The Descendancy of King Fergus of Scotland to the the McDowells of *Greenbrier, Virginia
(see Chart #20 down the page)

NOTE: *Now West Virginia

ALSO NOTE: I cannot entirely prove this genealogy until the McDowell DNA Project is opened up!
If you descend from this line, please contact me to compare notes!

Family of King Fergus, 1st Lord of Galloway, Scotland and Princess Elizabeth of England

[1] King Fergus de Galloway (born 1096) was a contemporary and close relative of King Somerled [King of the Isles and Man], both being direct descendants through Godfraidh (Godfrey) mac Fergus, Lord of the Isles who died in 853 A.D. Sources list King Fergus as either son of Olave the Red, King of Man or of Gudrod Haraldsson (son of Harald) b. 1025 in Scotland, d. 1095 in Islay, Scotland and Marie Haraldsdatter (daughter of Harald) b. 1046 Bergen, Hordaland, Norway, d. 1086 Orkney Islands, Scotland. History indicates that Gille, the native Dalriadic Governor of the Western Isles under Norse suzerainty about the year 1000, was the great grandfather in the male line of Fergus Lord of Galloway. Galloway is located in the Southwestern corner of Scotland where the Pictish language was spoken. The name Gall comes from the word "Stranger," and Fergis was known to have been Celtic and of Norse origin. Galloway was reputed to be a power with which the kingdom founded by Kenneth, and the kingdom of the Northern English, always had to reckon. An interesting history is posted here.

[2] Princess Elizabeth was b. 1095 and lived in Talby, Yorkshire, England and d. bef. 1161, Scotland. She was the daughter of King Henry I, "the youngest and ablest of William I the Conqueror's son" and Princess Matilda of Scotland, aka the "Empress of Scotland." She was first married to a Plantaganet. More info on this line can be found here.

Family of Dowal of Galloway and Gunnild Of Dunbar

Family of Dougall MacDowall and ??

[1] Using the "son of" naming tradition, Dougal's son became MacDougal, just as Dougal had been "MacDowall," or son of Dowal of Galloway.

Family of Dougal MacDowall and ??

Family of Dougall MacDowall, 1st of Garochloyne and ??

Family of Dougall MacDowall, 2nd of Garochloyne and ??

Family of Fergus MacDowall, 3rd of Garochloyne and ??

NOTE: There seems to be a gap in the genealogy her between 1238 and the 1300's. It is known that "Dougal Macdougall of Gairachloyne and his younger brother Fergus affixed their seals to the “Ragman Roll” of fealty to their fifth cousin King Edward I of England , who later knighted Dougal, and their names were inscribed on the Roll as Macdowyl and Macdowald.  In 1295 Dougal was granted a confirmatory charter to the lands of Gairachloyne / Garochloyne, Lougan / Logan and Eldrig / Elrig by his Baliol / Balliol fourth cousin King John I as Lord of Galloway."

"This Sir Dougal and his heirs of two more generations led the defending forces of Galloway in the name of the Baliol Crown of Scotland for fifty years after King Robert I (Bruce) invaded Galloway in 1306, where the Brooch of Lorn was ripped off Robert the Bruce's tartan. They were, however, comrades in battle and English captivity with King Robert I’s heir king David II in 1347.  Sir Dougal’s fourth grandson, Sir Fergus Macdowell of Makerstoun and of Garthland, also fought, was wounded, captured and ransomed in 1402 at the battle of Homildon Hill.  In 1414 he helped his nephew Thomas Macdowall, the previous Chief’s son and heir to receive a charter renewing to him the family’s old feudal baronies of Garochloyne, and Logan-Elrig, with Garthland as well." Source: Brief History of the MacDowalls of Galloway

Family of Thomas MacDowall, 4th of Garochloyne and ? Wallace

[1] ? Wallace was from Craigie, Ayrshire, Scotland

Family of Uchtred MacDowall, 5th of Garochloyne and ? Vans

Family of Thomas MacDowall 6th of Garochloyne and ? Fraser

[1] ? Fraser was b. Scotland and d. 1434

Family of Uchtred MacDowall, 7th of Garochloyne/Garthland and ??

[1] Isobell was the daughter of Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar

Family of Thomas MacDowall and Isabelle Stewart

[1] Isabelle Stewart was b. 1476 in Galashiels, Roxburghshire, Scotland and d. 1516 Strowan, Perthshire, Scotland

Family of Uchtred MacDowall, 8th of Garthland and Marion Stewart

[1] Marion Stewart was b. 1484 and d. 1531

Family of John MacDowall, 9th of Garthland and Margaret Campbell

[1] John was from Garthland and Corswall, Scotland.

[2] Margaret Campbell was b. 1530 and d. 1537

Family of Uchtred MacDowall, 10th of Garthland and 1) Margaret Kennedy 2) Lady Margaret Stewart of Methven

[1] Uchtred was a Presbyterian who was accused of participating in the abduction of James VI (who later pardoned them). This is said to be the precursor of the family move to Ulster.

[2] Margaret Kennedy was b. 1560 and d. 1578. She was the daughter of Sir Hugh Kennedy of Girvanmains, by his wife Janet, widow of Alexander Gordon, Master of Sutherland, and a daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl.

[3] Lady Margaret Stewart of Methven was the widow of Alexander Stewart, Master of Ochiltree, and the daughter of 1st Lord Methven, and died abroad (France or Ireland?) in 1593

Family of John McDowell and Mary Wylie

[1] Like his father, John was a political exile. He went to Gleno near Larne, Raloo Parish, County Antrim, Ulster by 1595 where he married Mary Wylie. Genealogist Mary Semple described him as "the 7th son of Uchtred MacDowall, 10th of Garthland." He fled to Ireland as a Covenantor; one who bound himself to defend Protestantism in Scotland.

[2] Mary Wylie was b. 1590 and d. 1631

Family of Alexander McDowell and Margaret Hall

Family of Thomas McDowell and Ann Locke

[1] Thomas McDowell was a Blacksmith and Ann Locke was b. 1640 and from Gleno, near Larne, Raloo Parish, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and d. 1685 • Gleno, Antrim, Ulster, Ireland.

[2] Margaret was born 1682 in Londonderry, Ireland and died 1729 in the Virginia Colony.

[3] William and Mary arrived in the USA in 1718. William was a Professor. Mary was the daughter of Robert James Irvine (b. 1654, Cushingdol (or Killead), Antrim, Ireland and d. 1729, Somerset, Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States) & Margaret Wylie, b. 1660, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland & d. Londonderry, Londonderry, Ireland. Children of this couple are; Captain Thomas McDowell (1715–1806, Raloo Parish, County Antrim, Ulster, Northern Ireland), Robert McDowell (1717–1806, Raloo Parish, County Antrim, Ulster, Northern Ireland), Elizabeth McDowell (1718–1814, Chester County, Pennsylvania), William McDowell b. 1720, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA and d. 17 September 1812, Peters, Franklin, Pennsylvania, USA), Nathan McDowell (1722–1801, Chester County, Pennsylvania), James McDowell 5 Feb 1728 - 1811, New London, Chester, Pennsylvania), Jean McDowell (Apr. 19 1736 - –1814, Franklin, Pennsylvania, Margaret McDowell (1739–1803), James McDowell (5 Feb 1728 –1811, New London, Chester, Pennsylvania) and Annabelle McDowell (1741–1800, Cumberland County (now Franklin County), Pennsylvania). Source from Family Bibles, Carla Guthrie email her.

Family of John McDowell and Jane?

[1] The brothers Alexander, John, and William McDowell immigrated to America by 1718, perhaps as early as 1714-15. Both John and Alexander are referred to as brothers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware records. It is this John McDowell (Sr.) who was the father of Charles, Robert, William, and Joseph McDowell of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Family of William McDowell and Mary ?

[1] Revolutionary War Service Records, 1775-83 list "WM MCDOWELL LIEUT 110 VA." Another record exists in the "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800 stating William McDowell acquired "72 acres on Shanando River above Lord Fairfax's line" in Augusta County. Augusta County is east of the VA - W. VA line and Greenbrier County is on the west side of the line.

From the ESTATE SETTLEMENT OF WILLIAM McDOWELL, Sr. of Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co., Virginia (later W. Virginia). From: Ross B. Johnston, Comp., West Virginia Estate Settlements: An Index to Wills, Inventories, Appraisements, Land Grants, and Surveys to 1850 (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1957), p. 110:

McDOWELL, Wm., App., 8-16-1796.
McDOWELL, Wm., WILL, 2-1797. Devisees (heirs): Robert, William, Samuel, Daniel, Josiah (Hannah's father), Archibald, sons; Jeaney, Sarah Thompson, Ann Boyd, Hannah Rodgers, daus.

William arrived near Second Creek, Greenbriar County, Virginia (now W VA)  abt. 1750. From Elizabeth Morrow Cooley, Comp., Day Book from Trading Post near Lewisburg, West Virginia 1771-1772 (Fort Thomas, Ky.: Typescript, 1948), 5, 6, 7. Greenbrier was at one time part of Augusta Co., Va.:

p. 5 (April 1772) Archibald McDowell and Josiah McDowell
p. 6 (May 1772) Archibald McDowell and Josiah McDowell
p. 7 (August 1772) Archibald McDowell, Josiah McDowell, William McDowell and wife

Tax Records for 1782 in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now W Virginia) include the following McDowell's:

Name                    Poles Negroes      Horses  Cattle    Amt. of Tax   McDowell, Hanson        1                  2       6  
McDowell, Dan.          1                  4       3  
McDowell, Archbd.       1                  5       8  
McDowell, Wm.                              5       7  
McDowell, Josiah        1                  6       10        

In 1796, the Tax Records included these men:  
McDowell, John         1  
McDowell, Ninriin                          2  
McDowel, Archibald     1         1              9  
McDowel, John          1                        2    

[2] Mary ??? was born in Ireland abt. 1712 .

[3] Children of Robert McDowell and Elizabeth Cornwell are Eliza, Sarah E., Mary Jane, Frances A, and possibly an Esther - They had only one son, Robert D McDowell, who married Sally A Rodgers.

[4] Military Service Record for Daniel: Rev. War veteran; $40 annual pension 4 Residence: Came to Bourbon County, KY, at an early date. A list of Revolutionary War Soldiers from Boone, Bourbon and Bracken Counties includes: McDOWELL, Daniel, VA Militia; 31 May 1833; $40; age 82.

McDOWELL DEEDS, Bourbon Co., Kentucky: (1824-1826)
1)Deed Book R, Part 2, p. 282-283. Deed of Bargain and Sale from Daniel McDowell, Sr., to Daniel McDowell, Jr., dated 2 February 1824 for $1.00 plus "natural love and affection," a tract containing 71 acres on the waters of Flat Run and including one of the original corners of his survey of 213 acres and the line of Ruddells 500 acre survey. By a second deed on p. 284, Daniel, Sr. conveys to Daniel, Jr. title to one slave and assorted livestock.

(2)Deed Book R, Part 2, p. 283-284. Deed of Bargain and Sale from Daniel McDowell, Sr., to William McDowell, dated 2 February 1824 for $1.00 plus "natural love and affection," The property description is similar to the above and the seventy-one acres conveyed appears to contain a portion of the 213 acres described above. Recorded 16 Jun 1824 at Bourbon Co., Ky.

(3)Deed Book R, Part 2, p. 285. Bill of Sale from Daniel McDowell, Sr., to his daughters, Nancy McDowell, Sarah McDowell, and Phebe McDowell, dated 2 February 1824 for $1.00 plus "natural love and affection." This bill of sale conveys title to chattles. Recorded 16 Jun 1824 at Bourbon Co., Ky.

(4)On 29 Nov 1825, William McDowell (above) conveyed the property he had received from his father Daniel to his brother Daniel for the consideration of one thousand four hundred and twenty dollars.

Daniel McDowell, received a pension in 1832 while living in Bourbon Co., Ky.,. He enlisted in Greenbrier Co., Va., and served one year in the Revolutionary War in 1776 as a private under Capt. Matthew Arbuckle and Co.. John Neville in the state of Virginia. His pension application dated 13 August, 1832, states his age to be "over 80 years of age." The pension contains no information regarding his family.

[5] Archibald came to Second Creek before 1780 and operated a saw and grist mill on the site of the present Beamer Mill. He died in 1813, leaving his personal property appraised at $1192.75. Page 408 of "McDowells in America" lists Archibald McDowell, Pvt. Capt. John Stewart's Co. of Greenbrier Valley, Botetourt Co., VA d. Second Creek (W) Va., will probated Monroe Co., VA (now W. Va.) 8/1813; m. Catherine Davis in 1780 & had John; William; James, b. 1781 who m. Margaret Dickson; Walter who m. Patsy Pritt; Ann who m. Patrick Boyd; Jane who m. James Crawford; Margaret who m. George Gullett; Frances who m. Thomas Stuart; Hannah who m. Mason Matthews; Rachel; Malvina; and Catherine McDowell.

[6] Patrick Boyd (1759-1835) received a pension for service as private in the Virginia Line under Colonels Grayson, Moffett and Bowyer. He was born in Augusta County; died in Monroe County, Va.

[7] William McDowell of Greenbrier County married Polly, the daughter of Henry Patton in 1798. In a deed of gift Henry and wife Martha (Randolph) Patton gave parts of the 840 acres where they then lived to William McDowell, who with his wife Polly then sold to William Muirhead whose land it adjoined. Polly died in 1803.

Family of Josiah McDowell and Jane Curry