William Houston McKee

Birth

William McKee was born on February 28, 1759 at Kerrs Creek, Rockbridge, Virginia to John McKee and Jane (Logan) McKee.

Marriage

William McKee and Jean (Kennedy) McKee married in 1790. Their marriage bond was dated on January 21, 1790. The bond includes as note from Andrew Kennedy giving his permission for his daughter to marry.

Children

1. James McKee (married the widow Rachel (Wilson) Moffett)
2. Margaret (McKee) Carson (married John Carson)

Residence

near Moffett Creek, Rockbridge County, Virginia

Death

William McKee died around 1835 in the Kerr's Creek area of Rockbridge, Virginia. He was buried at New Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Raphine, Rockbridge, Virginia. (No marker found)

Additional Notes

William AFN: 1DW-7KT & Jane AFN: 1DVV-7R3

• Described as tall, thin, grey eyes, dark hair and complexion.
• Moved to Jessamine co., Ky. near Union Mills. (see notes below)
• Both buried New Province Church yard

Concerns

1. needs proof of move to Kentucky
2. James and Margaret are usually the only children connected to this couple.

RECORD

1. George Wilson McKee, McKees of Virginia and Kentucky, the, Pittsburgh, J. B. Richards, 1891, pg 58-9. "

William, Son ofJohn, the Pioneer.

Mr. Varner, in one of his letters, says: "William McKee, brother of Miriam McKee. uever held a military commission; but, had he been measured by a combative standard, by one of undoubted courage, what a splendid brigadier general he would have made ! Crom well, as lie sat on his horse at Marston Moor, might have been cooler, hut braver never.

"William McKee was tall and thin, had gray eyes, dark brown hair and dark com plexion. Mr. Harvey Fulton had several stories on the old man which he could tell well. Mr. Fulton died five years ago at an advanced age, and he knew William McKee well, His father's farm and the farm of William McKee, on Moffatt's Creek, adjoined. I will give you two of Mr. Fulton's stories, and hope they will not shock you:

"In the good old days' the farmers of the valley sent their produce to the Richmond markets by what were called ' road wagons' long covered affairs with four horses which were in use in my day even. These, with the negro drivers would be sent forward, to be followed after three or four days by the owner on horseback. While in Richmond, on one of these trips. William McKee attended a political meeting. Politics were at a white heat, and the meeting proved to be a Democratic gathering. One of the speakers declared Eastern Virginia was tired of being dominated by the blunt-nosed, vinegar-faced, Presbyterian, Scotch-Irish. Federal-Whigs of Augusta and Rockbridge.' This was more than the old man could stand, and he interrupted the speaker. Hot words were succeeded by blows. McKee knocked him down and was getting in his work on his face when cooler men took him off' and away, and thus prevented what would have resulted in a genral fight.

" One summer day, during a thunder shower as the old man sat on Ins porch sipping bis 'tansy bitters' and he was not singular in his tastes, as everybody in those days drank this nectar one of his negro men, old Davy Logan by name, came running, saying, 'Massa, the lightning's struck a hay stack and its burning." Another and another came running with the same unwelcome intelligence. This accumulation of misfortunes was too much for the old gentleman's usual (?) serenity of mind, and he yelled out. ' Well, go and set fire to the rest of 'em, and let 'em all go to hell together.'

"These will, perhaps, give you some idea of what manlier of man your great grand-uncle was, or rather a phase of his character, if not a phase of human nature. And yet he was kind and gentle, the truest of friends and given to lavish hospitality.

" All that is earthly of William McKee and his wife, Jean Kennedy, lies buried in New Providence Church graveyard".

MARRIAGE RECORD

1. Rockbridge County Virginia Marriages, Bk. 1 pg. 19. - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XF-2Y1V?i=14

Property Records

Rockbridge Property - https://archive.org/details/historicalsignif00mccl/page/138

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 1 2022, 15:20:44 UTC

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other dates given are; b. February 18, 1749/50; d. July 28, 1752