Amelia Arabella McDonald

GEDCOM Note

From John G Slater

Text of Amelia's letter (the original is evidently badly torn, with some areas missing):

A note across the top states: "Written by grandmother Amelia McDonald Eckels to her son Asa J. Eckels in late 1800s"

"...your great Grand Father Eckles name was Arthur. I don't know what his wife's name was. Don't know where he listed nor what companies But he served his time out and got an honorable discharge and was given his land on which he settled in Beaver Co. But it is Lawrence co. now. He was in the Revolutionary war. The old Asa Eckels' farm is the farm which he got from the Government.

George Eckels, a son of Arthur Eckels was your Grand Father. His wife's name was Elizabeth Hennon. He was in the war of 1812 and got an honorable discharge. His land was from the patent office. He enlisted in Beaver Co.

Your Great Grand Father Robert McDonald was a Revolutionary, served his time..[torn]...honorable and got his discharge and got his land in Mercer Co in Jefferson township. His wife's name I think was Mary Kelly. Her two oldest sons, I think, was in the war of 1812. Robert and Charles...

....you can find the Merchant generation yourself. Dr. Merchant was your Great Great Grand Father and his son David [sic-it was David's brother Frederick] was your Great Grand Father. His wife's name was Christiana. John Merchant was your great Grand Father and his wife's name was Phoebe. .. [torn]...of them in the Revolutionary war but I couldn't tell you nothing about them.

[torn]...old Peter Mellon and his wife Mary Bild was your Great Great Grand Father and his wife is your Great Great Grand mother. He was in the Revolutionary war from West Moreland co. (This was really Hugh Mellon and Catherine Elizabeth Byerly)

I think you can fill out this blank better than I can now. But if you want any more information write and tell me. This is all I can think of now.

Your Great Grand Father Authur Eckles had a brother in the Revolutionary war and I think his name was John. The Eckles were English. The Mcdonalds were Scotch. The Merchants were French. The Merchants were from France part of Germany.

No more but write soon From your Mother.

• *********************************************************************************************

Amelia Arabella McDonald's paternal ancestor's surname was Elder. He was Captain Elder, a British red coat, who deserted and joined George Washington's forces. He was billotted at the McDonald home during the Revolutionary War. He fell in love with the McDonald daughter, married her and took her surname in order to avoid detection Amelia's Motrher's maiden name was Merchant (French-Merchand).

--Excerpt from a letter sent to Mae Beringer, curator of One-Room School Museum, Mercer Co., from Janie Throop, Irving TX, 8/1/1992.

DEATH: Death Certificate of Amelia MacDonald Eckles;1904;; Docket No. 2, page 122M, Line 239; 112 Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer Pa 16137;; copy in possession of John MacDonald, 1021 Hancock Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. NOTES: name: "Amelia McDonald". place of birth: Mercer County, PA; occupation: Not Listed; date of death 25 Mar 1904, place of death: Not Listed; cause of death: Heart Trouble; place of interment: Oak Grove; date of interment Not Listed.

COURT RECORD: Will of Amelia MacDonald Eckles; 1904; Register of Wills, Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer, PA; will #3954, probated April 4, 1904;; NOTE: will dated January 2nd, 1904. Handwritten and signed by Amelia. Witnesses: Alex E. Eckles and A.M. Carline, Jr.

DEATH: Obituary of Amelia MacDonald Eckles; 1904; the WESTERN PRESS, published April 1, 1904; page 8; New Castle Public Library, 207 E. North St, New Castle Pa., 16101.

DEATH: Obituary of Amelia MacDonald Eckles; 1904; the MERCER DISPATCH, published April 1, 1904; ; Mercer County Historical Society, 119 South Pitt St, Mercer Pa 16137; NOTES: "Mrs. Amelia Eckles, for many years a resident of Fairview township, died last Thursday at the home of her son George in Sharpsville, of paralysis...Mrs. Eckles was a woman of high character and her death is mourned by a large circle of friends." Includes a long and detailed list of survivors.

Letter from Janie Throop, Irving Tx, to John MacDonald, Williamstown, Ma; ; Letter dated 14 Sept 1997; ; original in poss of John MacDonald, Williamstown, Ma. NOTES: excerpt: "Grandmother Eckles was of French descent on her mother's side. The name in English was Merchant, in French Merchand. We do not have so many dates from the French side...."

!BIOGRAPHY: Mr. J.G. White/A TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA; ; The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1909; pg 644-645; copy Mercer County Historical Society, Mercer, Pa.; NOTES: excerpt from entry on George W. Eckles: " The mother was born at the old Robert McDonald farm in Jefferson Twp., Oct 31, 1832 and died March 25, 1904 in Sharpsville."

According to John Slater, Amelia was familiar with the histories of the Eckles and McDonald's and told family stories, including the legend of the McDonald who was a fugitive British soldier and changed his name to McDonald to avoid capture. Perhaps is was well known enough in the family to not even mention it in this letter?