MCGINLEYS IN AMERICA

The history of the McGinley surname (and its many variants) is a long one in America. Our association with the state of Pennsylvania has been strong since we first arrived. Even today, more than half of all McGinleys in America are recorded in the state of Pennsylvania. The next biggest concentration of the name is in the neighbouring state of New York. Together, these two states account for more than 70% of Americas McGinleys. The first McGinleys started to arrive in America in the early 1700’s. It is generally believed that those who arrived prior to the early 1800’s, arrived as slaves either directly from Britain or by way of the Carribean Islands. We have recorded evidence of a James McGinley who arrived in Maryland in 1774, described as a 'runaway servant'. Bryan McGinley, even earlier, in the year of 1745 was also described as a slave when he was recorded in Philadelphia (see McGinley Slaves section). No doubt there were many more McGinley slaves, probably most of them went unrecorded. The many reasons for the Irish people leaving their native land can be seen in the ‘Irish Diaspora’ section. The state of Pennsylvania was probably seen as a pluralistic area. It was named after William Penn, an Englishman who had travelled through Ireland, knew it fairly well and departed for the 'new world' from Cork in 1669.

AMERICA 1725

JAMES MCGINLEY – PIONEER and LAND OWNER
b.c.1706

The earliest recorded McGinley in America is a James McGinley who was born around the year 1706 in Ireland, according to family tradition in Co Donegal. We know for sure that he was in America by the year 1725 as he got married to a Miss Garretson. He appears in records at Head of Elk, Maryland in 1738. She was born around the year 1695 in Delaware of Dutch origin. They had four children, Amos, John, Sallie and another daughter, name unknown. He is known to have purchased property in Fairfield, York (now Adams County) in Pennsylvania in the year 1739! We know that up to this time (and even later) the spelling of surnames, especially Irish ones often changed. In this instance, on some of the early records James is surnames McGenley. The land was known as ‘Carrolls Delight’, named after its previous/first owner Charles Carroll, an Irishman. The names Archibald Beard, John Withrow and Jeremiah Lochery are also mentioned. It is not clear if they split the land up or bought individually. It is clear however that these four men were among the very first to settle in and develop the area of Fairfield. Lochery is a well known native Donegal surname, while the other two are known Scottish Protestant settler names in Donegal since around 1609. It is tempting to suggest that all four new each other in Donegal. James McGinley purchased these lands while they were still living in Maryland. He soon moved down to Pennsylvania sometime between the years 1739 and 1740. He was obviously a hard working and studious fellow. We do not know how he got to America or whether he was a slave or not, but in his case it seems unlikely as he was able to marry and buy property very quickly. Nevertheless, there are no ship records showing him as a passenger. Those who paid their own fare are usually registered while the slaves were more often than not ignored. The offspring of James McGinley also done well, most of them recorded as owning land and two in particular being men of distinction.

JOHN MCGINLEY – PIONEER and LANDOWNER
b.c. 1744 - d. 1794

James had a son called John McGinley and he was born around the year 1744/5. John married a Jane Alexander of Fairfield, Pennsylvania. She too was of Irish stock. He owned many acres of land, mostly given to him by his father. Under the year 1789, we have a record of him owning land in the Fairfield area. Also mentioned under this date is an Amos McGinley, a brother of John and an uncle of the famed Reverend Amos McGinley. Together, John McGinley and Jane Alexander had nine children namely, Abigale, Amos, Ebenezer, James, John, Joseph, Margaret, Mary and Sarah! At this point it should be noted that three of their sons grew up to be fine gentlemen of distinction and famed throughout the country. The other two sons were later described as ‘property owners’. Details below.

AMOS MCGINLEY – ‘The Marrying Parson’
b. 1778 - d. 1856

The noted Reverend Amos McGinley was born on the 4th March 1778, in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John McGinley and Jane Alexander. He was a very influential figure in the religious life of early Pennsylvania. He was unusually for a McGinley, of the Presbyterian faith. During his lifetime, he married over 697 couples and acquired the nickname of ‘The Marrying Parson’. He served for many years in the Lower and Upper Path Valley Churches, Pennsylvania. He was such a good man that many children took 'McGinley' as a middle name at baptism, in his honour. Possibly the first on record is Thomas McGinley Campbell born in 1805. He was one of the leading lights in the development of Fairfield. We have a note in the history books (History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania – Warner, Beers and Co 1886), of a James Reid and Amos Maginley (note different spelling) being appointed as the Committee to collect funds for the ‘Savannah Fire Sufferes’ in 1820! He was noted for his great charitable work. He was also recorded as a property owner in Fairfield by the year 1802 as were his brothers Joseph, Ebenezer, John and James !. He was personably responsible for much of the early building work done in and around Fairfield including the original school and the Presbyterian church.

Lt Col Commandant
JAMES MCGINLEY
b. 1763

Another well known son of John McGinley and Jane Alexander was Lt Col Commandant James McGinley. He was born in the year of 1763 in Fairfield Pennsylvania. He was a ‘Pioneer of Tennessee’ for qualification for the ‘First Families of Tennessee Certificate’. He was well known and well respected in his community. He married a Susan Alexander (we do not know if she was related to his mother Jane Alexander). Together they had a total of 10 children! (John A, Mary A, Oliver A, Joseph Rankin, Jane, Elizabeth, Margaret, Ebenezer, Sarah H and Melissa Jane). James was a noted Revolutionary War Soldier. He enlisted at the tender age of 17 in the York County Militia in the year 1780. By the year 1793, he moved his family to York County (now called Blount County) in the state of Tennessee. They lived in an area known as the Tellico Blockhouse. His military career was successful. He rose to Lt. Col. Commandant in the 12th Regiment of the Tennessee Militia during the period of the war of 1812.

JOSEPH MCGINLEY

b. 1799

Joseph was another son of John McGinley and Jane Alexander. He was born in 1799 in the family home at Fairfield. He grew up to be a farmer (he worked the family farm until he purchased his own land), businessman, and for a while was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County. One of his sons was Rev. William Anderson McGinley.

Lt. EBENEZER MCGINELY
b. 1807

Yet another noted person of the surname McGinley, directly descended from the early settler John McGinley, was Ebenezer McGinely (note that his surname was at least once recorded thus). Ebenezer was almost certainly of the Presbyterian faith like his family. His father was James McGinley and his mother Susan Alexander. During the American Civil War, the people of Fairfield played their part, like the many McGinleys throughout the country who were active. The Fairfield Zouaves were organised in August of 1861 with the name of Ebenezer McGinely listed as a Lieutenant. Nothing much more is known about him. Finally in relation to the Fairfield McGinleys, in November of 1861 the Fairfield Ladies organised a ‘Soldiers Relief Association’ with Mrs Judge McGinley (Vice President) and Miss M. McGinley (Secretary).

REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON MCGINLEY

b. 1831

Son of Hon. Joseph McGinley, William was born on the family farm in Fairfield, February 15th 1831. Because he spent most of his life outwith Fairfield, most people do not associate him with the Fairfield McGinleys. He was educated at Gettysburg College and at Washington College. He read law and was admitted to the bar at Gettysburg before turning to religion. He graduated from Andover Theological Seminary (Andover, Massachusetts) in 1858.

James McGinley, the first of the name in America, built a log house on his land about the year 1745. Afterwards he built a substantial stone dwelling house on the site. It is recorded that five generations of McGinleys were born and lived in the house. The house survived into the twentieth century but has now gone.

Another noted early McGinley settler in America was a Bryan McGinley. He arrived in Philadelphia towards the end of the year 1745. It is known for sure that he arrived in America as a slave. He travelled from Ireland to Philadelphia aboard the ship ‘Katherine’ The date, according to the passenger list was November 1745. Extracts from- “Accounts of Servants Bound and Assigned before James Hamilton, Mayor of Philadelphia” gives the following…..Bryan McGinley, ‘a servant from Ireland’. The ship ‘Katherine’ was well known for transporting Irish and African slaves to America and the Carribean Islands.

The early records for the state of Pennsylvania show a record of a marriage between a John McGinley and Sarah Ann Hurry. Her father was from Scotland and she was born around 1750 and John is reckoned to have been born around the same time or slightly earlier. They married in Philadelphia. The history books also recall the name of James McGinley, described as an early Scotch-Irish Calvinist settler on Beechers Island, Pennsylvania. The exact date is not known for his arrival but it is said to be around the very late 1700’s and early 1800’s. As a ‘non Catholic’ he would NOT have arrived as a slave. As a note we should add that Pennsylvania started to abolish slavery in 1780, but it was not fully gone until the year 1787.

Another important early McGinley settler was Capt John McGinley. He was born John P. McGinley and was a signer at the Contintental Congress in 1778. It is thought that he arrived in America as a slave, going by the early date. He rose to become Capt. John McGinley and fought against the British in the American War of Independance.

We have record of a Cornelius McGinley who was born in Ireland around the year 1780. We do not know when he came to Pennsylvania. His wife was Catherine McGee, also from Ireland. They gave birth to a son in Pennsylvania, Manassah (Irish Mánas, historically a very common name among our clan). Manassah McGinley was born in the year 1800.

The oldest Catholic community in western Pennsylvania was named Sugar Creek (originally Buffalo Mission). It began after the emigration by a group of mostly Catholics, but some Presbyterians from the banks of Loch Erne in Co Donegal in the year 1790. They gave their name to the township of Donegal. The group contained some by the name McGinley. Their first language was Gaelic (in most cases their only tongue). They had to sign a petition to Bishop Carroll asking for a priest they could understand, ie a Gaelic speaker. On the list of signatures, dated 1803, was Jacob McGinnelly, John McGinnelly and Columbus McGinnely! The list also contained mostly typical Donegal surnames such as Coyle, Dugan, Dougherty, Gillespie, McFadden, McLaughlin and Sweeney.

In Monroeville, Pennsylvania, there stands an old stone house. It is the oldest ‘field’ stone house in the town. It is typical of the vernacular architecture of the late 1700’s and early 1800’s in the state of Pennsylvania. This fine old building is known as McGinley House after one of its earliest owners. The house was most likely built around 1825-1830 by a John McClintock. The house and property (including 87 acres) later passed on to a Mr Isaac McGinley, described as one of the prominent men of the area. This clearly shows that the McGinley surname was known in this part of Pennsylvania by the early 1800’s at least. McGinley House is now a museum, open to the public in the summer months. The house has been fully restored to its old splendour as an early 19th century farm dwelling. The grounds include a herb garden and a Colonial era stone watering trough. McGinley House is at 2381 McGinley Road, Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The McGinley House is now registered as an historical landmark with the Pittsburgh Historical and Landmark Foundation. The Monroeville McGinleys were largely involved in the early developement of the Monroeville area. The McGinleys were noted landowners in the area. They were also heavily involved in the Presbyterian Church. James McGinley and his son John, are listed as 'Charter Members' of the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville.

Today we can still see the sight of their place of worship. The historic church known as 'The Old Stone Church' was built in 1896. It was built using the stones from the earlier church on the same sight. The earlier church was built in 1834 and would have been well frequented by the early Monroeville McGinley family. It has an unusual octagonal design with lovely stained glass windows. The church is surrounded by the Cross Roads Cemetery, also of great historical value. Most of the early names associated with the church (and graveyard) are from Donegal, whether native Donegal or settlers in Donegal. Names such as Beatty, Johnstone, McGinley, Mellon and Patton are found.

The earliest of the Monroeville McGinleys on record was James McGinley, father of Isaac. He was born in the year 1799, probably in Ireland. He is known for sure to have been in the Monroeville area before the year 1830, possibly earlier. James was from a Presbyterian background and married Mary (Polly) Caldwell. They settled in Monroeville and started a family. They had six children together (Ann Jane, Elizabeth, Isaac, John, Sarah also known as Sallie and Rebecca). James became a prominent businessman in the area for years. James died in 1877. His descendants through his male line, his sons Isaac (b. 1821) and John (b. 1824), his grandsons John (b. 1852), James (b. 1856), Joseph (b. 1868) and Robert James (b. 1848) and even his greatgrandson Robert (b. 1873), (his father being father Robert James), were all prominent members of the Presbyterian Church around Monroeville and all important businessmen and landowners!

A very interesting account about an early McGinley settler can be found in the "History of Butler County, Pennsylvania" – 1883. It tells of Michael McGinley, the son of John McGinley, an early settler who arrived in 1800 to the township of Clearfield in Butler County (he owned 800 acres of land in Clearfield by 1808). Michael was born on the ocean in the year 1800. He was on a ship travelling from Ireland. He was born on board apparently near to death. The captain of the ship held the new born baby in his arms and was just about to throw him overboard (believing he was dead), but he was stopped by other passengers. Michael grew up to live a long life and had eleven children, only two being boys (Ann E, Catherine T, Gracie E, Mary, Bridget, Sarah J, Margaret, Henrietta, Phioleme and John F.P)!. This book also gives a good general account of the area, showing many Donegal surnames and Irish names in general among the early settlers.

The death toll was high on these ships, often called 'Coffin Ships'. Patrick Healy was a typical Irishman, escaping from poverty and racism in his own country, hoping for a better life in America. He wrote...."everyone was singing and dancing and having a merry time until a man took sick and died...it was cholera, a deadly plague. The next day ten died; the following day fifty....including our own little Mary, two years old at the time. She was thrown overboard. I remember father, who was appointed by the doctors to help wrap the body in sheets and slide it out of the manhole into the ocean". Cholera was one of many common diseases that easily developed in cramped surroundings. These passenger ships usually took about three months to cross the Atlantic.

There is a place called Cook’s Run in Pennsylvania. This area was settled at an early date by a man called James McGinley around the time of the Revolution. The area was known for many years as McGinley’s Bottom. This was then Pine Creek Township in Northumberland County. The land was claimed by Pre-Emption right and the warrant dated August 2nd 1785. The land was purchased from the McGinleys by a William Cook in the year 1795. Some time after that the name of the area was changed to Cooks Run. Information from ‘Historical View of Clinton County, Pennsylvania’ by D.S. Maynard.

Another note recalls possibly another James McGinley, who in 1765 is recorded as a signatory and witness to a deed marking out the new boundaries between Marsh Creek, Thoms Creek and Piney Creek which “the Presbytery ordered to be entered on record”. He was possibly one of the earliest settlers in this area. Source “Churches of the Valley; Or a Historical Sketch of the Old Presbyterian Congregations of Cumberland and Franklin Counties in Pennsylvania”.

There was also a fairly large settlement of Donegal families around the Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the late 1700's. Among the earliest of settlers here, we have the names of William Maginley and Peter Maginley. There names are recorded on a petition dated March 17th, 1784 and they would have been in the area much earlier. The petition was to the state of Pennsylvania looking for help regarding 'land rights'. The petition listed 'settlers who have lived for a number of years before the Revolution at and near the Great Island on the west bank of the Susquehanna River'. The McGinley surname can still be found in this area.

Pittsburgh has a long tradition of McGinleys too. Probably the most well known family here are the McGinleys who part owned the Pittsburgh Steelers Football Team. The descendants of these McGinleys are mostly successful businessmen, lawyers etc today. The Pittsburgh area has long been an attraction for settlers being one of the main centres of industry especially in the coal mines and steel industry.

In the town of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, a few McGinley families are to be found. They settled there well before the Great Hunger. They were largely responsible (along with other Donegal families such as the O'Donnells and the Gallaghers) for the building of the canal and railroad systems in the area. John McGinley was the tallest boatman on the Lehigh River and was known to all as "Big John". If you go to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, you will find so many Donegal surnames, you will think that you were actually in Donegal! (info from Ronald L. McGinley, Sierra Madre, California).

Apart from an occasional ship arriving in America, the widespread settlements started in the 1820’s in places such as Baltimore, Boston, New York and Philadelphia. But the large scale settlement started around 1845 and continued for another fifty years, the peak years being 1881 until 1885 (New York Official Passenger Lists). Looking at the Ellis Island Records Database (covering the years 1892 – 1924) we get a good idea of the types of people coming through the port. A study of the years 1892 to 1899 shows that 60% of McGinleys were female. The vast majority of those with the McGinley surname were young. Those under the age of twenty accounted for 22% and those aged 20 to 29 accounted for a big 59%. These two youngest age groups accounted for 81% of the McGinleys. The long and arduous journey would have been too much for the older generations to handle.

The variant spelling of McGindley and to a lesser extent McGindlay are found in America but unlike other spellings that are located mostly in Pennsylvania, these forms are more strongly associated with neighbouring states to the west such as Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri and Ohio. They are however rare. Austin N. McGindley was a very successful lawyer in Moberly, Missouri. He set up his own law firm with James H. McGindley (his brother) and they specialised as war claim agents. He took part in some of the most important court cases in Green County, Indiana where he became the District Attorney. He was born in 1832 in Ohio and was still alive by 1884. (Source; The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men). The earliest we have of the name McGindley is a Neal McGindley recorded as having settled at Grassy Run (Perry Township, Brown County, Ohio) prior to 1817. An interesting note of history recalls him shooting his son Manasseh (Irish Mánas), accidently, mistaking him for a deer!.

VIRGINIA MCGINLEYS

The State of Virginia also had a settlement of Donegal Irish, but they were not as prominent as those in states like New York and ofcourse Pennsylvania. We find a higher percentage of English surnames here also. Nevertheless, according to folklore, the first whiskey still in Virginia was in the Goshen Township. This distillery was apparently in operation during late 1700's by a man named McGinley (first name unknown). It was located four miles south of Mechanicsburg on a farm later owned by a Mr Joel Burnside. By 'recorded time' (after 1817) no mention of this McGinley occurs. By now the whiskey distillery was 'official'. A proper still was built and owned on the same site by Eli Baldbridge, later owned by John Sherry. The still was abandoned around 1824.

TENNESSEE MCGINLEYS

The State of Tennessee has some notable early McGinleys too. The earliest would seem to be Col James McGinley (1763-1834) a direct descendant of the first known McGinley in America. Col James was born in Pennsylvania but ended up in Tennessee as an original 'Pioneer of Tennessee'. He moved to Maryville, Tennessee sometime in the late 1700's, after the end of the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783. One of his sons was the reknowned lawyer, W.D. McGinley (1822-1881) as was Joseph Rankin McGinley (1798-1825) by different mothers. These Maryville McGinleys were responsible for the formation of the McGinley Cemetery. The earliest known 'occupier' of the cemetry was Joseph Rankin McGinley himself in 1825. Many of the Maryville McGinleys were afterwards buried here. It clearly started out as a family cemetry, but it grew and started to accept persons not related to the McGinleys although most were, by marriage. At one point the cemetry gained the long title of McConnell, McGinley, Amerine Cemetery after some families who married into the McGinleys. Today the cemetery has reverted back to being called simply The McGinley Cemetery and is a known local landmark. The cemetery was originally part of a family farm owned by John Newton McGinley, son of Joseph Rankin McGinley.

Some early McGinleys buried at The McGinley Cemetery include Joseph Rankin McGinley (February 17th 1798 - April 9th 1825), Nancy Jane McGinley Amerine (March 6th 1858 - August 20th 1885), Laura I. McGinley (January 16th 1876 - September 2nd 1888), Nelly Bernette McGinley (April 5th 1888 - December 24th 1888), Nancy A. McGinley (March 2nd 1873 - November 12th 1891), Mary A. McGinley (June 30th 1818 - November 28th 1897) and John Newton McGinley (December 31st 1823 - June 8th 1894).

When we read about early McGinley or even Irish settlers in America it is more often than not involving purchasing land. When we hear of a McGinley acquiring hundreds of acres in the 1700's or early 1800's, it is almost with disbelief (from the view of those in Ireland). During those times, it was almost impossible for a McGinley to own such large amounts of land in his native Ireland, infact if a McGinley owned five acres he would have been very fortunate. The average McGinley in Ireland at that time would have been lucky to have owned the shirt on his back!. There were many English instigated laws stopping Catholics from buying or controlling land in Ireland. This is far from the time of the Gaelic Period when the McGinleys, largely, controlled their own destiny.

Even before the start of the 20th century, McGinleys had made their mark on America. Not counting the many priests/clerics and land-owners, we should remember....Austin N. McGindley the noted lawyer in Missouri and W.D. McGinley a noted lawyer in the state of Tennessee. In the realm of showbusiness, few were bigger than Ben Maginley the very successful entertainer, circus owner and clown. Theodore McGinley was one of the first and most successful early photographers in America. He had two photographic showrooms/businesses in California. John McGinley was a noted early newspaper man being the editor, distributor and part-owner of 'The Day' newspaper in New London in the 1880's. E.D. McGinley was a bit of an 'all-rounder, being a mayor, Government Inspector, liqour wholesaler, part-time newspaper man and an opera house owner!. In the world of sport, Tim McGinley was an early baseball star from Philadelphia.

AH, WILDERNESS! (1935)

This was the title of a successful play and film by writer Eugene O'Neill. It is a known fact that the story is about the McGinley family of Connecticut, close friends of his and a family whom he admired. The film is the story of small town life in turn of the century America. The original play had the distinction of being the only true comedy that O'Neill ever wrote. In contrast to his usual tragic works, Ah, Wilderness! is rather sentimental and nostalgic. The play was first produced on Broadway on October 2nd 1933 at the Guild Theatre and ran for 289 performances. The story was later made into the 1959 Broadway musical 'Take Me Along' starring Jackie Gleeson and Walter Pidgeon. It ran for 448 performances and Jackie Gleeson won the 1960 Tony Award as Best Actor in a musical. The film version by MGM in 1935 included Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore and the great Mickey Rooney in a small early role. The screenplay was remade in 1948 as 'Summer Holiday' with Mickey Rooney now cast in the main role! Again the film was redone (as Ah, Wilderness!) for television in 1976.

In the film, the main character is Ned Miller, an owner of a local newspaper, a kind family man, a warm, wise and understanding man. In reality, this is John McGinley, a dear family friend of O'Neill's family as he was growing up. John McGinley was indeed a successful local newspaper owner ('The Day' newspaper) and mentor for the young Eugene O'Neill. Another of the main characters in the story, Art/Arthur Miller, is in reality Art/Arthur McGinley, the successful reporter and sports journalist and son of John McGinley. Other characters in the film reflect various extended members of the McGinley family. The Connecticut McGinleys newspaper family were a long respected family in the area.

CATHOLIC WORSHIP

It is a fact that during the early American Colonial Period, Catholic worship was banned. This was so in all parts except Pennsylvania and some parts of Maryland. Outwith Pennsylvania, many Irish Catholics changed to various forms of the Protestant faith. The situation in Pennsylvania was very different and very strange. The liberal attitude to religion in Pennsylvania was known far and wide. But this so called religious freedom only extended to those who had a religion or access to religious worship and guidance. It did not extend to those who had no religious faith or no access to such. In otherwords, there was heavy pressure put on those with no religious help in their area to accept another religion. In early Pennsylvania, Catholic churches were few and far between. The early Catholics had very little chance to properly follow their faith. The worst thing a person could do, during this period, was to be 'faithless'. It is under these conditions that we believe that many McGinleys, as well as other Irish, changed to the Presbyterian church. There is no evidence of any notable religious change in Ireland. Times were tough for the early settlers and often they had very little but their religion. The feeling, most probably was, ANY RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE is better than none. The attitude at the time was that the only persons who were 'without religion' were the 'savage indians', and no one wanted to be cast in the same light!

It is true that the Catholic Church was banned elsewhere in America. New York, for example, had some of the strongest Anti-Catholic laws and they actively promoted many conversions to the Protestant churches. Cadwallader Colden's report of 1742 says..."the Irish servants of which there are several in this part of the country (Orange and Ulster counties) and the greatest number of them Roman Catholic". Most of the regional town councils/groups throughout the whole country, in the 1700's and most of the 1800's were usually made up of people from various Protestant churches.

IRISH LANGUAGE

The native tongue of the Irish, the Irish language, was well used in early America. There were many Irish communities that spoke only Irish and had little understanding of English or any other language for that matter. The Irish tongue was most notable in New York and Pennsylvania. During many of the so called New York riots between different ethnic groups, the Irish are known to have communicated, to a large degree, in the Irish tongue. The shadowy Molly Maguire organisation in Pennsylvania was mostly made up of Donegal Irish who only knew the Irish language. It has been recorded that during the Molly Maguire trials of the early 1870's, a large amount of the witnesses and suspects spoke only Irish. One Pennsylvania State Court Report gives the name of Seán Mag Fhionnghaile/John McGinley as an interpreter. He spoke both Irish and English. This gentleman was a known Molly Maguire who took part in anti-English riots in his native Donegal before coming to Pennsylvania. The Irish language became strong again with the large influx of poor Irish during the years of the Great Hunger. It has, however, been in a fast decline since the start of the twentieth century and there are perhaps no family left with a continuous Irish language link left in America. In recent years, however, there has been a small growth in Irish language groups in America and an increase in Americans coming to Ireland on holiday to learn the language at various Irish language colleges.

Many McGinley families later settled in states further west such as Kansas, Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska. Many of these families settled there as a result of American Government Homesteads/Land Grants, offered to families willing to move and settle in these remote areas. Many McGinley families settled in California after the Mexican War of the 1840's. These were mostly farmers who were needed to work and improve the land. (Ronald L. McGinley, Sierra Madre, California).

It should be noted that a few of the early McGinley settlers in America were Presbyterians. It is not known for sure whether they arrived in America as Presbyterians or if they changed when they arrived. Some parts of the ‘new world’ had very little Catholic places of worship initially and some may have decided to become Presbyterians rather than have no religious guidance!. It is a fact that most of the very earliest settlers from Ireland were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. We can easily find notes of traditional Irish Catholic families (many from Co Donegal) settling in America and turning to Presbyterianism. It was not unusual. Names such as Cusick, Gillespie, McAteer, McCloskey, McGaughey, McGhee etc are recorded as Presbyterians in America, while staunchly Catholic in Ireland. The historical religion of the McGinley clan is Catholic and still is today. Nevertheless, many of our clan are now Church of Ireland, Presbyterian (in America) etc. All forms of religion (and none) are welcome, and ALL are part of the McGinley clan.

 

Other early McGinley settlers in America include:

James McGinley, died in York County, Pennsylvania in 1755.

James McGinley had arrived in Maryland in the year 1774. Slave.

John McGindley recorded in Butler County, Pennsylvania in 1776.

Anna McGinly recorded in Adams County, Pennsylvania in 1797.

Eliza McGinly recorded in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in 1797.

Corn McGinley who arrived Pennsylvania 1809, settled in New York in the year 1811.

James McGinley born Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. 7th. October, 1812.

John McGinley, aged 20, arrived New York, 1812.

Michael McGinley, aged 22, arrived New York, 1812.

Hugh McGinley arrived in Pennsylvania in 1813.

Sophia McGinley was born in New Jersey in the year 1815.

Abriget McGinley settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1819.

 

The name of John McGinley of Oakland Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania was listed as fighting for America against the British in the war of 1813. His family had been in the area for years previously. He served with distinction according to "Early Military History: History of Butler County, Pennsylvania". When we look at the American Civil War records (1861-1865), we see that there were many McGinleys who fought on both sides in the conflict. Records show that 17 veterans were recorded on the Confederate side with a massive 232 recorded on the Union side.

A testimony to the fact that many McGinleys settled or were transported to the state of Pennsylvania can be found in the place name of McGinley Valley, just outside York, Pennsylvania. It no doubt commemorates some early McGinley settler in the area. We also have Cooks Creek, previously called McGinleys Bottom. Further more we have the township of Donegal which is called after Co Donegal in Ireland, from where our clan originated. Many other instances occur to acknowledge our settlement in the state of Pennsylvania.

Following are a few facts, figures and bits & pieces relating to McGinleys in America.....................

During the war of 1914-1918, a total of 837 McGinleys enlisted in the American army. By the time of the 1939-1945 war, this number had significantly dropped down to a total of 291 McGinley registrants.

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Pennsylvania has always been the top destination for McGinleys in America. By 2006, most McGinley families still lived in Pennsylvania and to a lesser degree, neighbouring New York State. There is a steady increase in the numbers settling in California and Florida.

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Between the years 1820-1850, Ireland produced the largest number of immigrants to the United States. Between 1820 and 1830 alone, an estimated 4.5 million Irish citizens entered America. Prior to the year 1790, only 8,000 out of 950,000 immigrants to the United States came from Ireland and most of them were Scots/Irish Presbyterians.

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The most common part of the State of Pennsylvania for those surnamed McGinley in the year 1840 was Philadelphia which accounted for around 35% of the name, possibly more.

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In 1880 Pennsylvania was the second most populous state with a population of 4,283,000. Foreign born residents made up 14% of the numbers. Most of the immigrants came from Ireland (236,505), Germany (168,426) and England (80,102).

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One of the passengers who died aboard the Lusitania was a Patrick McGinley of New York. The Lusitania was a luxury liner that became a casualty of the 1914-1918 War when it was torpedoed by a German submarine on May 7th 1915. After only 18 minutes it sunk off the coast of Kinsale, Ireland, killing 1,198 people out of 1,959 on board.

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Col James McGinley (1763-1834), mentioned elsewhere in this history was a lover of horses. He had possessed a particularly fine pair of horses. He was woken one night in the early hours, aroused by some noise. He discovered one of his prized horses was gone. He got on the other horse and followed a trail through some long grass until he came to the mouth of the Tellico River. He saw an Indian on his horse. Col James dismounted, took aim with his gun and shot the Indian who then fell into the river.

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A survey in 1920 (taken from the US Government Census of 1920) indicated the ethnic origin of those named McGinley. When asked, the following results came out....White, 3,553..... Black, 11.....Mixed, 9.....Unknown, 2.

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The above graph shows the interesting comparison between McGinleys in America and the general American public. It can clearly be seen that the McGinleys constantly are above average in all age groups accept the 80 to 89 age range! Information from Ancestry.com from 1920 US Government Census information.