MacKENNEY CONNECTIONS ??? by Linda Sparks Starr APR 1996 [The McKENNEY surname in all its differing spellings keeps crop ping up in the research of other allied lines. This may well prove to be a dead end, but I've decided to present all the _relevant_ info gathered so far on this one surname. Can all these ties to extended CLARK family be only coincidental? Is fur ther research on this surname warranted? In the following, I'm citing my sources by using symbols with each entry. I've simplified the patent records by using the Patent Book numbers rather than volume numbers. The complete title is _Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of VA Land Patents and Grants_ by Nell Marion Nugent. (%) _Colonial Wills of Henrico Co. VA, part one 1677-1737, (with Misc Documents beginning 1654), by Benjamin Weisiger, 1976. (#) _Henrico Co. VA Deeds 1677-1705_, by Benjamin Weisiger, 1986 (*) _Charles City Co. VA Court Orders 1687-1695 (with fragment for 1680)_ by Benj. Weisiger, 1992 Chamberlayne's _Vestry of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co, VA 1684-1786_ is shortened to St. Peter's Parish; ditto his abstracts of Blisland and St. Paul's vestry books. LSS] Alexander MacKenney He first appears with Capt. Christopher Clark in this entry from St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co: 14 JUN 1698: Allexander MACKENEY producing order of court ... asks help for clearing roads in his precinct, [it] is ordered these familys following viz: Christopher CLARKE, Thomas Stanley, Edw CLARKE, Thomas Wharton, Nicholas Purde, Will Martin, John Mar- tin, Will Beetes, Thomas Harris, Edmond Harris, Burnell Chapell, Martin Martin, Thomas Delahay, John Aldrige, Michaell JOHNSON, John Jones, Thomas Moss, Sam Moss, John Willmore, Jarrat, Robert Ellison, Francis Amos Prior to this, Alexander was living in nearby Henrico Co. Book 7: Alex Mackenny 296 acres 3 R, 19 P, Henrico Co, north side James adj Mr. Tho Cock and Mr. Jno Watson near Cedar Branch fall ing into White Oake Branch near New Kent road along line of Wal ton 20 OCT 1688 granted Thomas Wells ... deserted ... from cert granted by Mr. E. Chilton to Mr. Lanct Bathhurst 7 APR 1687 Mr. Jno WATSON is the father-in-law of Michael JOHNSON who appears in the N K Co. road order list with Alex. and Capt. Xpher. Although the exact relationship between Michael and Edward Johnson is unknown, in 1698 Michael is located where we "expected" Edward, Penelope's father, to be. Later her brother, Thomas, is located among these same neighbors. Dick Baldauf and his fellow researcher, Susan, think Michael is too old (born no later than 1668) to be Edward's son. Currently they are looking at Daniel Johnson of Henrico Co. as a possible father for this Michael whose own son, Daniel, was bapt. 1699, St. Peter's parish. Michael moves on to Henrico Co. # p439 Alexander (circled +) MacKENEY of Henrico Co ... to bro Roger COMEINGS and Mary his wife 40 acres bounded by my land, John WATSON, William Porter Sr. 4 MAY 1687 Roger Comeings doesn't appear to be significant, but he did patent land 21 OCT 1687 [Book 7] with Mr. Robert Woodson, Mr. Richard Ferris, Mr. Giles Carter and Wm Ferris at White Oak Swamp in Henrico Co. Rhoda Fone adds that Comeings d. before 1 JUN 1690 without paying for his portion, so neither he, nor his widow, rec'd benefits from this patent. # p440 William Porter Sr. to Alexander MecKeney 80 acres east side branch of Western Run next to where Meckeney hath now begun to seat, part of patent 1 APR 1684 ... next to John Wason 4 MAY 1687, wit: Lyonell MORRIS, Roger (R) COMEINGS, Tho Charles In 1689 Lyonell Morris is living adjacent Edward JOHNSON (who is not living where we would expect Penelope's father to be) in St. Peter's, New Kent Co. # p441 1 JUN 1687 Thomas Cocke Sr. ... to Alexander MecKENEY for good causes 100 acres on Chickahominy Swamp next to land John Pleasants bought of sd Cocke. 50 acres was given in lieu of my bro Richard Sr. and other 50 my own. wit: Wm Randolph, G. Webb # p55 Alexander Mekenny to Humphrey Smith my right in 900 acres 30 MAY 1689 endorsed on a conveyance from Mr. Thos Cocke Sr. Mary Mekeney reling dower 1 JUN 1689. Book 8: Alexander MacKENEY 640 acres Henrico Co in Varina parish on north side James River 21 APR 1690 beg at Sam'l Bridgewater on Gilley's Creek to Josha Step and Dan'l Jonson This Dan'l JONSON is the one Dick and Susan are looking at as possible father of Michael JOHNSON. % Alexander McKENEY witnessed the will of John Pleasants (recorded in court 1 OCT 1690 -- by the deceased himself who didn't die for several more years.) John Pleasants was a well known Quaker; his widow became a traveling missionary. This SUG- GESTS that Alexander was a Qauker. Dick Baldauf confirms it by finding a notation where Alexander was later disowned. # p214 Alexander MaKENNY to James Cocke ... land north side James 296 acres formerly patented by Thos Wales and deserted 1 AUG 1691, wit: Dan'll JOHNSON, James ( ) MORE. Mary reling dower # p237 James Cocke, now of Charles City Co., to Alexander MAKENNY north 1/2 of 296 acres north side James River 1 OCT 1691 wit: All. CLERKE, Tho Edwards Weisiger notes in the forward to one of the later Henrico Co. or Chesterfield Co. abstracts that there are two Alan- son / Ellyson Clarks in the county; he adds it will be impossible to tell them apart for there appears to be no consistency in spelling of either given name. # p256 Edward MATHEWS for 3000 lb tobo to Alexander MAKENNY 100 acres near plantation where I dwell bounded by Bayley's Brook, John Ladd's place called Claytons 1 DEC 1691 wit: Ben Hatcher, John Cox, Sarah (--) MATHEWS, Sarah reling dower # p455 Alexander MAC KENNY ... to Agnes TANDY, dau of John dec'd, 75 acres north side James River near falls, part of my patent below Powhite path on north side Gilly's Creek. If Agnes dies without issue, to her sister Anne 20 DEC 1693, wit: Benja CLARK, Thomas MASSIE # p456 Alex. MacKENNY ... to Anne TANDY ...upper end of sister Agnes's tract ... ditto The fun begins. A discussion on Benjamin Clark's possible relationship to Capt. Christopher might be in order, but belongs elsewhere. This land is located in Henrico Co., but very close to the New Kent Co. line. Rhoda Fone, a friend of Dave Goodwin, provides the following on Thomas MASSIE. She thinks this Thomas is the son of the immigrant Peter. Thomas MASSIE married Mary WALKER and Rhoda thinks Anne TANDY married his brother, Sylvanus WALKER. Some researchers believe Ed- ward JOHNSON's wife, Elizabeth, was a WALKER. (This how- ever has not been proved.) The forward to Blisland Parish shows Peter MASSIE signed the 1677 grievance list along with Edward JOHNSON, Thomas MOORMAN and Thomas MIMS whose descendants married into Michael JOHNSON's line. # p482 Allax Ander MECKENNY of Henrico to Humphry Smith land next to William Porter Jr. and land given Thomas MECKENEY by above Alex. being plantation where Alex. formerly dwelt 40 acres, part of 80 acres purchased from William Porter Sr. 1681. 1 APR 1694 wit: William Norris, Anne Davis, John WOODSON Sr. (When we get to the Barbadoes McKeneys, we'll find an Alexander with a son Thomas there as well.) # p528 John Mackmiell to friend Alexander MACKENNY of Henrico, his atty, 14 NOV 1694 wit: Tho. Topping, Anne (A) Davis, Will'm (N) Norris # p544 I, Alexander (circled +) MECKENNY do intend to depart and leave this county and inhabit in New Kent the next year 1 FEB 1694 # p643 Alexander (circled +) MEKENNEY of New Kent Co ... to William Mackgehee of same ... 200 acres Henrico bounded by river and Dam Bridgewater wit: Gideon Macon, Mary Swan [not dated, but recorded 1 AUG 1696] # p659 Alexander (circled +) MECKENEY of New Kent Co ... to John Bottome of Henrico 100 acres near plantation where Edward MATHEWS dwells, bounded by Baylys Brook and John Lad's place ... 10 JUL 1696 wit: Robert WOODSON Jr., Charles Stuard, Mary reling dower Alexander MacKENEY's name along with Christopher and/or Edward Clark appears in every processioners list for St. Paul's Parish from JAN 1706/6 through 1719. Alexander and Christopher Clark were appointed overseers in most of those early years. Michael JOHNSON appears with them in 1698 (St. Peter's), but Thomas JOHNSON, probable brother of Penelope, joins them in 1706/7. John MacKENEY The adjacent county to the southeast of Henrico Co. is Charles City Co. where we find another MeKENEY closely connected to a CLARK. Any kinship with Alexander and Capt. Xpher has not been determined. * 4 FEB 1688: Court is of opinion what est remains of Elizabeth HILMAN's after debts, to be divided between Jno MEKENNY and Mary, his sister, now wife of Tho. CLARKE This Thomas Clarke appears in Charles City Co. records before and after 1689 when a Thomas Clarke appears on St. Peter's processioning list adjacent Theop. WATSON (relationship if any to John not known) and near John SNEAD whose descendants intermarried with Michael JOHN- SON's line. * 3 AUG 1688: Adm granted Jno. MEKENNY on est Eliz HILLMAN, widow, to whom sd MEKENNY is kin * 3 DEC 1688: Jno Burge shows by petition Jno HILLMAN died and left an heir, Tho. HILLMAN, whom he gave legacy; Thomas died in minority. Burge prays court whether Thomas's legacy now belongs to Dorothy and Elizabeth HILLMAN, als. Symons, daus of Sam. HILLMAN, the brother of said Jno dec'd. Court's opinion is Thomas had no claim on est Jno HILLMAN until he came of age; thus legacy belongs to widdow. * OCT 1688: Tho and Ellianore HILLMAN, execs of Ja Blaymore vs Jno MEKENNY adm est Eliz. HILLMAN, referred to next court. 18 DEC 1688: Judgment granted Harrisons ... * 4 FEB 1689: Jno MEKENNY attended as evidence for Fra. Reeve agst jno Hunt 2 days * 3 APR 1694 Adm John Freman, late Westover Parish, is granted Barbara Freeman, relict, with security John MACKENY, John Word * 4 jUN 1694 surveyors of creeks to see they are cleared of debris -- John Ecles and John MACKENY for Herrin Creek * 3 AUG 1694 John MACKENY and Thomas Woodham security for Jonas Liscomb to bring orphan to court * 3 DEC 1694: John Word and John MAKENY appears as wit: in Huck- aby suit The only entry in Nugent's index for John MacKENNY -- rec'd 450 acres Isle of Wight and Nansemond co. 20 APR 1694, escheated from Michael MacKENNY .... William MacKeney * 18 DEC 1688 Judgment granted Col. Nath'l Bacon, adm agst Wil liam MEKENNY for 378 lb tobo ... * 15 SEP 1691: Thomas Huckuby having sworn peace agt William MEKENNY, the sheriff is to take Mekenny into custody Is this the same Huckaby suit John McKeney was a wit- ness in? * 10 NOV 1691: Court Levy: to William Forrest and William MEKENNY for attending Tho. Bankes a day and a night 80 lb tobo Barbadoes MacKeneys Moving on to Barbadoes where the 1715 census (per _Barbadoes and America_, by David ________ ) shows only one family lived between a Christopher Clarke and a John MacKenny. This may be the same Jno. McKinney who married Ann Heard, wido, 11 DEC 1715 in St. Michael's Parish per _Barbadoes Records_, by Joanne Sanders. This latter book also provides us with the other father / son, Alexander and Thomas: Alexander MacKenny's will, dated 2 NOV 1681, names wife Susannah and son Thomas. His executor was Ar thur Collins. Witnesses were Daniel Moerikell, John Mullineux and Francis Ball. The will was probated 18 NOV 1681. Dick Baldauf would remind us that "Collins" is a name given to child (born 8 SEP 1741) of Benjamin JOHNSON and Agnes CLARK (dau of Capt. Christopher). We also should remember that records sug gest Margaret Clark "thought to be Capt. Christopher's grandmother" married secondly Charles COLLINs in Barbadoes in 1682.