Benjamin Franklin Connection

Back in May, 2011, I ran across a ancestry connection to the infamous Benjamin Franklin ( Not a direct relationship). The Benjamin Franklin connection appears on my father's side of the family with  the Craighead, Holmes (Homes) and McGill

Let me see if I can get this ancestral connection straight. As I said in an earlier newsletter in 2011, "I found a link to Benjamin Franklin." It turns out that Benjamin Franklin was a brother-n-law of the 1st cousin 3x removed of husband of our 2nd Great Grand Aunt, Nancy McGill, daughter of Wm Nathan McGill, Jr.

Are you totally confused yet? Let me see if I can confuse you more and fill in some more names.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) had an older sister, Mary Franklin (1694-1731), who married Robert Holmes (Homes), the second husband of Mary Franklin

Robert Homes was the son of Katherine Craighead, who was the daughter of Rev. Robert Craighead, who was the son of Rev. Thomas Craighead, who had a son, Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead, who had a son, Capt. Robert Craighead, who was the paternal grandfather of Samuel Geddes Craighead, husband of my 2nd Great Grand Aunt, Nancy McGill.

Capt. Robert Craighead, who had a son Wm Craighead, who had a son Samuel Geddes Craighead.

Nancy A. McGill's father was Wm Nathan McGill, Jr, who was also the father to David Milton McGill, who had a son, Wm Pearson McGill, who was our Great Grandfather.
 W. P. McGill connects our grandfather, Wm Jacob McGill, who married Constance Estella Warwick. Their sons were Gene and Robert McGill. Gene McGill married Vada Paris and had four daughters, Connie Jean, Dorthy Eileen, Linda Kay and Amber Ann.

NOW! Do I have you totally confused?

This my short version of the Benjamin Franklin connection. Benjamin seems to me to be an in-law of more in-laws and cousins 3 times removed of our 2nd great grand aunt, Nancy A. McGill, and our 2nd great grand uncle, Samuel Geddes Craighead!

So . . . Is Benjamin Franklin related? There is not a direct relationship with the infamous genius known as Benjamin Franklin.

OH! What the heck!  Let's just say some interesting people crossed my McGill ancestors paths.

There were some Craighead's that married into our Warwick ancestors, also! If I can connect the Luttrell ancestors to the McGill's, then there were some Lord's, Sir's and possibly royals in that line!

You can find all sorts of funny family ties if you look long and hard enough, huh?

1730's - The First Great Awakening

A powerful Protestant religious revival swept across the New England colonies and through Georgia starting in the 1730s, later named the First Great Awakening.

Emotionalism, emphasis on individual worship, and skepticism towards religious leadership pumped new life into sects that mirrored these values like Methodism and Baptism. European circuit preachers traveled across the Atlantic, delivering dramatic sermons to crowds larger than populations of colonial cities themselves. Though the revival lasted only a generation, it signaled the end of traditional worship and the rise of evangelical faith.

Mary Franklin (1695–1741) wife of 1st cousin 3x removed of husband of 3rd great-aunt. When Mary Franklin (oldest sister of Benjamin Franklin) was born on September 26, 1695, her father, Josiah, was 38, and her mother, Abiah, was 28. She married Capt. Robert Homes on April 3, 1716, in Boston, Massachusetts. They had four children during their marriage. She died sometime after or around  June 16, 1741, in Dukes, Massachusetts, at the age of 45.<br /><br />
William Homes was father of Capt. Robert Homes (a Rev. and ship Capt.), married to Mary Franklin.oldest sister of Benjamin Franklin and daughter of Josiah Francklin and
Abiah Foulger.

When the First Great Awakening spread throughout New England and Georgia during the mid-1700s, Mary Franklin was living in Massachusetts.
OTHER RELATIVES
4 of our family ancestors lived in In the New England colonies or Georgia during the time when the region was overtaken by a momentous Protestant religious revival:

Capt. Robert Homes (1694–1743), 1st cousin 3x removed of husband of 2nd great grand aunt.

Abiah Foulger/Foulger (1667–1752), 2nd great grand aunt.

Rev. William Homes (1663–1746), husband of 2nd great grand aunt of husband of 2nd great grand aunt.

Katharine Craighead (1672–1754), 2nd great grand aunt of husband of 2nd great grand aunt.

During the religious revival, colonists revived their mission to proselytize to both Native Americans and enslaved African Americans. About 1736, Georgia.

Staunch puritans (called Old Lights) who championed ceremony and traditional church hierarchy rejected the revival’s evangelicalism and its emphasis on a personal relationship with God, while those who accepted it were dubbed New Lights.

THOMAS CRAIGHEAD (1664-1739)

Thomas Craighead (1664-1739) was born and educated in Scotland. He received his degree as a physician from Edinburgh in 1691, and in about 1701, married Margaret Homes (1664-1738), the daughter of a "Scottish Laird", in Scotland. After practicing medicine for a while Thomas then studied divinity and entered trial for the ministry in the Presbytery of Stabane in 1698. He was a Pastor for several years in Donegal, Ireland. Thomas and his family emigrated to Boston, arriving in the first week of Oct., 1714 (some say 1715) on the ship Thomas & Jane (William Wilson, Master), accompanied by his wife and family, including his brother-in-law, Rev. William Homes, who was married to his sister, Katherine Craighead, who was also aboard. Rev. Thomas began preaching in America at Freetown Massachusetts. He moved to New Castle Delaware in the spring of 1723 and joined the Presbytery there. He was installed as the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at White Clay Creek Delaware on Sep. 22, 1724 and preached for 7 years. He was Moderator of the Synod in 1726. He moved to Lancaster County PA in 1731 and became the Pastor of the Church at Pequea on Oct. 31, 1733. He died on Apr. 26, 1739 in his pulpit at the Big Spring Presbyterian Church at Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He was the first Pastor of this Church and also the Rocky Spring and Middle Spring Presbyterian Churches. His remains are said to be placed under the cornerstone of the present house of worship at Newville. 'Thomas Craighead m.  Margaret (1664-) the daughter of a "Scottish Laird". Some observe that Alexander's youngest son, Rev. Thomas Brown Craighead changed his name to Thomas Benton Craighead (see below). This leads to some speculation that Margaret may have been the daughter of Laird Benton (a known Scottish Laird). Other observers have suggested that she may have been Margaret Holmes Wallace. She died in 1738, and is buried in an "almost inaccesible graveyard" on the top of Polly Drummond Hill, White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, Delaware. Thomas and Margaret had children
Thomas M. Craighead (1702-1735), a farmer at White Clay Creek Delaware, m. Margaret Brown in 1720.

Thomas and Margaret had 8 children
 Jane (or Janet) Craighead (1705-1779), m. Rev. Adam Boyd (1692-1768) on Oct. 23, 1725. Rev. Boyd was the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at the fork of the Brandywine for 44 years. Janet and Adam had 11 children.

 Alexander Craighead (1705/6-1766), m. Agnes Brown in c1734.
 John Craighead, who settled near Carlisle PA in 1742. He became a large landowner, whose estate remained in his family for a long time. m. Rachel R. Montgomery in 1728. John and Rachel had 6 or 7 children:

Agnes Craighead; b. c1736. This Agnes is often confused with another Agnes (nicknamed Nancy) Craighead who was a daughter of Rev. Alexander Craighead (a brother of John Craighead). She is tentatively placed here as the oldest child of John Craighead by a process of elimination. There is no other Craighead known to have lived in America at the time who could have been her father. Agnes may have been born at White Clay Creek, DE, and was raised from the age of 6 at Carlisle PA. m. John Alexander (1733-1814). The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on John's family plantation. John's parents were Francis Alexander (1693-1760), (known as Francis Alexander of Carroll's Delight) and Jane Blair. Francis was the son of Samuel Alexander (1657-1733) and Mary Taylor. Jane Blair's sister, Martha Blair, was married to Francis' brother, James Alexander.

The Blair sisters, Jane and Martha, may be related in some way to Rev. Samuel Blair (1712-1751) and his brother, Rev. John Blair. Rev. Samuel Blair (1712-1751) was a high ranking Presbyterian Minister who accused Rev. Alexander Craighead of "irregularities before his Presbytery" in 1740, ultimately resulting in Alexander's dismemberment from the Synod of Philadelphia in 1745.

 Alexander was later re-instated by the New York Synod and sent to be a minister in the western frontier of Virginia at the Settlement on the Cow Pasture River. <br /><br />
Samuel Alexander (1657-1733) was said to be one of 7 brothers of Joseph Alexander (b. c1660), see: Joseph Alexander. This unknown source, based on an unknown author, claims that Joseph Alexander and his seven brothers emigrated to America at New Castle, DE, in 1676, on the 'Good Ship' Welcome from Armaugh County, Ireland. However, more recent research, communicated by Dennis Simpson (a descendant of Samuel Alexander, (b. 1657) indicates that there were 9 children of a William Alexander, who lived in Raphoe, Ireland, grandchildren of a John Alexander. These 9 children all emigrated to Somerset County, Maryland, at different times. There is no evidence that any of them came on the ship Welcome. The 9 Alexander children are listed below:
William Alexander, born about 1646
Andrew Alexander, born about 1648
Elizabeth Alexander, born about 1650
James Alexander, born about 1652
Francis Alexander, born about 1654
Samuel Alexander, born 1657
Joseph Alexander, born about 1660
John Alexander, born about 1662
Jane Alexander, born about 1665
Joseph Alexander's son James Alexander was the father of John McKnitt Alexander (1733-1817), the primary author of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independance, who is sometimes confused with this John Alexander (1733-1814) who married Agnes Craighead.

Agnes Craighead and John Alexander had children:
Agnes Alexander; m. L. E. Newton.
Francis Alexander; m. Jane O'Daier.
Mary Alexander; m. Adam Rankin.
Jonathan Alexander; m. Thurzy Bridges on Mar 16, 1792 at Greene County TN.
Jacob Alexander; m. ___? Trotter.
Rhoda Alexander; m. James Rogers.
Amelia Alexander; m. Benjamin McNutt on Feb 13, 1796.
Hannah Alexander; b. 1768; d. Jul 13, 1822 at Cotton Port, Limestone County AL; m. William Dewoody on Mar 26, 1791, Washington County TN.
A line of descent from Hannah Alexander and William Dewoody is shown below, as provided by Dennis William Simpson.
Tabitha Alexander; b. c1777; d. Mar 9 1844 at Greenville TN; m. Joel Dryden on Oct 6, 1806.
Elizabeth Alexander (1780-1865); m. Joseph Rodgers Brown (1767-1854) on Sep 10, 1801 at Washington County TN, and had a son: William Ramsey Brown (1819-___?) who married Mary Sophia Lincoln (1833-1867), a second cousin of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). See: Descendants of Samuel Lincoln.
Thomas Craighead; b. Mar 15, 1737; d. Nov 13, 1808
James Craighead; b. Nov 1739; d. 1771
John Craighead; b. 1742; d. Apr 20, 1799
Elizabeth Craighead; b. 1740; d. Jan 24, 1792. This may be the Elizabeth Craighead who married Rev. Matthew Wilson, father of the first Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia PA.
Rachel Craighead; b. Sep 15, 1746
Catherine Craighead; b. Nov 1748
Andrew Craighead, d. unmarried at White Clay Creek, DE. A line of descent from Hannah Alexander and William Dewoody
Hannah Alexander (1768-1820); died in Cotton Port, Limestone County, AL,
m. William Dewoody, and had a son:
William Dewoody, Jr. (1794-1862).
m. Ann Nelson Adams, daughter of John Adams and Margaret Kelsey, and had a son:
William Aiken Dewoody (1829-1862).
m. Lucy Ann Tanner, daughter of Peterson Tanner and Sarah Redus, and had a daughter:
Lura Lee Dewoody (1862-1898).
m. Arthur Marcus Simpson, son of John Simson and Margaret Dickson, and had a son:
Arthur Marcus Simpson, Jr. (1883-1964).
m. Grace Leona Nash, daughter of James Nash and Mary Allen Preston, and had a son:
Arthur Marcus Simpson, III (1925-1984).
m. Lillian Nadine Saso, daughter of Jerome Saso and Cleo Ellen Triggs, and had a son: Dennis William Simpson, District Deputy President General (Pacific) General Society of the War of 1812.
settling in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, becoming the pastor for the Famous Sugaw (Sugar) Creek Presbyterian Church, the parent Church for a convention of churches held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 1775.

The idea of independence from England was endorsed by this convention, and the so-called "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence" may have originated, in part, by ideas brought to light by Rev. Alexander Craighead and the traditions of Scottish Coventers. The original of this document, however, has never been found.

Rev. Alexander Craighead preached at the Middle Octorara Church, along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, during the 1730's, continuing to move south and west to the frontiers of colonial civilization. After a stay in Augusta county, Virginia, at Windy Cove, Craighead moved to Meckelnburg county, North Carolina.

Rev. Alexander Craighead was a prolific writer and leader in his faith, publishing numerous works, and some published by Benjamin Franklin in 1743.

Rev. Craighead was a vocal critic of King George III and the Church of England. He often preached to his flock to resist threats to their independence, and he held the rights of the common man as sacred as that of kings. He was counted as the "spiritual father" of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which was allegedly written nine years after his death. Rev. Alexander Craighead died in 1766 and was buried in March of that year at the original Sugaw (often pronounced "Sugar") Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Craighead Road, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The "Sugar Creek Schoolhouse", "Sugar Creek Road", "Craighead Road" and the "Sugaw Creek Park" are now within the city limits of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the NNE side of the city. The name "Sugaw" reflects the name of a local Indian Tribe. Today the creek is named "Sugar Creek", but the Church is named the "Sugaw Creek Church"

Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead was married to Agnes Brown (ca. 1734) in Pennsylvania. The dates and locations of Agnes Brown's birth and death are not known. Under the assumption that she was the mother of all the children, she may have died in Virginia, after the birth of her youngest child, Thomas Brown Craighead in 1753, but before her husband moved to North Carolina in 1756. Alexander and Agnes Brown had 8 children, the first six were daughters born in Middle Octorora, Pennsylvania; and the last two were sons born in Virginia. Alexander moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, probably in 1749 (according to the Foote Reference) and to Sugaw Creek, North Carolina (Now Sugar Creek - a part of NE Charlotte, NC) in about 1756, shortly after Braddock's defeat.

Children of Alexander Craighead and Agnes Brown
1.     Margaret Craighead, died 1775, Margaret is apparently named after Alexander Craighead's mother. Her birth date is not known, but she is now believed to be the first child born to Alexander and Agnes (Brown) Craighead. She may have been born in 1735 or 1736. Margaret married James Carruth (or Carouth), and had 5 children (Elizabeth may not be not listed in correct birthdate order): Alexander Craighead Carruth (1765-1833); Walter Carruth; born 1767; William R. Carruth (1769-1831); James Carruth (1772-1831); Elizabeth Carruth; married Major Lawson Henderson (1774-1843), on July 26, 1789, and had 14 children, one of whom was James Pinckney Henderson (1808-1858), the first Governor of Texas.

2.     Mary Craighead (birth date is unknown) may have been born as early as late 1735 or in 1736, or she may have been born as late as in the 1740s. [A tombstone at the Waxhaw, SC cemetery states that a Mary Dunlap died on "Dec 5, 1796 aged 66 years." However, the interred was most probably not Mary Craighead, but Mary Margaret Beard, the last of Samuel Dunlap's wives. This Mary Craighead in not likely to have been the first or second wife of Samuel Dunlap (1715-1791). This Mary (Craighead) Dunlap is reported to have had only three children.] Mary Craighead married Samuel Dunlap but probably not the Samuel Dunlap (1715-1791), son of Alexander Dunlap of Waxhaw, SC. This Samuel Dunlap was someone else.

Mary and Samuel had children: Samuel Ferguson Dunlap married Mary Crawford, daughter of Maj. Robert Crawford; Rev. E. Dunlap, a Minister in Columbia, SC; William Dunlap; William had a son, Rev. Robert Dunlap of PA, who had a son Dr. Thomas Dunlap of MS.

Agnes "Nancy" Craighead; born Mar. 17, 1740 in Octorara, PA; died Nov. 9, 1790, Waxhaw SC.; married 1st time in 1759, Rev. William Richardson (1729-1771); married 2nd time in 1772 George Dunlap (1736-1800).

3.     Rachel Craighead (1742-1825). Rachel was born in Middle Octorara, PA, and died in Guilford County, NC on Jun 12, 1825. She is buried in the Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Guilford County, NC.; married in 1766, Rev. David Caldwell (1725-1824), a gradiuate pf Princeton College (D.D. 1761), and University of NC (M.D. 1810), Capt. in Am. Rev., and had 13 children, 10 of whom are known: Rev. Samuel Craighead Caldwell (1767-1824), m1. Abigail Alexander; m2. Elizabeth Lindsay.

Samuel had 2 children by his first wife and 9 by his second marriage: Rev. Alexander Caldwell (1769-1841); married Sarah Davidson; Andrew Caldwell (1771-1845); James Edmond Caldwell (1772-1836), never married; Martha Caldwell; born 1775, never married.; David Caldwell, Jr.; born Oct 7, 1777; died Jul 3, 1836; married Susan Clark; Thomas Caldwell, twin to David, Jr.; John Washington Caldwell (1780-1844); married Margaret Cabe; Robert Craighead Caldwell; born 1786; m1. Maria Latta; m2. Merjora Wood Bourne; m3. Mary Claney; Patsy Caldwell (1805-1827).

4.     Jane Craighead (1743-1766)married Patrick Calhoun (1754-1796). Jane was Patrick's first wife. She died in 1767 after a miscarriage of twins. Patrick's second wife, Martha Caldwell, was closely related to Rachel Craighead's husband, Rev. David Caldwell. See also James Pettigrew (1713-1786) for a remarkable coincidence. Patrick Calhoun and Martha Caldwell had a son, John Caldwell Calhoun (1782-1850) famous SC Statesman and orator, member of the U.S. Congress, and Vice President of the U.S (1825-32) under John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson.

5.     Elizabeth Craighead married Alexander Crawford (1750-1839), and had 8 children: John Crawford; Jane Crawford; married ___? Davidson; James Thomas Crawford; born 1770-80 in Maury County, TN; died 1837; married on Feb 1, 1821 to Jane Brown Porter (1800-1874) in Memphis TN.

6.     Alexander Craighead Crawford; born 1781; married Esther Alexander on December 20, 1808. He served under Andrew Jackson at New Orleans.

7.     Margaret Renick Crawford; born May 10, 1783 in Waxhaw, SC; died Mar 27, 1867, Osford MS; married Dec 2, 1802 at Nashville TN to David Washington Porter (1782-1856)

8.     Elizabeth Crawford; born 1780-90; married on January 13, 1810 to Joseph Stockhard.

9.     Robert Craighead, born June 27, 1751; Robert Craighead became one of the first settlers of Knoxville, TN and built the first jail there. There is a Craighead-Jackson house in Knoxville and there was a "Craighead Cavern" now known as the "Lost Sea" tourist attraction near Knoxville. Captain Robert Craighead served in the American Revolution under General Sumpter. He was described as a "brave and excellent officer." He married Hannah Clark.

10.Rev. Thomas Brown/Benton Craighead, born 1753, Bath County, Virginia. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1775 and was ordained by the Presbytery of Orange in 1780. After preaching in South Carolina, North Carolina and Kentucky, he moved to Nashville in 1785 when James Robertson another pioneers invited him to establish a Presbyterian church and school. He settled at Haysboro (Spring Hill), six or seven miles east of Nashville, and preached there for thirty years, establishing Davidson Academy, the cradle of the University of Nashville.

Thomas Craighead preached frequently in Nashville until 1816. He was a liberal Presbyterian and believed in "free will." Such views led him into controversy with the presbyterian synod and he was suspended in 1811. He continued to preach and teach and the sentence was rescinded shortly before his death, 11 September 1824, at the age of 71 near Haysborough in Davidson County, TN. Some sources show his middle name as "Brown", including the Princeton General Catalog, where he is listed as graduating in 1775. He was the President of the Davidson Academy in Nashville, TN 1786-1806. Rev. Thomas Benton Craighead was also the founder of the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. He married Elizabeth Brown (1756-1828) in 1789. She was of Davidson County, TN. Elizabeth's parents, John Brown (1728-1803) and Margaret Preston (1728-1802).

3rd Marriages of Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead
Second marriage to Miss Scott (possibly, Jean Scott). It is not known if Alexander and Miss Scott had any children between them. It may be assumed that "Miss" Scott had no children by previous marriages. It has been stated that Rev. Alexander arrived in North Carolina as a widower in 1756, thus this marriage would have been a short one, perhaps from 1754-56, ending with her early death or an annulment.

Alexander's third marriage was to Jane Martin. The date of this marriage is not known, but probably took place in about in late 1764 or 1765, a few years prior to his death. It is doubtful that she had children by Alexander. It is not known whether or not she had any children from prior or subsequent spouses. She is mentioned in Alexander Craighead's will of 1765. Alexander died in 1766. It is possible, but not known, that Jane's father was a Mr. Martin, who is mentioned in the Foote reference as the person who was supposed to "install" Alexander Craighead at Rocky River (Sugar Creek NC) in 1758, but was not able to travel to do so, thus Alexander was installed by his son-in-law, Rev. Richardson, instead.

Rev. Alexander Craighead's principal legacy was to instill among the people of his congregations a fierce determination to resist the imposition of unwanted authority from outside the community, especially from the State capital in New Bern or from London

Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead (1705-1766)

Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead (1705-1766) was the great grandfather of Samuel Geddes Craighead. Samuel married my 3rd great grand aunt, Nancy McGill (1814-1898). Craighead was also spelled "Creaghead." Alexander Craighead emigrated from Ireland as a child, arriving in Boston during the first week of October, 1714 or 1715, with his parents on the ship Thomas & Jan (William Wilson, Master) to Boston.

Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead was born in Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 18 March 1705, coming to North America with his father, Rev. Thomas Craighead. He became the pioneering Presbyterian minister to preach West of the Susquehanna River. He was said to have antagonized some Pennsylvanians with his revolutionary views - relocating first to Hanover county, Virginia (NNE of Richmond), and other locations in the western frontier of Virginia. Finally settling in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, becoming the pastor for the Famous Sugaw (Sugar) Creek Presbyterian Church, the parent Church for a convention of churches held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May 1775.

The idea of independence from England was endorsed by this convention, and the so-called "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence" may have originated, in part, by ideas brought to light by Rev. Alexander Craighead and the traditions of Scottish Coventers. The original of this document, however, has never been found.

Rev. Alexander Craighead preached at the Middle Octorara Church, along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, during the 1730's, continuing to move south and west to the frontiers of colonial civilization. After a stay in Augusta county, Virginia, at Windy Cove, Craighead moved to Meckelnburg county, North Carolina.

Rev. Alexander Craighead was a prolific writer and leader in his faith, publishing numerous works, and some published by Benjamin Franklin in 1743.

Rev. Craighead was a vocal critic of King George III and the Church of England. He often preached to his flock to resist threats to their independence, and he held the rights of the common man as sacred as that of kings. He was counted as the "spiritual father" of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which was allegedly written nine years after his death. Rev. Alexander Craighead died in 1766 and was buried in March of that year at the original Sugaw (often pronounced "Sugar") Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery on Craighead Road, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The "Sugar Creek Schoolhouse", "Sugar Creek Road", "Craighead Road" and the "Sugaw Creek Park" are now within the city limits of Charlotte, North Carolina, in the NNE side of the city. The name "Sugaw" reflects the name of a local Indian Tribe. Today the creek is named "Sugar Creek", but the Church is named the "Sugaw Creek Church"

Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead was married to Agnes Brown (ca. 1734) in Pennsylvania. The dates and locations of Agnes Brown's birth and death are not known. Under the assumption that she was the mother of all the children, she may have died in Virginia, after the birth of her youngest child, Thomas Brown Craighead in 1753, but before her husband moved to North Carolina in 1756. Alexander and Agnes Brown had 8 children, the first six were daughters born in Middle Octorora, Pennsylvania; and the last two were sons born in Virginia. Alexander moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, probably in 1749 (according to the Foote Reference) and to Sugaw Creek, North Carolina (Now Sugar Creek - a part of NE Charlotte, NC) in about 1756, shortly after Braddock's defeat.

Children of Alexander Craighead and Agnes Brown
1.     Margaret Craighead, died 1775, Margaret is apparently named after Alexander Craighead's mother. Her birth date is not known, but she is now believed to be the first child born to Alexander and Agnes (Brown) Craighead. She may have been born in 1735 or 1736. Margaret married James Carruth (or Carouth), and had 5 children (Elizabeth may not be not listed in correct birthdate order): Alexander Craighead Carruth (1765-1833); Walter Carruth; born 1767; William R. Carruth (1769-1831); James Carruth (1772-1831); Elizabeth Carruth; married Major Lawson Henderson (1774-1843), on July 26, 1789, and had 14 children, one of whom was James Pinckney Henderson (1808-1858), the first Governor of Texas.

2.     Mary Craighead (birth date is unknown) may have been born as early as late 1735 or in 1736, or she may have been born as late as in the 1740s. [A tombstone at the Waxhaw, SC cemetery states that a Mary Dunlap died on "Dec 5, 1796 aged 66 years." However, the interred was most probably not Mary Craighead, but Mary Margaret Beard, the last of Samuel Dunlap's wives. This Mary Craighead in not likely to have been the first or second wife of Samuel Dunlap (1715-1791). This Mary (Craighead) Dunlap is reported to have had only three children.] Mary Craighead married Samuel Dunlap but probably not the Samuel Dunlap (1715-1791), son of Alexander Dunlap of Waxhaw, SC. This Samuel Dunlap was someone else.

Mary and Samuel had children: Samuel Ferguson Dunlap married Mary Crawford, daughter of Maj. Robert Crawford; Rev. E. Dunlap, a Minister in Columbia, SC; William Dunlap; William had a son, Rev. Robert Dunlap of PA, who had a son Dr. Thomas Dunlap of MS.<br /><br />

Agnes "Nancy" Craighead; born Mar. 17, 1740 in Octorara, PA; died Nov. 9, 1790, Waxhaw SC.; married 1st time in 1759, Rev. William Richardson (1729-1771); married 2nd time in 1772 George Dunlap (1736-1800).

3.     Rachel Craighead (1742-1825). Rachel was born in Middle Octorara, PA, and died in Guilford County, NC on Jun 12, 1825. She is buried in the Buffalo Presbyterian Church in Guilford County, NC.; married in 1766, Rev. David Caldwell (1725-1824), a gradiuate pf Princeton College (D.D. 1761), and University of NC (M.D. 1810), Capt. in Am. Rev., and had 13 children, 10 of whom are known: Rev. Samuel Craighead Caldwell (1767-1824), m1. Abigail Alexander; m2. Elizabeth Lindsay.

Samuel had 2 children by his first wife and 9 by his second marriage: Rev. Alexander Caldwell (1769-1841); married Sarah Davidson; Andrew Caldwell (1771-1845); James Edmond Caldwell (1772-1836), never married; Martha Caldwell; born 1775, never married.; David Caldwell, Jr.; born Oct 7, 1777; died Jul 3, 1836; married Susan Clark; Thomas Caldwell, twin to David, Jr.; John Washington Caldwell (1780-1844); married Margaret Cabe; Robert Craighead Caldwell; born 1786; m1. Maria Latta; m2. Merjora Wood Bourne; m3. Mary Claney; Patsy Caldwell (1805-1827).

4.     Jane Craighead (1743-1766)married Patrick Calhoun (1754-1796). Jane was Patrick's first wife. She died in 1767 after a miscarriage of twins. Patrick's second wife, Martha Caldwell, was closely related to Rachel Craighead's husband, Rev. David Caldwell. See also James Pettigrew (1713-1786) for a remarkable coincidence. Patrick Calhoun and Martha Caldwell had a son, John Caldwell Calhoun (1782-1850) famous SC Statesman and orator, member of the U.S. Congress, and Vice President of the U.S (1825-32) under John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson.

5.     Elizabeth Craighead married Alexander Crawford (1750-1839), and had 8 children: John Crawford; Jane Crawford; married ___? Davidson; James Thomas Crawford; born 1770-80 in Maury County, TN; died 1837; married on Feb 1, 1821 to Jane Brown Porter (1800-1874) in Memphis TN.

6.     Alexander Craighead Crawford; born 1781; married Esther Alexander on December 20, 1808. He served under Andrew Jackson at New Orleans.

7.     Margaret Renick Crawford; born May 10, 1783 in Waxhaw, SC; died Mar 27, 1867, Osford MS; married Dec 2, 1802 at Nashville TN to David Washington Porter (1782-1856)

8.     Elizabeth Crawford; born 1780-90; married on January 13, 1810 to Joseph Stockhard.

9.     Robert Craighead, born June 27, 1751; Robert Craighead became one of the first settlers of Knoxville, TN and built the first jail there. There is a Craighead-Jackson house in Knoxville and there was a "Craighead Cavern" now known as the "Lost Sea" tourist attraction near Knoxville. Captain Robert Craighead served in the American Revolution under General Sumpter. He was described as a "brave and excellent officer." He married Hannah Clark.

10.Rev. Thomas Brown/Benton Craighead, born 1753, Bath County, Virginia. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1775 and was ordained by the Presbytery of Orange in 1780. After preaching in South Carolina, North Carolina and Kentucky, he moved to Nashville in 1785 when James Robertson another pioneers invited him to establish a Presbyterian church and school. He settled at Haysboro (Spring Hill), six or seven miles east of Nashville, and preached there for thirty years, establishing Davidson Academy, the cradle of the University of Nashville.

Thomas Craighead preached frequently in Nashville until 1816. He was a liberal Presbyterian and believed in "free will." Such views led him into controversy with the presbyterian synod and he was suspended in 1811. He continued to preach and teach and the sentence was rescinded shortly before his death, 11 September 1824, at the age of 71 near Haysborough in Davidson County, TN. Some sources show his middle name as "Brown", including the Princeton General Catalog, where he is listed as graduating in 1775. He was the President of the Davidson Academy in Nashville, TN 1786-1806. Rev. Thomas Benton Craighead was also the founder of the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. He married Elizabeth Brown (1756-1828) in 1789. She was of Davidson County, TN. Elizabeth's parents, John Brown (1728-1803) and Margaret Preston (1728-1802).

3rd Marriages of Rev. Alexander Holmes Craighead
Second marriage to Miss Scott (possibly, Jean Scott). It is not known if Alexander and Miss Scott had any children between them. It may be assumed that "Miss" Scott had no children by previous marriages. It has been stated that Rev. Alexander arrived in North Carolina as a widower in 1756, thus this marriage would have been a short one, perhaps from 1754-56, ending with her early death or an annulment.

Alexander's third marriage was to Jane Martin. The date of this marriage is not known, but probably took place in about in late 1764 or 1765, a few years prior to his death. It is doubtful that she had children by Alexander. It is not known whether or not she had any children from prior or subsequent spouses. She is mentioned in Alexander Craighead's will of 1765. Alexander died in 1766. It is possible, but not known, that Jane's father was a Mr. Martin, who is mentioned in the Foote reference as the person who was supposed to "install" Alexander Craighead at Rocky River (Sugar Creek NC) in 1758, but was not able to travel to do so, thus Alexander was installed by his son-in-law, Rev. Richardson, instead.

Rev. Alexander Craighead's principal legacy was to instill among the people of his congregations a fierce determination to resist the imposition of unwanted authority from outside the community, especially from the State capital in New Bern or from London

Rev. Robert Craighead (1633-1711)

When Rev. Robert Craighead was born in 1633 in Scotland, his father, Thomas, was 26 and his mother, Janet, was 33. He married Margaret Agnes Hart in 1658. They had three children in 12 years. He died on August 22, 1711, having lived a long life of 78 years.

The Scottish National Covenant of 1638
When King Charles attempted to apply tighter control over Scotland by giving the reins of the country to Scottish bishops of the Church of England, the people of Scotland responded with a unified message that became known as the National Covenant. The document was a statement of religious conservatism first signed in Edinburgh on February 28, 1638. The document made its way around Edinburgh, and then copies were sent to the lowlands and highlands regions. Nobles and commoners joined forces as they signed this protest document, arguing that Charles I was too powerful within the Church of England. Those who signed the Covenant believed that only Jesus Christ was the true leader of the Church of England, and no king could replace the son of God. The National Covenant led to increasing discord between Scottish leaders and the English crown, culminating in the Second Bishops War of 1639–1640.

One of Rev. Robert  Craighead's family members lived in Scotland at a time when the Scottish people expressed religious unity through the National Covenant: Margaret Agnes Hart (1636–1702). In addition to its religious purpose, the Covenant called for a free General Assembly and a free Scottish Parliament. In 1649 after Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army pushed for a trial, King Charles I was executed for high treason. Covenanters held secret meetings and feared being discovered by the English authorities after Charles II renounced the Covenant in 1662.

Celebration of Life - Dorthy McGill (1943-2018)

Everyone needs a DoRight Dorthy. The strength and resolve of Dorthy’s soul soars with the eagles over the Li’l valley of Vallecito Lake, North of Bayfield, Colorado, that she loved. Dorthy McGill passed away at 2:08am, Saturday, 14 July 2018. She requested to be cremated and we promised her - no funeral services, tombstones or obituary. We met Dorthy’s wishes to some extent (half-way) as we celebrate her life through pictures, memories (good and bad) throughout her life. - Celebration of Life - Dorthy McGill (1943-2018) OR - check out the updated link Dorthy's Celebration of Life (1943-2018).

It was 74+ years ago, 31 August 1943, a young girl was born to Gene M. and Vada E. (Paris) McGill, in NW Oklahoma. Dorthy was the second daughter of four daughters born to this rural farmer/rancher and his wife, who had a ranch 10 miles North of Waynoka, and also resided in Alva, Oklahoma. Some might remember Dorthy as DoRight Dynamite Dorthy. Others might remember Dorthy as C.O.A.D. (Crazy Old Aunt Dorthy) with fond memories. You might have your own nickname for Dorthy. We would love to hear your stories of how she came into your lives and made a difference.

Dorthy grew up and attended school in the rural community of Alva, Oklahoma. I remember Dorthy telling a story of her first day in class, sixth grade (Washington Elementary School) with Mr. Lee Haley as the teacher. Mr. Haley ask his students to tell what their hopes and dreams were when they grew up. Dorthy stood up and said, "I am going to be a lawyer." Most of the whole class laughed at her, but Mr. Haley came to Dorthy's rescue and said, "Dorthy can be whatever she wants to be."

In 1957, Gene and Vada McGill and family of four daughters traveled to Alaska from NW Oklahoma by way of a two-tone Plymouth station wagon pulling a very small teardrop trailer used for sleeping two adults inside. It had a back end that opened upward to reveal a kitchen type cabinet of cooking supplies, which turned it into a cooking area. It was one of Gene's ingenious inventions. While Gene and Vada slept inside the trailer, the four girls slept in an old army-type tent; on a blanket spread out in a pasture or alongside the road; or were crammed like four sardines into the back of the station wagon with the back seats laid flat.

Then there was the time Gene flew his family of six out to Los Angeles, California in his Cessna airplane for the Democratic National Convention of 1959 for JFK and LBJ convention. We were crammed in the plane. Some of us got a bit air sick (me). In the aftermath of all that, Dorthy lost a shoe somewhere over Arizona when Dad opened door so slightly to throw out the bag of vomit.

It was in June, 1960, Dorthy attended Oklahoma Girls State, at Oklahoma College for Women, Chickasha, Oklahoma. Dorthy was one of nine listed as a Supreme Court Justice of Girls State that year. During this same period (1960), Dorthy served as an intern for US Senator Stuart Symington, in Washington, DC. Dorthy left Alva to attend her senior year of high school (1960-61) at Greenbriar College for Women, in Lewisburg, WV, where she graduated with honors. If you click on the image, look towards the second row from top, 7th from right side, you can spot Dorthy standing next to Rosanna Bouziden. Marilyn Marcum is on the front row, 1st one on the left.

After graduation, Dorthy came back to Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) and Northwestern State College. After college graduation, Dorthy was employed at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from 1966-1977, as a Contract Negotiator responsible for writing contract requirements, negotiating contract terms and provisions. Dorthy was also an Inventory Manager responsible for computing requirements and controlling allocations and distributions of parts and equipment. At one point Dorthy became a whistleblower on one of the TAFB Generals who was procuring items for himself.

In 1977 to 1988, Dorthy came back to her hometown of Alva, Oklahoma, receiving training in Oil & Gas records searching and leasing from a semi-retired landman and attending numerous seminars. In 1989, Dorthy McGill, Esq. received training and mediation skills to receive her certificate in the State of Oklahoma as an Agricultural Loan Mediator, 22 April 1989.

We all know Dorthy McGill for her strengths of Diligence, Dedication, Drive, Determination and Lots of Nerve. If the first four “D” alliterations did not work, then there was always the old stand by: “Lots of Nerve.”

After Dorthy’s divorce from her husband in 1983, Dorthy at the age of 40 years of age, put herself through law school at Oklahoma City University (OCU). Dorthy passed the Oklahoma Bar in 18 March 1988, in the upper 90%. From then on Dorthy’s legacy as Dynamite, DoRight Dorthy took on a whole new meaning, leading her on a path into Democratic politics in the conservative, men oriented, rural communities of NW Oklahoma to “Make A Difference.”

By the way, it was Dorthy’s ex-husband who once said, “You’ve never learned to suffer in silence.” Dorthy’s reply, “You got that right.” Dorthy was a force to be reckoned with and an independent woman.

Dorthy went through good and bad times throughout her life just like everyone else. It was Dorthy’s bad times that helped strengthened her resolve to stand up and lend a voice with determination, diligence and to make a difference in others lives. Whether it was running as a Democratic woman candidate in conservative, rural NW Oklahoma; being a whistleblower on a General at Tinker AFB; protecting her younger sisters; or the tumultuous family probate from hell, 1992-1999.

It was the Spring of 1988 that Dorthy, as a Democratic candidate in Northwest Oklahoma, ran a grassroots campaign for State Representative District 58, to "Make A Dynamite Difference for NW Oklahoma.” It was a close race, but Elmer Maddox, GOP candidate from Woodward won that seat. In 1990, Dorthy’s diligence and determination kicked in again as she continued her campaign for State Representative District 58 with the Slogan: “We Can! We Will! Do Right with Dorthy. An Open Honest Effective Voice for NW Oklahoma.”

That campaign ran short of its goal in the conservative, rural northwest Oklahoma, but that did not stop Dorthy McGill from making a difference. My oldest son, Michael, reminded me that after losing the 1988 election, Dorthy felt vulnerable and was afraid she let her supporters and family down. Dorthy was reminded how much she influenced those who voted and campaigned for her. Dorthy wanted people to remember a good thing and a bad thing. Dorthy realized even the bad things helped her to make a difference in others’ lives.

Why and how did Dorthy end up in beautiful Vallecito, SW Colorado? It was a 2000 Fall travel expedition to find a retreat to recover from a tumultuous family probate from hell of 1992-1999. It was the familiarity of the Lake Vallecito area that drew her back to her old cabin that she feel in love with in the late 1970s (or was it early 1980s); finding it standing empty in 2000; and her nephews promising her they would find away to get her back to the cabin. Little did they know the Fall of 2000 adventure with Dorthy, her sister Linda, brother-in-law David and nephew Robert looking for a retreat in the Durango and Lake Vallecito area they would find her old cabin standing empty and unoccupied.

It was through chance and happy coincidence, that we met up with Jack Riddle having breakfast alone at a separate table at Marilyn’s restaurant by Lake Vallecito. It was within a short time, Dorthy knew that Jack’s property (Dorthy’s old cabin) was exactly the retreat she was seeking. You see, Jack Riddle was the one who had purchased Dorthy’s cabin in the late 1980s. It was in those next few days, in the Fall of 2000, that Dorthy and her family negotiated rent on Dorthy’s Colorado retreat. In the Fall of 2000 November with help from her family, Dorthy had successful moved back to the "Li’l Valley" of Vallecito Lake, North of Bayfield, Colorado to the cabin she fell in love with in the late 1970s. And … that is how her nephews, Michael and Robert Wagner, got their Crazy Old Aunt Dorthy back to her beloved SW Colorado Cabin at Vallecito Lake.

There is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, entitled “IF” that I found amongst Dorthy’s possessions. Here is a quote from that poem:  "If you can keep your head when all about you | Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, | If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, | But make allowance for their doubting too; | If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, | Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,"

A strong, determined soul soars with the eagles over this Li’l Valley at Vallecito Lake, North of Bayfield, Colorado. Dorthy requested to be cremated and absolutely no funeral services, tombstones or obituary. So we abide by Dorthy’s wishes, to some extent (half-way), and celebrate her life through pictures, memories (good and bad) of her life. Dorthy wanted us all to remember a good thing and a bad thing. How did Dorthy make a difference in your life?

My Hurt Legacy

My Hurt Legacy through John James Hurt and Mary Mrkvicka shown at their homestead, seated in chairs. Not sure who the young lady is standing behind them.

 According to research I have found so far, my great grandfather Joseph P. Hurt was born in Bohemia (a part of Austria-Hungary) to John James Hurt (Hurtosci, Hurtoovi, or Hurtosic, not sure of the spelling) and Mary Mrkvicka. Joseph came over with his parents, an Uncle Anton and Eloize Hurt) and John and Anton's nephew (Vaclav Hurt). They boarded the ship Weser and left Bohemia and landed in New York on 14 March 1876. Then they headed Westward towards Nebraska and settled in Posen (now known as Farewell), Nebraska. 

 More HURT Family Photos:

 

 

 

 Anna Hurt married Victor Shilhan, in black hat, holding baby Anna Shilhan (1927); holding hand of Alice Shilhan and Helen Shilhan in dark coat standing beside her mother Anna Hurt Shilhan a year before Anna died in 1928.

Above the Tall Pines, Vallecito, Colorado

Above the Tall Pines, Vallecito, Colorado

P4 drone view over cabin, Vallecito lake, Colorado. My first high flight above the tall pines at cabin, northend of CR 500, Vallecito Lake, Colorado. Learning camera and finding out where I need improvements. Need to slow down on span horizon. Don't get dizzy watching.

We are in the process of publishing this weeks OkieLegacy Ezine/Tabloid. A new issue has been added by the NW Okie.  You may now read it and post comments at The Okie Legacy:  Volume 18, Issue 45 published on  2016-12-18  
 http://okielegacy.net/journal/tabloid/index.php?iss=45&vol=18   http://okielegacy.net/journal/ezine/index.php?Issue=45&Volume=18