The Wars of the Roses

I've just discovered that most of the principals in the English Wars of the Roses were either my ancestors, uncles, or first cousins. The histories use their titles or nicknames so it wasn't apparent that some people were related to me.

More to come later.

Renicks in West Virginia and Pennsylvania

I'm trying to find positive proof that the Renicks in the South Branch Valley of West Virginia came from Paxtang Township, Pennsylvania.

I know that my McNeills went from Pennsylvania to West Virginia and that the Renicks were closely associated with them.

The best proof I have so far is from Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, Volume I, COUNTY COURT JUDGMENTS, AUGUSTA COUNTY, pages 299-300. MAY AND AUGUST, 1748.

Renich vs. Holmes.--James Murray recovered vs. Thomas Renich in the Common Pleas at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1744. Judgment on a note by Thomas Renick, John Holmes and others, to James Murray, dated 31st December, 1741.

and page 304, AUGUST, 1750 (C).

Samuel Smith vs. Beaty.--Mr. Michael Woods, formerly of Paxtunk, Pennsylvania. Account dated 1733. Thomas Renich, on 1st September, 1750, deposed: About 8 years ago, at his own house, he saw and spoke with said Smith and Robert Buchanan, the then Sheriff of Lancaster County. He heard Smith (then merchant at Connoy) say, &c., several accounts: ... All sworn to by Samuel Smith, late of County of Lancaster, before a Justice, in Philadelphia, 13th October, 1743.

John Brown, Jr. and III

John Jr. is my 5th great-grandfather and III is my 4th great-grandfather.

I've changed the last name of III's second wife from Scott to Faren. This is per:

From "William Brown, English Immigrant of Hatfield and Leicester, Massachusetts and his Descendants, c 1669-1994," by Carol Willits Brown, Gateway Press, 1994, pg. 67:

Record of Deaths, Probate Court, Athens, County: Polly Brown, died April 25, 1870, aged 90 yrs. 6 mo. 7 days, widowed, died in Ames Twp.; born in Mass.; father, Noah Faren, no mother listed; color, white; cause of death, old age; place of residence, Ames Twp.

The above book also cites information from a book by Naomi Dodds Phillips, "Phillips-Dodds Family History" that states, "a circuit rider, as preachers were called then, told John Brown about a nice widow woman, Polly Scott Phillips, and later they were married..."
___________________________

Polly's third child, Eli Fearing Brown was probably named after Polly's family surname. It is unclear whether the spelling was Faren or Fearing.

Williams Washington Camp and Diannah Greer and daughter

I updated Williams Washington Camp and Giannah Greer. She was born 28 Nov 1806 Sumner Co., TN and died 18 Mar 1876 in Kimball, TX.

They had a daughter, Mary Wentworth Camp, born 24 Dec 1822 in Tuscaloosa, AL, married John Edmond Wray in Nauvoo, Jancock Co., IL on 12 May 1841, and died 24 Dec 1874.

My family in Lord Dunmore's War

I'm researching my extended family's involvement in Lord Dunmore's War.
See: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1035.html

I'll add comments with bits and pieces as I find them.

Two McNeill branches in West Virginia

Has anyone determined if there's a close connection between John McNeill, born 1721 in Frederick Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Van Meter, and my ancestor, John McNeill, born 1680 Coleraine, Northern Ireland, m. Elizabeth McNealus in Philadelphia?

The first John and his descendants settled in Pocahontas County, West Virginia while the second John and his descendants settled in Hardy County, West Virginia.

The family of the first John's wife, Van Meter, might be connected to the Van Meters of Hardy County, some of whom married Hardy County McNeill descendants.