Robert McGrew (abt. 1668 - 1726)

Born about 1668 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland

Husband of Isabel (Unknown) McGrew — married Sep 1698 in County Tyrone, Ireland

Descendants

Died 1726 at about age 58 in Adams County, Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alison Andrus [send private message]

Biography

Robert McGrew was born in Ireland.

Note: Many books have been written over the years about the McGrew family. It is important to remember that there is no primary documentation providing evidence about the life of Robert and Isabel McGrew. These accounts have been based largely on stories that have been passed down. For genealogical purposes, what is recorded here has to be backed up with factual sources.

McGrew DNA Analysis

See; McGrew Family DNA Project - Results for more information.

For discussion on the origins of Robert McGrew, including the latest news on the McGrew DNA project, please see the McGrew Name Study for more information.

Robert's line is called the Northwest Irish type or more specifically R-M222. Approximately 10% of males in NW Ireland are of this type today. It is also found in a smaller number in SW lowland Scotland. Originally these lines were Irish. Their ancestor(s) probably migrated from N. Ireland to Scotland between 500-1000 AD as part of the kingdom of Dal Riata. These lines are culturally Scots but genetically Irish. Robert's immediate ancestors were Ulster-Scots or Scots-Irish who immigrated to Ulster in the northern region of Ireland from Scotland in the early 1600s. Like many of their contemporaries, they then immigrated to the Colonies in the 1700s.

Our McGrew heritage is Irish.

Family Folklore Disproved

DNA results have proven that there is no genetic relationship between the McGregor's and the McGrew's. McGrew DNA has been compared with over 1000 DNA results from the Scottish Clans DNA database and no results have been found with ANY clan. See: McGrew Family DNA Project results.

Uncertain Parentage

A 1694 church document in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ulster (Ireland) was signed by William and Robert McGrew and appears to be the only circumstantial evidence supporting the belief that William McGrew was Robert McGrew's father. He could just as easily be an uncle, brother, or cousin.

Additional evidence of a William McGrew/McGrue being the head of the family, and possibly Robert's father - A 1699 list of "Tithe-Payers in the Parishes of...Drumragh, Co. Tyrone" includes a "Wm McGrue". ^[1] Drumragh is located in the Omagh area.

(Side note: He is listed as a Presbyterian in one version and a protestant in another ^[2]. At this time, presbyterians were forced to pay tithes to the Church of Ireland, creating resentment and possibly pushed some to emigrate to the colonies. Furthermore, it indicates that he was descended from Scottish settlers that became the Ulster-Scots.)

More evidence of McGrew's in the Omagh area include a John McGrew in 1670, listed in the Hearth Money Roll for Drumragh parish. ^[3] Perhaps this John was William's father...

It is not known when Robert was born, but it is believed sometime between 1668-1675.

His wife's name was Isabel, maiden name unknown. Some descendants believe it was Finley because the name appears so often within the family, but this is pure conjecture and not based on facts or any supporting evidence.

Children

The names of Robert and Isabella's children were obtained from a family bible owned by James C. McGrew that was in the possession of Carl McGrew of Uhrichsville, Ohio in 1935.^[4][5]

1. John, b. abt. 1700, m. Elizabeth in Ireland. Came to America in 1726 with two children; Catherine and Archibald and had five more after their arrival.
2. Finley, b. abt. 1702, married Elizabeth Lauris and died in 1766.
3. William, b. abt. 1703, m. Esther
4. Alexander, b. abt. 1705, m. Catherine
5. James, b. abt. 1707, m. Mary Dicks

Since sons James was married in 1735 and Finley in 1736 at the Old Swede's Church in Wilmington, Delaware, it is believed that the McGrew family first settled in New Castle, Delaware, and then moved on to Chester County, Pennsylvania. Chester County at that time comprised a great area in Southeastern Pennsylvania. As western lands were opened up, through Blunston licenses, Robert and his sons moved westward, crossing the Susquehanna River, into what was Lancaster County after 1729, York County after 1749, and Adams County after 1800.

Samuel McGrew stated that his grandparents (Finley and Elizabeth Lauris McGrew) and his great grandparents (Robert and Isabella McGrew) settled in the vicinity of Heidlersburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County, some 12 miles northeast of Gettysburg. Earle McGrew stated that they settled in the vicinity of Petersburg, 20 miles northeast of Gettysburg. Petersburg is now called Dillsburg. The Reverend Henry Edwin MCGREW confirmed that the old farm where the McGrews first settled, was near Petersburg, 8 miles from Heidlersburg and some 20 miles northeast of Gettysburg.

The History of Washington County, Pennsylvania by Earle R. Forrest states in the biography of Butler C. McGrew that Robert and Isabella were both buried in the Chestnut Hill Burial Grounds which is two miles west of Heidlersburg, Pennsylvania in what is now Adams County, Pennsylvania.^[6] The gravestones, as well as the dates of their deaths, have not been found. However, there is a memorial for them both in Chestnut Hill Burial Ground. ^[7]

Research Notes

• The memorial citation does not prove the date of death but no other records were found, on either Family search or ancestry. His wife's grave memorial is linked to his memorial cited in biography and sources list.

• The term Northern Ireland did not exist until July 1921, please do not use it.

• Wife's Surname appears to be Finley and may give a foundation for their son's first name.

• This profile does not appear to be an official part of the project please verify the status with a project. See - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:DBE_921.

Sources

1. ↑ Tithe-Payers in the Parishes of Badoney, Cappagh & Drumragh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland 1699
2. ↑ https://cotyroneireland.com/churchrecord/drumragh.html
3. ↑ https://cotyroneireland.com/hearth/drumragh.html
4. ↑ Gottschalk, Katherine (Cox); The Boyd Family; author; 1935; page 276.
5. ↑ This online book mentions Robert McGrew and his family on page 110.
6. ↑ Forrest, Earle R; History of Washington County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 2; pg. 277
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #222167301 (accessed 18 March 2024)
   Memorial page for Robert McGrew (1668-1745), citing Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Tyrone Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by BluMoKitty (contributor 46830270).

• Bracken, Henry M., and Henry B. Brackin. William Bracken of New Castle County, Delaware, and His Descendants. Nashville, TN: H.B. Brackin, Jr., 1982.

• Washington Cnty Pa Historic Society & merge from Wiki Tree

• Tithe-Payers in the Parishes of Badoney, Cappagh & Drumragh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland 1699, https://cotyroneireland.com/tithe/tithe1699.html.

• Names of Masters of Families in Drumragh Parish 1699, Extracted from LDS Film #100173. https://cotyroneireland.com/churchrecord/drumragh.html.

• Drumragh (Drumra) Parish Hearth Money Roll, Co. Tyrone c1670, Extracted from FHL Film #1279356. https://cotyroneireland.com/hearth/drumragh.html