Robert McKAY Sr.

  General Notes:

LIFE BEFORE PENNSYLVANIA The more that I study the question of the parentage of Robert MacKay, I am becoming more convinced that it was his grandparents or his parents who came from Scotland or Northern Ireland. And I hastened to add only because the surname =n question ha8 the Celtic prefix MC or Mac, is there any reason at all to believe that at 8ome point in time Robert's ancestors came from one of those regions. Hunter Branson McKay was not satisfied with the few records dealingwith the surname McKay found in Freehold, Monmouth Co. NJ. He wrote in 1952: "Our examination of the records available in Freehold did not reveal any deed record, county co"rt minute entry, or marriage record involving Robert McKay, or a similar name."

His first and last search into this region, put doubt into his mind that our Robert MacKay "as i n fact from Freehold, NJ, before arriving into Chester Co. PA/Cecil Co. MD area. At first look one can see his point, however, I want torecord here what I have found since his death in 1972.

From the published general histories of this area that I have read, it does not look promising of finding our Robert MacKay in this region. The first eettler of thie place was Richard Stout, a Baptist. The majority of the first settlers of Freehold, NJ were Scats, who were Presbyterian. In Dee of 1685, the Earl of Argyle, Lord Neil Campbell left Scotland for East Jersey, bringing with him 56 others. They arrived in the ship "Henry & Frances", they were known as the "Redemptioners." I did notice that four of these me,, were: George Brown, Grizzel h John Hog and Patrick Tait surnames later aesociated with our Robert MacKay of VA. There were no persons bearing the Surname MacKay/McKay among the group.

In 1703, there were only thirty Quakers of both sexes in Freehold, but in 1708, there were about forty families all told in Freehold, NJ. Othere living there were people who came down from New England, some from New York, and were generally speaking of no particular religion. The various early church records that do remain for this region, do not contain any mention of people named MacKay/McKay.

If our Robert MacKay born c1680, which I doubt, spent his early life in this location,he must have kept a very low profile. I think that it could be that Robert MacKay did not live long in this location before moving on to Pennsylvania. And the family name of MacKay did not play a prominent partin the early history of this region. So far the earliest mention of the MacKay name in this region is the date of 1714.

The first document which bears the surname McKay/MacKay in Freehold, Monmouth Co. NJ, wee the will of Daniel McKay filed on 17 March 1732. Hi8 will, named wife Mary, son Jamc8, and daughters Jean and Katherine. Daniel McKay was a owner of a mill. Found in William Nelson'e book New Jersev Colonial Documents Vol. XT, page 327:

"There is to be sold by Joseph Newtonand Robert Gumming (Executors of the Estate of Daniel McKay, deceas'd) of "Penalopon" in Freehold, a Fulling Mill, with all the Utensils thereunto belonging; a half Part of a very good Grist-Mill, with 50 Acres of Upland and a good Meadow; likewise a House and Barn with a Young Orchard. Any Pereon inclin'd to purchase the abovesaid Premises, may agree with the said Executors at the Place aforesaid, on reasonable terms.--The New York Gazette, Oct. 8, 1733."

__________ We do know thathe came from Freehold, Monmouth Co. NJ into present day Cecil Co. MO by 1723 witha rather large family. This is spelled out in a land deed on file in Chester Co. PA

Robert married Ann Brown in 1716. (Ann Brown died before 1725.)

Robert next married Mary before 1725. (Mary died before 1731.)

Robert next married Margaret before 1731.