John McKee

Grave marker

Died at age 43 years [sic]. Husband of Peggy McKee

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST GRAVES IN THIS CEMETERY

Inscription

In Memory of / John McKee/ who deceased May y'e 17, 1764 Aged 43/ Also he-/ re lies James McKee/ His son who died/ Sep't ye 19th 1781 Aged/ 81(? hard to read? years.

If there is more to the inscription, it is buried. This appears to be the original stone. There is another modern stone that reads: John McKee/ 1764/ Oldest Grave/ In Cemetery

Analysis

If a son died in 1781, he would have been born in 1700 - before John was supposedly born by quite a bit. Therefore there are absolutely errors and/or misinterpretations of this very old stone.

John is typically given children born starting around 1733. If the inscription actually says (or was meant to say) 63 years of age, then it makes a lot more sense: John would have been born in 1701. The "81" would probably be read as 51 years, meaning James was born in 1730.

• Emigration from Ireland: Between 1735-1750 from Ireland to Pennsylvania. Most of the Northern Irish Scots came to Pennsylvania between those years, because the British brought them in to help settle the frontier - looking the other way as Irish settlers squatted on Indian land. When the Indians complained, occasional actions were taken such as burning cabins, etc., but really the Irish were doing what the English wanted. This lead directly to the French-Indian War.
• Emigration: Circa 1750 - Several members of the McKee, Potts, Morrison, Polk & Knox families moved from Pennsylvania to Mecklenburg Co., NC area
• Residence: John received 720 acre land grant on Sugar Creek in Anson Co., NC - May 17 1754
• Residence: John McKnitt Alexander sold John McKee 150 acres of land on east side of Cataba Creek, Mecklenburg Co., NC for 15 pounds-land granted Nov. 9, 1764 - July 26 1766
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jul 29 2022, 22:03:56 UTC