robertmackayclan

Moses McKay & Abigail Shinn had a son named Robert S. McKay. I have looked in vain for legal documents as to what his "S" stood for and I have found none.

In 1987 I exchanged letters with George C. Seward as to what evidence he had that the "S" stood for Shinn. His answer was "Family Tradition"; his middle name for his mother's maiden name.

Following that path, said Robert S. McKay & his second wife Nancy Antrim McKay named one of their 10 children: Amanda Shackleford McKay. Was her middle name a maiden or family name ? Answer NO. How do we not know said Amanda was given her father's middle name.

Now on the internet said Robert S. McKay is listed as Robert Aaron Shinn McKay; and I have no idea where that came from.

This film has a copy of Robert McKay first marriage to Viginia Grubs, just signed Robert McKay. This second marriage record to cousin Nancy A. McKay is also signed as Robert McKay.

I don't recall the "S.C." being mentioned by others. Perhaps it was a mistake or perhaps not.

In either case Uncle Lewis died really young. You can see some pictures of him up on the website.

I don't remember the exact cause of death. Could have been disease or he was killed in an accident.

It grieved his mother a lot from what my granddad told me.

According to the 1900 Clarke Co. VA census reel 227 listing for Greenway District/White Post Precinct on 27th June 1900:

McKay, William B. head of house Mar 1856 44 years
McKay, Ella L. wife Oct 1857 42 years
McKay, Samuel L. son Nov 1883 16 years
McKay, John L. son Mar 1885 15 years
McKay, Beverly B. son Jul 1886 13 years
McKay, Mary S. son Mar 1890 10 years
McKay, Hilda L. daughter Jun 1882 7 years

What I was looking for, of course, was if he really did have other names. According to the person who gave the information to the census taker and if he wrote down correctly what was told to him, then the "S" stood for Samuel. Why his birth is just recorded on the Warren Co. VA Birth Registry as Lewis, I do not know.

You will also notice that your ancestor's first name is given as John not Jonathan. The birth date for Beverly B. McKay is also different. They had a daughter not a son named Mary Eliza McKay. The birth year for Hilda L. is also recorded wrong.

I will send along a copy of the census to you by mail; so you can puzzel over it.

I am certain that the information which was published by Doughtie on this branch of the family was given to her by Hunter B. McKay and he in turn received the information from Francis (Burch) McKay, wife of B.B. McKay.

I would imagine census takers weren't known for their accuracy when compiling information. I know this is especially the case when the "race" column was filled out.

I've heard of families being referred to as "colored" in one instance and "white" or "mulatto" in another. It depended on what the census taker wrote down.

I'm thinking that Granddaddy Buck probably didn't fill out a census form like we do today but rather was visited by someone who wrote down what he was told.

Sometimes they would write down your age rounded to the closest year or else figure your month of birth in the same way.

I've seen a book on the 1850 census that has the ages of some of my Robinson relatives being slightly off. I have their ages from Quaker records.

that Wm. B. McKay first son did have a first name Samuel. Really do believe it was the wife of B.B. McKay who gave the family information on this branch of the family to Hunter B. McKay. As reported to H.B. McKay their first son was named S.C. Lewis McKay.

Doughtie's book was published in the 1950's and has been to many family reunions and I do not remember people questioning his name before now. I have Hunter B. McKay book and he has made no markings to question the information like in other parts of the book.

We know from the Warren Co. VA Birth Registry one of his names was Lewis and from the census Samuel L. McKay was reported. Now the question becomes where and what does the "C" stand for in his name.

The question will always remain did the census taker put down the wrong information or does the fault lie with the person giving the information.

Yeah, I'm willing to bet his name was Samuel. I believe you're right that Aunt Frances was probably the one who submitted info. but, I do recall reading in Hunter's notes that he also spoke with Grandmother Ella himself so he probably had two sources for info. on my branch of the family.

The only question I really had was where did the "S.C." come from since I've never actually seen it spelled out. I wonder if the C. stood for Charles?

It's hard to tell how the Census taker compiled his data. You never know how serious any of these people took their work since I'd imagine they would simply hire folks to go door to door and assess the population. Sometimes they would base things on opinion like the "race" issue for instance. Who knows if the person living in the house gave the correct info.?

I'd trust Birth registrys over census data. At least you are getting a complete name entered into the record. Bible records I'd believe in as well, although you do have to take into account as to when the data was entered.

Either way it's an interesting question regarding the census takers.

It would be interesting to see what name appears on his grave marker.

Since I have seen incorrect information on offical death records, given by family memebers to the undertaker who reports it to the State Governments, I would not be as quick to say the fault lie with the census taker.

I guess in this case we will never know the true of it.

Well yes, there was a Dr. Love. In fact a Dr. William Love originially from Armagh, Ireland. I have a few newsclippings about his death. He died kneeling in prayer according to the article.

He lent his name to quite a few folks in the area and it's possible that Daisy Love Sowers was named from him.

My grandmother, Mary Love Robinson can also trace her name to him. Her aunt Nenah Love Robinson was named directly after him but I think it was passed down later to her son Raymond Love Mattison and to my grandmother Mary.

I also have another young cousin in the Robinson side who also has the "Love" middle name and she acquired it from her father who also mentioned Dr. Love.

Now, about the Bible record it could be possible that the Bible was in Ohio only if we're talking about Moses McKay's Bible. When he, wife and other children except Robert S. went there I'd imagine they would have taken something like that with them. This is all guessing on my part since I really don't have facts handy but it's a possibility.

State of VA Reel 45 containing Superior Court Land Deeds, 10 Apr 1794 mentioned a Dr. Wm. Love of Stafford Co. VA as "heir at law" of Wm. Love and his widow Marian Love. He was selling property in the Winchester, VA area.

Will be interesting if I can find a Dr. Love in later Clarke Co. VA as physican to the Sowers Family.