Robert McGhee sen (abt. 1698 - 1764)

Born about 1698 in County Tyrone, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Pettegrew) Speer — married before 1737 in County Tyrone, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 23 Jan 1764 at about age 66 in Eary Upper, County Tyrone, Ireland

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

Biography

Robert McGhee of Eary, parish of Ballyclog, was the husband of Elizabeth McGhee otherwise Pettegrew. ^[1]

On the 16th June 1747, Mr McGhee executed a deed poll with Andrew, Lord Baron Castlestewart, to confirm a lease granted to Mr McGhee in Upper Eary townland. The term of the lease was thirty-one years or for the natural lives of himself, his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, Robert, jun. ^[1]

Robert McGhee died 23rd January 1764, aged sixty years. His body was buried in Ballyclog churchyard, county Tyrone. ^[2] Letters of administration were granted on 14th February 1764, and probate was settled by the Diocese of Armagh in 1766. ^[3]

Research notes

• Please note that a proposed merge for two existing profiles for Robert's son, William, is pending approval. ~Kilpatrick-1128 (2019-12-09, 13:22EST)
• Variant spellings of the McGhee surname include Magee, Magaw, Megaw, and McGee. The surname assigned to this profile, McGhee, reflects the first spelling found for this individual, whereas the surname on the gravestone was McGee, and the will index entry cited Magee. Subsequent generations settled on the Megaw spelling, which has been appended to this profile as aka Megaw, as a finding aid for family historians interested in the McGhee/Megaw line.
• Sr. versus  sen. — Please note that the abbreviation, sen., was in common use in Ireland well into the 19th century. ~Kilpatrick-1128 (2022-08-30)
• Estimated date of birth:—The approximate year of birth was inferred from the age recorded on the gravestone. ^[2] ~Kilpatrick-1128
• Robert McGhee, or Megaw, was very likely related to James McGee (d.1772) of Moy, surgeon. In 1772, James McGee placed an advertisement in the Belfast News-Letter, for the sale of the leasehold in the farm in Eary townland formerly held by William Speer. ^[4] James McGee died at Moy only a few months later. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Registry of Deeds, Ireland (Henrietta Street, Dublin). Memorial no. 149-542-103759: Stewart to McGhee (dated 16 June 1747; registered 19 June 1752). Microfilm copy held by the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Archival ref. FHL film no. 461356; digital image online at www.familysearch.org. Transcribed and annotated by Alison Kilpatrick, and submitted to Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland, 2018-12-11.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Mayes, Frank. "Ballyclog Gravestone Inscriptions." The Bell. Journal of the Stewartstown and District Local History Society. Vol. 2 (c.1990), pp. 26–39. Citing the gravestone inscription for: Robert McGee, sen., died 23 January 1764, aged 66 years; Robert McGee, jun., died 25 February 1765, aged 21 years; and James McGee of Moy, surgeon, died 26 November 1772, aged [35?] years. (pg. 30).
3. ↑ Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI, Belfast). Pre-1858 Prerogative Wills. Extract: Robert (James)‡ Magee, Erey, co. Tyrone, Armagh Diocesan Will, 14 February 1764 & 1766. Information online in the PRONI's “Name Search” database, apps.proni.gov.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, 2018-12-09). ‡ Note that the will calendar for the Diocese of Armagh listed two entries: (1) Robert Magee of Eary, 1766; and (2) Robert (jun'r) of Eary, 1766." Source: Public Record Office of Ireland (Dublin). Class.—Testamentary. Diocese [of] Armagh. District Registry [of] Armagh. Sub-Class.—Wills. Archival ref. Bay 1A, Tray 67. Digital image online at findmypast.co.uk (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick by subscription, 2019-12-09).
4. ↑ Belfast News-Letter, 28 April 1772 (pg 3). Advert placed by James McGee, surgeon, Moy, for the sale of the leasehold in a farm in Eary townland [parish of Ballyclog], near Stewarthall, formerly held by William Speer.
5. ↑ Belfast News-Letter, 8 December 1772 (pg 3). Death notice: "A few days ago died, at Moy in the county of Tyrone, Mr. James M'Gee, Surgeon, eminent in his profession, humane to his patients, and charitable to the poor. His loss is as universally lamented as he was known.” Digital images online at ancestry.ca (accessed 2018-12-07).