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McGee of Scotland, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri


The McGee family originated in Scotland and later removed to Ireland. The first settler to the family of Kentucky was John McGee, born ca 1730, died 1 June 1810. He was a member of the McAfee Company in Botetourt County, Virginia and in 1775 went to Kentucky and claimed 500 acres of land along the Salt River. This was a survey conveyed and laid out for John McGee by his brother-in-law, Robert McAfee who married Ann McCoun and John McGee married Mary McCoun, both daughters of James McCoun and his wife, Margaret Walker. Mary McCoun McGee was born 13 August 1750, died in Missouri 29 July 1837. Also of interest is the fact that this same tract of land was granted to the McAfee Company by Patrick Henry, the Governor of Virginia. John McGee enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and fought in the battle of Point Pleasant on 10 October 1776. In 1779 his family left Botetourt County with the McAfee Company to settle in Kentucky, arriving on the Salt River near Harrodsburg during the winter of 1779 and 1780. After the built their cabin, there were Indian raids and other problems, so they of necessity found shelter in the McAfee Station. During the Indian attack of 9 May 1779, the Indians attempted to "rush" the fort, but were unsuccessful. They then attempted to draw out the white men without success. John McGee and others killed some Indians. During April of 1787 the Indians stole the horses belonging to John McGee as well as his brother-in-law, Robert McAfee and Captain Peter Casey. As a result, they tracked this band of Indians, killing one of them, and recovering their horses. In 1790 John McGee built a stone house for his home, locating it a few yards from his cabin which was on the Salt River. This grant adjoined the original grant on which he was residing (on the east side). He also received another grant of land, 500 acres, from Governor Charles Scott of Kentucky. John McGee was one of the twelve people of the Salt River Settlement that organized and built the New Providence Presbyterian Church.

After the death of John McGee in 1810, his widow, Mary McGee (called Mollie) and her eldest son, James McGee, removed to Monroe County, Missouri. In November of 1829 Mary McGee and her son, James and five members of the McKamey family established Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church which was located about six miles east of Paris, Missouri. James McGee died in 1846 and his mother in 1837 and both were buried at the Pleasant Hill Church.

Issue of John McGee and his wife, Mary McCoun McGee

  • James McGee, born 6 January 1768, married Polly Wilson.
  • Jane McGee married John Bigham.
  • John McGee, born 28 Nov 1775 married (1) Jane Curry (2) Mary Bigham.
  • Joseph McGee, born 14 Oct 1778, married Nancy Lyon on 12 September 1805. He died 10 September 1853 in Mercer County, Kentucky. Issue:
    1. Thely McGee, born 31 Jan 1809, married Mr. Beadle.
    2. David McGee, born 7 Dec 1812, died 16 September 1850.
    3. Harvey McGee, born 7 Dec 1814, died 16 Jan 1870.
    4. John Jackson McGee, born 17 Mar 1816, died 7 Aug 1864, married Amanda Helen Irvin on 2 Nov 1854 in Mercer County. Amanda was born 14 May 1834, died 18 Nov 1916. Issue:
    1. Joseph Irvin McGee, born 18 Dec 1859, died 24 Oct 1862.
    2. William Henry McGee, born 12 Sept 1862, died 23 Oct 1921, unmarried.
  • James McGee, born 13 Aug 1818, died 20 Feb 1867.
  • Peggy McGee married Robert Simpson.
  • Polly (Mary) McGee married Andrew Wood.
  • William McGee 1785-1846 married (1) Jane Bigham (2) Sally Voria.
  • Colonel David McGee, born 30 June 1792, died 16 Aug 1851, married Sally A. Duncan.
  • Prudy McGee married James Smith.
  • Ann Mcgee married Hugh Smith.

    Joseph McGee, a son of John McGee (above) and his wife, Mary, resided about a mile east of the stone house of his father. His home was located on the land grant of his father on the Old Trails Road near Harrodsburg and Frankfort Turnpike. During the War Between the States, this home was operated as a Tavern by his son, John J. McGee. The old McGee Tavern was torn down in about 1860 and replaced by a house built by John J. McGee, a son of Joseph McGee. The new house was built on higher ground about 150 yards west of the Tavern. The name of this place today is Oal View, and is about 3/4 miles west of Kentucky Highway No. 35 (the Louisville Road) on the Jackson pike.

    John J. McGee owned a large part of the two original land grants from Governor Patrick Henry of Virginia and Governor Charles Scott of Kentucky to his grandfather.

    • Sources:

    The Register, Vol. 21, page 18, The Certificate Book of the Virginia Land 1778 and 1779, John McGee received a grant of 1,000 acres on the Salt River; The Register, Vol. 25, page 28, The Life and Times of Robert B. McAfee and the Settlements on the Salt River; Genealogies of Kentucky Families, the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society; Mercer County, Kentucky Marriages.

    Last Will and Testament of John McGee in Mercer County, Kentucky. dated 1 May 1808.

    In the Name of God Amen! I John McGee of the county aforesaid calling to mind the mutability of all living and being deeply impressed with a sense of my approaching dissolution and at this time being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory do ordain and establish this instrument in writing to be my last will and testament.

    In the first place I resign my soul into the care of Almighty God who gave it relying alone upon the merits of Jesus Christ for Salvaation and my body I desire to be decently buried by my Executors to be hereinafter named.

    Secondly, it is my desire that my debts be paid out of what money is due me.

    Thirdly, my son James has got all that I intend for him already.

    Fourthly, My daughter Polly Woods is to have one half of a three-hundred-and-twenty-seven-and-three-quarters acre of Land lying on Salt River above the second creek above Brasheares Creek laid on the shares by John McCoun, Sen. to her and her heirs forever. The other half the said John McCoun is to have to him and his heirs for his trouble of laying the claim.

    Fifthly, It is my will that my daughters, Prudence Smith, peggy Simpson and Ann Smith have a tgract of land containing three hundred and sixty acres on Salt River at the narrow passage to be divided equally between them and to their heirs forever.

    Sixthly, The five hundred acre tract of land adjolining me on the East for which I am now at law with Joseph Lillard and others, my sons, John, Joseph and William and their heirs are to have.

    Seventhly, The Land I live on the whole tract I now own is to go to my wife Molly and my son David equally in interest until the death of my wife at which time my son David is to have the same to him and his heirs forever.

    Eighthly, My Negro man Tom--David my son is to have him, and his heirs forever. All the balance of my Negroes as I got them by my wife, it is my desire that they should still belong to her, and at her death or at any time she prefers to dispose of them to any of the children she thinks proper.

    Ninthly, As to all the balance of my personal property including money, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, household furniture and all my movable property of whatever kind it be shall go to my wife and my son Davy and at my wife's death my son Davy is to have the whole and his heirs forever.

    Tenthly, It is my desire that my son John be my Executor to see that this my will is property attended to, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this first day of May 1808.

    /s/John McGee (seal)

    Signed in my Presents: Robert B. McAfee, Matthew Forsythe, William Blackwool.

    Codicil dated 14 May 1808. "My daughter Jane McGee who I have omitted to hame in the body of this will got all I ever intended for her." /s/John McGee (his mark). Test: Robert B. McAfee, Thomas Caldwell. A True Copy 1 Mar 1838 by John J. McGee. Mercer County Office of the Clerk, Will Book No. 4, pp. 90-91.