(Continued)
Melanie Jean Barnett | melbar@leland.Stanford.EDU | |
In trying to document this
story, it became apparent that the surname was probably
not Mergery, as we could find none in Kentucky. However,
there were some McGary's in KY early. The infamous Hugh
McGary married Caty Yocum, daughter of Matthias Yocum.
Moreover, there are several Mercer Co, KY deeds for
Yocums---on at least two, a Rosanna McGary is a witness:
We have investigated the possibility that Rosanna was a daughter of Hugh McGary. However, I have copies of the DAR papers for Hugh McGary and she is not listed as a child. I don't think that Yokum was her married name as we have not found any Yocum men who married a Rosanna. Why would Rosanna use McGary as a surname sometimes and Yokum other times? I can't hazard a guess. According to the Yocum book by Smith, Matthias' children are as follows: Caty born abt 1756 married Hugh McGary Smith does not cite sources for all of the children on the list. I have copies of the Shane interview with Jacob (John) Stevens (Draper 12CC page 36) and he names all of the above children except for George and Jonathan. Stevens does not list birthdates. I would like to learn the source for Smith's additional data. Another interesting tidbit we received from Sandi Gorin, of Barren Co, KY, is that there are no Yokums in Barren Co, KY. Rosanna's marriage record is the only one! But we do know that the McGarys left Mercer County for Barren and Henderson Counties. So perhaps Rosanna went from Mercer Co to Barren Co with the McGarys where she met and married William Higgins. I propose that Rosanna Yokum who married William Higgins is indeed a "missing" daughter of Matthias Yoakum Jr and sister of Caty Yocum McGary. After Matthias' wife died (or perhaps after Matthias himself died?) Rosanna went to live with her eldest sister, Caty Yocum McGary. Comments, anyone? |