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McWhorter

The children listed in Hugh's will. The four children listed in the will are Agnes (about 1713 – 1776), Jane (born about 1725), the second Alexander (15 July 1734 – 1807) , and John (born about 1725) . Alexander was the famous Presbyterian minister. Although Alexander had children, Alexander has no known living male McWhorter living descendants. John is the grandfather of the Hugh McWhorter (1788 -1825) who married Helena Ligon (Woodville McWhorter family). In addition Mrs. Byars list 6 other children that are not documented in any way. The 6 undocumented children in Exits and Entrances are Jacob, who is the reputed father of the Reverend George Gray McWhorter, George, Hugh, Thomas, William, and a daughter left in Ireland whose name is not mentioned.  

Brett Kendal McWhorter

The note was actually from me, John Frost Murlin. Brett Kendal McWhorter is my first cousin who I used to be the DNA representative of the family of Rev. George Gray McWhorter to see if there was a connection to Hugh McWhorter. The DNA stated clearly there is not a connection.

johnmurlin@bellsouth.net
60521 I1c
 Thanks

I have seen other sources that list children of Hugh and Jane McWhorter. One web site was posted by a man named Barry. He list 13 children for Hugh and Jane. Barry, whose web site does not exist any more, had a list of 13 children; He adds 4 new names to the Byars list: Mary, Alvin, Gilbert, and Jean. He does not mention William and the unnamed daughter unless he identifies her as Mary. Barry gives no documentation.  

Barry goes on to mention that Hugh McWhorter of 1690 had 5 brothers – John, Alexander, Andrew, James (born about 1691), and Moses (abt 1700-1756). He gives no documentation. He also states that Hugh McWhorters' father was the Reverend Alexander McWhirter and his grandfather was named Alexander. Some people believe that Hugh's father came to America and others do not. 

According to Alan McWhirter, the only primary source of information about Hugh McWhorter's father and grandfather is Hugh McWhorter's eulogy. Alan is sending me a copy of the eulogy but from memory he thought that the grandfather Alexander mentioned may have been Hugh's maternal grandfather and no last name is mentioned. That was from Alan's memory and his is looking for the eulogy.  

Another website, Magoo.com by Hugh McGough mentions a child of Hugh, Elbert, not on the Byars list:
 

Elbert – 06 May 1731 New Castle, DE – 06 July 1791 in Charlotte, Mechlenburg, NC. McGough states Elbert is the third oldest child of Hugh and Jane. 

I assumed the information in Exits and Entrances was factual. I later corresponded with Alan McWhirter, who runs the McWh*rter web site and is an authority on many McWh*rter families in early America. Alan McWhirter called the information in Exits and Entrances “blatant speculation”. He believes that Mrs. Byars tried to make sense of the McWhorters in early America and grouped the individuals into families based on when and where they lived in the Carolinas, which is where Hugh McWhorter's family lived after his death

When it became a possibility that Jacob McWhorter might not be linked with Hugh McWhorter and Jane, I met a third cousin of mine, Maurice Marlette of Hayneville, Alabama through the McWh*rter Website. Both Maurice and I wanted to prove that Reverend George Gray McWhorter, the reputed son of Jacob was connected with Hugh and Jane using DNA evidence. I found out that of Hugh and Jane's 5 documented children only John has known living McWhorter males. The Woodville, Georgia McWhorters descend from John. My family has long known the Woodville McWhorters and believed that we were distantly related, although at that time I had never heard of a possible connection between Hugh McWhorter of 1690 and Jacob. 

Maurice and I enlisted a male McWhorter descendant of Reverend George Gray McWhorter and male McWhorter descendant of Hugh and Jane (Woodville family). Representing the family of Reverend George Gray McWhorter was Brett Kendal McWhorter of Watkinsville, Georgia and representing Hugh McWhorter of 1690 was Colonel Howard Hart McWhorter of Athens, Georgia and a member of the Woodville family. The reason why a male McWhorter is critical is that aY-DNA test can only trace a son, father, father's father, and so on. Maurice and I were hoping to prove that Reverend George Gray was connected with Hugh McWhorter of 1690.  

DNA evidence would prove first if Brett McWhorter and Howard McWhorter had a common male ancestor. Second, if Brett and Howard did have a common ancestor, the DNA evidence would give us an idea of how many generations back it was to that common male ancestor. Howard is 8 generations from Hugh and Jane and Brett we believed was 9 generations from Hugh and Jane.  

Lineage From Hugh and Jean McWhorter

Colonel Howard Hart McWhorter's established lineage:

1 Hugh McWhorter abt 1690-1749/1750 m. Jean/Jane

2 John McWhorter born about 1725 m. Mary

3 John McWhorter 1759-1832 m. Margaret Potts

4 Hugh McWhorter 24 August 1788 – 11 May 1825 m. Helena Ligon

5 Robert Ligon McWhorter 29 June 1819 – 20 May 1908 m. Nancy Winnifred Janes

6 Hamilton McWhorter 01 July 1858 – 12 October 1929 m. Sarah Julia Pharr

7 Howard Hart McWhorter 11 December 1894 – 29 December 1985 m. Helen French Everett

8 Howard Hart McWhorter, Jr. 20 March 1931 m. Iris Frieda Larsen 
 

Brett Kendal McWhorter's lineage assuming that Jacob was a son of Hugh, which is what we wanted the DNA test to support:

1 Hugh McWhorter abt 1690-1749/1750 m. Jean/Jane

2 Jacob McWhorter m Elizabeth Gray

3 Rev. George Gray McWhorter 1753/1762/1765 – abt 05 Nov 1829 m. Elizabeth Drucilla Cooper

4 Doctor Alexander Burnett McWhorter 26 January 1791 – 19 Sept 1859 m. Ellen Youngblood

5 Major Eliphalet Ariel McWhorter 22 July 1830 - 16 January 1898 m. Anna Gore Shepard

6 Henry Shepard McWhorter 05 October 1859 – 19 April 1831 m Mary Louisa Pettigrew

7 Burnett Pettigrew McWhorter 05 January 1888 – 23 June 1961 – Alma Carlton Register

8 Burnett Pettigrew McWhorter, Jr. 03 January 1930 – 24 May 1995 m. Claira Jane Hart

9 Brett Kendal McWhorter 23 November 1966 m. Laura Ann Mattison 
 

The DNA test results were released June 9, 2006. DNA evidence proved absolutely that Brett and Howard did not have a common male ancestor. The McWhorter families fall into 2 Haplogroups. Brett McWhorter and Reverend George Gray McWhorter fall into the I1c Haplogroup and Howard McWhorter and Hugh McWhorter of 1690 fall into the R1b Haplogroup. 
 

Amy McWhirter Hutton states an expert told her that I1c has been in ancient western Europe since the end of the ice age. She states that 18 percent of western Europe are “I” and I1c is a very small part of that group. Mrs. Hutton said that the group came out of Western Europe about 23,000 years ago and were located in Northern Ireland by 1AD by the Roman historian Tacitus. They seem to be related to the Scoti, or are the Scoti. The Scoti were an early people who came from Northern Ireland to Scotland and settled on the western coastal area which became known as Dalriada. I1c is seen on the northern coasts of Ireland and the western islands of Scotland just above Ayrshire. 
 

Mrs. Hutton states that R1b has one marker which is thought to have Scottish origins. Mrs. Hutton says that the Ayrshire area was the home of the early Britians. The larger area around Ayrshire was called Strathclyde. The R1b may have been Britons who lived in the Ayrshire area prior to the arrival of the I1c people. Many of the R1b and I1c people in Ayrshire became McWhirters/McWhorters. 
 

DNA Results:

visit http://www.ftdna.com/public/ McWhirter and click on Y Results. 
 

Reverend George Gray McWhorter - Brett Kendal McWhorter is kit # 60521

Hugh McWhorter – Colonel Howard Hart McWhorter is kit # 60847 
 

Name Kit # Haplogroup

Brett Kendal McWhorter 60521 I1c  
 

Locus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 
 

DYS# 393 390 19* 391 385a 385b 426 388 439 389-1 392 389-2  
 

Alleles 15 24 15 10 15 16 11 13 11 13 12 29  
 
 

Locus 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 
 

DYS# 458 459a 459b 455 454 447 437 448 449 464a** 464b** 464c** 
 

Alleles 16 08 09 11 11 26 15 20 28 11 11 14  
 
 

Locus 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 
 

DYS# 464d** 460 GATA14 YCAIIa YCAIIb 456 607 576 570 CDY a CDYb 442 438 
 

Alleles 15 11 10 19 21 14 14 19 19 31 37 12 10 
 

*Also known as DYS 394

** on 5/19/2003, these values were adjusted down by 1 point because of a change in Lab nomenclature. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Name Kit # Haplogroup  
 

Howard Hart McWhorter 60847 R1b1  
 

Locus 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 
 

DYS# 393 390 19* 391 385a 385b 426 388 439 389-1 392 389-2  
 
 

Alleles 13 23 14 11 11 15 12 12 12 13 13 29  
 
 

Locus 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 
 

DYS# 458 459a 459b 455 454 447 437 448 449 464a** 464b** 464c** 
 

Alleles 17 09 10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15 15 17 
 
 
 

Locus 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 
 

DYS# 464d** 460 GATA14 YCAIIa YCAIIb 456 607 576 570 CDY a CDYb 442 438

Alleles 17 11 10 19 23 15 17 20 17 37 39 12 12 
 

*Also known as DYS 394

** on 5/19/2003, these values were adjusted down by 1 point because of a change in Lab nomenclature. 
 

The conclusion of the DNA evidence shows that Hugh McWhorter 1690 was not the grandfather of Reverend George Gray McWhorter 1762. Maurice Marlette and I believe that Jacob McWhorter and Elizabeth Gray were the parents of Reverend George Gray McWhorter because of the middle name Gray. This would mean that Jacob is not a son of Hugh and Jane. The other possibility is that Jacob is a son a Hugh and Jane and not the father of Reverend George Gray McWhorter. However, it is much more likely that Jacob was not a son of Hugh and Jane because of Reverend George Gray McWhorter's middle name “Gray” and the lack of supporting evidence, such as Jacob not being mentioned in Hugh McWhorter's will or any other document in connection with Hugh McWhorter. We believe now that Jacob McWhorter was an early McWhorter Scotch – Irish immigrant to colonial America just as Hugh and Jane McWhorter were. 
 
 

John Frost Murlin 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Books:

Exits and Entrances, Ura McWhorter Byars, 1974 
 

Web Sites:

McWh*rter Web Site:

Hugh McWhorter: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/ ~mcwgen/hughde.htm

& family profile #1 http://homepages.rootsweb.com/ ~mcwgen/family25.htm#Family%20 #1: 
 

Reverend George Gray McWhorter: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/ ~mcwgen/geogrsc.htm 
 

Jacob McWhorter:

family profile #12 http://homepages.rootsweb.com/ ~mcwgen/family25.htm#Family%20 #12: 
 

DNA Results:

visit http://www.ftdna.com/public/ McWhirter and click on Y Results. 
 

Reverend George Gray McWhorter - Brett Kendal McWhorter is kit # 60521

Hugh McWhorter – Colonel Howard Hart McWhorter is kit # 60847 
 
 

Magoo.com:

http://magoo.com/hugh/cahans. html

http://www.magoo.com/hugh/ robert.html 
 
 

 

Generation No. 1

UGH1 MCWHORTER was born in County Armagh. He married JEAN.

Notes for HUGH MCWHORTER:

Descendants of Hugh McWhorter

Generation No. 1

1. HUGH1 MCWHORTER He married (1) JEAN

Notes for HUGH MCWHORTER:

Shelley McWhorter Wright, Some Descendants of David McWhorter and his wife Mary Poston McWhorter, "Plantation of Ulster," p. 19

"Plantation of Ulster" -- Scotch Irish

Henry VIII of England for his own reasons withdrew from the Catholic Church and established Episcopacy in England, in 1534, and when his daughter Mary (known to history as "bloody Mary") , a bigoted Catholic, succeeded him to the throne, in 1553), she re-established the roman church in England and Ireland; but in 1558 Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VII, succeeded Mary to the throne of England, and again the religion of England and was changed. "The will of one weak woman determined the future faith of the race which speaks the english tongue." Elizabeth established Episcopacy as the State Church--the same that has endured tot his day.

In the year 1550 an Act of English Parliament provided for the uniformity of the Irish Church with the English, in doctrine and worship, and the laws made for the punishment of heretic s were repealed.

By the year 1600 the Puritan party had become powerful in England, and its influence had spread to and gained headway in Ireland.

The Reformation in Scotland had produced a vast effect on the inhabitants of  Scotland. The Presbyterian principles of John Knox sank into their hearts and changed the habits of their lives . An ignorant and changeable people became the foremost race in the world, possessed of all the qualities necessary to render the Kelts (natives) of Ireland subject to the authority of England. Hitherto, English colonists had been absorbed by the native Irish. Now another kind of colonist was to settle in Ulster the lands that had been confiscated from the O'neil kings) capable of holding the Kelt in subjection" the great plantation of Ulster movement was set in motion.

Accordingly the Plantation of Ulster began in 1606. The Scots chosen for this initial plantation were chiefly from the western highlands of Scotland--picked men and women. The thrifty Scot s made the land that had had a long period of rest produce abundantly. The success of these settlers induced many of their kinsmen and friends from Scotland to follow. The vacant parts of t he country were occupied. The native Irish Catholics did not "absorb" these hard-headed Scotch Presbyterians. They were like the "Jews and Samaritans"-- there was practically no amalgation . The name "Scotch-Irish" most definitely does not mean a mixture; it means the Scotch who lived  in Ireland. The first time this term is recorded was in 1780 when Francis Makemie, a young man from Ulster, matriculated at the University of Edinburgh. The term used inthis record is : "Scotticus ==Hibernicus." (Latin for "Scotch-Irish")

As a result of the Plantation settlement, Protestantism gained a stronghold in Ulster. As a p art of this Protestantism, Presbyterianism got a footing in the province quite as soon as Episcopacy --not in the form of ecclesiastical government, but in the hearts of the people, in the doctrines of the Church, and even in the external mode of worship that prevailed.

A large majority of the Plantation settlers were of Puritan or Presbyterian principles (all Calvinistic), and with these principles themselves, made a praiseworthy attempt to embrace the entire Protestant population in one religious settlement.

(In 1615 a convocation of the clergy adopted a Confession of Faith as Calvinistic as the Shorter Catechism, which was formed by the Westminster Assembly some twenty-three years later. It, therefore, followed that the Irish Church was then Presbyterian in theory, although Episcopal i n form, and was so strongly Protestant that it was joined by several Scotch Presbyterian ministers, who were recognized as clergymen without re-ordination.

The Scots knew the character of James VI, and were not afraid to resist this attempts to substitute an Episcopal for Presbyterian form of Church government. (James VI of Scotland, son of Queen Mary and Lord Darnley, became James I of Great Britain in 1603) They knew him to be a tyrant at heart, but a coward in his actions. He had no love for Presbyterianism and expressed hi s mind on the subject when he made the famous statement that, "Presbytery agrees as well wit h Monarchy as God and the Devil."

In 1618 James put over his "Five Articles of Perth" in Scotland, which meant conformity with t he English Church, in a determined effort to force the Episcopacy on the Scottish Presbyterian s. Rather than submit to thisAct of Conformity, the Presbyterian clergy and people flocked t o Ulster as a place of refuge.

It was during the Plantation of Ulster (1606-1610), and the years immediately following, that the McWhirters--practically all of them--left Scotland for a new home in Ulster, the exact time of removal, my research has failed to disclose. At least a few of them remained in Ayrshire for some years, as John McWhorter was at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in1679. But it appear s that all of them finally followed the Clan to Ulster--my research failed to find the name i n Scottish histories or records after 1700.

James VI of Scotland (James I of England) died in 1625 and was succeeded by his son Charles. For a few years after the accession of Charles, the faithful ministers in Ireland went about their work as usual. Then in1639 the Black Oath was forced upon the Ulster Scots, that is, al l those above sixteen years of age were compelled to take oath, on their knees that they would obey all the King's "royal commands." Troops, who were sent to compel the Presbyterians to s wear, executed their orders with ruthless severity.

Charles was having so much trouble with the non-conforming Scots, by 1640, he prepared to invade Scotland. But before he was ready to take the field, the canny Scots, in a surprise move, invaded England, and drove the Royalists in headlong flight before them. Thus began the sanguinary war between the Royalists and the Presbyterians of Scotland.

After this got into full swing, certain descendants of the northern Chieftains, the O'Neils o f Ulster, whose estates had been confiscated at the beginning of the century, decided that while England was so welloccupied at home it was a proper time to come back and take possession of those old estates.

Accordingly by correspondence, they plotted with the native Irish to expel all Protestant settlers of Anglo Saxon race. This was the beginning of what is known as the "Killing Time," or the "Irish Rebellion." all over Ulster the rebellion broke out on that fatal Saturday, October 3 , 1641.The native Irish who hated work and loved plunder more than they feared death, sprang t o arms on the first call of their new leaders.

At first the rebels acted with comparative moderation, and they very generally refrained fro m molesting the Scots, but this lasted for only a very short time. The entire population flew to arms in multitudes, and they acted more like demons than human beings. The whole Irish Race aimed at exterminating the entire Protestant population. The atrocities of these Irish in 16 41 reads much the same as the hitlerite Germans of 1941,the main difference being in the employment of modern equipment for torture, by the Germans.

The Scots, having been disarmed some time previously were sitting ducks, as it were, unable to defend themselves, perished by the thousands, men, women and children. It was during this awful slaughter of innocent people that the MacWhirter name was almost wiped out.

Our ancestress, Jean McWhirter, (She was a McWhirter before her marriage, but have no record o f her father's Christian name) lost her maternal grandparents with nine of their ten children in this bloody massacre. Her mother, an infant, was saved by her nurse, who ran to the hill s with her and hid her so successfully the butcherers could not find her. Her parents were hung to a tree in front of their home, and the children were killed in various ways all over the place.

Hugh and Jean McWhorter lived in County Armagh where he was for many years a successful line n merchant. Their eldest son, Alexander, who was a student at the University of Edinburgh preparing for the ministry, decided that he wanted to come to America and finish his course at Princeton, new jersey. His father and his father's brother (given name uncertain, but have some evidence that it was "James") decided they would remove with their families to America, "the land of the bree" at the same time Alexander came in 1735. Hugh and Jean had ten children--do no t know how many, if any, his brother had==when they left Ulster. They landed at New castle Delaware.

Hugh settled in the County of New Castle Delaware and became an extensive farmer and an elder of the Presbyterian church near the village of Middletown, and generally called "the Forest Congregation," near the Pennsylvania line, on the other side of which was Lancaster County , which at that time covered a large area.

Alexander, the eldest son, died at the age of twenty-two, before he had graduated from Princeton. About two months after his death another son was born to Hugh and jean. This baby was name d "Alexander" after his deceased brother, but his name was not allowed to be spoken in the family until he was several months old. This son became the Rev. Dr. Alexander McWhirter of Revolutionary fame.

From the records of the Scotch-Irish Congress of America (records in the Historical Foundation Library, Montreat, North Carolina) some old Church records of the Reformed Church and Tax lists in Pennsylvania, the following was gathered;

The Scotch Irish who landed at New Castle, Delaware, for the most part pushed on into Pennsylvania, settling in Lancaster and York, the adjoining counties. They formed the settlements of : "The Barrens, "southeastern York county, the "Monaghan" settlement, northeastern York County : "Marsh Creek" and the "Great Conewego" settlements near Gettysburg,  York County.

"In 1731 a good number of Scotch-Irish settled at Marsh Creek....In 1736the Proprietors deter mined to survey for themselves a Manor in this territory. In 1741 an order was issued for the survey to be made....1743,the settlers strenuously objected, but "John McWirter said he would move out soon. In 1754 the surveyor reported he could not yet make a tolerable draft of it. " And it was not until 1765 that a compromise was effected.

Wherever the Scotch Irish settled, they built their churches as soon as their cabins were finished---all logs, of course. Marsh Creek Church was an organized church in 1747. Buionstion Church, in "the Barrens" in Chanceford township was built about 1753. Moses, Henry and Aron McWhirter were members of this church in 1771. An old Reformed preacher's baptismal record shows that Moses had a baby named "Jean" baptized in 1778. He was still living here in 1782.

Among the Scotch Irish who settled at Marsh Creek in 1731-35 was one, Hance Hamilton. He was sheriff, a highly honored position at that time, and knew exactly what such an officer should d o to protect his own and to keep all others at a distance. He was quite a character. He appear s to have been very closely associated with the McWhirters, though I can't prove intermarriag e had anything to do with bringing the two names, "Hance" and "Hamilton" into our family as Christian names. Our father had a near kinsman named "Hance McWhirter;" his brother Jim's middle name was "Hamilton," and I have seen this name attached to a number of McWhirters, and so wit h the name "Hance."

(I cannot prove, but I believe that John McWhirter of Marsh Creek, mentioned above, was the so n of Hugh and Jean McWhirter, and the father of David McWhirter (born ca. 1741, in Pennsylvania) who married Mary Poston, and was my great-great grandfather. There is evidence that Hance Hamilton "moved out" of Marsh Creek at about the same time John McWhirter moved, and both of the m settled for a time in Chanceford township, thenceon to Mecklenberg county, North Carolina.

From: "Lowell Thomas" <lst@mitre.org>

Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 5:16 PM

Subject: Hance Hamilton


 

Hello,
Reading through your information I thought I must add some to what you have.  Captain (Sea Captain) Hance Hamilton was hired by the Penn's to bring 140 families to Penn's lands to occupy them because of Lord Calvert and Lord Baltimore's attempt to claim lands to the West of the Susquehanna River.  Hance Hamilton gathered the families and brought part of his family with him.  His son Hance Hamilton, the one you have in your record was the first sheriff of York County. He was a very close friend of Col Robert McPherson of Marsh Creek.  Robert McPherson was a lawyer as well and was the one whom handled the estate of Hance Hamilton when he died in "Marsh Creek" 
The Sea Captain Hance Hamilton remained in York County, Newberry Township.  I have not been able to find more on him.  I believe a daughter, Grace Hamilton b. 1723, married in Ireland to William Samuel Collins came to York County around 1750 settling in the Chanceford Township area, near Guniston Church which you talk about.  Grace and Samuel are buried there.

Along with the families were the Boyd's and the McClean's.  I suspect you may find those names mixed in your family as well.  They all intermarried as there were not too many people in those times.

The McClean's are important because they were surveyors.  They were hired by Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon of London.  I think you know the rest.  They finished the line to the Ohio border, it runs no further.   I have found the McWhorter name in many documents and books in my searches.  Most of the remains in Black's cemetery have been moved to the Evergreen cemetery in Gettysburg, PA.  You may want to check that file to see what is available.   Another family name that is involved with these families is the Greer/Grier line.  Many of the families were staying on the Grier Lands in Northern Ireland prior to coming with Hance Hamilton in 1729.

Regards,
Lowell Thomas
 

 

 

Shelley McWhorter Wright, Some Descendants of David McWhorter and his wife Mary (Poston) McWhorter, "Plantation of Ulster," p. 19

"Plantation of Ulster" -- Scotch Irish

Henry VIII of England for his own reasons withdrew from the Catholic Church and established Episcopacy in England, in 1534, and when his daughter Mary (known to history as "bloody Mary") , a bigoted Catholic, succeeded him to the throne, in 1553), she re-established the roman church in England and Ireland; but in 1558 Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VII, succeeded Mary to the throne of England, and again the religion of England and was changed. "The will of one weak woman determined thefuture faith of the race which speaks the english tongue." Elizabethest ablished Episcopacy as the State Church--the same that has endured to this day.

In the year 1550 an Act of English Parliament provided for the uniformity of the Irish Church with the English, in doctrine and worship, and the laws made for the punishment of heretic s were repealed.

By the year 1600 the Puritan party had become powerful in England, and its influence had spread to and gained headway in Ireland.

The Reformation in Scotland had produced a vast effect on the inhabitants of Scotland. The Presbyterian principles of John Knox sank into their hearts and changed the habits of their lives . An ignorant and changeable people became the foremost race in the world, possessed of all the qualities necessary to render the Kelts (natives) of Ireland subject to the authority of England. Hitherto, English colonists had been absorbed by the native Irish. Now another kind of colonist was to settle in Ulster (the lands that had been confiscated from the O'neil kings) cap able of holding the Kelt in subjection" the great plantation of Ulster movement was set in motion.

Accordingly the Plantation of Ulster began in 1606. The Scots chosen for this initial plantation were chiefly from the western highlands of Scotland--picked men and women. The thrifty Scot s made the land that had had a long period of rest produce abundantly. The success of these settlers induced many of their kinsmen and friends from Scotland to follow. The vacant parts of t he country were occupied. The native Irish Catholics did not "absorb" these hard-headed Scotch Presbyterians. They were like the "Jews and Samaritans"-- there was practically no amalgation . The name "Scotch-Irish" most definitely does not mean a mixture; it means the Scotch who lived in Ireland. The first time this term is recorded was in 1780 when Francis Makemie, a young man from Ulster, matriculated at the University of Edinburgh. The term used inthis record is : "Scotticus ==Hibernicus." (Latin for "Scotch-Irish")

As a result of the Plantation settlement, Protestantism gained a stronghold in Ulster. As a p art of this Protestantism, Presbyterianism got a footing in the province quite as soon as Episcopacy --not in the form of ecclesiastical government, but in the hearts of the people, in the doctrines of the Church, and even in the external mode of worship that prevailed.

A large majority of the Plantation settlers were of Puritan or Presbyterian principles (all Calvinistic), and with these principles themselves, made a praiseworthy attempt to embrace the entire Protestant population in one religious settlement.

(In 1615 a convocation of the clergy adopted a Confession of Faith as Calvinistic as the Short er Catechism, which was formed by the Westminster Assembly some twenty-three years later. It , therefore, followed that the Irish Church was then Presbyterian in theory, although Episcopal in form, and was so strongly Protestant that it was joined by several Scotch Presbyterian ministers, who were recognized as clergymen without re-ordination.

The Scots knew the character of James VI, and were not afraid to resist his attempts to substitute an Episcopal for Presbyterian form of Church government. (James VI of Scotland, son of Queen Mary and Lord Darnley, became James I of Great Britain in 1603) They knew him to be a tyrant at heart, but a coward in his actions. He had no love for Presbyterianism and expressed hi s mind on the subject when he made the famous statement that, "Presbytery agrees as well wit h Monarchy as God and the Devil."

In 1618 James put over his "Five Articles of Perth" in Scotland, which meant conformity with t he English Church, in a determined effort to force the Episcopacy on the Scottish Presbyterian s. Rather than submit to this Act of Conformity, the Presbyterian clergy and people flocked t o Ulster as a place of refuge.

It was during the Plantation of Ulster (1606-1610), and the years immediately following, that the McWhirters--practically all of them--left Scotland for a new home in Ulster, the exact time of removal, my research has failed to disclose. At least a few of them remained in Ayrshire for some years, as John McWhorter was at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in1679. But it appears that all of them finally followed the Clan to Ulster--my research failed to find the name in Scottish histories or records after 1700.

James VI of Scotland (James I of England) died in 1625 and was succeeded by his son Charles. F or a few years after the accession of Charles, the faithful ministers in Ireland went about their work as usual. Then in1639 the Black Oath was forced upon the Ulster Scots, that is, al l those above sixteen years of age were compelled to take oath, on their knees that they would obey all the King's "royal commands." Troops, who were sent to compel the Presbyterians t o swear, executed their orders with ruthless severity.

Charles was having so much trouble with the non-conforming Scots, by1640, he prepared to inva de Scotland. But before he was ready to take the field, the canny Scots, in a surprise move , invaded England, and drovethe Royalists in headlong flight before them. Thus began the sang uinary war between the Royalists and the Presbyterians of Scotland.

After this got into full swing, certain descendants of the northern Chieftains, the O'Neils of  Ulster, whose estates had been confiscated at the beginning of the century, decided that while England was so well occupied at home it was a proper time to come back and take possession of those old estates.

Accordingly by correspondence, they plotted with the native Irish to expel all Protestant settlers of Anglo Saxon race. This was the beginning of what is known as the "Killing Time," o r the "Irish Rebellion." all over Ulster the rebellion broke out on that fatal Saturday, October 3, 1641.The native Irish who hated work and loved plunder more than they feared death, sprang to arms on the first call of their new leaders.

At first the rebels acted with comparative moderation, and they very generally refrained fro m molesting the Scots, but this lasted for only a very short time. The entire population flew to arms in multitudes, and they acted more like demons than human beings. The whole Irish Race aimed at exterminating the entire Protestant population. The atrocities of these irish in 16 41 reads much the same as the hitlerite Germans of 1941,the main difference being in the employment of modern equipment for torture, by the Germans.

The Scots, having been disarmed some time previously were sitting ducks, as it were, unable t o defend themselves, perished by the thousands, men, women and children. It was during this awful slaughter of innocent peoplethat the MacWhirter name was almost wiped out.

Our ancestress, Jean McWhirter, (She was a McWhirter before her marriage, but have no record o f her father's Christian name) lost her maternal grandparents with nine of their ten children in this bloody massacre. Her mother, an infant, was saved by her nurse, who ran to the hill s with her and hid her so successfully the butcherers could not find her. Her parents were hung to a tree in front of their home, and the children were killed in various ways all over the place.

Hugh and Jean McWhorter lived in County Armagh where he was for many years a successful line n merchant. Their eldest son, Alexander, who was a student at the University of Edinburgh preparing for the ministry, decided that he wanted to come to America and finish his course at Princeton, new jersey. His father and his father's brother (given name uncertain, but have some evidence that it was "James") decided they would remove with their families to America, "the lan  of the bree" at the same time Alexander came in 1735. Hugh and Jean had ten children--do no t know how many, if any, his brother had==when they left Ulster. They landed at new castle Delaware.

Hugh settled in the County of New Castle Delaware and became an extensive farmer and an elder of the Presbyterian church near the village of Middletown, and generally called "the Forest Congregation," near the Pennsylvania line, on the other side of which was Lancaster County , which at that time covered a large area.

Alexander, the eldest son, died at the age of twenty-two, before he had graduated from Princeton. About two months after his death another son was born to Hugh and Jean. This baby was named "Alexander" after his deceased brother, but his name was not allowed to be spoken in the family until he was several months old. This son became the Rev. Dr. Alexander McWhirter of Revolutionary fame.

From the records of the Scotch-Irish Congress of America (records in the Historical Foundatio n Library, Montreat, North Carolina) some old Church records of the Reformed Church and Tax lists in Pennsylvania, the following was gathered;

The Scotch Irish who landed at New Castle, Delaware, for the most part pushed on into Pennsylvania, settling in Lancaster and York, the adjoining counties. They formed the settlements of : "The Barrens," southeastern York county, the "Monaghan" settlement, northeastern York County : "Marsh Creek" and the "Great Conewego" settlements near Gettysburg, York County.

"In 1731 a good number of Scotch-Irish settled at Marsh Creek....In 1736the Proprietors deter mined to survey for themselves a Manor in this territory. In 1741 an order was issued for the survey to be made....1743,the settlers strenuously objected, but "John McWirter said he wou ld move out soon. In 1754 the surveyor reported he could not yet make a tolerable draft of it. " And it was not until 1765 that a compromise was effected.

Wherever the Scotch Irish settled, they built their churches as soon as their cabins were finished---all logs, of course. Marsh Creek Church was an organized church in 1747. Buionstion Church, in "the Barrens" in Chanceford township was built about 1753. Moses, Henry and Aron McWh irter were members of this church in 1771. An old Reformed preacher's baptismal record show s that Moses had a baby named "Jean" baptized in 1778. He was still living here in 1782.

Among the Scotch Irish who settled at Marsh Creek in 1731-35 was one, Hance Hamilton. He was sheriff, a highly honored position at that time, and knew exactly what such an officer should d o to protect his own and to keep all others at a distance. He was quite a character. He appears to have been very closely associated with the McWhirters, though I can't prove intermarriage had anything to do with bringing the two names, "Hance" and "Hamilton" into our family as Christian names. Our father had a near kinsman named "Hance McWhirter;" his brother Jim's middle name was"Hamilton," and I have seen this name attached to a number of McWhirters, and so with the name "Hance."

(I cannot prove, but I believe that John McWhirter of Marsh Creek, mentioned above, was the so n of Hugh and Jean McWhirter, and the father of David McWhirter (born ca. 1741, in Pennsylvania) who married Mary Poston, and was my great-great grandfather. There is evidence that Hance Hamilton "moved out" of Marsh Creek at about the same time John McWhirter moved, and both of them settled for a time in Chanceford township, thence on to Mecklenberg county, North Carolina.

 

 

Notes for JEAN:

Jean McWhirter lost her maternal grandparents with nine of their ten children in the bloody m assacre known as the "Killing Time," or the "Irish Rebellion." All over Ulster the rebellio n broke out on that fatal Saturday, October 3, 1641. The native Irish who hated work, and lo ved plunder more than they feared death, sprant to arms on the first call of their new leader s. At first the rebels acted with comparative moderation, and they very generally refraine d from molesting the Scots, but this lasted for only a very short time. The entire populatio n flew to arms in multitudes, and they acted more like demons than human beings. The whole I rish race aimed at exterminating the entire Protestant population. The atrocities of these I rish in 1641 reads much the same as the Hitlerite Germans of 19041, the main difference bein g in the employment of modern equipment for torture by the Germans.

The Scots, having been disarmed some time previously, were "sitting ducks" as it were, unabl e to defend themselves, perished by the thousands, men, women and children. It was during th is awful slaughter of innoent people that the MacWhirter name was almost wiped out.

Jean McWhirter's mother, an infant, was saved by her nurse, who ran to the hills with her an d hid her so successfully the butcherers did not find her. Her parents were hung to a tree i n front of their hom, and the children were killed in various ways all over the plqce.

 

Children of HUGH MCWHORTER and JEAN are:

2. i. JOHN

Generation No. 2

OHN2 MCWHORTER (HUGH1).

 

Child of JOHN MCWHORTER is:

3. i. DAVID3 MCWHORTER, b. Abt. 1741; d. 1789, Abbeville District, South Carolina.

 

Generation No. 3

OHN2, HUGH1) was born Abt. 1741, and died 1789 in Abbeville District, South Carolina. He married MARY POSTON March 31, 1766 in St. James Episcopal church, Lancaster County, Pa, daughter of JOHN POSTON and MARGARET BALDRIDGE.

Notes for DAVID MCWHORTER:

David McWhorter was a Blacksmith by trade. Data shows that they lived in West Fallowfield Tow nship in Chester County, Pennsylvania and sold whatwas perhaps their homeplace in 1767. The y were living in North carolinaby 1770. David received a land grant in the 96th District, Sou th carolinain 1786, but records show that it was originally surveyed for him in1784. He die d in Abbeville County in 1789, leaving his widow and ninechildren, ranging in age from two t o twenty-one years.

Birth date accepted by DAR (Accounts of United States with North Carolina, War of Revolution , Book A, p. 174.

Notes and Queries, Egle, 1897, p. 12 (Misspelled McWhister)

Letters of Administration of David's estate by his widow, Mary McWhirter,Oct. 4, 1789, Probat e Court, Abbeville Co., S.c.

Bible Record

Statement of Mrs. Temperance (A.M.) Kirkes, a granddaughter who was 14years old in 1846; als o statement of Miss Eliza Waugh McWhorter, a g.gd.to Helen Mary McWhorter mcIntyre in 1922 th at Mary Poston was 96 years of

age at her death. See letter.

Some Descendants of David McWhorter (McWhirter) (ca. 1741-1846) and hiswife Mary Poston (Post en) McWhorter (1750-1846), Compiled by Shelley McWhorter Wright (Mrs. Clifton P.) of Chattano oga, Tennessee, Edited andprinted by Mr. and Mrs. E. R. McWhorter, Longview, Texas, 1978.

Mrs. Gwen McWhorter

Birmingham Alabama

March 26, 1927

As to David (Mary Poston's husband), the definite tradition with us is that he was wounded i n a hand to hand encounter with a party of Tories in upper South Carolina, and that he died s ubsequently from the effect of the wound. The wound was in his head, and he was left for dea d, some friendly Indians found him, repaired the fractured skull with a piece of silver and n ursed him until he was able to get back to camp. Thomas James McWhorter, son of Samuel of Su mmerville, Georgia, says he has always understood that the Revolutionary ancestor served in u pper South Carolina under General Merriam.

 

 

Notes for MARY POSTON:

Notes for MARY POSTON:

Bible owned by W.B. Hendrix, 603 North Vermont Avenue, Lakeland, Florida

On the front inside cover of the bible is written in ink:

"David McWhorter"

"S.P. McWhorter"

"if I was corrected for

all my rongs it would

Shorten my days and

end my songs and end my songs."

On the bottom of front page is written: "1766, put here by A.W.McWhorter, 1927, great, grea t grandson of David McWhorter and Mary PostenMcWhorter."

Bible owned by W.B. Hendrix, 603 North Vermont Avenue, Lakeland, Florida

On the front inside cover of the bible is written in ink:

"David McWhorter"

"S.P. McWhorter"

"if I was corrected for

all my rongs it would

Shorten my days and

end my songs and end my songs."

On the bottom of front page is written: "1766, put here by A.W.McWhorter, 1927, great, grea t grandson of David McWhorter and Mary PostenMcWhorter."

Mrs. H.J. MacIntyre (Helen Mary McWhorter) to her brother A.W. McWhorter, August 16, 1922, di rectly after a visit to the old McWhortr homestead, Retreat, S.C., where she talked over McWh orter family history with her Aunt Lila (Miss Eliza Waugh McWhorter).

"Mary Poston, our great-grandmother, came over here directly from the Highlands of Scotland . She knew John McWhorter in Scotland (Aunt Lila was almost certain that she did). She wa s a skilled horse-woman. At the age of 90 she could step into Grandpa=s hand, spring lightl y into the saddle and cnter over the hills and mountains like a girl of 16. Aunt Lila has he ard Grandpa say this many a time. Grandpa said she was talll, straight, hansome, with snow w hit hair, and as he remembered her. She, after 90, helped to keep house for her daughter-in- law Elizabeth Anderson, who became badly drawn with rheumatism. Mary Poston died at the ag e of 96, but not from old age. She was an unusually intelligent woman, as was Elizabeth Ande rson. But let me go back to Mary Poston for a minute. One day a Tory neighbor, after a Tor y victory, and after great-great grandfather had been wounded, came to the home and started i n an exulting manner to tell of the victory. Mary Poston said, "GEt away from here, you vil e Tory, or I'll take this clapboard to your head!" He, knowing she meant what she said, lef t immediately."

Children of DAVID MCWHORTER and MARY POSTON are:

4. i. JOHN4 MCWHORTER, b. October 30, 1768, Pennsylvania; d. February 19,1855, Walker County , Georgia.

ii. ROBERT MCWHORTER17, b. October 22, 1770

iii. SAMUEL MCWHORTER17, b. September 30, 1775

iv. SOLOMON MCWHORTER17, b. October 02, 1777

v. MARY MCWHORTER17, b. November 27, 1779

vi. ISAAC MCWHORTER17, b. November 30, 1785

vii. SARAH MCWHORTER17, b. September 05, 1787

viii. DAVID MCWHORTER17, b. October 12, 1773

 

Child of DAVID MCWHORTER and MARY POSTON is:

4. i. JOHN

Generation No. 4

OHN4 MCWHORTER (DAVID3, JOHN2, HUGH1) was born October 30, 1768 in Pennsylvania, and died February 19, 1855 in Fairview Cemetery Walker County, Georgia. He married ELIZABETH WILLSON 1795, daughter of JAMES WILSON and MARTHA CALHOUN.

Notes for JOHN MCWHORTER:

Notes for JOHN MCWHORTER:

Posten Bible, 1850 census Walker County, Georgia

More About JOHN MCWHORTER:

Burial: Fairview Cemetery five miles south of LaFayette, at foot ofPigeon Mountain

More About ELIZABETH WILLSON:

Burial: Bethel Church Cemetery near Walhalla, S.C., marker standing

Children of JOHN MCWHORTER and ELIZABETH WILLSON are:

5. i. DAVID5 MCWHORTER, b. 1800.

ii. JAMES MCWHORTER29, b. March 09, 179629.

iii. MARY MCWHORTER29, b. 179829.

iv. ELIZABETH ANN MCWHORTER29, b. 180129.

v. MATILDA MCWHORTER29, b. July 05, 180229.

vi. JOHN BAYLES MCWHORTER29, b. May 11, 180429.

vii. EZEKIEL MCWHORTER29, b. January 02, 180729.

viii. SAMUEL MCWHORTER29, b. January 02, 180929.

 

 

Notes for ELIZABETH WILLSON:

Notes for JOHN MCWHORTER:

Posten Bible, 1850 census Walker County, Georgia

More About JOHN MCWHORTER:

Burial: Fairview Cemetery five miles south of LaFayette, at foot ofPigeon Mountain

More About ELIZABETH WILLSON:

Burial: Bethel Church Cemetery near Walhalla, S.C., marker standing

Children of JOHN MCWHORTER and ELIZABETH WILLSON are:

5. i. DAVID5 MCWHORTER, b. 1800.

ii. JAMES MCWHORTER29, b. March 09, 179629.

iii. MARY MCWHORTER29, b. 179829.

iv. ELIZABETH ANN MCWHORTER29, b. 180129.

v. MATILDA MCWHORTER29, b. July 05, 180229.

vi. JOHN BAYLES MCWHORTER29, b. May 11, 180429.

vii. EZEKIEL MCWHORTER29, b. January 02, 180729.

viii. SAMUEL MCWHORTER29, b. January 02, 180929.

 

Child of JOHN MCWHORTER and ELIZABETH WILLSON is:

5. i. DAVID

Generation No. 5

AVID5 MCWHORTER (JOHN4, DAVID3, JOHN2, HUGH1). He married MARY (POLLY) WARDLAW, daughter of WILLIAM WARDLAW and MARGARET MCCULLY.

Notes for DAVID MCWHORTER:

The original letter which follows is now with Mrs. Charles R. Rein of Panama City, Florida . It was written by David McWhorter (3rd child of John and Elizabeth McWhorter) to his broth er, John McWhorter (1st child of John and Elizabeth McWhorter), in 1838. The penmanship is v ery good and legible in most places.

Alabama Willcox County

October 14th 1838

My beloved Brother I now sit down to wright you a fiew lines in answer to youre letter date d 16 August and to let you know that I am still injoying the blessings of God in helth and m y children injoys a reasonable portion of helth this yeare for which I have great reason to b e umbel and truley thankful to God who provideth all things for the best to them that love hi m. brother my broubels which I have met with has been light but my sins has been hevy and bu rdensom to mee and the neglect of duty towards my God and Saviour beares me down and if not f ree grace and free pardon through the atoning blood of the lamb of God I must sink beneath hi s frounds but hop review sometimes and makes my burdens somewhat lighter. brother don't leav e me out of youre prairs and secret thoughts to God and Christ and my children also that the y may bee brought in and saved with an everlatsting salvation. My tears would bath your lett er if it would doo any good but drops of tears can near repay for my crimes. brother my hear t is with you but my body is not but time will roll us together if not in this world of troub les I trust we will meet in Christs his where wee will prase redeeming grace and dying love t hrough an never ending aturnity. I wrote to you in my letter that perhaps I would com to se e you this winter perhaps not. I have been feeding myself upon that notion for some time bu t I now have to give it out. My imployer seems loth to give mee up yet. He chooses to finan ce me in provisions hext yeare besides the wages he has been giving which has been three hund red Dollars anueley. I have not been abel to lay aney thing up for another time and I fin d I had better stay with him another yeare but if I can get the opertunity of coming to see y ou this winter I will come and if spared to another fall or winter I shal visit your countr y and if I like your cuntry I shal better be abel to settle myself. I would like to buy som e small place neare to you all with a mill sceat on it and watter plenty to support a saw an d grist and could bee got on tolerabel turmes. I think that would suit me as well as aney wa y I lik Alabama ptolerabel well at this time except the helth of it that is particular object ion I have to it. The spearet of farming is very high crops of corn is tolerabel good but co ton is not so good as has been made upon account of its been so dry all the latter part of th e summer and fall. I am making tolerabel crop of corn and cotton . I shall make 14 or 15 hu ndred bushels of corn and 25 or 26 bales of cotton weighing from 4 to five hundred pounds . I have written 2 letters to brother William and recd answer to both of them. The last ha s been since I recd youres. He says he is wel and fameley and he states he has bot land an d has hired the bilding of him a house and expects to get it this month and is teaching schoo l and preaching once a month at his apointed places and that his income is about twelve hundr ed dollars and his expenses is about the same in purchase of land and bilding and suparting a nd rent paying for the youce of a house in pantatock and he writes to me that he has a notio n to wright to brother Samuel to come to that cuntry to teach school but rather scrinks to do o it but if he does I should like to see brother Samuel as he passes through for I think my c untry is as good as that for a teacher and equaley as helthy as that we have some peopel livi ng herare that has lived theare and as respects health Alabama is as good as Missippia and i f he leaves a helthy cuntry I should like to see him in my cuntry for tuition is as high hear e as aney whare and a great call for them but contentment is better than riches and helth bet ter than fortune. brother let the rest of my brothers and sisters see these lines after yo u read them and that broth Samuel will wright next brother Jameses hand has got so stiff he c an't moove his pen to write a line or too to mee

D McWhorter

Wright to me if you see aney place that would suit me and be convenient to you and be neare to some presbyterian church sose that I can bring my children up under the eye of the church t hat I desire them to be brought up in. Don't forget to wright. So Farewell til I heare fro m some of you.

D McWhorter

If sister Martha is neare give my brotherly love to hur and Hugh Rogers

(This letter is written on a wide sheet of peper then doubled to form an envelope and address ed to: John McWhorter

Lafayett County

Georgia

Lafayette Court House

On the back, it looks like: Womack, Ala. Oct 15, 1838

 

 

Children of DAVID MCWHORTER and MARY WARDLAW are:

i. MARGARET6 MCWHORTER, m. FLOYD WATSON.

ii. ELIZABETH JANE MCWHORTER, d. Monterey, Mount Moriah Cemetery, Butler County, Al; m. WILLIAM WATSON.