Hi!

I have been researching Robert Patterson McGrew, whose son John Harlan was my great-great grandfather. I have acquired a copy of Robert Patterson McGrew's 1842 marriage certificate to Mary Ann Chambers (father Joseph C. Chambers born PA, 1793, mother Rebecca Chambers). I also have a copy of the sheet saying that her father vouches for the age of McGrew, and gives his consent for the marriage. The Chambers show up on the same 1850 census page as Robert P. and Mary Ann (and children). Mary Ann's siblings are continued on the next page. The census taker apparently just wrote Ann instead of Mary Ann, and has a flourish at the end (evident on other names on the same census sheets) that makes it look like a y. It apparently isn't Amy at all, just poorly written Ann.

About your Willard McGrew, he was listed as Col. Willard McGrew of Pittsburgh in the obituary about Robert P. McGrew in 1903. That's all I have found on him, so far. Willard's brother John Harlan named one of his sons Willard, and that Willard named his own son Willard, so your Willard must have been a popular guy.

It does look like Robert P's grandparents were Nathan and Elinor, whoever his parents were. About Elinor and Nathan having a John Blackburn McGrew born in 1807 in Westmoreland county, I would like to know the source for that. I am inclined to wonder if the pair had moved to Ohio by then. All of the information I have seen online has indicated that Robert was the son of John Blackburn McGrew (b. circa 1790), and wife Deborah, not Nathan and Angeline.

This is somewhat of a mystery so far, but there is an 1823 marriage certificate for an Eliza Debrey or Debuy marrying a John McGrew in Steubenville, and also there is an 1850 census record of a Deborah McGrew (born PA) living in Fayette County, PA as head of household (widow?) with four children right below Robert P's age who were born in Jefferson County, Ohio. On the census records, Robert P’s mother is consistently listed as being born in PA, whereas Angeline was born Ohio, which would seem to eliminate her from the competition. I am further inclined to go with Deborah from Fayette county as the mother, because one son James, listed as with her in 1850 in PA, disappears from the PA census but a James McGrew about the same age, shows up back in Ohio, living right next door to Robert in 1870. I have further research to do on this link, but it seems interesting.

Also, Elinor is listed as head of household (Nathan died 1816) in the 1830 Cross Creek census with no sons living at home, only 3 daughters, and directly below her on the census form (presumably right next door) is a John McGrew listed with 2 boys between 0-5, 1 boy 10-15, and 2 men 20-30 (himself and a brother or brother-in-law?) and a female 20-30. Does the 10-15 year old boy belong to the brother? If so, this is still inconsistent with Deborah from PA, although she would be a little older than he, if he were indeed born in 1807. We’re assuming that the census taker was accurate about the ages.

Am interested to know if anyone has anything else illuminating to share.

lindawilt1