Macy Genealogy











THE MACY LINE




MACY LINE - FIRST GENERATION

THOMAS MACY

Born: 1608 Chilmark, England
Died: 19 Apr 1682, aged 74

Note: Thomas was a farmer and a whaler, and held many offices on the island of Nantucket. They were baptists by faith. Thomas was listed as one of 68 first settlers in Salisbury Mass. in 1639. No sooner had this group of Pilgrims found their religious freedom in the new land, they then turned and branded another group, the Friends, or Quakers, as witches and heritics. They were subjected to every possible indignity. Laws were passed that banished all Quakers from Massachuschetts under penalty of death. It was against the law to aid or harbor the people of this religion. Although Thomas Macy was a puritan, he did not believe in this. He let four fleeing Quakers into his home for three quarters of an hour to shelter them from a storm. A complaint was made against him and he was summoned to appear and answer all charges. Instead, he wrote a letter explaining how the situation had occurred. He was fined 30 shillings and reprimanded by the Governor. He decided he could not tolerate the injustices around him, so he took his family, and with nine other men, purchased the Island of Nantucket. Not too much later, a man wrote a poem about Thomas Macy and his convictions.

(This poem & information from Macy Genealogy by Sylvanius Macy.)

Thomas Macy and his family were the first white settlers on the island of Nantucket. With him was his wife, and five little children, the oldest was 13 and the youngest was 4. He died on the island at the age of 74.

A letter written by the Nantucket Historical Assoc. in 1974 states......Not only was Thomas Macy our first white settler but many of his descendants did a great deal to spread its name and fame. We have a famous Macy House flag which flew on Macy ships all over the world in our Whaling Museum and this year will have the Nathaniel Macy House...built in 1720 as one of our permanent exhibits, plus considerable Macy memorabilia principally acquired by William Macy, our first President of the Association in 1894.

Marriage: Sarah Hopcott b. 1612, possibly Chilmark, England, d. 1706 Nantucket.
Married: Before 1644

Children:

1. Sarah Macy b. 9 Jul 1644 Salisbury MA, d. 1645 Salisbury MA

2. SARAH MACY b. 1646 d. 1701 (See second generation)

3. MARY MACY b. 1648 d. 1729 (See second generation.)

4. Bethiah Macy b. 1650 Salisbury d. 1732 Nantucket m. 30 Mar 1670 Joseph Gardner

5. Thomas Macy b. 22 Sep 1653 Salisbury d. 3 Dec 1675

6. JOHN MACY b. 1655 d. 1691 (See second generation)

7. Francis Macy b. 1657 Salisbury d. 1658 Salisbury MA




MACY LINE - SECOND GENERATION

1. SARAH MACY

Born: 1 Aug 1646 Salisbury, MA
Died: 1701 Nantucket MA

Father: Thomas Macy
Mother: Sarah Hopcott

Marriage: William Worth b. abt 1640 England, d. Oct 1724 Nantucket
Married: 11 Apr 1665 Nantucket

(See the WORTH line for their children and descendants)



2. MARY MACY

Born: 4 Dec 1648 Salisbury MA
Died: 1729 Nantucket MA

Father: Thomas Macy
Mother: Sarah Hopcott

Marriage: William Bunker b. 1648, d. 6 Jun 1712
Married: 11 Apr 1669 Nantucket

(See the BUNKER line for their children and descendants)



3. JOHN MACY

Born: 14 Jul 1655 at Salisbury MA
Died: Dec 1691 Nantucket MA

Father: Thomas Macy
Mother: Sarah Hopcott

Marriage: Deborah Gardener, dau of Richard Gardner an Sarah Shattuck. She b. 12 Feb 1658, d. 1712 Nantucket,wed unkn date.

Note: John Macy was a carpenter.

Children:

1. JOHN MACY b. 1675, d. 1751 (See third generation)

2. SARAH MACY b. 1766 d. 1748 (See third generation)

3. Deborah Macy b. 3 Mar 1679 Nantucket d. 16 Aug 1742 Nantucket, m. Daniel Russell

4. Bethiah Macy b. 8 Apr 1681 Nantucket d. 6 Jun 1738 Nantucket. She m. 1)Joseph Coffin, 2) John Renough.

5. JABEZ MACY b. 1683 d. 1776 (See third generation)

6. Mary Macy b. 1685 Nantucket d. 27 Jun 1717 Nantucket, m. Solomon Coleman Jul 1711

7. THOMAS MACY b. 1687 d. 1759 (See third generation.)

8. Richard Macy b. 22 Sep 1689 Nantucket d. 25 Dec 1779 Nantucket, m. 1)Deborah Pinkham, 2) Alice Paddack




MACY LINE - THIRD GENERATION

1. JOHN MACY

Born: 1675 Nantucket MA
Died: 28 Nov 1751 Nantucket MA

Father: John Macy
Mother: Deborah Gardner

Marriage: Judith Worth b. 22 Dec 1689 Nant., d. 8 Nov 1767 Nant., dau of John Worth and Miriam Gardner.
Married: 25 Apr 1707 Nantucket

Note: John and his wife, Judith were the frst Macy family to join the Society of Friends. This meeting was established on the island in 1708 and they became members in 1711.

Children:

1. Miriam Macy b. 16 Feb 1708 Nant. d. 2 Aug 1736 Nant. m. Jul 1725 Zephaniah Coffin. He b. 1699 d. 10 Sep 1774

2. Silvanus Macy b. 16 Aug 1709 Nant. d. 6 Sep 1719 Nant. Never wed.

3. Seth Macy b. 22 Aug 1710 Nant. d. 6 Jul 1790 Nant. Never wed.

4. Eliab Macy b. 20 Dec 1712 nant. d. Apr 1723, Never wed.

5. David Macy b. 12 Sep 1714 Nant. d. New Garden NC, m. Nov 1739 Dinah Gardner. She b. Nantucket.

6. Anna Macy b. 17 Dec 1716 Nant. d. 3 Dec 1756 Nant. Wed Oct 1734 Joseph Jenkins b. 28 Jan 1713.

7. Bethiah Macy b. 16 Jan 1719 Nant. d. 1729 Nant. Never wed.

8. JOHN MACY b. 1721 d. aft 1795. (See fourth generation)

9. Judith Macy b. 20 Mar 1723 Nant. d. 25 Jun 1795, m. 1753 William Clasby Jr. b. 1724 d. 30 Dec 1793

10. Jonathan Mac b. 8 Apr 1725 Nant. d. 17 Jun 1798 Nant. m. Jul 1744 Lois Gorham, b. 5 Nov 1727 Barnstable MA, d. 10 Mar 1804 Nant.

11. William Macy b. 23 Jan 1727 Nant. d. 6 Feb 1753 Nant. m. 13 Nov 1746 Mary Barney b. 1728, d. 11 Jul 1777 Nant.

12. Sarah Macy b. 26 Jun 1729 Nant. d.----, m. Oct 1746 Richard Gardner.

13. Abigail Macy b. 26 May 1731 Nant. d. 25 Nov 1763 Nant. Never wed.




2. SARAH MACY

Born: 3 Apr 1677 Nantucket MA
Died: 18 Mar 1748 Nantucket MA

Father: John Macy
Mother: Deborah Gardner

Marriage: John Barnard, b. 24 Feb 1670 (See the BARNARD line for their children and descendants.)



3. JABEZ MACY

Born: 1683 Nantucket MA
Died: 7 Aug 1776 Nantucket MA

Father: John Macy
Mother: Deborah Gardner

Marriage: Sarah Starbuck, dau of Jethro Starbuck and Dorcas Gayer. Sarah b. 20 Dec 1696 Nantucket, d. 28 Oct 1789
Married: ? date, Note: He was a house carpenter.

Children:

1. George Macy b. 11 Mar 1720 Nant. d. dec 1742 Nant. Never wed.

2. Eunice Macy b. 14 Nov 1721 Nant. d. in ndiana. Wed Jul 1742 to Richard Beard.

3. Dorcas Macy b. 16 Jun 1724 Nant. d. 29 Feb 1768 Nant. Never wed.

4. Jethro Macy b. 14 Feb 1728 Nant. d. in NC. wed May 1750 at Nant. to Hepzabeth Worth b. 9 Sep 1726 Nantucket.

5. Daniel Macy b. 21 May 1731 Nant. d. 28 Mar 1785 Nant. m. 1755 at Nant. to Abigail Swain b. 1734 d. 1 Nov 1788 Nant.

6. MATTHEW MACY b. 1732 d.----. (See fourth generation)

7. Lydia Macy b. 18 Sep 1734 Nant. d. 4 Sep 1822, m. 1775 Matthew Jenkins b. 2 Jul 1734

8. Sarah Macy b. 26 Sep 1737 Nant. d. 17 Nov 1800, Never wed.

9. Jabez Macy b. 30 Oct 1739 Nant. d. 18 Sep 1767 Nant. m. Jan 1767 Rachel Cartwright b. 1737 d. 3 Jul 1776




4. THOMAS MACY

Born: 1687 Nantucket MA
Died: 16 Mar 1759 Nantucket MA

Father: John Macy
Mother: Deborah Gardner

Marriage: Deborah Coffin, dau of John Coffin and Deborah Austin. She b. -----, d. 23 Sep 1760 at Nant.

Children:

1. JOSEPH MACY b. 1709 d. 1772 (See fourth generation)

2. Robert Macy b. 20 Nov 1810 Nant. d. 23 Nov 1771 Nant. m. 3 Jan 1731 Abigail Barnard.

3. Love Macy b. 9 Feb 1713 Nant. d. 14 Nov 1767 Nant. m. 21 Feb 1733 Joseph Rotch

4. Francis Macy b. 2 Jun 1715 Nant. d. 21 May 1793, m. Mar 1738 Judith Coffin

5. Nathaniel Macy b. 20 Aug 1717 Nant. d. 20 Mar 1783, m. Jan 1741 to Abigail Pinkham

6. Lydia Macy b. 23 Feb 1720 Nant. d. 8 Apr 1785 Nant. m. Dec 1747 Jethro Coleman

7. Elizabeth Macy b. 9 Jun 1722 Nant. d. 1 Jun 1765 Nant. m. Oct 1741 to Franci Barnard

8. Thomas Macy b. 13 Aug 1724 Nant. Died young.

9. Deborah Macy b. 17 Apr 1726 Nant. d. Nov 1803 m. Benjamin Coffin.

10. Anna Macy b. 7 Apr 1730 Nant. d. 27 Dec 1779 m. Nov 1752 Richard Worth

11. Hepzabeth Macy b. 22 Oct 1734 Nant. d. ----, m. Thomas Davis on Nov 1752.




MACY LINE - FOURTH GENERATION

1. JOHN MACY

Born: 11 Dec 1721 Nantucket MA
Died: aft 1795 New Garden. MM, NC

Father: John Macy
Mother: Judith Worth

Marriage: Eunice Coleman, dau of Elihu Coleman and Jemima Barnard. She b. 18 Oct 1723 Nant. d. 28 Dec 1768 Nant.
Married: 13 Aug 1743 at Nantucket

Children

1. BETHIAH MACY b 1744 d. 1810 (See fifth generation.)

2. Judith Macy b. 2 May 1746 m. Dec 1767 Reuben Bunker.

3. Eliab Macy b. 9 Jun 1748 Nant. d. 15 Aug 174 Nant. Never wed.

4. Jemima Mac b. 15 May 1750 Nant. m. Barzilliai Gardner.

5. Eunice Macy b. 12 May 1752 Nant. d. young at Nantucket, never wed.

6. Barachiah Macy b. 24 Feb 1760 Nant. d. ----, m. 20 Mar 1783 at New Garden MM, NC to Lucinda Barnard. She d. 5 Apr 1810 Jefferson Co TN

7. Merab Macy b. 30 Nov 1761 Nant. d. 22 jan 1844, m. 8 Jan 1783 at New Garden MM, NC to Timothy Macy b. 17 Jul 1762 Nant. d. 15 Oct 1848

8. Abigail Macy b. 6 Dec 1763 Nant. d. 5 jan 1764 nant. Never wed.

9. Micajah Macy b. 25 Nov 1764 Nant. Never wed.

10. Amy Macy b. 5 Nov 1766 Nant. d. 1820, m. Libni Barnard, b. 1764 Nant. d. May 1828.

11. Clement Macy b. 24 Dec 1768 Nant.
2. MATTHEW MACY

Born: 19 Oct 1732 Nantucket MA
Died:

Father: Jabez Macy
Mother: Sarah Starbuck

Marriage 1) Abigail Coffin b. 24 Oct 1736 Nant., d. 31 Aug 1758, the same year her only child was born. She dau of Benjamin Coffin and Jedidah Hussey.
Marriage: bef 1758

Children

1. MATTHEW MACY b. 1758 d. ----,(See fifth generation)


Marriage 2) Abigail Gardner b. 1731, d. 1808
Married: after 1758

Children

1. Sarah Macy b. Nant. m. in NC Stephen Springer

2. Abgail Macy b. Nant. m. in NC Joseph Coffin

3. Elizabeth Macy b. Nant. m. in NC Libni Coffin

4. George Macy b. 1767 d. Aug 1813




3. JOSEPH MACY

Born: 8 Apr 1709 Nantucket MA
Died: 28 Jun 1772 Nantucket MA

Father: Thomas Macy
Mother: Deborah Coffin

Marriage: Hannah Hobbs, dau of Benjamin Hobbs
Married: 23 Feb 1728 Nantucket MA

Children

1. Mary Macy b. 15 Jul 1729 Nant. d. 13 Oct 1808 Guilford Co NC. m1) Paul Way, m.2) James Anthony

2. Thomas Macy b. 1 Mar 1731 Nant. d. ---- Guilford Co NC, m. Jan 1755 Mary Starbuck

3. Bethiah Macy b. 3 Apr 1733 Nant. d.---- Guilford Co NC, m. Oct 1755 Nathaniel Swain

4. Joseph Macy b. 4 Oct 1735 Nant. d. ----, Guilford Co NC, m. Nov 1757 Mary Starbuck

5. Henry Macy b. 4 Nov 1737 Nant. d. 13 Apr 1816 Guilford Co NC, m. 1)Sarah Swain, m.2) Elizabeth Coffin

6. PAUL MACY b. 1740 d. 1832 (See fifth generation)

7. Enoch Macy b. 11 May 1743 Nant. d. ---- Guilford Co NC, m. Oct 1763 Anna Macy




MACY LINE - FIFTH GENERATION

1. BETHIAH MACY

Born: 3 Aug 1744 Nantucket MA
Died: 29 Sep 1810

Father: John Macy
Mother: Eunice Coleman

Marriage: Paul Macy (her cousin).
Married: Nov 1761 Nantucket MA

(See PAUL MACY, this generation, for her children)



2. MATTHEW MACY

Born: 1758 Nantucket MA
Died:

Father: Matthew Macy
Mother: Abigail Coffin

Marriage: Lydia Barnard, dau of Benjamin Barnard and Eunice Fitch.
Married: Unk date, in Guilford Co NC

Children

1. Abigail Macy b. 13 Aug 1780 Guilford Co NC, d. 1851, m. William Hogue unk date.

2. EUNICE MACY b. 1782 d. 1853 (See sixth generation)

3. Seth Macy b. Guilford Co NC

4. Lydia Macy b. Guilford Co NC

5. Elizabeth Macy b. Guilford Co NC

6. Susanna Macy b. Guilford Co NC

7. Lucinda Macy b. Guilford Co NC

8. Reuben Macy b. Guilford Co NC

9. Beriah Macy b. Guilford Co NC




3. PAUL MACY

Born: 3 May 1740 in Nantucket MA
Died: 1832 Ohio

Father: Joseph Macy
Mother: Hannah Hobbs

Marriage: Bethiah Macy (Cousin) b. 3 Aug 1744 Nant, d. 29 Sep 1810 Guilford Co NC
Married: Nov 1761 Nantucket MA

Note: They resided at Nantucket, were in New Garden MM, NC in 1773 and Ohio in 1818. After her death, he wed again at 77yrs old.

Children:

1. Eunice Macy b. 30 Nov 1762 Nant. d. 13 Aug 1840 IN, m. Isaac Gardner in 1780.

2. Thomas Macy b. 28 Feb 1765 Nant. d. 1 Feb 1833 OH, m. Anna Sweet in 1786

3. Judith Macy b. 22 Mar 1767 Nant. d. 20 Aug 1854 IN, m. Hezekiah Starbuck

4. Matilda Macy b. 6 Mar 1770 Nant. d. 3 May 1832, M. 1797 Silas Worth

5. Jemima Macy b. 6 Apr 1772 Nant. d. 15 Oct 1823 M. Micajah Weisner in 1818

6. Phebe Macy b. 26 Apr 1775 NC d. Dec 1775 Guilford Co NC

7. Lydia Macy b. 27 Mar 1777 Guilford Co NC, d. Jun 1863 IN, m. 1799 Shubael Barnard

8. PAUL MACY b. 1780 d. ----, (See sixth generation)

9. Obed Macy b. 26 May 1782 Guilford Co NC, d. 21 Feb 1821 Guilford Co NC, m. 10 Apr 1803 Mary Armfield

10. Hannah Macy b. 11 Aug 1784 NC, d. 30 Nov 1825 m. 1807 to John Cook

11. Phebe Macy b. 10 Mar 1789 NC d 19 Jan 1842 IN, m. 1815 Daid Swain




MACY LINE - SIXTH GENERATION

1. EUNICE MACY

Born: 25 May 1782 Guilford Co NC
Died: 5 Sep 1853 Miami Co OH

Father: Matthew Macy
Mother: Lydia Barnard

Marriage: Paul Macy (her cousin) b. 10 Jan 1780
Married: 5 Mar 1801 Guilford Co NC

Note: See PAUL MACY, this generation, for her children and descendants)



2. PAUL MACY

Born: 10 Jan 1780 Guilford Co NC
Died: 5 Sep 1863 Miami Co OH

Father: Paul Macy
Mother: Bethiah Macy

Marriage: Eunice Macy (cousin), b. 25 May 1782
Married: 5 Mar 1801 Guilford Co NC

Children

1. Phebe Macy b. 17 Jan 1802 Guilford Co NC, m. Paul Worth in 1820, lived Miami Co OH 1868

2. THOMAS MACY b. 1804, d. ----, (See seventh generation)

3. Lydia Macy b. 19 Dec 1806 NC, d. 7 Apr 1846 Troy OH, m. 1)Samuel Furnas, 2) Joseph Pearson.

4. Anna Macy b. 10 Feb 1809 NC, d. 11 Sep 1863 Henry Co IA, m. John Mills

5. Beulah Macy b. 1 Feb 1811 NC, d. 11 Apr 1845 Pleasant Hill OH, m. William Furnas

6. John G. Macy b. 27 Sep 1813 NC, d. 21 Nov 1867 Marengo, IA, m. 17 Aug 1837 Mary Ann Mearson

7. Paul Macy Jr. b. 8 Feb 1816 NC d. 31 Oct 1819 NC

8. David S. Macy b. 28 May 1818 NC, d. 27 Sep 1863 Bangor IA, m. 23 Aug 1837 Delilah Gardner

9. Eunice Mac b. 21 Feb 1821 Miami Co OH, m. Moses Pearson on 23 Apr 1845. Lived in W. Milton OH in 1868

10. Obed Macy b. 26 May 1826 Miami Co OH, m. Rebecca A. Debra on 3 Apr 1852, lived in Troy OH in 1868




MACY LINE - SEVENTH GENERATION

1. THOMAS MACY

Born: 30 Sep 1804 Guilford Co NC
Died: ----

Father: Paul Macy
Mother: Eunice Macy

Marriage: Mary Pearson, dau of Samuel Pearson and Ann Jay. Mary b. 26 Oct 1801 in SC, d. in childbirth 1 May 1845 in Miami Co OH.
Married: 28 Sep 1831 Millcreek, Miami Co OH

Note: After wife Mary died, he wed 2nd to Mary Ann Sweet on 20 May 1846. Children are all with Mary Pearson.

Children:

1. Lydia Macy b. 23 Apr 1834 Miami Co OH d. Jun 1856, m. Elihu Hiatt in IN in 1853

2. Eliza Macy b. 25 Aug 1835 Miami Co OH, d. ----, m. Jessie Morris in IN, lived in IN in 1868.

3. Phebe Macy b. 13 Sep 1837 Miami Co OH, m.----, lived Bangor IA in 1868

4. JOHN MACY b. 1840 d. 1927 (See eighth generation)

5. Paul Macy b. 19 Sep 1842 Miami Co OH, m. Julianna Hodgson on Dec 1865, Lived Bangor IA in 1868

6. David Macy b. 30 Apr 1845 Miami Co OH, lived Bangor IA in 1850's, died there 1854.




MACY LINE - EIGHTH GENERATION

JOHN MACY

Born: 28 Jan 1840 in Miami Co OH
Died: 8 Feb 1927 San Francisco, CA

Father: Thomas Macy
Mother: Mary Pearson

Marriage: Lydia Thomas b. 13 Mar 1843, dau of Elijah Thomas and Levina Jay.
Married: 16 Nov 1861 Grant Co IN

Children:

1. LORETTA MACY b. 2 Nov 1862 prob. in Grant Co IN (See ninth Generation)

2. Orlondo Macy b. 17 Aug 1868 d. 12 Feb 1937 San Francisco CA m. Rebecca Ahern. No Children.

3. Eleanor Macy b. 22 Feb 1871 d. 7 Jul 1930 in Greenburg IN, m. 1)Newton Watson, 2) Park Moore, and 3) Isom Ketchum. Children by Watson: Fred, Inez, Esther & Ethel (twins)

4. Nancy Allena Macy b. 10 May 1873 d. 6 Nov 1921 Marion IN, m. Charles Greeley. Children: Nell, Grace, Pearl, Paul (d. 1957) Lydia, and Everett

5. Elijah Thomas Macy b. 29 Jul 1877, d. 29 May 1950 Kokomo IN, m. Lola Robinson, Children: John, Everett

6. Jay Macy b. 25 Jun 1883 IN, d. 21 Jun 1953 Jonesboro, IN, m. Rosa Johnson 31 Jan 1904 in Alton MO. Migrated by covered wagon to IN during spring of 1907. (See story at end). Children: Lydia Meoma, Helen Sarah, James Arthur, Edna May, Jay Richard, Martha Louise. (last Martha b. 20 Feb 1923, m. Richard Harter 22 Aug 1942 in Jonesboro IN. Note: Jay Macy was b. in IN, moved to Missouri when 7yrs old, in 1890. Married in MO in 1904. Moved back to IN in Jun 1905. Then back to MO in Oct 1906. Once again, back to IN in Apr 1907. See MACY MEMORIES for details of this trip. Moved into the family home at corner of Water and 7th Streets in Jonesboro, IN in Jan 1913.




MACY LINE - NINTH GENERATION

LORETTA MACY

Born: 2 Nov 1862, probably in Grant Co IN
Died: 27 Oct 1928 Des Moines, Polk Co IA

Father: John Macy
Mother: Lydia Thomas

Marriage: Elwood Osborn Parisho
Married: 17 Mar 1844 possibly in Clay Co IA

Note: They were the parents of seven children. See the PARISHO LINE for their children and descendants.


We are connected directly back to nineteen individuals by the name of Macy. The most complete Macy line is listed below:


Line of Descent:

THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOSEPH MACY, PAUL MACY, PAUL MACY, THOMAS MACY, JOHN MACY, LORETTA MACY, JAMES ISOM PARISHO, WAYNE JAMES PARISHO, SUSANNE KAY PARISHO



MACY MEMORIES

These Macy Memories were written by Jay Macy, brother of my great-grandmother, Loretta Macy, fo a Macy reunion in 1942.

After 35 years of ups and downs I will try to give a few details of our journey from Alton, Missouri to Jonesboro, Indiana by covered wagons. This will bring back memories to most of us of our dear foreparents in whose honor we started this reunion.

When we decided to come to Indiana, father, John C. Macy, sold a 179 acre farm, and all of our furniture except what we could put in the covered wagons. In payment for everything he received 4 head of horses and about $300 in cash. He practically gave it away because he was so homesick to get back to Indiana.

There were three families of us - Father and Mother Macy, (John C. and wife Lydia Thomas), Nora Watson (Loretta's sister), and her four children, Fred, Inez, Esther and Ethel, and Jay Macy (Loretta's brother) and his wife Rosa and their two children Neoma and Helen.

Nora and her family drove a team of Texas ponies. They tried to run away two or three times. Father Macy drove the spring wagon and Mother Macy (Lydia Thomas) drove a wagon by herself, a good part of the way. Rosa and I drove a horse an a mule.

The horses were not used to trains, so everytime we saw a train, all of them were very hard to handle, especially the horse and mule, as they would try to back instead of running away. They were als afraid of automobiles, but we saw only two or three all the way here.

We left our Missouri farm home about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of April 15, 1907, with three covered wagons and one spring wagon, six head of horses, one mule and a colt. We got only about four miles the first day and went into camp. We had our beds fixed on top of the stuff that was in the bottom of the wagons. We put our springs and straw ticks on top of all of the boxes of things. We thought we had pretty good beds then.

I remember very well that first night fr one of the horses had a sore shoulder or fistula, and someone told Father Macy how to cure it. Here is what we did! Father and I got up the first thing in the morning and before either of us spoke a word, we led the horse over the hill ad went through some kind of monkey shines over that sore and then came back to camp. You can believe it or not, that did not help the horse one bit. So, we got breakfast over a campfire and then started for Indiana. We drove only about seven miles until we came to Eleven Point River. It was flooded and we had to ferry across it. The old ferry boat was fastened to a big wire cable stretched across the river, and the current of water pulled the boat across, one wagon at a time so that must have taken about two hours to cross the first river. But we were not in any hurry, so we let the old river do its stuff.

Now, the next thing of interest that happened was when the wagon that Mother Macy was driving got on a sideling road and turned over with her in it. Fortunately, she was hurt very little. The wagon that mother was driving had a top built of thin lumber. It was too top heavy, so we, father, Fred and I cut off the lumber top and got some bows and canvas and made a regular prairie schooner out of it.

It seemed to rain almost everyday and we had so many creeks and rivers to cross that we had to camp for several days for the water to get low enough for us to cross them. You should just try a trip like that, for Mother Macy could bake wonderful biscuits in the dutch oven by the camp fire! We brought our meat and canned goods. I especially remember that mother had a big 10 gallon jar of sausage fried down, and she would bake biscuits and warm up the sausage. We surely did enjoy the good things she cooked. She did most of the cooking.

I remember one day we found a big mud turtle along the road. We sure enjoyed him with hot biscuits.

To add to our troubles on the road, Esther Watson took the typhoid fever. We had to stop in a small town ad rent a house until she got well, and was able to travel again. I think the most dangerous place we camped was in the Mississippi River Bottoms, on the west side of the river. The river had been up just before we got there, and the road was so muddy we had to double up the teams on each wagon for about five miles. That took about half a day. The place where we camped we say driftwood in the trees about fifteen feet off the ground. The water was on both sides of the road so we could hardly find a place to stop for our camp. It was raining too, so one can easily guess how we felt.

We crossed the Mississippi at Chester on a ferry. It was there that the team I drove almost backed the wagon off into the river. It scared my wife, Rosa so badly she can hardly let me back a car enough to turn around, even now. I think the next thing of interest was where we came to a bridge and the water was so high there were cracks in the abutments and the bridge was just about ready to be washed out. We unhitched the horses and drove them across. Then we pulled the wagons across by hand so as not to have too muc weight on the bridge. You can imagine how happy we were when we got all "our gang" across. The road officials were there to close the bridge after we crossed.

Well, I think that is about all I can think of except that we were five weeks and three days on the road. We first landed at Uncle Isaiah Thomas's place. They lived one half mile north and bout one mile west of Back Creek Friends Church, north or Fairmount, Indiana. We were looking very much like a gang of gypsies after being on the road that long.

(His signature)
Jay Macy

Jay was 24 when he made this trip, he was 59 when he was relating his story for the 1942 reunion. John was 67 and his wife, Loretta was 64.




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