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MacGehee

Pronounced Macgee, originally MacGregor. Outlawed by King James VI in April 1603, clansmen were left with two options: renounce the name or die. In the 17th and 18th centuries, they rustled cattle, poached deer, fled to the hills, and often enough emigrated. William came to Virginia about 1644. Persecution ended in 1774. The rest is uncertain. Clan tradition includes several entertainments, among them the protagonist of Sir Walter Scott's novel Rob Roy, the names of several of the early chiefs (Gregor of the Golden Bridles and his son Iain of the One Eye), and last but not least a line of descent from King Duncan of Scotland, the old man with so much blood in him, murdered by Macbeth at his wife's instigation. A MacGehee married an Urquhart, married a Garrard, married a Glenn, married an Ellyson, married a Court.

Sources: MacGregor, History of the Clan Gregor, 2 vols.; Saunders, Early Settlers of Alabama; Tyler, "MacGehee Family of Virignia," vol. 25, pp. 275- 85; Clan Gregor Society

generation no. 1

Patrick MacGregor, born c 1590-1600 in Glantrae, Argyle, son of Duncan and Christian, grandson of Gregor and Isabel Cameron, great-grandson of Duncan and Mary Campbell, and so on. Married Marian MacDonald.

generation no. 2

James MacGregor/William MacGehee, born c 1618-25 in Scotland, died 1675 in St. John's Parish, York Co. VA. Married c 1650 Mary Johnson.

Thomas MacGehee/James MacGregor, born after 1653, died 27 July 1727
William MacGehee, born 1 November 1672, died 9 December 1758, married Mary Carr

generation no. 3

Thomas MacGehee/James MacGregor, born after 1653 in New Kent Co. VA, died 27 July 1727 in Prince William Co. VA (see 1909 miscellany entry). Married (1) Mary Mumford, (2) c 1688 Anne Baytop, born 1664 in England, died 27 July 1724 in VA. Children named in will.

William MacGehee, born c 1689
Anna MacGehee, born c 1691
Dinah MacGehee, born c 1693
Mary MacGehee, born c 1698
Abraham MacGehee, born c 1700
Edward MacGehee, born c 1702, married Elizabeth de Jarnette (sister)
Sarah MacGehee, born 1705
Jacob MacGehee, born c 1707, married Eleanor de Jarnette (sister)
Samuel MacGehee, born c 1709

generation no. 4

Edward MacGehee, born c 1702, died 28 January 1771 in Cumberland Co. VA. Married 4 April 1734 Elizabeth de Jarnette.

John McGehee, born c 1742, died 25 July 1828
Mumford McGehee, born 1744, died December 1816
Micajah McGehee, born 1745, died 31 July 1811
William McGehee, born c 1746
Daniel McGehee, born c 1747
Samuel McGehee, born c 1748
Jacob McGehee, born c 1750
Elizabeth McGehee, born c 1752, died 1775
Anna McGehee, born 23 January 1755
Mary McGehee, born c 1757

generation no. 5

Daniel MacGehee, born c 1730 in Amelia VA. Married c 1765 Jane Brooks Hodnutt in Virginia.

William MacGehee, born c 1771
Nathan MacGehee, born c 1773, died c 1821
Ann MacGehee, born c 1775
Martha MacGehee, born c 1779
Katharine MacGehee, born c 1781
Nancy MacGehee, born c 1782, died c 1821
Archibald MacGehee, born 22 May 1783, died 30 May 1830

generation no. 6

Katharine Brooks Garteray MacGehee, born c 7 July 1783 in Prince Edward Co. VA, died c 1835. Married 7 April 1799 David Urquhart in Columbus GA.

Will extracts

27 July 1727. Thomas MackGehee of St. John's Parish, King William County to son William 10 shillings to buy a mourning ring; daughter Ann Butler, 10 shillings to buy a mourning ring; daughter Dinah, and her husband, Joseph Lipscomb, 20 shillings; son Abraham, 96 acres part of land I live on, one negro, bed and furniture and a large chest; sons Jacob and Samuel and daughter Sarah, when they come of age, £5 each to be paid them by son Abraham; son Edward, 50 acres of land, one negro, one bed and furniture, one large chest which was his mothers; son Samuel, 50 acres of land, one feather bed and furniture, one large chest, riding mare, saddle and bridle; daughter Sarah, one feather bed, chest and drawers, sealskin trunk, £5 currency, her mother's horse, saddle and bridle; daughter Mary Dickson, one feather bed, one pair blankets, desk, etc.; cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., to be equally divided. Executors, sons Abraham, Edward and Samuel.

Sources: Tyler, "McGehee Family in Virginia," pp. 277-78; Saunders and Stubbs, Early Settlers of Alabama, p. 448

4 April 1770. Will of Edward McGehee of Cumberland County probated 28 January 1771. Devised to son John, 7 slaves and 700 acres of land in Prince Edward County joining land of Jacob McGehee, Simcock Cannon and George Walton; to daughter Mary Hodnett, 5 shillings; to daughter Elizabeth Wright, 2 negros, and 400 acres of land being part of tract whereon testator lived and adjoining lands of Thomas Wright, Charles Lee, and Frances Apperson; to son-in-law Thomas Wright, 1/2 of my water grist mill and l/2 of the land I purchased joining him, to son Micajah McGehee, 1 negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County whereon he lives joining John Martin; to son Mumford McGehee, 1 negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County to be laid off in a lot as will appear by plot No. 1, being land whereon he now lives, to son Daniel McGehee, 1 negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County being lot No. 2 in plot; to son William McGehee, i negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County being [lot] No. 3 in plot; to son Jacob McGehee, 1 negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County being lost No. 6 as by plot; son Samuel McGehee, i negro and 700 acres in Prince Edward County being Lot No. 4 in plot; to daughter Anna McGehee, 1 negro and 400 acres part of tract testator lives on joining his mill but, in case wife wants timber on said 400 acres or to tend same during her life she is not to be prevented; to wife Elizabeth McGehee land and plantation testator lives on with 400 acres, 11 negroes, l/2 of the profits of the grist mill with remainder of stock and household goods, tools, etc., on plantation, during her life, and after her death the land testator lives on to be equally divided between his two daughters Elizabeth Wright and Anna; after wife's death l/2 of mill and remainder of household goods and stock with slaves lent her to be sold by executors to the highest bidders and out of the sum thus realized to be paid to son Jacob McGehee, £7$, 16s, 8d, to son Daniel McGehee, £30, 16s, 8d, to son William McGehee £9, 35, 4d, and after these legacies the balance of the amount devised by sale to be equally divided between testator's daughter Elizabeth Wright and his six sons Micajah, Mumford, Daniel, William, Jacob, Samuel and testator's daughter Anna; estate not to be appraised; if either of testator's six sons or his daughter Anna die before arriving at age of [21 years?] their part to be equally divided among the remaining ones; executors, wife Elizabeth, son Mumford McGehee, son in law Thomas Wright, and Henry Macon. Witnesses, Nathan Glenn, James Glenn, Nehemiah Glenn.

Sources: Cumberland County Will Book No. 2; Tyler, "McGehee Family," pp. 279-80

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