Hello Melanie, Dave, Elwin, et al
My name is Paula Duncan Adams. I was adopted. My biological father was Albert Meginness of Watsonville, CA who died in 1975. We are decendant from the line that Dave showed interest, that was written about by John F Meginness in his book, "Origin and History of the Magennis family" We all have much interest in the two brothers that came to America in the mid 1700's: James Baker McGinnis born in Londonderry abt 1749 (1750?) and Samuel McGinness born abt 1740 in Tyrone. They landed in Delaware and settled in Pennsylvania. Thie children blazed trails across America but no one knows much about them. I don't really do "social media" however, I felt compelled to post information that I found on public sites. Since I don't have any ancestry accounts I'm sure that there's more out there but I mostly glean from what others have discovered.
I do have information on a KY/Ind connection that I felt I should share. I don't know if it helps or not but, members of a branch of the McGinnis family were in Ky and Indiana. I found this information, oddly, on a history of Iowa. I found "The Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties Iowa" for free on Google Play Books. In "The History of Shelby County", P342 is a blurb on Reverend Willian McGinness, a founder in the area.
"Rev. William McGinness is on of the prominent pioneers of Shelby County, having been identified with it's history since 1856. He is a native of Kentucky, born in Campbell County, September 25, 1814. He is a son of William and Mary (Mitcheltree) McGinness. The father was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Samuel McGinness who came to this country with eleven brothers and cousins and settled in Philidelphia. Here Samuel McGinness followed the trade of a baker until the beginning of the revolutionary war, when he enlisted in the defense of his adopted country; he served five years and six months under General Washington. The father of our subject, William McGinness, was reared in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was there married to Mary Mitcheltree, a daughter of George Mitcheltree, who came from County Tyrone, Ireland, when Mary, (Mrs. McGinness) was a young lady. William McGinness and wife resided in Pennsylvania until after the birth of their two children, when they emigrated to Nicholas County, and thence to Campbell County, Kentucky in 1811, where they resided until 1817. They then moved to Swizerland County, Indiana, and afterward to Hancock County, Indiana, where the mother died in 1831 and the father in 1833. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom William is the youngest. Our subject was reared to farming persuits, and resided with his parents until their deaths, when he inherited the home place. Here he lived until 1837, with exception of one year spent on the Ohio River. In March, 1838, he started west, coming up the Mississippi River and landing in Pine Creek. He settled in the Blackhawk purchase, then, Wisconsin Territory, which was organized into Iowa Territory the following fourth of July. Afterward, he took up claim in what is now Linn County, and broke and improved fifty acres, which he sold in 1839. William McGinness was married May 2, 1840 to Miss Mary Donehoo, a native of Clayborn County, Virginia, and a daughter of John and Keziah (Yehne) Donehoo. In 1839 Mrs. McGinness parents moved to Iowa. After his marriage William McGinness engaged in the saw-mill business, and in 1844 he removed to Wapello County, Iowa, where he took a claim, which he improved and sold, and again entered 200 acres of wild land in Adams Township, and improved the place, and resided upon it until 1852. He then started west, going to Kainesville, now Council Bluffs, with four yoke of oxen, which were stolen from him. He there bought a claim and sold it, rented land, and earned the money with which he bought his present farm in Shelby County. The farm contained 140 acres, and cost $6.60 per acre. In the fall of 1856 Mr. McGinnis moved into a cabin on his place, which already sheltered one family, and thirteen people lived in this cabin, 12x14 feet. Here Mr. McGinness has since resided, improving his place, and making a comfortable home. In 1858 he was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal church, which he joined in 1833. He is one of the pioneer preachers, and has held services in thirty-five school-houses, in the old court-house, and in the churches. He has organized three classes. He has been present at the celebration of ournational independence, July 4th, since 1833; at that time there were only three people to celebrate. In 1861 he went to Central City, Colorado, and returned the following fall. Mr. and Mrs. McGinness are the parents of ten children--two sons and eight daughters. Eight lived to maturity, and five still survive--Mary, Emily, Sarah (deceased), Henry M., John A., Nancy J. (deceased), Ellen, Hattie, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. McGinness has served in local offices of trust and responsibility. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican Party; he was formerly an old-line Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Scott."
For me, this leaves more questions asked than answered. Was there another McGinnis family that has become intertwined with ours in history? Assuming that this is the same Samuel (McGinness?) McGinnis from which I am decended then where are the rest of these "brothers and cousins"? How many were brothers and how many were cousins? And did they all arrive together or did some arrive earlier than others? Why isn't this information available through the ancestry websites? Hopefully, some of these questions will get answered in the futrue. In the meantime, I hope this information is helpful.
Paula Duncan Adams
