Nancy Ann McKenzie

Notes:

The followig information was sent to the author in Augsut, 2018 by Phil Brode. As one will see after reviewing the information, the location of the grave of Nancy Ann Porter is in dispute. Michael A. McKenzie August 27, 2018

The Nancy Ann (McKenzie) Porter burial site has "wandered" a bit over the years for the 'assignment' in my records. For years I just assumed it was in a now unmarked grave at Porter Cemetery at Rose Meadow. Seemed reasonable when we thought the old story about John Porter's pioneer movements from Wellersburg Pa, to Mount Savage MD to ultimately getting Rose Meadow as Revolutionary War service payment, occurred much earlier than her death. Why not? (And, not unexpected that her marker would be 'lost' considering she died earlier than John & his marker is so small & primitive as well.)

But then two things challenged this idea and sent me on a search. Thanks to the superman abilities with deed searching by Scott et. al. of the Williams clan, we learned that the two 50 acre plots that were Rose Meadow proper, were not originally owned by John Porter as per the old story of his selection, BUT were purchased by John Porter from John Matthews in the mid to late 1790's. My wobbly records for Nancy Ann's death include dates of 1786 or 1788 or 1789 depending on the source, all before John bought and settled Rose Meadow. In addition, for some time, Find-A-Grave had her place of burial as Allegany County Cemetery, Cumberland MD. While visiting western Maryland one time, my mother & I took off to find this site. We found a well kept cemetery, with very few marked graves, but many many graves without markers; only to learn that this was the Potter's/Pauper's cemetery, hence unmarked graves. Suddenly this seemed to be a dead-end; no pun was intended or noticed until I typed those words. Why would someone as well off as John Porter be burying his wife there? And, why there instead of close to one of his western Maryland residences at the time of her death. I won't believe that source, until supported with cemetery records if they exist. So, she's most likely not at PC@RM if the deed records & her death dates are correct, but where is she?

The following information was sent to the writer, Michael A. Mckenzie by Scott Carter Williams in August, 2018:

All,

We have always been dependent on Samuel Doak Porters' (SDP) book for information about Nancy McKenzie (b. 1746, m 1767, d. no given). Phil Brode believes that her passing was in either 1786, 88, or 89. I am hopeful that the Colonel Gabriel T. MacKenzie’s microfilm will yield something more like source material. We know from SDP's book that he and the Colonel corresponded and the notes that I have seen so far support that. Attached is some of the Colonel’s notes regarding Nancy and John Porter Jr, plus a published page that he references in his notes regarding Gabriel McKenzie's early presence in Western Maryland - perhaps predating the end of the French and Indian War (1763). We see elsewhere that Gabriel is selling land on Pipe Creek, and this may (or may not) indicate a move in the making.

I am also attaching a resource written by SDP on the history of the Sloan family. The Sloans and the Percys were Scottish families who immigrated to WM in the 1830s and assisted the Porters in making the coal mines on Federal Hill (Rose Meadow) viable. The families soon intermarried (see a pattern?? :).

The hand written notes by the Colonel in the first attachment are from an informant named "Ann Sloan" who is referenced in the second document as a granddaughter of John M. Porter (Squire Jack). This makes her the grand-grand daughter of John Porter Jr. (b. 1737). The reason that I share this article is this quote from SDP:

"Several of his (John Porter Jr's) and Nancy's brothers came with him to Allegany County and settled near him."

Gabriel and sons may have been settled west of Fort Cumberland as early as the 1750s or 60s according the Century of Growth book. We know from Bedford Co Census documents that both John Porter and Gabriel McKenzie (and sons) were there just before the war broke out. We also know that the identified sons of Moses Sr (Moses Jr, Joshua, and Jessie) enlisted and served in Frederick County during the war (not near Fort Cumberland). Therefore, if Nancy came west with John Porter and her brothers at the same time (pre-war) it would follow that "Nancy's brothers" may have been Gabriel's sons, not Moses Sr's. The theory, however, could be negated if Moses Sr had older sons (closer to Nancy's age) that moved at the same time as Gabriel.

We have much to learn, and I am hopeful that the Colonel’ss notes will bear more fruit for us.

Best Regards,

Scott Williams

The writer, Michael A. Mckenzie responded to Scott with the following email. This information is being placed here so that current and future researchers will know and understand the thought processes that played out w/r/t to the topic of just whom was Nancy Ann McKenzie's father.

Here is the reply email:

Hi All:

So many emails, so much to think about.

I am still going through emails from the past few days and reflecting on what was written.

Scott stated below: "Several of his (John Porter Jr's) and Nancy's brothers came with him to Allegany County and settled near him."

Gabriel and sons may have been settled west of Fort Cumberland as early as the 1750s or 60s according the Century of Growth book. We know from Bedford Co Census documents that both John Porter and Gabriel (and sons) were there just before the war broke out. We also know that the identified sons of Moses Sr (Moses Jr, Joshua, and Jessie) enlisted and served in Frederick County during the war (not near Fort Cumberland). Therefore, if Nancy came west with John Porter and her brothers at the same time (pre-war) it would follow that "Nancy's brothers" may have been Gabriel's sons, not Moses Sr's. The theory, however, could be negated if Moses Sr had older sons (closer to Nancy's age) that moved at the same time as Gabriel.

I would like to explore this for a minute because I think Scott may have hit upon something that would cause me to put Nancy Ann McKenzie as the daughter of Gabriel and not Moses, Sr.

Here is my thinking: If SDP is correct and Nancy’s brothers travelled west with them, the ages of the respective brothers make me lean towards them being the sons of Gabriel.

Let’s pick a date, say 1772. Gabriel’s son’s, Samuel and Daniel, would be 21 and 20 respectively.

Picking the same date, 1772, Moses Sr.’s sons would be 12, 10 and 8.

If one is travelling west with their brothers, I tend to lean to the older brothers and not a group of youngsters aged 8-12. Also, men in their 20’s would be “settling near her”, whereas youngsters aged 8-12 would need to be taken care of by others. When we couple this analysis with Racheal (Rachill) McKenzie placing Joshua in indentureship in 1768, it seems to support the hypothesis that Nancy was the daughter of Gabriel and not of Moses, Sr.

Just food for thought as we continue our quest.

Thoughts anyone?

Regards

Mike McKenzie

And, just to make certain we were well grounded, Ann Stansbarger wrote in response:

Hi All,

I recommend caution when it comes to Nancy Ann and here is why. We have to think about what was happening with the two brothers, Gabriel McKenzie and Moses McKenzie Sr. Gabriel began selling his properties one by one in Frederick Co at about the time of the end of the French and Indian War (1763). He had plans to move his family to western MD, which we know he ultimately did. His brother Moses, according to legend, sold his farm and was robbed and killed on the road. This would have been sometime after Joshua was conceived 1763-64 and before Joshua went into indenture, 1768 — exactly the same time Gabriel was getting ready for his move.

When Moses Sr was killed his family was thrown into turmoil. Rachel pleaded for her widow’s share of Moses’ inheritance. She said in the petition she had small children to take care of and had no money. Any older children of Moses, if there had been any, must have had to find their own way.

Were there older children? There had to have been. I don’t have the reference handy but I know it is on the MOEM site. There was “old John” McKenzie who died in Allegany Co in the mid 1790s. His estate was administered by Moses McKenzie Jr. Old John could not have been a son of Gab’l because Gab’l already had a son John. This Old John was in all likelihood a brother of Moses Jr (b1760). Since he was “old” in the mid 1790s, that says he was probably born in the mid 1740’s - about the time of Nancy Ann’s birth.

After Moses Sr died I think there was work for the older children of Moses with their uncle Gabriel. He would have needed help to clear land on his new farm in western MD, and he would have needed help farming his old lands left behind in Frederick Co, until they were eventually all sold off.

Nancy Ann, if she was a daughter of Moses, would have gotten married as soon as possible after her father’s death.

Sorry it isn’t more concrete.

Best, Ann

Then Nathan Williams added:

Ann and all,

Very important facts to keep in mind concerning Moses and family structure. I have a few points of concern over Moses Sr. being daddy based on what we know, and don't know.

- Moses' wife was said to be a Porter, daughter of John Porter, emigrant. Like other myths, we can't confirm or refute it but if true, it would mean Nancy Ann McKenzie was the niece of her husband, John Porter of Bedford/Allegany. People married close relatives, we have our share, but marrying a niece would seem strange.

- As researchers, we struggle mightly with the reality we can't place ANY of our known Porters in Maryland before they show up in Bedford, PA. Their PA record is the first confirmed appearance of John and Moses Porter. Henry is in Maryland for the 1776 loyalty oath. I will let my Uncle Scott answer Allan specifically about John Porter, emigrant, but to be honest, he is a ghost. We have no records in the US to show he existed. Our paper trail starts with his alleged sons John, Moses, and Henry Porter on the frontier.

I think that is why Moses causes us some problems. We can't really place any Porters down near the McKenzies in downstate Maryland, despite the oral stories that they were multi-generational connections between them. We are more in our comfort zone with Gabe, since he was a known neighbor, and the relationship could have started in PA, not downstate Maryland.

Now, none of that means Nancy couldn't have been living with Gabe on the frontier, or that the Porter brothers did live near Hobson's Choice, but left no records. The lack of hard dates matter too. For instance, MOEM, speculates the Porter-McKenzie marriage took place before Moses Sr's death on the road. Although, I think all those dates are estimates.

https://mckenziesofearlymaryland.com/getperson.php?personID=I00129&tree=McKenzie1
Moses Sr. McKenzie b. Abt 1720 Hopson's Choice, Maryland d. Abt 1767: The McKenzies of Early Maryland
mckenziesofearlymaryland.com
Moses Sr. McKenzie b. Abt 1720 Hopson's Choice, Maryland d. Abt 1767: The McKenzies of Early Maryland


Nathan

And, to stir the pot one more time, Scott Williams added:

Ann,

As you can imagine, the "ick" factor of niece/uncle thing has probably been of more concern to our side of the tree than yours *smile*, but I have an (almost) elegant solution that solves several problems at once:

•Moses Sr has a first marriage (to a non-Porter :)) that produces Nancy McKenzie and *some* older brothers
•Moses Sr has a later marriage to a Porter (Nancy Jane Rachel?) that produces the younger brothers (Moses Jr, Jessie, and Joshua)

Problem solved - and all very speculative. BUT I have noted that something changed Col. GT Mack's mind from Gabe to Moses Sr as the father of Nancy during the course of his research - so (again) time for us (the ATL gang) to better review the Col's material and get it into a format where it can be useful in research.

What you have shown, however, in these first emails is your perception of a family in crisis due to the death of a father and documented responses to duress. So if the speculation above is accurate, and we have documented Porters (Philip and maybe an older Nancy) in proximity to the Moses Sr family in about 1768 acting as part of the solution, we have really moved the ball.

I ask one question - does Team McKenzie know the origin of the Moses Sr murder story, or have an "earliest source" record of it? In my newspaper searches I found a plaintive request from a reader to the weekly column of legendary Cumberland Md columnist J. William Hunt in the 1950s seeking information on the incident. The reader's name was included and if that adds some value, I could try to find the original item and share it with you. Mr. Hunt requested that responses go directly to the reader, and not to the newspaper - ARGH!

Beyond that, I am going to leave the topic for awhile, having sufficiently stirred the pot for now :)

Scott

On September 17, 2018 the writer, Michael A. McKenzie wrote to the Porter/McKenzie Research Group and asked if anyone was aware of any primary source documents concerning Nancy McKenzie Porter. The reply later that day from Alan Williams was as follows:

My short answer is that I am not (aware of any primary source documents). One thing that’s certain is that it’s in the naming of her children that we encounter the name confusion as we had last night. Assuming Nancy to be a McKenzie (a very safe bet, I think) she names children after her husband, her father, and her uncle. No Jessies or Joshua’s though. One of the results is that Porters and McKenzie’s are shot through for generations with Gabriel, Moses, Michael and Samuels.

Porters have no first name ‘Bennett’, Rachel and Harriet (as well as Eleanor and Mary and Sarah) are popular for girls.

Both Moses and John Porter also favored Samuel in their boys, and Moses line later introduces ‘Scott’ as a frequent middle name and well as Ellis. Scott appears at a time that it may reference General Winfield Scott, the Military hero (1812 through the Mexican War) and 1852 Presidential candidate.


Needless to say, the writer concludes after these great exchanges, that something "more" will need to be located/discovered before the answer to the question posed will be known once and for all. Was Nancy the daughter of Moses (b. abt. 1720) or was she the daughter of Gabriel (b. abt. 1715)? That remains the question. Michael A. McKenzie, September 18, 2018

Nancy married John Thomas Jr. Porter in 1767 in Carroll County, Maryland. John (son of John Porter and Eleanor Durier) was born in 1737 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died in 1810 in Allegany County, Maryland; was buried in 1810 in Eckhart Mines, Allegany, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Michael Porter was born about 1768 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died in UNKNOWN.
2. Samuel Porter was born about 1770 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died about 1828.
3. Thomas Porter was born about 1772 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died on 24 Apr 1854 in Knox County, Ohio.
4. Gabriel McKenzie Porter was born on 17 Sep 1776 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died on 20 Apr 1842 in Tinsman Station, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
5. Henry Porter was born in 1778 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died in UNKNOWN.
6. Moses Porter was born in Apr 1781 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Maryland; died on 2 Nov 1861 in Eckhart Mines, Allegany County, Maryland.
7. John M. (Squire Jack) Porter was born on 24 Jun 1783 in Wellersburg, Somerset County, Pennsylvania; died on 15 Feb 1863 in Rose Meadows, Maryland.
8. Elizabeth Eleanor (Nellie) Porter was born about 1785 in Wellersburg, Somerset County, Pennsylvania; died in 1855 in Allegany County, Maryland.

Notes:

From the notes of Philip J. Dietz, Jr. of McLean, Virginia:

Moses inherited 96 acres of McKenzie's Discovery from his father John II in 1758. He was murdered near Cumberland by a robber on returning home with the proceeds from having sold a farm.

Children of Moses McKenzie and Nancy Porter are:
i.   Nancy Ann McKenzie, born 1741 in Hopson's Choice, Baltimore Co.,Md.; died Aft 1786 in Allegany Co., Md.; married John Porter 1765 in Carroll Co., Md..
ii.   Samuel McKenzie, born 1759 in Frederick Co., Md..
iii.   Moses McKenzie,Jr., born 1760 in Frederick Co., Md.; died March 24, 1824 in Cresaptown, Md.; married Sarah McKenzie December 1784 in Hampshire Co., Va.
iv.   Jesse McKenzie, born 1762 in Frederick Co., Md.; died 1818; married Catherine Jones January 22, 1787.
v.   John McKenzie, born 1773.

From Bobbie McKenzie:

I hired Ann Silva, a professional genealogist, about 20 years ago. She found thisin a box of loose papers at the archives. Thisis verbatim ofwhat she sent me. Too fragile to let her Xerox it.

----- Original Message -----
From: Michael McKenzie
To: 'bobbie mckenzie'
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 9:08 PM
Subject: RE: Moses of John 1758

All new to me as well. First I’ve seen that Moses may have been married twice. Racheal MacKenzie’s letter to the “Comacar of Annarandel County” is great. Do you have the document that reflects that language so that I can post it on the web site? Let me know.

Regards

Mike

From: bobbie mckenzie [mailto:dmckenzie@charter.net]
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:05 PM
To: Michael McKenzie
Subject: Moses of John 1758

Moses
B. ca 1720
M 1) ? ca 1745-50
M 2) by 1758 Rachael ______
D. by 1767
Issue M 1)
1. Nancy m Porter (per Samuel Doak Porter’s book, no proof)
2. Jonathan per Doak
3. Bennett ( name in Durbin line.
4. George H. per Doak
5. Margaret per undocumented sources
Issue M 2)
Moses b. 1760
Joshua
Jesse
DATA
Received 96 a of McKenzie’s Discovery in will of father John 1758

Box 90 Anne Arundel Co Testamony Bond
“To Goldis Bary, Comacar of Annarandel County Piston (?)
I the wife of Mosses Mackenzie ounble begs that you not alaw any admenatrator n my husbands for he is now dead.. James Cord wonst to admanstor I bag you will not let him if you administrator, let me have the….of it but if their moust administrator it roun me and my small children, to what I have. I have what little I have taken away from the hole a state will a mount to about 20 pounds. My husband paid all his debts before he died as I know of but if their should any to pay I will pay them although neather cattle nor hogs nor norses only one old mare to help my self with. From me Richell Mackenzie”

30 May 1767 p.684 BB No 3 Rachael, widow of Moses, sold 32 acres of MacKenzie’s Discovery to John Cord, a blacksmith. (This would be her widow’s third.)

There is no record of the inventory or administration of the estate of Moses so this sale was probably negated.

26 Aug 1783 Moses of Moses sold all of McKenzie’s Discovery to James Cord
Evidently Rachael is dead by then, but again no inventory or administration unless she married again and those records would be under another surname. Possibility that Moses was with her on the home place, as youngest or oldest. He did not marry until 1785. No Equity Case found so evidently other children of Moses of John d. 1758 did not protest sale.

1790 Allegheny Co Pa census, portion taken from Washington Co
Jesse McKenzie 1 m 16+
John McKenzie 1 m 16+, 1 f 16+, 1m under 16

1785 Joshua m. Mary Jones

22 Jan. 1787 Jesse. M Catherine Jones Pitsburg, PA.

10 July 1794 Aaron witnesses will of Moses Porter (shows our McKenzie line was in Allegheny Co., PA)

25 Sept. 1814 Penn Archvies 6th Series, vol8, p 807 Jesse McKensey and Thos Jones 65th Reg., Capt Marcus Hook
vol 7, p 147 Jesse McKensey served 1st Brig 2nd Div Capt Samuel Flack reg, War if 1812, from Bucks and Montgomery counties

1791 Penn Archives Third Series, Vol. 22 Jesse McKenzie pd taxes Mifflin Twp Allegheny Co.

Jonathan: 1810 taxlist Green Co. (formed 9Feb. 1796 from Washington) PENN Archives Series 2, p. 45 Jefferson Twp, northeast corner next to Washington and Fayette Cos.)

Moses: PENN Archives Series 2, 1800 Somerset Co. (formed from Bedford 17 April 1795) census. P. 558 2 males 10-16, 1 m 26-45, 2 females under 10, 3 females 10-16, 1 female 26-45 (Moses RW listed from Bedford Co in 1796 sale of land in Allegany Co. MD)

Bennett: 1776 Bedford Co., PA tax list so born at least by 1755.

Both Jesse and Joshua, sons of Moses 1720, have sons named Bennett.

Bennett common name in Logsdon and Durbin lines.

George H. ( Must be confused with great-grandson of Moses 1720. First George McKenzie in records was the one born 1815, son of Joshua and Catherine Winters. This Joshua was son of Moses RW who was son of Moses 1720. Catherine Winters was the daughter of Geo Winter, perhaps the source of the name. Name Geo first appears in a chart by Samuel Doak Porter who shows Nicholas as son of Geo of Moses 1720. Actually Nicholas was son of Geo and Catherine and administered Geo’s estate.

Suggest: Bennett, Jonathan, Joshua, Jesse and Moses all end up in Pa.Coincidence? Jonathan, Joshua, Jesse all end up in Ohio.

From Ann Stansbarger:

With regard to the death date for Moses 1720, he was clearly dead long before 1779. I have Rachel Mckinsie listed as owing a debt to the estate of William Hall on 18 September 1771. I have Rachel selling Joshua into indenture in BA Co in 1768. And according to Bobbie, on 30 May 1767 AA Co Land Records P 684, BB No. 3 Rachel sold (unsuccessfully?) a portion of Mackenzie’s Discovery to James Cord. I don’t have this document. Have you ever seen it?

Based on everything I’ve seen, I do believe Moses was dead by 1767.

Ann

Thoughts from Ann McKenzie Stansbarger in an email to the author September 13, 2018:

Hi Mike,

The others will give you there own view on research objectives but I for one am thinking that Moses McKenzie became acquainted with the Porters because they had tenant farms near each other. This would answer the question about when and where the Mackenzies first met the Porters.

My working hypothesis is that Moses was working a tenant farm prior to his father’s death. After his father’s death in ‘58, he had access to an additional 96 acres which was part of Mackenzie’s Discovery. I suspect there was no house on this plot, so Moses and the family may have continued to live on the tenant farm for a time. If the tenant farm was in AA, they could have worked the two farms easily.

If the legend has a grain of truth in it, then Moses decided to sell his additions to the tenant farm (improvements, animals) and move on to a new stage in his life, either in AA, making due with 96 acres, or ultimately cashing out and moving west. That is when disaster struck and he died unexpectedly.

My hypotheses is that he died on the road alone and his body was never found. The story of the murder is one that the Porters have preserved. I believe that is what Rachel thought.

Anyway, it is a lot of conjecture on my part, but it makes sense to me. It would be nice to find something that would allow us to put this story to rest once and for all.

Also it would be great if we could find a connection between the families within the enclave of tenant farmers on one of the Charles Carroll parcels.

Best, Ann

Moses + Nancy Jane (Rachel) Porter. Nancy was born in 1725; died after 1767. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It’s exciting that Don Kagle was able to find this document (i.e. the letter from Rachel McKenzie to the administrator of Moses' estate). In the typed copy I got from a professional researcher the date was given as 1767. As I understand Testamentary Papers are the minutes of the Prerogative Court which functioned until the Revolution handling probate so Rachel’s letter would have been read at an early 1767 meeting of the Prerogative Court. We can probably shore up the date with the document, probably Orphans Court, that Ann Stansbarger found apprenticing Joshua age 3 or 4 .In May, 1767 Rachael, listed as widow of Moses, sold 32 acres (her widow’s third) of McKenzie’s Discovery to John Cord. p684 BB No 3 Anne Arundel Co.

The file information pertaining to the aforementioned letter dated 1767 is: Prerogative Court (Testamentary Papers) 90 (MdHR 1331; 1-13-13-1) Letter re Moses MacKenzie, n.d. Box 90 Folder 9, Front Only [1] 04/21/88 Tracking No.: 35845. PD No.: 88-02158.

Notes:

The following information has been supplanted by a book entitled "The McKenzies/MacKenzies of Maryland" which will soon be available on line. Ed. Note by Michael A. McKenzie November 15, 2013

McKenzies of Early Maryland-The First Generation

Ed. Note: John's name was spelled "MacKinzie" in his Will dated 1758. For ease of access to this portion of the web site, I have used the Spelling"McKenzie". Michael A. McKenzie, November, 2012.

By: Bobbie McKenzie, Dick MacKenzie, Michael McKenzie and Ann McKenzie Stansbarger (1) – the numbers in parentheses in this document coincide with the endnotes.

This document currently is a “work in progress”. It contains the known historical data with respect to John and Katherine MacKinzie. The authors goal was to separate fact from lore. The authors currently are reviewing all available historical information to make certain that the data presented is accurate. If you are aware of data that conflicts with any of the current citations, please bring it to the attention of Michael A. McKenzie, macmck@bellsouth.net.

John MacKinzie (2) was born in abt. 1687. (3) The location of his birth is not known. He married Katherine, last name unknown, in circa 1714. (4) Katherine’s birth date and the location of her birth likewise are unknown. (5) John and Katherine had six children:

1.Gabriel McKenzie (6) (7)
Born circa 1715, Hopson’s Choice, MD
Married Sarah Durbin 1742, Baltimore MD (8)
Had children Samuel, Daniel, John, Aaron, Sarah and Gabriel, Jr.(9)
Died 1793, Allegany Co, MD

2.Daniel MacKinzie
Born 7 Feb 1716/17 in Hopsons Choice, MD
Married 1738 Mary (Molly) Porter (9.5)
Had children Henry, Daniel, Eli, Honor, Mary, Eleanor, Orphay and Aaron (10)
Died 1783

3.Moses McKenzie
Born about 1720 in Hopson's Choice, MD
Married Rachel _______, who was his wife at the time of his death in 1767
Had children Nancy Ann, Moses, Jesse, Joshua, and (possibly), John (11)(12) (13);
Died circa 1767, in Unknown, MD

4.Anne McKenzie
Born circa 1725, Hopson’s Choice, MD
Married John Mattox before 1750
Had children Michael (Michael McKenzie Mattox) and John. Michael McKenzie Mattox moved to Georgia and died in Tattnall County. (14)

5.Aaron McKenzie
Born circa 1725-1730, Hopson's Choice, MD
Married Jemima Unknown.
Had children William, John, Aaron, Amelia (Millie), Nancy and Margaret (15)
Died 1797, Hancock County, Georgia

6.Michael McKenzie
Born circa 1727, Hopson’s Choice, MD
Had children Aaron, Daniel, William, Michael, Jr, and (possibly) Samuel (16)
Died circa 1810



John MacKinzie/MacKenzie was a planter/farmer in Baltimore County. The area in which his plantation was located eventually became part of Anne Arundel County. In 1840, the area became known as the Howard section of Anne Arundel County and in 1851 Howard County became an official county of Maryland.

In January, 1716, John obtained a Warrant for 100 acres of land in (then) Baltimore County. The warrant referenced that the property was called “Hopson’s Choice” and was located “on the south side of the main falls of the Patapsco River.” (17) The property was resurveyed in 1741 and reflected that it contained 172 acres of land. (18) Between 1718 and 1721, he obtained a warrant for an additional 100 acres of land also located in (then) Baltimore County known as “Addition to Hopson’s Choice”. The warrant likewise stated that the property lay “on south side of the main falls of the Patapsco River.” (19)

In March 1719, John MacKenzie and nine other inhabitants “of both sides of the Main Falls of Potapsco” petitioned the court “that . . . Christopher Randall may allow us our common and ancient road” allowing them access to the “mill and church.” (20)

He added to his property in 1726, when he acquired another 138 acres of land known as MacKinsey’s Discovery. (21) The survey of the property once again refers to land located south of the Main Falls of the Patapsco River, which is a reference point associated with all of John’s property.

During the June term of Court in 1735 in Anne Arundel County, John MacKinsie obligated himself to raise two orphan boys, Thomas Lants, age 5 and Francis Gallahors, age 3 until they reached the age of twenty-one years. In exchange for their servitude, John was charged by the Court with the responsibility of feeding and clothing the children and making certain that the boys learned how “to read write and cast up accounts.” (22)

In 1744 in Anne Arundel County a survey was conducted for John MacKenzie of “MacKinzie’s Discovery” Enlarged, 162 acres and a Patent was issued for the land. (23) Once again, it referenced that the property was located “on the south side of the main falls of Patapsco River.” (24) A map from Hopkin’s Atlas of 1878 shows property belonging to both Aaron McKenzie and David McKenzie located on the south side of the Patapsco River. (25)

John MacKinzie’s six children were born on his plantation S. of the Great Falls of the Patapsco River. (26)

John MacKinzie/MacKenzie signed his will on 17 MAR 1758. (27) He died sometime between March, 1758 and 17 JUL 1758, when his widow Katherine, and his children Daniel, Moses and Michael (and Aquila Randall) posted bond as sureties to inventory his estate. (28)(29) In his will, John Mackinzie bequeathed to his son Daniel 96 acres out of two tracts called “Hopson’s Choice” (30), and “Addition to Hopson’s Choice”, to his son Moses, 96 acres, part of a tract called “McKenzie’s Discovery”, to his grandson Michael McKenzie Mattocks, son of John Mattocks and Ann McKenzie Mattocks, his wife, 50 acres, part of a tract called “Hopson’s Choice”, to his grandson William McKenzie, son of Aaron McKenzie, 96 Acres of “McKenzie’s Discovery” with the remainder of his land, 96 acres, to his son, Michael. The will mentions by name five children only, with no reference to Gabriel. Item six, however, provides that all personal property to go to his wife Katherine during her life and then to be sold and the money divided equally between his six (31) (6) children, viz. five sons and one daughter.

On 2 APR 1776 John’s grandson, William McKenzie, son of Aaron, sold to Greenbury Randall 96 acres of “McKenzie’s Discovery”. (32) The parties agreed that 1/4 acre “at the head of the great falls on the Petapsico River where John MacKenzie and his wife are buried” will be reserved. Obviously, by 1776, Katherine MacKinzie also had died. This property is now in Howard County MD, across the river from Baltimore County. (33).



Endnotes

1.The four individuals listed have collaborated on drafting the information set forth in this “Source”. They have a combined 74 years of experience researching McKenzie genealogy, as follows as of February, 2011: Bobbie Holt McKenzie, 42 years, Dick MacKenzie, 7 years, Michael McKenzie, 13 years and Ann McKenzie Stansbarger, 12 years.

2.“MacKinzie” is the actual spelling of John’s name in his will drafted in 1758. The spelling of the family name has varied quite substantially over the course of the last three centuries. Primarily, the authors have chosen to use the spelling “McKenzie” because it currently seems to be the one most prevalently used throughout the country. The author recognizes that one branch of the McKenzies has continued to spell its name “MacKenzie”. This branch descends from John McKenzie’s son, Daniel, and remained in the vicinity of Baltimore for several hundred years. (information provided by Richard Lee “Dick” MacKenzie of Pennsylvania). Finally, yet another branch of McKenzie’s currently spell their name “McKinzie”. In order to properly reflect everyone’s heritage, the current spellings of various individual’s names are reflected on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site, www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com.

In July, 2010, one of the authors of this “Source”, Michael McKenzie, received documents from the Maryland State Archives relating to the will, bond and inventory of the Estate of John MacKinzie that showed the McKenzie name to be spelled both “MacKinzie” as well as “MacKenzie”. The “MacKenzie” iteration was clearly set forth on the sleeve that held the sheaf of papers, although in various places in the documents the spelling “MacKinzie” was used. It is clear that by the early 1800’s, at least in connection with the western Maryland McKenzies, the “a” had been dropped following the “M” and the spelling eventually became “McKenzie”.

There have been numerous iterations of the spelling of the family name. Alan MacKenzie sent the following e-mail to the Clan MacKenzie web site on March 7, 2000:

The name Mackenzie was pronounced often like McKinsey hence that spelling. I once mentioned that when researching my gggrandfather in the parish of Tarbat in Easter Ross the Parish Clerk listed all Mackenzies as McKinzie. Once that parish clerk was replaced some 20 years later the name was spelled as McKenzie. So spelling from the 18th or even 19th century could be whatever people felt like. Most of the Mackenzies were farmers of one sort or another and were mostly unable to read and write. Their name was in the hands of the parish clerk. I suspect that your McKimsey is just another mis-spelling of Mackenzie. Probably a US version! When Highlanders went to England it was not uncommon to drop the Mac so they did not appear to be Highlanders from their name. Highlanders were not popular - at least not until Queen Victoria came along, or when George IV visited Scotland in 1823 or thereabouts and had a highland parade in Edinburgh. The other factor that changed the southern view of the Highlander was the large number that joined the British Army via the kilted Highland Regiments. After that we were good guys - saving the empire and all that!!! Vast numbers also served as soldiers in India with the East India Company and some of them made a lot of money doing that. A lot died too. The fact that your ancestor fought at Culloden on the Jacobite side suggest that he was a Highlander and with one of the Clans. Other than Mackenzie the only other name that sounds remotely like MacKimsey is MacKim mie (son of Simon) a Fraser Clan name. My best guess is that it is a variation of Mackenzie. By the way, the 1841 census shows no one in Ross-shire of that name MacKimsey or any variant. Alan McKenzie, Clan MacKenzie Society, Canada.


Alan MacKenzie sent the following e-mail to the Clan MacKenzie web site on March 10, 2000:

Now look at the variations of the way Mackenzie was spelled over the years in Scottish documents: Makcainze 1570; Makcanze 1571; M'Canzeoch 1551; M'Cenzie 1560; MkEnzie 1678; M'Einzie 1549; McHinzie, McHingzie, M'Hunzie, McKinzie 1684; M'Kainzie, M'Kenzoch 1586; McKanye 1590; McKanyee 1629; M'Kanze 1544; Mackeanche, Makkanchy 1499; M'Keanzie 1662; Makeinny 1629; Makeinzie 1597; McKenyee 1642; McKenyie 1650; Makenze 1528; Makkangze, McKangzie1569; Makkanze 1573; Makkeeinzey 1649; M'Kenezie, M'Keinezie 1620; McKeinzie 1633; M'Kenich 1532; Makkeny 1663; Makkenych 1567; Makkennych 1545; Makkenze 1509; McKenzocht 1546; McKenzy 1721; M'Kinze 1530; Makkinze 1513; M'Kynich 1718. Dr George Fraser Black who compiled this massive piece of valuable research was born 1866 and died 1948. He was a historical scholar on the staff of The New York Public Library from 1896-1931 and spent half a century on the research for his book "The Surnames of Scotland – Their Origin, Meaning and History".

3.Ann McKenzie Stansbarger located a deposition in the Maryland Archives given by John MacKinney (actual spelling) in 1745 in which he stated his age as being 58. His testimony reflects that he was born in 1687, not 1694 as stated on many genealogy web sites. The document is indexed in More Maryland Deponents 1716-1799 by Henry C. Peden, Jr., as follows: “MacKinney, John, age 58 in 1745 (AA 2:233). The document has been posted on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site. You can access the document by searching for “McKenzie, John” on the home page and then scrolling through the “Johns” until you reach McKenzie/MacKenzie, John born 1687. Go to John’s home page and scroll until you locate the document.

4.The authors cannot locate any written reference that substantiates that Katherine’s maiden name was “Gabriel”, which is the last name reflected on many McKenzie genealogy web site listings. If anyone knows of a written reference for her last name, please contact Michael McKenzie at macmck@bellsouth.net so that the information can be posted on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site.

5.The authors have not been able to locate a document that reflects Katherine’s birthdate as being 1692, nor have they located any document to substantiate that she was born in Ireland, which is a “fact” that has permeated the Internet for at least the last dozen years. If you have documentation to substantiate a birth date for Katherine , please contact the Michael McKenzie at macmck@bellsouth.net.

6.IMPORTANT PIECE OF CONNECTING GENEALOGICAL EVIDENCE: Per the handwritten research notes of Gabriel T. McKenzie, U.S. Army (ret.), Gabriel McKenzie was designated as the person to make an inventory of John MacKinzie’s personal effects after John’s death in 1758. Gabriel was designated as the “nearest next-of-kin” to make the accounting. One of the authors, Michael A. McKenzie secured this document from the Maryland State Archives in July, 2010. It is the personal property inventory of John MacKinzie’s estate. At the end of it, Gabriel McKenzie is listed as the “nearest relation”. The document is located at Perogative Court (Inventories) Box 68, pp. 54-56, at p. 56, John MacKenzie, 1758 [MSA S534-69]. This document proves conclusively that Gabriel was the “sixth” and unnamed child in John MacKinzie’s will. The document has been posted on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site.

7.More detailed information pertaining to John’s six children is set forth in “Source #3” in the “Sources” section of the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site.

8.The authors have searched for the written record that reflects Gabriel’s marriage to Sarah Durbin, but have never located it. If you have a copy or know where it is located, please contact Michael McKenzie at macmck@bellsouth.net.

9.Ann Stansbarger’s analysis of the children of Gabriel, with which the other authors agree, flows as follows: Gabriel MacKenzie (actual spelling – Ann, is this correct?) was listed along with three other McKinseys --Samuel, Daniel and Aaron -- in the 1778 Washington County Oaths of Fidelity. A man had to be 18 years of age or older to take the Oath, so this is an indication that Samuel, Daniel and Aaron were all born prior to 1760. By the time of the 1783 Maryland Tax Assessment, Gabriel McKinsey was listed in Wills Town and Sandy Creek Hundred, Washington County, with five other McKinseys: Samuel, Daniel, Aaron, plus John and Gabriel Jr. Gabriel (Sr.) and four others of the name were listed together on page 17, while Gabriel Jr., also of Wills Town and Sandy Creek Hundred, was listed separately on page 64 under the heading of “Bachelors.” Gabriel, Jr. was most likely the youngest. In 1793 Gabriel “Jr.” sold his father’s land (Military Lot 3365) to Peter Majors. Maryland State Archives [MSA S1188-1536 From SL 40,162] Allegany County. This strongly suggests that Gabriel Sr. was deceased by that time. . On 1 April 1802 "John McKinsey of Gabriel" sold to Wm Stidger Military Lot 3683 west of Fort Cumberland and a tract called Mathews Addition. (Allegany Co Deed Bk C, p 475, April 1802). On 31st of March 1802 came Linday McKensey, wife of John, to relinguish her dower right.. Gabriel Jr. and John are linked to Gabriel through contemporary land documents. Based on their close physical proximity during the above period and the fact that Gabriel was the only Generation Two McKenzie male in Western Maryland at the time, the logical inference that can be drawn from the physical evidence is that, in addition to John and Gabriel Jr., the other three McKinseys -- Samuel, Daniel, and Aaron -- were also sons of Gabriel b 1715.

Gabriel Sr. may have had a will but, but if so, it has not survived.

Identifying the female children of Gabriel McKenzie and his wife Sarah has been more difficult than identifying the male children. Sarah McKenzie married Moses McKenzie, the Revolutionary War soldier in December 1784 in Hampshire VA (now West Virginia) on the other side of the Potomac River from Allegany Co MD. Lucy M. Vicker of Allegany Co. MD aged 69 submitted an affidavit stating that she was present at the marriage of Moses McKenzie and Sarah McKenzie the latter also being named McKenzie. We know that Gabriel Sr’s brother, Aaron, son of John of Hopson’s Choice, moved to VA and later to GA, with his family. None of the other siblings of Gabriel Sr. moved their families to western Maryland. For this reason the logical inference that can be drawn from the factual record is that Sarah McKenzie was a daughter of Gabriel McKenzie and Sarah Durbin. That would have meant that Sarah was a first cousin to Moses the RW soldier at the time they married.

As Bobbie Holt McKenzie further pointed out in February, 2011, “the old Scottish naming pattern supports this: first son for husband's father; in our cases i.e. John. First daughter for wife's mother. Second son for wife's father. Second daughter for husband's mother. Doesn't always work, but it can help. Actually Moses and Sarah were married by a traveling Catholic priest Rev. Frumbaugh at the home of Jacob Slagle, who also owned property in Allegany County. Probably married there (Hampshire Co.) because he was closest priest at the time. Usually a priest would only marry if both parties were Catholic. So both Moses and Sarah must have been Catholic. If both Catholic and related i.e. first cousins (first degree of consanguinity) they would need a special dispensation to marry. That's been my only hesitation in saying Sarah is daughter of Gabriel. But "frontier" marriages may not have observed this rule. We know that they did at St. Patrick's in early 1800 McKenzie marriages.”

9.5.To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no documentation extant that supports that Daniel married Mary (Molly) Porter in 1738. (Check this with Bobbie)

10.Bobbie Holt McKenzie wrote the following e-mail to Michael McKenzie in 1999:

There should be no confusion over the children of Daniel and his brother Gabriel. Daniel's children are detailed in his will and in subsequent land dealings selling their inherited land.

Liber BC & GS folio 215.
1783 3 Sept. Anne Arundel County Will of Daniel, aged 66 on 7 Feb 1783, divides [700?] acres of "Molly's Fancy," other land and personal property among wife Mary and eight children. Henry, Daniel, Eli, Honor [Mrs. Thomas Johnston], Mary [later Mrs. William Jones], Eleanor [later Mrs. Joshua Harp], and Orphay [Mrs. Joshua Young] receive 100 A each (of "Molly's Fancy") in Dist. #6, Frederick Co. Son Aaron is given all land owned in Anne Arundel co. upon the death of Daniel's widow Mary.

11.The authors currently have no documentation of Nancy Ann as daughter of Moses except a statement in Samuel Doak Porter's book. Per the research and analysis of Bobbie Holt McKenzie, Moses b. 1760 was probably the first-born of a second marriage. In 1783 he is listed as "Moses of Anne Arundel Co." when he sells the remainder of the property left to his father by John 1758. The right of primogeniture was still honored then, so Moses 1760 as the oldest son would inherit the right to his father's property. It also is clear from records at the National Archives that Moses, Jesse and Joshua were three brothers who served in the same battalion in the RW and all are considered to be sons of Moses b. abt. 1720..

Most probably there were other older children besides John d. 1792. At the time of Moses' death in 1767 if Rachael were responsible for children other than Moses, Jesse and Joshua, she most likely would have apprenticed any under 18 (she did apprentice her son Joshua) or had herself or someone appointed guardians.

12.A “John” died ca 1792 in Allegany Co. Moses, Daniel and Gabriel signed bond as administrators on March 12, 1792. Bond says John was very old and very poor. Inventory shows it. Adm Accounts Allegany Co.

22 March 1792 John McKinsy, estate appraisers: Daniel & Moses McKenzie, Wm Shaw, Evan Gwynne

11 Oct 1796 John McKinsy estate. Moses McKensy, adm. Accounts paid to Robert Sinclair & I King, John Willuts, Daniel McKinsey, Evan Gwynne, Ezekial Whiteman

The Moses referenced in the preceding paragraph is most probably Moses RW b. 1760, son of Moses of John. There are no other Generation 3 Moses old enough to have served in this capacity. The “Gabriel” referenced several paragraphs above is probably the Uncle of John and Moses. We know Gabriel was the oldest son of John MacKinzie based upon the records of the administration of John MacKinzie’s estate in the late 1750’s. Gabriel died 1793 so he does not appear in any subsequent records pertaining to the estate of John McKenzie, died circa 1792 in Allegheny County, Maryland. The “Daniel” referenced above is probably cousin to John and Moses, and son of their Uncle Gabriel. Gabriel’s son, Daniel, was born circa 1752 and is known to have been residing in western Maryland in the 1790’s.

This John d. 1792 is probably one of the first born children of Moses 1720. Taking into consideration the Scottish naming pattern, surely Moses would have had a son John. This John d. 1792 is considered by the county recorder as being "old." If he were born 1740-45, he would be ca 50, a healthy life span in the 1790s. According to a study done in Philadelphia in 1790, life expectancy in 1790 for the US population was 34.5 years for males and 36.5 years for females.

13.It is generally accepted that Moses McKenzie b. abt. 1720 had three sons who served in the RW. Through historical records and process of elimination, those three sons were Moses, b. 1760, Jesse, b. 1762 and Joshua, b. abt. 1764.

Moses McKenzie b. 1760 served as a drummer boy in Revolutionary War beginning at age 18. He enlisted at Frederick Town, Maryland and was discharged at Annapolis. He fought in the Battle of White Plains 1778, the Battle of Monmouth, and the Siege of Yorktown. He was a member of the Maryland Line. Moses served as a drummer in Lt. Col. Ludwig Weltner's German Battalion. Muster Rolls of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution , Baltimore Maryland Historical Society 1900 He received a Federal Land Warrant on April 8, 1793 for 100 acres of land (that being Federal Warrant Number 11,514) for his service in the Revolutionary War. Revolutionary Records, Harry Wright Newman, Genealogical Publishing Company (1993), page 72, originally published 1938. Ed. Note:
The name was spelled McKinsey at the time. In addition to Moses McKenzie's Federal Land Warrant, his brothers also applied for and received land warrants of their own. Jesse McKinsey received Federal Land Warrant 11,513 and Joshua McKinsey received Federal Land Warrant 11, 514. In view of the sequential numbering of these warrants, it appears that the brothers applied for them at the same time which suggests a family relationship between the three.

Moses McKenzie b. 1760 was a new recruit on September 5, 1778 at White Plains. Muster Rolls of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution , Baltimore Maryland Historical Society 1900. All of the Muster Rolls reflect that his brother, Joshua McKenzie was in the same battalion and also served as a drummer boy. The records further reflect that Moses and Joshua served in Lt. Col. Weltner's battalion from 1 August 1780 until 15 November 1783. During that period of time they served as Privates.

Moses’ Federal Land Warrant reads as follows:

To the GEOGRAPHER of the UNITED STATES, or to the Surveyors appointed by him to survey the Military Lands. YOU are hereby required to Survey for MOSES MCKINSEY, a soldier in the Maryland Line during the late war - - - One Hundred Acres of Land, in any of the Districts appropriated for satisfying the Bounties of Land, due to the late Army of the United States, and return this Warrant to the Board of Treasury, agreeably to the Act of Congress of the ninth Day of July, 1788.

Given at the War Office, this
Eight Day of April One
Thousand. Seven Hundred and Ninetysix.

James McHenry
Sec. of War


Registered

(on back)

For value received I hereby assign
all my right and claim to the
within warrant unto Samuel Arnold, Senr.
as Witness my hand and seal
this fourth day of November
1796
his
Moses X McKinsey
Mark (6)

By an Act of the Maryland Legislature in 1777, it was ordered that a bounty of 50 acres of land should be given to each able-bodied recruit who enlisted and served in the American Army for a period of three years. An additional Act was passed in 1781 directing that these lands should be chosen from the territory of the State of Maryland lying West of Fort Cumberland. History of Cumberland by Loudermilk.

Moses came from Pennsylvania to Maryland around 1794. He purchased Lot 3416 in Allegany County on December 13, 1795. He then sold that lot to Daniel Lawrence Speelman in 1798 Allegany County, Maryland real estate records, Deed Book “A”, page ___. and signed the deed as Moses of Bedford County, Pennsylvania with Sarah, his wife, relinquishing her dower rights. The Cumberland area was not very populated at the time Moses McKenzie moved to the area. There were settlements in an area called Old Town as well as in Cumberland. Moses McKenzie along with Gabriel McKenzie, Joshua McKenzie, Daniel McKenzie and Samuel McKenzie were listed as being some of the settlers living on land lying West of Fort Cumberland. (History of Allegany County, Maryland by Thomas & Wilson page 3; Scharf’s History of Western Maryland, Volume 2, page 13439).

In April, 1818, Moses McKenzie, a resident of Allegany County, State of Maryland, applied for a pension by right of his services during the American Revolution. Revolutionary Pension of Moses McKenzie, W 4288, National Archives, Washington, D.C. He swore before the Circuit Court of that county that he was aged 58 years, and had enlisted at Frederick Town, Maryland in the German Regiment as a drummer boy - date of enlistment not given. He was assigned to the company of Captain Baltzell, and participated in the Battles of Monmouth and Yorktown.

Moses’ pension ultimately was approved but he died on March 3, 1824.

In October, 1841, his widow, Sarah McKenzie, of Cresaptown, Maryland, aged 76 years, applied for a widow’s pension by rights of her deceased husband’s service in the Revolutionary War. She the said Sarah McKenzie swore that she married Moses McKenzie sometime in the month of December, 1784. John Durbin of Knox County, Ohio, made an affidavit that he was present at the wedding which took place at the residence of Jacob Slagle in Hampshire County, Virginia, and that the ceremony was performed by a Catholic priest. Lucy M. Vicker, of Allegany County, Maryland, aged 69, submitted an affidavit stating that she was present at the marriage of Moses McKenzie and Sarah McKenzie, the latter also being named McKenzie. The claim of the widow, Sarah McKenzie, likewise was approved by the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C. Revolutionary Pension of Moses McKenzie, W 4288, National Archives, Washington, D.C..

Moses’ pension for his service in the Revolutionary War reads as follows: “ a sum of money, annually during life, quarterly, equal to half pay of a drummer in the rev. war." Maryland Records, Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources by Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, M.S., M.D., Volume II, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1985. The pension paid to Moses’ widow, Sarah reads as follows: “during life, half yearly, half pay of a private, for her husband, Moses McKinsey's”services during the Rev. War." Id.

Moses McKenzie died on 24 MAR 1824 in Cresaptown, Maryland.

14.Based upon the research of Anna Brown of Virginia, March, 2000. (Note: I’m not sure where I got this information. Does anyone have any more information?)

15.To be completed re: the accuracy of this listing of children.

16.This Samuel is listed as a possible son of Michael because there is a 'Samuel' listed with Aaron and Daniel Mackenzie in the 1778 Anne Arundel Oath of Fidelity. By the time of the 1783 tax assessment, he no longer appears and is not listed in any subsequent census. (I’m confused by this one. I don’t see a Samuel listed in the Oath document that Don circulated last week. Am I just missing it?)

17.Maryland State Archives, Patented Certificate No. 2396, MSA S1190-2506, pages 1-3 From SL 21,637. The index to this document is a bit misleading since it references “Hopson’s Choice – Joseph MacKinsey”. If you look closely at the document it becomes obvious that the owner is John McKenzie. The document is located on the www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com web site linked to John McKenzie (b. 1687).

18.Maryland State Archives Patented Certificate 747, MSA S1189-789, From SL 21,537 pages 1-3.

19.Maryland State Archives Patented Certificate 141, MSA S1190-227, pages 1-3, From SL 21, 558. Also available at www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com in the Media section linked to John McKenzie (b. abt. 1694).

20.Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol. 16, page 244, Maryland Historical Society: In the proceedings of the Baltimore County Court (Liber I, No. B, 1708-1715, Folio 276-277, we find a petition of the inhabitants “of both sides of the Potapsco”, presented in March 1719, in which the petitioners set forth that they “are very much agreeved by Xpher Randall of the place aforesaid by refusing the inhabitants of the place aforesaid their common and ancient road to the mill and church and oblige the said inhabitants to goe and uncommon road through bushes and mires soe that the poor inhabitants cannot go about their lawfull occasions without indangering both horse and man”, and they request the court “that the said Christopher Randall may allow us our common and ancient road”. This petition is signed by Jos. Shewell, Joseph Harp, John Boden, Philip Sewell, James Gaskin, John Yeat, Edward Teale, John MacKinze, John Whipps and William Tucker or Tuckner.

21.Maryland State Archives Patented Certificate 3096, MSA S1190-3217, pages 1-4, From SL 21,647, storage location 01/25/02/28. Also available at www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com in the Media section linked to John McKenzie (b. 1687).

22.(MSA Judgment Court A.A. Co., Book IB 1, 1735 Jun. Court, p.238 Location: 1/1/8/28). The entire document reads as follows: “June Court 1735. The Court binds Thomas Lants aged five years old the 21st day of March last and Francis Gallahors aged three years old the sixteenth day of August next unto John MacKinsie his heirs, administrators and assignes until they arrive to the age of Twenty one years. In consideration whereof of the said John MacKinsie obliges himself to find the said Thomas and Francis sufficient meat drink washing cloathing and lodging during the term of and also to learn the said Thomas and Francis to read write and cast up accounts until the expiration of their term of servitude to give to each of them a suit of cloaths and such other necessary cloathing as is usually giv unto orphans bound out by this court. Wherefore it is considered by the Justices here this 10th day of June Anno Dom 1735 that the said Thomas and Francis Serve the Said John McKinsie the full term aforesaid accordingly.”

23.Maryland State Archives Patented Certificate 939 MSA S1189-994, From SL 21,540 pages 1-5.

24.Maryland State Archives, Patented Certificate 939, MSA S1189-994 From SL 21,540 pages 1-5. According to the land patent for MacKinzie’s Discovery Enlarged, “Improvements” [included] one tobacco house 40 foot long 22 foot wide”. Also available at www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com in the Media section linked to John McKenzie (b. abt. 1687).

25.Hopkins Atlas of 1878 located at www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com in the Media section linked to John McKenzie (b. abt. 1687).

26.Ed. Note: This footnote was originally written in 1999 after Ann Stansbarger wrote an e-mail to Michael A. McKenzie. Since the time it was composed, the authors have done additional research that refines some of the information reflected in it. For a more detailed and more accurate explanation of John MacKinzie’s original land holdings on the Patapsco River, see “Source # __” authored by Richard Lee “Dick” MacKenzie located in the “Sources” section of the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site. The following is the original e-mail:

“Ann Stansbarger located the site of John MacKinzie's plantation during a trip to Baltimore, Maryland in June, 1999. She wrote the following e-mail to fellow McKenzie researchers following her trip (Ed. Note: some of the information in this letter has been proven to be incorrect – see the

Speaking of John and Katherine Gabriel McKenzie, I had a very unexpected surprise this week. I was in Baltimore for a two-day conference. I had hoped to be able to take a day and go to Annapolis, to the Hall of Records, but my schedule didn't work out that way. Anyway, I got lost trying to get to my hotel and I found myself on the new expressway ("100") leading to Ellicott City. Ellicott City is along the Patapsco River, very close to the original plantation belonging to John and Katherine. One thing lead to another, and I ended up finding what's left of the old plantation site (which dates back to 1716 and is made up of McKenzie's Discovery, Hopson's Choice and a number of other land patents), and meeting the people who live there now. Their names were Phil and Jean and they were incredibly nice people. Fortunately they are very interested in preserving history so they have done an excellent job of preserving the property. The main house is a lovely white colonial, built by Aaron and John McKenzie in 1890 on the site of a much older home. The house is surrounded by very old "out buildings," including a log cabin smoke house and a stable/blacksmith's shop. It was very exciting and I came away with lots of good information. Jean and Philip gave me a copy of an article that was written in the Central Maryland News newspaper about their property. I'm planning to include a copy of it in the Quest notebook (which she never produced for the other McKenzie Quest researchers), but here are some of the highlights:

The home stands on land that was once part of two tracts, "Addition to Hopson's Choice" and "McKenzie's Neglect." McKenzie's Neglect was a piece of land that was incorporated into "McKenzie's Discovery." The earliest home of record on the site was a log cabin built by Aaron McKenzie in 1817. Aaron eventually erected a smokehouse in 1830, also made of logs, and an old log barn that was inscribed "Built by Aaron McKenzie February 1860." A third building, this one of stone, served as a blacksmith shop. The brick chimney and hearth as well as the huge wood and leather bellows are still there. A carriage house built in 1880 completes the group of out buildings, while the retaining wall of an old corn crib now serves as a lovely rock garden. Most of the buildings are still complete with hardware made at the forge. At the southeast corner of the original survey a small cemetery can be found. Three crude carved granite headstones mark the graves of three of the early McKenzie residents. They read: D:M -- B 1798, D 1885; S.D:M -- B 1811, D 1894; Ruth:M -- B 1838, D 1891. The main house, built in 1890, sits on the site of the original log cabin. It has eight rooms and two baths. The foundation stones were cut from the granite quarry on the property. An unusual feature of the cellar is the arched construction under the kitchen fireplace, a feature commonly found only in much older homes. Ash and chestnut beams were used in the construction. The plaster is of the old type, with cow or horse hair mixed in it to give it strength. The floors are pine. (The article goes on to describe the house in more detail.)

The property remained in McKenzie hands until 1900, when a portion of it was sold to Susannah Keyes. The remaining land was sold to Dolly Madison MacLean in 1930. It is this second portion (40 acres) that eventually found its way into the hands of the current owners.

Back to Mike McKenzie's e-mail: I was curious about the waterfall as well (John and Katherine were supposedly buried beside the "main falls of the Patapsco River"). I asked everyone I could find about it, including Jean and Phil, and the lady in the Tavern in Ellicott City. No one knew what I was talking about. They did say that the Patapsco River used to be much, much bigger and that it has since become almost completely "silted in." I did find a reference in one book to a falls at Elk Ridge Landing, which is within a few miles of the old plantation site, so I went there as well on Wednesday. The river apparently used to be navigable up to this point by ocean-going ships (hence the name Elk Ridge LANDING). This is where the plantation owners took their hogsheads of tobacco for shipment to Europe. Today the area is a park, but the river is so silted-in that there is nothing left but a shallow creek. No sign of a waterfall there either.”

Ed. Note: In J. Thomas Scharf, The History of Baltimore City and County, the author states at page 15, (referring to the Patapsco River, “It has been in former times the avenue into the heart of the country, through which large schooners passed to points nearly as far as the Relay House. This, however, is no longer possible. The great flood of July, 1868, tore away such quantities of sand, soil and other materials from the country above as to fill up the channel for about four miles, leaving only two or three feet of water in places where it was formerly ten or twelve feet deep”.

Today I talked to the director of the Howard Co. Historical Society. (The area is no longer part of Ann Arundel Co.) She said she would help me research the family and the history of the river. Hopefully I'll have more information in the future on this. Lastly, with regard to directions, I'd like to handle it "off line" for reasons of privacy. Before I left Jean and Phil's house, I mentioned our McKenzie Quest project. I asked for their permission to tell the other members of our group about them. I said that that would probably mean that they would have more visitors in the future. (Amazingly they have only had THREE McKenzies come calling since Jean's family bought the place in 1955!) At first she hesitated, but then she said "Why not. McKenzies are such nice people." (How nice of her to notice!) If anyone else would like to visit the place I would suggest that you contact me and I'll give you Jean and Phil's phone number, and directions. I talked to Phil today on the phone to thank them again for their hospitality. He said that Jean had just mailed off a package containing copies of all the information they have on the property -- for the Quest notebook. I was touched. I thought that was so sweet.

27.Will found in Anne Arundel County, Box M Folder 13, with copy in Maryland Hall of Records, Liber 30, pp. 521-522.

A transcription of the will reads as follows:

In the Name of God Amen. I John MacKinzie of Anarindale County being very sick and weak but of sound and perfect memory praised be to Almighty God for the same do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I revoke all wills by me formerly made and do acknowledge this my last will and testament.

Imprimis I bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it and my body to be buried in decent and Christian manner and as for my temporal estate that the Lord in his great mercy hath bestowed upon me my will is that my well beloved wife Katherine MacKinzie after my just debts and legacies mentioned in the following will are paid all my personal estate to be by her possessed during her natural life.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel MacKinzie ninety six acres of land out of two tracts the one called Hopson’s Choice, the other called the Addition to Hopson’s Choice as it was devised to him in my lifetime to him the said Daniel and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Moses MacKinzie ninety six acres of land being part of a tract of land called MacKinzie’s Discovery to be laid out as it was in my lifetime to suit his plantation he now dwells on to him the said Moses and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Michael MacKinzie Mattocks the son of John Mattocks and Anne MacKinzie his wife 50 acres of land being part of a tract of land called Hopson’s Choice to be laid out as it was in my lifetime to him the said Michael MacKinzie and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeath to my grandson William MacKinzie son of Aaron MacKinzie ninety six acres of land as it was formerly laid out in my lifetime to him the said William MacKinzie and his heirs foe ever.

Item I give and bequeath to my son Michael MacKinzie the remaining part of my land being ninety six acres of land to him the said Michael and his heirs for ever.

It is my will and desire whatever part of my estate my children have received hitherto or shall receive before my death shall not after my decease be deemed or appraised as part thereof.

Item I do hereby appoint my loving wife Katherine MacKinzie together with my son Daniel as the executors of this my last will and testament and what shall be remaining of my personal estate in my wife’s possession my will is that after her decease it be equally divided amongst my six children, viz. five sons and one daughter hereby revoking all other wills heretofore by me made. Qualifying and confirming this only as my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeen day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight.


Signed, sealed, acknowledged his
Published and pronounced
In the presence of us John x Mackinzie

John Sellman
Aquila Naneallmark
Robert Davis
John Arnold

The last name of Aquila is usually deciphered as “Randall”, as is suspected as being John’s lawyer.

28.Anne Arundel County, Box 60, folder 9, John MacKenzie, 1758, [MSA S541-69]

29.Account of John McKenzie’s estate can be found at Anne Arundel County Liber 37, folio 185; Liber 37, p. 226 [MSA S529-55]; Liber 68, folio 54; Debt Book F, pg. 62; Liber 38, folio 279; Liber 38, folio 466; Liber 40, folio 332; Liber 40 [MSA S529-58]; Folio 340; Liber 41, pp. 27, 60, 108, 113, 140, 175, 201, 354, and 404.

30.The author has seen "Hopson's" Choice spelled both "Hopson's" and "Hobson's" in various references to the McKenzies of Early Maryland. The correct piece of property is “Hopson’s Choice”. The original Will of John McKenzie refers to it as "Hopson's" Choice. Also, the original patent from the 1718-21 era refers to it as Hopson’s Choice. There was a patent for a piece of property known as Hobson’s Choice, but it is an altogether different piece of property and has nothing to do with the McKenzies of Early Maryland.


31.It is generally accepted among researchers of this McKenzie line that the sixth child referenced in John MacKenzie's will is Gabriel McKenzie. The similarity of names of his offspring, when compared with his brothers and sisters suggests that he was the unnamed child in the will. Also, since he was the oldest, and based upon existing land records, he was already an established farmer with hundreds of acres of land of his own at the time his father died in 1758. As noted in his “Source” on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site, the extent of his property holdings is borne out in the deed records from various counties in Maryland. Finally, in addition to the foregoing, in July, 2010, Michael A. McKenzie, one of the authors of this “Source” located a document in the Maryland State Archives that unequivocally proves that Gabriel McKenzie was the son of John MacKenzie. In Perogative Court (Inventories) Box 68, pp. 54-56 John MacKenzie, 1759 [MSA S534-69] on page 56 following the itemization of John MacKenzie’s personal property is the notation “Gabriel MacKenzie. Nearest relation.” To the best of the author’s knowledge, there were no other Gabriel McKenzies living in Maryland from 1700-1750. Consequently, the aforementioned document is written proof that links together John and Gabriel and legitimizes earlier researchers’ “beliefs” that the two were father and son, respectively.

32.Deed Book IB 5 page 317, Anne Arundel records.

33.As of December 2010, with the assistance of Google Maps and Ann Stansbarger, the property was located north-northwest of Ellicott City, Maryland. See also the map entitled McKenzie’s Discovery Enlarged, Hopkins Atlas of 1878 Howard County, Maryland which depicts the general area where the land was located. The location on the map coincides with the references in all of the various early deeds which stated that the land was located south of the main falls of the Patapsco River. There also is a document prepared by Dr. Caleb Dorsey that Ann Stansbarger located at the Howard County Historical Society that shows how all of the various parcels of McKenzie property fit together just south of the Patapsco River. That map is located on the McKenzies of Early Maryland web site, www.mckenziesofearlymaryland.com.

Translation added by Don Kagle:

Nov 1737 Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

John Mackensie brings into Court his servant woman named Mary Johnson & informs the Justices thereof that she has abase born child, whereupon the said Mary being demanded whether she is guilty of having abase born child or not, confesses that she is guilty thereof & submits her self to the Judgement of the court & offers the sum of thirty shillings as a fine for the offence aforesaid wherefore it is considered by the Court here that the said Mary Johnson be fined to his Lordship the sum of thirty shillings which is ordered & immediately paid to Zachariah Maccubbin Gentleman Sherriff for the use of the County aforesaid & the said Zach. Maccubbin being present acknowledges the reciept thereof & it is further considered by the Justices here that the said Mary Johnson serve John Mackensie her Master twelve months for the trouble of his house occasioned by the bastard child aforesaid thereupon she is discharged her Master being lieable for fees.

John + Katherine Unknown. Katherine was born in Unknown; died before 1776 in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from McKenzies of Early Maryland by: Michael A. McKenzie:

On 2 APR 1776 John’s grandson, William McKenzie, son of Aaron, sold to Greenbury Randall 96 acres of “McKenzie’s Discovery”. The parties agreed that 1/4 acre “at the head of the great falls on the Petapsico (sic) River where John MacKenzie and his wife are buried” will be reserved. Obviously, by 1776, Katherine McKenzie also had died. This property is now in Howard County, Maryland, across the river from Baltimore County.