John McKinney John McKINNEY was born in North Carolina 13 Dec 1770 according to his tombstone. His parents are believed to be John and Margaret MCKINNY because John sells land that originally belonged to John Sr. He married Temperance _______ about 1790 but no marriage record has been found She was born 8 Dec1774 as figured from her tombstone.
In Deed book D page 135 dated 26 Jan 1795, John McKinny deeds to James Roach 200 acres of land on both sides of Little Rockhouse Creek. Wit: A. Phillipi and Joseph Sheet.
Deed book E page 222 dated 4 September, 1797 shows John McKinny deeding more land to James Roach. "This indenture made 4 September 1797, County of Rockingham for consideration of a sum of 80 lbs Virginia currency to him in hand paid by the said James Roach a certain parcel of land lying on the waters of Little Rockhouse Creek of the Dan River. Beginning at a black oak thence to a hickory, etc., thence East cropping Little Rockhouse Creek 192 poles to a black oak thence North cropping two brances 300 poles to a port oak thence West 192 poles to about Mary Elliot's line thence South on her line on vacant land cropping Little Rockhouse Creek thence 334 poles to the first station. Wit: Andrus Robertson, Abner Overbay, James Fitzgerald. Signed John McKiny." A pole is equal to one rod in linear measure, 16 1/2 feet. This is the same land that John's father received in his land grant.
John and Temperance are shown in the Federal Census Of Rockingham Co for 1800 with two sons and two daughters all under the age of 10.
In 1802 John McKinny deeded some land to Henry McKinny. This is also on Little Rock House Creek. It is possible this Henry McKinny is a younger brother to John since the 1790 census listed John McKinny, Sr. with male under 16. He is not however listed in the will of John Sr. or Margaret.
John and his family were still living in Rockingham Co., NC in 1810. Their family included 4 males under 26 and 3 females under 26.
They traveled through Tennessee sometime between 1815 and 1825. It has not been established where exactly they lived in that state. It is known that John's sister, Elizabeth, married Nicholas Overby and moved from NC to Sumner Co., TN in 1806. In 1823 the Overby's moved to Maury Co., TN. John's daughter, Sarah, was married to Thomas Elliot in 1824 in Williamson Co., TN so they must have been living somewhere in that area but no census record has been found for 1820 for their family.
About 1829 they moved to Sangamon Co., IL. They are found on the 1830 census in that county with with two boys and two girls between the ages of 5 and 15. Some of their children were married in Sangamon Co., IL as well. In 1835 they start to appear in the records for SW Wisconsin. They appear in census records in WI as a couple until 1850 when John is living with his daughter, Sarah and husband Thomas Elliott in Richland Co., WI. Temperance died in 8 Dec 1840 and John died 22 Feb 1851. They are both buried in a small family plot on the Roger Bailie farm in South Lancaster Twp, WI.
The following are believed to be children of John and Temperance for the following reasons. John was living with Sarah's family in 1850. A newpaper article on one of John, Jr.'s son's refers to a cousin, Joseph Elliott. This was Sarah and Thomas Elliott's son. John and Temperance were buried on the land of Joseph McKinny along with Joseph's first wife, Susan.
- John McKINNEY, Jr. b. ca 1798 in NC. m. 1)Harriet ANDERSON 16 May 1822 in Williamson Co., TN. m. 2)Mary STOUT in 1835 in Sangamon Co., IL. d. 2 Mar 1881 in WI and is buried in Muscoda, Grant Co., WI
- Sarah McKinney b. 15 Mar 1800 m. Thomas ELLIOTT 26 Dec 1824 in Williamson Co., TN. Sarah d. 8 Jun 1864 in Richland Co., WI and is buried in Coumbe Cemetery.
- Joseph McKINNY b. 23 Apr 1802 in Rockingham Co., NC m. 1) Susan OVERBY, his first cousin on 15 Jun 1825 in Sumner Co., TN. She died 8 Jun 1851 and he married 2) Anna (HULL) ROBBINS 1 Jan 1852. He died 12 Jan 1892 in Kaufman, Kaufman, TX
There are other McKinneys in the same area that are believed to be children of John and Temperance but no definitive proof has been found. They include: William, Charles, Temperance, Burrell and Elizabeth McKinney. They travel together, sign for each other, go to court together, live near each other, and names cross families. They may be other children as well since census records seem to indicate as many as 11 children all together. They may have stayed in NC, TN or IL or may have died young. Possible children include: Randolph, Jeremiah, Elizabeth and Judith. See Other Possible Children for more information on these families.
Most of this information has been gathered by Camden Meyer of Twin Falls, ID. He is a descendant of Joseph McKinny. Other sources include the 1790, 1800, and 1810 census records for Rockingham Co., NC, 1830 census records for Sangamon Co., IL and numerous starting in 1840 in Iowa, Grant, Richland and Crawford Co. in WI. Also used were newspapers articles on John S. McKinney (son of John, Jr.) and Randolph Elliott (son of Thomas and Sarah) and marriages from Rockingham Co., NC, Williamson Co., TN and Sangamon Co., IL. I would love to hear from anyone who might be able to tie these people together.