Family History

Ancestral Lineage

Origins of

the Surname

Variations of

the Surname

Armorial Bearings, Symbols and Mottoes

Researching

by Location

Migrations of the

American Family

Source Documents

Gen-Resources

Family Images Gallery

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Family history

          Our McVicker family line is a very good example of those families who during the 19^th century seemed to migrate further west with each new generation.  We have traced this line back to Dennis McVicker of Muskingum County in Ohio.  Dennis and his family came to this location prior to 1820 as they are shown at this location in the 1820 Federal Census.  Dennis’s son James then moved his family west to Tippecanoe County, Indiana sometime between 1854-56.  James McVicker died during the American Civil War.  His eldest son John Robert McVicker, also a veteran of the war, along with his mother and siblings trekked still further west between 1865 –70 to Mercer County, Illinois.  By 1872 John and his family were residing in Sedgwick County, Kansas.  Apparently John Robert was not satisfied with life in Kansas because he eventually made his final move and arrived in Tulare County, California about 1891.

Direct ancestors

Additional information about the persons in our database  as   well  as   a   complete

listing of individuals with this surname may be reviewed by clicking on this LINK.

Descendant Register

Generation 1

Dennis McVicker-2was born on Abt. 1776. He died on Sep 1831 in Ostego, Monroe Twp., Muskingum Co., Ohio. He married Catherine McVicker (nee?).  She was born on Bet. 1781-1790 in Pennsylvania. She died on Aft. Apr 1854 in Hocking Co., Ohio?.

Children of Dennis McVicker and Catherine McVicker (nee?) are:

1.                 Unknown Daughter (1)? McVicker, B: Bet. 1794-1800 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

2.                 Unknown Daughter (2)? McVicker, B: Bet. 1794-1800 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

3.                  iii.     Dennis McVicker Jr., B: Abt. 1796 in <Huntingdon County>, Pennsylvania, D: Aft.  1850 in Coshocton County, Ohio, M: Bef. 1826.

4.                  iv.       David McVicker, B: Bet. 1804-1810 in Barree Twp., Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania ?, D: Bet. 1844-1850 in Monroe Twp., Muskingum Co., Ohio, M: 21 Apr 1831 in Muskingum County, Ohio.

5.                  v.        Lurannah McVicker, B: Abt. 1806 in <Huntingdon County>, Pennsylvania, D: 05  Aug 1891 in Vinton County, Ohio, M: 11 Oct 1827 in Muskingum County, Ohio.

6.                  vi.       James McVicker, B: Bet. 1813-1815 in Monroe Twp. Muskingum Co., Ohio, D: 01 Jul 1864 in Larkinsville, Jackson Co., Alabama, M: 06 Apr 1843 in Hocking County, Ohio.

vii.             Maria McVicker, B: 27 Mar 1814 in Monroe Twp., Muskingum Co., Ohio, D: 05 Jan 1836 in Newark Twp., Licking Co., Ohio, M: 16 Jun 1833 in Muskingum Co., Ohio.

8                   Hiram McVicker, B: Monroe Twp., Muskingum Co., Ohio.

7.                  ix.      Agnes McVicker, B: 20 Jan 1818 in Monongalia Co., Virginia, (now WV), D: Aft.  11 Aug 1874 in Limestone County, Texas, M: 01 Jun 1834 in Muskingum County, Ohio.

x.                 Betsy McVicker, B: Bet. 1821-1825 in Monroe Twp. Muskingum Co., Ohio, D: Abt.  1850.

Generation 2

James McVicker-3(Dennis McVicker-1,) was born on Bet. 1813-1815 in Monroe Twp. Muskingum Co., Ohio. He died on 01 Jul 1864 in Larkinsville, Jackson Co., Alabama.  He married Elizabeth Ross on 06 Apr 1843 in Hocking County, Ohio, daughter of  Joseph Ross and Anna Eubanks. She was born on Abt. 1824 in Ross County, Ohio. She died on Aft. 1880.

Children of James McVicker and Elizabeth Ross are:

9.                 i.         John Robert McVicker, B: 29 May 1844 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio,

D:                01 Feb 1929 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California, M: 01 Apr 1877 in Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kansas.

iii.               Mary McVicker, B: Abt. 1846 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio, D: Bef.  1873 in Illinois??, M: 12 Jul 1865 in Sheffield Twp., Tippecanoe Co., Indiana.

10.             iii.     Catherine McVicker, B: 10 Apr 1848 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio, D:  02 Jun 1930 in Joplin, Jasper Co., Missouri, M: 16 Feb 1867 in Sherman, Ohio  Twp., Bureau Co., Illinois.

11.             iv.       Rebecca Jane McVicker, B: 17 Dec 1850 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio,

D:                23 Nov 1927 in Rocky Comfort, McDonald Co., Missouri, M: 23 Jul 1872 in Selby Twp., Bureau Co., Illinois.

12.             v.       David McVicker, B: 20 Dec 1852 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio, D: 11  Aug 1927 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon, M: Abt. 1885 in Kansas.

vi.               Sarah Ellen McVicker, B: 11 Jun 1854 in Ohio, D: Kansas?.

vii.             Elizabeth A. McVicker, B: 17 Nov 1856 in Indiana, D: California, USA.

viii.           Theodosia McVicker, B: Abt. Dec 1859 in Lauramie Twp., Tippecanoe Co.,   Indiana, D: Bet. 1860-1870 in Indiana or Illinois?.

ix.               Moses B. McVicker, B: 13 Apr 1862 in Lauramie Twp., Tippecanoe Co., Indiana,  D: Jul 1919 in Tulare County, California.

Generation 3

John Robert McVicker-4(James McVicker-2, Dennis McVicker-1,) was born on 29 May 1844 in Washington Twp., Hocking Co., Ohio. He died on 01 Feb 1929 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California. He married Mary Ella Johnson on 01 Apr 1877 in Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kansas, daughter of First Nm. Unk.? Johnson and Nm. Unk. Johnson (nee?). She was born on 31 Oct 1853 in Carter County, Kentucky. She died on 28 Apr 1940 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California.

Children of John Robert McVicker and Mary Ella Johnson are:

13.             i.         Minnie V. McVicker, B: 21 Apr 1878 in Union Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas, D: 03  Feb 1920 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California, M: 22 Sep 1897 in Tulare County,   California.

ii.                 Clyde E. McVicker, B: Abt. Feb 1880 in Union Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas, D: 10 Nov 1882 in Union Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas.

14.             iii.      Sarah Elizabeth McVicker, B: 18 Feb 1882 in Kansas, D: 20 Apr 1982 in Santa  Barbara, Santa Barbara Co., California, M: 25 Jan 1905 in Tulare County,  California.

15.             iv.       John Harvey McVicker, B: 08 Feb 1884 in Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kansas, D: 24  Jun 1970 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California, M: 17 Sep 1914.

v.                 Wiley Smith McVicker, B: 22 Mar 1886 in Kansas, D: 16 Jun 1964 in Orange County, California.

16.             vi.    William Earl McVicker, B: 06 Mar 1889 in Kansas, D: 26 May 1952 in Kern  County, California.

17.             vii.      Bessie P. McVicker, B: 14 May 1892 in Tulare County, California, D: 01 Feb 1978  in Orange County, California.

18.             viii.     Nevada I. McVicker, B: 14 Jun 1898 in Plano, (Tulare Co.), California, D: 01 Jan  1990 in San Bernardino County, California.

19.             ix.       F. Ross McVicker, B: 1902 in Poplar, Tulare Co., California, D: Mar 1954 in  Tulare County, California.

Generation 4

Minnie V. McVicker-5(John Robert McVicker-3, James McVicker-2, Dennis McVicker-1,) was born on 21 Apr 1878 in Union Twp., Sedgwick Co., Kansas. She died on 03 Feb 1920 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California. She married John Eldridge Scruggs on 22 Sep 1897 in Tulare County, California, son of Albea Edgar Scruggs and Julia Rhodes. He was born on 03 Feb 1878 in Poplar, Tulare Co., California. He died on 07 Feb 1945 in Tulare County, California.

Children of Minnie V. McVicker and John Eldridge Scruggs are:

i.                   John Eldridge Scruggs Jr., B: 17 Oct 1899 in Tulare County, California, D: Mar 1900 in Tulare County, California.

ii.                 Ella Pearl Scruggs, B: 12 Dec 1901 in Poplar, Tulare Co., California, D: 24 Oct 1957 in Burlington County, New Jersey, M: 17 Feb 1923 in <Methodist Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA>.

iii.               Harry Clayton Scruggs, B: 08 Nov 1903 in Tulare County, California, D: 10 Apr 1982 in Tulare County, California, M: 16 Apr 1928 in California, USA.

iv.               Julia Oaks Scruggs, B: 1906 in Woodville, Tulare Co., California, D: 18 Sep 1929 in California, USA.

v.                 Doris Scruggs, B: 29 Sep 1910 in Porterville, Tulare Co., California, D: 09 Jul 1988 in Bakersfield, Kern Co., California, M: 19 Jun 1926 in Tulare Co. California.

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Origins of the surname

An Introduction

to the Surname

Source/Meaning

of the Surname

History of

the Surname

More About Surnames

An Introduction to the Surname

The practice of inherited family surnames began in England and France during the late part of the 11^th century.     With the passing of generations and the movement of families from place to place many of the original identifying names were altered into some of the versions that we are familiar with today.  Over the centuries, most of our European ancestors accepted their surname as an unchangeable part of their lives.  Thus people rarely changed their surname.  Variations of most surnames were usually the result of an involuntary act such as when a government official wrote a name phonetically or made an error in transcription.  Research into the record of this McVicker family line indicates that the variations, meanings and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where English, Scottish, and Irish linguistic traditions are commonly found. 

Source(s) & Meaning(s) of the Surname

Most of the modern family names throughout Europe have originated from with of the following circumstances: patronym or matronym, names based on the name of one's father, mother or ancestor, (Johnson, Wilson). Each is a means of conveying lineage; occupation (i.e., Carpenter, Cooper, Brewer, Mason); habitational (Middleton, Sidney, or Ireland) or topographical (i.e. Hill, Brook, Forrest, Dale); nicknames (i.e., Moody Freeholder, Wise, Armstrong); status (i.e. Freeman, Bond, Knight); and acquired ornamental names that were simply made up.

     McVicker is a long established early medieval surname that is English, Scottish and Irish in origin and is a variant spelling of McVicar.   The name was probably derived from two sources: (1) an occupational name for one employed at the vicar's residence.  The derivation is from the Middle English "vicare, vickere" (Old French "vicaire"), ultimately from the Latin "vicarius", substitute, deputy, one who carried out pastoral duties on behalf of the absentee holder of a benefice. The possessive "-s" indicates either "servant at the vicar's (house)", or (2) a patronymic surname denoting "son of the vicar".  A reduced form of "son of"; one ilbertus filius (son of) vicarii was noted in documents from the Abbey of Bec, Oxfordshire, dated circa 1248.  Thus McVicker is recognized as the Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac áBhiocair (Scottish) or Mac an Bhiocaire (Irish) ‘son of the vicar’.

History of the Surname

     Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th century. They were not in use in England or Scotland, before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and were first found in the Domesday Book of 1086. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans who had adopted the custom just prior to this time.    Soon thereafter it became a mark of a generally higher socio-economic status and thus seen as disgraceful for a well-bred man to have only one name.  It was not until the middle of the 14^th century that surnames became general practice among all people in the British Isles.

     Historical researchers, using some of the oldest manuscripts including Clan genealogies such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitio, the Black Book of Exchequer, parish cartularies, baptismal records, tax records and many other manuscripts, found the name McVicar in Argyllshire, Scotland where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.  The McVickers are said to be descended from Maurice and Duncan MacNaughton who were Vicars of the MacNaughton Clan and became Vicars of Inchadney about the year 1400. They became an independant Clan but largely dependent on the MacNaughtons and when that Clan was broken they moved toward the Campbells of Argyll. The name was also anglicized to Quaker. They held lands in Iverary and Phantelane in Argyll. They became ecclesiastically involved in the religious turmoil of the 16th and 17th century and many were banished. Notable amongst the clan from early times was Sir Newyne MacVicar who was banished to New England in 1685.

    The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William del Vikers dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire".    Records of the McVicker or close variants appear on the census rolls taken by the first Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.   Early examples of the name include: Henry Attevickers of Derbyshire in 1327, Peter atte Vicars of Howdenshire, County Yorkshire who is listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, and William Vickers of County Lancashire who was documented in the year 1389.  Edward Vickary appears in Yorkshire in 1400 and Joan Atvicars is noted in the Yorkshire Wills Records of that same year.  Other early records of the name mention James Makuecar who was burgess of Glasgow in 1488.  Later instances of the name mention John Viccars of London who was entered in the Oxfordshire University Register of 1581, and in 1592, as well as Anne Vickars who was noted in the Register of the Parish Church of Rothwell, Yorkshire.  Church records show a John Vicars baptized at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London in 1655 and the marriage of  Francis Vickers to Elizabeth Lamden at St. Peter, Cornhill, London in 1689.

Variations of the surname

Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to unfold and expand often leading to an overwhelming number of variants.  As such one can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.  Spelling variations of this family name include: MacVicar, MacViccar, MacVicker, MacVicer, MacWicar and many others.    In the modern idiom the name has several spelling variations: Vicary, Vickery, the patronymic Vickarman, Vicars, Viccars, Vickars and Vickers; as well as Scottish McVicar, McVicker.   

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents.   The Soundex Indexing System was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for McVicker is M212.  Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code:  MAKEPEACE | MCPIKE | MCVICKER |.

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

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Amorial bearings, symcbols and mottoes

In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armored warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.  In the British Isles the College of Arms, (founded in 1483), is the Royal corporation of heralds who record proved pedigrees and grant armorial bearings.

Gallery of Images

Descriptions of the

Armorial Bearings

Motto(es) of

this Surname

More About Hearldic Bearings

Image gallery

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Fig. 7

ARMORIAL BEARINGS

The associated armorial bearings for this surname and close variant spellings are recorded in Burke’s General Armorie and Reitstap’s Armorial General.  The additional information, presented below, is offered with regard to the armorial bearings depicted above:

FIGURE 1: The most common armorial bearings for McVicker feature a silver shield containing a galley, her oars in action and sails furled, a flame of fire on the masthead between an eagle's head and a red cross crosslet fitchée.  The cross fitchée (from the French, “fixed”) originated as a cross with a pointed bottom, designed for use by traveling Crusaders, with a sharpened point that could be thrust into the ground. Because its shape resembles a sword, it became an apt symbol of the Crusader’s faith, and their willingness to use force in its cause. 

FIGURE 2: The McVicar clan badge features the clan crest, a rising eagle, and the clan motto, “Dominus Providebit”.

FIGURE 3: The M’Vicar – Affleck Arms is the only MacVicar Arms recorded by the Lyon Court.  This Coat of Arms was granted to James MacVicar Affleck of Edinghame, Galloway, Scotland on 26 December 1777. James was a Doctor and Surgeon who migrated to Jamaica and was the eldest son of Robert MacVicar of Argyll. Apparently James was married to Mary Affleck daughter of James Affleck of Edinghame.
The Arms are described as follows: The shield is divided into quarters.  The Vicar representation has a silver background as featured within the 1st and 4^th quarters that  contains a black galley, her oars in action and sails furled, a flame of fire on the masthead lies between an eagle’s head erased in the dexter (upper left) , and a red  crosslet fitchee in the sinister (upper right).  The Affleck representation in the 2nd and 3^rd quarters shows a white background with three black bars all within a red bordure.  Above the shield and helmet is the crest, which is described as: ‘A green branch growing out of the trunk of a naturally colored oak tree.’  The motto of M’Vicar – Affleck is “Tandem”.

FIGURE 4: Clan Tartan - MacVicar of Argyll

FIGURE 5: This Coat of Arms has been attributed to a McVicker who may be of Irish or British origin. Upon the white shield is a red fret, which is very frequently found occurring in British armory, and is derived from very early Coats of Arms, many of which are interlacing as is this one.  The helmet rests upon the shield and by its shape and position is indicative of rank. The helmet depicted on this shield bears a resemblance to those designed in Austria during the second half of the 15^th century.  It shows an open visor with a side profile. Therefore it may be concluded that it is of a knight or baronet.  Upon the helmet is a crest depicted by a cubit-arm clinching the symbol of a clasped bar label, or mark of cadency. These armorial bearings also contain the motto “Vigore” which is also found as the motto on the battle standard for Vickers as seen in figure 7. 

FIGURE 6:  These officially registered armorial bearings belong to Virgil J. McVicker, of Groveland California.

FIGURE 7: The Vickers' Battle Standard depicts a heraldic cross-called a "Cross Flory" next to the staff. Within the Cross are five "mullets of six points" crowned by three "Mill-rinds" or Fer-de-moline. These are representative of iron from the center of a grindstone. Next come three "Naval Crowns" which appears as a charge in the arms of the towns of Chatham, Ramsgate, and Devonport in England. However, these particular Naval Crowns are more properly a Crest Coronet depicting Naval rank equal to Admiral. The motto "Vigore" transects the Standard for strength.

MOTTO(ES)  

     A motto is a word or sentence usually written upon a scroll and generally placed below the shield, but sometimes, especially in Scotland, above the crest.    Many ancient mottoes were war-cries such as the Douglas motto of “Forward.”    Many mottoes refer to the name of the bearer, for example “cole regem” for Coleridge.   In general most mottoes convey a sentiment, hope, or determination, such as the Cotter motto “Dum spiro spero” where the meaning is “While I have breath I hope“.     Mottoes are often used by several successive generations, but may be changed at any time by the grantee. The languages most in use are Latin, French, and English.  Exceptions are seen in Scotland where they are often in the old Lowland dialect, and in Wales, often in the language of the principality.   

 The following listed mottoes and their translations are attributed to McVicker:

(1) Tandem, meaning “At last”; (2) Vigore, “Strength” or “Force”; and (3) Dominus providebit meaning “The Lord will provide.”

Heraldic bearings

The art of designing, displaying, describing, and recording arms is called heraldry. The use of coats of arms by countries, states, provinces, towns and villages is called civic heraldry.   A Coat of Arms is defined as a group of emblems and figures (heraldic bearings) usually arranged on and around a shield and serving as the special insignia of some person, family, or institution.  Except for a few cases, there is really no such thing as a standard "coat of arms" for a surname.  A coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, is a design usually granted only to a single person not to an entire family or to a particular surname.  Coats of arms are inheritable property, and they generally descend to male lineal descendents of the original arms grantee.  The rules and traditions regarding Coats of Arms vary from country to country. Therefore a Coat of Arms for an English family would differ from that of a German family even when the surname is the same. 

Some of the more prominent elements incorporated into a  coat of arms are :

Crest - The word crest is often mistakenly applied to a coat of arms.  The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry.  Initially the crest consisted of charges painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet.

Wreath or Torse – The torse is a twist of cloth or wreath underneath and part of a crest. Always shown as six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on.

Mantling – The mantling is a drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield.

Helm or Helmet - The helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets.

Shield or Arms - The basis of all coats of arms.  At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object.  The items appearing on the shield are known as charges.

Motto - The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. It may appear at the top or bottom of a family coat of arms.

Ancestral locations

Researching the locations where our ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees.  It has also led us to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.

Locations of

Direct Ancestors

Locational Distribution

of  this Surname

Where In the World

are my Ancestors?

Locatiof Direct Ancestors

The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the Direct Ancestors in the “Ancestral Lineage” (see above) were born, married, and / or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

United States

OHIO

Muskingum, Hocking

KANSAS

Sedgwick County

CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles Co., Tulare Co.

Use this LINK to find out more

about the locations listed above.

Locational distributionstors

     Knowing the geographical areas where the surname you are researching is clustered and distributed is an indispensable tool in deciding where to focus your research.  We believe that the “Public Profiler” website will open up to you a wide range of solutions which implement current research in spatial analysis.  This site provides an array of local spatial information tools useful to the genealogist.

          The information presented below shows where the McVICKER surname is distributed within the United States as well as in the British Isles, the country of origin of this family.   The United States is found to be the country in the world where this surname is the most highly clustered having over 15 persons per million of population.  

United States of America

Key

European Country of Origin

Click on the LINK to the right to see more information about the World distribution of a surname.  You can

get greater detail for any of the following maps by clicking on the area, i.e state, county that you are interested in.

Wjere are my ancestors Ancestors

Resources which enhance our knowledge of the places inhabited by our ancestors are almost as important as their names. The LINK to the right will take you to Maps, Gazetteers,   and  other  helpful   resources 

that will assist in discovering Ancestral Locations.  These web sites comprise only a small portion of what is available for researchers interested in learning more about where their ancestors lived.

Migration routes

       Tracing our own family’s paths of migration can prove crucial in identifying previous generations and eventually, figuring out where and how they arrived in the “New World” as well as where they eventually settled.  Knowing the network of trails American pioneers traveled can help you guess where to start looking.  The trail map(s) provided below may assist you in understanding the routes that our direct ancestors of this family may have taken to find new homes and opportunities in the vast area now encompassed by the United States.

      During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents.  Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of McVicker, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.   Most of these immigrants came from the British Isles and settled in the New England States, the Carolinas, Nova Scotia, south-eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley.  Some of these immigrants were:  Donald and Duncan MacViccar settled in New England in 1685; Archibald McVicar settled with his wife, children and servants in New York in 1775 and his brothers Barnabas and John. In July 1635, John Viccars, an early emigrant to the New World, embarked from London on the ship "Alice" bound for Virginia; Dan, Denis, Patrick, William McVicar arrived in Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860.

Use the following links to find more early immigrants with this surname:

$ Search Ancestry.com Immigration Records; or Free Ship’s Passenger lists at OliveTreeGenealogy.com

The Development of an Historical Migration Route

It is understood that in many if not all cases we do not know exactly what routes our ancestors took as they migrated throughout the United States.   As such certain assumptions have been utilized to re-create the migration path presented above.  With regard to 18^th and 19^th century land routes we assume that they travelled along few trails and roads that were in existence at the time.  Research shows that a great many of these old paths and trails are today designated as U.S. Highway Routes.  For example, a major east-west route of migration known as the National Road is now U.S. Route 40, and a primary north-south migration route of the 18^th century followed the Great Indian War and Trading Path is now U.S. Route 11.  In some situations the re-created migration route may travel along state routes that connect or run through the seat of a county as that populated place is probably the oldest settlement in the area. The use of water as a migration route is also likely.  For example, during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries many families travelled west on the Ohio River as they moved on the new lands in Missouri or the Old Northwest Territory.  As such when applicable water routes have been included as the possible migration route.   

McVicker Migrations c.1794 – 1870

     Dennis McVicker did arrive in Ohio by 1820 as his family is shown as living in Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio.  Dennis fathered three more children at this location before he passed away in 1831.

     James McVicker, son of Dennis, married Elizabeth Ross in Hocking County, Ohio in 1843.  James and Elizabeth lived in Washington Township, Hocking County from the time of their marriage up to about 1855.   Six of their children were born here between 1844 and 1854.  Around 1855 James moved his family further west from Ohio to Tippecanoe County, Indiana.     There, James raised tobacco or worked in fields where tobacco was grown.  During this time the last three of his children were born.  James McVicker died in 1864 while serving in the U.S. Army during the American Civil War.

     After his military service the war John R. McVicker, eldest son of James, returned to his family in Indiana.  By 1870 the family had packed and moved to Mercer County, Illinois where they resided in the community of Keithsburg located on the Mississippi River.  During the time they lived at this location John worked as a teamster to support his widowed mother and younger siblings.

McVicker Migrations c.1871 – c.1915

      Some time around 1871-72 the McVicker family picked up and moved further west across the Mississippi River to Sedgwick County, Kansas a distance of about 550 miles.   By 1872 the family had settled near the town of Maize located in what was then Union Township.  A review of the history of this area reveals that the McVicker's were probably among the first families to settle in this area by virtue of the date when they arrived in Kansas.  While living in Kansas John R. McVicker married Mary Ella Johnson in 1877.  An 1882 atlas shows land owned by John McVicker in Township 26 South Range 1 West, (see our Sedgwick Co., KS page).  John and Mary produced a total of eight children of which at least five were born in Kansas between 1878 and 1889.  Military Pension records show that John was still living in Kansas on June 26, 1890.

     John McVicker made the final and longest move of his great western migration when in 1890-91 the family relocated to California, and settled in Tulare County.  They probably made this journey of about 1,560 miles by railroad.  The last three of their children were born in California between 1891 and 1902.  For the next decade John made his living as a dairy farmer.  Some time between 1910 and 1920 he, along with Mary and daughter Neva moved to the Pomona section of San Jose Township in Los Angeles County.  John died in 1929 at the ripe old age of 86 years.   The final resting place of this well traveled ancestor is located at the Vandalia Cemetery, in Porterville, Tulare County, California.

Maps of Migration

McVicker Migration Route 1890 – c. 1915

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Source documents

The documents contained within this “Source Documents Archives” have been located during our research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.   Use the LINKS below to view our collection.

·    Alexander McVicker - 1900 Census- Edgar Co., IL

·    Bessie McVicker Saak - 1920 Census

·    Bessie McVicker Saak - 1930 Census

·    Catherine McVicker Baker - 1930 Death Certificate

·    Dennis McVicker - 1810 U.S. Census

·    Dennis McVicker - 1820 U.S. Census

·    Dennis McVicker - 1826 Land Patent, Guernsey Co., OH

·    Dennis McVicker - 1830 Census- Muskingum Co., OH

·    Dennis McVicker - 1831 Probate Records- pgs.1-25

·    Elizabeth Ross McVicker - 1870 Census

·    James McVicker - 1850 Census

·    James McVicker - 1860 Census

·    James McVicker - Civil War Pension Application

·    James McVicker & Elizabeth Ross - 1843 Marriage Certificate

·    John R. McVicker - 1880 Census

·    John R. McVicker - 1900 Census

·    John R. McVicker - 1910 Census

·    John R. McVicker - 1920 Census

·    John R. McVicker - 1929 Death Certificate

·    John R. McVicker - Civil War Pension Index Card

·    John R. McVicker - Mary Ella Johnson - Marriage Certificate

·    John R. McVicker - Sedgwick Co., KS Homestead

·    John R. McVicker - Civil War Pension Application

·    Rebecca McVicker Tiffin - 1927 Obituary Notices

·    Rebecca McVicker Tiffin - 1927 Death Certificate

·    Sarah McVicker Gilligan - 1910 Census

·    Susanna McVicker Lane - 1850 Census

·    William Earl McVicker - 1910 Census

This Link will take you to our

archive of source documents.  

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive that does not cite a copyright.  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with us via the contact information found at the end of this web-page.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?; (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

Web resources

This search engine may

provide you with additional

information to assist with

your research about this topic.

·             Our Surname Locator And Resources web page contains the following: (1) links that will take you to an updated listing of all surnames as posted in our three databases at the Rootsweb WorldConnect Project; (2) the Surname List Finder a tool that finds sound-alike matches for a given surname from among RootsWeb's thousands of surname lists; (3) the Soundex Converter that can be used to find the soundex code for a surname, plus other surnames/spellings sharing the same soundex code;  (4) Surname Message Boards the world's largest online genealogy community with over 17 Million posts on more than 161,000 boards; (5) Surname Mailing Lists of all surnames having mailing lists at RootsWeb, as well as topics that include (6) Surname Heraldy, and  (7) Mapping a Surname. 

·             Your genealogy research of this surname can be facilitated by use of Surname Web. This website links to the majority of the surname data on the web, as well as to individual family trees, origin and surname meaning if known, and many other related genealogy resources. 

·             Surname Finder provides easy access to free and commercial resources for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname specific "finder" page, you can search a variety of online databases all pre-programmed with your surname.

·             Use All Surnames Genealogy to get access to find your surname resources .  There are almost 1300 links in this directory.

·             SurnameDB Free database of surname meanings - This site SurnameDB.Com contains a large FREE to access database (almost 50,000 surnames) on the history and meaning of family last names.

·             Public Profiler / World Names - Search for a Surname to view its Map and Statistics.

·             Linkpendium Surnames - Web sites, obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname.

·             Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.

·             McVickar/McVicker Genealogies and Histories – Family genealogy research pertaining to the descendants and ancestors of ‘Captain’ Duncan McVicker.

·             Clan MacVicar  - Website formed by Virgil J. McVicker to promote the interests of all MacVicars (MacVicar, Macquaker, M'Vicar, M'Yvicare, Makvicar, M'Weckare, M'Wicare, McViccar, Vicarii, McWiccar, Makuecar, Makfikar, Makwicr, McVicker, McVicar, Vicar, M'Ayn Rawych, V'Gewycar and other families descended from the progenitor, Mac a' Bhiocair.

Free Records & Databases

All of the records and databases we’ve collected are FREE and can be accessed and searched online without having to pay for a subscription.   We have divided our collected into 14 record types as follows: Biographical; Birth; Cemetery; Census & City Directories; Church; Court; Death; Immigration & Naturalization; Land; Marriage; Military; Newspapers; Occupational; and Tax Records.    We try not to list any sites that have only a few records for the purpose of getting you to a website that will charge a fee to actually see the record beyond just a name.  

This Link will take you to our

collections of FREE Records.  

The following Link will take you to our library of genealogy reference books.   Here you will find bibliographies, family histories and books about names.  In addition, there are texts that pertain to ethnic and religion groups, history, geography as well as other books that will assist you with your research.

This Link will take you to our

collections of reference books.  

Images gallery

During our research we have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because we believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

This Link will take you to our

collection of family photographs.  

Use the power of Google™ to find more interesting images about this topic. This button will link you to the Google Images Search   page.   Enter   the   topic   you   are

searching in the box and click “Search Images”. At the “Images” display page you will see the image, as well as the website of which it is associated.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

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-- This webpage was last updated on --

01 October 2011