The Rothlisbergers & Berry's William Magill
Robert Magill II
(1627-)
Sir Robert Magill III
(1650-1749)
William Magill
(1670-After 1749)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Mary Eakin

William Magill

  • Born: 1670, Oxenford, Calloway Co., Scotland
  • Married: 1713, Ireland
  • Died: After 10 Oct 1749, Augusta Co., VA

   General Notes:

Jane's father, William MaGill, Sr. was born in either northern Ireland or Scotland, and emigrated to Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1726 or 1727.

Immigration: 1727 Pennsylvania 2
Residence: About 1745 Augusta County, Virginia 2

WILLIAM McGILL THE FIRST
Of Rockingham County, Virginia.
William McGill, presumably a grandson of Sir Robert Makgill, of Tulycaim, IrHand, and eitiher brother or father of Lieutenant Charles McGill, of the Provincial Militia of Pennsylvania, settled in Rockingham 'County, Virginia, while it was yet a part of Augusta County, about the time that sn many of the Scotch-Irish families from the Cumberlandi Valley of Pennsylvania were filling up the Borden and otber grants on the Virginia frontier.
William McGill died in Virginia in 1749. He left a widow. Margaret, a second wife, formerly the "Widow Gass" (Glass), by whom he had no children. The children by the first wife as mentioned in his will were John, James. William and Elizabeth.
The M'vgill record slates t'hat the name of John McGill has been found attached to a demand for Che militia com- panie? of Augusta County, Virginia, 1776, "That all religious denominations be given equal liberties without preference of pre-eminence''.
In his will William leaves John "a mare and ye brown cote (coat)"; William inherits his father's "white cote" and "half of the household plenishings,'' and shares with James an etnial division of the lands. He is requested to spend the winter on the plantation, retaining there, with his own cattle, the stock of his step-mother and sister, Elizabeth.
Whether because of some domestic disagreement or because possessed of indeIiendent means or independence of disposition, when the will was probated the widow, Mar- gaiivt Gass McGill. appeared in court and refused to accept any legacy whatever from the estate.



A William Magill and Thomas Stinson appointed to oversee road construction in Augusta Co., VA on 11 Feb 1745

Emigrated to Tullycairn, Ireland in 1715
Migrated to America 1727
"William Magill was born about 1670, probably in Scotland, as the Magills are Scotch-Irish. If born in Scotland, he went to Ireland before 1715, as his son, William, was born in Ireland at that date. From Ireland he came to Augusta County, Virginia., where he died, in October or November, 1749. It is probable he formed a part of the great tide of Scotch-Irish immigration which poured into the new world from 1725 to 1740. Many of these sturdy people landed at Philadelphia, and a colony settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, while the more venturesome spirits pushed on into what was then a trackless wilderness, but is now known as the famous Valley of Virginia. He had two other sons besides William - James and John - and one daughter, Elizabeth; whether older or younger is not known. His wife's name was Margaret, but evidently she was the second wife, and a widow - Mrs. Margaret Gass - when he married her, as he willed ' ye gray mare to her son, David Gass;' and when the will went to probate, she renounced all claim to any of the legacies in the will, and this left everything to the Magill children, as she was only their step-mother."
"William McGill The First of Rockingham County, Virginia. William McGill, presumably a grandson of Sir Robert Makgill, Tulycaim, Ireland, and either brother or father of Lieutenant Charles McGill, of the Provincial Militia of Pennsylvania, settled in Rockingham County, Virginia, while it was yet a part of Augusta County, about the time that so many of the Scotch-Irish families from the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania were filling up the Borden and other grants on the Virginia frontier. William McGill died in Virginia in 1749. He left a widow, Margaret, a second wife, formerly the "Widow Gass" (Glass), by whom he had no children. The children by the first wife as mentioned in his will were John, James, William, and Elizabeth.
The Magill Record states that the name of John McGill has been found attached to a demand for the militia companies to Augusta County, Virginia, 1776, 'that all religious denominations be given equal liberties without preference of pre-eminence.' In his will William leaves John 'a mare and ye brown cote (coat)'; William inherits his father's 'white cote' and 'half of the household plenishings,' and shares with James an equal division of the lands. He is requested to spend the winter on the plantation, retaining there, with his own cattle, the stock of his step-mother and sister, Elizabeth. Whether because of some domestic disagreement or because possess of independent means or independence of disposition, when the will was probated the widow, Margaret Gass McGill, appeared in court and refused to accept any legacy whatever from the estate."
"William Magill I ca. 1690-1749 arrived in Pennsylvania from Tullycairn, Ireland. He and Charles Magill are in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1726. He moved to Augusta County, Virginia about 1740 where he was appointed a road overseer in 1745 and constable in 1746. His first wife is unknown. His second wife, Margaret Gass, refused any part of his estate in favor of his children. There is a record of the widow of John Gass in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1738. William Magill died between 10 October 1749 and 29 November 1749 when his will was presented for probate to the Augusta Court."
Augusta Co., VA, Will Book 1, Page 202.--10th October, 1749. William Magill's will--Wife, Margaret, and her son, David Gass; sons, James and William, adjoining Charles Campbell; son, John; grandchild, James' son; daughter, Elizabeth. Executors, Robert Cravens, Hugh Campbell. Signed William Magill, Margaret Magill. Teste: Andrew Erwin, Charles Campbell. Proved, 29th November, 1749, when Margaret renounced the will.

Augusta County, Virginia - A member of one of the area's Scotch-Irish families, the first record of William Magill in Augusta County, Virginia, lists him as a church processioner in September 1747. His will was written in 1749 and his estate settled in 1858. John Magill, one of three sons and five daughters, was born around 1725 and he later joined with his children in a Westward migration after the Revolution. He died in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1816.

Sept. 12, 1838
Dear Nephew Caleb,
I received your letter some twelve months ago but, not having it at hand, I do not exactly recall the date the letter informed me of the death of your father. I presume it was the only one you sent me. I ought to apologize for not writing you sooner. I am frequently in distress of mind and from a blamable neglect of duty I often neglect to answer letters immediately when I receive them; and after a while forget them. I now let you know that through the goodness of God we are all in a tolerable state of health for which we ought to be thankful. I have not received any information from you and any of your brothers and sisters since I received your letter from Mr. John Elliot informed that you lived in this neighborhood.
I have nothing to write that can be very interesting to you as you are not acquainted with any persons here nor I with any in your neighborhood. As for my family, I had the misfortune to lose my best friend five years ago last November on the 14th of the month. I have one son living in Clinton County, Indiana named Matthew E. Magill, one other in the same county named Cyrus Magill. One in Park County named Samuel P. Magill. One living with me named John Allen Magill who is practicing physic on the Thompsonian plan and is very successful. One daughter Margaret S. Magill and one named Tennyann.
My grandfather, William Magill, migrated from Ireland in the year of 1727 with three sons named James, William and John, who was my father, and five daughters, to wit: Jane who married William Dickson, he died and she married a McKee; Sarah married William Berry; Betty married James Berry, later John Jones; Esther who married Hugh Campbell; Ann who married Robert Fowler.
My uncle James had three sons: William, Alexander and James. My uncle William had seven sons, to wit: Samuel, William, James, Robert, John, Hugh, and Charles, three last named by a second wife. My father had six sons, James, Samuel, John, David, and Hugh. [Editor's note: oldest son William, 1750-1813, omitted.]
I have been particular so that you may know if you meet with any persons of the name of Magill you can tell whether they are your relation. I have seen several from Ireland that are no kin of mine. They spell their name McGill. They are generally native Irish and Roman Catholic. I recollect to have seen my grandfather's certificate from Ireland dated 1725. It was spelled Magill and all his descendants spell their names the same way. Any who do not are not of our kindred.
Our forefathers were Scotch, lived in Scotland and were Protestants. The time of persecution in England and Scotland in the reign of King James of England, they with many others, emigrated to Ireland which gave them the name Scotch-Irish which name they are frequently called to this day. I never knew of any of father's relations coming to America only one family which was John Magill. He settled in Winchester, Virginia about the year 1775. He was a lawyer and had two sons, Archibald Magill who was a major in the army at the time of the Revolution. The other, Charles Magill, was a lawyer and either he or one of his sons, is at this time, president or cashier in the Valley Bank of Virginia.
There has been more sickness and is at this time in our neighborhood than I ever knew at one time and I believe it is general throughout the state of Kentucky. As for religion in this country, there is a great many professors to different denominations. There is Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Campbellites, Two Seeds alias Carkorites and Shakers. I have heard lately of two Mormons preaching about sixteen miles from here. Crops of wheat are good this summer. Corn crop is sorry though this state. I wish you could write every good opportunity. Give my respects to all your brothers and sisters and all inquiring friends. The day before yesterday I received a letter from my sister, Elizabeth Frame, living in Ohio state, Preble County. She is 83 years old last March. The only sister I have living. All my brothers are dead and yet I am spared on the goodness of God. May we all be prepared through the goodness of God and the sanctifying influence of holy spirit for an endless and happy eternity is the prayer of your affectionate uncle who lacks only one month and eight days of being 79 years old.
John Magill
Caleb Magill & brothers
Sept. 18, 1838

William married Mary Eakin, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, in 1713 in Ireland. (Mary Eakin was born before 1745.)


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