Edited and Updated regularly by Patti Anne McCurdy, Ottawa, Ontario, 1998 Compiled and Written by Edward Elbridge Salisbury and Evelyn McCurdy Salisbury New Haven, Connecticut  Copyrighted and Privately Printed in 1892

McCURDY Family History

Public attention has been lately directed, on several occasions, to the fact that some of the most potent influences affecting the life and character of Americans, even down to the present time, have come through immigrations to these shores of the Scotch-Irish, of the race which was formed, mainly in the seventeenth century, by the planting of Scotch men in the province of Ulster, in the north of Ireland.
 
". . . Inheriting the proverbial Scotch industry, thrift, integrity, morality, intelligence, courage, personal, political and religious independence and acquiring more genial and enthusiastic qualities from their Irish associations and connections, they developed into that peculiar and remarkable race" the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians.

So as early as the year of 1636, "soon after their settlement in Ulster, some of these emigrants projected a settlement in New England;" but . .

"Two-thirds of a century later, in consequence of the persecution from a government which in some sense owed its existence to the heroism shown at the terrible siege of Londonderry and the crowning victory of Boyne, the emigration from Ulster to this country began in earnest; and from about the year 1720 swarm followed swarm from the great hive, some of the emigrants stopping in New England and New York, but the greater part passing into the upper regions of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Carolinas. From them have come some of the most eminent men and families, particularly in the South and West. Of this stock were General Montgomery, and the great Clinton family (at first settled in Ulster County, New York) and many other distinguished officers and of the Philadelphia Declaration of Independence - Thornton, and Rutledge and it has furnished three presidents of the United States - Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and James Buchanan, to whom may now be added Chester A. Arthur, who became president at the death of Garfield; two vice-presidents -- George Clinton and John Caldwell Calhoun; two candidates for the presidency, the equals of Andy - De Witt Clinton and Horace Greeley; and the chief justice of the United States - John Rutledge and Jackson, Polk and Calhoun were direct representatives of the patriots of Mecklenburg," who, on the 30th of May 1775 at Charlotte, the country seat of Mecklenburg country, in North Carolina, adopted the famous Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, anticipating that signed the next year in Philadelphia." . . . Robert Fulton was of the same stock . . . It is of this race that 'The Edinburgh Review' for April 1869, in an article on Ulster says: 'These emigrants were the hardy and resolute Presbyterians who fought so bravely years after against the British Government in the American War, the men of whom Bancroft says: "The first public voice in America for dissolving all connection with Great Britain came, not from the Puritans of New England, the Dutch of New York, nor the planters of Virginia, but from the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. They brought to the New World the creed, the spirit of resistance and the courage of the covenantors." Well might Lord Montjoy say, in 1748, that America was lost by Irish emigrants.' " (1)
 
From these most interesting and important historical facts, which we could not refrain from giving in full, were indebted to our honoured father Judge Charles Johnson McCurdy, himself descended from and ancestor of the Scotch-Irish stock.

The late Rev. Dr. Bacon, in his charming paper (one of a list of publications) on "Old Times in Connecticut," founded on an old manuscript journal by Dr. Mason C. Coggswell, speaks of

"that Scotch-Irish blood which is the glory and strength of Western Pennsylvania, and which (not to speak of New Hampshire has given to Connecticut such names as McCurdy, McEwen, Murdock and Hillhouse." (2)
 
Coming now to the McCurdys as our representatives of this Scotch-Irish race, we first quote what is said of them by Sir Bernard Burke:

"The McKirdys, or MaKurerdys, formerly belonged to the 'Tribes' who possessed the Western Islands of Scotland, long under the crown of Sweden and the Lords of the Isles. This family were the principal possessors of the Island of Bute at a very early period. Subsequently, James IV; 1489, leased the crown property in Bute, which, in 1503 was feud in one general charter, of the 30th Parliament, to the MaKurerdys, Bannochtynes, Stewarts, and others, the greatest portion being assigned to the Mackurerdys."(3)

But we have a fuller account of the origin of the earliest history of the McCurdys in a private communication from General David Elliot Mackirdy of Birchwood, near Lesmahogow, county Lanark, brother and heir presumptive of the head of the family, with whom we have enjoyed a cordial correspondence for several years; and who wrote in one of his letters (October 17th,1885):

"As you have ascertained that the McCurdys of the North of Ireland, from which your family descends, came from the West of Scotland, probably at the time when so many Scots emigrated to the countries of Antrim, Armagh and Down . . . it is most likely that they belonged to the Mackirdy clan - which consists of many different families, who do not all spell their names alike, although most are pronounced as yours is spelled."

In a later letter Gen. Mackirdy says:
 
"I think it probable that our ancestor (Baron of Garachty) who was drowned in returning from Ireland last century had been visiting relations there;"

and the relationship thus pleasantly recognised is farther established by a striking resemblance between the General's photograph (which he kindly sent us together with a view of the castellated mansion of Birkwood) and the type of countenance accepted as belonging to our immediate family - his full face, large forehead and somewhat deep lines at the corners of the mouth, and, indeed, the general outlines of his physiognomy, being so like those of our own McCurdys that his resemblance has been universally acknowledged by members of the family as well as strangers.

The Mckirdy records in the "Charter-Chest" at Birchwood have been kindly summarised for us by the General, as follows:

"MacKirdy, or

Mackirdy, formerly

MaKurerdy or Makwrerdy,

" an ancient Scottish surname in Bute, Arran, and other of the Western Islands.

"This Name is derived from the original inhabitants or those Islands who belonged to the Albanichs, a tribe which held lands there previous to the Norwegian invasion in 880; and continued to reside in Bute, etc., during the 400 years of the Scandinavian occupation . . .

"All the Western Isles were overrun by the Scandinavians in 880, and were held by the king of Norway until 1265 . . ."

"In 1263 the Norwegians, under King Haco, were signally defeated by the Scots at Largs, and retired to Orkney, where that king died. In 1265 King Magnus his successor ceded all the Isles to Scotland."

"During a period of 400 years the Western Isles (including Man) were governed by rulers sent from Norway, with the title of kings."

"Of these Olava the Red was the last possessor of all the Islands, and was murdered by his nephew in 1154, in the Isle of Man. "

"He was succeeded by his son Godred the Black, who came immediately from Norway. "

"At this the Somerled, Lord of Argyll, a powerful chief who had married Ragnhildis daughter of Olave, raised a rebellion against Godred, and, after an indecisive action with Galley, the latter ceded to Somerled's family in 1156 all the Southern Isles, except Maan these included Bute, Arran, Isla, Jura, Mull, and several smaller islands, as well as Kintyre, which was then classed as one of the South Isles. "

"Somerled was now styled 'Lord of the Isles,' and, owing to the additional power which he had acquired, was enabled to lay waste the Isle of Man, and close a treaty with Malcolm fourth King of Scotland. "(4)

"Soon after he was induced to declare war against Malcolm, and, assembling a numerous fleet from the Isles, he sailed up to Clyde with 160 galleys, and landed his forces near Renfrew, in 1164 threatening to make a conquest of the whole of Scotland. "

"Here Somerled was slain, and his armament dispersed with much loss. "

"Somerled left several sons, among whom the Isles were divided. "

"Bute fell to the share of Angus, with part of Arran; and on his death, eighteen years afterwards, Bute fell to his brother Reginald, who bestowed it, with part of Kintyre, on his son Roderick, or Ruari, who became the founder of a distant and powerful family in the Isles. "(5)

"The first footing obtained by the Scots in the Isles was, apparently, soon after the death of Somerled, when the Stewart of Scotland seiged the Isle of Bute, which seems after this to have changed masters several times, and, along with Kintyre, to have been a subject of dispute between the Scots and Norwegians; whilst the family of the Stewart strengthened their claims by the marriage of Walter, son and heir of  the High Stewart of Scotland, too Jane Macaomarrled, daughter of James, son of Angus, son of Somerled; and in her right claimed the Isle of Bute, and Arran also. "

" . . . At a very early period the larger portion of Island of Bute belonged to the MaKurerdys; and it was leased to them by James 4th in 1489, and afterwards feued as crown lands, in one general charter of the 30th Parliament (exact translated below). The original, under the Great Seal, is the Latin, and deposited in the Register Office, Edinburgh, where it can be seen, and shows that there was a total of 78 feuars, and of these,

12 were Makurerdys or MacKirdys,

11 Bannachtynes, and

10 Stewarts. "

This charter is curious, as showing many remarkable Scottish surnames.

"The lands in Bute, feued to the MacKurerdys, were:

1.  '... to Gilkrist MaKurerdy half of Brothog and Bransyer, and the 22 shilling and 3 penny land of five-mark land of Baron;

2. '... to Gilkrist MaKurerdy junior 11 shilling and 5 penny land of Paron;

3.  '... to Finlay Makurerdy half of Langilculcreith, and half of Kerrymanacn, and half of Stramanan;

4.  ' ...to John McKurerdy half of Stramanan and half of Dunallird;

5.  '... to Donald McKurerdy two thirds of Brigadill and Langilculcathla;

6. ' ...to Alexander MaKurerdy half of Cowleing.'

7. These properties with others principally descended to Robert MaKurerdy Baron of Garachty, who married Janet Traser, and had several sons and daughters:

8,9. William the eldest was married, but had no children;; John the second son married Grace Gregorie (McGregor), who had several children:

10. Alexander the eldest died unmarried; John, the second, was possessed of 101/2 considerable estates in British Guiana, at the close of the last century, and eventually settled at Birkwood, Lanarkshire...he married in London, in 1801, Mary Elliott, eldest daughter of the late David Elliott Esq. and Susan Boyle, his wife, and had 3 sons and 2 daughters:

11. John Gregory, the eldest, of Birkwood, Lanarkshire, married to Augusta, eldest daughter of the captain Bradshaw, R.N., M.P. :

12,13 Charles Clark, the second son; and David Elliott the third, General in the army, and Colonel of the 69th Regiment (now 2nd Batt., the Welsh Regiment), who served in East and West Indies and Canada, in Command of that Regiment, taking it from the West Indies, in 1857, to India, and bringing it to Canada in 1867. "

"The island of Bute was always held in great favour by the kings of Scotland, who often visited it. The Royal Castle of Rothesay was much enlarged by Robert 3rd, who made it his residence for 22 years, and died there in 1406. His eldest son David was created the first Duke of Rothesay in 1398, a title which the Prince of Wales still bears. The Royal favour was also extended to the Islanders, who were styled the Brandanes, from St. Brandan of Bute; and on many occasioned constituted the Royal Life - or Body-guard, especially to the Royal Stewarts. "

"There is a tradition, in the family of Mackirdy, that a member of it became a Priest of Iona, previous to the Reformation, and was a man of much learning. Having proceeded to Rome, and greatly distinguished himself there, he was afterwards raised to the dignity of a Cardinal. "

"The loss of their property in Bute by the MacKirdys has been attributed to very unfair means. The before mentioned Robert, Baron of Garachty, who held the lands, was drowned on a voyage between Bute and Ireland last century. The Bute's factor (G. Robertson), on some pretence or other, claimed the widow a right to manage for her, getting possession of all her husband's books and papers, which were never returned. From that time the MacKirdy properties have been held by Lord Bure's family as their own, without any satisfactory account ever having been given. "
 

"The name McCredie and others similar are generally considered to form branches of the Mackirdys, and are distributed over different parts of Scotland, England and Ireland, as well as in the United States of America, where bearers of the name have risen to the highest distinction. The present head of the Mackirdy family is Charles Clark (12) Mackirdy Esq., J.P. for Lanarkshire, second son of the late John Mackirdy Esq., of Birkwook, who succeeded to the estate on the death of his eldest brother in 1881, but, finding that it did not suit his health to reside there, made over the property to younger brother, General David Elliott (13) Mackirdy, now of Birkwood near Lanark, Douglas, and Hamilton, in the county of Lanark, Scotland." (6)

Our inquiries into the family-history have been extensive, both in this country and in Ireland; and we shall presently quote parts of the letters received from numbers of branches undoubtedly collateral to our own. But , before doing this, it is important to record the unanimous testimony of all our correspondents, to the fact 14. of emigration of the family from Scotland in the seventeenth century. Educated men, as, for example, the late Dr. Benjamin H. McCurdy, a surgeon in the British Navy, and Dr. John McCurdy, his cousin, a physician in Youngstown Ohio, affirm, in the words of the former written some years ago:

"We are of Scottish origin, came from Lanark shire in the reign of the James or Cromwell; but I have not heard of any grant of land given by the Crown; and from men in plainer walks of life comes the uniform statement that, although there is no public or private records of ancestors beyond great grandfathers or great grandfathers, of writers, a universal tradition within the family traces it from Bute in the latter half of the seventeenth century. "

A recent letter (1860 from Mr. Patrick (5) McCurdy of the Cairn, Co. Antrim says:

"My ancestors came from Buteshire in Scotland during the reign of Charles 2nd - the date of their leaving Scotland might be 1666. The story of their voyage to and arrival in Ireland (as handed down to us) is very affecting . . . They landed at Ballintoy, five brothers, (7) four of whom settled in Co. Antrim. "
 
"Patrick III or (as the Scotch then pronounced it) Pethric settled in the Cairn. He had four sons, named, respectively, David (2), William (2), John (2), and Daniel (2). "

"Daniel was father to my grandfather, who was also named Daniel (3), and was born about 1750. My father's name was Patrick (IV). "

"John (243) McCurdy of Ahoghill (8) must have been cousin to my grandfather's father, and of the same generation. "{

"I am now working up to seventy years of age, so that I am amongst the eldest of the living MCcURDY. "

"The same address as given above will find my brother Archy (V) McCurdy, My cousin John (5) McCurdy and myself. We are on the very ground on which our great forefathers trod' ".
 
His son Daniel, (VI) writing to us January 9th, 1888 says:

" . . . You wished to know what part of Bute the McCURDY first came. It was from Island of Arran, (9) which forms part of the shire, but as to the date we are not certain; some say it was in 1666 . . . I believe they left owing to a Persecution . . . at the time; and sailed over to Ireland in a open boat, taking a Ram with them. They left (in) or . . . were overtaken by a snow-storm, and experienced very bad seas coming over; it is told that coming Round the Moyle of Cantire (10) two of them were thrown out of the boat, and only for a very great courage of the others would certainly have been lost."

"My great grandfather was John McCurdy; he was married twice - his first family consisted of four sons . . . and one or two daughters; his second family of two sons, James my grandfather and the Rev. Samuel McCurdy. . . "

"My grandfather's four half-brothers . . . were all grown up young men when I was a child . . . They all came too this country about seventy years ago: one or two of them went to Canada, my father believes.

"My father had four brothers, John (5). William (5), Archibald (5) and Samuel (5). "

"Our Family was raised in the old homestead in Ballmachlecurr, which belonged to my great grandfather; his father, Daniel, came from Ahoghill . . ."

Next is a letter from the late Rev. Samuel (44) McCurdy alluded in to the two foregoing extracts. Its beautiful spirit and interesting details respecting himself entitled it to be given more fully:
Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Ireland.

November 17th, 1880."

" . . . I feel much obliged by your letter of the 28th, and the information it gives respecting the ancestry of your family. I now write in reply, but am sorry to be unable to give you any satisfactory information on the various particulars to which your letter refers. Of your early progenitors from near Ahoghill I cannot speak, nor can I ascertain whether they and the family from which I sprung descended from one common stock. I am glad my nephew James McCurdy of Philadelphia gave you my name, and that you were thus led to write me. McCurdy is not, in this country, a very common name, and perhaps this circumstance may contribute to make those called by that name a little clannish. Wherever I meet with one of the name I cannot resist the impression that I am brought into contact with a friend. I think of your father at the age of 83 as venerable both of age and office, and can hardly suppress the wish, if it were possible, to make his acquaintance. Divine Providence, it seems, has made his way prosperous, which should be greatly acknowledged at the hand of Him from whom cometh every good and perfect gift. I suppose the best thing I can do in my present communication, being unable to aid your inquiries as to the ancestry of your family, will be to tell you a little about my own ancestry. I learn that my progenitors at an early period came from Scotland, and settled in County Derry, not far from the town of Coleraine, where there are still to be found a number of families of the same name. My father John McCurdy, who had one brother named Thomas, was twice married. His first wife's name was Taylor, and that of second wife Long, who was my mother. By his first wife he had four sons, who emigrated to the United States when I was growing into boyhood. - some of them settled in Lexington and others near the city of Baltimore, but of whom we have lost sight long since. My mother bore a family of seven children, 3 of whom died in early life 4 lived to be an extended age (including) 2 sisters and one brother named James. Who was father to James McCurdy, of Philadelphia. I was the youngest, and am now the only living member of the family. As to my own history, I am now in my 86th year. I began to attend a Latin school, in my 9th year, studied in Glasgow college, and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1814. In the beginning of 1817 was ordained in the congregation of Second (?) Stewartstown, where I was spared to minister over 53 years. In 1869 I resigned the Charge of the Congregation, and after so long a life, and extended ministry, am still living to praise the God of my manifold mercies. I have been twice married, both marriages happy ones. By my first wife I had one daughter, who has a family of surviving members - 5 sons and four daughters. I occupy a house next to my daughter's. My son-in-law, Jas. C. Little is a respectable merchant in Stewartstown, and who has succeeded pretty well in the world. Presbyterian Ministers are not, in general, very rich in the world. I have had a competence, and my old age is favoured with multiplied blessings. My second wife had no family. I have a grandchild settled in San Francisco, name Sam Little, lately respectably married; and a grand-daughter, Sarah Little, of Davidson, who resides in  New York, United States. Please say to Father, who is wearing up to my age, that I wish him to exceed it, only without its infirmities. This scrawl will no doubt remind you that its writer is in very advanced life. I hope, however, you will be able to decipher it. "

"And now that a correspondence has been opened, let me request the favour of a line from you at no very distant period. My health is wonderful, considering my age. Mrs. McCurdy and I spent a very pleasant time, during September last, at a watering place called Porstewart, with Mr. McCahon, the husband of the daughter of James McCurdy of Philadelphia, who resides in that locality. We have here in Ireland what may be called very bad times; sedition in abroad in most parts of our unhappy and distracted land, and our government seems unable, or unwilling, to apply any effectual remedy. You will no doubt learn form public papers that acts of sanguinary barbarity are quite common, landlords and agents in many cases being shot down without remorse. Pease is an invaluable blessing, but one which we can hardly promise ourselves in this country - however, ' the Lord reigns ' . . . I am glad to hear that your father's family abide by the old Presbyterian faith, not that connection with any church, however pure, will secure our eternal interests; this can only be by a living faith in our Lord and Saviour, ' of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named '

"Kind regards to you and all friends."

"Sam McCurdy."

We give next some extracts from letters of the late Hon. John (6) McCurdy of Shippenburg, Pa., a man "widely known" and "universally respected." "A man of incorruptible integrity and unsullied name," whom "his friends loved as few men are loved in this world:"

"Shippenaburg, April 15th, '67."

" . . . I was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, at a place called Bushmills, on the 24th of June 1811, and was brought to this country in 1818. My father, Samuel (5) McCurdy, came over in 1816, and settled in Philadelphia, and remained there until 1819, in November of which year he came with his family to this country, and died in this place (Shippensburg) on the 6th day of January, 1852. My grandfather, Alexander (4) McCurdy, was a farmer in the county of Antrim, and died on the farm on which he had lived for almost a century, in 1828, at the age of eight-two years. I am not able, at present, to give you the place of his birth, but I have not a doubt but that you and I are descended from the same stock of McCURDY. There was a family of the name who emigrated from Ireland prior to 1750, and settled in this country; one of whom was a preacher of some celebrity. His name was Elisha (4) McCurdy (11). I believe they emigrated to Westmoreland county in this
state, where some of the descendants still reside. They are of the stock to which I belong. A John McCurdy nicknamed John Trurk, to designate him from two cousins of the same name settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The descendants of this family are now living in Franklin Co., Pennsylvania. Another branch of this family settled in Jefferson county, Va., near Charlestown. . . . There is a family of the name living in New Jersey. . . . There are several families living in Philadelphia, some of whom I have met, and from all I could gleam of their history I was led to believe that we all have a common origin - that we are all descended from the same ancestor of that name. . . . "
 
"Shippensburg, April 29th, 1867."

" . . . In your last letter you spoke of your ancestor, John McCurdy, having left a sister in Ireland, who was married to a man by the name of Moody. In my boyhood I have heard my father repeatedly speak of a distant relative he had in Philadelphia by the name of John Moody. . . . Whether this man was a descendant of the Moody family of which you speak, would be difficult to determine at present. If he had, and was related to my father, as he undoubtedly was, the it is tolerably plain that we belong to the same sock of people. I heard my father say that the family emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, and settled in Antrim (county) . . . and that the farm on which my grandfather died has been occupied by the family from that time down to the present. They do not hold it in fee sample. It is a lease, and contains eighty acres. . . ."

"Shippensburg, Oct. 30th, 1876.

" . . . My great-grandfather, Samuel (3) McCurdy, was born in 1720. What the Christan name of his father was I have not learned, but I have ascertained that the maiden-name of his mother was McQuillan. Whether she was one of the McQuillans of Dunluce Castle - which is but two or three miles distant from the McCurdy home - or whether she was of another family of less pretensions of that name, if any other existed, I am not prepared to state. Samuel married Sarah Anderson, and at the time of death left two sons, Alexander (66) and John (41) and one daughter, Mary (41). This daughter married a man named Hamilton Baird. Alexander, my grandfather, married Elizabeth Anderson. They had five sons - Samuel (65), my father, Andrew (5), Alexander (5), John (5) and James (5) and two daughters. Mary (5) and Elizabeth (5). My father married (Sarah) Martin. They had three sons - Alexander (6), John (64) myself and Samuel (6). Alexander died two years ago, leaving four daughters. I married Mary J. Rippey. We had one son Horace G. (7) and one daughter Laura (7), both married. "

"My ancestors of the McCurdy stock, as far back as I have been able to trace them, are plain unpretending, well-to-do farmers, who are strongly wedded to the Presbyterian faith. . . In appearance the men of the family were, generally slenderly built, very erect, about five feet ten inches in height, of light complexion, with sandy or golden hair . . . . "
"Shippensburg, Feb. 12th, 1877."
 
" . . . If you will take Michell's General Atlas, and turn to the map of Ireland, you will fin the Giant's Causeway on the extreme northern coast of the County Antrim West of the Causeway, and east of the river Bann, you will find a small stream which runs due North, and empties into the Ocean near the Causeway. This stream is called the Bush river. On this river, about one mile from its mouth, there is a village containing about 1000 inhabitants. The name of this place is Bushmills. Just outside of the town, about a quarter of a mile distant, there is a farm called Clougher. On this farm I was born. A short distance east of the Bush River about a mile nearly south of Bushmills, there is a farm called ' The Cavan ', the southern boundary of which is within a few hundred yards of Billy Church, where very many of the McCURDY are buried. This Cavan farm is said to be one on which the McCURDY settled when they emigrated from Scotland. There my great grandfather Samuel (69) and my grandfather Alexander (66) lived and died. My uncle James (75) held it from the time of grandfather's death, in 1828, until 1874, when he died. Until very recently I thought this property was held by the family in fee simple, but I have discovered that they held it on life-leases. Two of my cousins hold either the whole or a part of it now. "

"Our name was a very plentiful one in the northern part of the County Antrim, and , as the distance from ' The Cavan ' to the County Derry is but five miles, I have not a doubt but the McCURDY of whom you write (those of the line of Rev. Samuel) belonged to the same stock; and I think we would hazard but little in saying that your own family belonged to it. Ahoghill, from which your great grandfather came, is about six or seven miles from 'The Cavan.' . . . "

"I have always had desire to know something about my ancestors, not because I think there is much to be gained by graveyard-respectability, where the party claiming such is destitute of the virtues which he claims for his dead ancestors; and yet there is something very gratifying in knowing that our ancestors were good member of society . . . ."
 
"Shippensburg, May 21st, 1877."

" . . . My father was born in 1780, and his father took possession of the Cavan farm 1782, and remained on it until the time of his death; but whether he held the entire farm at the time he removed on it or not, I am not prepared to say.

"Mr. McCurdy's (J.T. McC's, from whose letters extracts will be presently given) grandfather also states that the maiden-name of his maternal grandmother was Mary Polk. The name of one of my maternal grandmothers was Martha Polk, who died at the age of one hundred and six years. These women may have been sisters. I have heard my mother speak of people by the name of Ferrier, but do not remember that she spoke of them as being related to her . . "
 
"Shippensburg, Feb. 28th, 1878."

"I have just received a letter from Ireland which contains some little information in relation to the McCurdy family which may be interesting to you. I therefore copy the part of the letter which relates to the matter, which is as follows;

" . . . . I spoke to our minister about the old church records, who in reply stated that they had been lost. I then went to my uncle Adam Wells to make some inquiry. He remembers hearing of a John (9) McCurdy who lived in the Cavan, whose wife's maiden-name was Margaret Ferrier, who married Neil McCay after the death of her husband. . . They and grandfather were related, but uncle could not tell how near. He thinks they were second cousins. John McCurdy had one brother and six sisters. One of the sisters named Sarah (3) married a first cousin of her own, Robert McCurdy of the Cabry or Carnmore. . . . Her sister Jane (3) married John Richmond. Some of them went to America. . . . The other sisters (and the brother) of John were (Susanna) (3) Mrs.Gray, (Rose) (3) Mrs. Huey and (Agnes) (3) Mrs. Wallis and David and Elizabeth. . . . Robert McCurdy of Cabry had a brother David who had two sons and three daughters, two of whom died, and the others went to America. . . . "

"I went to Billy Graveyard to examine the old headstones there and found some of the dates to be early in 1700. The Lisserlus and Cabry McCURDY all lie in one place. Our family burying-place is only a short distance from theirs."

" I wrote to Patrick McCurdy of the Cairn near Ballintoy, to see if he could give me any information as to what part of Scotland the family came from. He wrote me that they came from the Isle of Bute. . . . that they sailed over in an open boat, and landed at Belinda. There were five brothers, one of whom settled in Cairn, one in Lisserlus, on in Ringsend, and one died. . . . "

"The first part of this statement is not as clearly stated as I would like to have it. But having seen and known some of the parties named I think I understand it. John McCurdy, husband of Margaret Ferrier, was the great grandfather of John T McCurdy of Dansville New York. This man had one brother, David, and six sisters - Sarah, Jane, Mrs . Gray, Mrs. Huey, Mrs. Wallis and Elizabeth. . . ."
 

 
An interesting letter respecting Rev. Elisha (67) Macurdy (as he always spelt his name) was referred to in one of the Shippensburg letters quoted above, from his niece Mrs. Sarah B. 5 (McCurdy) Bracken of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, together with others from other members of that branch, enables us to carry this line back to the third generation from the emigration to Ireland. Mrs. Bracken informs us that her grandfather (father of Rev. Elisha) was named John, (3) and that he emigrated from the north of Ireland between 1750 and 1755, "with his father's family;" married, about 1757,
 
 Mary Fox, in Philadelphia; settled in Chester Co., Pennsylvania, and had twelve children.

Of her grandmother Mrs. Mary (Fox) McCurdy,

Mrs. Bracken writes:

"My grandmother whose name was Fox was of royal blood . . . She was very refined. They were in good circumstances before the revolutionary war. Grandfather was a merchant, and during the war he furnished supplies for the soldiers and for their horses, taking his pay in continental money, which afterwards was worthless, and he was ruined financially. . . . Grand father did not live long after their failure. I remember hearing father and his sister talk of their mother's being so refined and so much of a lady . . . "
 

 
Another letter recently received gives us some father information about that branch of our family which settled near Charlestown, Virginia, referred to in on of the Shippensburg letters:

Charlestown, January 20th, 1888.

" . . . I remember as a child hearing my father and aunt talk about their Scotch-Irish descent, but unfortunately I did not take any interest in such things then, and they left not record of names or dates. What we can recall will, I fear be of no use in tracing our descent, though I have no doubt that we are a branch of the same family; for among the facts, or traditions, cherished by us is the one of our ancestors leaving Scotland to escape religious persecution, and settling in the north of Ireland, county Ulster. Another was that one of these refugees was in the siege of Londonderry. . . . Some time after that event three brothers of the name emigrated to America; the year we do not know, but think it must have been in the latter part of the seventeenth, or early in the eighteenth century. They settled in Pennsylvania. And I think in Lancaster County, though I am not sure. I only know that my great grandfather Archibald (3) McCurdy lived in that county . Of their names we cannot be sure, but I think they were Hugh (3), Archibald (94) and Robert (3) . . . I several times heard my father speak of meeting Judge McCurdy, and of their efforts to trace relationship. They agreed, I believe, that there was a family-resemblance, and they had the same family-names. . . "
 
This branch, it will be seen, may be traced back to the first generation after the emigration from Scotland to Ireland.
 

McCurdy of Gettysburg, Pa., and the second by Miss Eleanor (6) McCurdy of Charlestown, Va., the writer of the letter last quoted:

"The MCcURDY are of Scotch origin . . . in 1688 the father of James (2) McCurdy, from whom we have directly descended, took part in the siege of Londonderry as one of the besieged. . . . He, or his son James owned a property in Antrim county, about two miles from the Giant's Causeway, known as Bushmills' . James . . . aster marrying a Scotch-Irish lass named Cook (or Cooke), sailed for Pennsylvania. After a slow voyage of six months the captain found himself in the mouth of the James river in Virginia. The vessel was put about, and in due time arrived at the head-waters of the Elk river in Maryland. Here the first child was born to James McCurdy and his wife. This was between 1720 and 1731; . . . soon thereafter . . . They removed to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where James McCurdy bought some hundred acres of land, for which he obtained a general warrantee. "

"The Episcopal church attempted to take this land for 'Glebe" purposes, and a suit was the result, which lasted for seven years in the courts then held in Philadelphia, and resulted finally in establishing the McCurdy claim. . .

"James (99) McCurdy had four children, viz: Archibald (94), James, Hugh (95) and Robert (96). He never removed from Lancaster county, but died there about 1765. Of the above named sons of James McCurdy, Archibald, the oldest remained in Lancaster county, in possession of the homestead, and is the ancestor of the Virginia branch. Hugh and James went to Franklin county, Penn., where some of their descendants still reside; and Robert, my great grandfather went to Adams county, Pa. The latter had three sons, via: William (4) - my grandfather (who was elected over Thaddens Stevens to the legislature . . . . ) Robert (4) and James (4). Robert went to Ohio, and I know nothing of his descendants. James died, leaving one son who settled in New Albany, Indiana, and William remained in possession of his father's farm in this, Adams County. He married Nancy King, and had two sons: John King (5), a physician, whose daughter still resides in Reading, Pa., as Robert (5), my father, who died in 1885. I can only bring my own claim of title to this end, and I regret that I have not complete data at hand concerning the sons of Archibald, James and Hugh; but I suppose it is not possible to obtain them. There may be some information to be had, in Virginia, concerning Archibald's descendants, which can be added to this paper . . . . "
 
"Gettysburg, Penn.

January 30th, 1888." Chas. M. McCurdy."
 

"Eleanor McCurdy"

February 7th, 1888.
 

We add some extracts from letters of John Truman (6) McCurdy, referred to above:
 
"Dansville, New York, January 19,1877."

" . . . My grandfather (James (4) settled at this place in the latter part of the last century, and was one of the first settlers here; he died in 1865. He came from Coleraine, County Antrim, when he was six years old. We know of no relatives in this county except our own family . . ."
 
"April 27th, 1877"

" . . . Since writing you there has come into my possession a copy of a letter written; by my grandfather in 1860, to a gentleman getting up a history of Livingston County. I will copy that portion referring to his ancestors, etc, it runs as follows:

" 'I was born May 10th, 1782, in the Parish of Cavan, County Antrim, Ireland. My parents were of Scotch descent; my father's name was John (82) McCurdy, his father's name was Robert (2), McCurdy; his mother's maiden-name was Mary Moore. My mother's name Margaret Ferrier; her father's name was Hugh Ferrier; her mother's maiden-name was Mary Polk. My father died at the age of forty-two, when I was eighteen months old. My mother afterwards married Neal (or Cornelius) McCoy. I had one brother who died last spring in Indiana, aged eighty, and one sister, now Mary (4) McCartney, who is living in the adjoining town of Sparta - she is in her eighty-second year. "

" ' We came to this country in the spring of 1788; landed at Wilmington, Del. We went to Buffalo, Northumberland Co., Penn., where we resided seven years; from there we moved here, and I have resided on the same farm for nearly sixty-five years. A sister of my grandmother Ferrier married a Mr. Patterson and they left Ireland soon afterward, and came to this country, and settled at a place in the east called Londonderry. They were the parents of the Hon. William, Peter and George W. Patterson - the latter is well known in our state. Mr Patterson left a brother in Ireland named Peter, who became very wealthy, and was a member of Parliament for a number of years.'

" The balance of the letter relates to incidents which occurred during the firs few years of the early settlements of Danville. My grandfather was the first settler here, that is, his family. He died in 1865. He accumulated quite a property, and left all his children, of whom there are seven, in good circumstances; all of them reside here, and are engaged in farming, or are interested in farming. . . ."
 

 
Another Letter form which we quote is that of Robert (5) Richmond, a first cousin once removed to James the grandfather of John T. McCurdy, who wrote as follows:

"Ballylough, 3rd May, 1878."

" . . . I have made a good deal of inquiry, and I learn from two very old people, the one a daughter of Rose McCurdy, the other an old man of ninety-five years, who knew many of the McCurdy families, and I have also got some names and dates on the tombstones in the graveyard to correspond with their statements. John (82) McCurdy of Castlecat (great grandfather of John T. McCurdy) of his family, the son Robert (4) died in 1776, aged 12 years; Alexander (4) died in 1777, aged 20 years; Samuel (4) lived to and old age in this country, and is dead about fifteen years ago.
"
" Robert (121) McCurdy of Cavan (father of the above named John) died July 11th, 1767, aged 82 years. I got the names of six of the family. The daughters - Susanna was my grand mother. Agnes married to a Mr. Wallace from near Ahoghill. Rose married John Huey of Ballynaris. The sons - Robert (3) McCurdy had a family of three son; I knew them, they are all dead; the son David (89) lived a bachelor, with my grand father, and is dead; the son John (82) McCurdy had a farm in the Cavan, but sold his farm and went to America sometime about the middle of the 18th century. . . ."
 
We also note the fact stated by Mr. John T. McCurdy in the " Danville Advertiser," August 9th, 1877 that his grandfather James "was born in the same house"
in which John McCurdy of Shippensburg was born.

Mr. George Gregory (6) McCurdy, formerly Springfield, Mass., now of Minneapolis, Minnesota, wrote July 1, 1880 thus:

" . . . Archibald (2) MacCurdy and second wife came from Ballymony, county of Antrim, about the year 1740, with one son, James (3), and a daughter, also three grown up sons by his former wife, Daniel (3), Robert (3) and John (3). On their arrival at Boston the three grown up sons were taken by the Press Gang, and staid three years in the British Navy. During the cruise Robert died of yellow fever, on the Island of Jamaica, and his Bible is now in possession of an uncle of mine, Robert (5)by name, who lives in Iowa. The two brothers settled in Londonderry, N.H. Daniel (131) died shortly after; but John (133) married and had eight children, and this John was my great grandfather. I should have said that John was the youngest of the three, and was at least 20 years of age. These items I got from an old manuscript, perfectly legible, written by James the half-brother, December 25th 1784. He says that the family were Scotch, and always spelled the name Mac, until coming to Ireland; that they were Presbyterians, and had left Scotland to avoid persecution; were in the city of Derry during the time of 1690. He says they were a clan in Scotland. And of sufficient note to have a coat of arms, which represented a man standing in a field of wheat, shooting crows with bow and arrows drawn up in the act of shooting, the arrow having just left the bow, piercing both birds. (13) . . . "
 

In a latter letter (February 6th, 1888), after having re-examined an old family-record, he says:

" . . . Archibald (129) born in Scotland (14) , to avoid persecution, went to Ireland, settled at Ballymony, County Antrim. With his second wife and three grown-up sons came to America in 1737, Archibald 53 years old - who died February 8th 1776, aged 92. His three sons were Robert (132), about 24 years old. Daniel (131), about 22, John (133), about 19. These sons were 'pressed' into the British Navy, served three years. Robert died of yellow fever (never married) at Jamaica. Daniel, born 1715, died March 28th, 1791, of hemorrhage of the lungs, on his farm in Dunbarton, N.H. , (never married); John, born 1718, died August 6th, 1813; married Mary Scab, she died Sept. 20, 1809. By his second wife Archibald had four or five children, one of them an infant, died and was buried at sea during the passage; all the rest died in infancy, except James (130) born 1739, died July 19th, 1776, of small-pox contracted at Ticonderoga, and a daughter Sarah (3) of  John "Children of John and Mary Scoby: Martha (4), born November 24th, 1757; Archibald (4), born November 24, 1759; Robert (4), born November 24, 1761; Elizabeth (4), born November 2, 1763; Mathew Scboy (4), born Nov. 23, 1766; Daniel (4) born Nov. 22, 1768; Mary (4), born Oct. 1, 1771; Peggy (4) born June 27, 1774. "
 
The next letters we have to present are from Hon. David (5) McCurdy of Baddeck, Cape Breton, and his daughter Miss Georgina (6) McCurdy, whose acquaintance we made last Autumn, when they visited us at Lyme, in company with the wife (15) of M. McCurdy's son Arthur (6).

"Baddeck, Nov. 12, (1887)."

" . . . I enclose the paper which I hope will give you the information you desire. . . .

"I remain

Yours sincerely,

Georginia McCurdy."

"Alexander (3) McCurdy, born 1734, died 1808; Jennet his wife, born 1738, died 1800. They came first to Windsor, Nova Scotia; from there they crossed over the bay of Funday and settled in Londonderry, where they live for some years. In 1770 their family consisted of Alexander, his wife, and four children. . . They then owned a large tract, 1500 acres of the best land in the township. They had eight children; William (4), Robert (4), Daniel (4) , Margaret (4), Jennet (4), Alexander (4), Robert (4), and Jennet Guthrie (4). "

" ' Jennet McCurdy wife of Alexander McCurdy was born in the Parish of Withstrow in north of Ireland. Departed this life the 21st day of May 1800, aged 62 years."

" ' Alexander McCurdy departed this life the fourth day of August 1808, aged 75 years. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for 20 years."

" James (149), born 1766, married in 1788 Agnes Archibald, who was born 1770 a daughter of Matthew Archibald (16) of Truro. Her father was a member of Parliament for a number years. When they, James and Agnes, had been married fifty years, her mother Mrs. Archibald was living at the age of 92. "

Five generations gathered to celebrate the Jubilee. James and Agnes McCurdy had fourteen children, 7 sons and 7 daughters, all of whom were married.

"Jennet (5) the eldest, born 1789 married John Kent of Truro. They had 9 children, 6 sons and 3 daughters, all of whom settled in Nova Scotia. "

"James Munro (5), born 1791, married Margaret Miller. They had nine children, a number of whom died early. One son John (6) lives in Dakota with his family. Robert (6) is a merchant in New Glasgow, NS He has a fine residence there. His only son Stanley (7) lives with him. "

"Sarah (5), born 1793, married Henry Cumminger of Sherebrook, NS They had 6 sons and 1 daughter. The sons Jesse (6) and Alexander (6) have been engaged largely in gold mining. John (6), Ebenezer (6) and Samuel (6) were merchants and ship owners. They had no children. "

"Margaret (5), born 1795, married William McLane of Sherebrook, NS They had 9 children, 3 sons and 5 daughters settled in Nova Scotia. "

"Alexander (5), born 1797, married Jennet Archibald, a cousin. They had 6 sons and 3 daughters. Two sons live in Boston, the others settled in NS and are men of sterling worth. Alexander, still living, and is at the age of 90 a man of strong mind and vigorous body. "

"Mary (5), born 1799, married Alexander Conkey of Tatam Agouche. They had 7 children, all settled in Nova Scotia. "

"Issac (5), born 1801, married Nancy Blanchard a granddaughter of Colonel Blanchard of the British Army, who came from England to the U.S. and after the war settled in Nova Scotia. They had 5 boys and 2 girls. Three sons settled in Nova Scotia, one son and two daughters in New Brunswick. The two sons Augustus (6) and John (6) are Farmers in Onslow. "
"
"Mathew (5), born 1804, married Eliza Archibald, and settled in Clifton. They had 9 children, a number of whom died early in life. James (6), who has 7 sons and six daughters, lives on his father's farm in Clifton. Edward (6) is a prominent Presbyterian minister in New Glasgow, N.C., and has one son. A daughter of Matthew lives in Truro "

"Daniel (5), born 1806, married Sarah Archibald. They had three children, two died early. One a daughter, Jane (5) is still living unmarried. Daniel (6) was a minister of the Presbyterian church. He was settled for some years in Prince Edward Island, then in Ontario. He died in Halifax.

"John (5), born 1808, married Catherine Thompson of Chatham, New Brunswick. He was a minister of the Presbyterian church, he settled in Chatham when he was twenty-one years old, where he remained until his death in 1867. They had seven children, four of whom are dead. James Frederick (6) McCurdy of the University of Toronto and John (6) a distinguished medical man are of his family. "

"David (144), born 1810, married in 1832 Mary Archibald of Truro. Her mother was a daughter of the Colonel Blanchard mentioned before. Her father David Archibald was a merchant. David McCurdy was a member of Parliament in Nova Scotia for some years and was then appointed to a seat in the Legislature Council for the Province (17). They had nine children. Two daughters died in infancy; one Hannah (6), married Henry Blanchard, Barrister of Windsor, N.C. and has three children. John (6) the eldest of the family lived in the old homestead in Onslow until his death in 1873; Edward (6); William (6) and Arthur (146), all merchants. William was a member of Parliament for eight years. He married Miss Bessie Kandick of Halifax. He has three boys. Edward married Eliza Hart, whose ancestors came from the United States after the war. He has three children. Henry married Sarah McMillam; they have six children. Henry has a large dry-goods business in Antigonish, N.C. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church there. William and Arthur are partners in a general merchandise firm in Baddeck, where David McCurdy and his daughter Georgina (145) also live. "  Arthur married Lucy O'Brien of Windsor; they have three children. I will give the names of David's family according to age; John, Hannah, Georgina, Edward, William, Henry, Arthur. "

"Agnes (5), Born 1812, married Rev. William Fraser D.D., and removed to Ontario. They had five children. The two eldest sons are prominent ministers of the Presbyterian church in Ontario, and one, the youngest, a professor in the University of Toronto. One daughter married George Robinson, who managed the ' Presbyterian Review' published in Toronto. Their names are Rev. James B (6) Fraser, M.D., Rev. Douglas (6) Fraser, Agnes (6) , Hattie (6), and William (6) the professor. "

"Rachel (5), born in 1814, married Isaac Archibald. She died early, leaving three children. One girl married, and died leaving one child. The other daughter, settled in New Brunswick, and the son in Kansas, U.S. "

"The family of James McCurdy is remarkable. Five of the sons were elders in the Presbyterian church, and the other two ministers. "

"Daniel (150), the third son of Alexander, born 1768, married Eunice Wright of Connecticut. He represented the township of Onslow in the Provincial Parliament for some years. His business was farming. He lived near his father, James the older brother living in the homestead. Daniel had 8 children; Charles (5), Daniel (5), James (5), Olive (5), Jennet (5), Mary (5), Rebecca (5), and Betsy or Elizabeth (5). They all married, except Mary who died early, and Betsey who lives with her brother Daniel in her father's house. All settled in Nova Scotia. "

"Robert (154), the youngest son of Alexander born 1775, married Susan Lynds. They had one son Alexander (5) who had quite a number of children, some of whom are now living in the United States. "

"Jennette Guthrie (155) born 1779, married Luke Upham. One of her sons, Alexander (5), was a member of the Nova Scotia Parliament for some years. The others, 4 in number I know very little about. "

With Prof. James F. (180) McCurdy , lately of Princetown, N.J. now of Toronto, Canada, we have had a pleasant correspondence, and he visited us in New Haven when he was Professor of Oriental Languages at Princetown. From one of letter, dated Chatham, New Brunswick, June 13th, 1874, we make the following extract:

" . . . My great grandfather Alexander (147) McCurdy came from the north of Ireland to Nova Scotia in 1765. To the best of my knowledge the parish of Withstrow was the place of his former residence. . . . He emigrated, apparently, just after his marriage - at the age of 31. He lived for a few years in Windsor, N.C., for a few other in Londonderry, but settled finally in the village of Onslow, where he purchased a valuable farm, which is still cultivated by his grandson, the uncle of mine to whom I have referred (Isaac (170) McCurdy of Onslow. N.C. ) He was a man of strong religious character (a Presbyterian, like all MCcURDY) , and of great determination. The latter quality (for which our branch of the McCurdy family has been as remarkable as yours has been for beauty - though their enemies have been in the habit of designating it, in a less complimentary way, as obstinacy) is instanced in a tradition that walked 1800 miles in various journeys undertaken in the prosecution of a tedious lawsuit - which, of course, he gained, or the tradition would not have been cherished. His descendants are very numerous in Nova Scotia. My father (deceased here 6 years ago) was the son of the second child, and was pastor of a church in this place for 36 years. Since his death I have resided in Princeton. . . . . the rest of the family still reside in this Province. "

"My father used to meet your uncle R. H. McCurdy . (18) in his visits to the United States, and correspond with him occasionally during the latter years of his life. "
 

A recent letter from Miss Anna E. N. (6) McCurdy of New Boston, N.H., probably gives us another branch of our family Miss McCurdy writes:

" . . . We descend from Robert (3) McCurdy who came from county Londonderry, or Antrim, and settled in Londonderry, N.H. The first record of him that I have is from the History of Londonderry, where I find his name recorded, from the year 1741 to 1745, as one of the Selectmen. My Grandfather John (4) McCurdy, son of Robert, was born in Londonderry 1746; married Nancy Cochrane; served in the War of the Revolution; subsequently moved to New Boston, where he died 1824, his wife having died in Londonderry 1780. My father James (5) McCurdy , oldest son of John, was born in Londonderry July 1776; came to New Boston to live when he was a small boy; March 1813 married Elizabeth C. Moor, daughter of the Rev. Solomon Moor, the first minister of this town. He died Oct. 1857; his wife died April 1876. Their children are Solomon Moor (6), living in New Boston; Witter Smith (6) living in Lawrence, Kansas; John (6), living in Virginia City, Nevada; James (6), living in New Boston, Jessie (6) living in Lawrence, Kansas; Anne E. I. (205) in New Boston. . . ."
 
to which a gentleman of Londonderry, Mr. R.C. Nack, adds the following items:
 
"James (2) McCurdy an early settler in Londonderry, N.H., though not a grantee of the town, lived in the extreme south part of the town, near the present north line of Windham. The place is now (1888) within the bounds of Derry, N.H.
"
"Robert (206) McCurdy selectman of Londonderry 1741-44, and who signed the 'A"ssociation Test' in June 1776, was probably his son. James (208) McCurdy of that town married a daughter of the Rev. Solomon Moor, long pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New Boston. They had a son Jesse (213) a grad. of Dart. Col., class of 1832, who was a lawyer of Quitman, Miss., 1864 "
 
"From a letter (March 22, 1888) of Miss A.E. McCurdy we learn that her grandfather John McCurdy was twice married; that, by his first marriage, he had two sons, James (208) and John (5);by his second marriage, two other sons, Jesse (5) and Robert (5), and one daughter. Respecting Jesse she wrote; "Jesse went to Massachusetts, afterwards to New York, and was never heard from directly, all I know about his family is that he had a son named Timothy (6)."

"Delos (7) McCurdy Esq., a prominent lawyer of New York City, of the firm of Vanderpool, Green & Company, wrote October 27th, 1886:
 

" . . . . I am sorry to say that I have very little knowledge of the genealogy of my family, owing to the fact that my father and mother died when I was a child.

"From my grandmother, who survived them a few years, I learned all I now know of my more remote ancestors. My grandfather's name was Jesse (216) McCurdy, and he was born in Londonderry, N.H. about 1790. . . . His father's name was John (207) McCurdy, and this John McCurdy, or his father came to this country from county Antrim, Ireland, before the Revolution. "

"From the same source I also learned that the family had its origin in Scotland."
 
And again, January 24th, 1888:
 

" . . . . My granfather's name was Jessie McCurdy. He was born in Londonderry, N.H. His father's name was either John or William - John, I think, I am uncertain which name he bore, because my grandfather had two brothers named John (215) and William (5) respectively. . . . . My grandfather removed from N.H. to Boston in his early manhood and married. His wife's maiden name was Morris, and she was born In Hingham, Mass. My father Timothy Morris (218) McCurdy was born in Sturbridge, Mass. About 1820 my grandfather removed to St. Lawrence County in this state.
 My father married Stella Cordelia Sloan, and on June 1st, 1848 I was born. Shortly afterwards my mother died, and a little after my father also died. I am as near right in all this as my memory will enable me to be. I recollect that my grandfather died in 1850. I also remember hearing my grandmother say that my great grandfather participated in the Revolution, and was, I think she said, at Bunker Hill. There is, so far as I know no record of my family save only the dates of the birth and death of grandfather and grandmother, and of my father and mother. In addition to this I remember having been informed by my grandmother that I was 'Scotch, not Irish.' There is also an impression left in my mind of a persecution, of fleeing to Ireland, and of one coming over here."
 
It can scarcely be doubted, we think, that the Jesse McCurdy, son of John, a soldier in the Revolution, and the father of Timothy, of whom Miss McCurdy of New Boston says that he removed to Massachusetts, and afterwards to the state of New York, was the grandfather of Mr. Delos McCurdy, Jesse by name, of whom he says that he believes he was the son of John, who served in the Revolution, removed to Boston, and later to St. Lawrence county, N.Y., and had a son Timothy.
All the important genealogical facts, relative to Scotch-Irish McCURDY, stated in the letters from which the foregoing extracts have been made, a re-combined in Part 1 of our McCurdy Pedigree. No names, or dates, or descents have been set down without proof; all that there is here presented as being certain has been fully verified. Only the line which descends from Patrick McCurdy, however, has been traced back, definitely, to any single one of the five brothers who emigrated from Scotland to Ireland; though nearly all the other lines are traceable to the next generation after the emigration. It seems to be understood that one of the five brothers died without issue; and another having come to America, was probably never settled in Ireland, and is, therefore, not to be counted as the possible progenitor of any family formed there. So that all our McCurdy families of Ireland, traceable to the generation which succeeded the emigration from Scotland, must, in all probability have come from one of the two remaining brothers of Patrick. The children of Patrick McCurdy being distinctly named, we are not at liberty to regard him as the ancestor of any family not traceable to one of his known sons. But a near relationship between all families of the name which settled in the north of Ireland is indicated by the going back of most of the lines presented in our pedigree to a common locality, of narrow limits, in the northern part of the county of Antrim, near the Giants Causeway; by the use of the same baptismal names very generally, in all the lines; by affinities, affirmed or surmised, without positive trace of connection; and by a common tradition, in most of them, that the family was driven out of Scotland by religious persecution, or that an ancestor was in the famous siege of Londonderry. It is worthy of notice, also, that we find many of the same baptismal names used frequently in these branches of the family which remained in Scotland, especially the names Archibald, John. Robert, Alexander, David and James. There are other persons of the McCurdy name, beside those appearing in Part 1 of our McCurdy Pedigree, whom we suppose without doubt to belong to the same good old stock; but, being unable, for want of particulars, to bring them into our pedigree, we are compelled to pass them only with a few words of quotation from letters which two of them have kindly sent us.

Mr. Robert K. McCurdy of Philadelphia wrote, May 24th, 1867:
 

". . . . Grandfather was born at Nanaceck near Bellacastle, county Antrim, Parish of Aramory, about 1747. Died May 1810. He had seven children, four sons and three daughters, viz: Hugh - Margaret - Daniel - Mary - John - Jane - Robert, all of whom are deceased excepting my father John McCurdy, who is about 83 years old.  Unfortunately, shortly after grandfather's arrival in this country he was burnt out, and the family record lost, the children all being very young, have found it very difficult to trace the family back. I think my great grandfather's name was John McCurdy. The family were originally from Scotland . . . . "
 
"November 14th, 1887.

" . . . . My grandfather was John. He married Mary McCrellish. They left county Antrim, Ireland, at or about the time of the Irish Rebellion (1789) . . . . My grandfather had three brothers, named Daniel, Enos and Hugh. The two former were married. They came to this country shortly after my grandfather . . . . My cousin the Rev. David H. McCurdy visited Ireland some years ago."
 

 
Mr. John (17) McCurdy of Youngstown, Ohio, whose testimony to the Scotch origin of the family we have already given, wrote, February 22, 1871, as follows:

" . . . . I have never been able to trace the McCurdy branch of the family far, as my father died before I felt interested in the matter. Our family have not been in this country but about thirty (30) years. We came from county Donnegal, near Strabane. My uncles Thomas and Charles were both surgeons in the British Army. The former was a long time on the coast of Africa, accumulated a fair fortune, came home (I mean Ireland) and died. The latter died in the service. My father (Robert) was a surgeon also, but did not enter in the service; practiced about fourteen years in the old country, relinquished the practice after coming here; turned his attention to farming, stock raising etc., and died about six years ago, leaving an estate worth about $100,000 . . . "
 

" . . . . There are few MCcURDY now living in Ireland. My uncle James died about a year ago. He was prosperous in business and, adding to what he inherited, he left an estate worth $20,000. His son Thomas held for many years a commission of Captain in the British service, but is now on his father's estate, retired on half-pay. "
Dr. McCurdy wrote again, August 27th, 1875, thus:
 
" . . . . My cousin John (from Canada) told me about his brother Benjamin N. (14) McCurdy now a full surgeon in the British Navy - had looked up the early history of our family and had taken from certain records in London (I think) the coat of arms of our family, and had a small photograph taken from the same, which he said he would forward. . . . "
 
Again, November 4th, 1880:
 
" . .  . The name of my cousin in Canada is John McCurdy. (19) . .  . He will not I fear, give you much information, he . .  . seems to be proud of the McCurdy name only because the McCURDY were all staunch Covenantors and Presbyterians, as far as he can trace the family back - himself being a confirmed Presbyterian. "
 

In Scotland, the original name of our family (what - ever were its other variations) was spelled with the prefix "Mac" - The contraction to "Mc" is first found in Ireland, where also they followed the sound of the name rather than its true spelling, and wrote it "MacCurdy", contracted sometimes to McCurdy," instead of MacKirdy. Gen. MacKirdy of Scotland unites the prefix with the name. We have been for sometime in communication with Ex - Provost Archibald MacKirdy, a bachelor, a prominent and very useful citizen, of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, and active Presbyterian, and successful opponent of the Earl of Bute, in resisting Catholic aggression, who separates the prefix Mac from his name. In a list of "Commissioners of Supply for the County," 1804, headed by the Dukes of Hamilton and Argyle, the family-name appears as MacKurdie. (20)

Undoubtedly the true family-name is the historic one of MacKirdy. Makirdy or MacKurdy. We do not venture to restore the whole spelling, though it is a question whether it would not be well for the younger members of the family to do so; but as the heading to the family-history we give the full name MacCurdy, without the weakening contraction.

From the earliest time the Northmen, in their marauding expeditions, had resorted to the Islands on the Western shore of Scotland and the narrow lochs of the West Highlands. These they found easy of access from the sea, and in a measure self-defended. From these bases their light vessels swept the seas, and they made raids upon the land wherever rich religious houses or other booty tempted their attacks.

After the period Bute had continued to be the field of many rival forms of oppression and with frequent devastations.

Among the earliest family names in the Isle of Bute was that of Mackuredy or Mackirdy. This ancient race had struggled for an existence in their roughest climate, and against theses invaders from without, and waring tribes within. Under the hardships of their life in their island-home, they had full opportunity to form the character which in more recent times has made the Scotch-Irish race, generally, such a power in the history of this country. By the "Survival of the fittest" only the strongest remained.

In after times, the bad passions of men showed themselves in another kind of warfare - that between different forms of religion. - a warfare as cruel, and more vindictive than any previous antagonism. During the reigns of Elizabeth and James 1, acts of Parliament had been passed requiring, under certain penalties, that through the whole kingdom all should adopt the established religion. These acts were resisted by large numbers of all ranks both in Scotland and England.

"The government of Scotland, under the episcopal ministers of Charles 2nd, was such that, to the Presbyterians, who formed the majority of the people, "their native country had, by the prevalence of persecution and violence, become as insecure as a den of robbers" (21). We find that Wodrow's "History of the sufferings of the Church of Scotland" (published in Edinburgh 1721) begins with the year 1660. Its first chapter opens thus:

"The heavy Persecution of Presbyterians in Scotland, from the Restoration 1660 to the Revolution 1688, is as amazing in the Springs of it as surprising in its nature and circumstance: And the following narrative of it will open a very horrid scene of oppression, hardships, and cruelty, which were it not incontestably true, and well vouched and supported, could not be credited in after-ages." The book describes "the hellish designs" of removing out of the way such zealous Protestants and excellent Patriots as the noble Marquis of Argyle" and others; of the "Banishing such eminent lights, as" several ministers he names. "together with the illegal imprisoning and confining, without any crime . . . . "of such excellent gentlemen" as several others he names:
After describing the heavy fines exacted from the presbyterians, under date of 1666, Wodrow says:

"This spring Sir James Turner makes a third visit to the Presbyterians in the West and South, and it was the severest visitation they yet felt. Now the Curate, with two or three of Sir James's soldiers, fined whom they pleased, and made their exactions as large as they would. . . .

"In a few weeks the Curates and soldiers gathered upwards of fifty thousand pounds Scots from the west country, precisely for their nonconformity. "

" . . . . Through the West and South multitudes were obliged to pay the whole, yea, much more. Noblemen, Gentlemen and Commons, when the troopers came to their houses, if they had not the money went presently and borrowed it, and gave it to them. . . . Such who could neither entertain the troopers, nor command the money required of them by the Act of Fines, were straightaway haled to prison. "

".. . And so great was the poverty many were reduced to, by such measures, that the troopers, when they met with a beggar in their way, would ask in a jest if he were fined. . . . . Vast were the sums extracted on this time."

Our managers thought to have divided these spoils among themselves; each party, when in power, looked on them as theirs; first Middleton and his dependents, who imposed them, and then Bawderdale and his party, who uplifted them. Nevertheless both missed their aim, and bishop Sharp outwitted them both; and within a little they were by the King's orders applied to the payment of the Army . . . .

"Scotsmen have ever been impatient under Tyranny, and the wonder is not great, after so much patience, less than they were under did drive them to extremities."

"Sir James Turner and his soldiers continued to make terrible havoc in the West, and especially in the South. That country was made a wilderness and well nigh ruined; a great many families were scattered, and not only the common people but persons of better note, gentlemen and others, were forced to flee their houses, and lurk in mosses and mountains, and other converts of many of whom the world was not worthy! These had nothing like resisting the king's forces in view, but were silently groaning under their oppressions, till a very small matter kindled this fire, and an unforeseen accident gave a beginning to this rising." In the middle of November 1666 occurred "the rising." But all was against them. The Presbyterians were undisciplined, "their horses not trained;" many of their friends were timorous, and did not acknowledge them; others fell away from them; the royal army was powerful, and soon scattered the rising forces; some were killed, "many of the prisoners were executed, and those of any note who escaped were forfeited in life and fortune, in absence." (22)
 
We also learn from Wodrow that many of the younger Scotch gentlemen, tired of the long and hopeless struggle, "conformed," and went over to the Government-side, induced by personal advantages offered to them. In may cases such persons were allowed to take possession of the property of their families, of which the presbyterian members had been disposed.

It will be seen that the traditions of the McCurdy family are fully confirmed by history. No words could better describe, than do those we have quoted from Wodrow, the circumstances of the time which must be supposed, in order to account for the hasty flight to Ireland of the five McCurdy brothers, in an open boat, in the midst of a snow-storm, leaving their worldly possessions behind them, and escaping with only their lives and a good conscience. Our family-records in Ireland tell up that soon after the middle of the seventeenth century - perhaps in 1666 - five MacKirdy (latter spelled MacCurdy) brothers "left Scotland to avoid religious persecution." At the risk of their lives they crossed the narrow but dangerous north passage of the Irish Sea in an open boat. (23) Our correspondents Mr. Patrick McCurdy of Ballintoy and his son Daniel refer to the story of their perils, but give us few details.

Soon after reaching Ireland, when the Revolution of 1688 had begun, our ancestors were involved in new troubles and dangers. in different branches of the family tradition associates many of the name of McCurdy with the siege of Londonderry. (24) and the battle of Boyne; and the descendants of our John McCurdy

McCurdy hold the specific tradition that a near ancestor of their own was saved by his mother, as a little child at the time of the siege, being hidden by her behind a gate. It coincides with this tradition that our first ascertained ancestor, Thomas McCurdy, was about four years old at the time of the siege. A letter of February 27, 1888, just received, from Daniel McCurdy of the Cairn, Ballintoy, shows the same tradition in his branch of the family. he says:

"I had a tradition from a John McCurdy of Billy that one of our forefathers was a child in the arms at the siege of Derry, and was saved by the person who carried it, hiding behind a gate. . . . I also heard they were the leaders of a great clan, and lost considerable property when they left Bute, which was afterwards forfeited to the government."
 
History tells us that, when the distress of the city had become extreme, the gates were opened for women and children to go out, but that this famished multitude was pushed back in the city, to perish with the rest; then it was, no doubt, that the mother and child of our family escaped by hiding behind some gate opening outward. The older generation of the same are universally reported to have been staunch Presbyterians, and seem to have transmitted, in their several lines of posterity, qualities of mind and character distinctive of the Scotch-Irish race.

The Scotch McCurdy emigrants to Ireland not members of any colony planted by royal authority, receiving grants of land. They were individual emigrants making their way under circumstances described by one of our correspondents in England of Irish birth: "The colonists were subject to many vicissitudes and hardships, persecuted by the Episcopalians and the landlords." As it is now throughout Great Britain, the land in Ireland was held in large estates, and was only to be purchased by persons of wealth. Recent laws in England, and the special court appointed to arrange for the sale in Ireland to the tenant-farmers, have for the first time made possible their ownership of  land. As now in the country, the better kind of tenant-farmers were recognised as a highly respectable class, often renting large farms upon the great estate, and retaining them in their families for many generations, having the sole management of them, making the improvements, and being subject to no interference as long as they paid the annual rent. Under these circumstances, there grew up such a sense of proprietorship that there seemed little difference between a long-rented farm and one held in fee. The "Cavan" farm of the MCcURDY at Bushmills, and the farm at the Cairn, Ballintoy, have been in the family for more than one hundred years. This class of farmers in all generations has been well-to-do, living in great comfort and acquiring property.

In Ireland, even more than in other countries, this class has long been "the bone and sinew" of the country. The poorer members of the high families, generally, being too proud to support themselves by the learned professions or by merchandise, it is chiefly the better class of farmer' sons who are educated as ministers, lawyers, and physicians, and trained as bookkeepers and clerks. Ministers from these families are eagerly sought for in this country, and are now among the most distinguished preachers in our great city-churches. Some of our most successful merchants have come from them. Seeking more freedom and equality, and a wider field of life, a large proportion of these educated sons of farmers have been coming to this country ever since it was settled, and have added largely to the brain-force which has so rapidly developed the best elements of its prosperity. That the father to our ancestor John McCurdy belonged to this class, and was a large and prosperous farmer, is shown by the only fact we know of him that he have to his daughter Ann and her husband Alexander Mootty, on their marriage, so large a farmer's gift as "ten young heifers all in calf." (25)

John (3) McCurdy whom we may assume to have been of the third generation in descent from one of the five brothers who escaped from Scotland, was the paternal grandfather of Judge McCurdy . He emigrated to America in 1745, when he was about twenty-one years old, from Ahoghill, Co. Antrim, Ireland, and was settled in Lyme, Conn., as early as 1752. He left behind him an elder brother Samuel, (3) and a sister Ann, (3) about ten years younger than himself, who afterwards married Alexander Mootty of Craigs, County Antrim near Ahoghill, from whom we have an excellent letter, written in 1797 to a son-in-law of Samuel McCurdy of New Hampshire, in which he remembers "love to sister widow McCurdy (of Lyme) and all her children."

The elder brother, SAMUEL (244) McCurdy, came to America in 1771-72; and went doubtless by way of Lyme - there to visit his brother John - to Surry, N.H. He was accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth Gray, to whom he had been married, May 21, 1747, at Ahoghill. He was a farmer, and lived, died and was buried in Surry; his grave and that of his wife are "on the old farm, one corner being reserved for that purpose." He died January 5, 1808, aged eighty-seven years; and his wife, on the 22nd of December of the same year, in her eighty-sixth year. All his children were born before his emigration.

His eldest child Anna, (4) born in 1784; who married John Mark, in Ireland; but settled, with her husband, at Gilsum, N.H. being "Homesick for her people who had preceded her" to this country; and died January 21st, 1824. A daughter of hers died about 1883, at the age of one hundred years. Her baptism was recorded in the Register of the Presbyterian Church of Ahoghill, under the name of Elizabeth - her name being wrongly written as that of her mother - thus:

"1784, Mar. 18. Baptised Elizabeth

daughter of Samuel McCurdy."
 
The second child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gray) McCurdy was James, 4 born in 1749; who came to America, and went from Surrey to Northfield, Vt. He married Margaret Gilmore, probably in Ireland, and had seven children, of whom only one son, Thomas (5) by name, unmarried, and one daughter were surviving in 1867, when the two lived together in Worchester, Vt. He died February 25, 1831.

The third child, and second son, was John, 4 born in 1750, respecting whom and his descendants, as we know more about them than of others, we will speak later.

The fourth child was Jane, (4) born in 1760; who married Jesse Dort (or Dorte) of Gilsum, N.H., and died July 13, 1825.

The fifth child, born in 1767, bore his father's name Samuel. (4) He too having come to this country, was first of Surrey, but removed to Brownington, Vt., where he died in March 1823. He married Elizabeth Berry in 1788, and had eight children; all of whom are now (1888) dead. One of his sons, name Jonathan, (5) settled in Belleville, upper Canada, and had a large family - most of them now living there. Another son, James (5) was of Browington, whose daughter, Hannah Elizabeth, (6) is now the wife of Horatio Nye, proprietor of Mount Agassiz House at Bethlehem, N.H.

The only other child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gray) McCurdy was Jeannette, (4) of whom we only know that she married William Barron in 1789, and had children.

We now return to John (249) the second son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Gray) McCurdy. He came to America about the same time his father did, in 1771-72, but is said to have preceded his father in immigrating. The following record of his emigration is still preserved in the family in his own handwriting:

"I sailed from Larne (26) Nov. 1771, and landed at New York the 15th of January, 1772."

He is believed to have been named for his uncle John our ancestor; was educated in Ireland at his uncle's expense, and had been invited by him to come to this country; and was employed for a time in his uncle's shipping business, but gave that up, and went to Surrey, and afterwards in 1820, to West Concord, Vt. He married January 31st, 1788 Sarah Watts; and died January 11838, at the age of eighty-eight years, having had nine children, as follows:

1.------ Mary (5) (or Polly), born July 25, 1788; who married in 1814, Samuel Hamilton.

2.------ Sarah (5) (or Sally,), born July 21, 1790; who died unmarried.

3.------Elizabeth, (5) born December 15, 1793; who married, in 1813, Obadiah Redding, and had fourteen children, of whom one is Issac H; (6) now of Millbury, Mass.

4.------John, (5) born June 28, 1796; who now in his ninety-second year, still lives in West Burke, VT., with a son-in-law. He married Julia Goodwin.

5.------ Sammuel, (5) born September 4, 1789; who married March 21, 1824, widow Elizabeth (-------) Hamilton; and is still living in he ninetieth year, with his daughter Sarah Margaret, (6) now Mrs. C. H. Colony of Keene, N.H. We have interesting and valuable letters from his daughter, of recent date, together with letters from his mother; written in 1867, which we shall give, by extracts, presently.

6.------Thomas, (5) born May 19, 1801; who still lives in St. Johnsbury, Vt., at the age of eighty-seven, without children, He married Nancy Archer.

7.------Nancy, (5) born December 11, 1803; who died unmarried.

8.------Richard, (5) born May 21, 1806; - doubtless named for his father's cousin Richard McCurdy of Lyme, Conn; who settled in Canada, more than half a century ago; married, and had a large family of children; and still lives, near Vienna, Ont. Some of his sons were educated at Oberlin, Ohio, and one of them William W. (6) was practicing law in Indiana, 1864-67. He now resides in Indianapolis, engaged in mercantile business.

9.------ Lynde (or Lynds), born February 10, 1809 - so named, undoubtedly, for Lynde McCurdy of the Connecticut family, who had then been dead about six years, the eldest son of John McCurdy of Lyme. He went to West Canada (Ont.), but is now living in Michigan. A son of his, named William Harrison, (6) is in Texas; and a daughter, Sarah Alice. (6) now Mrs. Archibald Brown, of East Saginaw, Michigan.

We call attention to the remarkable fact that the five sons of this family are all still living, varying in age from the eldest, of ninety-two years to the youngest, of seventy-nine.

It remains for us to give, in the words of correspondents of the family, some interesting particulars respecting theses New Hampshire MCcURDY, whose genealogy and biography we have thus sketched. Mrs. Elizabeth McCurdy, wife of Samuel (261) of the fifth generation, grandson of the emigrant Samuel, writing from Westmoreland, VT., July 8, 1867 said:

" . . . . his (Samuel's of the third generation) oldest grandchild, Mary (256) McCurdy, now Mrs. Hamilton, we have visited today, to gain what information we could respecting them, she having lived with them during the two last years of their lives, she remembered your grandfather's visiting them in Surrey many years since, a lady with him who was in a decline - she believed his name was Lynde McCurdy - she may be mistaken about his being your grandfather - perhaps one of his brothers;"
 
And again, under date of August 18, 1867, the same lady wrote:
 
" . . . . I thank you very much for your father's picture - it is a very excellent one, and presume, it is like the original. I will send you the Canada brothers; but you need not judge them as grave as they look, for there is a great deal of quiet fun in them as well as all the rest - it is as natural as their breath; they inherited it, no doubt, from their ancestors: they are all, as you say, decidedly Irish. The account of your family was very interesting. . . . I am happy to learn there are liberal Christians in your branch of the family, as I judge them being connected with a channing.

"Will you pardon me if I should just hint what we are, I mean all of this branch of the McCurdy family; I flatter myself you would like to know - plain farmers, with comfortable homes, work enough, particularly at this season, which is the busiest part of the year, securing hay and grain. As for character, I will relate what I heard Father McCurdy say once - not a child of his ever caused a blush to rise on his cheek; dear old man, how happy it made him! but he passed away; has he lived until now, he would have repeated it.
"
"I would like to send my husband's picture, but he has not a good one, but he wishes me to say you shall have one when he can attend to it; they have light hair and eyes, pretty good skin, rather ruddy complexions. . . . "
 
John 260) McCurdy, the elder brother of Mrs. Elizabeth McCurdy's husband, wrote August 1, 1867, as follows:
 
" . .   Some sixty years ago, I recollect a gentleman coming to my father's in Surrey, by the name of McCurdy, some connection of my father's - I should think his name was Richard or Lynds, McCurdy; and, as you have not mentioned what your father's or grandfather's given name was, I should be pleased to have you write me again, and let me know, and I will endeavour to answer the same, by enclosing my photograph to you, as I am not prepared to do so now.
 "

The following letter, of February 6, 1888, from Mrs. C. H. Colony, daughter of Samuel (261) and Elizabeth (------------Hamilton) McCurdy, deserves to be quoted more fully:

"Keene, N.H., Feb. 6, 1888"

" . . . . I came in possession of my grandfather John (249) McCurdy's family Bible printed in Edinburgh, Scotland 1769, in which written by his had, are the following records:

" 'I was born in Limnahery in the Parish of Ahoghill, count of Antrim, North of Ireland. From thence I sailed from Larne, Nov. 1771, and landed in New York the 15th of January 1772; and thence to Surrey, N.H., May 21, 1772; from thence to Concord, Vt., Dec. 3, 1820, ' where he continued until his death, Jan.1, 1838, in his 88th year, which would show he was born in 1750 - the year that your ancestor John McCurdy first settled in Lyme, and of whom I have heard he was named; his father Samuel (244) and wife Elizabeth Gray, and children, also came in 1771, of whom the Bible contains no records except their deaths: 'Samuel McCurdy died Jan. 5, 1808, aged 87. Elizabeth McCurdy Dec. 22, 1808 aged 86."

" ' Mrs. Anna (246) Hark of Gilsum, wife of John Mark, died Jan. 21, 1824, aged 76. Mrs. Jane (250) Dorte, wife of Jesse Dort of Gilsum, died July 13, 1825, aged 65. (I think there was another daughter who married William Barron, and had three children.) Samuel (571) McCurdy of Browington, Vt., died March 1823, aged 56. James (247) McCurdy, Feb. 25, 1831, aged 82.' This is the last entry in my grandfather's hand, and this was added seven years after; 'John McCurdy of Surrey, and Sarah Watts of Alstead married Jan. 31, 1788, by Rev. Aaron Hall, Pastor of Christ Church, Keene, N.H. Their children were as follows: Polly, born July 25, 1788; Sally born July 21, 1790; Elizabeth, born Dec. 15, 1793; John born June 28, 1796; Samuel born Sept. 4, 1798; Thomas born May 19, 1801; Nancy born Dec. 11, 1803; Richard, born May 21, 1806; Lynde born Feb. 10, 1809.' There are none of the daughters living. Polly married Samuel Hamilton, whose father fled from the same town and county in Ireland that our ancestors came from - on account of taking part in the rebellion of that period - came to America. "

" . . . . One letter is from Alexander Nootty brother of Samuel McCurdy's wife, and one signed Hugh Gray addressing John Mark as brother, whose wife must have been a sister of John Mark. She died five years ago in her 100th year, leaving no children. In one of my visits I asked her if she remembered seeing any of the Conn. relatives; only one, I think Richard, a young man, called at her sister's, while she was a little girl playing in the orchard, and her sister called her in, and she was overawed by his grand appearance being dressed in a scarlet coat, velvet-breeches, and silver-buckled shoes, cocked hat, etc. 'and' she added, 'the handsomest man I ever saw.'(27)"

"Elizabeth (258) McCurdy married Obadiah Redding, and had 14 children, only 5 of whom are living. I have not the dates of their births, marriages or deaths; but their son Isaac H. (259) Redding. Hillibury, Mass. could inform you.

"Sally (257) and Nancy (264) McCurdy were never married. John (260) still lives in West Burke, Vt., in his 92nd year, having buried his wife and two daughters, but lives with the husband of the younger daughter, Mr. Sereno Bugbee.

"Thomas (263) McCurdy lives in St. Johnsbury, Vt., has no children. Samuel (261) my father, came to live with me 7 years ago, and is very infirm in mind and body, being in his 90th year. I am his only surviving child - (he) having buried twin boys, one in infancy and one in his 21st year. He married widow Elizabeth Hamilton, March 21, 1824; and had: Sarah Margaret (262) McCurdy, born Feb. 26, 1825; Alonzo Washington (6) McCurdy. Alphonso Wellington (6) McCurdy born Oct. 5 1827.

"My mother was a native of Cambridge, Eng., and came to America in 1816, being then 14 years of age. "

"Richard (265) McCurdy went to Canada early or quite 60 years ago, married and had 12 children, 6 of whom I believe are now living; and his present address is Bayham, Ont., having received a letter from him last week. Lynde (267) also went to Canada, married and had 4 children, 3 of whom are now living - William (268) in Texas; Mrs. Archie Brown, East Saginaw, Michigan, the eldest daughter (269) would give you fuller particulars of Richard's and her father's family . . . . He visited here and at the other brother's a little more than a year ago - 77 years old - gentlemanly, intelligent and the image of his father, the youngest of 5 living brothers - where will you find another family of such longevity; If any other questions occur to you on subjects that I have not made plain, please ask freely and I will do the best I can. If the old letters are of any service to you they are free for your perusal. "

"I was very much interested in an article published in 'Harper's Monthly,' 1876 on the genealogy of Lyme, Conn., and imagined the Richard McCurdy, spoken of as entertaining Lafayette in 1824, was the "Handsomest man" spoken of by the lady Hathorne of Gilsum, who also said that your ancestor John sent for my grandfather to come to America to help take charge of his shipping interests - but the associating with seamen not being congenial he concluded to come to the wilds of N.H. He was fond of reading; and for the time had quite a library, which was divided among his children. One large volume published in London, 1652, Gays Poems, and some others of late date came to my father. "

" . . . . One of the Brownington McCurdys, many years ago, settled in the same part of Canada - but I have no means of finding the facts. I am the only representative of the brothers John, Samuel and Thomas, but have no children, but would like the full and complete history when published and can give it to our Public Library afterward. "
 
"Hoping you may find something of interest, I am  

Yours Sarah McColony."
 

We also give extracts from a later letter of same lady (February 10, 1888):
 

" . . . .Mrs. Hubbard's only recollection was hearing that your ancestor John educated my grandfather, which must have been previous to his coming to America. I judge they were all well educated for the times . . .

"John Mark, who came to America a few years later, only came because his wife was so homesick for her people, who had all preceded her; and Mrs. Hubbard says 'I always pitied my grandfather when he alluded to the parting, on board ship, with his sister, who embraced him, and only gave him up in an agony of tears.' "

"I also called upon Mrs. Josleyn, whose father John Thayer married Polly McCurdy (first wife) eldest daughter of James, but learned nothing from her accept that tradition said that she was very lovely in mind and person, and died young, of consumption, leaving three little children. "

" . . . . I afterwards called at the present town clerk's and, after looking over the record previous to Mr. Howe, discovered the marriage of Samuel (251) McCurdy and Elizabeth Berry, Dec. 30, 1788; William Barron and Jeannette (255) McCurdy, 1789. Have not yet found James (247) McCurdy's marriage, but, as he married a lady of Walpole by the name of Gilmore, shall write to the clerk of that town for information. "

"In the records of Mr. Howe, I find John Thayer married Polly (5) McCurdy, daughter of James, April 13th, 1809; Obadiah Redding married to Elizabeth (258) McCurdy, Dec. 15, 1813; Samuel Hamilton of Chesterfield to Polly (256) McCurdy of Surrey, Mar. 30, 1814 - daughter of John. I also find the marriage of James McCurdy (5) Mark of Gilsum and Miss Lois Whitney of the same town. March 10, 1807; also Simon Carpenter and Miss Anna (5) Mark, May 10, 1814; Mr. Harris Hamilton of Weston, Vt., and Miss Betsey (5) Mark of Gilsum, Sep. 12, 1809. "

I find in the census of Surrey, 1806; John (249) McCurdy, aged 56; James (247) age 57: (his wife) Maragaret 51 - their oldest son John (5) 23; Polly (272) 20; Thomas (248) 17; Peggy (5) 15: Betty (5) 13: Jenny (5) 10. . . . This family moved to Northfield, Vt., not many years after - Thomas, Betsey and Jenny had not been dead may years. I also find record of the baptism of the children of John McCurdy, Jan. 30th, 1815. This is all I can find on the records concerning the family. I have not the date of marriage of uncle John (260) but think it was 1825, to Miss Julia Goodwin of Fitz William, N.H., possessing much refinement and intelligence, and with whom my mother corresponded till her death some five years ago. She attended school in Boston, kept by the lady who wrote 'Charlotte Temple' . . . and while there executed a picture of 'Petrarck and Laura,' in colored silk, with her needle. "

" . . . . I am the eldest son of a family of three brothers, descended from Elizabeth Mootty, youngest daughter of Alexander Mootty of Graigs and his wife Ann McCurdy. They had a family of 4 children, viz. Jane, John, Sandy and Elizabeth my mother. So I stand in the relation of a grandson to the above named Alexander Mootty and his wife Ann McCurdy. I being brought up in my grandfather's house
I lived with the family until I married . . . . I Have been repeatedly told by my uncles that my grandmother lived, at the time of her marriage, with her brother in a town land called Limnahery, 1 1/2 miles west of Ahoghill; and that her father sent from that place ten young heifers all in calf as a marriage gift to his young son-in-law. Therefore my grandfather was a brother by marriage and not by birth to your grandfather. Another coincidence-when I was a young boy at school, I was asked by my uncle to write letters from his dictation to his uncle Samuel McCurdy in America; although a long time since. I remember the address well - it was as follows:

To Samuel McCurdy, Surrey, in care of Mr. Alexander Stewart, Merchant, New York.' Among grand uncle's records you might find letters with the above directions and ending with a text of Scripture. Again you speak about searching the church - and town-records about births and marriages. Early in the last century there was no compulsory act requiring births marriages and deaths to be registered. And hence the result that, upon enquiry, nothing of the kind is to be found.
 
We are especially indebted to Mr. Dunlop for a search made in 1882 in the old churchyard of Ahoghill, by which was brought to light, as we confidently believe, the headstone of the father of John. As it is the only headstone there which bears the name of McCurdy, is in a "row of graves near the place" where Alexander Mootty and his McCurdy wife lie buried, and commemorates a person of the generation of the father of our Samuel, John and Ann, we accept it as his monument. Our pedigree of McCurdy Part 2, shows that the name of Thomas was twice repeated in the fifth generation of the New Hampshire family, and in the third and fourth of the collateral branches. The inscription reads:

"Here lieth the body of Thomas McCurdy,

who died March the 14th, 1766, aged

80 years,"
 

Our careful investigations in the history of the family lead us to believe that this Thomas (2) was a son of one of the five brothers who came over in a open boat from Bute a little after the middle of the seventeenth century (28).
 
New York Daily Tribune for Jan. 13, 1877.
 
The New Englander . . . . New Haven, 1882, v. 1-31. All the imprints we give are those of the particular Volumes referred to.
 
A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the landed Gentry. . . . By Sir Bernhard Burke. . . . London, 1879, p. 1034.
 
"Somerled was than a of Argyle and Lord of the Isles (a title afterward borne by his descendants. ) He seems to have exercised his authority in both capacities, independent of the crown of Scotland, against which he often stood in hostility. He made various incursions upon the western lowlands during the reign of Malcolm 4th; and seems to have made peace with him upon the terms of an independent province, about the year 1157" - Scotts' Lord of the Isles. Philadelphia, 1839, pp. 27, 28.
 
Somerled has been described as a "well-tempered man, in body shapely, of a fair, piercing eye, of middle stature, and of quick discernment: - History of the county of Bute and Families connected therewith. By John Eaton Reid . . . .

Glasgow, 1864, p. 37.
 
The families of Lorn, Dukes of Argyle (Scott's Lord of the Isles, p. 236), of the Earls of Ross (Id., pp. 229-31), and the Stewarts (Reid's History of the County of Bute, ut supra, p. 38) descended from Somerled.
 
"Upon the death of Somerled, the kingdom of Man and the Ilses reverted to Godred the Black, whose descendants retained it till it was, long after, finally ceded to Scotland. Those portions, however, which had been settled upon the sons of Somerled appear to have been claimed by them. Dugald received Mull Coll, Tiree, and Jura; Reginald got, Islay and Kintire: and Angus obtained Bute; while Arran seems to have been a bone of contention between the two last named, and is supposed by Mr. Gregory to have been the occasion of deadly battle between them in 1192, mentioned in the "Chronicle of Man'. In 1210 Angus and his three sons were killed at Skye, when Reginald is thought to have claimed both Bute and Arran, as he then bestowed Bute, and perhaps Arran also, upon Ruari or Roderick, whose descendants were called McCruari" - Reids Bute, ut supra, p.37.
 
" The Mackirdy of Bute were a very prominent family at the time of the General Charter of 1506, there having been eleven or twelve independent holdings possessed by them at that tim: indeed, the name appears to have been more especially a Bute one, and may with reason claim connection with the oldest of the district. "
 
" . . . . The principal branches were the McWrerdies of Stravanan, McWrerdies of Lengilculrathla, Makwrerdies of Brigadill, Makwerartys of Gallochane, Makwuerdys of Branser, MacVurarthies of Brvchag, MacVurarthies of Revrymenoch and Makwrerdys of Cowling. The possessions of these different families passed to the Bure family at different times, as well be sen by a reference to the sketch of the noble house. The last representatives were Finlay and Robert McWrerdy, whose lands had been acquired by the Bute estate under advances said to have been made and securities given. Robert Mackwrerdy, the last baron of the name, married Janet Fraser, and had several sons and daughter. William, the eldest was married, but had no children; John, the second son married Grace Gregory, or McGregor, and had several Children; Alexander, the oldest died unmarried, John, the second was possessed of considerable estates in British Guians at the close of the last century, and eventually purchased the estate at Birkwood, Lanarkshire, where he principally resided. He married, in London, in 1801, Kary, eldest daughter of David Elliott, Esq., by Susan Bogle his wife, and had three sons and two daughters, viz., "

1. John Gregory McKirdy, now of Birkwood (since deceased) married to Augusta, daughter of Captain James Bradshaw, R.N., M.P.; 2. Charles Clark Mackirdy, Blythswood of the 69th Regiment (now General in the British Army), who has served with distinction both in the East and West Indies; 4. Mary; 5. Susan (Mrs. Scott). Both daughters are now deceased" - Reid's Hist. of the County of Bute, ut supra, pp. 254-55. We have heard recently from Gen. MacKirdy at Cannes, France where he has "Villa Beauregard." in the fashionable quarter occupied by English residents.
 
Burke, in his "Landed Gentry," describes the arms belonging to Gen. Markirdy as follows: "Per fesse arg. and sa., in chief a martlet of the second, and in base a fir tree growing out of a mount, surmounted by a sword, bentways dexter, supporting by its point an antique or a crest: a demi-wyvern displayed ppr. motto: Dieu et mon pays.
 
Their names were Patrick, David, William, John and Daniel.
 
Ahoghill (pronounced ah-ho-ghill) is situated about the centre of county Antrim, near its western border, where it joins county Londonderry, and not far from the upper end of Lough eagh. In 1885 it had a population of 23,622.
 
The Islands of Bute, Arran, the Cumbrays and Inchmarnoch, together with the Holy Isle and Pladda . . . . from one country under the name of Bute. Arran is the largest and the most southern, The Mull of Kantire.
 
A Life of Rev. Alisha Macurdy. By Rev. David Eliott, was published in Alleghany, 1840. This was a fine young man, a physician, who died not long after, to the great grief of his father said to be recorded in Edinburgh. From the age of Archibald, afterwards given, and the tradition that the family was in Londonderry during the siege, it is evident that the emigration from Scotland was in the preceding generation.
 
We have just heard, of the death of this lady, March 25, 1888. "She was the daughter of the late William O'Brien of Windsor, N.S., and married Mr. McCurdy in September 1881. Of Scotch-Irish decent, in her disposition were combined the characteristics of both races; and; always gentle and lively, she leaves pleasant memories, with many friends. . . . On Tuesday she was buried in Knox Churchyard, on the shore of the beautiful Bras d'or she loved so well."
 
We have also received from the McCurdys of Baddeck an interesting sketch of the family of Anges Archibald, the mother of Hon. David McCurdy of Baddeck, which we here preserve, somewhat abridged as follows:
"The Archibald in Nova Scotia, and the States of the American Union, sire of the descendants of four brothers, David, Samuel, James and Thomas, who removed from Londonderry, Ireland, to Londonderry, N.H., about the year 1757, and thence to Nova Scotia and arrived in Truro Dec. 13, 1762. They were of Scottish descent. David was the eldest of the brothers. He was a leading man in society; and a Major in the Militia; was the first Justice of the Peace settled in Truro; was the first man who represented Truro Township in Parliament. He first took his seat June 5, 1766. His name stands first in the grant of said township, also to the call given the Rev. Samuel Cook, which was dated Sept. 13, 1770. His name is also at the head of the list of elders of the Presbyterian congregation. "
 
These were chosen in the summer of 1770. Samuel Archibald senior, the second of the four brothers, was born in the year 1719. He was married to Eleanor Taylor about the year 1743, fourteen years before they left Ireland. They had six sons and four daughters before they came to Truro, and two daughters born in Truro. He was one of the grantees of the Truro Township and one of the first elders of the Presbyterian congregation. He died July 15, 1774, aged 55 years. His wife Eleanor Taylor died May 1st, 1871, aged 57 years.
 
"Mathew the eldest son of Samuel and Eleanor Archibald was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in the year 1745, and came to Nova Scotia in the year 1762. He returned to New England, and was married there to Janet Fisher in the year 1767 . . . . "
 
"Mathew Archibald returned with his wife to Truro, and settled and built his house on the north bank of the Salomon River, where he spent the remainder of his days. His house is still standing, and is owned by Rev. Dr. McCullock. He carried on farming and tanning in the same place where the tanyard now stands. He also owned a mill on the opposite bank of the river. He was eminently pious; and, from his careful use of the Bible, the high land on the north bank of the river took its name as ' Bible Hill' - He represented Truro in Parliament 14 years, from the year 1785 to 1799, and he held the offices of Justice of Peace and Coroner of the District of Colcheester for a number of years before his death. He did January 18, 1820, aged 75 years, and his wife died March 5th 1843, aged 93 years. The following is taken from the Halifax 'Guardian' of March 1843:
 
" 'Died at Truro on Saturday, March 5th, 1843, Janet widow of the late Matthews Archibald Esq., aged 93 years. She was married when 17 years old; and shortly after came to this Province, where she left a large body of descendants. . . . . "
 
"Anges the second daughter of Matthew and Janet Archibald was born Nov. 26, 1770. She was married to James McCurdy of Onslowk Dec. 25, 1788. They had seven sons and seven daughters., "
 
"David Archibald, the eldest of the four brothers already noticed, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, Sept. 20, 1717. Elizabeth Elliott his wife was born June 10th, 1720. They were married May 19, 1741. We died about 1795. His wife died Oct. 19, 1791, aged 71 years. David the sixth and youngest son of David and Elizabeth Archibald was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Sept. 27, 1758. He inherited a large part of his father's farm on Bible Hill. He carried on a considerable business in ship-building. "

He was married to Sarah the eldest of Matthew and Janet Archibald, June 29th, 1788. They had one son and three daughters. Mrs. Archibald died in the year 1797. He was married again to Hannah the fourth daughter of Colonel Jotham Blanchard and his wife Elizabeth, in the year 1799. He obtained a large tract of land on the St. Mary River Guysboro Co., N.S., on which now stands a large part of the village of Sherbrooke. He removed there in July 1815. He carried on a considerable business at ship-building, milling and lumbering. He died there in the year 1823 aged 65 years. His widow died about the year 1830 aged 56 years. Mary their third daughter was born in Truro, May 28, 1812. She was married to David McCurdy of Onsow, now of Baddeck, Cape Breton, Feb. 20, 1832. She died May 226, 1874. They were married 52 years.
 
Elizabeth youngest daughter of Matthew and Janet Archibald married Samuel grandson of Samuel who; was one of the four brothers. They had eight children, one of whom, the second son, Sir Adams George Archibald, is a man of some distinction. He was an eminent lawyer and a member of Parliament for a number of years. He was Attorney General, and a delegate more than once of English Government. He was Governor of Mantiola in 1870, and was remarkably successful in his conciliatory policy with the Indians and half-breeds of that country. On his return he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia. He served in the capacity with much satisfaction for two terms of five years each, and he is now living in Halifax with a country-seat in Truro. He is in his 74th year."
David Archibald above mentioned, the eldest of the four brothers who settled in Truro in 1762, was a member of the Assembly of Nova Scotia. So, too, was Samuel, David's eldest son, born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1742. The third son of Samuel Archibald was Samuel George William Archibald, who, on returning from the U.S. whither he had gone for his education, first intended going to Scotland for ordination as a Presbyterian minister. About 1800 he became a student in the office of Mr. Robie, then Member of Truro, and afterwards Speaker of the Assembly.
 
"From 1806, when he entered the Assembly, till 1841, when he left it, he took a leading part in all the public questions which arose during that long period. A history of his life for that time is very much the history of the Province. There were in the Assembly, during his period, many able men, many eloquent speakers and powerful ressoners, but no one of them attained the dominant and permanent influence which Mr. Archibald exercised over that body. No other man contributed so much to mould the institutions and shape the destinies of Nova Scotia." He was appointed Chief Justice of Prince Edward Island in 1824, Solicitor General of Nova Scotia in 1825, Speaker of the Assembly in 1827; resigned his Island Chief Justiceship in 1828, was appointed Attorney General in 1830; in 1841 was made Master of the Rolls and Judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty. He died in 1846. By his first wife, Elizabeth Dickson, "amiable, handsome and accomplished," he had, with other children, the Consul General at New York; by his second wife, Mrs. Brinley, he had a daughter who married Sir Edward Pollock, Baron of the Exhequer in England, "a man of very considerable mark as a Judge in the High Court of Justice." "Thus it came to pass that two brothers-in-law often went the circuit in England presiding over the same courts, and attached to each other by the tenderest ties of fraternal regard, who were, one the son and the other the son-in-law, of the subject of our memoir."
 
See life of S. G. W. Archibald, by Israel Longworth, Halifax, N.S., 1881.
 
An appointment for life. Mrs. G.G. Hubbard of Washington, D.C., writing from Baddeck last summer, says of the family of Hon. David McCurdy: "They live very pleasantly here, and were evidently the prominent people of the town, energetic, enterprising and public-spirited."
 
Mr. Robert H. McCurdy of New York, one of the writers met Rev. John McCurdy at her uncle Robert's house. The family went to a Scotch Presbyterian church to hear him preach. he was a tall, noble looking man; and all were such charmed with him and his preaching.
 
For information received from him we learn that his father was George; McCurdy, who married a Miss Holmes, George his youngest brother lives at Castlefin, County Donegal, Ireland, where he owns the original grant of land given to his Holmes ancestor in 1690.
 
Reid's Hist. of Bute, ut supra, p. 99.
 
History of the Revolution in England in 1688. . . .

By the late Right Hon. Sir James Mackintosh. . . .

London. 1831, p. 100, quoting Hume.
 
See pages 1, 2, 237, 238, 240, 241, 250.
 
By consulting a map of Ireland the reader will see that a boat sailing from the souther coast of the Isle of Arran, which lies off the southwest coast of Scotland, guided in a southwestern direction, land passing the long peninsula of Kantire, then sailing westward, after a voyage of about 45 miles, would reach the northern coast of Antrim.
 
 
 

There lies the town of Ballintoy, bounded by the sea on the north and northeast. It is

about six miles due east from the town Bushmills, where a part of the McCurdy family settled, about 44 miles from Londonderry, and a little more than twenty-five miles from Ahoghill, all points of interest in our family history. Billy lies next to Ballintoy on the west, about forty-four miles from Belfast. Between Ballintoy and Bushmills rises the famous Giant's Causeway. The coast of Ballintoy abounds in fine views, especially towards the northeast. The cliffs of Hathlin Island are not far away, and on the edge of the horizon can be seen the Scottish coast. Danish forts, Druid temples and other curious relics abound at Ballintoy. On this wild shore some of the ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked.
 

In the struggle between the Catholics and Protestants, the deposed James 2nd on the one side, and William and Mary of Orange on the other, there was no fiercer battle ground than the province of Ulster and the City of Londonderry. Its inhabitants composed chiefly of English Episcopalians and Scottish Presbyterians, when James and his Franco-Irish army of twenty thousand men appeared, summoning them to surrender, preferred to fight. They . . . shut their gates and sustained for a hundred and five days a siege, ever memorable, both for the courage of the besieged and their cruel sufferings. Between April and August nine thousand of them died - more from famine and sickness than from the enemy., who sat all the while on the hillside opposite , battering the city at intervals, or trying by treachery to enter there. At last a fleet arrived, sent by the English Government, for their relief. Access to the city was cut off by a cable stretched across the river; but the besiegers, by their cannon balls directed against the ship in advance, broke the cable, and the seige was raised - An Unknown Country.

By the author of John Halifax. . . . New York, 1887, pp. 115-17.
 
That the chief riches of Ireland, at about the time of the siege of Derry, consisted of cattle, is stated by Macaulay in his History of England. (London 1855), iii.158.
 
A sea port of the county of Antrim, near Belfast.
 
In a later letter Mrs. Colony says it is still remembered that this visitor "was very lively and jocose in his manners, and having attended church with them expressed his admiration of the beauty of their women." The visitor described Mrs. Colony by her venerable cousin who died five years ago in her hundredth year, in such glowing colors, having come when she was a "little girl," must have been Lynde McCurdy, the eldest child of our John; and the visit must have been in the lifetime of the father. The visitor mentioned in the letter of Mrs. McCurdy of Westmoreland. dated July 8, 1867, havingbeen accompanied by an invalid lady, must have been Richard McCurdy of Lyme, who is known to have gone with his wife to see New Hampshire cousins. The date of the visit must have been about 1810, as Mrs. Richard McCurdy died the next year. The same visit is probably referred to by John McCurdy of West Concord, Vt. in a letter of August 1, 1867, as having occurred "some sixty years ago." On another occasion Richard McCurdy was accompanied by his son Charles, now Judge McCurdy.
 
From the fact that Thomas McCurdy's two sons and his daughter each called a daughter Jeannette or Janet we may infer that this was the name of their mother.
 

married to Wilson Allen

(children called William, Anson, Tomas, Allen, Keizia, Jemima

(married a Dunlop) , Martha, Charlotte (married a Dunlop)
 
Margaret born April 6, 1882
 
Mary born September 17, 1825 -------- married William Ronan

(Roonan or Rownan)
 
John born March 28, 1828

 Daniel born May 4, 1831 children -------
 
William born September 16, 1836

(grandfather of A. W. McCurdy ------- died July 27, 1905

father of J. R. McCurdy)
 
Armanella

Harriet born April 28, 1840

married to Alex McGee

Father Daniel April 19, 1750 (Jane Holiday)
 
Son John, July 13, 1790 ------father of William McCurdy 1836-1905

(married Mary Caldwell of Ulster)
 

William Arthur born May 24, 1907 -- died July 29, 1976
 

This information taken from family Bible in possession of A. W. McCurdy August, 1968
 

Children of Wm. M^cCurdy -------------------- and --------------- Marth (Kemp) McCurdy

born September 16, 1836 died January 21, 1915

died July 27, 1905

aged 68 years 10 months
 

Mary born October 10, 1865 -- died May 21, 1900

married James Ernest Caldwell (aged 34 years)

City View - March 5, 1895
 
Susannah born April 1, 1867 -- died Nov 7, 1945

married J. J. Jones buried in Baptist Cemetary

Pembroke - July 26, 1894 Pembroke , Ontario
 
Sarah born January 10, 1869 -- died July 20, 1929

married Rev. S.J. Farmer, B.A. buried in Elanwood Cemetary

(Baptist) Perth, April 14, 1890
 
Caroline born August 25, 1870 -- died October 18, 1957

married to Ira E. Richardson

Hazeldean, Ottawa, June 24, 1897
 
William Harvey born March 1872 -- died died October 4, 1875

?(aged 4 years 6 months 13 days)
 
John ? -- died January 1, 1871

at Pine Grove
 
John Rockliffe born January 27, 1874 -- died January 6, 1954

married Eva Vincent Caldwell -- died January 12, 1912

Manotick, December 24, 1901
 
Hiaram Wesley born February 6, 1876 -- died December 6, 1953

married Harriet Worden buried St. James Cemetary

Toronto, June 3, 1914 Toronto
 
William Harvey born September 2, 1878 -- died Summer 1934

married Lillian Lauberg

Chicago - September 23, 1908
 
Lydia (Lillie) born June 16, 1880 --died November 13, 1957

at Pine Grove
 
Ivy Pearl born November 11, 1882 -- died Septmber 16, 1899

(aged 16 years 10 months)

at Pine Grove