McReynolds Line (Caswell County, NC)

Joseph H. McReynolds

John McReynolds

Also known as: "Shaker Joe", "Shaker Joe McReynolds"

Birthdate: bet. 1794-1796

Birthplace: Caswell County, North Carolina

Denomination: (probably) Shaker

Death: 1875 in (possibly) Lucas County, Iowa

Burial: Greenville Pioneer Cemetery, Russell, Lucas County, Iowa

Occupation: Brick Mason

Nancy Henrietta Browning

1755-1831

Nancy Henrietta McReynolds

Also known as: "Haney", "Henrietta Browning", "Nancy Browning"

Birthdate: 1755

Birthplace: Caswell, Province of North Carolina

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian

Date of Marriage: 1783

Place of Marriage: Caswell County, Commonwealth of North Carolina

Death: 1831 at Barr's Creek, near Cynthiana, Indiana

Cause of Death: died of 'cold shock response' after falling into an icy stream

Place of Burial: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Poseyville, Posey County, Indiana

Immediate Family:

Daughter of Edmund Browning and Mary Ann Murphy

See: Browning Family Line

Children:

1. Samuel M. McReynolds 1784-1852

2. Edward Browning McReynolds 1785-1865

3. Mary "Polly" McReynolds 1785-1846

4. Margaret Henrietta "Ritty" McReynolds 1794-1847

5. Tabitha McReynolds 1794-1849

6. Joseph McReynolds, Jr. 1796-1860

7. John McReynolds 1798-

8. Anna B McReynolds 1805-1885

Family 2

Spouse:

Elizabeth Jane Simpson

Elizabeth Jane McReynolds

Birthdate: ca. 1816

Birthplace: Posey County, Indiana

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian / Shaker

Roland McReynolds (1739 - 1796)

Birthdate: ca. 1739

Birthplace: Lancaster, Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian / Shaker

Death: March 1796 in Reeds Valley, Russell County, Virginia

Burial: Royal Oak Cemetery Marion, Smyth County, Virginia

Office: Elder in the Presbyterian church

Military Service: DAR A 203236, Patriotic service. NC

Parents:

Joseph McReynolds

1715-1805

Sarah Dixon

1722-1794

Family

Spouse:

Agnes Ann Rich

1742-1761

Agnes Ann McReynolds

John Samuel McReynolds, Jr. (1665 - 1760)

John MacRannald

Also known as: "McRannells", "John “Ole John” McReynolds"

Elizabeth Shepherd

1689-1744

Elizabeth McReynolds

Birthdate: ca. 1689

Birthplace: Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian

Death: 1744 in Appomattox, Virginia

Burial: Appomattox, Virginia

Immediate Family:

Daughter of Solomon Shepherd, of Ireland and Isabell Wilkeson

Children:

1. Joseph McReynolds 1715–1805

2. Elizabeth McReynold 1717–1805

3. Robert McReynolds 1722–1743

4. James McReynolds 1724–1807

About John Samuel McReynolds, Jr.

John MCREYNOLDS was born about 1665 in Keppoch, Highlands of Scotland. He died in 1760 in Stewartstown, Tyrone, Ireland. John McReynolds was born in the Highlands of Scotland around the year 1668.I am not sure the exact place of his birth, but when William of Orange was called to the English throne war ensued. John enlisted in the army of King William. John was in the army sent to Ireland to surpress the rebellion of the Irish who took up arms against the dethroned King. After the Irish Rebellion was crushed, John McReynolds was honorably discharged from the Army. Instead of returning to his homeland he remained in Ireland. He married Martha Sterling and had at least 3 sons, James, Benjamin, and Oliver. Benjamin died when he was 19. James and Oliver both married and reared families on the north of Ireland None of their families came to America as far as I know.

Additional info:

Although sketchy the following notes seem likely, John McReynolds was born in the Highlands of Scotland around the year 1668. When William of Orange was called to the English throne, war ensued. John enlisted in the army of King William. John was in the army sent to Ireland to suppress the rebellion of the Irish who took up arms against the dethroned King. After the Irish Rebellion was crushed, John McReynolds was honorably discharged from the Army. Instead of returning to his homeland, he remained in Ireland. He married Martha Sterling and had at least three sons, James, Benjamin and Oliver. Benjamin died when age 19. James and Oliver married and reared families on the north of Ireland. None of their families, as far as known, came to America. The first wife of John McReynolds died and John married a young woman, Elizabeth Shephard. This woman had been reared a Quaker and continued in that faith, but John though reared a Presbyterian, had joined the Episcopalian church after locating in Ireland. John and Elizabeth and her children decided to emigrate to America, but John went to live with his children from his first marriage. Elizabeth and her children reached America in the year 1741. Her oldest son, Joseph married Sarah Dixon before leaving Ireland. He was about 21 years of age when they came to America. Being a Quaker, Elizabeth first settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Here, she came under the influence of the Whitfield Revival and joined the joined the Presbyterian Church. Her daughter, Elizabeth married John Rogers and they had four sons and one daughter. They were Thomas, William, Joseph, James and Elizabeth. They moved to Maryland, but after a few years, returned to western Pennsylvania. There their son, William and some other members of the family were killed by Indians."

According to McReynolds family tradition three MacRannald brothers immigrated from Scotland into Ireland before 1689. One of these brothers was Johne MacRannald b 1665 or 1672 Sc d 1760 IR. According to Benjamine S. McReynolds, Johns' nephew, writing in 1823... "Legend has it that that John could speak the Scotch language better than English. As a young man he enlisted in the British Army and was sent to Ireland where he is said to have participated in the defence of the city of Londonderry during the famous siege in 1689. A story is told that he gave one of his fellow defenders a beating for allowing a rat they could have eaten to escape". Later, he is said to have left the army and migrated to County Tyrone with his two younger brothers. They settled near Charlemont and Moy. In 1703 he married Mary Preston, born in 1683 the daughter of Thomas Preston. They made their residence at Cloghog, County Tyrone. It was the first McReynolds home in the area and was constructed shortly after their marriage. Fire gutted the building in the latter part of the last century. John and Mary had three sons, James, Benjamin and Oliver. Mary died on Jul.15, 1713, at the young age of 30 and there is a gravestone inscription about 15 feet from the front door of the Clonoe parish church which reads: Here lyeth the body of Mary Preston, wife of John McCrannels, who departed this life July 15, 1713, aged thirty years; also Thomas Preston who departed this life January 11, 1705, aged 78 years. After Mary's death John moved to the townland of Coash in the parish of Killyman. He was married for a second time on Jun.18, 1714, to a Quaker, Elizabeth Shepherd the daughter of Solomon Shepherd, at the Quaker meeting house at Grange near Moy. It is said that the Quaker Church and Old Grange House are still standing. Other marriages in the Quaker records from this period include those of Patrick, Susannah and James McRannell or McReynolds and they may have been John's close relatives. John and Elizabeth had four surviving children, Joseph, Elizabeth, James and Robert. John and Elizabeth lived about two miles from Dungannon. By this time John had accumulated considerable wealth having large farms and two mills, one in Killyman parish and the other in Clonoe parish. For some unknown reason the marriage failed and, in 1737, Elizabeth and her four children emigrated to the United States where they settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She died at an old age in the home of her son James in Appomattox County, Virginia. Perhaps because of his advanced age (he was 72) John remained in Ireland and lived with his children by his first wife. He died at a ripe old age at the home of a grandson in Stewartstown and is buried in Ballyclog parish cemetery.

The purpose of this project is to determine the relationship of the descendants of sons Benjamine, James and Oliver from his first marriage and sons Joseph and James, of his second marriage, who emmigrated to the US in 1737. It is believed, currently, there are some 8000 McReynolds in the US and most descend from one of these two brothers. A third brother Robert died soon after arrival in America therefore, it is not believed he had any descendants to enumerate.

The first wife of John McReynolds died and John married a young Woman, Elizabeth Shephard. This woman had been reared a Quaker and continued in that faith, but John though reared a Presbyterian, had joined the Episcopalian Church after locating in Ireland. John and Elizabeth had one daughter and three sons, Elizabeth, Joseph, James, and Robert. Elizabeth and her children decided to emigrate to America, but John went to live with his children from his first marriage. Elizabeth and her children reached America in the year of 1741. Her oldest son, Joseph had married Sarah Dixon before leaving Ireland. He was aout 21 when they came to America. Being a Quaker Elizabeth first settled in in Lancaster Co. Pa. Here she came under the influence of the Whitfield Revival and they all joined the Presbyterian Church. Her daughter Elizabeth married John Rogers and they had four sons and one daughter. They were Thomas, William, Joseph, James, and Elizabeth. They settled in Maryland, but after a few years moved to western Pennsylvania. There their son William and some other members of the family were killed by Indians.

Our Eldest Ancestor (Quote from "The Descendants of Johne McRannald")

A lot has been written about Johne McRannald over the years. Most of what has been written is based upon family tradition. Some of what has been written is based upon conjecture. Little of what is written is based on extant records. The Scots maintained an oral tradition for centuries so there is a great lack of family records beyond eighteenth century. There is however a great deal written about Scottish history and the Clans that we may study to our delight and gain an insight into the early life of Johne McRannald. I will devote this chapter to presenting a composite historical sketch of Johne McRannald by drawing upon what has already been written in the past and by presenting opinions, questions and conjectures of my own. Why do I choose to use the name Johne McRannald rather than John McReynolds? I'll get to that in a little bit. It is an Irish family tradition that Johne McRannald was born about 1665 at Keppoch, in the Highlands of Scotland. Keppoch is that area now known as Glen Spean which is located about 10 miles northeast of Fort William, in the District of Lochaber. Don't look for Keppoch on a map; you won’t find it. This area was once the stronghold of the MacDonnells of Keppoch, aka the Clanranald of Lochaber, who formed a main branch of the Clan Donald family tree and who held these lands for many years by the sword rather than by title. Do not confuse the Clanranald of Lochaber (MacDonnells of Keppoch) with their cousins, The MacDonalds of Clanranald. These are two separate branches of the Clan Donald. The MacDonalds of Clanranald descended from Ranald who was a son of John, Lord of the Isles, and his first wife Amie MacRauri. It is also an Irish family tradition that Johne McRannald was in fact a direct descendant of Alexander de Insulus (Alexander of the Isles), aka Alasdair Carrach. Alasdair Carrach was the 1st Chief of the Keppochs and reigned as chief from c1390-c1443. Alasdair was the 4th son of Johne, Lord of the Isles by his second marriage to Princess Margaret Stuart who was the daughter of King Robert II and great-grandaughter of King Robert I (the Bruce). Our surname comes from Ranald Mor, 7th Chief of Keppoch. Ranald was characterized as "one who took to learning with zest, but was also an active warrior." Poor Ranald was beheaded in the year 1547 and his head placed above the gate at Elgin for his complicity in the slaughter of Lord Lovat at the Battle of Blar-na-leine in 1544. It was from Ranald that the latter chiefs of this clan were known as the Mac Mhic Raonuill. George Black's ‘The Surnames of Scotland’ lists our surname as "MacRanald (now a rare surname), Macronald, G. Macraonuill,

son of Raonull.' See RANALD. John M'Rynald or Makrynnild was part tenant of Eddirallekach, Strogartnay, 1483 (ER., IX, p. 592, 622). Donald McRanald Vaan (Bhan) appears several times in record as tenant of lands of Kintyre, 1506 (ibid., XII, p. 701, 707). His name is variously spelled in record Mckilrannandvane, McRynald Waan, McRynald Baan, and McRynall Waan. Allen McRynild was witness at Gawrie, 1589 (Poltalloch Writs, p. 139), and Alexander roy McAllane McReynald and Innes McAllane McRenald had royal remissions in 1541 (ALHT., VIII, p. 19). Ranald M'Rannald M'Couilglas of Cappycht appears in 1563 (BBT., p. 206). Complaint was made by Coline Campbell of Glenlyoun against Alexander McAne Dow McKrenald and Johne Dow McConneill McCrenild, 1583 (RPC., III, p. 589). Mac Mhic Raonuill or its translation, MacRanald (not Clan Ranald) is the patronymic form of the name of Keppoch Macdonells. MacRannal, MacRannald, MacRenold, MacReynold, MacReynylt, MacRinnell, MacRindle, MacRinnyl, MacRonall."

It is interesting that the surname MacRanald (and its other spellings) was once very common throughout the entire MacDonald Clans. In fact, it was as common as dirt; as was the given name Johne (also Ian, Ean). This surname is now almost, if not totally, extinct and is survived mainly by our family in its anglized form, McReynolds. One explanation for this comes from Norman MacDonald’s ‘The Clan Ranald of Lochaber’ who states, " The earlier designation of the family of Keppoch: 'Sliochd Alasdair Mhic Aonghis' meaning the offspring of Alexander son of Angus, is derived from the 5th Chief, Alasdair nan Gleann (Alexander of the Glen). The later designation of 'Clan Raonaill a'Bhraighe' Clan Ranald of the Brae i.e. the Brae of Lochaber and the patronymic of the Chief: 'Mac 'ic Raonaill' i.e. the Son of the Son of Ranald, are dervived from Ranald or Raonaill Mor, the 7th Chief who fought at Blar na Leine --the Battle of the Shirts-- in 1544. The chiefs after Raonaill Mor, were generally styled in Lallans and English 'MackRonnald', 'MacRanald' etc. and later as MacDonald, MacDoniel and MacDonell. This latter form was used by Coll, the 16th Chief and his son Alexander and his direct descendants but the more common form of MacDonald appears to have been adopted by the majority of the cadet families." Norman MacDonald also tells us that Alasdair Carrach was described as being the "fairest haired man as they say of aney that ever was". Norman continues by adding: "The word 'carrach' however has a less complimentary meaning. Alasdair probably had a number of warts among his physical characteristics." Coincidentally, there is a little known tradition that Johne McRannald also had an irritating wart on his backside which we might presume to have been a hemorrhoid........ What do we know of Johne McRannald’s childhood? Absolutely nothing other than what we might presume to know by educating ourselves in Scottish history. In the era of Johne’s adolescence, young men were taught to use the weapons of war as an essential element of their raising. For centuries the Highland Clans were involved in continuous wars against the Scottish Crown and for the Scottish Crown. When not involved in wars of this nature, they fought amongst each other in territorial disputes. In the mid-seventeenth century, raiding your neighbor’s lands and stealing their cattle was a way of life. For a young man to fight, and fight well, was considered a test of manhood. It is my opinion that Johne was raised in this manner; to be a warrior, possessing those military skills on how to load and fire a musket, how to wield a sword, and how to deflect a blow from an enemy by using the targe, or shield, without blinding one’s own vision of his enemy. He was also taught the strategic tactics of the famous Highland charge which was used very successfully up until the mid-eighteenth century. The Highland charge was simplistic in nature; you fired a single volley against your enemy, thus drawing the enemy’s fire in return. While the enemy was reloading, you threw down your musket and attacked your enemy with sword and targe in a full run, and with a speed and fury which overwhelmed the enemy and sent them fleeing in terror. On this subject I would highly recommend a book written by David Stevenson, "Highland Warrior, Alasdair MacColla and the Civil Wars". My claim that Johne was raised to be a warrior is arguable by his presence at the Siege of Londonderry. Johne was also well educated. He could read and write. He was also bi-lingual; speaking both the Gaelic and the English languages. These facts alone suggest that Johne may have come from an affluent family and may have had a formal education. Johne’s talents were not at all common in the mid-seventeenth century.

References:

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LTF2-NJ1/johne-macrannald-1665-1760

https://www.geni.com/people/John-McReynolds-Jr/6000000011128616440

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McRannald-1

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84460857/john-mcreynolds

http://grandmab4.tripod.com/d26.htm#P590

________________________________________________________________________________

Grandy's 7x Great-Grandfather:

My 9x Great-Grandfather:

Laila Laemmel-Gordon's 10x Great-Grandfather:

Johne MacRannald (1640 - 1672)

Johne McReynolds, Sr.

Also known as: "Johne Mc Ranald", "Mac Rannald"