McQuaids of Kentucky
The Search for Henry McQuaid
I first encountered Henry McQuaid while researching my ancestors in Chester County, PA, which is right next door to the Lancaster County home of my McQuates. At the Chester County Archives, I was able to dig up the following tidbits:
► Henry McQuaid (spelled McQuad) married Agnes (or Ann) Bailey McCadden in Christ Church (Episcopal), Philadelphia, 1 Apr 1758.
► Henry McQuaid (also spelled McQuiad) Involved in Chester County Quarter-Sessions Court dispute with father-in-law (William Bailey), 1761 to 1765.
► Henry shows up in Chester County tax lists as follows:
|
NAME |
YEAR |
TWP. |
ACRES |
HORSES |
CATT,E |
SHEEP |
|
McQuead |
1765 |
East Town |
160 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
McWade |
1766 |
East Town |
140 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
McQuade |
1767 |
Willistown |
100 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
McQuaid |
1768 |
East Town |
150 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
McQuead* |
1769 |
East Town |
150 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
McQuaid |
1771 |
East Town |
150 |
2 |
3 |
* Listed as "weaver."
► Henry does not show up in list of 1780 Chester County taxables or in 1790 census.
There are no records for Henry in Chester County after 1771. Even though he owned a substantial amount of land, there are no records of the sale of this land, no will, and no probate records. He just disappears from Chester County.
I checked many sources in an attempt to determine his whereabouts after 1771. From one of my e-mail correspondents, I received the following information, presented just as received:
Henry McQuaid emigrated from Ireland to America in early 1700's and settled in Shelby Co, KY in 1782, near Shelbyville. He died 25 Feb 1805 in Shelby Co., KY. Married (2) Mary Carson 12 June 1747 in Shelby Co, KY.
James McQuaid [Henry’s son] was pastor of the Clear Creek Baptist Church near Shelbyville, KY for 40 years. He was a popular preacher, married more young people than any other minister in the surrounding territory. He organized many churches in Kentucky. Also organized the Baptist church in Maria Creek, Knox Co, IN while visiting daughter, Margaret Polk.
He [James] was a good singer and his daughter, Margaret inherited his good voice and love of singing. Her children had happy memories of her singing.
He [James] was also a farmer and cleared & cultivated a large farm for 45 years. His father, Henry McQuaid, was a "seceder Presbyterian" (a strict "Sabatarian" and opposed James' religious beliefs.)
From the above information, the source of which is given as "R. W. Stambaugh", one could conclude that Henry moved to Kentucky from Chester County, PA. However, the statement that Henry married Mary Carson "12 June 1747 in Shelby Co, KY" does not support that conclusion.
While researching the McQuaid family in the Maryland Historical Society library in Baltimore, I discovered information on Henry McQuaid in a 1931 issue of the Americana Journal. Following is an excerpt from an Americana article entitled "Foy and Allied Families", by Ella Foy O’Gorman:
I. Henry McQuaid,
of East Town, Chester County, Pennsylvania, was taxed on one hundred and sixty acres of land, four horses and four cattle, in 1765; and in the tax of 1769 is called "weaver." His name does not appear in the 1774 tax list. Arthur McQuaid is in the list of freemen at the same place and time. The name in the census of 1790 appears to be confined to Pennsylvania. No Henry or James McQuaid, however, appears in that list. Henry McQuaid's inventory filed at Shelbyville, Kentucky, January, 1805.II. James McQuaid, son of Henry McQuaid, born about 1658, died May 23, 1828, aged seventy, was a Baptist preacher and farmer. A James McQuaid served with the Stockle Rangers on the frontier of Pennsylvania, 1778-83, Washington County. James McQuaid married, in 1784, presumably in Shelby County, Kentucky, Isabel Pearce, and they were the parents of a daughter: I. Margaret, of whom further.
III. Margaret McQuaid, daughter of James and Isabel (Pearce) McQuaid, was born January 10, 1785. She married Charles Polk, 3d.
The Foy article seems to be saying that the Henry McQuaid of Chester County, PA and the Shelby County, KY Henry McQuaid were the same person. Maybe . . . but the proof is absent.
Still searching for Henry, I found the following records in the "Abstracts of Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland:"
|
NAME |
YEAR |
LOCATION |
COMMENT |
|
Henry McQuaide or McQuade |
1719-1722 |
Queen Anne’s County |
Henry was one of 3 witnesses to the will of Darby Callaghane, planter. |
|
Henry Mcquead |
1737 |
Queen Anne’s County |
Henry owed money to the estate of William Hemsley, plantation owner. |
|
Henry Mcquead |
1737 |
Talbot County |
Estate of Mary Cooper owes money to Henry. |
|
Henry McQueed |
1744 |
Talbot County |
Estate of William Dehortee owes money to Henry. |
|
Henry McQueed |
1753 |
Cecil County |
Henry owes money to the estate of James Bayard. |
Let it be noted that there is no way to determine whether all of the above records are for the same person or whether any of the records represent the same person as Henry McQuaid of Shelby County, KY.
Add to the above confusion the following two miscellaneous sightings of a Henry McQuaid, and you have the sum total of information I have on Henry:
► Henry McQuade of County Tyrone, Ireland was "ordered for transportation" to America on 26 Mar 1741. Henry, along with three other McQuades – Bryan, Roger, and Patrick – was declared a vagabond on that date and, for all practical purposes, kicked out or Ireland. There is no way of knowing whether this Henry ever reached America; many of these forced emigrants died in jail or died on the journey or where otherwise lost in the system.
► Henry McQuade appears in the 1784 tax lists for Washington County, which is located on the western edge of PA, clear across the state from Chester County. No records can be found for Henry in Washington County either before or after 1784.
On the accompanying map, I have plotted the various recorded locations for Henry McQuaid. So now it’s a job for someone more knowledgeable than I am to connect the dots in the correct way. If you figure it out, print out the map, connect the dots, and FAX it to me at 717-733-3470. All entries will receive at least honorable mention and the best will have the supreme distinction of appearing on my website.
The Family of Henry McQuaid
Generation No. 1
1. HENRY1 MCQUAID died abt. 1805 in Shelby County, KY.
Child of HENRY MCQUAID is:
2. i. JAMES2 MCQUAID, b. Bet. 1758 - 1761; d. May 23, 1823, Shelby County, KY.
Generation No. 2
2. JAMES2 MCQUAID (HENRY1) was born Bet. 1758 - 1761, and died May 23, 1823 in Shelby County, KY. He married ISABEL PEARCE abt. 1784.
Notes for JAMES MCQUAID:
Data for James McQuaid submitted to National Genealogical Society 15 Jun 1979 by:
Betty M. Fullerton
121 West 48th
Kansas City, MO 64112
Sources cited:
DAR #532044
Shelby County, Kentucky Marriages, Kentucky Historical Society
Memoirs of James Polk
Charles Polk Family Bible
From History of Kentucky Baptists":
James McQuade, Sr., was one of the first preachers, raised up to the ministry, within the bounds of Long Run Association. The place of his nativity is not known, but he was born about 1761. He was among the first emigrants who forted in what is now called Shelby county. When William Hickman first preached in the little forts in this region, in the beginning of 1789, this youth attended his meetings. Of him, Mr. Hickman says: "Brother James McQuade stood by me from the first, and was my singing clerk. A little after this, Brother Gano baptized him and two or three others." Mr. McQuade united with Brashears Creek church; and there he was set apart to the ministry. He was more distinguished for his piety and devotion, than for the brilliancy of his gifts. But he was a good and useful preacher, in his generation, and was held in high esteem by his brethern. He was called to his heavenly reward, May 23, 1828*.
*Note: His death year here is different than that given by Fullerton.
Children of JAMES MCQUAID and ISABEL PEARCE are:
i. MARGARET3 MCQUAID, b. January 10, 1785, Shelby County, KY; d. June 18, 1855, Knox County, IN; m. CHARLES POLKE III, January 13, 1803, Shelby County, KY; b. January 10, 1785, Shelbyville, Shelby County, KY; d. June 18, 1855, Knox County, IN.
3. ii. HENRY MCQUAID, b. Abt. 1794, Shelby County, KY; d. December 24, 1811, Shelby County, KY.
iii. NANCY MCQUAID, b. Shelby County, KY; d. Shelby County, KY; m. STERLING (STEPHEN) SHACKELFORD, October 09, 1809, Shelby County, KY.
4. iv. MARY POLLY MCQUAID, b. Shelby County, KY.
v. ELIZABETH MCQUAID, b. Shelby County, KY; d. Shelby County, KY; m. JOHN WHITAKER, January 26, 1809, Shelby County, KY.
vi. JOHN MCQUAID, m. MARY CASSADAY, January 01, 1823, Shelby County, KY.
vii. FANNY MCQUAID, b. Shelby County, KY; m. GEORGE BARTLETT, August 15, 1821, Shelby County, KY.
5. viii. JAMES MCQUAID, b. 1793, Shelby County, KY.
ix. JOEL MCQUAID, b. December 05, 1804, Shelby County, KY; m. MARY ANN CASSADAY.
x. MILTON MCQUAID, b. 1810; m. SUSAN PIETY.
More About MILTON MCQUAID:
Fact 1: Male twin
xi. MELITTA MCQUAID, b. 1810.
More About MELITTA MCQUAID:
Fact 1: Female twin
xii. WILLIAM D. MCQUAID, d. November 11, 1852.
Generation No. 3
3. HENRY3 MCQUAID (JAMES2, HENRY1) was born Abt. 1794 in Shelby County, KY, and died December 24, 1811 in Shelby County, KY. He married KITTY METCALF December 24, 1811 in Shelby County, KY. She was born 1796 in Kentucky.
Child of HENRY MCQUAID and KITTY METCALF is:
i. ROBINETT SUSAN4 MCQUADE, b. 1813, Shelby County, KY; d. 1852.
4. MARY POLLY3 MCQUAID (JAMES2, HENRY1) was born in Shelby County, KY. She married JOHN SHACKELFORD December 20, 1810 in Shelby County, KY. He was born Abt. 1765 in Culpepper County, VA, and died 1817 in Shelby County, KY.
Children of MARY MCQUAID and JOHN SHACKELFORD are:
i. SIMON4 SHACKELFORD.
ii. ISABELLA SHACKELFORD, m. MILTON L. EDWARDS, December 06, 1832, Shelby County, KY.
iii. ANJELINE SHACKELFORD, m. ROBERT L. EDWARDS, August 17, 1830, Shelby County, KY.
5. JAMES3 MCQUAID (JAMES2, HENRY1) was born 1793 in Shelby County, KY. He married ELIZABETH CASSADAY December 21, 1823 in Shelby County, KY. She was born in Shelby County, KY.
Notes for JAMES MCQUAID:
From History of Kentucky Baptists:
James McQuade Jr. was a son of the old pioneer, James McQuade Sr. He united with Brashears Creek church in early life, probably under the ministry of his father, but he did not begin to preach as a licentiate till about 1841. He was ordained in 1847, and took the pastoral care of, or at least, preached monthly to, Clear Creek and Dover churches, some two or three years, when he was attacked by paralysis, which closed his ministry, about 1851.
Children of JAMES MCQUAID and ELIZABETH CASSADAY are:
i. EVELINE S.4 MCQUAID, m. WILLIAM C. TINSLEY, March 1849, Shelby County, KY.
More About WILLIAM C. TINSLEY:
Data Source: Presley Doggett
6. ii. MARTHA M. MCQUAID, b. Abt. 1834, KY.
Generation No. 4
6. MARTHA M.4 MCQUAID (JAMES3, JAMES2, HENRY1) was born Abt. 1834 in KY. She married GEORGE W. TINSLEY, son of ANTHONY TINSLEY and SARAH DOGGETT. He was born Abt. 1834.
More About GEORGE W. TINSLEY:
Data Source: Presley Doggett
Children of MARTHA MCQUAID and GEORGE TINSLEY are:
i. MARION H.5 TINSLEY, b. June 28, 1858, Shelby County, KY.
ii. JAMES MONROE TINSLEY, b. June 18, 1862, Shelby County, KY.