McCarty: Gerald Francis: Ancestors
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MCCARTY HERITAGE
This abbreviated version is copied from the PASULLIV web site, by Gerald McCarty, February 2012. It eliminates other branches and show a direct line back to the beginning in the U.S. My thanks to David Bailey for this Ancestry
.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pasulliv/settlers/settlers45/settlers45.htm
In chasing the red deer what step was
the fleetest
In singing the love-song what voice was the sweetest
What breast was the foremost in courting the danger
What door was the widest to welcome a stranger
In friendship the truest, in battle the bravest
In revel the gayest, in council the gravest
A hunter today, and a victor tomorrow?
Oh! Who but a chief of the princely MacCaura!
THE NAME McCARTY
The McCarty family is probably descended from the ancient family of MacCarthy, which was the dominant family in Desmond, or South Munster, Ireland. The MacCarthy (or McCarthy) family is said to descend from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son, Heber. The founder of the family was Cormac, King of Munster, A.D. 483. The ancient name was Carthann, which means "kindness." The chief of the sept was McCarthy More, Prince of Muskerry, King and Prince of Desmond, King of Cashel and Munster. The possessions of the McCarthys were located in the present counties of Cork, Limerick and Clare. The sept comprised the families of McCarthy More, McCarthy Riagh, O'Donovan, O'Keefe, O'Mahoney, McAuliffe, O'Cowley, O'Curry, O'Collins, O'Dunnady, McCartney, McCurten, McCutcheon, McHugh and O'Scanlon. The McCarthys took their name from Cartagh (Cartay), King of Desmond, A.D. 1100. Under the Irish Kings, and long after the advent of the Anglo-Norman invader, the McCarthy family maintained their princely prominence.
They endured long contests for their independence against the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Desmond; the Butlers, Earls of Ormond, as well as other Anglo-Norman and English settlers, and held their title as Princes of Desmond, with considerable possessions down to the reign of Elizabeth I. They were divided into two great branches, the first being the McCarthy More, of whom Donal McCarthy was created Earl of Glenclare, or Clanclare, A.D. 1565, by Queen Elizabeth; the other branch, called the McCarthy Riagh, were princes of Carbery. Besides the Earls of Clanclare, the McCarthys were also created at various periods Barons of Valentia, Earls of Clancarthy, Earls of Muskerry and Earls of Montcashel, and had several strong castles in various parts of Cork and Kerry. It is told that the McCarthy More was inaugurated at Lisbon-nacuhir, in Kerry, at which ceremony presided O'Sullivan More and O'Donoghue More; his captains of war were the O'Rourkes, probably a branch of the O'Rourkes, Princes of Brefney; the MacEgans were his hereditary Brehons, and the O'Dalys and O'Duinins were his hereditary poets and antiquarians. In the twelfth century we find Cashel, fortified by Brian Boru two centuries before, in the possession of Cormac McCartyh, King of Munster and Archbishop of Cashel.
This famous building, at once both a fortress and a church, was considered to be of the finest type of medieval architecture, the equal of any in England or Normandy of the same date.
The celebrated Blarney Castle was built in 1449 by Cormac McCarthy Laidir (the Strong), Lord of Muskerry. During the later wars between the Irish and the English this castle was the scene of many battles. Its walls were eighteen feet thick, and resisted many an attack and siege under the name McCarthy. The fortification covered a space of eight acres; but with the fall of King James the Second, Earl Clancarty, who had espoused his cause, lost his estates, and Blarney Castle passed into the hands of an English commercial company. The castle stands to this day, and houses the famous "Blarney Stone," which the visitor may kiss while hanging by his heels, to insure good luck.
The Abbey of Mucross, a splendid medieval ruin, of which N.P. Willis writes: "It is more beautiful in its loneliness and decay than it could have been in its pristine state of neatness and perfection," was also erected by the McCarthys, Princes of Desmond.
Ross Castle, Killarney, is another memorial of the power and prowess of the McCarthys of Desmond. It was taken from them in 1588 by Sir Valentine Browne, founder of the house of Kenmare, but recaptured in 1651 by Donagh McCarthy, Viscount Muskerry, Earl of Clancarty. He had been the leader of the Catholic forces of Munster against the Cromwellians. With 1,500 poorly equipped men, he successfully resisted the English general, Ludlow, commanding 4,000 foot and 2,000 horse soldiers, at the siege of Ross Castle. He retired to Spain, and afterward was created Earl of Clancarty by Charles the Second. His estates were restored to him by act of Parliament. His son, Charles, entered the military service of France, and served with distinction in the Low Countries. He afterward entered the English service, and was killed in a naval engagement against the Dutch, June 3, 1665.
Charles' younger brother, Justin McCarthy, Viscount Montcashel, entered the English army, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. After the outbreak of the Revolution against James II in 1688 [James was trying, with great resistance, to restore the power of the papacy in all of Great Britain.], Justin was appointed Munster Master-General and Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cork by Tyr-Connell, and upon the landing of James the Second received command to raise seven foot-regiments. In 1689 he was created Viscount Montcashel and Baron of Castleinchy. Also in that year, Justin passed over to France, probably in the company of James himself, who had been allowed to "escape" from the Tower of London and flee the country. Justin received the rank of Lieutenant-General and received command of the 6,000 Irish troops that had now entered the service of King Louis the Fourteenth. His command gained great distinction in Savoy, and afterward served under him in Catalonia and on the Rheine.
In September of 1688, the heads of the Church party in England invited William of Orange to be their champion in the cause of religious and civil liberty against James. With the landing of William on English soil, James' army literally melted away. Scotland, engulfed in the Reformation, posed no resistance at all. Ireland was quite a different matter, with much of their population having remained loyal to the Pope all along, the Earls of Clancarty among them. James took advantage of their feeling and returned to Ireland complete with French troops. William decided to take to the battlefield himself, and, he too, traveled to Ireland where he landed at Carrickfergus. On July 12, 1690 was fought the infamous and bloody Battle of the Boyne, which decided the fate of James and his followers, the "Jacobites." This time James was not "allowed to escape," he had to flee to France. William of Orange wasted no time in punishing James' followers. Lands and property were seized. The Jacobites were forced to either conform to the state church or exile themselves. Many did leave. It is very possible that the family of Silas McCarty fled to Scotland or secreted themselves in Ulster and, out of self-preservation and because of the times, were swept into the growing wave of Presbyterianism espoused by John Calvin. Best evidence tells us that the McCarty family is descended from the Earls of Clancarty, family McCarthy, lords of Blarney Castle.
The author has created a genealogical trace that leads back at least to Charlemagne and, in a more fanciful version, back to Adam and Eve. You can look over this "ancestral tree" at The Royal Ancestry of the Descendants of Silas McCarty and Sarah Carrell.
THE SILAS McCARTY FAMILY IN AMERICA
Early history of the McCarty family in America is very hazy and only begins factually on the 11th of March, 1724 with the appearance of the name of Silas McCarty on a map of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The second solid piece of evidence is the conveyance of land to Silas by John Thomas and Richard Penn on the 3rd of March 1738. The final contributing fact establishing their residence was the uniting of Silas' wife, Sarah (Carrell) with the New Britain Baptist Church on the 16th of July 1755. From that point on, fairly accurate family records have been passed along, with many corroborating materials.
Earlier information, or rather, speculation, is, quite frankly, a muddle, and has been open to much conflicting speculation. The two main sources have been the Harry Fred Lancaster Genealogy of the Lancaster and McCarty Families and Clarence Vernon Roberts' book, Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks. Also, Ezra Patterson Carrell's Genealogy of the Carrell and Dungan Families, long considered the primary source on the McCarty family, copies the Roberts text on early family history verbatim. The words "doubtless," "certainly" and probably" are used all too often and tend to further tangle things. The confusion concerns Silas's immediate family background and from where and whence he came.
The first theory, espoused by Roberts, says that the family was established in Bucks County by Cornelius McCarty of Middletown (New Jersey) and Silas and Edward McCarty of Haycock, all born near the year 1700. He goes on to say that an effort had been made (but not by whom) to make these three brothers, together with Dennis McCarty of Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, "and one or two others of record at the time," all sons of John McCarty of Piscataway, New Jersey and Ann Harmon of Woodbridge, New Jersey who were married the seventh of September, 1684. Roberts continues by saying that the McCartys of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were "doubtless" descendants of the Earls of Clan Carty who were driven out of Ireland and dispossessed of their large estates under William of Orange in 1690. The latter is the article's most cogent point.
The first difficulty with the Roberts version is, if John McCarty and Ann Harmon were married in 1684, they could hardly be "descendants" of those driven from Ireland by William of Orange in 1690! The second difficulty is with Roberts' alleged researcher and his attempt to group all those with the surname of McCarty into a single family.
The second theory, put forth in the Lancaster book, states simply that family tradition has it that Silas McCarty left Scotland at about age fourteen with his brother, Roland. They lived together in Ireland for a few years, then emigrated to America. Roland settled in New Jersey, Silas in Pennsylvania. This is certainly a less confusing explanation, but it is not clear how the brothers came to be born in Scotland, and then emigrate to Ireland. It would seem more likely to been the other way around.
Both theories are inconclusive and problematic. The fact is: We don't know! So, let us play with each of the above scenarios by filling in some missing data, albeit hypothetical. This author will then offer yet another possible solution to the mystery.
Regarding the Roberts theory, it is conceivable that the McCartys did end up in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. At least one other famous Sullivan County, Pennsylvania family, that of Theophilus Little, had its American origins in that place. One Lewis Morris wrote to the Bishop of London in 1700, concerning the state of religion in the Jerseys. In that letter he states that "Freehold was settled from Scotland...About one-half of the Inhabitants there are Scotch Presbyterians and a sober people." Silas would have been at the right place at the right time. The attempt at establishing the relationship between all the McCarty boys of northern New Jersey, as well as the parenthood of John McCarty and Ann Harmon, is purely conjectural, and should be dismissed until further facts make their appearance.
A brief digression: For the purposes of this essay we will assume that Silas McCarty was born into a Presbyterian family, perhaps even a recently-Presbyterian family. What we do know is that Silas married into a very prominent Baptist family; his wife Sarah's grandfather was the founder of the first Baptist Church in Bucks County. In his will, Silas even deeded land to the congregation of the New Britain Baptist Church for a meeting house and graveyard. Silas and Sarah's son, Thomas, however, was identified in early life with the Tinicum Presbyterian Church. He later married into the Lancaster family, well-known Friends. You can see the Ancestry of Sarah (Dungan) McCarty and other Dungan relatives at many locations on the Internet.
That having been said, another possibility is that Silas McCarty (assuming for a moment that he was born in America, to John and Ann) came early under the influence of the Quakers while in Freehold. One of the founders of that town was George Keith, an important, albeit controversial, voice in the Quaker movement in America. Keith was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland and raised a Scotch Presbyterian. He became a Quaker to secure patronage by Robert Barclay, a follower of George Fox. Following persecution in his native country, Keith emigrated to Freehold where he was engaged as a surveyor to mark out the lines between East and West Jersey. In 1689, Keith was called upon by William Penn to participate in his "Holy Experiment" by opening a school in Philadelphia. This school later became the William Penn Charter School and the Friends Select School. His followers were known as Keithian Quakers or Quaker Baptists, and, though he later became the subject of much criticism, his influence is clear in the early Quaker movement in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And, several years later, when the Quakers from New Jersey began to gravitate toward that area in Bucks County, known as "The Great Swamp," young Silas McCarty may have been with them.
It is also possible, however, that quite a different picture can be formed, somewhat agreeing with the Lancaster theory:
In 1720 there were more than a million Presbyterians in Ulster being persecuted by the much larger Catholic population. By mid-century more than half of that population had migrated to America. John Fiske, in The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America, tells us that "the great majority (of Presbyterians) came to Pennsylvania and occupied the mountain country west of the Susquehanna." In Wayland F. Dunaway's The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania, we are told that "A characteristic Scotch-Irish settlement was effected in present Bucks County, beginning about 1720 and still receiving additions in 1740. Scotch-Irish settlements were made in Tinicum and Bedminster Townships and in Deep Run, Plumstead, and New Britain Townships..." These are all very familiar names in early McCarty family history. It is possible that Silas, and perhaps a brother, arrived directly in Pennsylvania on this wave of migration.
Accept the following only as a possibility:
The members of Clancarty were papists (Catholics). Given that the McCarty family is descended from that clan, there can be no doubt about that fact. Clancarty fought long and hard in defense of James the Second. With the coming of William of Orange, all of their land and monies were seized.
Members of the clan were then faced with a choice: remain papists no matter what, convert to Protestantism, or flee the country. Many did remain papists; many chose to run to France with King James; still others decided to convert and begrudgingly follow the Church of England. Conversion, however, presented a new problem: the scorn of the remaining papists. The McCartys (Clancarty no longer existed, thanks to William of Orange) would have had to leave their traditional home country and escape to Ulster where a large "Williamite" settlement was in existence. Interestingly enough, Ulster held a huge Scottish population (over 50,000) at the time. The family would there have come under the influence of Presbyterianism. Silas McCarty was possibly born there in Ulster about 1700 to, by then, Presbyterian parents. By 1720 things were sufficiently unpleasant for the Protestants that Silas left the country, possibly with his brother, Roland. They went first to Scotland, where Presbyterians were most welcome. A couple of years later, when emigrations from Scotland were in full swing, they sailed to America. They probably landed first in Boston, then traveled down the coast and up the Delaware River to Philadelphia. Silas and Roland went their separate ways, Roland to New Jersey, Silas directly to Bucks County. And there we find 1724 and our first solid piece of evidence.
It is interesting to note that, a few years later a very famous ardent Presbyterian and scientist, the discoverer of oxygen, Joseph Priestly, would come to live in Northumberland County. His son, also Joseph, who preceded him to America, would become the first large landowner and developer in what would become Sullivan County.
Hopefully, more facts will come into our hands to enable a solution to this riddle. Neither published theory is sufficient to make a case, and this author's theory is only a possible scenario. A fascinating puzzle!
Sources for McCarty History:
· Genealogy of the Lancaster and McCarty Families, by Harry Fred Lancaster.
Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks, [EFFUB]by Clarence Vernon Roberts.
Genealogical History of Irish Families, With Their Crests and Armorial
Bearings, by John Rooney, Washington, 1895.
The Story of the Irish Race, by Seamus MacManus, New York, 1921; revised 1944.
The Romance of Irish History, by John G. Rowe, New York, 1913.
Inventory of Church Archives of the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, 1941.
The Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America, by John Fisk, , Boston, 1899.
Old Times in Old Monmouth by Edwin Salter and George C. Beekman, Baltimore,
1980.
The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania, by Wayland F. Dunaway, Chapel Hill,
1944.
Emigrants to Pennsylvania, 1641-1819, edited by Michael Tepper, Baltimore,
1975.
“THE MCCARTY HERITAGE”
Settlers
XLV: THE DESCENDANTS OF SILAS McCARTY AND SARAH CARRELL
Compiled from the original source materials
with annotation and additional research
by David Wayne Bailey
March 2006
Part One
I’ve stripped all the branches to just our ancestors for direct Family Tree back to first Silas McCarty who came to Bucks County, Pa about 1716 at age16. It is believed he had a brother named Robbin that came with him and settled in New Jersey. Another theory is that more brothers settled with him in Buck’s County. There were two McCarty’s families that settled in Bucks County, ours being the non Catholic. A detailed genealogy report of the descendants of Samuel and Cora McCarty is being generated with the help of Larry Pardoe as the Bailey site basically quits with Samuel and some of the information on the descendant’s is incorrect. The number system that Bailey uses I have incorporated in my spreadsheet that I will gladly forward. For example my number is 9661372 so I’m the 2nd child of Kenneth McCarty who was the 7th child of Samuel McCarty. Just keep stripping the last number off takes you back thru your ancestors.
I welcome any comments or corrections via. e-mail www.gfmc@comcast.net or phone 801-572-7638, cell 801-572-7638, Gerald F. McCarty.
9. Thomas McCarty b. 12 Apr 1741d. 9 Oct 1804
96 . Joel McCarty b. 16 Mar 1771
966. Silas McCarty b. 6 Dec 1811 d. 24 Jan 1888
9661. Joshua R. McCarty b. 26 Nov 1838 d. 22 May 1901
96613. Samuel McCarty b. 14 Feb 1877 d. 19 Jul 1961
THE CHILDREN OF SILAS Mc CARTY AND SARAH CARRELL:
1. Carrell McCarty b. 15 Sep 1723
2. James McCarty b. 1 Jan 1725/6
3. Silas McCarty b. 16 Jun 1727
4. Benjamin McCarty b. 5 Oct 1731 d. 27 Oct 1794
5. Lydia McCarty b. 11 Oct 1733
6. Elizabeth McCarty b. 30 Oct 1735
7. Hannah McCarty b. 6 Dec 1737
8. William McCarty b. 29 Feb 1739/40
9. Thomas McCarty b. 12 Apr 1741 d. 9 Oct 1804
10. Peter McCarty b. 13 Nov 1742
11. Paul McCarty b. 29 Apr 1744
THE CHILDREN OF THOMAS Mc CARTY AND ELIZABETH LANCASTER:
91. Phebe McCarty b. 2 Aug 1766 d. 30 Mar 1850
92. Samuel McCarty b. 8 Nov 1767 d. 15 Oct 1846
93. Silas McCarty b. 30 Nov 1768 (3?) d. 15 Oct 1838
94. Sarah McCarty b. 19 Dec 1769 d. 31 Oct 1844
95. Mary McCarty b. 19 Dec 176
96. Joel McCarty b. 16 Mar 1771
97. John McCarty b. 6 May 1773
98. James McCarty b. 11 Jun 1774 d. c.1842
99. Jane McCarty b. 18 Sep 1775
9(10). Elizabeth McCarty b. 17 Sep 1776 (7?)d. 11 Jan 1861
9(11). Thomas McCarty b. 8 Mar 1778
9(12). Job McCarty b. 10 Aug 1779 d. 19 Apr 1845
9(13). Hannah McCarty b. 19 Feb 1781 d. 22 Feb 1782
9(14). Benjamin McCarty b. 20 Jul 1783
9(15). Martha McCarty b. 24 Apr 1785 d. 12 Nov 1856
9(16). David Lancaster McCarty b. 13 Dec 1787
9(17). Jesse McCarty b. 10 Apr 1789 d. 26 May 1857
9(18). Lydia McCarty b. 16 Aug 1790 (6?) d. 14 Aug 1861
THE CHILDREN OF JOEL Mc CARTY AND ELLEN ROBERTS:
Note: Ancestor of Kathy Robbins McCarty is Aaron McCarty married to John McCarty whose ancestor is Silas McCarty. Kathy is also related to Larry Pardoe who is helping with these searches. Aaron married Elizabeth Pardoe.
961. Aaron McCarty b. 16 Nov 1799 d. 23 Mar 1874
962. Jesse McCarty b. 17 Feb 1802 d. 11 Dec 1880
963. John McCarty b. 15 Sep 1804 d. 19 Feb 1885
964. Elizabeth McCarty b. 12 May 1806 d. 12 Feb 1881
965. Jane McCarty b. 16 Feb 1809 d. 12 Apr 1868
966. Silas McCarty b. 6 Dec 1811 d. 24 Jan 1888
967. Joel McCarty b. 3 Oct 1814 d. 17 May 1867
968. Joseph McCarty b. 14 Aug 1816 d. 20 Jan 1896
969. Mary McCarty b. 22 Dec 1818 d. 9 Jun 1898
96(10). Sarah McCarty b. 4 Jan 1822 d. 14 Jan 1892
96(11). Thomas McCarty b. 27 Jun 1827 d. 3 Jul 1857
THE CHILDREN OF SILAS Mc CARTY AND SARAH ANNABLE:
9661. Joshua R. McCarty b. 26 Nov 1838 d. 22 May 1901
9662. Lydia E. McCarty d. before 1902
9663. James McCarty b. 1843 d. 1909
9664. Elvira M. McCarty b. 19 Apr 1846 d. 20 Feb 1913
9665. Lorenzo McCarty
9666. Rachel McCarty b. 17 Apr 1849 d. 20 Sep 1912
9667. Rosalinda McCarty b. 24 Sep 1852 d. 3 Feb 1896
9668. Frances H. McCarty b 4 Apr 1856
THE CHILDREN OF JOSHUA R. Mc CARTY AND SARAH A. TAYLOR:
96611. Silas T. McCarty b. 29 Jul 1868 d. 1942
96612. Taylor S. McCarty b. 6 Mar 1870
THE CHILDREN OF JOSHUA R. Mc CARTY AND CYNTHIA BATTIN:
96613. Samuel McCarty b. 14 Feb 1877 d. 19 Jul 1961
96614. Edward McCarty b. 21 May 1879 d. 13 Apr1887
96615. Joseph H. McCarty b. 26 May 1881 d. 1940
96616. Sumner F. McCarty ** b. 20 Nov 1884 d. 22 Apr1950
THE CHILDREN OF SAMUEL McCARTY AND CORA SMITH:
966131. Nellie A. McCarty b. 1 Feb 1901 d. 9 May 1985Girard, OH
966132. Katharine A. McCarty b. 30 Aug 1903 d. before 1928
966133. Jessie McCarty b. 1 Mar 1905
966134. Paul F. McCarty b. 30 Oct 1907 d. 11 Feb 1988
966135. Howard J. McCarty b. 11 Nov 1909 d. 18 Oct 1992
966136. Robert A. McCarty b. 10 Sep 1911 d. 22 Dec 1977
966137. Kenneth L. McCarty b. 4 Dec 1916 d. 21 May 1984
966138. Raymond B. McCarty b. 12 Jun 1920
966139. Glen L. McCarty b. 1 Aug 1924d. 1974
SILAS Mc CARTY AND SARAH CARRELL
Silas McCarty, born c.1700, died 1750; married c.1722, Sarah Carrell, daughter of James Carrell and Sarah Dungan of Warminster, and grand-daughter of Rev. Thomas Dungan, founder and pastor of the first Baptist Church in Bucks County (1684), born c.1700 in Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
On a map of Bucks County, dated 11 Mar 1724, Silas is represented as the owner of a plot of land in the southwestern part of Plumstead Township, near the Buckingham line.
Silas later took up a tract of 350 acres in what would became Haycock Township, just over the line of the present Richland Township, adjoining the Logan tract on the west, the Bryan tract on the south, and the Jacob Strawn tract on the east. The patent for this tract of land from John, Thomas and Richard Penn to Silas McCarty is dated 1 mo.3, 1737/8, but he was probably located there under a proprietary warrant of survey for some years prior to that date.
He died seized of this land in the year 1750, leaving a will dated January 3, 1749/50, probated on May 1, 1750, which devised to his wife Sarah his plantation for life, then to all his children, his son Carrell excepted. To Carrell he gave 100 acres off the end of his plantation.
Silas
also gave 1 acre of land to William Bryan, Isaac Evans, and others, in trust,
for the use of the Baptist congregation at New Britain, in an area known of as
Strawnstown, upon which they would erect a church and locate a burial ground. A
small log church was built and has long since disappeared. Sarah (Carrell)
McCarty united with the congregation "July ye 16th, 1755." Silas and
Sarah are probably buried in the graveyard, though the stones are broken and
illegible.
[Lancaster, Carrell/Dungan]
The first generation of McCarty’s in America were born and lived their early lives in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the area now known as Quakertown, specifically Richland and adjoining Haycock and Springfield Townships. The following slightly-paraphrased excerpt from Old Richland Families, by Ellwood Roberts, will serve as a backdrop for this first generation:
Located less than forty miles from Philadelphia, the vicinity known successively as Great Swamp, Richland and Quakertown, is one of the most interesting in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was settled over two centuries ago by English and Welsh Friends or Quakers, and by Germans who, like them, sought a refuge from the assaults of religious intolerance at home.
Among the first settlers were Edward Roberts (his great-grandson, Hugh Foulke, married into the McCarty line), Peter Lester (his great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Roberts [#911] married Hugh Foulke), and Thomas Lancaster (whose daughter, Elizabeth, married Thomas McCarty [#9]).
The settlement included a large tract of country, embracing several townships adjoining Richland, as it was termed when organized and laid out in 1734, extending even into the adjoining counties of Lehigh and Montgomery. While the settlement now (known as) Quakertown was the central point, members of the meeting were located in Springfield, Rockhill, Milford, Saucon and elsewhere.
The settlement was peopled by those who left home on account of their religious convictions, and there was thus a common bond of sympathy. It was William Penn's foresight in providing a place of refuge for his people, and his liberality in throwing it open to all comers, regardless of creed or nationality, that gave to the population of the state he founded its cosmopolitan character and brought together such apparently incongruous and discordant elements to form a community which has retained its peculiarities for over two centuries. From the date of location of some of the original surveys, much of what is now comprised within the limits of Milford and Springfield must have originally been called Richland. This view is borne out by the fact that much of the land surveyed as part of Richland Manor was located in adjacent townships. Tradition tells us of the early settlers finding the place covered with a luxurious growth of grass. It was mostly heavily timbered but the forest was interspersed with small prairies, with a rich soil, hence the place was called Richland.
...the proportion of prairie was, however, small. Nearly all was wet and swampy, and in the spring of the year covered with water, until cultivation had effected
a change.
...the circumstances which gave rise to the name "Swamp," though, were rapidly modified under the benign ministry of the axe and the plow.
Wolves, bears, deer and panthers were abundant and continued so for years. Rattlesnakes were very troublesome to the early settlers for many years. Mowers were compelled to wrap their legs with hay or other protective substances to ward off their bites. At Great Swamp was organized a branch of the first Society for maintaining friendly relations with the aboriginal inhabitants. It was called "Ye Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with ye Indians." All through the bloody and devastating wars with the infuriated red men, lasting for years, there was no clash between them and the followers of Penn at Richland. Samuel Foulke (father of Judah
Foulke, who married [#94] Sarah McCarty and grandfather of Hugh Foulke, who married [#911] Elizabeth Roberts) was Treasurer and guiding spirit of this organization. The Association continued until the Peace of 1759.
The first settlers had no facilities for building houses. They came in detached parties and probably at first depended almost entirely upon the Indians of the
vicinity, who, fortunately, were kindly disposed toward these peaceful followers of Penn. The first dwellings were of bark and were erected beside great rocks or under the shadow of trees.
It should here be noted that the Silas McCarty family was not the only McCarty family in the environs of Haycock Township at this time, There was at least one other, the family of Nicholas and Unity McCarty. Research has yielded no definite connection between the families. This has caused confusion over the years because then, just as today, some names were more popular than others. The causing the most problems for us has been the name “Thomas.” Some have attempted to identify our Thomas, ninth child of Silas and Sarah (1741-1804) as another Thomas, who was born in 1759 and died after 1833 having fought in the American Revolution. That hardly would have pleased our Thomas’ in-laws, the Lancaster’s, devout members of the Society of Friends.
THE CHILDREN OF SILAS Mc CARTY AND SARAH CARRELL:
1. Carrell McCarty b. 15 Sep 1723
2. James McCarty b. 1 Jan 1725/6
3. Silas McCarty b. 16 Jun 1727
4. Benjamin McCarty b. 5 Oct 1731 d. 27 Oct 1794
5. Lydia McCarty b. 11 Oct 1733
6. Elizabeth McCarty b. 30 Oct 1735
7. Hannah McCarty b. 6 Dec 1737
8. William McCarty b. 29 Feb 1739/40
9. Thomas McCarty b. 12 Apr 1741 d. 9 Oct 1804
10. Peter McCarty b. 13 Nov 1742
11. Paul McCarty b. 29 Apr 1744
9 THOMAS Mc CARTY, ninth child (11) of Silas McCarty and Sarah Carrell, was born1 2 Apr 1741, died in Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 9 Oct 1804, Lucetta McCarty Wilson records indicate that he was buried in the graveyard at Pennsdale Monthly Meeting; married 1765 Elizabeth Lancaster, twelfth child of Thomas Lancaster and Phebe Wardell, born, probably in Richland, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 26 Aug 1749, died in Quakertown, Bucks County, 26 July 1806, having returned there after Thomas's death.
Thomas McCarty was raised on his father's plantation in Haycock Township. He was probably reared and educated in the tenets and faith of the Presbyterian Church, and identified with the old Tinicum congregation established among the rugged hills of Tinucum Township prior to 1740.
[The following is a somewhat paraphrased version of Ezra Patterson Carrell's descriptive material found in the Carrell/Dungan genealogy, pps.73-74]:
A few miles north of Ottsville, Pennsylvania, is an old burial-ground on what is known as Clay Ridge. That those connected with this burial-ground held it in veneration is shown by the order in which it was maintained. It is surrounded by a well-built wall, with beautiful iron gates, and gives every indication of being the burial-ground of people well able to care for it. When Carrell visited it in the 1920s, it was still in fairly good repair as to the wall and entrance, but the forest was reclaiming its own, and forest trees were growing un-forbidden over the graves of those reposing beneath. There were, at that time, several gravestones showing the name Lancaster. [When this author visited the graveyard in 1991, although the wall was still fairly intact, there was little left within except fragments of gravestones.]
The story is, that here was originally located the old Ottsville Presbyterian Church, and the foundation outlines of its location were clearly marked; but as the community developed, and the Durham Road became principal highway for communication with Philadelphia, which was the main market for the produce of the farms - the only source of livelihood to those settlers - development became more general along this main road, and the old meeting-house bid fair to be isolated from the life of the community; there arose a division in the church, and finally it was moved to Ottsville, Pennsylvania, along the Durham Road, where it stands today.
Even after the removal of the church itself, it was unable to stop the trend of changing conditions, and gradually the Irish gave place to the German element until the Presbyterians were unable to support a pastor, and services were held alternately in German, for the German settlers one Sunday, and in English, for the Presbyterians, the next, but even this failed to stem the tide of change, until at last services of all kinds have been abandoned, and this old church, standing in good repair, the graveyard surrounding it fairly well-kept and enclosed by an excellent wall, is yet an empty testimonial to the fact that churches, like those who people them, have their day.
Carrell was able to secure the old session and trustee-books of the church, and deposited them at the Presbyterian Historical Society in the Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Despite his Presbyterian roots, Thomas McCarty, a mason by trade, was associated with the building of the Friends' Meeting House at Quakertown in 1762.
Elizabeth Lancaster had been strictly reared in the faith of the Society of Friends. Both of her parents were accepted ministers and traveled extensively in "the service of truth." (see note below on Lancaster family) Thomas McCarty applied for membership in the Society prior to his marriage to Elizabeth but, though the committee appointed to investigate his character reported favorably, his admission was opposed by some members of the meeting and he was denied membership. The marriage took place though Elizabeth was disowned for marrying outside her faith. They continued to attend the meeting however and, after nineteen years, were both admitted to membership in the Richland Meeting.
Thomas and Elizabeth McCarty settled on a 40-acre farm in Richland inherited by Elizabeth from her father. They lived there until 1775, then sold the farm to William Foulke, together with fifteen acres of land bought from Moses Lancaster, 5 Dec 1767, and moved to Northampton County, residing there until 1794 when the whole family moved to Muncy, Northumberland (soon to be Lycoming) County, Pennsylvania. They took certificates from Richland Monthly Meeting of Friends to the Monthly Meeting at Exeter, Berks County, then the Monthly Meeting nearest to their destination. They were soon followed by several of the children of Thomas's brother, Benjamin.
Thomas is said to have owned the first gristmill in Lycoming County. Their farm was located between Muncy and Clarkstown on land, which was owned by the Shipman family in 1902. In the following item, taken from the Lycoming Gazette dated 3/33(?)/1809-2 we find what appears to be the sale of the property:
TO BE SOLD AT PRIVATE SALE
A Grist-mill, Sawmill and thirty-nine acres of excellent land with a two-story frame dwelling house, three rooms on a floor, a log kitchen with a well of good water before the door; the mills are on an excellent stream of water [Glade Run], two pairs of stones, one pair of burrs, three bolting cloths, suitable for either merchant or country business. The Grist-mill is stone, forty ft. by thirty, situated in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, well known by the name of McCarty Mill.
The land is about 2/3 cleared. About 5 acres of excellent meadow and much more may be made, a young orchard of about 100 trees; the mills and lot in good repair, any person inclining to purchase said mills, will apply to the subscriber - conditions will be made known by
THE CHILDREN OF THOMAS Mc CARTY AND ELIZABETH LANCASTER:
91. Phebe McCarty b. 2 Aug 1766 d. 30 Mar 1850
92. Samuel McCarty b. 8 Nov 1767 d. 15 Oct 1846
93. Silas McCarty b. 30 Nov 1768 (3?) d. 15 Oct 1838
94. Sarah McCarty b. 19 Dec 1769 d. 31 Oct 1844
95. Mary McCarty b. 19 Dec 176
96. Joel McCarty b. 16 Mar 1771
97. John McCarty b. 6 May 1773
98. James McCarty b. 11 Jun 1774 d. c.1842
99. Jane McCarty b. 18 Sep 1775
9(10). Elizabeth McCarty b. 17 Sep 1776 (7?)d. 11 Jan 1861
9(11). Thomas McCarty b. 8 Mar 1778
9(12). Job McCarty b. 10 Aug 1779 d. 19 Apr 1845
9(13). Hannah McCarty b. 19 Feb 1781 d. 22 Feb 1782
9(14). Benjamin McCarty b. 20 Jul 1783
9(15). Martha McCarty b. 24 Apr 1785 d. 12 Nov 1856
9(16). David Lancaster McCarty b. 13 Dec 1787
9(17). Jesse McCarty b. 10 Apr 1789 d. 26 May 1857
9(18). Lydia McCarty b. 16 Aug 1790 (6?) d. 14 Aug 1861
96 JOEL Mc CARTY, sixth child (18) of Thomas McCarty and Elizabeth Lancaster, born in Richland, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 16 Mar 1771, died, Elkland, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, buried Friends burying ground, Shunk, Sullivan County; married, 27 Nov 1797, Ellen Roberts, daughter of Moses and Jane Roberts, early settlers of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, born 1781, died, Elkland, 30 Apr 1844, buried Friends burying ground, Shunk.
Joel moved with his parents to Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in 1794. He soon met Ellen Roberts and they were married in 1797. Their marriage certificate [Haverford College collection] reads:
Joel McCarty, son of Thomas McCarty of Muncy, Lycoming County, Pa.
And
Ellen Roberts, daughter of Moses Roberts, deceased
Married under the care of Catawissa Monthly Meeting
at
Catawissa Friends Meeting November 27, 1797
Signed Joel McCarty, Ellen Roberts [and thirty witnesses]
In 1800, Joel, with his wife Ellen and eldest child, Aaron, moved to Elkland, Sullivan County, on one of the ridges of the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. Along the crest of the ridge he purchased a tract of land for a hundred pounds, presumably from either James Ecroyd or Joseph Reeves, and erected a log home, some outbuildings and a barn. At that time their grain had to be carried forty miles on horseback to be ground until a gristmill was built by Ecroyd some years later. A large frame house was later built, but the cabin stands to this day, remaining in the family through the Pardoe branch. [Hampton Pardoe acquired the property about 1900. He married #96142 Catherine McCarty]
At an early time, the oft-related story runs, Joel made a profitable business in hunting panthers and wolves. There was a bounty of eight dollars on each wolf killed. That bounty was later raised to twelve dollars.
Not unlike her sister-in-law, (#91) Phebe McCarty Roberts, Ellen Roberts McCarty (two different Roberts families, see above) was an incredible person by any standards. Not only was she one of the pioneers of Sullivan County, raising a family of eleven in the wilderness, but she was one of the region’s most formidable religious leaders of the time, ministering to the local Society of Friends as well as journeying to northern New York State and Upper Canada.
Ellen was raised in a strict family of Friends, which was clearly not allied with the teachings of the liberal Elias Hicks. Her father, Moses Roberts, must have been somewhat outspoken, for an entry in the minutes of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting dated 25 Oct 1780 records him, together with one Job Hughes, as being "unjustly" confined in the Lancaster gaol. [See below for more on Moses Roberts]
When Joel and Ellen first emigrated to the Elklands it was known as the Beechwoods. Some sources say that Joel coined the name Elklands, due to the large number of Elk in those parts.
At first, the nearest Meeting for the small settlement of Friends in the Elklands was at Muncy, some twenty hard miles away. Then we find in May 1804 the following minute in the records of Muncy Monthly Meeting:
A request from the Friends of the new settlement in the Beechwoods, called "The Elklands", was produced expressive of their desire of being privileged to hold a Meeting of divine worship on the First-day of each week at the home of Jesse Haines until a house is provided for that purpose...
The first Meeting House in the area was built in 1805 through the efforts of Daniel Thomas, James Ecroyd, Jesse Haines, Ezra Haynes and Joel McCarty, on land donated by Ecroyd, northwest of Eldredsville, just east Eldred's Tavery (later Mahlon Mercur's farm), and close by the land settled by Joseph Reeves as early as 1800 which reached down to Lincoln Falls. [SEE: An Early History of the Elkland Meeting of Friends elsewhere on this site, by this author and Joseph Reeves, Pioneer of Sullivan County]
This earliest church has been described as a one-story building with two windows, one door and a clumsy fireplace and chimney. It was afterwards used as a Sunday School building. It is now completely overgrown and is represented only by the remains of its foundation. Any evidence of a graveyard, if one existed, has long since disappeared.
The Meeting continued until early in 1809, when the following minute is recorded in the records of the Muncy Monthly Meeting:
First-month 1809 Friends appointed to the care of the Meeting at Elkland, report that part of their number have lately visited that meeting and Friends there appear easy to have a discontinuance; with which this meeting unites, and discontinues it accordingly.
In 1816, the Meeting was revived chiefly through the efforts of Joel and Ellen. At that time, a second Meeting House was built at Shunk, Fox Township, aptly named for the great Quaker leader, George Fox. That Meeting House, which was probably built with the assistance of Joel McCarty, has also disappeared. Its burial ground remains, however, and there we find the stones marking the graves of Joel and Ellen. In 1819, Ellen was anointed a minister by the Quarterly Meeting of ministers and elders.
The Meeting was changed from that of an Indulged Meeting to a Preparative Meeting in 1833.
A third Meeting House, still in use, is in Piatt, Elkland Township, on the road between Lincoln Falls and Shunk.
THE CHILDREN OF JOEL Mc CARTY AND ELLEN ROBERTS:
Note: Ancestor of Kathy Robbins McCarty is Aaron McCarty married to John McCarty whose ancestor is Silas McCarty. Kathy is also related to Larry Pardoe who is helping with these searches. Aaron married Elizabeth Pardoe.
961. Aaron McCarty b. 16 Nov 1799 d. 23 Mar 1874
962. Jesse McCarty b. 17 Feb 1802 d. 11 Dec 1880
963. John McCarty b. 15 Sep 1804 d. 19 Feb 1885
964. Elizabeth McCarty b. 12 May 1806 d. 12 Feb 1881
965. Jane McCarty b. 16 Feb 1809 d. 12 Apr 1868
966. Silas McCarty b. 6 Dec 1811 d. 24 Jan 1888
967. Joel McCarty b. 3 Oct 1814 d. 17 May 1867
968. Joseph McCarty b. 14 Aug 1816 d. 20 Jan 1896
969. Mary McCarty b. 22 Dec 1818 d. 9 Jun 1898
96(10). Sarah McCarty b. 4 Jan 1822 d. 14 Jan 1892
96(11). Thomas McCarty b. 27 Jun 1827 d. 3 Jul 1857
966 SILAS Mc CARTY, sixth child (11)of Joel McCarty and Ellen Roberts, born in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, 6 Dec 1811 (ps, says 6 Jun), died 24 Jan 1888, buried in Friends Burial Ground, Elkland Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania; married, Sarah Annable.
They lived on a farm adjoining that of his father's. Following is the deed to the land owned by Silas and Sarah, purchased of Thomas Snell, the original manuscript being in the collection of the Sullivan County Historical Society:
This Indenture, made the twenty-ninth day of December AD One thousand eight hundred and fifty five between Silas McCarty of Elkland Township Sullivan County and State of Pennsylvania and Sarah his wife of the first part, and Thomas V. Snell of the Town County and State aforesaid. For seven hundred dollars. In the township of Elkland.
Beginning at a point in the Township road on a line of land of Richard Pardoe, thence north thirty degrees east. To hundred and nineteen perches to a hemlock by land of said Pardoe and Henry Eckroyd; Thence by land of Robert Comely. North sixty degrees west one hundred and twelve perches to a Beech; Thence by land of Thomas McCarty south sixty degrees east; Twenty-nine perches to post Thence South thirty degrees west thirteen perches to a point in the Township Road; thence along said Township Road South about sixty degrees east eighty-three perches to the place of beginning. Containing one hundred and forty acres and allowance be the same more or less. And being part of a larger tract of land in the warrantee name of William Comely. Conveyed to the grantors by deed from J.R.Priestly trustee bearing date the twenty-seventh day of December AD 1847. Recorded at Laporte in and for the County of Sullivan in Deed Book A page 93, the ninth day of September AD 1848. Reference thereto will more fully appear.
(signed)
Edw. A. Eldred Silas McCarty
Joshua R. McCarty Sarah McCarty
We also know of a family disaster from the Press and Standard, Saturday 22 June 1873, vol.1, no.32:
At Saturday last at about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, the house of Silas McCarty in Elkland was discovered to be on fire. The fire, which was in the roof, spread with fearful rapidity, and in a few moments the whole building was engulfed in flames. All efforts to extinguish the fire were fruitless and there was no time to get the things out of the house; all the furniture and clothing of the family was destroyed. There was an insurance of about 1400. On the house which, we are informed, will not cover half the loss.
[Sources: Lancaster, Carrell/Dungan, deed, Press and Standard, Heess, gravestone]
THE CHILDREN OF SILAS Mc CARTY AND SARAH ANNABLE:
9661. Joshua R. McCarty b. 26 Nov 1838 d. 22 May 1901
9662. Lydia E. McCarty d. before 1902
9663. James McCarty b. 1843 d. 1909
9664. Elvira M. McCarty b. 19 Apr 1846 d. 20 Feb 1913
9665. Lorenzo McCarty
9666. Rachel McCarty b. 17 Apr 1849 d. 20 Sep 1912
9667. Rosalinda McCarty b. 24 Sep 1852 d. 3 Feb 1896
9668. Frances H. McCarty b 4 Apr 1856
9661. Joshua R. McCarty b. 26 Nov 1838 d. 22 May 1901
9661 JOSHUA R. Mc CARTY, first child (7) of Silas McCarty and Sarah Annable, born in Forksville, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, 26 Nov 1838, died 22 May 1901, buried in the Friends Burial Ground, Elkland Township, Sullivan County; married 1. 23 Oct 1867, Sarah Ann Taylor, born 7 Aug 1846, died 6 Mar 1870, buried in the Friends Burial Ground, Shunk, Fox Township, Sullivan County; married 2. 7 Oct 1875, at Falls Monthly Meeting (Primitive), Cynthia Battin, child of Samuel and Catherine Battin, born 2 Nov 1852, died 1919, buried in Elkland Friends Burial Ground. [Sources:Lancaster, Carrell/Dungan, Heess, gravestones]
THE CHILDREN OF JOSHUA R. Mc CARTY AND SARAH A. TAYLOR:
96611. Silas T. McCarty b. 29 Jul 1868 d. 1942
96612. Taylor S. McCarty b. 6 Mar 1870
THE CHILDREN OF JOSHUA R. Mc CARTY AND CYNTHIA BATTIN:
96613. Samuel McCarty b. 14 Feb 1877 d. 19 Jul 1961
96614. Edward McCarty b. 21 May 1879 d. 13 Apr1887
96615. Joseph H. McCarty b. 26 May 1881 d. 1940
96616. Sumner F. McCarty ** b. 20 Nov 1884 d. 22 Apr1950
96613 SAMUEL McCARTY, first child of Joshua R. McCarty and Cynthia Battin, but 3rd child of Joshua R. McCarty, born in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, 14 Feb 1877 died 19 Jul 1961; married in Canton, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 2 Jun 1899, Cora Smith born 17 Feb 1881 died 25 Jun 1971, daughter of Nettie (Heess) Smith. They are buried in the Friends burial grounds, Shunk, PA. Samuel had a farm on top of hill past Lincoln Falls towards Shunk before his father Joshua’s homestead. His 5th son Howard J. then farmed it and it is presently owned by his son Ronald H McCarty.
THE CHILDREN OF SAMUEL McCARTY AND CORA SMITH:
966131. Nellie A. McCarty b. 1 Feb 1901 d. 9 May 1985
966132. Katharine A. McCarty b. 30 Aug 1903 d. before 1928
966133. Jessie McCarty b. 1 Mar 1905
966134. Paul F. McCarty b. 30 Oct 1907 d. 11 Feb 1988
966135. Howard J. McCarty b. 11 Nov 1909 d. 18 Oct 1992
966136. Robert A. McCarty b. 10 Sep 1911 d. 22 Dec 1977
966137. Kenneth L. McCarty b. 4 Dec 1916 d. 21 May 1984
966138. Raymond B. McCarty b. 12 Jun 1920
966139. Glen L. McCarty b. 1 Aug 1924 d. 1974