Nancy D. Agnew

 In the excerpts sent from SHAKERS OF OHIO and THE GREENING OF WEST BRANCH, does not say whether Nancy AGNEW was ever a member of the Shaker movement; however, members of her family were. List of members for 1835 include the names of some of her brothers and sisters; also, after the death of her father, her mother, Margaret (BRANT) AGNEW married Joseph BOGGETT.  The BOGGETTs were members of the "Center Family," one of three divisions of the Whitewater Shaker Community.

Page 214 of THE GREENING OF WEST BRANCH states: "Shaker societies were divided into two or more "families" of about thirty members each. They all lived in one large house but with separate entrances and bedrooms for each sex. Whitewater Village was divided into families, including the "Center Family," where Joseph and "Peggy" (Margaret AGNEW) BOGGETT lived, and the "South Family," headed by Joseph AGNEW (Nancy's brother.) The spiritual affairs were governed by the "elders," two men and two women, who were accountable to the ministry, or "the elders of the elders." Joseph AGNEW was elder in the South Family of Whitewater Village.

"Deacons" or "trustees" were charged with overseeing the business affairs of the community and reported directly to the elders. Brant AGNEW (another of Nancy's brothers) was named as a village trustee in 1831."

Another excerpt taken from this book, page 235 states: "[February 1824] At Union Village the Darby people were joined by Thomas HUNT, who went with them to Whitewater, where all arrived in safety. They first stopped with Anthony McKEE, but after ten days got possession of their new land, and moved into a cabin eighteen feet square, with a lean-to in the rear. Necessity compelled them to use this until larger quarters could be obtained."

It is obvious from this excerpt, that Anthony and Nancy McKEE were, at least, accepting of the Shaker groups, and were helpful in their migration to Butler County, OH, whether or not they were active members of the society.

he McKEES had migrated from Butler County to Shelby County, IN by census time in 1840. Sometime efore the 1850 Census, they moved again to Fulton County, near Rochester, IN.

Nancy (AGNEW) McKEE died in Fulton County in March, 1860. Her husband, Anthony Wayne, aged 64 was enumerated in the home of their son Albert Russell McKEE, in the dwelling just next to James KEELY and his wife, Mary (McKEE) in 1860.

Data taken from the McKEE Cemetery. On page 53 of this photocopy, the following data appears:

"This abandoned burying ground is on the Old Alonzo Sheets (now Joseph Richards) farm, R.R. 3, in Rochester Twp, Fulton Co., IN... 250 North, about one and three-tenths miles west of 250N & 400W... 1 & 1/2 mi. west of Loyal... ...the very back of a field, in the corner, about two city blocks north of the road, and behind an old barn...

The graves are broken and very difficult to locate, most of the pieces being under ground..." (in 1935 DAR published a listing for this cemetery, but included only 4 graves) "...Information was  recorded October 5, 1975...

      McKEE, (first piece)  Nancy, wife of  A. McKEE (broken under her name). (2nd piece)  died Mar. 5, 1860, age 59 yr - 11 mo. (broken here and rest of stone is missing)  

(Note: These two pieces of this stone were found separately, but they fit together perfectly. They definitely belong together..."

Also recorded as one of the graves in the McKEE Cemetery is that of "(-----), Olive M., dau. of -------. (Note: Top part of this marker was all that was found. It is a child-type marker with a lamb carved in the top." This could have been a child of Nancy AGNEW and Anthony McKEE, or it could have been their grandchild, a daughter of David A. and Sarah (STRAUP) McKEE.

RECORD:

1. 1850 US Census. "Name: Nancy Mckee Age: 49 Estimated birth year: abt 1801 Birth Place: Ohio Gender: Female Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Rochester, Fulton, Indiana Family Number: 91 Household Members: Name Age Anthony Mckee 54 Nancy Mckee 49 Isaac Mckee 20 Riley Mckee 16 Phebe Mckee 15 Wm Mckee 13 James Mckee 11 Martin Mckee 7

 1850; Census Place: Rochester, Fulton, Indiana; Roll  M432_146; Page: 418B;."

* Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 2 2016, 22:35:12 UTC