I am searching for family beyond my great-grandfather, John
McKenry. I recently finished the 1900 US Census and have some very sketchy data. Most importantly, I learned that neither my great-grandfather or great-grandmother could read or write, which would leave the spelling of the last name in question.
To begin, I have always know the name to be spelled
McKenry. But. if my great grandparents cuoldn't read or write, they wuold have been at the mercy of how it was pronounced. Therefore it could be
McKendry of
McKenty or other possible variants.
Looking for family of: John
McKenry born 1835 in Ireland (possibly
Antrim). Professed to his dying day to be Scotch-Irish! It is belived the family moved to
Scotland but no idea when or exactly where. Year of naturalization to USA-1865. It is said that he came to the US during the civil war (1861?) to fight Indians. He was granted Citizenship for his tenure in the military. He died 3 Nov. 1908 from a mine accident at Mine 31, Berwind White
Coal mine, Windber,
Somerset County, PA. Belived the family arrived possibly in 1888 and settled for a brief time in
Ramey,
Clearfield County, PA. He then returned to the "Old Country" and brought back his wife and children:
Also looking for wife: Jane
McCrea (or
McRea), daughter of Robert
McRea and Grace
Wilson, born June 1848 in
Scotland. No idea when the marriage of John and Jane took place. In the 1900 US Census she states to be the mother of 10 children, 5 of whom were alive at the 1900 Census. It is belived she was possibly married to someone else before John or 2 children where born out of wedlock. She was not allowed to be buried beside her husband upon her death on 27 Nov 1909 (struck by train) per the Church (St John's). Family lore believed her to be protestant and he catholic, but it's possible the marriage and unknown/unexplained children have more to do with the story.
The 3 children I know of are: Esther Jane, born 23 Fen 1876 in Scotland; Mary born December, 1883 and John (my grandfather) born 18 Dec 1885 in
Scotland. The family records on John always said he was born in
Ramey,
Clearfield County, PA on 19 Dec 1888 but according to Census data of 1900 and 1910 he was born in
Scotland. Where? It would be wonderful to know!!!!!!