McCool
McCoolThe leek, Ceninen in Welsh, is a traditional emblem of Wales.
It is used here to symbolize this branch of the McCool family that eventually connects to the Griffith family that originated in Wales.
View a chart of these Griffith Collateral Lines.
This page is still under construction, as will become obvious farther down. It is missing most of the historical background.
This page does not try to be a comprehensive McCool site, but rather hopes to offer in-depth information from a variety of sources about one short line leading down to Martha McCool3 who married Joseph Hackney. If a reader has documentable corrections or additions to this specific line, I would be very glad to hear from you via e mail to 
.
Tracing our particular McCool family has been made somewhat easier because they were Friends. There were other non-Quaker McCools in the Delaware Valley at the same time, whose existence can cause confusion. My particular search has been greatly aided by the work of Thomas E. "Gene" McCool, who generously shared some of his findings with me. I am very grateful for his permission to reproduce some of his material.[1]
John McCoolA, was born about 1675 in Ireland or Scotland, and died before Eleventh Month [January] 1719/20 in County Antrim, in what is now Northern Ireland.[2] [See the explanation of the National Genealogical Society's Numbering System used on this web page, and an explanation of Quaker Dates.] John married Olivia __ sometime around 1689 in Ireland. She had been born there, probably around 1675.[3]
John and Olivia, or Olive, were Friends, known in derision as Quakers. The first Friends came to Ireland in 1654, and a Friends meeting was established in Toberhead that year that lasted until 1795. There was a meeting in Ballinacree from 1673 until about 1837. Unfortunately there are no surviving minute books for either the Toberhead, or the Ballinacree meetings, which, it seems, are the ones with which John and Olive McCool were most involved. Quaker records for Ulster Quarterly Meeting begin in 1675, and those for the Quarterly Meeting in County Antrim (Ballinacree is in Co. Antrim) not until 1740. The local Toberhead meeting was actually held in the home of John and Olivia McCool.[4] Joan L. Pettigrew, a professional researcher commissioned by Thomas E. McCool, found references to the McCooles in Friends' records in NIR Quaker Records, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim. Some are a little cryptic, as the writing must have been hard for her to decipher. In the summer of 1702 John and Olive were named to clearness committees from the respective men's and women's meeting, to ascertain if John WILLIAMSON and Jane BOYD, both of Grange Meeting, were free from other obligations and thus could marry one another.[5] In the winter of 1706 Olive, and Archibald MCoole, were appointed to similar committees for Nathaniel HILLARY (of Lurgan Meeting) and Grizelle MILLER (of Dunchary [sic] Meeting).[6] John McCoole was minuted attending a province-wide meeting 4 June 1706 and again on 4 November 1706, part of the agenda being discussing a meeting house at Cootehill, in County Cavan.[7] On 24 Tenth Month 1707 a marriage was held at John McCool's house at Toberhead.[8]
ADD PARAGRAPH ON SITUATION IN IRELAND 1695 ETC. [9]
ADD PARAGRAPH ON SITUATION OF QUAKERS IN IRELAND[10]
Like many other Friends, the McCools experienced fines and distraints of their goods. The following were recorded among the "Sufferings" of Friends in Ireland:
John McCoule had taken from him goods to the value of £9.0.0 (1668/9) Co. Derry.
John McColle himself stript, two horses taken to the value of £16.14.0 (1668/9)
John McCool had oats and barley destroyed by ye Creats, worth £4.0.0 (in 1706).
John McCull (1710).[11]
By 24 December 1707 (when a marriage was held there, and perhaps considerably earlier) John McCool owned a house in Toberhead. It was a standard, single storey, thatched cottage. It still exists, but has since been enlarged and remodeled with a second storey added. However, the evidence of the original wall level, before the upper storey was added, can still be seen. About 200 yards away is a second, smaller house, that probably was given to a McCool son. It is still basically in its original form, although in poor repair, and has been adapted a little for use as farm storage. The initials carved on its stone are either IMC, or TMC, with damage to the cross on the T. Tommy McCool, who lives nearby in Colerain, has convinced himself that it is a T. He points out, however, that there is a history of the name "Isobel" (or Bella) here and there in the family history, that could explain the I. There are the remains, or wallsteads, of at least two other small houses, also within reasonable distance of the main house. If a father could afford to do so, when his son got married, would give him a plot of land on which to build a home for his family. "That would explain the existence and the proximity of the smaller house to the larger. According to all of the signs, John McCool would have been a reasonably prosperous man. We all know, however, how times changed so dramatically here in Ireland."[12]
John died sometime before Eleventh Month [January] 1719/20, when Olivia was referred to as a widow.
Olivia continued to hold the local Friends meeting in her home. On 2 Eleventh Month 1719/20 Widow McCool's house in Toberhead, was to be registered as a meeting house.[13]
[MORE ON ADDITIONAL TROUBLES IN ULSTER: A drought in the " teen " years of the 1700s was the "last straw" for these yeoman farmers. Ruined crops included flax, which meant that farmers, weavers and townspeople had their lifestyle ruined. In 1716 sheep were affected with "sheep rot" a decease of the feet, and flocks were wiped out. Absentee English landlords who not know or care what was happening, kept increasing rents. By 1717, what had began as a trickle in 1702 became a great migration of Ulster people to America. The bulk of immigrants were Presbyterians, which had a great impact (not for the better) on Pennsylvania's frontier.][14]
Gabriel and James McCool were weavers, hard hit by the failure of the flax crop and the sheep rot. They hung on until 1725, then migrated. After careful consideration of her circumstances, Olivia decided to follow them to the Delaware valley. She requested a certificate of removal from Ballynacree Meeting, which was granted in April:
From Our Mens Meeting held at Belnacree
In the Province of Ulster & North of Ireland
the 5th day of 2nd mo 1729
To Friends in America or Elsewhere
Dear Friends, Brethren & Sisters:
[After the Salutation of Love] . . . We Signifie unto you that our (Dear?) Friend Olivia McCool, Widow & Relict to John McCool Decd, Intending to Transpoarte herself, In Ordr to Settle in America, now she, Pursuant to the Good order Accustomed amongst us, laying her said Intention Before us, Upon which having made the Necessary Enquirey, find Nothing to Obstruct her Intended leaving And Therfore Doe Certifie that the afSaid Olivia McCool hath Beheaved her Self Orderly, liveing In Good Unity & Fellowship with us, and doth Leave this In the Same, being also free from Debt, And Wee Sincerly Desire her Wellfare & preservation Both Spiritually and Temporally, And Recomend her to the Care of Friends Wherever her Dwelling place may be.
Signed In and on Behalf of Said meeting by: Thomas Gregg, Robert Moore, William Moore, John Knox, James Moor, James Moore, James Starett, James Henderson, William Moore, Lewis Reford, Samuel Wilkinson, Francis Wilkinson, et al [15]
The certificate was received at Newark/Kennett Monthly Meeting.[16]
Nothing more is known about Olivia McCool after her arrival in the "lower provinces of Pennsylvania" (now Delaware) in 1729. Two of her sons, James and William, were received on certificates from Ireland (a second time for each) in 1731. It is possible that they might have accompanied their mother back to her home in Ireland to be with her daughter Jane McCool WILLSON and other relatives who remained there.[17] But she apparently did not request a certificate of removal, which adds to the uncertainty about her final days. No will has been found. It seems strange that no Friends meeting recorded her death, implying, perhaps, that she was not residing in her home meeting at the time.
Children of John and Olivia (___) McCool:[18]
James McCool2, son of John and Olivia (__) McCool, was born in 1709 in County Derry, and died in the spring of 1751. He married Ann WRIGHT, the daughter of James and Mary, under the care of Nottingham Meeting in 1742.
Gabriel and James McCool were probably apprenticed to become weavers. But that occupation, and their masters, were hard hit by the failure of the flax crop and the sheep rot. Presumably as soon as they were able (released from their apprenticeship indentures) they migrated. In 1725 James was sixteen years old, and he and his older brother Gabriel obtained a certificate of removal "from the meeting at Dunglane (Dunglady) in the County of Londonderry in Ireland, signed by Ten friends in behalf of said meeting". It was received on 22 Ninth Month [November] 1725 by Duck Creek Meeting in what is now Delaware.[23] James's widowed mother followed her sons to the Delaware Valley, possibly with several other of her unmarried children. In the end, all six sons emigrated. Duck Creek Monthly Meeting minuted on 17 Eleventh Month [January] 1731/2 that her certificate of removal from Ireland was received. Apparently James and his younger brother William returned to ireland, possibly taking their mother back, although this is not documented. The two brothers were received a second time from Ireland in 1731.[24]
James McCool and Ann Wright, the daughter of James and Mary, were married under the care of Nottingham Meeting in 1742.[25] Ann was seventeen, James was 33.
Probably soon after their marriage the McCool family migrated on to Back Creek Meeting in the Shenandoah Valley. It is known this happened sometime in the 1740s.[26]
European settlers had begun moving into the Shenandoah Valley in the late 1720s. Although there may not have been permanent Indian residents in the Valley when numbers of Europeans began arriving, it was a major north-south trail. Quakers moving into Opequon did not pay any Indians for their land, which troubled Friends minister Thomas Chalkley. He sent a letter to Hopewell Friends 21 Fifth Month [July] 1738 exhorting them to search out the original inhabitants and pay them fairly for the land.[27] Apparently Hopewell meeting did nothing.
In 1738 the Virginia Burgesses divided the area west of the mountains into two counties: Frederick and Augusta. In 1743 courts were established at Frederick Town (now Winchester) in the northern part of the Valley.[28]
James and Ann were active members of Hopewell Monthly Meeting. One way of tracking this is by their presence at Friends marriages, at which all adult attenders signed as witnesses. James and Ann signed the marriage certificate of Evan ROGERS and Sarah BALLINGER at Hopewell on 15 Fourth Month [June] 1749.[29]
James died at the age of 42 on 9 Second Month [April] 1751, leaving four small children and one born posthumously. He signed his will with his mark, indicating he was illiterate, a week before his death. It was proved 14 May by his in-laws who had witnessed it.
I James Mackoll of Back Creek neere Opeckan in the County of Frederick and Colony of Virginia being sick and weak in Body but of sound and well disposing mind and memory do make this as my Last will and Testament hereby revoking and Disanuling all other wills that may have been heretofore made or done by me, First my will is that my body be decently buried and my Just debts and funaral Charges may be defrayed as soon as may be with conveniency after my decease[;] secondy I give and bequeath unto my Loving and well beloved wife Anne Mackoll all my goods and personal Estate, Viz: ho[r?]se kind and Catle with all the Stock that belongs to the plantation that may be properly be called my own the which I give and bequeath unto her proper use & behoof in order for the bringing up our Young Children. Thirdly and Lastly I ordain and Constitute my well beloved wife sole Executrix of this my last will and Testamt. In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the 9th of the 2 mo. th April in the year of our Lord . . . 1751
{his}
Signed Seald. Testified & declared James XX Mackoll (Seal)
to be the Last will and Testament {mark}
of the sd. James Mackooll in the
presence of us
James Wright Senr.
Mary Wright
Lydia Wright
At a Court held for Frederick County on Tuesday the 14 day of May 1751 This Will of James Mackoll decd. was proven in open Court by the solemn affirmations of James Wright and Mary Wright who also affirmed they saw Lydia Wright the other Witness Sign the same as an Evidence and Anne McKoll having made Oath to the same According to Law the Same is Admitted to Record.
Teste
J. Wood
C. C.[30]
It was very difficult for a single parent to survive economically along the frontier. There was just too much work to be done. Abut two years later Ann married Thomas PUGH, the son of Jesse and Alice (MALIN) Pugh. Thomas was born 16 November 1731 in Pennsylvania, and died in 1798 in Frederick County, Virginia.[31] Jesse Pugh was the second clerk to serve Hopewell Meeting. He had come into the Shenandoah Valley with his father around 1721.[32]
After Braddock's disastrous defeat in 1755, the French encouraged their Indian allies to take action in the Shendandoah Valley. They did, with the settlers thrown into confusion, and some killed and their houses burned.[33]
In the midst of the terror, no Friend lost a life, although some fled from their homes. Only one Quaker house was burned. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Meeting for Sufferings stood by to offer assistance to Friends who suffered losses either from Indians or for refusing to participate in the militia mustered against the Indians. At the Eighth Month 1757 monthly meeting two Friends were appointed by Hopewell Meeting to make a list of those who might need help. A few days later they submitted a list of ten families, including three headed by widows.[34]
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting sent £50. The Yearly Meeting also wanted to know if it were possible to ascertain which Indians were the original owners of the land, and to pay them for it. Four months later Hopewell sent a more detailed report for each family unit of the age and gender of each child and the livestock lost. But Hopewell ignored the question about paying for the Indian's land. So Philadelphia Yearly Meeting sent a delegation to do double duty: inquire into the possibility that the recent ravages were caused at least in part by land being unjustly taken from its original inhabitants, and also to see that the discipline was properly enforced. This latter was the result of a general reform and tightening of the discipline that began ca. 1755. The visitors recommended that local Friends communicate with the Indians, and offer appropriate payment for any lands that the Native Americans could prove were theirs, unjustly taken. The Yearly Meeting delegation did recognize that local Friends had legally obtained the land from the British authorities, but the British had taken it in war rather than purchasing it. Nothing happened. In 1762 there was further correspondence from Philadelphia, but still nothing was done. In 1777 during the Revolutionary War when a number of prominent Philadelphia Quakers were exiled to Winchester on the charge of being Loyalists, they brought up the concern again. This time 84 men, members of Hopewell Meeting, pledged specific amounts of money, from £30 to 1 shilling
to be applied in such manner as the meeting for Sufferings in Philadelphia with the consent of the said Members of this Meeting, may hereafter direct for the Benefit of the Indians, who were formerly the Native owners of the Lands, on which we now live, or thire descendants if to be found, and if not for the service, & benifit of Other Indians, . . .[35]
Some of those who pledged money were: Jesse Pugh, 6/; Joseph Hackney, 10/; John McCoole, 5/; Joseph Wright, 1/; William Wright, 1/; and Thomas Pugh, 3/.[36]
The difficulty, of course, was finding out just which Indians ought to be paid. Friends were unable to do this, so Philadelphia Yearly Meeting decided to divert the money to help other Indians, and asked the Hopewell Friends to pay up. This they were unwilling to do, as they were unable to agree to the specific projects. The matter dragged on until 1795 when Hopewell and Crooked Run Monthly Meetings were transferred from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to Baltimore Yearly Meeting. The matter was turned over to Fairfax Quarterly meeting, to which they both belonged, and the following year and on later occasions as well, subscriptions were raised for the Permanent Committee on Indian Affairs of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Thus eventually Hopewell Friends did give some money to aid Indians, some of whom may have descended from the original occupants.[37] Only the Quakers and Mennonites made any efforts at all to purchase the land upon which they settled.
Ann and Thomas Pugh, and Ann's son John M'Coole signed the marriage certificate for David BERRY, son of John and Patience Berry, and Hannah PICKERING, daughter of William and Sarah Pickering, at Back Creek, on 13 First Month 1779.[38]
As Ann's many children grew older she was able to devote increasing time to the meeting. She was recognized as a minister. In 1785, when she was 60, she and Thomas decided to visit those of their children who had migrated south to the Carolinas. Ann felt moved to minister among any Friends meeting they might visit. Following the usual "good order among Friends", the couple requested a certificate. In 8th month, 1785, Hopewell Meeting minuted that Ann Pugh and Thomas Pugh informed the meeting that they had a desire to travel in some parts of North and South Carolina in order to see their children, and, if opportunity offered, to attend some meetings "thereaway." Accordingly it was certified that Ann was an esteemed minister, her life and conversation corresponding in good degree with her calling, and that Thomas was also a member in good standing.[39]
As a minister Ann would be expected to attend local marriages, and perhaps offer a few words in vocal ministry. Here are two that she attended, along with other members of her family. Ann Pugh and Deborah McCool signed the marriage certificate of Jonathan PICKERING, son of Samuel and Grace, and Sarah FISHER, daughter of Barak and Mary at Back Creek, 7 Eleventh Month 1787.[40] On 14 Fourth Month 1791 Ann Pugh, Jon. McCoole, and Mary M'Coole signed the marriage certificate of Ann's grand daughter, Charity HACKNEY, daughter of Joseph and Martha, and Richard SIDWELL, son of Hugh and Ann (dec'd) at Hopewell.[41]
Thomas Pugh was disowned 5 First Month 1795 because he "Neglectd meeting and continued disputing with his neighbors."[42] Was this the husband of Ann? Could he be suffering from some form of senile dementia? There was a large family of Pughs in the area by that time. Was this someone else? The minutes remain cryptic.
Ann signed her will 25 Second Month [February] 1797, and it was probated 4 May 1803.
Know all men by these presents that I ANN PUGH of Frederick County, Commonwealth of Virginia being infirm, but of a perfect and sound mind, memory, understanding and calling to mind the mortality of the body do make and constitute this my last will and testament in form and manner following. First I recommend my soul into my saviours hands and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent like manner. First I will that all my debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged by Walter Denny. And secondly I will and bequeath to Walter Denny and Jane, his wife the tract of land whereon I now live for and during their natural lives and after their decease to go to . . . the heir of the said Jane Denny to be willed to them as . . . think proper either by willing it all to one or dividing it amongst them with their paying the sum of money herein mentioned. I also will my black horse to the said Jane Denny. Thirdly I will and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH JAY $5 to be paid to her by Jane and Walter Denny. Fourthly I will and bequeath to my daughter ANN DILLON $5 to be paid to her by Jane and Walter Denny. Fifthly I will and bequeath to my daughter RACHAEL JENKINS a . . . or part of a tract of land joining B. Fisher and John McCoole which I have Walter Denny's title bond for to her, her heirs and assigns forever. And lastly I constitute and appoint my son in law WALTER DENNY and JANE DENNY my executor and executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and disannulling all former wills by me heretofore made. Ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of the second month 1797.
Witnessed by John McCoole, William Adams and Jacob Taylor.[43]
Children of James and Ann (Wright) McCool:[44]
Children of Ann (Wright) McCool and her second husband, Thomas Pugh:[56d]
Martha McCool2 was born 31 October 1749, the day we know as Hallowe'en, and earlier generations called All Saints Eve. But Friends did not celebrate or take any notice of these ancient pagan festivals. She was second and youngest daughter of James and Ann.
Martha, "daughter of James M'Coole, late Deceased, and Ann his Wife" married Joseph HACKNEY, "of Frederick County in ye Colony of Virginia, son of Joseph Hackney and Charity his wife, late Deceased", on "20th day of 7th month, 1768; at Back Creek" meeting house, Frederick County. Thirty four witnesses signed the certificate, including Martha's mother and step-father, Ann and Thomas Pugh, the groom's brother Aaron Hackney and his second wife Hannah, the bride's brothers John and James McCoole, Jesse Pugh, [cousin?] Sidney Wright, and four Pickerings.[57]
Back Creek was a preparative meeting under Hopewell Monthly Meeting. The meeting house was said to have been somewhere around Gainsville on current route 532, northwest of Winchester. Gainesville was originally known as Pughtown. It had been established in 1797 and was named for Job Pugh, the brother of Martha's step-father, Thomas Pugh.[58]
Children of Joseph and Martha (McCool) Hackney:
To continue the story of this family, go to the Hackney page.
View a chart of the Collateral Lines that marry into the part of the Griffith Line that is featured on this web site. These are the collateral lines that may eventually be included here in connection with the Griffith family (not all of them have been posted as yet, let alone researched): Balderston, Bancroft, David, Davis, Duck, Faulkner, Ferree, Hackney, Harlan, Heald, Janney, John, Jones, Lewis, Smith, Warembauer, and Wright.
If you have additions or corrections to this web page, I would be delighted to hear from you. Contact me via e mail at .
Go to the index of other lines that are included in this website (not all of them have been posted yet).
Go to the Paxson home page.
Return to the top of this page.
Return to the top of the page.
View the index of other lines that are included in this website.
If you have additions or corrections to this web page, I would be delighted
to hear from you. Contact me via e mail at .