Who would you like to Meet?

 

2023 01 06  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks   Week 1  

Who would you like to Meet?

 

One of my most distant ancestors is James MacWithey, who is reported to have been in the "War of Restoration."  This war was fought because the Highland Scots who were in favor of restoring the throne to King Charles' heir, his son, Charles II, whom they felt to be the rightful king of England and Scotland. King Charles had been murdered in 1649 by English Puritans. The English forces of Cromwell did not want this.  The Scots, fighting with the Clan Donald forces under Montrose and General David Leslie,  suffered two terrible defeats at the hands of Cromwell’s forces. The first was at the Battle of Dunbar which took place on September 3, 1650 outside the Scottish town of that name.           

"Although the English forces numbered about 11,000 and the Scottish forces numbered over twice than many, the English won a surprising victory. Three thousand Scots were killed in the battle and many were captured. They were forced to march, wounded, weak, and hungry, down into England where they were thrown into prison and eventually dispersed to Ireland, Barbados, Virginia and Massachusetts and sold as indentured servants. A group of approximately 150 of the Dunbar prisoners were loaded on the ship Unity two months later, on November 11, 1650, and sent to Massachusetts, arriving there in early 1651. A list of the prisoners on the Unity has not survived." (Margaret Quivey DeMarco)

The second major crushing defeat for the Scots occurred deep within English territory at the city of Worcester a year after the Battle of Dunbar, on September 3, 1651. Many Scots were killed and prisoners were captured.  It was the "Battle of Worcester." 

Most MacWithey researchers believe one of the two following hypothesis: 

First:  He may be the "Rory Machy" who was brought to Boston as a Scottish prisoner, captured by Cromwell in the Battle of Worcester. The ship was the "John and Sarah"  of London, John Greene, Master, sailed from Gravesend on December 8, 1651, and arrived in Boston on May 13, 1652. The name James MacRory does not appear on the John and Sarah list, but there was a Rory Machy on the list as well as an Alester Mackrore. 

This John McRory served eight years as an indentured servant, as ordered by Parliament on October 20, 1651, possibly at the Saugus Iron Works (Robert Rich, Master).  The MacRory's were (according to various modern sources) supposedly a sept of Clan MacDonald of the Isles, located in Inverness and the Outer Hebrides. Also possibly of the Clan MacCuithean.  

Adding some weight to this hypothesis is that some of the names mentioned in the earliest Dedham "court" records are also names of Scots that are on the ships manifest of the "John and Sarah."   The names of John MacIntosh and Daniel Makiah, James MacNab, Neil Makiah, William MacCain, James Grant, along with that of "Jeam Macarory" ( p. James MacWithey?) appear in those records.  In fact, James' son, John m. Johanna MacIntosh. 

A second hypothesis is that our James MacWithey is this man: 

James M’Rorie/Mackerory/Mackerwithey/M'Withee arrived in New England as a Scottish prisoner of war on a ship named Unity. The Unity sailed in November 1650 from Gravesend, England and arrived at Charlestown, Massachusetts early in 1651. It held a cargo of around 150 Scots deported as prisoners of war after the Battle of Dunbar. (MacWithey on Wikitree)  A James M'Rorie (M'Withee) was #71 on George S. Stewart's Captured at Dunbar List.  (Battle of Dunbar:  The second major crushing defeat for the Scots occurred deep within English territory at the city of Worcester a year after the Battle of Dunbar, on September 3, 1651. Many Scots were killed and prisoners were captured. Some of the men in this shipment were sent to the Saugus Iron Works, some were consigned to Thomas Kemble, a lumber merchant in New Hampshire, and others were indentured in and around the Boston area and outlying towns.)

More than likely, our James served his indenture in Boston or in one of the surrounding towns.    The Reverend John Cotten, a minister in Boston, referred to these men in a letter to the Lord General Cromwell on August 28, 1651, "The Scots, whom God delivered unto your hands at Dunbar, and whereof sundry were sent hither, we have been desirous (as we could) to make their yoke easy. Such as were sick of the scurvy or other diseases have not wanted physick and surgery. They have not been sold for slaves to perpetual servitude, but for 6 or 7 or 8 years, as we do our own. We treat these prisoners as we do our servants. They are indentured for a term of six to eight years, furnished a house (four to a house), and some land. They work three days per week for their benefactor and the rest for themselves. When they have repaid the cost of their passage, they are free."  We can only hope that this is the type of treatment which James received.  I also hope that James was in fact a single man, as the thought of a famly left in Scotland, and the inability of James to be able to connect with them again is heartbreaking. 

So why, if James arrived in 1751 or 1752, don't we see his name in early records?  

Well, he would not have attended church or been allowed to marry or hold land until the end of his indenture. In the book, A New England Town - The First 100 Years, Kenneth A. Lockridge mentions a group of Scots who came to Dedham, "Thus a group of 6-8 Scotsmen settled in the 1660's without subscribing to the covenant. They were not warned out; They paid taxes, worked and even married in the community just as any townsmen, but they were, by implication, second class citizens." (P.81)  Perhaps they were considered second class because of having been indentured servants. 

And why is he so often referred to as James McRory McWithee?  The dual surnames of James  caused considerable problems in the research. A researcher wrote to the Scottish Genealogical Society and the Scots Ancestry Research Society in regard to the surnames, but was referred to the Scottish Tartan Society.  Dr. Micheil MacDonald's (an expert in Gaelic and clan histories) immediate reply stated that James had used both his Patronymic surname and his Clan surname. This was common practice among the Highlanders in Scotland.   

His Patronymic name in Gaelic was MacRuaidhri which is approximately MacRory in English, and his Clan surname was MacCuithien or MacCuidhean, which is equivalent to MacQuithy or MacWithy in English. The MacCuitheans lived near Storr on the Island of Skye. “Ruariadh Duadh Maccuithean was story teller to Lord MacDonald” about 1500, for which he had free lands for his services. “Campbell obtained one of his West Highland tales from Donald MacCuidhean.” In Kilmuir Parish,  MacQueen’s Township, there is a place called Baile Mhic Cuithein.

James MacRory appeared on the Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts tax list dated February 11,  1661

He also appears in Dedham, Massachusetts records on March 11, 1662/3: "At a meeting of selectmen of Dedham on March 11 1662/3 "James makurwitha moue for a parcell of Land beyond John Makintoches to the Value of 2 acres and 1/2 due to Rich Everit for purchase Land intendinge to build a hovse vpon it."

That same year, James was charged 2 shillings by the town as he was one of several inhabitants of Dedham who were "deffective in there highway work."  (Exact Date not given)

The next record of James is in 1662 when he married Mary Everitt: Joshua Fisher, "Clerke of ye Writts".   "James Makarory & Mary Eueritt was married 9 month, 62." Dedham Vital Records."   In 1662, the 9th month was November. (The RECORD OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS, AND INTENTIONS OF MARRIAGE, IN THE TOWN OF DEDHAM.  VOLUMES 1 & 2, 1635-1845, p. 8.  "James Makarory & Mary Euritt was married 9 month, 62.)

That he married Mary Everitt is again shown in the land records of Dedham.  She was born on September 28, 1638, and was 24 years old at the time of her marriage.  Her father, RIchard Everett, was one of the founders of Dedham.  Her mother was Mary Winch. 

At a meeting of selectmen of Dedham on March 11 1662/3 "James makurwitha moue for a parcell of Land beyond John Makintoches to the Value of 2 acres and 1/2 due to Rich Everit for purchase Land intendinge to build a hovse vpon it "(ibid 4:61) 

Mary MacRory was received into the Dedham church on the first day of the eighth month, 1665. Their infant daughter, Mary was baptized 15 days later. (Apparently James MacRory was not a member of the church for he was referred to as "Mackrory" --not "Brother Mackrory" in the records. Church members were referred to as "Brother" and "Sister." The same pattern can be seen in other families. The English wives became church members and had their children baptized, while the Scottish husbands usually did not -- at least in the beginning. It must be remembered that the Scots were either Presbyterians or Catholics.) 

At another meeting on 26 dec. 1665 "James Mackrorey coming and desireing the grant of 5 acres of vpland vpon the gift of his Father in lawe Richard Euered (Everett). being a right of land by him purchased of Danll Mackiah. who purchased the same of Thomas Jordan.. this his request is granted and Lieft: Fisher Robt Fuller and John Farington are deputed and empowered to laye it Out to the said James somewhere neere his house according to thier best discretion. 

His wife, Mary (Everett) Mackerwithey died on 13 June 1670, most like from complications o childbirth, as their daughter Margaret was born 10 days before and only survived another seven days after her mother’s death.

James Mackerwithey then married Patience Cubby on February 20,1670/1.  (There is an uncertainty regarding this marriage. There is not a death record for Patience Mackerwithey, nor any marriage record for a third marriage with Experience______, but all subsequent birth records listed Experience Mackerwithey as the mother. It is believed by many researches that James only married twice- first to Mary Everitt and second to Patience or Experience Cubby. 

At another meeting on 26 dec. 1665 "James Mackrorey coming and desireing the grant of 5 acres of vpland vpon the gift of his Father in lawe Richard Euered (Everett). being a right of land by him purchased of Danll Mackiah. who purchased the same of Thomas Jordan.. this his request is granted and Lieft: Fisher Robt Fuller and John Farington are deputed and empowered to laye it Out to the said James some where neere his house according to thier best discretion (ibid 4:107-108). 

At a town meeting held on 1 Jan 1678/9, John Bacon Sr. and Thomas Metcalf were chosen a committee "to vew a porsel of land for John Pigge and for Jams Macarory: and to make returne to the propriators: of this town the 10th day of march next; and on 10 mar 1678/9 the town "Granted to Jams Macarory to the quantity of 2 or 3 Acres of lande to be set out by John Bacon and Ser Tho Metcolf neere ajoyning to his lot (ibid 5:76, 80)

In 1680, his father-in-law, Richard Everett, divided his life estate and left seven acres to James Mackerwithey, with the remainder being left to Mary’s children. (Dedham wills)

After 1700, James doesn't appear in the records but his son James, Jr. does.  This indicates that James Sr. died between 1700 and 1709.  

I would love to sit down and talk with him about his home in Scotland, his family, etc.  I would also ask about his military service there and about the travel over to America.  He would be able to tell me about his family and children, about their life here in America.  So much history he could tell me!  I especially would like to find out anything about Patience and if James left a family back in Scotland when he was captured. 

Donna E. Mohney

January 6, 2023