The Shemwell Family

Micajah McGehee Birth Year: "From 1730 to 1745" Discussion: I have done considerable research on trying to determine the actual birth date of Micajah McGehee. If anyone has some new definitive information on the actual date, I would appreciate their input. My research sources included: (1) various geneaology sites (FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, usgwarchives, etc), (2) State Archives, (3) published books, and (4) transcribed Bibles. I could not find the key definitive sources which would have been either an actual Birth Certificate or photograph of a dated Tombstone. Many of the sources (mainly the genealogy trees) merely quoted a birth year with no supporting evidence; or, referenced another tree with no evidence. With reference to the Tombstone, I contacted the Findagrave site and found a Tombstone photo; however, there appeared to be no dates on it. Instead, the photo was captioned: "In memory of Micajar McGehee and Nancy McGehee his wife Frank and Charles McGehee their sons and Charlotte McGehee the wife of Abner McGehee". The Findagrave site showed a birth date of 1730; but, I spoke with the current memorial owner and there seemed to be no records supporting that date. I did find a partially transcribed McGehee Family Bible (Owner: Mrs Lamar Smith, Como, Mississippi) that contained the birth dates of Micajah's children; but, not his birth date. I reviewed several sources and found common date threads. The most credible sources are documented below and show a birth date ranging from 1730 to 1745. Micajah's last child (Lucinda) was born in 1795. Since he would have been 50 yrs old at the time, I would tend to think his 1745 birth date is "probably" the correct one. Assuming he was born in 1730, he would have been 65 yrs old at the time of his daughter's birth. Clearly possible, not probable. To allow for all birth date possibilities, I will be change the birth to a range; ie, "From 1730 to 1745" on the FamilySearch site. Research Summary: 1730 - Sons of the Revolution (SAR) -> See Note #1 1735 - Alabama Department of Archives and History -> See Note #2 1735 - "Roster of Revolutionary Soldier in Georgia" -> See Note #3 1745 - Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) -> See Note #4 1745 - "Francis Morgan, an Early Virginia Burgess" -> See Note #5 1745 - "De Jarnette and allied families in America (1699-1954)" See Note #6 Supporting Notes: ******** Note #1 ******** Sons of the Revolution (SAR) https://sarpatriots.sar.org/patriot/display/246337 Author: Kenneth Scott Collins Micajah McGehee b. 1735 d. 7/31/1811 WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA He served in the Virginia Troops and received bounty land in Georgia for his services. He lived at the Broad River Settlement. ******** Note #2 ******** Alabama, U.S., Marriages, Deaths, Wills, Court, and Other Records, 1784-1920 Birth Date: 1735 Birth Place: Augusta County, Virginia Marriage Date: 1769 Death Date: 31 Jul 1811 Death Location: Wilkes County, Georgia Death Age: 76 Spouse: Ann Scott Roll #: 20 Archive Collection #: SG031421 ******** Note #3 ******** "Roster of Revolutionary Soldier in Georgia" https://www.google.com/books/edition/Roster_of_Revolutionary_Soldiers_in_Geor/VuXEmBJOP7gC?hl=en SBN: 9780806302195, 0806302194 Published: July 2010 Format: Paperback Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company Language: English Author: Howard H. McCall, Ettie Tidwell McCall Compiler: Ettie Tidwell McCall ******** Note #4 ******** Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/default.cfm Service: GEORGIA Rank(s): SOLDIER Birth: 1730 VIRGINIA Death: ANTE 9-18-1811 OGLETHORPE CO GEORGIA Service Source: EXTRACT FROM ORDINARY'S OFFICE, OGLETHORPE CO, GA, IN DOCUMENTATION WITH DAR #821449 Service Description: 1) RECEIVED LAND GRANT WILKES CO FOR REV WAR SERVICE ******** Note #5 ******** "Francis Morgan, an Early Virginia Burgess" https://www.google.com/books/edition/Francis_Morgan_an_Early_Virginia_Burgess/JBM5AAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PR4&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=Micajah%20mcgehee&f=false Published: 1920 Publisher: Braid & Hutton, Printers Original from: the University of Wisconsin - Madison Compilers: Annie Frank (Noble) Sims, William Owen Nixon Scott ******** Note #6 ******** "De Jarnette and allied families in America (1699-1954)" https://archive.org/details/dejarnetteallied00fros Call number: 929.2 D368F Publisher San Bernardino, Calif. [1954] Authors: Frost, Earl Clarence, 1883-

Transcription Text: "In the name of God, Amen, I, Edward McGehee, of Cumberland County, Virginia, being in my perfect sences and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament as followeth, "Item 1, My son John McGehee, the following slaves Doll, Sol, Darkus, Ben, Lucy, Miner and Judy together with their increase. And 700 acres of land lying in Prince Edward County, Virginia joyning the land of Jacob McGehee. To him and his heirs, forever. "Item 2. My daughter Mary Hodnett, five shillings current money. "Item 3. My daughter Elizabeth Wright one Negro Wench named Hannah, and her child named Moses, together with her increase. I give to my daughter Elizabeth Wright 400 acres of land, being part of land where I now live, and joining land of Thomas Wright. To her and her heirs forever. "Item 4. My son-in-law Thomas Wright one-half of my water-grist mill. I likewise give to my son-in-law Thomas Wright one-half of the land that I purchased, joyning the Mill. To him and his heirs, forever. "Item 5. My son Micasah McGehee, one Negro man named Bob. I likewise give to my son Micasah 700 acres of land in Prince Edward County, Virginia being the land whereon he now lives joining the land of John Martin. To him and his heirs forever. "Item 6. My son Mumford McGehee, one Negro boy named Peter. I likewise give to som Mumford, 700 acres of land in Prince Edward County being land laid off in a lot - as will appear - by a plot number 1, being the land where he now lives. To him and his heirs forever. "Item 7. My son Daniel McGehee, one Negro boy named Ned. I likewise give to my son Daniel 700 acres of land in Prince William County being land laid off in a lot - as will appear - by a plot number 2, to him and his heirs forever. "Item 8. My son William McGehee, one Negro boy named Tom. I likewise give to my son William 700 acres of land in Prince William County being land laid off - in a lot - as will appear by a plot number 3. I give to my son William two cows and calves, and one feather bed, and furniture. To him and his heirs forever. "Item 9. My son Jacob McGehee, one negro boy named Tom. I likewise give to my son Jacob 700 acres of land in Prince Edward County being land laid off - in a lot - as will appear by a plot number 6. I give to my son Jacob two cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture. To him and his heirs forever. "Item 10. My son Samuel McGehee one negro boy named Pompy. I likewise give to my son Samuel 700 acres of land in Prince Edward County being laid off - in a lot - as will appear by plot number 4. I give my son Samuel two cows and calves and one feather bed, and furniture. To him and his heirs forever. "Item 11. My daughter Anna McGehee, one negro girl named Rachel with her increase. I likewise give to my daughter Anna 400 acres of land - being part of the tract whereon I now live joyning my Mill. Should my wife want any timber on the said 400 acres of land or want to land any part thereof during her life, my desire is that she may not be prevented. To Anna and her heirs forever. "Item 12. I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth McGehee the land and plantation whereon I now live with 400 acres of land. Likewise the following slaves: Seasor, London, Sampson, Bristol, Jean, Lucy, Harry, Dick, Agg, Londin, Jessie, and the one-half of the profits of my Grist Mill, with the remainder of my stock, household goods, working Tools, etc. that is on my plantation - during her natural life. "My desire is, After my wife's decease that the land whereon that I now live, may be equally divided between my two daughters Elizabeth Wright and my daughter Anna. "And futher My desire is that after the death of my Wife Elizabeth, the one-half of my Mill, the remainder of my house-hold goods, and stock with the above slaves lent my wife, may be sold by my executors to the highest bidders and seventy-five pounds sixteen shillings and eight pence, to be paid to my son Jacob McGehee. "And thirty pounds sixteen shillings and eight pence, to be paid to my son Daniel McGehee. "And also nine pounds sixteen shillings and four pence, to be paid to my son William McGehee. "And my desire is that after the above Cash is paid to my three sons Jacob, Daniel and William, that The balance may be equally divided between My daughter Elizabeth Wright, and my six sons Micasah, Mumford, Daniel, William, Jacob and Samuel and my daughter Anna. "And further my will and desire is that in case, either of my six sons or My Daughter Anna should dye before they arrive at the age twenty-one years, or Marry, that their part may be equally divided among the remainder of the last mentioned children. "And lastly, I do appoint My beloved Wife, Elizabeth McGehee, my son, Mumford, my son-in-law, Thomas Wright, and Henry Macon, Executors of this My last Will and testament. In witness hereof - set my hand and seal this, 4th, April 1770. Edward McGehee "Signed and Sealed his S. X. S. Mark. "And acknowledged in the presence "of and interlinded before sealed "Nathan Glenn "James Glenn "Nehemiah Glenn". At a Court held in Cumberland, Cumberland County, Virginia 28th January 1771 "This last Will, and testament of Edward McGehee deceased was proved by Nathan Glenn and Nehemiah Glenn, two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Elizabeth McGehee executrix. Mumford McGehee and Thomas Wright two of the executors therein, named, who made oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form And liberty is reserved to the other Executor to join in probat. Test Thompson Swann, Clerk "A copy Teste: Lewis Crawley, Clerk Circuit Court of Cumberland County - Seal"

"I Micajah McGehee of the County of Oglethorpe & State of Georgia, being weak in body, but in perfect mind & memory, taking into view the uncertainty of life & the certainty of death, do make constitute and appoint Thomas McGehee & Abner McGehee my true and lawful Executors to do & perform this my last will & Testament in manner and form following, (Viz) I give & recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it, & my body to be decently buried. Item, 1st. I do give & bequeath unto my affectionate wife Ann McGehee twenty five hundred dollars which is to be entirely at her disposal during her life; & at her death to be equally divided as the law directs; the balance of my Estate both real & personal to be sold and divided as above stated; after paying my debts & deducting the within amounts out of each debtors legacy. Witness my hand this 3rd Day April 1811. Micajah McGehee (Seal) E. Brower H. Gray John Butler"

"Ordinarys Office, Probate of Will- We Hezekiah Gray & John Butler do solemnly swear that we saw the within named Micajah McGehee decd sign seal publish and declare the within Instrument of writing to be his last will & testament & at the time of his so doing he was of sound mind & memory to the best of you knowledge & belief - as also we say on oath that we saw the within named Elisha Brower sign his name as a subscribing witness - sworn to subscribed in open court at September term 1811 & ordered to be recorded H. Gray John Butler Mat Rainey, C,C,O Recorded 18th Sept 1811 Mat Rainey, C,C,O"

"In memory of Micajar McGehee and Nancy McGehee his wife Frank and Charles McGehee their sons and Charlotte McGehee the wife of Abner McGehee" Notation on the original photograph provided by Alice Wolfe Allen found via the findagrave site.