Alabama Timeline - McLeods, Bethunes, McKays

Walking with Ghosts..........

a website for the descendants of Angus and Nancy McCutchen MacLeod~~

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Note

This page contains information on Norman McLeod, the son of Alexander and Sarah (--?--) McLeod who resided in the "fork of Lynches River" in Sumter County South Carolina; the property they owned was located in both Kershaw and Sumter Districts and a portion of it is referred to in many documents as "McLeods Mill Branch". This area is now considered to be the Lucknow area of Lee County in South Carolina. 4

Von Hacke, a genealogist who visited Sumter County in the 1960's, included paragraphs on Norman and his father in his work which is on file in the Sumter Genealogical Society archives. Von Hacke's work is the result of his gathering up all documents during a certain time period, making an attempt to attach those documents to the appropriate individuals in Sumter County and placing references to those documents on index cards for those individuals.

While the work done by Von Hacke has provided a wonderful place to begin researching ones family, great caution must be used in assuming that Von Hackes attachments of documents to individuals and individuals to families is correct. In my own research, I have found several occassions where Von Hacke was incorrect, i.e. combining the records of two Daniel McLeod's into one and attaching that Daniel to a family that was not his. More importantly to this page, Von Hacke attached two women to this Norman McLeod as his spouses.

Research has proven which of the two women were actually married to this Norman, but the error of attachment can be found in numerous family files on the internet, on cd rom and in hard copy family histories; almost all records point to Von Hacke as the source of their information.

The Norman McLeod on this page was married to Betsy McLeod, the daughter of Angus and Nancy McCutchen McLeod and not to Elizabeth Lackey McLeod. Census records of South Carolina and Alabama prove this to be true as does Norman's 1871 Will on file in Pike County Alabama.

Timeline
Pre 1840 Timeline

1838/9 - Betsy and Norman begin to sell portions of their property in preparation for migration into Alabama along with John McKay, and Betsy's sister Polly; Roderick Bethune, Betsy's sister, Nancy. The ladies parents, Angus and Nancy McCutchen McLeod, had been found in the home of Roderick and Nancy in the 1830 Sumter Census; it is believed that Angus died sometime after April 7 1831 on which date he sold the McLeod Mill Pond property (presently Lee County, SC) to his son Daniel. The selling of property by three of Angus' sons in law indicates that he was deceased by 1838.

On March 6 1839 - Elizabeth (x) McLeod - appeared in the Kershaw Court before the Justice to release her dower rights to the property. In this deed, Norman sells to James Skinner for $1000.00 "all that tract or parcel of land situated and laying in Sumter and Kershaw Districts on the waters of Lynches Creek and Mill Branch ....with a mill and a cotton saw...bounded on the east by James Skinner and on North by McIntosh lands and on west by ? Stokes and south by Stokes land containing 700 acres more or less. The deed is dated 6th or 7th day of April 1838. It is witnessed by R.A. Bethune and an Dixon Stokes. Book KK page 2 Deed accessed and copied June 2005 Sumter Co. Courthouse, Lori McLeod Wilke, David Jay Wilke)Sumter County Land Deeds/ Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Before October 11 1839 - Norman sold 400 acres on the Lynches River/Creek near Skinners Bridge to Joel D. Stokes - (Deed accessed and read June 2005 Sumter Co. Courthouse, Lori McLeod Wilke, David Jay Wilke - this is not the actual deed, it is a deed in which the sale of the land is referred to as it changes hands once again)

1840 - 1850
1840 Census Macon County Alabama page 2

Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod are found with 1 son under the age of 5, 3 between the ages of 5 and 10, a daughter under age 5, a daughter aged 10-15 and Betsy and Norman themselves are between the ages of 30-40. Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Roderick and Nancy McLeod Bethune are found 1 male 30-40; - Roderick Bethune; 1 male under 5; Unknown b. between 1835 and 1840; 3 males 5-10 (Roderick Bethune Jr., Angus Bethune, John Bethune); 1 male 10-15; Alexander Bethune; 1 male 20-30; Unknown possibly nephew Angus McLeod, son of Alexander and Sarah McIntosh, b. between 1810 and 1820; 1 female under 5; Unknown b. between 1835 and 1840; 1 female 20-30; Unknown b. between 1810 and 1820; 1 female 30-40 Nancy McLeod Bethune, 1 female aged 60-70 Nancy McCutchen McLeod Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1840 Census Macon County Alabama page 4

John McKay and Polly McLeod McKay are found with 1 male aged 10-15; 1 male aged 15-20, 1 male aged 20-30, (birth year range 1810-1820 = Alexander McKay); 1 male aged 50 - 60, John McKay; 2 females aged 10-15; birth year range 1825-1830 = Alexis McKay and Mary; 1 female aged 30-40 Mary Polly McLeod Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

John L. McKay (Jr.), son of John McKay and stepson of Polly is found with his wife Nancy Chisholm MCCASKILL next door to father and Mary Polly McLeod - with 1 male aged 0-5 Angus; 1 male aged 20-30 John ; 1 female aged 20-30 Nancy Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

John's daughter Charlotte McKay had married Archibald McDonald prior to the family's migration from South Carolina to Alabama. Her census enumeration for this year has not yet been found. Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1845 Mary aka Polly McLeod McKay died on April 15, 1845 Pike County, Alabama and was buried at the Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL Source of Death Date:Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL, Cemetery Transcripton accessed August 15th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke . - NOTE: Her sister Nancy McLeod Bethune's husband and son are buried there as well.

Tombstone Inscription: McKay, Mrs. Mary no date Apr. 15, 1845 "died in 50th year of her age,consort of John McKay" Note: "in the 50th year of her age" would indicate she was 49 at her death, giving her a birthyear of 1796. Unless her tombstone and all census records were incorrect, Mary was born in North Carolina. The eldest child of Angus and Nancy McCutchen McLeod, Alexander husband of Sarah McIntosh, is the only child with a census record stating he was born in Scotland (1880 in which his son, Alexander E. McLeod states so). Using the census records of each of the children, this appears to be the case. There may have been more siblings than are known. Source of Death Date:Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL, Cemetery Transcripton accessed August 15th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke NOTE: Her sister Nancy McLeod Bethune's husband and son are buried there as well. !Source: Lori McLeod Wilke; copyright © 2000-2006 http://www.geocities.com/dillysdillys/AlabamaMcLeodsTimeline.htm

1850 - 1860

1850 Census, Not Stated, Pike, Alabama Census Year 1850 Page: 257 Roll: M432_13 Enumerated 16th day of December 1850 found October 13th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke Ancestry.com Census Online

Household #1672 John Mc Kay now widowed for a second time after Polly's death in 1845 is shown as follows - only one neighbor away from Norman and Betsy - Farmer $650.00 Real Estate Age: 60 Estimated Birth Year: 1789 Birth Place: North Carolina Gender: Male; Elexis Mc Kay Age: 23 Estimated Birth Year: 1826 Birth Place: South Carolina Gender: Female; Neill Mc Kay Farmer Age: 32 Estimated Birth Year: 1817 Birth Place: South Carolina Gender: Male Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Household # 1676 Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod - Norman Mcleod aged 52 born 1797 Scotland Male Not Stated, Pike, AL (page 257); Elizabeth Mcleod aged 51 born 1798 in North Carolina Female Not Stated, Pike, AL; Angus Mcleod aged 19 born 1830 in South Carolina Male Not Stated, Pike, AL ; Alexander Mcleod aged 13 born 1836 in South Carolina Male Not Stated, Pike, AL; Columbus Mcleod aged 11 born 1838 in South Carolina Male Not Stated, Pike, AL; Catherine Mcleod aged 8 born 1841 in Alabama Female Not Stated, Pike, AL ; Daniel Mcleod aged 4 born 1845 in Alabama Male Not Stated, Pike, AL; Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Household 1677 Sarah Mcleod aged 90 born 1759 in Scotland Female Not Stated, Pike, AL (page 258) - ?Mother of Norman McLeod? - Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Household 1680 John McKay Jr. - J.L. McKay aged 35 born SC; Nancy aged 40 Scotland; Angus 13 South Carolina; Daniel 11 Ala; Malcom 9 Ala; Margaret 7 Ala; Peter? 5 Ala. Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

By 1850, John McKay's eldest daughter, Charlotte McKay McDonald and her family have also made the migration from South Carolina to Alabama.

Image 1 Family 6 enumerated 16 Sept. 1850 found ancestry.com census on line October 25 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke - A.C. McDonald (shown as A C W Donald in the Index) aged 35 Farmer born North Carolina; Charlotte aged 35 born in South Carolina; John aged 8 born in Alabama born about 1842; Daniel aged 6 born in Alabama; Angus aged 5 born in Alabama; Mary aged 5 born in Alabama - Should be aged 4 according to the 1860 Census - see below; Neill aged 3 born in Alabama; Ann aged 6 months born in Alabama; Epriaim aged 10 born in Alabama Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Census Place: District 21, Macon County, Alabama; Census Year 1850, "Electronic," page 256 found October 13th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke Ancestry.com Census Online

Roderick Betham 54 1795 Scotland Male District 21, Macon, AL Ann Betham 51 1798 North Carolina Female Alexander Betham 22 1827 South Carolina Male Roderick Betham 21 1828 South Carolina Male Angus Betham 17 1832 South Carolina Male John Betham 15 1834 South Carolina Male. Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1852 - John McKay makes his will on January 13th and his brother in law, Roderick Bethune is a witness to it - Will Jan 13, 1852. Probated May 10, 1852, Pike Co. Witness: Roderick Bethune, Duncan D. Campbell, Daniel McCaskill. Executor - son Alexander L. McKay To son Neill - one negro named Aaron aged 15 years, 1 negro named Ben aged 8 years To son Alexander - one negrow named Lewis aged 25 years/McKay and Williard Genealogy; Karen Willard, [email protected] located at World Connect, Rootsweb.com.

John died on March 12, 1852 in Pike County, Alabama and was buried on March 16, 1852 in Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., besdie his wife who had died in 1845 Source of Death Date:Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL, Cemetery Transcripton accessed August 15th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke - NOTE: Her sister Nancy McLeod Bethune's husband and son are buried there as well. !Source: Lori McLeod Wilke; copyright © 2000-2006 http://www.geocities.com/dillysdillys/AlabamaMcLeodsTimeline.htm

Tombstone Inscription - McKay, John no date Mar. 12, 1852 "died in 67th year of his age" Source of Death Date:Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL, Cemetery Transcripton accessed August 15th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke - NOTE: Her sister Nancy McLeod Bethune's husband and son are buried there as well.

Roderick Bethune died May 9 1852 in Ridgeway, Bullock County, Alabama and is buried in Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery near to a possible daughter Ann C who died at age 2 in 1840. !Source: Bullock County Alabama Genealogy Website accessed October 2003 by Lori McLeod Wilke http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/bullock/cemetery/ bethel.txt Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL -

Inscription - Bethune, Roderick no date May 9, 1852 "aged 53 years" (husband of Nancy McLeod) Bethune, Roderick Apr. 15, 1828 Jan. 6, 1905 (Son of Nancy McLeod and Roderick Bethune)

1854 John and Polly's daughter Alexis died on August 6th 1854 and is also buried in Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., Source of Death Date:Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bullock Co., AL, Cemetery Transcripton accessed August 15th 2004 by Lori McLeod Wilke -

1856 - On December 31, Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod's son Angus McLeod died and is buried with his mother at Orion Methodist Church Cemetery Pike County, Alabama Rootsweb.com McLeod Message Board accessed by Lori McLeod Wilke

1860 - 1870

1860 Pike County Alabama Census

Household Number 1118 page 157, Norman McLeod aged 60, male, Farmer, Real Value $10,000, Personal Value $40,000 Place of Birth Scotland; Elizabeth McLeod aged 58, female born in North Carolina; Catherine McLeod aged 15 female born in Ala; (born cr. 1845) note: 1850 census gave age as 8 born 1841; Sidney McLeod aged 12 male born in Ala; (born cr. 1848) note: he was not present in their 1850 household - birth year is likely incorrect Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

household 1119- Columbus McLeod aged 21 male Overseer; born in South Carolina (born 1839) - probably living in the home of his grandmother, Sarah McLeod. She was shown in the next door household of her son and family in 1850; now we find Columbus - Cannot find either John, Daniel or Alexander in any county in Alabama for this year - Angus is deceased and Margaret is married to William C. Menefee Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1860 Montgomery County Census District 2, Montgomery, AL page 29 enumuration date July 18 1860 (224 200)

A C McDonald North Carolina 44 1815 North Carolina Occupation JP(?) RE 2500 P 4,000; Charlott (McKay) Mcdonald 40 1819 South Carolina; John Mcdonald 17 1842 Alabama; Donald Mcdonald 15 1844 Alabama; Mary Mcdonald 14 1845 Alabama ; Ann Mcdonald 12 1847 Alabama ; Neil Mcdonald 10 1849 Alabama ; Elexis Mcdonald 5 1854 Alabama; Isabella Mcdonald 3 1856 Alabama Female Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

Census; Place Southern Division Macon County Alabama, image 93 page 798,

household # 719/720 Roderick Bethune Jr. Roderick aged 39 Farmer E.E. value 1750 Personal Value 24000 born in SC; Alexander Bethune aged 30 born in SC, Anguish aged 27 born in SC (index shows him as August Bethune); John aged 28 born in SC; Nancy aged 60 born in SC (this is incorrect, she is shown all other Census as born in NC). Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1863 Columbus McLeod, son of Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod appears to have died in this year - probably in the War Between the States but further research is necessary. THE ASSOCIATED CLAN MACLEOD SOCIETIES GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES, The Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2000,, Reference CMSUSA 274, accessed July 27 2005 by Lori McLeod Wilke.

1864 - Alexander McLeod, son of Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod appears to have died in this year- probably in the War Between the States but further research is necessary. THE ASSOCIATED CLAN MACLEOD SOCIETIES GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES, The Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2000.", " Reference: CMSUSA 274, Birth: 1837 Death: 1864 accessed July 27 2005 by Lori McLeod Wilke.

The War between the States
Angus C. MCKAY b: ABT 1837 in Sumter District South Carolina d. bet. 1861 - 1865 serving the Confederacy - son of John L. McKay and Nancy Chisholm McCaskill - grandson of John and Polly McLeod McKay

Civil War. Died in hospital with pneumonia. His brother, Daniel Webster "Bob", went to his funeral but was too ill himself with head wounds to visit him. He was born in South Carolina and in school in 1850 Census. McKay and Williard Genealogy; Karen Willard, [email protected] located at World Connect, Rootsweb.com

1870 Census; Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama Census Year 1870 page 243, - Angus Bethune - son of Roderick and Nancy McLeod Bethune

Household # 218 Angus Bethune aged 32 RE 800 Personal 200 born in SC; should be aged 37 - it is possible that this is not our Angus Bethune HOWEVER, the William McLeod aged 10 and present in this household indicate a great possibility that this IS our Angus and his age is just incorrect; Anna aged 30 born in Georgia; Buelah aged 7 born in Alabama; Samuel aged 5 born in AL; John aged 3 born in Al; Infant aged 2 months born in Al; William McLeod aged 10 born in Alabama. Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1870 Census Place: Ridgeway, Bullock County, Alabama; Census Year 1870, "Electronic," page 509, Roderick Bethune, son of Roderick and Nancy McLeod Bethune - Nancy in his household

Household # 50 ; Roderick Bethune aged 38 Farmer, RE 1,000 Personal 300 born in SC; Sarah aged 26 Keeping house born in Georgia; Ann aged 7 born in Alabama, Thomas aged 5 born in Alabama, Nancy aged 70 born in NC.Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1870 Census Place Indian Creek, Bullock, Alabama Census Year 1870 Roll M593_4 page 43 Possibly the son of Roderick and Nancy McLeod Bethune

Alexander Bethune aged 37 Physician RE 400 Personal 300 born in SC; Margaret aged 36 born in SC; John aged 12 born in SC; Samuel aged 10 born in SC; David aged 9 born in SC; Lillie aged 5 born in SC; Chris aged 3 born in Alabama; Margaret aged 5 months born in Alabama. Note: this is a POSSIBLE enumeration for our Alexander Bethune; questions arise when viewing the male aged 12 in this census enumeration as Alexander was present in his brother's household in 1860 unmarried; ........, reseach regarding his service in War between the States is ongoing.Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1871 - On . January 18, 1871, the Will of Norman McLeod, husband of Betsy McLeod is probated in Pike County Alabama. It is assumed that he is buried at Orion Methodist Cemetery along with Betsy, who died in 1881 and their son, Angus, who died in 1856. Rootsweb.com McLeod Message Board accessed by Lori McLeod Wilke

1880 - 1890
1880 Census Place Orion, Pike, Alabama Family History Library Film 1254029 NA Film Number T9-0029 Page Number 89D - Margaret McLeod Menneffee - daughter of Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod

Will G. MENIFEE Self Married Male White aged 48 born GA occupation Farmer parents born in GA in GA Margarett MENIFEE Wife Married Female White aged 47 born in SC Keeping House father born in SCOTLAND mother born in NC Alice MENIFEE Dau S Female W 21 AL Literary Teacher GA SC Melissa MENIFEE Dau S Female W 19 AL House Keeper GA SC Eugene MENIFEE Son S Male W 18 AL Farm Laborer GA SC Joseph MENIFEE Son S Male W 15 AL Farm Laborer GA SC Elex MENIFEE Son S Male W 13 AL Farm Laborer GA SC Columbus MENIFEE Son S Male W 11 AL Farm Laborer GA SC Thomas MENIFEE Son S Male W 10 AL GA SC Norman MENIFEE Son S Male W 8 AL GA SC Eulalia MENIFEE Dau S Female W 7 AL GA SC Maggie MENIFEE Dau S Female W 5 AL GA SC Census Research at Ancestry.com Census On Line by Lori McLeod Wilke 2003 - 2006

1888 - Elizabeth aka Betsy McLeod, daughter of Angus and Nancy McCutchen McLeod of Scotland, Richmond County NC and Sumter County SC died on April 17th. She is buried at Orion Methodist Church Cemetery Pike County, Alabama, near to her son, Angus McLeod who died in 1856. Pike County Alabama Message Board;, "Electronic," accessed by Lori McLeod Wilke

1890 - onwards
1906 - Margaret McLeod Menefee, daughter of Norman and Betsy McLeod McLeod died on April 07, 1906 and was buried in the Orion Methodist Ch. Cem. Pike Co. AL Rootsweb World Connect Databased IDI20408 Mary Stearnes Henley, http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=marjoeal&id=I20408.

According to the writings of Angus McDonald, the husband of Mary McKay (youngest daughter of John and Polly McLeod McKay) several family members eventually migrated to San Marcos Texas. The year of migration has not yet been determined but appears to have been between 1878 and 1883 according the birth places of two of the children of Malcolm McKay (see below) .

Information indicates that the following family members migrated to Texas:

Malcolm McKay, son of John L. McKay and Nancy Chisholm McCaskill, grandson of John McKay and Polly McLeod McKay

Peter McKay, son of John L. McKay and Nancy Chisholm McCaskill, grandson of John McKay and Polly McLeod McKay

Donald Christopher McDonald, son of Charlotte McKay and Archibald McDonald, grandson of John McKay and Polly McLeod McKay

Ann McDonald, daughter of Charlotte McKay and Archibald McDonald, granddaughter of John McKay and Polly McLeod McKay

To read more about those named above

Children of John and Polly McLeod McKay

As this is sideline research, it is uncertain whether research into the next generation, those in Alabama and those in Texas, will be completed by this researcher. It would be wonderful if any information found or presently known regarding these families be shared. If you can finish the story, please email me at [email protected]. Thank you. Lori McLeod Wilke (......, Donald Sr., Jesse, Alex II, Alex I, Angus)