robertmackayclan

I just posted in the section of our Message Boards called 'Special Announcements' about the fire which destroyed the old Robert Mackay Jr. home. Here's a direct link:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/100671/m ... ed+by+fire

This house has sat vacant for a number of years, owned jointly by Warren County and Front Royal with no action being taken towards it's restoration. I knew eventually something like this was bound to happen.

I am very sad to hear of the lost of our ancestor's house. With the state of the general economy who would have the money to restore it ?? I guess at least we have the picture of the place. That's more than a lot of people know where their ancestors lived.

I just posted in the section of our Message Boards called 'Special Announcements' about the fire which destroyed the old Robert Mackay Jr. home. Here's a direct link:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/100671/m ... ed+by+fire

This house has sat vacant for a number of years, owned jointly by Warren County and Front Royal with no action being taken towards it's restoration. I knew eventually something like this was bound to happen.

Short note from Warren Co. VA Court Minutes: in 1837 "elections commissioners appointed to superintend elections at McKay's at Cedarville"

We do not know if said "McKay's" was the old Robert MacKay Jr.'s house or could have been the home of Robert S. McKay.

I think the house Robert S. McKay lived in was the one I call the Andrew McKay Home which burned around the 1920s or so. Only one chimney remains standing from that home which is difficult to see in warmer months due to being covered with ivy.

According to Hunter B. McKay, James Edwin McKay (son of Robert S. McKay) family lived in the home of his grandfather Andrew McKay who devised to his son Robert S. McKay, father of said James E. McKay.

Said James E. McKay died on 7 Jan 1871 in Warren Co. VA. On the 1880 census his widow Elizabeth McKay and children: John Kenny, Robert E. James Duff, Rosalie, Henry & Fannie living in the house for that census. She died 26 Dec 1889 Richmond, VA.

I do not know if I will be able to find the land deeds for after 1871 for Warren Co. VA.

According to H.B. McKay's note they sold the property to John M. BIERER. I have found his grave entry in D. Borden's cemetery book buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery of Front Royal, VA born 30 Nov 1844 died 11 Dec 1907. His wife buried same location: Susan Painter born 7 May 1850, died 5 Aug 1946.

Found on 1910 Cedarville, Warren Co. VA: Irvin Bierer 35, his wife Anna 27, and son John M. 2, sister in law Bessie Richard 24, Susan Bierer 89 widow his mother, brothers: John Bierer 21, Ralph Bierer 18.

The above household living near Robert & his wife Lucy B. who we know were living at the home of Robert Jr.

The house of Andrew to Robert S. to James E. McKay sold to Bierer, in the article "Old Home Place of Bierer" burned down in 1928.

I can't seem to find the Bierer family 1920 census. They could have sold the property before it burned down in 1928.

Found John M. Bierer living with his mother in Westmoreland Co. PA. Maria Bierer 57, John M. 25, George W. 21, Amos 21, Barbara 13, Wm. 10, Rebecca 7. Still a single man. I would assume he married in that location in PA.

Found on 1880 Salem TWP in Westmoreland Co. VA: Mary Painter 59, Elizabeth Painter 16 her daughter, her son-in-law John M. Bierer 35 and his wife Susan 30, their children: Mary Jane 8, George Irvine 6. Family living in VA as 1887 according to birth record of their child John W.

I can't seem to find them on 1900 census, I would think should be living in Warren Co. VA.

I would assume the property left the hands of McKay family upon or after the death of Mrs. Elizabeth (Kenney) McKay (widow of James E. McKay) she died 26 Dec 1889 in Richmond, VA. I do not think I will be able to get a copy of the actual land transfer.

According to the 1910 Warren Co. VA John M. Bierer and his wife Susan had five children and five alive as of 1910. Missing the name of one

1. Mary Jane Bierer b. c1872 born in PA
2. George Irvine b. 1874 PA one listed on 1910 Warren Co. VA
3. John W. Bierer b. 3 Mar 1887 listed on Warren Co. VA Birth Registry
4. Ralph W. Bierer b. 2 Mar 1891 listed on Warren Co. VA Birth Registry

The last two could have been born in McKay house once possessed by Andrew McKay.

On L.D.S computer bank for John M. Bierer's family back to Germany. No information about his wife Susan Painter's family.

I do not know if it would be helpful to contact the researcher to see what he knows about the family living in Robert S. McKay's house in Cedarville, VA.