Hercules Roney (abt. 1715)

Born about 1715 in County Antrim, Ireland

Descendants

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Biography

Hercules was born about 1715. It is believed Hercules came to this country a single man and married Mary Barnes in Bucks County, PA.

"Hercules Roney was the only child of a surgeon in the army of Queen Anne, who died on the coast of Guinea. Hercules Roney married into the Barnes family. He and his sons, John, James, Joseph, Thomas, Robert, Hamilton and William, all served in the Revolutionary army."

From the "History of Bucks County, 1905," by Wm. W. H. Davis, page 458.

Hercules Roney made the news in July 1751.

"Philadelphia, June 20. Saturday last Hercules Roney, of Horsham, Weaver, was committed to the Jail of this City, for counterfeiting Unmilled Pieces of Eight. They were cast, and hammer'd; are of a very dull Colour, sound very ill, and seems as if there was little or no Silver in them. And on Monday, Benjamin Gilbert, a Blacksmith, was also committed, on Suspician of having made his Tools.

June 27, A Gentleman, who has seen a PArcel of the Mill'd Peices of Eight, made by Hercules Roney, says, they are not so large as the True Ones, that on weighing them, they wast Three Penny Weight, odd Grains; when scrap'd or rubb'd, appear quite Copperish, and have a shriller sound than the Genuine Peices."

Source "The Virginia Gazette" of July 18, 1751, page 3, column 2.

It is a mystery how the above case came to an end.

Children

Children of Hercules and Mary (Barnes) Roney:

• Jane Roney born 1741, married Jacob Wright
• Mary Roney born 1 Dec 1743, married William Purdy
• John Roney born 1746
• Thomas Roney born 1749, married Mary Davis
• Joseph Roney born 1751 believed to have gone to Virginia, the father of James Roney of Kentucky and Illinois.
• Hamilton Roney born 1753, never married, Died about 1827.
• James Roney born 1755, believed to have married first Rachel Muller or Mullen, second Amy Mullen.
• Robert Roney born 1757, married Elizabeth (unknown)
• Elizabeth Roney born 1762, possibly married Robert Wright
• Hercules Roney Jr. born 1765 may have gone to Virginia and Kentucky.
• William Roney named as a son of Hercules in "History of Bucks Co. PA, 1905 Vol III"

Birthdates of these children are best guess, based on research by Doris Roney Bowers. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Book: The Roney family history and genealogy, 1690-1972; Author: A Bowers, D.R.; Published 1978 by Stevens Pub Co.; preview available at (https://books.google.com/books?id=kG8bAQAAMAAJ); Page 25