The Family of Robert McCune of Cumberland County

THE FAMILY OF ROBERT McCu OF C E BERLAND Cou 1Y F rom the time of tts formation in 1750, Cumberland County had McCune families living in Hopewell Township. 1 Th y tended to u e ome of the ame given name .,which uggests familial relationships but compounds the research problem. The family of Robert McCune, Esquire, of Hopewell and Southampton town hip was finally uotangl d using deeds and Orphans' Court records. There are over one hundred head• tones in the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, outhampton Township, about a fourth of which mention the surname McCune. This problem focuses on a group of tombstones in do e pro imity to each other. 2 • Robert McCune, Departed this life Oct. 30, 1857 in the 63rd year of hi age.3 Elizabeth, wife of Robert McCune, departed this life Dec. 11, 1863, in the 70th year of her age. • In memory of Robert McCune, who departed this life August the 29th 1816, Aged 65 years. 4 Also Mary consort of Robert McCune, who departed this Ufe February the 4th 1837, aged 75 years. • Infant son of Robert & Elizabeth McCune, died [illegible] 1835. Infant daughter of Robert & Elizabeth McCune, died April 20, 1836. Infant son of Robert & Elizabeth McCune, died March 10, 1821. also infant daughter, died Aug. 4, 1834. • Sarah atharine daughter of Francis & Keziah Searight, died Feb. 12, 1853, Aged 11 months. • Mathew H. McCune, Died Dec. 18, 1864, Aged 37 years, 2 mo's. & 13 day . • Susan Kilbride, 68-3536 Makana Aloha Place, Waikoloa, HI 96738, is de cendcd from Robert McCune through his son Thomas. She has a degree in Biology from the Univ-ersiryof Colorado. She expresses her appreciation to Richard Sickman, a volunteer at the Hamilton Library, Cumberland County HiStorical ocicty, CarliSle,PcnnsyJv~ia, with whom she has been working for several years to sort out Robert McCune's family. 1 umberland County Tu ListS,1750-1850 (FHt. #21,087-104). 2 Transcriptions, with photographs of most of the stones, arc at frecpagc .history. rootswcb.com/- cemphooo/p~cumbcrland/southampton/mspc/m pc.html. 3 Tbeon•linc transcription erroncou ly gives the month of death as "Dec." 4 His birth date is often given as 1753, based on William Henry Egle, otes and Queries, Historical, Biographtcal, and Genealogical (Harrisburg: the author) 34(1899):170 or Belle McKinney Hays S-wopc,History of the Mtddle ~ng Presbyterian Church> Midale Sprin& Pennsylvania, 1838-1900 (Newville: Times Steam Printing House, 1900) 198 (www.HeritageQuest.com), both of which say ..McCune, Robe-rt, born 1753; died Augu t 29, 1816." The inscription on his tombstone, howc er, is de2r. Pennsylvania Genealogtcal Magaztne Vol. 44 (2006) 313 I. valued and divided into seven share , with each on getting one and onehalf hare and the daughters splitting the other two and one-half hare . The maternity of his sons is implied by his instruction that '"my aid three on hall keep the forementloned cow for the use of their mother." He referred to Lettlcia as his oldest daughter, indicated ome of the children were under age, and named his wife Mary and three sons as executors. 5 In the next year and a half, all four of Robert's daughters died, as shown by a deed 6 June 1818 in which sons John and Robert sold their rights in two tracts of their father' land to Thomas, " ubject to the dower of their said mother Mary McCune and the several legacies to their four i tcr then living all of which si ters has ince died intestati leaving no i ue And right of aid four sisters did descend as lap [lapsed?] legacie to the said Thomas Jo~ and Robert." 6 The censuses suggest Roben al o had two ons who predeceased him: • In 1790, there were two men named Robert McCune in Cumberland County, one apparently a couple with one son, the other with two sons [Thomas, John] and one daughter (Letticia}.7 • In 1800, there was only one Robert McCune, in Southampton Township. There were apparently three sons <10 [Robert, two died young], two daughters <10 [Keziah, EUzabeth), two sons 10<16 [Thomas, John]. and one daughter 16<26 [Letticia). 8 • In 1810 the family of Robert McCune Esqr apparently included one son 10<16 [Robert], three sons 16<26 [Thomas, John, one died young], one daughter <10 (Mary Ann], one daughter 10<16 {Elizabeth], and two daughters 16<26 [Lettice, Kessiah]. 9 During his residence in Cumberland County, Robert owned r 1 I r everal 2006 Robert McCune, Cumberland County • 11 December 1787. Robert McCune of Hopewell Township purch acres in Hopewell Township, part of Speedwell, from William and M for £100. The property adjoined John Brady, Rob rt Hathorn, Georg amuel Sellers, and William Alexander. James MCCunc was a witncss. 10 • 7 May 1788. Robert purchased a warrant for 28 acres in Hopewell To from the Commonwealth of Pennsytvania. 11 The survey, made 19 Ma acres, shows the land bounded northwest and northeast by George CJ r southwest by property of Robert McCune. The 30 March 1830 patcnc property in Hopewell Township, granted to Thomas McCune, referen ert's will and states that the land was left to John, Robert, and Thomas, d t John and Robert had released their rights to Thomas. 12 • 30 April 1790. In his will Robert Hawthorn of Hopewell left to "Robert McCune my Stepson ten acre of land adjoining sd Robert MCCunc's plantation beg.inning at George Clark's corner & running sd ten acres north of sd Robert McCunc's orchard." 13 • 24 April 1812. Robert MCCunc Esquire of Southampton Town hip purchased land for $4,404.53 from John Lcyde and Elizabeth his wife (in right of the aid Elizabeth formerly Glen), Robert Glen and Elizabeth hi wife, John Wright and Margaret his wife (in right of the said Margaret formerly Glen), Thomas Glenn, and Leticia Glenn, heirs of Moses Glenn late of Southampton Township. The 125 acres 135 perches is described thusly: Whereas a Robert Hathorn [owned) land in Southampton Township, 274¥• acre beside two lots sold and given off the ame, and in his will he gave one moiety or half part to John Mccollum and the other half part to Moses Glen. McCollum and Glen partitioned the land 20 March 1794, recorded in L:334;John McCollum and wife Margaret released 137 acres and 60 perches (as de cribcd in the partition deed) and Moses Glenn old 15 acres to Patrick Hasson and died intestate leaVing [names as above). Adjoining owners were Timothy Ryan's heirs.James Hathorn, Robert Clark, Rudolph Myers and John McCollum. 14 • On 22 March 1816, a few months before his death, Robert McCune Esquir purchased for $188.03 a tract of 22 acres and 106 perches in Dickinson Town• hip, Land held by Major James Woodburn, innkeeper of Newville, as guardian of the minor children of Alex Glenn deceased, late of Dickinson Township, part of a larger tract belonging to Thomas Glenn, deceased. 15 In 1798 Roben's lot was described as being 200 acres, near the J1 nd Conrad Coyier, with a 21'x3 209 (microfilm at Hamilton library). The 716, Warrant Registers, 1682-1950, Pent • t Pennsylvania State Archives). at Pennsylvania State Archives) . . (microfilm at Hamilton Libr~ry) •548-50 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). J hr owlcdged in Washington County. 8:609, and Orphan • Court Docket 5:458- tate 316 Pennsylvania GenealogtcaJ Magazine Vol. 44 house, a 60'x24' log barn, and a 18'x20' log still hou e.16 Toe fir t three lots listed above would total 196 acres, suggesting they were combined to create the homeplace Robert m ntioned in his will. In the 1812 deed above, nor lation hip i uggested between Robert McCune and· the heirs of Mo Glenn (and the price paid was substantial), but this wa followed by the 1816 purchase connected to the Glenn family. There i an additional connection. The will of Moses Glenn of outhampton, written 10 October 1797, name wife Lettice and childr n EHzabeth, Matthew, Robert, Peggy, Thomast Lettice, and Alexander Glenn. Executor were Robert McCune and Alexander Glenn, no relationships stated. 17 Investigation in Orphans' Court records delineate the r lationships and identifies Robert's wife. 18 On 14 February 1815, Thomas Glenn, eldest son and heir-at-law of Thomas Glenn, late of Dickin on Township yeoman, requested a partition of a 27-acre tract. He stated: Thomas Glenn had died intestate since 1794, leaving a widow, since deceased, and four [sic] children: Thomas, the petitioner and eldest son; Mary, intermarried with Robert McEwen; the children of his son Moses who died intestate in the lifetime of Thomas, leaving issue Eliubcth in e intermarried with John Lidie, Letitia since intermarried with John McDonaugh, Margaret since intermarri d with John Wright; Robert; and Thomas {sic]; and the children of Alexander Glenn, who died intest.ate ince Thomas, leaving issue Elizabeth, Thomas, and Sarah. l 9 "Robert McCune, Esquire, and Mary, his wife, in right of said Mary" r ceiv d a portion of Thomas Glenn's estate. 20 The description of Robert McCune as Robert Hawthorn's stepson in his 1790 will is baffling. Normally it would suggest that Robert McCune's mother had, as a widow, married Robert Hawthorne. At his dea~ Hawthorn' wife was named Sarah, but she was apparently the widow Sarah (Lamond) Davison, whom he married shortly before his death. 21 His earlier wife or wives have not been identified. Hawthorn's will, of which Rob rt McCune was ole executor, left £50 to Adam Hawthorn (no r lation hip tated; he was a freeman-single adult-on the 1778 tax roll). Sarah received what was specified in their marriage contract. The remaining estate was divided equally between ..my son John McCollum" (shown 16 Wilbur J. McEl'Mlin, United States Direct Tax of 1798/or Cumberland Co. (Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, 1994), 179. 17 Cumberland County Wills f:85 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). Moses is repeatedly referred to as dying intestate, but he wrote a will. If the will was somehow nawcd, that would be considered a.n intestacy. Mathew and Alexander apparently di~ between 1790 and 1812. 18 She has been incorrectly identified as Mary Brewer(DAR patriot index). 19 Cumberland County Orphans' Court Docket 5:458-59 (microfilm at Hamilton Li- brary). 2 ° Cumberl2nd County Orphans' Court Docket 5:522-25 (microfilm at Hamilton Li• brary). 21 Sec wc.RootsWeb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op•GET&db"'northernlights&id .. (0463 for a discussion of thi.s. 2006 Robert McCune, Cumberland County 317 above to be married to Margaret), and my son Moses Glen" (probably married to Lettice). Thus, Robert Mc une was related to Robert Hawthorn by marrlage-McCune's wife Mary Glenn was the ister of Moses Glenn, Hawthorn's son-in-law. Perhaps Hawthorn used the term stepson as a generic catchall for ktnsman and there was no do er rdationship. 22 Another possibly should be con idered. Why would Hathorne give ten acre to uch a relative? He also gave land to his sons.in-law, whom he called sons. I it po ibl that McCun had been married to Hathorne's daughter and that he had died-another difficult-to-describe relationship? peaking against this are the two reference above to Mary as th mother of his sons, although these might have be n a convenience to refer to the biological mother of one who had raised the other two from early childhood. A 2003 transcript of Re . Cooper' marriages at Middle pring Presbyterian Church lists a .marriage in July of l 794 between "[illegible] McCune & Mary [illeglblel." 23 The image of the marriage record u ed for that transcript was reexamined to see if the possibility that Robert McCune married Mary Glenn in 1794 could be substantiated-or refuted. The entry ay RobeMcCune. Mary's surname, with less certainty, might be Gle[illegiblel. SON THOMAS MCC NE AND WIVES SARAH AND JANE AN The wives and children of Thomas, apparently the eldest on of Robert, Esquire, were fairly easy to find. While there are many McCune in Cumberland County, the given name Thomas is not one that the local McCune families used often. Thomas McCune is buried in the hippensburg Spring Hill Cemetery next to his two wive , Sarah Fulton and Jane Ann Neely, whose maiden name ar giv n on their tones. 24 His marriage on 7 October 1822 to Sarah Fulton i recorded at Big Spring Presbyterian Church. 25 Their three children were baptized at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church. 26 After Sarah's death, Thomas married Jane Ann Neely. Their childr n were baptized at the United Presbyterian Church, Shippen burg. 27 22 Identifying Roben's puents with certainty requires Orting out all eighteenth• century McCunes ln Cumberland County, which is beyond the scope of this anicle. 2 3 Charle Arthur Lawton, •Marriages by the Reverend Ro~rt Cooper, 1786-94, Middle Springs Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County," PGM 43(2003):36. Other transcripts of this record have not included the husband's surname, but it is clear. 24 "~mctery & Necrology Records CompUed from Jere(miah] Zeamer Records, Genealogical Section, State Library, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania," (rypescript at Pennsylvania State Library by HeJen I. Harman, OAR Genealogical Records Committee), 100. 25 Gilbert Ernest Swope, History of the Big Spring United Presbyterian Church, Newville, Pa., 1737-1898 (Newville: Times Steam Printing House, 1898), 86 (www. Herit:ageQuest.com). 26 Swope, MtddJe Spring Presbyterian Church (note 4), 91, 92, 94. 2 "United Presbyterian Church, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Cumberland Co. Records, 1828-1872," 18, 20, 21, 22 (roll 6, file 312, microfilm at Hamilton Library). 318 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 44 An 1854 Orphans' Court record concerning the division of Thomas's property after his death lists Jane Ann McCune widow of the intestate and children Robert F. McCune, Mary A. intermarried with Joseph A. Stewart, James N. McCune, Thomas B. [sic 28 ] McCune, Margaretta McCune, Catherine E. McCune, William B. McCune, and Sarah J. McCune. The description of one of. the pieces of property being partitioned matches property belonging to Thomas's father Robert. 29 SON ROBERT MCCUNE AND WIFE ELIZABETH Robert McCune [the son] wrote his will 11 July 1853, leaving everything to his wife Elizabeth and son Mathew Henry. He named son James as executor, but did not mention other children. 30 Mathew was apparently retarded, as the 1850 census records him as "idiot," explaining why Robert bypassed his other children in his will. 31 We learn of the rest of his children through a deed. On 9 March 1866 Henry Sheaffer purchased property from Johll: Stuart and wife Jemima and Francis W. Searight and wife Keziah, all of Southampton. The land is described as part of the tract patented by William Barr and held by "Robert McCune, Sr. (the father of Robert McCune. Jr.)." Robert McCune Ur.] had made no residual provisions for his estate after the deaths of Elizabeth and Mathew. This informative deed lists Robert's heirs: his wife Elizabeth and children Dr. James McCune, Mathew McCune, Jemima K. (now wife of John Stuart, Jr.), and Keziah (now wife of Frances Searight). It also reports that Robert Junior's wife Elizabeth died "on or about the 11th day of December AD 1863," that Mathew died intestate and without issue in December 1864, and that Dr. James McCune and his wife had conveyed his interest in the estate to John Stuart, Jr., on 6 April 1865, and that it was all subject to $577.17 interest payable to Mrs. Sarah McCune every 1 April. 32 The identification of Robert's wife came from a Searight genealogy, which says "On February 14, 1850 [Francis William Searight] married Keziah McCune, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Kyle) McCune, who was born near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1829."33 The book is undocumented, but Keziah was still living in 1893 to have supplied the 28 Although the text says "Thomas B.," the signature is "John T. Stuart atty in fact for T. H. McCune." His initial is Hon other records for him found by the author. Sarah signed as "Sadie," Catherine E. signed as "Lizzie C." 29 Cumberland County Orphans' Court Docket 13:365 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). 30 Cumberland County Wills M:520 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). 31 Robert McCune household, 1850 Census, Southampton Township, Cumberland County, page 173, #188/199 (NARA M432, roll 772). 32 Cumberland County Deeds 2T:2 l (microfilm at Hamilton Library). This Sarah was the widow of Robert's brother John. 33James A. Searight, A Record of the Searight Family (A~o Written Seawright) Established in America by William Seawright (Uniontown: the author, 1893), 47-48 (www. HeritageQuest.com). 2006 Robert McCune,. Cumberland County 319 information, 34 and the dates are consistent with the 1850 census, which states "married within the year."35 SON JOHN MCCUNE AND WIFE SARAH The clues in deeds to the family of John are not as easy to follow as the ones for Robert Junior, but they are there to find. In a deed dated 2 May 1828, John McCune and wife Sarah sold to Henry Wingler property described in the deed as land held by his father, Robert McCune Esqr., who bequeathed all his real estate to his sons Robert, Thomas, and John. 36_The administration of his estate was granted to Robert McCune 29 January 1829. 37 In a series of Orphans' Court records from 1830 through 1835, it becomes clear that John left a widow, Sarah, and four living minor children when he died-Susan, Robert, Elizabeth, and John Alexander. Eleven acres that Robert bought from James Woodburn in 1816 was sold to pay debts and educate John's minor children.3 8 GENEALOGICALSUMMARY was born about 1750/51 (calculated from tomb39 stone). He died 29 August 1816, aged 65. He married first say 1784. He married second probably July 1794 MARY GLENN, who was born about 1761/62 (calculated from tombstone), daughter of Thomas Glenn. Mary died 4 February 1837, aged 75 years. They are buried together in Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Southampton Township, Cumberland County. 1. ROBERT McCUNE Children of Robert McCune, later children by Mary Glenn: i. LETI1CE MCCUNE, born say 1785; died between 11 May 1816 and 6 June 1818. ii. THOMAS McCUNE, born 27 February 1788 and died 7 May 1845; married first 7 October 1822 at Big Spring Presbyterian Church SARAH FULTON, who was born 9 November 1797 and died in 1828; married second between 1828 and 1831 JANE ANN NEELY, who was born 10 December 1807 and died 7 June 1880; they are all buried at Spring Hill Cemetery, Shippensburg. In 1850 the widow and children were in Southampton Town34 Keziah Searight household, 1900 Census, Carlisle, Cumberland County, sheet 75A (NARA T623, roll 1400). She lists her birth as May 1829, and states that she has had twelve children, seven surviving; two of her unmarried daughters were residing with her. 35Francis Searight household, 1850 Census, South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, page 155, #303/316 (NARAM432, roll 772). 36 Cumberland County Deeds IRR: 178- 79 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). 37 Cumberland County Index to Wills and Administrations (microfilm at Hamilton Library). 38 Cumberland County Orphans' Court Docket 9:24, 26, 70, 218, 249, 478 (microfilm at Hamilton Library). 39 Robert McCune appears as a freeman on the 1776 and 1778 tax rolls of Hopewell Township, suggesting he may have been born as late as 1755. pone p t 1 ... Children of Thomas and Jane Ann (Neely) McCune, recorded at the United Preslzyterlan Church, Shtppensburg:44 4. James Neely McCune, born 3 April 1832, baptized 6 September; died 18 October 1883, buried at Spring Hill 5. Thomas H. McCune, born 20 October 1833, baptized 26 eptember 1834. 6. Adaline Elizabeth McCune, born 23 Augu t 1835, baptized 11 September; buried at pring Hill, no date on tombstone, but church register says she died of sca.rlet f[ever] 19 July 183[illegtble). 7. Margaretta McBcthMcCunc, baptized 8 February 1838, birth date not recorded. 8. Catharine/Kate Elizabeth McCune, baptized October 1840, birth date not recorded. 9. Wllllam Buchanan McCune, born 14 November 1841, baptized 11 April 1842. 10. Sa.rahJane Montgomery McCune, born 26January 1844, baptized 28 July. iii JOHN MCCUNE.,born say 1790; died between 2 May 1828 (deed) and 29 January 1829 (administration). He married by say 1820 (four minor chil· dren in 1828) the mother of his older children. John McCune married 26 45 At March 1818 at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church ELIZABETHGLE.N. his death John was married to SARAH-?-. 46 40 J. A. Mc une hou~hold, 1850 Census, Southampton Township, umbcdand County, page 175, #214/226 (NARA M432, roll 772). Robert and James arc shown with middle initial "A." 41 Jane A. McCune household, 1880 Census, Southampton Township, Cumberland l n1 tr l ,, m 1 2006 Robert McCune, Cumberland County 321 Children of John McCune: 1. Susan McCune. 2. Robert McCune. 3. Elhabetb McCune, born after 15 April 1818 (under 14 on 15 April 1832). 4. John Alexander McCun.e, born 21 ApriJ 1829 (posthumous), baptized 12 eptembcr 1830 at Btg Spring United Presbyterian Church, Newville. 47 iv. ROBERTMcCuNE., born about 1793/94 (tombstone) or 1795/96 (1850 ccnsu and death notice); died 30 October 1857;48 married by say 1819/20 (child buried in 1821) ELIZABETH KYLE, who was born about 1792/93 (tombstone) or 1794/95 (1850 census) and died 11 December 1863. Both arc buried in Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Children of Ro1>ertand Elizabeth (Kyle) McCune: 1. son, died in infancy 10 March 1821,·buried at Middle Spring. 2. James McCune, born say 1824 (named first in deed); living in 1866; referred to as "Dr." 3. Mathew Henry McCune, born 5 October 1827 (caJculated from tombstone); died 18 December 1864, buried in Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery. 4. Jemima K. McC~ne, born about 1826/27 (1850 census) living in 1866; married by 1850JohnStuart. 49 5. Kaiah McCune, born 15 May 1829; living in 1880;SOmarried 14 February 1850 Francis William Searight, bom 1 February 1827, died 8 August 1888. 6. daughter, died in in.fancy 4 August 1834, buried at Middle Spring. 7. son, died in infancy 1835, buried at Middle Spring. 8. daughter, died in infancy 20 April 1836, buried at Middle Spring. v. KEZIAH/KESSIAH McCUNE, born say 1790-1800; died between 11 May 1816 and 6 June 1818. vi. ELIZABETHMcOJNE. born say 1790-1800; died between 11 May 1816 and 6June 1818. vii. son born say 1790-1794; died before 1810. viii. son born say 1795-1800; died before 1816. ix. MARYANN McCUNE, bom say 1801; died between 11 May 1816 and 6 June 1818. 47 "UnJted Presbyterian Church, Shippensburg" (note 27), 16. 48 The notice of his death in the newspaper, 12 ovembcr 1857, says "Died at h1s residence in Southampton Township, on Friday the 30th ult., Mr. Robert McCune, aged about 62 years," (Mary Anne Capell Wilson, Marriages and Deaths from the American Democrat [Carlisle, PA] Newspaper, 1851-1858 [Apollo, Pa.: Closson Press, 1998), 85). 49 John Stuart household, 18S0 Census, South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, page 154, 1'291/304 (NARAM432, roll 772). 50 F. W. Searight household, 1880 Cen us, Southampton Township, Cumberland County, page 276D (NARA T9, roll 1122).