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Posted: 1:58 PM - Sep 26, 1999
Michael McKay
Junior pointed out a small error on my part.

Where I said "Robert's will was probated on the seventh Day of October 1746." should actually read "Robert's will was FILED on the seventh Day of October 1746".
I just realized I made another error.

Yep, I make mistakes like everyone else *lol*.

I guess things get jumbled up when I try to answer questions sometimes but anyhow where I said:

Robert always signed his name "Mackay" with the "a" over the "c"....

should actually read that he signed his name with the "c" over the "a" as I mentioned in the page containing Robert Sr.'s will.

Can't believe I made two mistakes in a row. Oh well...

I think if you sit back and actually see his signature you can probably see how our name came to be spelled "McKay".

When he wrote it in his cursive style he scrawled out the "M" with the "c" trailing above to the right. Then he started with the "a" under the "c" and continued scrawling "kay".

I believe this was was a common practice with anyone who spelled "Mackay" and not necessarily confined to Robert Sr. This could also be why we see the "k" capitalized many times when we see the name "Mackay" or any of the variants.

Posted: 8:54 AM - Dec 11, 1999
Dee Ann Buck
I have no problem sharing my information with others and I have no problem giving information to the L.D.S.Library. I have send them copies of my books.

But you have missed the point. The information I send them on Robert MacKay's parentage, was not completed. Because I do not have the parentage of Robert McKay. They took it upon themselves to alter, change & add to my computer information to match what they had created by computer.

They have misused the information that I and others are sending them. And I had no reason to believe they would be capable of doing such a thing.

The burden of proof of all the information they are sending out over the internet is on their shoulders and not the people who in "good faith" send in the information.
I was told by a librarian at the L.D.S. center last week, that in the future the office that runs the bank will no longer merge & match in coming disks with what is in the bank.

This will fix one of their problems. But incorrect information already in the bank, I guess will remain.

The only way to really fix the bank, would be to dump the whole thing and start over.

So in the end, we who would really like to know, how Hugh MacKay was created as the father of "our" Robert MacKay of NJ/PA/VA, will never know.



Posted: 11:57 PM - Jun 12, 2000
Dee Ann Buck
It appears that the Hugh Mackay you are referring to is the one found on this page in the website:


Clan Mackay (Bonnie Dundee and General Hugh Mackay (by Kenneth Morgan))


This was from a message posted at a forum by Mr. Kenneth Morgan who has some knowledge of European history.


This is of course a different Hugh Mackay being spoken of here than the CAPTAIN Hugh Mackay that was mentioned in the LDS records.


Two things we always have to consider when trying to establish a connection are the dates and places events happened.


Robert's will was probated on the seventh Day of October 1746.


Also, according to Dee Ann Buck who has done research on the early members of our family his children were at least all born here, possibly in Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ. These were all born during the early 1700s.


Robert obviously couldn't have been in Scotland during the 1700s because of these things.


Also, Robert was married three times. Only his 3rd wife is mentioned in his will but it is made plain that this is not the mother of his children as the codicil attached to the will indicates he made special arrangements for her care which he forgot to do when he wrote his original will.


This is the reason why we see his name being spelled in different ways throughout the will. The first part or the will itself is by his own hand and he spells his name as "Mackay". The remaining parts were put in by some court official which is why it is spelled as "McCoy".


Robert always signed his name "Mackay" with the "a" over the "c" which I believe when looking at it you can see why it became common to spell our name as "McKay". The "a" was probably accidentally overlooked.


Even his grandson Andrew spelled the name as "Mackay" as indicated in Hopewell Friends History.


Anyway, I do think that when we do go about looking for info. we need to make sure it all fits together.


Remember, children cannot be older than their parents.
Mrs. Doughtie & the late Hunter Branson McKay had a very long exchange of ideas & letters over the years about any group of Mackay....etc...

Mrs. Doughtie & H.B. McKay had exchange information about Capt. Hugh MacKay and his family members of this group appear in her book on page 390.

I have not tried to find the parish records for Capt. Hugh Mackay, but it sure appears that he was the same generation as "our" Robert MacKay.

Said Capt. Hugh Mackay, son Hugh MacKay died in Jamaica, probated his will 1763 and in GA probated in 1764. Now if we are to believe the birth date for him in L.D.S. Computer Bank, then he died at the age of 98. They have the birth year as c1665. No issue. In his will he mentioned he had a brother John MacKay still in Scotland and a brother James living in GA he died in 1786 in GA. He would have been 116 according the ages of his siblings supplied by L.D.S. computer bank.

Now said Hugh Jr. had a brother, Patrick who emigrated to GA in 1732 with Oglethrope. Using the age given by L.D.S. computer bank at the age of 64 years of age.

I will trust far more what Beatrice M. Doughtie has recorded. The children she has listed/mentioned (according to will abtracts & court records).

1. Hugh MacKay Jr. died 1763 Jamaica far more likely born c1700. Married Sarah Morgan. No issue.

2. James MacKay died 1786 GA far more likely born c1711. Not listed in the L.D.S. computer bank as a child of Hugh & Jane Mackay.

3. Patrick MacKay emigrated to GA in 1734 married in 1740 to Isabella, widow of Montague, he died 1777 GA. Far more likely born c1715.

4. John MacKay according to the will of Hugh MacKay stayed in Scotland.

So it is far more likely the children of Hugh & Jane Dunbar would be from c1700 to c1715 or the same age spread as the children of Robert MacKay Sr. of NJ/VA. Follows that Capt. Hugh MacKay more likely to be born c1679 about the same age group as Robert MacKay of NJ/VA.

Doughtie has no mention of children: Barbara MacKay, Wm. MacKay, George Mackay, Donald Mackay, Robert Mackay, Angus Mackay nor Elizabeth Mackay.

There did these additional children come from, doubt we will ever find out.

Posted: 4:44 PM - Jun 27, 2008
connie steinmetz
Is Hugh MacKay the father of our Robert, Sr, that died in 1752 in VA

On a recent trip to Scotland, I found a book on the MacKay Clan (“Your Clan Heritage,
Clan MacKay”, compiled by Alan McNie, Cascade Publishing Company, Jedburgh,
Scotland) that had some interesting items about General Hugh MacKay. McKay
researchers of the Robert MacKay, Sr. line have all probably heard the various theories
about Robert MacKay, Sr being born in Belfast, Ireland or in Freehold, NJ or Chester Co,
PA or Cecil Co, MD. This book might shed some light on how this confusion exists.

Some excerpts from the book are “Hugh MacKay, cousin of the first Lord Reay, had
served abroad as a volunteer in both the French and Dutch armies, and was ultimately
appointed Colonel of the Scots Brigade of Holland, by the Prince of Orange (later King
William III).

When the Prince of Orange landed at Tobat, Ireland, with his forces on November 5th,
1688, he was accompanied by six regiments composed wholly of Britons. The fleet was
divided into three squadrons, and all the English and Scots of the party sailed under the
red flag, commanded by General Hugh MacKay, a Scotsman of noble family.

General Hugh MacKay sent continuous accounts of his movements in Scotland to the
Scottish ministers of King William.” (Remember this for later)

Lets assume (a nasty word in genealogy, but humor me) for a moment that Hugh is the
father of Robert, Sr. The book mentioned above explains that after General Hugh
MacKay’s loss in the battle at Killiecrankie, Scotland, he was still useful to the King by
serving ably in Ireland where the memorable Revolution of 1688 was finally effected. (This
would give support to the theory of how Robert was born in Ireland and would place
Hugh in Ireland about the right time for Robert to be born). He then crossed over to the
Continent (Europe) to assist King William in his wars with France. Hugh was later killed
in the Battle of Steenkirk, France, in 1692 while attacking a French Camp. (This defines
Hugh’s movements within a 4 year period and would mean that Robert would have to be
born before 1692 for Hugh to be his father. If Hugh is the father of our Robert, Sr., then
Robert was probably born in Ireland in the 1680’s and later came to the U.S. after 1700.)

I have always wondered how Robert was able to obtain the land grant in VA. This was
not easily done without connections to the King at that time. If Hugh was the father of
Robert, this would also lend some support for who his connections were, King William
who thought highly of Hugh. It is stated in the book mentioned above that King William
attended the funeral of Hugh and said “There he lies; and no honester man the world
cannot produce.”

If Hugh MacKay had no children named Robert, then this theory could be put to rest. If he
does, then we have more support for Hugh to be the father of our Robert, Sr. and that he
was probably born in Ireland. With this information, I think it might be best served to
determine Hugh’s family descendants from the Scotland side. Does anyone have contacts
in Scotland that might be able to provide this information?
ROBERT MACKAY BORN IN BELFAST IRELAND IN 1679. HE WAS NUMBER 8 IN THE 10 CHILDREN THAT HUGH AND JANE ANN DUNBAR MACKAY. THIS IS THE SAME GENERAL HUGH MACKAY THAT HIS SON`S CAMES TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1736 ON THE SHIP PRINCE OF WALES. THEY CAME IN TO GEORGIA, THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SERVICE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND, THIS IS THE PART OF PAST HEIRIAGE THAT I`M VERY PROUD OF.I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED.WOULD GLADLY GIVE YOU THE INFO. THANKS CONNIE STEINMETZ

Posted: 6:28 PM - Jun 27, 2008
Michael McKay
Also, you will want to look at the dates for the different marriage certificates for his children. Plus we have records from East Nottingham Friends Meeting in Maryland and also in New Jersey that clearly show our Robert Mackay Sr. was already here in 1736. He never went to Georgia, nor did he come from there.

Here's the link: http://www.geocities.com/mckyrbnsn/lines/mackay/

You are obviously referring to a different Robert (there are many) Mackay than our Quaker pioneer Robert who settled in Warren County, VA.

I quote one of the facts here:

'1.11.1730 Margaret McKay, daughter of Robert & Ann Brown of Milford Hd. Cecil Co. MD & Joshua Job son of Andrew & Elizabeth'.

With the above information from Nottingham Friends Meeting records, how could Robert have come to Georgia from Scotland in 1736 with his supposed parents Hugh and Jane (Dunbar) Mackay on the Prince of Wales when he was already present at his daughter's weddint in 1730 at Nottingham Friends Meeting in Maryland?


Posted: 12:24 PM - Jun 29, 2008
Dee Ann Buck
ROBERT MACKAY BORN IN BELFAST IRELAND IN 1679. HE WAS NUMBER 8 IN THE 10 CHILDREN THAT HUGH AND JANE ANN DUNBAR MACKAY. THIS IS THE SAME GENERAL HUGH MACKAY THAT HIS SON`S CAMES TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1736 ON THE SHIP PRINCE OF WALES. THEY CAME IN TO GEORGIA, THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SERVICE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND, THIS IS THE PART OF PAST HEIRIAGE THAT I`M VERY PROUD OF.I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED.WOULD GLADLY GIVE YOU THE INFO. THANKS CONNIE STEINMETZ
I would be very interested in how you are related to Robert MacKay of VA ?

I would be very interested in what documents you have placing Robert in Ireland ? Or what documents you have giving us his parentage.

Copies of computer files found in the net are not documents.

Posted: 7:25 PM - Dec 21, 2008
Dee Ann Buck
ROBERT MACKAY BORN IN BELFAST IRELAND IN 1679. HE WAS NUMBER 8 IN THE 10 CHILDREN THAT HUGH AND JANE ANN DUNBAR MACKAY. THIS IS THE SAME GENERAL HUGH MACKAY THAT HIS SON`S CAMES TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1736 ON THE SHIP PRINCE OF WALES. THEY CAME IN TO GEORGIA, THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SERVICE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND, THIS IS THE PART OF PAST HEIRIAGE THAT I`M VERY PROUD OF.I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED.WOULD GLADLY GIVE YOU THE INFO. THANKS CONNIE STEINMETZ
Having too much time on my hands, I google "Connie Steinmetz" on line.

Her ancestors settled in GA from Scotland and I have no idea, nor do I care, if she really has the correct information about her Mackay family.

She does not have any new information about "our" Robert Mackay of early NJ to PA/MD to VA. And her statement here is false and very misleading. POSTED ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS. You better be sure of your message, if you seek to call attend to yourself.

Posted: 10:14 AM - Jan 26, 2014
Dee Ann Buck
ROBERT MACKAY BORN IN BELFAST IRELAND IN 1679. HE WAS NUMBER 8 IN THE 10 CHILDREN THAT HUGH AND JANE ANN DUNBAR MACKAY. THIS IS THE SAME GENERAL HUGH MACKAY THAT HIS SON`S CAMES TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1736 ON THE SHIP PRINCE OF WALES. THEY CAME IN TO GEORGIA, THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN SERVICE OF THE KING OF ENGLAND, THIS IS THE PART OF PAST HEIRIAGE THAT I`M VERY PROUD OF.I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED.WOULD GLADLY GIVE YOU THE INFO. THANKS CONNIE STEINMETZ
Mackay project list the Y DNA results of a descend of Hugh Mckay born 1791 Washington Co. SC died 1867. His group "I"

The entry is not posted on Y Search, so I do not know any more about this Hugh McKay,but not related to the family of Robert Mackay Sr. of early VA.

Posted: 10:17 AM - Jan 26, 2014
Dee Ann Buck
I have noticed that putting aside my distant known Mackay/McKay who removed South, I have not matched up with McKay who were removed to the Carolina in 1700's.

The distant Mackay/McKay DNA I am picking up found in families living in Australia, Scotland, New Zealand & Canada.

I hope in the future my known distant McKay cousin will share their finding here in public.

Posted: 11:11 AM - Jan 26, 2014
Dee Ann Buck
I have notice I have a lot of shared DNA with African-American. I will wait if & when they come to me.