HughofNJ

McWh*rter   Genealogy

tree1TS.gif (23216 bytes)

Thomas McWhorter
of New Jersey
(cir1710-17??)

Updated 5-Jan-2000


The following article3-generation register report  and  list of research sources about Thomas McWhorter of New Jersey and Orange co., NY was originally published in the the McWh*rter Genealogy Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 4 (November 1998).


If new information has come to light since the date of first publication, additions or corrections made to the original text are indicated in red.


Care should be used in crediting the information presented here. What has been compiled in the McWh*rter Database, from which these articles and reports are drawn, has been contibuted by many different researchers - some more careful than others.


The numbers following each name below (i.e. #33 for Thomas of New Jersey) are the numbers assigned those individuals in the McWh*rter Database.

Quick Links to Other North American Progenitors

John McWhorter (cir1710-1757) of Albemarle co., VA
Hugh McWhorter (cir1690-1750) of New Castle co., DE
David McWhorter (1741-1789) of Lancaster co., PA
Hugh McWhorter (1757-1837) of York co., SC
Moses McWhorter (cir1700-cir1756) of Lancaster co., PA
Mathew McWhorter (abt1725-1804) of Washington co., NY
John McWhorter (1739-1813) of Washington co., NY
Hugh E. "Hughey" McWhorter (cir1705-1784) of PA & DE
Hance McWhorter (cir1730-abt1773) of Rowan co., NC
George Gray McWhorter (1762-1829) of SC and AL
William McWhorter (abt1745-1823) of PA and OH
Gilbert (1794-1874) & John (1801-1883) McWhirter of Scotland and Canada
John McWhorter (cir1695-1768) of Greenwich, MA
Thomas McCargo McWhirter (1793-aft1840) of McNab twp., Quebec, Canada
Samuel Mehorter (cir1795-bef1861) of Philadelphia, PA
Samuel McWhirter (1824-1909) of Saratoga co., NY
Thomas McWhirter (1804-1867) of Middlebury, VT
John McWhirter (abt1830-18??) of Scotland, England & Staten Island, NY

 


.Thomas McWhorter of New Jersey
and Orange co., NY
(cir1710-17??)

According to The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography [see reference #1] and several family traditions, a Thomas McWhorter [db#33] came "to America from Scotland before the French and Indian War and settled in New Jersey". I have been unable to find any documented evidence of Thomas’ presence in America, but it is indeed possible that he did come and that his name was Thomas as all three (3) individuals thought to be his children had children of their own named Thomas.

Speculative and misleading stories about Thomas, retold over the years, have helped to greatly confuse his beginnings and those of his children. In The History of the McWhirter Clan (1937) [see reference #3] Ethel Keim related that "Thomas McWhirter thought to be a son of Hugh McWhirter, went from Delaware to Avoca, New York, where he located...". This suggestion that Thomas was one of the several "unnamed" children of Hugh McWhirter [db#1] who settled in Pencader Hundred, New Castle co., DE about 1730 has persisted without supporting evidence and has been repeated by several McWh*rter writers including Ura McWhorter Byars in her book Exits and Entrances.

In point of fact, Mrs. Keim’s assertion is not true. The first settlers of the village of Avoca, New York were William and Michael Buchanan (husband and son of Mary McWhorter [db#1141]) who arrived in what was then wilderness about 1794. A Thomas McWhorter [db#5226] was an early settler of Avoca, about 1800, and was a son of a Hugh McWhorter. But this Thomas (b. 1763[8]) was a son of a different Hugh McWhorter [db#35] (brother to Mary) who brought his family to Avoca about 1796. Hugh McWhorter [db#1] of Delaware died in 1750 and could not possibly be the father of the Thomas, b.1763, who settled in Avoca, NY.

Although we may not know whether the "original" Thomas [db#33] ever came to the colonies, or if we have his name correct, some things are known. A family of McWhorters, including at least three (3) siblings, surfaced in Orange County, New York shortly after the French and Indian Wars and lived not far from the border with New Jersey.

Thomas’ children are thought to include:

Hugh McWhorter [db#35] who was born about 1737 and married a Kezia Tyler [db#36]. As early as 1775 Hugh was living in Warwick township, Orange co., NY and he served in the Revolutionary War as a sergeant in Col. John Hathorn’s regiment under three different captains. There exists a Certificate of Payment to "Sergeant Hugh McWhorter" for his military services in the Orange County Militia, 6-Jun-1779; 25-Jul-1779; and 11-Jun-1780. It appears that after the war he removed his family to Northumberland County, PA for in 1790 a "Hugh McWhorter & son" are listed in the census there (2 wm 16+, 3 wm 15-, 4 wf). He later removed his family up the Susquehanna River to the wilderness which was to become Avoca, NY. Hugh’s death in Avoca on 6-Mar-1812 was the second in that town.

 

Mary McWhorter [db#1141] married William Buchanan [db#1142] who with their son, Michael [db#9891], was sent by a Colonel Williamson to a spot in the New York wilderness designated as "Eight Mile Tree" there "...to keep a house of entertainment in the interest of the settlement of that section." The spot marked as "Eight Mile Tree" by the Phelps and Gorham surveyors stood about a quarter of a mile south of the present village of Avoca. There William and Mary and six children settled in a "rude log Inn". Soon a small settlement known as "Buchanans" grew up about the Inn and Mary’s brother Hugh, his wife and six children soon were settled there as well. Ethel Keim tells a fascinating tale of William Buchanan’s childhood [See story on page 8].

 

Gilbert McWhorter [db#626], or someone thought to be of that name, was father to at least five (5) sons who grew up in Orange co., NY during the latter 1700s. According to the writings of Lucullus Virgil McWhorter [db#372] [see reference #9] the father of these boys was said to have been a linen weaver who came to New Jersey from northern Ireland before the French and Indian Wars and died prematurely leaving his family in "penury". Although Lucullus provides detailed descriptions of the five sons of Orange co., NY he never provides a name for the father of the boys. At least three (3) of the boys served in the Orange County Militia in the same regiment as Hugh McWhorter [db#35], believed to be their uncle. It is thought by some that Gilbert’s wife may have been the "widow" Magdalean McWhorter [db#12675] who on 9-Nov-1780 married a William Gardiner [db#12674]. One of the "McWhorter boys", Henry [db#94] eventually removed to what is now West Virginia. [See article on Henry McWhorter’s Cabin on page 9.]

 


tree6.gif (2816 bytes)    The Modified Register Report which follows relates information currently in the MCWH*RTER DATABASE.
Anyone with additional information to offer or who believes that a correction to some of the information is justified should feel free
to offer their assistance.


1. Thomas? McWhorter #33 born cir1710, Ireland? Scotland?.

.....Children:

.......+ 2. i Hugh McWhorter #35 born 1737.

.......+ 3. ii Mary McWhorter #1141 born cir1745.

.......+ 4. iii Gilbert McWhorter #626 born 17??.

 

Second Generation

2. Hugh McWhorter #35 born 1737, married Kezia Tyler #36, born 9-Sep-1747, died 10-May-1841. Hugh died 6-Mar-1812, Avoca Village, Bath twp.,Steuben co., NY.

.....Children:

..........5. i Thomas McWhorter #5226 born 15-Jan-1763, married Sara Buchanan #5225, born 29-Mar-1768, Northumberland, PA, (daughter of William Alexander Buchanan #1142 and Mary McWhorter #1141) died 7-Jan-1848. Thomas died 17-Jun-1847, Dansville, NY.

..........6. ii Tyler McWhorter #37 born 10-Dec-1777, Orange co., NY, married (1) 1798, Anna Armstrong #38, born 25-Dec-1779, died 9-Nov-1842, Blooming Grove, Franklin co., IN, buried: Blooming Grove, Franklin co., IN; married (2) bef1850 in IN Mary A. ? #24309 born 26-Aug-1813 in NC, died 30-Aug-1852 in Marshall co., IN; married (3) 7-Dec-1853 Anna Rose #24310, born 14-Apr-1791, died 26-Nov-1867. Tyler died 22-Feb-1858, Marshall co., IN, buried: Summit Chapel cem., Tippecanoe twp., IN.

..........7. iii Kezia McWhorter #9867 born 20-Mar-1778, VA, married William B. Buchanan Jr. #11162, born 12-Jan-1784, (son of William Alexander Buchanan #1142 and Mary McWhorter #1141) died 1874 or 1882?, buried: Elmira, NY. Kezia died 19-Jul-1819, Avoca, Steuben co., NY.

..........8. iv John McWhorter #9868 born 17??, died yng.1797, Northumberland co., PA.

..........9. v James McWhorter #9866 born 3-Sep-1785, VA, married (1) 1811, in prob. Avoca, Steuben co., NY, Ann Parker #9876, born 27-Oct-1777, (daughter of Nathaniel Parker #24311) died 25-Apr-1854, married (2) aft1854, Arthusa ? #19092, born cir1790. James died 22-Jan-1856, Avoca, Steuben co., NY.

..........10. vi Elizabeth "Betsy" McWhorter #9865 born 9-Jul-1792, Northumberland co., PA, died 28-Oct-1814, Avoca, Steuben co., NY.

 

3. Mary McWhorter #1141 born cir1745, NJ?, married William Alexander Buchanan #1142, born 1739, NJ, (son of George William Buchanan #24298 and Catherine McDonnel #24299) died 13-Jul-1818, Avoca, Steuben co., NY. Mary died 6-Apr-1821.

.....Children:

..........11. i John Buchanan #11159 born 1766, married Esther Luker #11163, born cir1770.

..........12. ii Sara Buchanan #5225 born 29-Mar-1768, Northumberland, PA, married Thomas McWhorter #5226, born 15-Jan-1763, (son of Hugh McWhorter #35 and Kezia Tyler #36) died 17-Jun-1847, Dansville, NY. Sara died 7-Jan-1848.

..........13. iii Thomas Buchanan #5040 born 4-Aug-1772, Newton, NJ, married 21-Apr-1802, in Avoca, Steuben co., NY, Jane Johnson #5041, born 2-Mar-1782, Newton, Essex co., NJ, died 3-Sep-1867, Norwalk, OH. Thomas died 20-Apr-1859, Nowalk, OH.

..........14. iv Michael Buchanan #9891 born 1778, married Ann Parker #9876, born 27-Oct-1777, died 25-Apr-1854. Michael died befMar-1812, Avoca Village, Bath twp.,Steuben co., NY.

..........15. v Mary Buchanan #11160 born cir1780, married in Dansville, NY, William Street #11164, born 17??.

..........16. vi Jane Buchanan #11161 born 1781, married Phineas Squires #11165, born 1782.

..........17. vii William B. Buchanan Jr. #11162 born 12-Jan-1784, married (1) Kezia McWhorter #9867, born 20-Mar-1778, VA, (daughter of Hugh McWhorter #35 and Kezia Tyler #36) died 19-Jul-1819, Avoca, Steuben co., NY, married (2) Betsy Osgood Whitbeck #11166, born cir1790, married (3) Patience Hazen #11167, born cir1790. William died 1874 or 1882?, buried: Elmira, NY.

 

4. Gilbert McWhorter #626 born 17??, prob Ireland, married pos Sarah ? #24398 born 17??..

.....Children:

..........18. i John McWhorter #630 born bef1755, pos NJ or NY, married pos Mary ? #3636, born 17??, died aft1803 or pos Margaret Carr #263, b. cir1765, died abt1848. John died abt1803, Orange co., NY.

..........19. ii Gilbert McWhorter #629 born cir1755, married (1) Huldah ? #24307 born abt1768, died 1808, Sugar Loaf, Orange co., NY, buried: McWhorter Farm, Sugar Loaf, Orange co.,  NY; married (2) Lavina ? #24308, born 17??. Gilbert died 1834 Sugar Loaf, Orange co., NY

..........20. iii James McWhorter #628 born cir1760, pos NJ.

..........21. iv Henry McWhorter #94 born 13-Nov-1760, NJ, married 1-Aug-1783, in Bucks co., PA, Mary Fields #95, born 28-Oct-1761, PA, (daughter of M. Walter Fields #575) died 28-Aug-1834, Harrison co., VA, buried: McWhorter's farm, McKinney's Run, VA. Henry died 4-Feb-1848, McKinney's Run, Harrison co., VA, buried: McWhorter's farm, McKinney's Run, VA.

..........22. v Thomas M. McWhorter #627 born 12-Oct-1762, Orange co., NY, married Susanna Sutton #2486, born 5-May-1767, (daughter of John Sutton #2487) died 1-Dec-1827. Thomas died 13-Dec-1809, Orange co., NY.

..........23. vi Robert McWhorter #24305 born 17??, married Elizabeth ? #24306, born 17??. Robert died 1813, Vernon twp., Sussex co., NJ.


res1AY.gif (10045 bytes)References for Researchers ofThomas McWhorter
of New Jersey and Orange co., NY.


The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. XXIX, James T. White and Co., NY 1941, p. 174.

Daughter’s of the American Revolution Magazine, Vol. 56, 1922, "Queries", p. 480.

History of the McWhirter Clan by Mrs. Ethel Keim, Latrobe, PA, published by Walter Printing Co., Latrobe, PA, 1937, p. 5-7.

Some Descendants of David McWhorter and Mary Poston by Mrs. & Mrs. E. R. McWhorter, 1978, Longview, TX, p. 200, 201.

History of the Henry McWhorter Family of New Jersey and West Virginia by Minnie S. McWhorter, 1948, Charleston Printing Co., Charleston, WV, p. 13-18.

Historical Gazetteer of Steuben County, New York, compiled and edited by Millard F. Roberts, published Syracuse, NY 1891, p. 111-118, 284, 285.

Daughter’s of the American Revolution - Patriot Index, p. 480.

New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 60, 1929, "Federal Census of 1800 - Steuben County, New York", p. 50.

The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia by Lucullus Virgil McWhorter, originally published Hamilton, OH 1915, reprinted for the Clearfield Company Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 1991, p. 274-295, 482-484.

Federal Census 1790 - Warwick Township, Orange County, New York.

 


Home ] Database ] Newsletter ] Family Profiles ] Queries ] Links ] Publications ] Announcements ] Progenitors ] Scotland etc. ] African Ancestry ] E-mail List ] Researchers ] Photo Album ] McWh*rter Mysteries ] Gatherings & Reunions ]