Martha (McClellan) Ross (abt. 1785 - 1843)

Born about 13 Dec 1785 in Upper Oxford, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Mar 1843 at about age 57 in Tuscarawas CO., OH

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lamar Ross [send private message]

Research Notes:

I am adding the last name of Martha based on research by another distant relative. Her family information however seems to confirm the projections of ancestor names I had hypothesized using the “Scottish naming patterns” generally prevalent at the time.

In fact, the use of this pattern is what originally led me to her husband, Robert Ross. I knew the names of Robert’s children through family tradition, but did not know his name. Using my great-grandfather’s Robert Jennings Ross - Robert’s grandson children’s names, I was able to predict that the name of this ancestor would probably be Robert. Using the will of two Robert Rosses known to live in their county, I found the names of my relatives listed in the will of one of them. Mystery solved.

Here is a summary of the Scottish Naming Patterns:

• ''First Son is named for the Father's Father

• Second Son is named for the Mothers Father

• Third Son is named for the Father's Grandfather, Fraternal

• Fourth Son is named for the Mothers Grandfather, Maternal

• Fifth Son is named for the Fathers Grandfather, Maternal

• Sixth Son is named for the Mothers Grandfather, Fraternal

• Seventh thru tenth Sons are named for the Fathers Great Grandfathers

• Tenth thru Fourteenth Sons for the Mothers Great Grandfathers
  

• First Daughter is named for the Mothers mother

• Second Daughter is named for the Fathers Mother, Maternal

• Third Daughter is named for the Mothers Grandmother, Fraternal

• Fourth Daughter is named for the Fathers Grandmother, Fraternal

• Fifth Daughter is named for the Mothers Grandmother, Maternal

• Sixth Daughter is named for the Fathers Grandmother

• Seventh thru tenth Daughter are named for the Mothers, Maternal Great Grandmothers

• Tenth Thru fourteenth Daughter for the Fathers Great Grandmothers

Using this pattern and a clue in a letter from another relative I was able to predict the likely surname of Martha and her parents. The letter had referenced a “Hetty” McClellan as the ancestor. However, it turned out that “Hetty” was the nickname of Esther Kennedy, wife of Robert Ross’ son James. But “McClellan” stuck in my head as being a surname that had probably over time been confused in that family members head.

Robert Ross had two sons, Joseph, (the oldest) and James the 2nd son. I believe that Robert’s father was Joseph, since the first son is usually named for the father’s father, but still have not been able to confirm this. I hypothesized that Martha’s father would be James since that name was given to the 2nd son. The fact that Robert’s grandson, my grandfather, was named James McClellan Ross, lent credence to the McClellan connection.

With the daughters of Robert, we project the name of Martha’s mother to be Rebecca, since she named her first daughter Rebecca. By using the pattern, I would suspect that the second daugher Mary Ann would have the name of her father’s mother. That would make Robert’s parents Joseph Ross with a wife name Mary Ann. This has yet to be proven.

Although this naming pattern sometimes varies, up until the late 1800’s most Scottish families stuck fairly close to it. Keeping it in mind could help you also find more of your Scottish ancestors.

Lamar Ross - June 6, 2012

Burial

Place: Perry Township Cementery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio

Sources

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile McClellan-370 created through the import of marthamcclellandanc.ged on Jun 2, 2012 by Lamar Ross.