Parents of  Mary Hannah “Polly” McGlothlen

Parents of Mary Hannah “Polly” McGlothlen, wife of
Rev. Jonathan A. Keeney - A Correction

   Today, there are many genealogical listings incorrectly stating that the parents of Mary Hannah “Polly” (McGlothlen) Keeney are William and Elizabeth (Boggs) Glackin / McGlothlin / McGlothlen.

   Apparently, this was based on one fact ­ land deed records proving the existence of a William and Elizabeth (Boggs) Glackin in Greenbrier Co, VA (Now WV) around 13 April 1780, the date of birth there of Mary Hannah’s brother, Charles M. McGlothlen. The assumption was apparently made that “Glackin” was a phonetic listing of “McGlothlen” and the listing of these parents grew wings and flew out to many family tree listings.

   More recent discovery of probate records for the father of Mary Hannah and Charles M. McGlothlen have proven the names of their parents were John and Sarah (Unknown) McLaughlin, or perhaps McLoughlin.

   Here is a transcribed verbatim excerpt from the official probate court record of the intestate estate proceedings for John McLaughlin, Senior. The probate file, dated November 3, 1828, is of record under the name John McLaughlin at the Circuit Court of Lafayette Co, Missouri, Probate Division II, P.O. Box 557, 1102 Main Street, Lexington, MO 64067. This probate record is listed in Probate Court Index Book 1, page 96, for Lafayette Co, Missouri.

   With the above information and the McGlothlen family history that Mary Hannah’s father had served in the Revolutionary War, it was easy to find the Rev. War Pension Application file for her father, John McLaughlin. (National Archives Microfilm series M804 record S34987) That file shows he was born in 1754, enlisted in Bedford Co, VA in February of 1776.

   John McLaughlin, Sr. served in the 5th VA line during his first (two-year) enlistment. Later, he served in the Battle of Guilford Court House, which was located in North Carolina. (If you have seen the movie, “The Patriot”, then you have seen a representation of what some thought the Guilford Court House ruins looked like at the time of that battle. Nothing remains of it today, though the site is a National Park.) The probate and pension files also show that John McLaughlin, Sr. lived near Eddyville, KY between 1818 and 1827, was palsied, infirm, destitute and mostly blind at that time, was married to a woman named Sarah of about his own age, moved with his son John McGlothlin, Jr. to Lafayette Co, MO in 1827 and died in Lafayette Co, MO on 17 July 1828. More detail is available about the later life of Sarah, Mary Hannah’s mother. In 1830, she entered into 82 acres of land bought from the U.S. Government. In 1834, she sold that 82 acres of Ray Co, MO land to a Michael Keeney of Jackson Co, MO. A Creek named Keeney runs through the center of that land parcel. (Probate and ‘next land sale’ records have been requested for Michael Keeney from the MO state Archives.)

   John McLaughlin’s probate and pension files also show that the McLaughlin surname was changing from McLoughlin / McLaughlin to McGlothlen and McGlothlin in Mary Hannah’s generation.

   Currently, research is also proceeding on the newly found siblings of Mary Hannah (McLaughlin) Keeney and Charles M. McGlothlen. Perhaps more detail will be soon uncovered regarding the early years of Mary Hannah’s life.

   Of special interest is the identity of the John Keeny who married Mary Hannah’s sister Susannah. Any Keeney researchers who have an idea of his identity are requested to combine our research efforts.