My gggg-grandfather was John MCCARTNEY of Ireland (1756-57 - ca 1840) who immigrated to Virginia, married 2nd wife, Mary MURRY (MURRAY?). They had 15 children, the second of whom was John Newton MCCARTNEY.

My ggg-grandfather was John Newton MCCARTNEY (1789-1847) of McMinn, TN.

John Newton's son was my gg-grandfather: David Weir MCCARTNEY (1826-1908).

David Weir's son was my g-grandfather: William Mansfield MCCARTNEY (1854- ? )

William Mansfield's son was my grandfather: Marvin Francis MCCARTNEY (1879- ? )

Marvin Francis's son was an only child and he was my father: Delwin Paul MCCARTNEY (1933-1957)

I have read that John MCCARTNEY immigrated to America, but that the boat sank about a mile from the Norfolk, Virginia coast. His first wife and their two children supposedly drowned. However, he did manage to save his wife's niece from death; her name was Mary Murr(a)y and he married her approximately a year later.

I have no idea whether this tale is true because I haven't seen documentation. I've been conducting extensive research in order to locate the boat which sank off the Virginia coast somewhere around 1780-84, but I haven't had any luck yet.

If anyone knows whether documentation exists regarding the wonderful tale of John MCCARTNEY, I would love to have it! It is such a magnificent story--almost too good to be true. That makes me wonder if it isn't some MCCARTNEY mythology, kind of like an urban legend.

I would love to hear from my distant relatives!!!