Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: McDowell, MacDowell, McDowall, MacDowall, McDuell, MacDuell
Various McDowells came to the future United States and Canada beginning in the 17th century. This space is for research into these early immigrants, identifying them and their descendant lines. With luck (and solid research), we can also get them back "across the pond" and connect them to their families and ancestors in Ireland and Scotland.
Seventeenth Century
John Macduel was transported to Virginia by John Mangor before July 1650. Mangor received a patent of 800 acres on 29 July 1650 for transporting Macduel along with 15 other people. This land was in Northumberland County, Virginia (later Lancaster County). (see https://archive.org/details/cavalierspioneer00nuge/page/190/mode/2up)
Gilbert Mackdull was transported to Virginia by Major Lewis Burwell before October 1652. Burwell and his wife, Lucy, received a patent of 200 acres on 8 October 1652 for transporting Mackdull and three others. This land was in Middle Plantation, which was part of Williamsburg, then in James City County. (see https://archive.org/details/cavalierspioneer00nuge/page/266/mode/2up).
Sander Mackdoell was transported to New England in 1652, having been one of the Scots prisoners transported by Oliver Cromwell in 1651–1652. (see https://immigrant.pricegen.com/servant/show.php?servant=13601, citing Charles E. Banks, "Scotch Prisoners Deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-52" The Essex Genealogist, Vol. 6, No. 1 (1986): 9-15.) "Mackdoell" and others were transported on the "John and Sarah" for delivery to Thomas Kemball in Boston, who had orders for their distribution. Is this the same Sander Mackdouell who, in 1658, was a headright of Philip Hunley in Gloucester County, Virginia? (see Patents, v. 4-5 [originals], 1655-1666. Electronic document, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37S-S98N-H?i=186&cat=584564, image 187 of 846).
William Macdowell was transported to the Province of Maryland by 1655 and is documented in St. Mary's and Calvert Counties. By 1659, he had married Mary Broder with whom he had been transported by Thomas Manning. In the 1660s and 1670s, he witnessed legal documents such as wills and powers of attorney and appraised estates. William and Mary were the parents of Henry, James, and John.
The following individuals include possible immigrants and also early generations of "native-born" colonists.
- Patrick Mackdowell of Talbot County, Maryland, received 300 lbs of tobacco in 1678 for his expenses in "the late Expedicon against the Nanticoke Indians and other the necessary Charges of this Province" (see Archives of Maryland Online. Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, October 1678-November 1683. Volume 7, page 92. Electronic document, https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000007/html/am7--87.html).
- In 1684, Sturgis MacDowell became a member of the Scots Charitable Society in Boston, Massachusetts (see "Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998C-9313?view=explore : Oct 8, 2024), image 252 of 465).
- The will of James Mackdowell was written on 27 June 1686 and proved in Isle of Wight Court (Virginia) on 10 December 1686. Mackdowell named his daughter, Olive McDowell, and wife, Mary, as heirs and named Mary as his executrix. Provision was made for Olive's schooling, suggesting she was young and might have been the only child of James and Mary. If so, he "daughtered out" and would have no male descendants for Y-DNA testing. James was the son of William McDowell and Mary Broder.
- Henry McDowell died intestate in Calvert County, Maryland, probably in October or early November 1687. On 4 November 1687, his widow, Elizabeth Hambleton McDowell, went to court to petition to administer his estate. His inventory was taken on 14 November 1687. Elizabeth, however, did not long survive her husband. On 5 January 1687/8, Elizabeth Mackdowall, relict of Henry Mackdowall, wrote her will in Calvert County, which was recorded on 23 January 1687/8. No children were named in the will, only her father (John Hambleton) and a cousin (Elizabeth Biggs), suggesting she and her predeceased husband died young or had no surviving children. If so, Henry would have no male descendants for Y-DNA testing. Henry was the son of William McDowell and Mary Broder.
- John McDowell survived his brothers, James and Henry. In 1688, he took action against the estates of his father and brother Henry. In March 1695/6, John Mackdowell was named as receiving payment in the estate account of _____ Martyn of Calvert County, Maryland. This may be the same John McDowell who was ordered to appear at the 15 May 1696 Ann Arundel County court session to provide testimony. John did leave two sons, William and John, who might have living male descendants for Y-DNA testing. John was the son of William McDowell and Mary Broder.
- In 1692, Fergus McDowell was granted power of attorney by Ezekial Cleasby in Suffolk County, Massachusetts according to a published version of the Register of Deeds (see FamilySearch Library Image Group 7442498, image 728 of 958) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZS-BN4H?view=explore&keywords=McDowell&groupId=TH-1951-36088-7732-35). In 1693, he also owed 15 pounds to the estate of Daniel Royse, a merchant in Boston (see "Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y5-WZQH?view=explore : Oct 8, 2024), image 250 of 1147).
- In 1696, Thomas Macduell, a servant of John Harrelford in Northumberland County, Virginia, was adjudged to be 11 years old (see "Northumberland, Virginia, British Colonial America records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-VY55?view=fullText : Dec 18, 2024), image 193 of 260).
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