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INTRODUCTION – Some Origins of McKINNEY (Myths & Reality)
JOHN MACKENNY (OUR IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR)
Our earliest known ancestor was
Decades after John Mackenny settled in New England, the original Gaelic pronunciation & spelling became used less frequently with the English influence of a "Z" sound which standardized the pronunciation as well as the basic spelling of the MacKenzie clan name in Scotland, America, Canada & elsewhere.
It is NOT KNOWN FOR SURE if his name was derived from Mackenzie. It could have been derived from any similar sounding name, i.e. MacKinnon, MacKean, etc. However, I do tend to agree with most authorities that John Mackenny's name was most likely derived from Mackenzie.
He is believed to be the man listed as "John Mackane" on a ship passenger list of Scottish prisoners of war who were transported to New England in 1652. (See below) As most authorities noted, nearly every name on this list was transcribed and spelled inaccurately, mostly because of the strong Gaelic accents of the men stating their names to the record keepers. The phoenitic renditions became quite distorted in that early ship record.
That spelling of Mackane led one descendant of John Mackenny to consider the possibility that his name was Mackean, a variant form of MacIan, associated with the ancient CLAN DONALD or MacDONALD. However, THERE IS NO REAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS THEORY.
The actual clan from which John Mackenny may have originated will probably never be known, however, he was undoubtedly descended from ancient
IRISH warriors, Celtic tribes called the “SCOTS”
(These ancient "Irish tribes, the "Scots", are not to be confused with the "Scots-Irish/Ulster-Scots" who settled in Ulster Northern Ireland from Scotland during the 17th Century. However, many of the modern day people of Scotland, Ireland, Ulster & Wales share an ancient Celtic heritage.)
Some descendants from Maryland during the late 1800's claimed that John Mackenny of Scarborough, Maine was from the ISLE OF SKYE, INVERNESS, SCOTLAND, however, no documented evidence can be found. Skye was a stronghold of the MacKinnon Clan, however, the Mackenzie Clan had a large stronghold in Inverness just a few miles east on the mainland. During the 1600’s, families associated with Mackenzies & Mackinnons as well as other clans most likely drifted into various other areas outside of their traditional strongholds. It seems likely our John Mackenny resided in this Inverness area of the western highlands & isles, however, it is possible that he or his family drifted farther south into the Galloway area. The specific area of Scotland where he originated will probably never be proven.
Original source material concerning him is very limited and quite sketchy. He is believed by most descendants as well as the foremost New England genealogical researchers to be the immigrant ancestor who was a soldier in the Scottish revolutionary army that attempted to place their own Charles II on the throne of Great Britain as the rightful heir of the Stuart monarchy. The Scottish army was defeated by the military dictator, Oliver Cromwell, and the English forces after the battles of Dunbar & Worcester. Many of these Scotchmen were taken prisoner & transported to New England during th early 1650's.
John Mackenny was transported to Boston, Massachusetts in 1652 after he & other Scots were captured at the Battle of Worcester.
He is believed to have served his 7 year indenture in the Boston or York area, then settled in the Scarborough & the Saco Valley area of southern Maine which was then a province of Massachusetts. He was married in Scarborough about 1668, however, the actual name of his wife has never been determined.
As mentioned above, he most likely pronounced his name with a strong Gaelic accent, his name must have been very difficult to transcribe by the various records keepers in New England & Maine. It was "phonetically" spelled in the various records as Mackeny/Macshane/Mackane/Mackany/Machanny/Mechenne/Markany & even odd transcriptions such as Mackshawine & Mackemich which would be the closest to the original Gaelic MacCoinneach for Mackenzie. Succeeding generations later dropped the a in Mac, using the abbreviated version of Mc & standardized the name to McKenney, the spelling now used by most Maine descendants. The practice of using the abbreviated version of Mc became quite common in Scottish, Irish & Scots-Irish/Ulster-Scots families whose surnames began with Mac, including those families who immigrated to America, Canada, Australia & elsewhere.
The first mention of John Mackenny in this Saco region of Maine appears in the Maine Province and Court Records, 2:207: "Att a Court houlden at Sacoe by the Justices of the peace appoynted by speciall Commission from the Right Honorable Sir ROBERT CARR Knight, Collonell GEO. CARTWRIGHT & SAMUELL MAVERICKE Esquire, for the province of Mayn this 7th day of November, 1665, In the seaventeenth yeare of our Soveraign Lord the King.
“Mr. Nathaniell Philllips is plaintiffe as Atturney for Kenny Mechanny of Boston In an Action of debt Contra JOHN MECHANNY defendant. The Jury finds for the plaintiffe nine pounds, 1s, 9d, damages 5s & Cost of Court."
From York County Deeds, Book 4, Page 40, dated 1 Aug 1668, Joshua Scottow conveyed land at "Blacke Poynt- - -bounded on the west with Christiphr Peckitt's & JOHN MACKANNY's line."
From "Descendants of Edward Small & Allied Families" by Lora A.W. Underhill
"- - - -The land belonging to Captain Scottow consisted of the "Cammock Patent" and seven hundred and fifty acres bordering upon it, together with all his houses, fishing-houses, cattle, etc., which Scottow had purchased from Henry Joselyn had leased portions of it to "divers persons," who later "had leases made unto them by the said Scottow." From these premises it is safe to conclude that "JOHN MACKENNY", who lease from Scottow was dated "1668", may have been a tenant of Jocelyn previous to that year. His lease of fourteen acres from Scottow, in which is "family" is mentioned as consisting of one, show that he was still unmarried.- - - - This family of Mackenny, or Mackenney, modernized McKenney, and almost invariably appearing in the early records with the Scotch perfix "Mac", has been held by the Maine branch to be of Scottish origin, though regarded Irish by several authorities; but the Maryland descendants go still further, claiming that their first ancestor, whom they supposed to have been John, of Scarborough, was from the Isle of Skye, County Inverness, Scotland."
(Don’s note: I have found no real evidence that John came from the Isle of Skye. All we have is this mention of a Maryland “family tradition”.)
From "History of Gorham" (Maine) by Hugh D. McLellan, page 657, "The family of McKenney is of Scotch origin. It is claimed that the name is only another form of McKenzie, and that the McKenneys are a branch of that clan. It seems probable, that John McKenney, who was in Scarborough as early as 1668, and who was the first of the name of whom we have certain record in this part of the country, is identical with John McKanne, whose name is found in a list of Scotch prisoners captured at the battle of Dunbar, and who came to America about 1651."
The deed transaction, mentioned above, was printed in the Maine Historical and Genalogical Recorder, vol I, Page 193, entitled "Scarborough Land Grants, 1663". Other neighbors of John Mackenny who leased land from Scottow in 1668 were Samuel Oakman 50 acres, Peter Hindson 33 acres, Richard Moore 12 acres, Christopher Busset 16 acres & Ambrose Boaden junr 26 acres.
Also from the York County Deed records, Book 4, dated 12 Jan 1673 is the following: "JOHN MACKANNY purchased of Robert Jordan a tract of land on the Nonsuch River near Chessemores Hill."
A petition in October 1676 was circulated among the settlers of Scarborough defending Capt Scottow who was under some local criticism concerning his actions during the Indian wars of that area. From Bodges "Soldiers in King Philips's War" .
"Whereas Mr Scottow of Boston Stood by us in all our streights and distresses during the late Warr with the Indians and not only encouraged us with his presence from April until January last, but alsoe releived us with a barrell of powder and all sorts of ammunition as it cost him in Boston near to twenty pounds for which he is not yet paid, - - - - -and your petitioners shall further humblie pray for your honors peace and prosperity.
JOHN MAKENNY ,Henry Jocelyn, Ambrose Bouden, John Libby Sr,- - - -" (several others, 27 citizens in all)
Again from Underhill's book: "With the renewal of Indian hostilities, all differences were removed, since on August 1, 1677, among those credited with active service under Captain Scottow were "JOHN MARKANY," "Ambrose Boden," John Tenney, Thos. Cummings, Richd Honywell, the Libby's, Andrew & John Brown & others."
From “Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire” by Noyes, Libby, Davis:
“McKENNEY, the Scotch prisoners may account for this family, which has also been consid. Irish.- - - - -
JOHN, Scarboro, - - - - - - In 1675 (deed antedated to 1 Aug 1668) Joshua Scottow confirmed to him 14 a. at Black Point, 1 a. of it adj. to his home - - - - As a refugee Salem aided him in 1677-8 and paid in 1679 for carrying the fam. to Black Point, where in 1681 he had a goodly amt. of livestock.”
During King Philip’s War, an official casuality list indicates our ancestor, John Mackenny, was wounded thru the chest & back at Black Point near Scarborough during an ambush of 90 settlers in 1677. He and about 50 survivors escaped to the fort at Garrison Cove. Later, John Mackenny & other wounded men were transported to Salem along with the wives & children of the settlers. When Indian hostilities appeared to taper off in 1679, John moved his family back to Black Point. However, during the Indian wars of the next decade, the settlers were forced to defend themselves during periodic attacks.
From “A DOLEFUL SLAUGHTER NEAR BLACK POINT”
The Battle at Moore’s Brook, Scarborough, Maine, June 29, 1677 by Sumner Hunnewell
Originally published in two parts in the May 2003 and August 2003 issues of The Maine Genealogist.
JOHN MCKENNEY may have been a captured Scottish soldier, indentured to Massachusetts after the battle of Dunbar where Cromwell had routed the Scots sympathetic to Prince Charles. By 1664 he was in Scarborough and there he settled having received a grant of land in 1668. Although he got into a row with Captain Scottow, the owner of the garrison, McKenney supported the captain while others in the town spoke against him. McKenney and his family fled the war and became refugees in Salem.- - - - - - -
JOHN MCKENNEY was shot through the breast and back, and was sent back to Salem where his family waited for him. There they stayed until the town paid to have them returned to Black Point in 1679.
Honord: Sr._ :Salem: the: 4th:July 1677.—
Vndrstanding, pr doctor Barton, tht yor: honoer
desires, & Expected, to receiue a pticular acctt.
of the mens names tht are wounded, as alsoe the
place they belong to, wth the manner of their
wounds, haue accordingly, made Inquiry, & Sent
you acctt as followeth—
Daniell: Dike: of Milton : through the Arm boan Splintrd
Ben : Rockett of Medfield . two Shots In thigh
Jacob: parker of Chensford: shott through the shouldr.
Tho: Dutton of Bellricke: shott In the knee & belly
Jno: Mechenne, of Blackpoint: throug the brest & back
James Veren of Salem: Through the upr: part of thigh
Anthony waldern Salem: In the neck
Morgan: Joanes of Newberry: through the thigh—
Caleb : pilsberry of Newberry: In the back
Israell Hunewell of Ipswich In the Legg & Shoulder
When the attacks became overwhelming in 1690, the settlers were forced to completely abandon Scarborough, retreating to coastal settlements in New Hampshire & Massachusetts.
John’s son Robert married Rebecca Sparks in Dover, NH 1692 but eventually returned to Black Point about 1702 & re-claimed his father’s land during the 2d settlement of Scarborough. During the next year, there was another ambush near Massacre Pond & occasional Indian attacks continued for the next few decades. Robert's wife Rebecca was killed after an attack in 1724.
April 1697 - Court Records (York County, ME)
MACKANAY, JOHN
Index Number 605386//Court SESS
Volume/Page NR//Box/File 2-4
Cause CORONER'S REPORT
Drowned in the Ogunquit River because of his unacquaintance with the river.
(Don’s note: This was possibly? John of Scarborough or a son named John. As mentioned above, John's only proven son was Robert McKenney who returned to his father's estate at Black Point, Scarborough about 1702.)
Child of John Mackenny and Mrs (Mackenny) is:
ROBERT McKENNEY I, born Abt 1670 in Scarborough(York) ME; died 22 Jul 1725 in Scarborough(York) ME; married Rebecca Sparks, Mrs 1 Dec 1692 in Dover NH.