Sarah, married to John Minaugh; James, married to Margaret Ankney; Mary, now in New Mexico; Patrick, married to Sarah Cochran; Mathias, in New Mexico with Mary; Catharine, in Knox county, Ohio; William, in Knox county, Ohio; Daniel and Monica at home.

"Mr. Dimond's grandfathers Dimond and Dempsey were early settlers in America, and lived to good, ripe years. Mrs. Dimond can remember when deer were plenty, and the wolves chased the dogs around the house at night time, and knew of a lady by the name of Hite, shooting a panther from the window of her dwelling.

"Mrs. Dimond is a half sister to Janarius A. McGahan, author of the "Campaign on the Oxus," "The Fall of Khiva," and " Under the Northern Lights."

The 1840 census lists a person who appears to be another, younger, John Dimond (whose wife was also an Elizabeth) in the township of Summerhill, Cambria county, Pennsylvana: a male 30 to 40, with a female 30 to 40, and 4 boys and 2 girls, all under 20 (roll 161, page 180). Here is a family in the 1850 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.(The family is also listed in the 1860 census of Croyle township, Cambria county, Pensylvauia (M-653, roll 1088, page 283, line 15).) Notice that some Skellys were living with this family in 1850.

(1850) John Dimond, age 38, laborer, real estate $100, born in Pennsylvania. (M-432, roll 761, page 104, line 1) [age 49, farmer, real estate $150, in the 1860 census]

Elizabeth Dimond, age 43, born in Pennsylvania, who could not read or write. [age 52 in 1860 census]

Harrison Dimond (male), age 11, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Harrison Dimond, age 21, farm laborer, in 1860 census; J. Harrison Dimond, age 71, in the 1910 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, married to Cathrine for 40 years (T-624, roll 1325, page 43A, line 3]

William H. Dimond, age 10, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [age 19, farm laborer, in 1860 census]

Susan M. Dimond, age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Matilda Dimond, age 16, in 1860 census]

Acenith Dimond (female), age 7, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Azona Dimond, age 14, in 1860 census]

Mary L. Dimond, age 3, born in Pennsylvania. [Louisa Dimond, age 12, in 1860 census]

Catherine Skelly, age 22, born in Pennsylvania.

Joseph Skelly, age 18, laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Skelly, age 16, born in Pennsylvania.

The patriarch of Group 8 of Dimonds in their DNA website is named as a Daniel Dimond who was born in Ireland in about 1750, maried Margaret Skelly in Ireland, and migrated to the United States.

"Colonial American family of Cambria Co., PA.

"The patriarch of this family is believed to be Daniel Dimond b. abt 1750 and married to Margaret Skelly. They came from Ireland settling near Baltimore, MD. Sons from this large family migrated west to Bedford County, Pennsylvania which became Huntingdon Co. in 1787 and later Cambria County in 1804."

A partial outline of the genealogy from their website is:

"Daniel1 Dimond Sr. b. abt. 1750 d. 1820 m. Margaret Skelly

"Daniel2 Dimond Jr. [31396 descends from Daniel Jr. ] b. 1775, Cambria Co., PA m. Mary Glass

"James Gregory3 Dimond b. 1814 m. Sarah Elizabeth Rammage."

The 1790 census of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, lists Daniel Dimond, 2 (free white males 16 years and up) 4 (free white males under 16) 4 (free white females), on the same page and immediately below John and Michael Skelly, and on the same page with Elizabeth, Mary, and Richard Plummer (M-637, roll 8, image: 0316.) Another Daniel Dimond is listed in Washington county, Pennsylvania: 1 1 2 (M-637, roll 9, image 0094).

Here are Dimond marriages and baptisms by Father Demtrius Augustine Gallitzin as recorded in the Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 110:

DIMOND Michael and Sarah _____.
Joseph, Daniel, Mary, John, Michael, Elizabeth, James, Sarah Ann. (1805-21.)

DIMOND Philip and Sarah _____.
James, Margaret, Mary, Susan, Daniel, William Augustine. (1807-17.)

DIMOND Daniel and Mary _____.
Mary Margaret, John Chrysostom, James Gregory, Dominic, Anastasia, Daniel Augustine, Vincent Michael, Dennis Boniface. (1807-28.)

DIMOND John and Elizabeth Dempsey. Married June 21, 1818.
Patrick, Daniel Augustine, William, John Michael. (1819-27.)

DIMOND Caspar and Mary Kearns. Married November 22, 1825.
John, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Sarah Ann, Susan, Charles. (1826-38.).

Daniel Dimond, Sr., Margaret Dimond (presumably Daniel's wife), Ann Dimond, and Mary Dimond, received the sacrament of Paschal Communion (communion at Easter) from Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin at St. Michael's Church in Loretto in 1810. Souvenir of Loretto, page 208.

The 1810 census of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, lists:

145B 15 Diammond (sic) Daniel (Cambria township. . . 1 . 1 1 1 . 1 1 . . .)

144A 26 Diamond Patrick (Conemaugh township. 2 1 . 1 . 1 1 . 1 . . . .) (roll 46, page 18) (indexed by Ancestry.com as in Cambria township.]

In 1820, there is a Daniel Dimond listed in Cambria township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: 2 2 - - 1 - 2 1 - 2 - - 1 (total 10) (M-33, roll 98, page 166).

Daniel Dimond is also listed in the 1840 census of Cambria township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: - - 1 (male 10 to 15) 2 (males 15 to 20) 1 (male 20 to 30) 1 (male 30 to 40) - - 1 (male 60 to 70) - - - - - - - 1 female 15 to 20) 1 (female 20 to 30) - - 1 (female 50 to 60) (roll 451; page: 29).

Here is the Daniel Dimond family listed in the 1850 census of Cambria township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania:

(1850) Daniel Dimond, female (? - obviously a mistake), age 75, no occupation, real estate worth $2000, born in Maryland (M-432, roll 761, page 179, line 42).

Mary Dimond, age 68, born in Pennsylvania. [Mary Glass, age 74 and living with her son John, age 50, a farmer, and daughter Charity, age in the 1860 census of Munster township, Cambria county (M-653, roll 1088, page 399, line 21. One house removd was James G. Dimond, age 46, a laborer, and his wife, Sarah, age 35, both born in Pennsylvania, and 8 children, ages 14 to 4.]

John Dimond, age 40, farmer, born in Pennsylvania. [Age 50, a farmer, and head of the household with real estate worth $3000, in the 1860 census of Munster township, Cambria county.]

Michael Dimond, age 25, laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Charity Dimond, age 23, born in Pennsylvania. [Age 32 in the 1960 census of Munster township, Cambria county. Charity Dimond, age 39 (should be 42) born in Pennsylvania, a house keeper, died of "consumption of lungs" in Munster township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1870. U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index—1870. (line 1)]

The Civil Court Docket, March Term 1808, for Cambria county, shows this suit in ejectment: "VICKROY, Thomas vs SKELLY, John, DIMOND, Daniel and DIMOND, Daniel, Jr."

The list of Flax Growers of Ireland, 1796—County Monaghan includes Philip Dimond of Aghnamullen parish, county Monaghan, as well as Rose McGeough and William McGeough in the same parish. Other McGeoughs/McGoughs on the flax growers' list in county Monaghan were:

M'Geough, Catherine, parish of Killanny
M'Geough, Edward, parish of Inishkeen
M'Geough, Francis, parish of Muckno
M'Geough, Francis, Jr., parish of Muckno
M'Geough, Hugh, parish of Donaghmoyne
M'Geough, Laurence, parish of Inishkeen
M'Geough, Matthew, parish of Inishkeen
M'Geough, Michael, parish of Clontibret
M'Geough, Michael, parish of Inishkeen
M'Geough, Owen, parish of Clontibret
M'Geough, Patrick, parish of Donaghmoyne
M'Geough, Patrick, parish of Ematris
M'Geough, Patrick, parish of Muckno
M'Geough, Richard, parish of Errigal Trough
M'Geough, Terence, parish of Donaghmoyne
M'Geough, Terence, parish of Ematris
M'Geough, Thomas, parish of Clontibret
M'Geough, William, parish of Aghnamullen
M'Gough, John, parish of Donaghmoyne.

John and Esther McGough Burke

Edward Burke was born in Ireland in 1748 (or 1742). He married Catherine McGuire who was born in Ireland in 1750. (Another source says that Edward Burke married Prudence Noel, who was the mother of John Burke. Haid Family Tree. The Topper Tree also names Catherine McGuire.) Edward Burke died in May, 1805, in Cambria Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Haid Family Tree. (John Burke's brother, Edward Burke, married Catherine Noel on May 14, 1822, in St. Michael's Catholic Church, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. (Another source says that Edward Burke married Ellen Keefer—perhaps a second marriage. O'Neill Ancestry.)

Their son, John Burke, was born on July 31, 1787, in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. John Burke died on April 4, 1861, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. John Burke married Esther McGough, who was born on March 8, 1792, in Maryland (the gedcom says Virginia ?), and died on May 16, 1863, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Their children included Elizabeth Ann Burke (who married John Lovett), who was born on August 30, 1815, in Cambria county; and Mary Bridget Burke (who married Frederick Maus), who was born on January 22, 1827, in Summerhill township, Cambria county, and died on January 2, 1917, at South Fork, Cambria county, and is buried in St. Bartholomew Cemetery. (Topper GEDCOM). (On the 1820 Summerhill Tax List is "BURK, John: 160 acres,. 20 cleared; 2 cows.") Augustine Edward Burke was born to John and Esther McGough Burke on January 18, 1814, in Cambria county, and married Susan Burgoon on January 31, 1842, in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County.

Edward Burk is listed in the 1790 census of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania: 1 (free white males above 16) 3 (free white males under 16) 4 (free white females) (M-637, roll 8).

John Burke and Esther McGough were married in about 1810 in St. Michael's Church, Loretto, Pennsylvania. John Burke died on April 4, 1861, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and is buried in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Esther McGough died on May 16, 1863, and is also buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.

John Burk is listed in the 1820 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: 2 (free white males under 10) - - - 1 (free white male 26 to 45) - 4 (free white females under 10) - - 1 (free white female 26 to 45) - - - 1 (one person in agriculture)- - - - - - - (total 8). (on the same page as John Dimond) (M-33, roll 98, page 178).

The 1820 Summerhill Tax List included: "BURK, John: 160 acres,. 20 cleared; 2 cows."

The History of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, PA, page 15, lists the baptism by Father Gallitzin of these children of John Burke and Esther McGough from 1812 through 1813: Ellen, Augustine Edward, Elizabeth, James, Patience, Julianna, John, William, Mary Bridget, Silas, Cecelia Esther, and Rachel Ann. The same baptisms are listed in Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 101.

Here is the list of children of John Burke and Esther McGough that is published on O'Neill Ancestry:

1. Eleonora (Ellen) BURKE b: 13 NOV 1812 in Cambria County, PA c: 28 FEB 1813 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County. [Died on July 11, 1845 (Ledoux, volume II, page 74, #2104)]

2. Augustine Edward BURKE b: 18 JAN 1814 in Cambria County, PA c: 10 APR 1814 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

3. Elizabeth Ann BURKE b: 30 AUG 1815 in Cambria County, PA c: 10 SEP 1815 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

4. James BURKE b: 24 MAY 1820 (who married Catherine Skelly).

5.Mary Patience BURKE b: 19 MAY 1819 in Cambria County, PA c: 5 FEB 1821 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County [Died on July 11, 1846 (Ledoux, volume II, page 74, #2122)]

6. Juliana BURKE b: 26 DEC 1820 in Cambria County, PA (Ledoux, volume II, page 68, #1907) c: in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

7. John W. BURKE b: 12 MAR 1823 in Cambria County, PA c: 18 MAY 1823 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

8. William BURKE b: 22 JAN 1825 in Cambria County, PA c: 1 MAY 1825 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

9. Mary Bridget BURKE b: 22 JAN 1827 in Cambria County, PA c: 15 APR 1827 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

10. Silas BURKE b: 4 FEB 1829 in Cambria County, PA c: 16 APR 1829 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

11. Cecilia Esther BURKE b: 17 MAR 1830 in Burke Homestead, Croyle Township c: 3 MAY 1831 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County (who married James J. Kaylor). (Storey says that James J. Kaylor and Cecilia Burke had "four daughters and five sons: Mark Burke, Cyrillis, Mary, Rose, Ida, Raymond J. and Harold G., twins; Irene and Lewis E. Kaylor. History of Cambria County, by Henry Wilson Storey, volume 1, pages 547–8).

12. Rachel Ann BURKE b: 1833 in Burke Homestead, Croyle Township c: 21 APR 1833 in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County

13. James BURKE b: 24 MAY 1817 in Cambria County, PA c: in St Michaels, Loretto, Cambria County (who married Catherine Elizabeth McKinzie) on October 21, 1838. (The marriage was performed at St. Michael's by Father Gallitzen; a witness was Catherine Burke. Ledoux, volume 1, page 164).

The 1830 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, lists John Burke: 2 (males under 5) 1 (males 5 to 10) 1 (male 10 to 15) 1 (male 15 to 20) - - 1 (male 40 to 50) - - - - - - 1 (female under 5) 1 (female 5 to 10) 2 (females 10 to 15) 1 (female 15 to 20) - 1 (female 30 to 40) - - - - - - - .

The 1840 census of Summerhill township, Cambria county, lists John Burk: - 1 (male 5 to 10) 1 (male 10 to 15) 2 (males 15 to 20) 1 (male 20 to 30) - - 1 (male 50 to 60) - - - - - - 2 (females 5 to 10) 1 (female 10 to 15) 1 (female 15 to 20) 2 (females 20 to 30) - 1 (female 40 to 50) - - - - - - . (roll 451, page 56). (on the same page are Skellys, Plummers, and a Dimond).

Here is the listing in the 1850 census of Sumerhill, Cambria county:

(1850) John Burk (John Burke), age 62, farmer, real estate worth $2000, born in Pennsylvania (M-432, roll 761, page 90, line 7) [On the same page was Esther McGough Burke's brother, Thomas McGough, age 68, born in Maryland, a laborer, and his wife, Mary Ann Skelly McGough, age 50, born in Pennsylvania. See: McGoughs and McGues in the 1850 Census of the United States. Also on the same page was Susannah Skelly Plummer, widow of Isaac Plummer. BURKE, John 31 Jul 1787 4 Apr 1861 h/o Esther (McGOUGH)" is buried in St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.]

Ether (sic) Burk, age 57, born in Maryland. [Esther McGough Burke] ["BURKE, Esther (McGOUGH) 8 Mar 1792 16 May 1863 w/o John" is buried in St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania.]

James Burk, age 30, laborer, born in Pennsylvania. [James Burke (May 24, 1817–March 4, 1900) married Catherine J. Skelly. He is also listed by the usually reliable O'Neill Ancestry as marrying Catherine Elizabeth McKinzie. I believe this marriage was to a different James Burke— who was born in Virginia in about 1801.] [Inscription on a gravestone in St. Bartholomew Cemetery, Summerhill township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania: "James Burke Died Mar. 4, 1900 Aged 83 yrs 2 mo 28 ds—His wife Catherine J. Died June 27, 1901 Aged 73 yrs 5 mos 9 ds" There is an entry in Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 101, that "BURKE James and Elizabeth Catherine McKinzie. Married October 21, 1838." (In the History of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, page 15, the marriage is shown as between James Burke and Elizabeth Catharine McKenzie. Ledoux, volume 1, page 164, says McKinzie.) O'Neill Ancestry identifies this James Burke as the head of one family that is in reality two families, each headed by a James Burke, and combines the list of their children. Here is the first family:

(1840) James Burk, 1 male 30 to 40; 1 female 20 to 30, in Summerhill township, Cambria county (roll 451, page 55). [Living close by is James J. McGough, Daniel Dimond, and Casper Dimond. There is a Margaret Burk on the same page, a female 40 to 50, living with another female, 15 to 20. (On the 1820 Summerhill Tax List is "BURK, Margaret: 315 acres, 50 cleared; 2 horses; 2 cows.")].

(1850) James Burk, age 49, farmer, real estate $6146, born in Virginia (M-432, roll 761, page 93, line 15). [Living next to the families of Hugh A. Skelly, age 50, and Patrick Skelly, age 45.] [This is the James Burke who was married to Elizabeth Catherine McKinzie by Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin on October 21, 1838.]

Catherine Burk, age 35, born in Pennsylvania. [Catherine Elizabeth McKinzie or Elizabeth Catherine McKinzie, possibly the Elizabeth McKinzie born to John and Elizabeth McKinzie and baptised on April 27, 1808. (Ledoux, volume 1, page 11, #230; Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, page 141) Here is her obituary from the Cambria Freeman of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, of Friday, June 12, 1896:

"Mrs. Catharine Burk, relict of James Burk, late of Summerhill township, who died in 1871, died at her home in Braddock, on Monday, June 1st, 1896, in the 79th year. The deceased lady, whose maiden name was Catharine McKenzie, was married to Mr. Burk many years ago, and resided in Summerhill township during the lifetime of her husband. She was the mother of eight children, all daughters. The funeral took place on Thursday last, the remains being interred in the Catholic cemetery, in this place."

Elmyra J. Burk, age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Ann Burk, age 6, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Jane Burke, age 3, born in Pennsylvania.

Henry Hudson, age 26, laborer, real estate $1000, born in Pennsylvania.

John Hudson, age 20, laborer, born in Pennsylvania

This same family is listed in the 1860 census of Summerhill township, and the 1870 census of Wilmore borough:

(1860) James Burke, age 59, real estate $12,000, personal property $1600, born in Virginia (M-653, roll 1088, page 471, line 27) [Living next to the family of Michael A. Skally, age 58, and Rachel R. Skally, age 33.]

Catherine Burke, age 40, born in Pennsylvania. [Catherine McKinzie, baptized on April 27, 1808]

Ann Burke, age 15, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Jane Burke, age 12, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Catherine Burke. age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Margaret Burke, age 7, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Rosaline Burke, age 5, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Harriet Burke, age 5, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Isabel Condon, age 22, born in Pennsylvania, Com. School Teacher.

(1870) James L. Burk, age 69, born in Virginia, stone mason (M-593, roll 1318, page 334, line 25)

Catherine Burk, age 50, born in Pennsylvania, housekeeper, personal property of $100. [Catherine McKinzie, born in 1817. According to her gravestone, Catherine J. Burke died on June 27, 1901, at the age of 73 years, 5 months, and 9 days. If this information is correct, she was born about January 18, 1828. ???]

Jane J. Burk, age 22, born in Pennsylvania, at home.

Kate L. Burk, age 18, born in Pennsylvania, at home.

Ema Burk, age 16, born in Pennsylvania, at home.

Hariet Burk, age 14, born in Pennsylvania.

Roseline, age 14, born in Pennsylvania.

Here is the second family that is mistakenly combined with the family listed immediately above:

(1860) James Burke, age 43, farmer, real estate $400, personal property $275, born in Pennsylvania (M-653, roll 1088, page 281, line 13). [Indexed by Ancestry.com as James Bucke. According to O'Neill Ancestry, this James Burke was born to John Burke and Esther McGough on May 24, 1820. I believe the correct date should be May 24, 1817, a date mistakenly attributed to the other James Burke (who married Catherine Elizabeth McKinzie). Ledoux, volume 1, page, 33, lists the birth of James Burke, son of John and Esther Burke, on May 24, 1817, and his baptism at St. Michael's by Father Gallitzin on September 7, 1817. Witnesses to the baptism were Hugh Kelly (Skelly), son of Michael, and Rachel McGough, widow. In this 1860 census, James Burke was living next to his parents, John Burke, age 72, born in Pennsylvania, and Esther (McGough) Burke, age 69, born in Maryland; also living next to the family of Thomas McGough, age 29, and Isabella (Plummer) McGough, age 26. According to his gravestone, James Burke died on March 4, 1900, at the age of 83 years, 2 months, and 28 days. This would make his birth date about December 6, 1816. The gravestone in St. Bartholomew's Catholic Cemetery in Wilmore, Cambria county, liss wife wife as Catherine Elizabeth McKinzie Burke. O'Neill Ancestry lists the marriage of James Burke (who was born on May 24, 1820, and died on March 4, 1900), to Catherine Skelly (who was born on November 28, 1826, and died on June 7, 1901) on February 17, 1852, in St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, Pennsylvania. The 1896 Johnstown City and Cambria County Directory lists, in Croyle township, page 344: "Burk James, farmer, o Lovett."]

Catherine Burke, age 33, born in Pennsylvania. [Catherine J. Skelly who was born on November 28, 1826, in Cambria county, to Philip and Elizabeth Skelly, and baptized by Father Gallitzin at St. Michael's on Febuary 20, 1827. Godparents were John Diamond and Julia Ann McGough (Ledoux, volume 1, page 73).]

Julia A. Burke, age 7, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Susan C. Burke, age 5, born in Pennsylvania. [Susanna C. Burke]

Margaret C. Burke, age 4, born in Pennsylvania.

Samuel Burke, age 3, born in Pennsylvania.

Arthur S. Burke, age 1, born in Pennsylvania.

(unnamed) Burke, male, age 1 month, born in Pennsylvania.

Azeneth (?) Dimond (female), age 15, domestic, born in Pennsylvania.

(Croyle) (1870) James Burk, age 53, laborer, real estate $1800, personal property, $500, born in Pennsylvania (M-593, roll 1318, page 271, line 27).

Catherine Burk, age 43, house keeper, born in Pennsylvania.

Julia A. Burk, age 17, at home, born in Pennsylvania.

Susan C.. Burke, age 15, born in Pennsylvania.

Margaret C. Burk, age 14, born in Pennsylvania.

Lutian (?) J. Burk (male), age 12, born in Pennsylvania.

Arthur S. Burk, age 11, born in Pennsylvania.

Philip Burk, age 9, born in Pennsylvania.

Henery B. Burk, age 8, born in Pennsylvania.

John P. Burk, age 4, born in Pennsylvania.

William J. Burk, age 3, born in Pennsylvania.

(Croyle) (1880) James Burk, age 63, farmer, born in Pennsylvania to a father born in Pennsylvania and a mother born in Maryland. (T-9, roll 1110, page 305, line 22).

Cathrine Burk, age 53, keeping house, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania.

Margret Burk, age 23, born in Pennsylvania.

Lusin J. Burk, age 22 (daughter), born in Pennsylvania.

Arther S. Burk, age 21, farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Philep Burk, age 18, farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

Henery Burk, age 17, farm laborer, born in Pennsylvania.

John Burk, age 14, going school, born in Pennsylvania.

William Burk, age 12, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the past year.

William Burk, age 25, laborer, born in Pennsylvania. [William Burke, born January 22, 1825, in Cambria County, and died May 20, 1867, in Cambria County.]

Mary Burk, age 23, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Mary Bridget Burke (who married Frederick Maus), who was born on January 27, 1827, in Summerhill township, and who died on January 2, 1917.]

Silas Burk, age 21, laborer, born in Pennsylvania. [Silas Burke, born February 4, 1829, in Cambria County, and died September 20, 1906 in Cambria County.]

Cecelia Burk, age 19, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Cecelia Esther Burke was born on March 17, 1829 (or 1831?), in Loretto, Cambria county; married James J. Kaylor (son of Catherine (Katie) McConnell Kaylor), mother of Raymond J. Kaylor. She died on March 3, 1909, in Cresson, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and is buried at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Loretto, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.]

Rachel Burk, age 17, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. [Rachel Ann Burke, born in 1833 in Burke Homestead, Croyle township, and died in 1907 in Mercy Hospital; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.]

Henry McNulty, age 15, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year. (indexed by Ancestry.com as McWethy)

Dennis Maher, age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

In the 1860 census, the John Burke family was in Croyle township , Cambria county, Pennsylvania:

(1860) John Burke, age 72, farmer, real estate $2000, personal property $700, born in Pennsylvania (M-653, roll 1088, page 281, line 22) [Living next door was Thomas McGough, age 29, a farmer born in Pennsylvania, son of Thomas McGough (and Mary Ann Skelly), who was son of James McGough (and Esther James), who was son of Miles McGough (and Elizabeth Spencer); and his wife, Isabella Plummer, age 26, born in Pennsylvania, and family, who had married Thomas McGough on June 26, 1855. See: McGoughs and McGues in the 1860 Census of the United States.]

Esther Burke, age 69, born in Maryland.

Mary Burke, age 32 , born in Pennsylvania.

Silas Burke, age 30, farm laborer, real estate $600, personal property $400, born in Pennsylvania.

Catherine Harvey, age 14, born in Pennsylvania, attended school during the year.

William Blakely, age 9, born in Pennsylvania, attended school during the year.

Charles Blakely, age 6

Esther McGough Burke (March 8, 1792–May 16, 1863), widow of John Burke, is buried in St. Michael Cemetery, Loretto, Allegheny township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, along with her husband, John Burke (July 31, 1787–April 4, 1861). See: Souvenir of Loretto Centenary, Loretto Cemetery, page 169.

Patrick William Dempsey and Elizabeth McGough

Miles and Elizabeth Spencer McGough were the parents of a daughter, Elizabeth, who was born about 1767, married Patrick William Dempsey around 1793, and had at least eleven children. Patrick Dempsey is listed in the 1800 census of District 5, Harford county, Maryland: 2 (free white males under 10) 1 (free white male 10 thru 15) - 1 (free white male 25 thru 44) - 3 (free white females under 10) - 1 (free white female 16 thru 25) 1 (free white female 45 and over) (roll 11, page 126). They moved from Harford county, Maryland, to Cambria county, Pennsylvania, before 1807, and later to Perry county, Ohio, and Huntington county, Indiana. The histories of these families after they moved to Cambria county are in my page: McGoughs Who Moved from Harford County, Maryland, to Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Their son John Dempsey was born in about 1794 in Maryland. He was married to Ann Branniff (born about 1808 in Pennsylvania), by Father Gallitzin on October 12, 1834, in St. Michael's Church, Loretto, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. They had six children, all born in Cambria county, where John Dempsey died sometime before 1860.

A daughter of Patrick William Dempsey and Elizabeth McGough was Elizabeth Dempsey, born about 1796 in Maryland, married John A. Dimond (born about 1792 in Pennsylvania) on June 21, 1818, in St. Michael's Church, Loretto, Cambria County (Ledoux, volume 1, page 148); had nine children; and died in 1859 in Perry county, Ohio. Their son, Patrick Augustine Dimond, was born on March 4, 1819, in Cambria county; married Ann McGahan (born in 1825 in Ohio) on August 8, 1843, in Perry county, Ohio; had 8 children, all born in Perry county, Ohio; and died on December 6, 1883, in in Huntington, Huntington county, Indiana.

Another daughter of Patrick William Dempsey and Elizabeth McGough was Esther Dempsey, who was born on March 26, 1807, in Cambria county and baptized about August 14, 1808, in St Michaels, Loretto. Esther Dempsey married James MacGahan in Perry county, Ohio, on September 19, 1841. James Mac Gahan was a native of county Derry, Ireland. One of their sons, Januarius Aloysius MacGahan, gained fame as the Liberator of Bulgaria. See: Januarius A. MacGahan — Liberator of Bulgaria. Here are excerpts from Historical Collections of Ohio by Henry Howe (1888 volume II, page 394)—Perry County:

"MACGAHAN was born June 12, 1844, on the Logan Road, about three miles south of New Lexington, on what is known as Pigeon Roost Ridge. His father was James MACGAHAN, a native of County Derry, Ireland, and his mother, Esther DEMPSEY, of mixed Irish and German stock. They were married in St. Patrick’s Church, in 1840, and settled on a little farm near by. When MACGAHAN was 6 years old his father died, leaving the widow in straitened circumstances. But she had a dower interest in the farm, and managed by struggling to get along with her little flock, in her little cabin nestled among the hills and almost surrounded by an unbroken forest."

This listing from the 1850 census of Pike township, Perry county, which was taken on October 6, 1850, may be this family. If so, only the last three children would have been Esther Dempsey McGahan's. New Lexington is the county seat of Perry county and is in Pike township.

(1850) James McGaughan (indexed by Ancestry.com as McGaughen), age 57, farmer, real estate $2000, born in Ireland (M-432, roll 719, page 223, line 17).

Netta McGaughan, age 41, born in Pennsylvania.

Sarah McGaughan, age 21, born in Ohio, deaf and dumb. [Early Baptism Records of St. Joseph's Near Somerset (1818–1834), published by the Catholic Record Society of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, lists this baptism: June 4, 1827: Sarah, of James McGauhan and Frances McGauhan; sponsors Patrick Connelly and Mary Connelly -- F. X. Marshall. The records also show these baptisms: April 3, 1825 (Easter Sunday): Anna McGagen, of James and Frances; sponsors James McKentzer and Anna Connely; December 3, 1829: Elizabeth McGahan, of James McGahan and Frances Brown; sponsors Owen Doherty and Elizabeth McGreavy -- Fr. Dl. Josh. O'Leary, O.P.]

William McGaughan, age 18, saddler, born in Ohio, attended school within the year. [Early Baptism Records of St. Joseph's Near Somerset (1818-1834): April 1, 1832: William McGahan, of James and Fanna Brown; sponsors James Higgins and Elizabeth Higgins -- J. V. Bullock.]

Chrysostom McGaughan, age 16, farmer, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

James McGaughan, age 14, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

Jenonis McGaughan, age 7, born in Ohio, attended school within the year. [Januarius?]

Patrick McGaughan, age 4, born in Ohio.

John McGaughan, age 1, born in Ohio.

Januarius Aloysius MacGahan went on to become a world-famous war correspondent:

"MACGAHAN’S work in the exposures of the Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria, which he carried out so thoroughly and effectively in 1876, produced very remarkable results."

He died on June 9, 1879, and was buried in Constantinople. On Thursday, September 12, 1884, he was re-buried in New Lexington, Ohio, with a ceremony attended by over 8000 people. The New Lexington Tribune described the ceremony:

"The great event has come and gone and the mortal remains of the famous Ohio boy, who perished so honorably and bravely in a far distant country, now repose in his native land.

"The Nation, the State and the people of this county have heartily united in paying a just tribute to a brilliant genius, to a patient, hard worker, to a brave, noble man, who lived and toiled for others more than himself; who freed a nation of people, who opened the way for the story of the Cross, and who,with his young wife and child awaiting his return in Russia, stopped amid malaria and malignant disease to lay down his life for a friend.

"When qualities like these cease to attract the admiration and love of men and women, the world will scarcely be worth living in, and finis may be appropriately written upon its outer walls."

See also: The Knight of the Pen.

William Dempsey married Mary O'Hare on January 24, 1827, in Perry county, Ohio. See: IGI Individual Record—William Dempsey.

William Dempsey is listed in the 1830 census of Thorn township, Perry county, Ohio: 1 male 5 to 10; 1 male 20 to 30; 1 male 30 to 40; 1 female, 15 to 20; and 1 female 20 to 30 (roll 137, page 419). William Dempsey is also listed in the 1840 census of Thorn township, Perry county: 1 male under 5; 1 male 5 to 10; 1 male, 15 to 20; 1 male 40 to 50; 1 female 5 to 10; and 1 female 30 to 40 (roll 419, page 59).

The 1850 census of the 1st ward of Columbus, Franklin county, Ohio, lists this family:

(1850) James Dempsey, age 40, blacksmith, born in Pennsylvania (M-432, roll 679, page 383, line 22) [James Dempsey, son of Patrick William Dempsey and Elizabeth McGough; born October 5, 1811, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania.]

Sarah Dempsey, age 29, born in Ohio [Sarah Ann Smith who married James Dempsey on November 4, 1838, in Perry county, Ohio.]

William A. Dempsey, age 11, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

Joseph P. Dempsey, age 9, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

David O. C. Dempsey, age 6, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

John Dempsey, age 5, born in Ohio.

Frances (sic) Ann Dempsey (female), age 2, born in Ohio.

James Emmett Dempsey, age 4 months, born in Ohio.

The 1850 census of Washington township, Jackson county, Ohio, lists this family:

(1850) James Dempsey, age 47, farmer, real estate $1400, born in Pennsylvania (M-432, roll 698, page 329, line 39) [This James Dempsey (age 56) family is also listed in the 1860 census of Washington township, Jackson county, Ohio (M-653, roll 992, page 225, line 26).]

Sarah Dempsey, age 45, born in Ohio. [Sarah Elerton] [age 53 in 1860 census]

Jonathan Dempsey, age 22, farmer, born in Ohio. [born November 6, 1827]

William Dempsey, age 19, farmer, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

Harriet Dempsey, age 15, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

Mariah Dempsey, age 13, born in Ohio, attended school within the year. [Margaret Mariah Dempsey was born to James Dempsey and Sarah Elerton in 1837.]

Sophonia Dempsey, age 11, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.

Isabel Dempsey, age 5, born in Ohio.

James A. Dempsey, age 1, born in Ohio. [age 13 in the 1860 census] [born February 3, 1848] [James Dempsey of Jackson county, Ohio, died on August 24, 1913. State of Ohio Death Index on Ancestry.com.]

James Dempsey and Sarah Elerton were the parents of William Dempsey who was born in Ohio on November 6, 1830, in Leo, Jackson county, Ohio, and who died on July 22, 1905. He married Mary E. Mann on February 22, 1853, in Leo, Jackson county, Ohio. IGI Individual Record—William Dempsey. The 1860 census of Jackson township, Jackson county, Ohio, lists William Dempsey, age 33, a farmer, real estate $500, personal estate $250, born in Ohio, with his wife, Mary, age 33, born in Ohio, and a son, James, age 1, born in Ohio (M-653, roll 992, page 211, line 8). The 1880 census of Jackson township, Jackson county, Ohio, shows William Dempsey, age 49, single (actually a widower since several of his children are living with him), a farmer. born in Ohio, to a father born in Pennsylvania and a mother born in Ohio (T-9, roll 1036, page 51, line 11). Children with him were James 21, Jonathan 18, Sarah C. 15, Mary M. 13, William C. 9, and Thomas 5. All the children were born in Ohio to parents born in Ohio. William Dempsey, whose wife was Mary E Polly Mann, who was born on November 6, 1830, and who resided in Leo, Jackson County, Ohio, died on July 22, 1905.

Families in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, associated with McGoughs from Harford County, Maryland—Burke, Dempsey, Dimond, McConnell, McGuire, Plummer, Skelly <http://www.magoo.com/hugh/families.html> Updated March 29, 2013		Feedback » Site Search & Directory » © 1999–2013  Hugh McGough »