Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Reed, Sr.
Descendants of John Reed, Sr.
11.Elizabeth3 Reed (Robert2, John1) was born 1747 in Lancaster Co., PA44, and died August 15, 1812 in Belleville, Mifflin Co., PA44.She married John McDowell Jr.45 1769 in CumberlandCo., PA, son of John Sr. and Jean.He was born 1745 in Ireland46, and died May 23, 1809 in Belleville,Menno Twp. Mifflin Co., PA47.
Notes for Elizabeth Reed:
Inherited 10 pounds from her father, Robert Reed
Robert gave a book "First, Middle and Last Things" published in London, 1665, written by Rev. Isaac Ambrose of Church of England to Elizabeth and this was handed down to her daughter Elizabeth.
More About Elizabeth Reed:
Burial: McDowell Cemetery- 2miles south of White Hall
Places Lived: A; Menno Twp., Mifflin Co., PA
Notes for John McDowell Jr.:
They may have died in Menno Twp. as there is a McDowell cemetery in that township
More About John McDowell Jr.:
Military service: DAR Application #662178
Places Lived: Antrim Twp. Cumberland Co., PA; Menno Twp. Mifflin Co., PA47
Children of Elizabeth Reed and John Jr. are:
| 41 | i. | Robert4 McDowell47, born January 18, 1771 in Kishacoquillas Valley47; died 182947.He married Sarah McConkey47; born 176847; died 182547. | ||
| 42 | ii. | William Howard McDowell47, born May 177547; died 185147.He married Ann Alexander47; born 178347; died 184247. | ||
| 43 | iii. | James McDowell47, born 1776.He married Mary "Polly" Allison47. | ||
| 44 | iv. | Mary McDowell47, born 1778 in Kishacoquillas Valley. |
| Notes for Mary McDowell: Died young. |
| 45 | v. | Sarah "Sally" McDowell47, born 1780. |
| Notes for Sarah "Sally" McDowell: Died young. |
| 46 | vi. | Elizabeth McDowell47, born 1783.She married Samuel McGlathery47. |
| More About Elizabeth McDowell: Baptism: June 17, 1773 |
| 47 | vii. | John McDowell47, born 178347; died 184147. |
| Notes for John McDowell: Single |
| 48 | viii. | Jane McDowell47, born June 17, 178647; died 185147.She married Henry B. Taylor47; born 178447; died 186047. | ||
| 49 | ix. | Samuel McDowell47, born Abt. 1788.He married (1) Moore47.He married (2) Swartzell. |
| Notes for Samuel McDowell: Lived in Iowa |
| 50 | x. | Joseph McDowell47, born Abt. 1790.He married Swartzell47. |
| More About Joseph McDowell: Places Lived: Mercer Co., PA |
| 51 | xi. | Jonathan McDowell47, born August 13, 1794.He married Kezia Merryman47. |
| Notes for Kezia Merryman: Her name may have been Desiah |
Notes for James Reed:
James and his wife, Jane McAlvey settled on his father's land in Kishacoquillas Valley nearhis brother, John Reed, and the Brothertons. He inherited 150 pounds according to his father, Robert Reed's will.
More About James Reed:
Places Lived: Armagh (later Union) Twp. Mifflin Co., PA /Kishacoquillas Valley
Notes for Jane(Jenny) McAlevy:
Her father,General McAlevy was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1728, and came to this country while quite a young man, prior, it is believed, to the middle of that century.He found his way into the Cumberland Valley, which had become the home of so many of his faith and nativity and settled among them, between Carlisle and Harrisburg.While there he married and had a family, his wife being Margaret Harris, daughter of Robert and Mary Ann Harris, immigrants from County Donegal, Ireland.
For some reason he did not make that his permanent location, but went to find a new home in the Indian country among the mountains, then an almost uninhabited country, except by the red men.When he concluded to face the privations and dangers of the northern part of what is now Huntingdon county he did not take his family with him but leaving them behind him, went to explore the country, examine it's advantages, and select a place for him and them to live, if the savages permitted.The only route of travel at that time from the Susquehanna to the destination he had selected was the old "Indian warpath", by way of Sherman valley, the Tuscarora mountain and valley, "the Shades of Death", now Shade Gap, the Aughwick and the Standing Stone, now Huntingdon.From thence his way up Standing Stone Creek through an almost trackless forest.
So her father decided to make their home seventeen miles from Huntingdon by the present public highway.
The next thing was to bring his family and household.A wagon could not travel over the "stony path" through Jack's Narrows, nor over any other part of the "warpath".What kind of a conveyance was possible?McAlevy solved the problem easily.He cut down one of the immense pine trees that grew there, hollowed it out into a canoe and navigated it down Stone Creek, the Juniata River and the Susquehanna to Harrisburg.Like Alfarata's lover "Swiftly glides his light canoe down the rapid river"; but instead of "arrows quick and true in his painted quiver," he had his trusty rifle and a supply of powder and lead.He put into his frail craft his wife, children and other indispensables and navigated the same streams, in the opposite direction, to the wilderness infested by savages, where the rest of their lives was to be spent.It does not seem that in the Susquehanna and Juniata he had any other power than his own muscle to propel the canoe, but in Stone Creek he had a horse to pull it loose when it lodged on ledges and sandbars.
The first necessity that faced them on completing their journey was protection from neighbors who antedated them as residents--very unneighborly neighbors, the Indians--and this necessity was met by building a fort.It was placed on a little elevation a few hundred feet east of the creek.The present village of McAlevy's Fort stands between it's site and the stream.It was made of logs and was secure against any ordinary attack by the savages, and often saved the lives of those who had ventured into that exposed region.
Her mother, Margaret Harris died when she was two years old.
It should be remembered that Jane Harris, a sister to Jane's mother, took care of the McAlevy children and it seems she remained with the James Reed family until her death.
General McAlevy had a colorful career, but became blind and died at the home of his daughter, the widow of James Reed, near Petersburg, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1822, at the age of 94 years, and is buried in the graveyard on the hill, near his fort.He has many descendents in the valley in which he lived, in other parts of Pennsylvania and in nearly every state between it and the Pacific Ocean.
Edna J. Campbel from Wooster, OH,was a descendant of his by his third wife, the widow, Margaret Allen. She wrote about the family and cemetery in 1964.
She said, "A descendant of James and Jenny McAlevy Reed selected the site for the College of Wooster, Wooster, OH" (Some of this family did move to Wayne Co.,OH)
"The monument in McAlevy, the town, does not mark his grave but was placed there to be seen and also to explain the town's name."
She also described her visit to the old McAlevy cemetery."The cemetery was then in bad condition but the three McAlevy graves were clearly marked. An explanation was given to me that in the early days of the cemetery it was necessary to have a location where the burial parties could not be easily surprised at a burial.therefore, the hill was cleared of trees on all sides and guards watched during burials."
"There was danger of Indians carrying off grave markers and even molesting the graves, so ordinary stones were placed here and there so friends could locate the graves but others couldn't."
"It was the custom in early days of American settlement for women of the household to spin, weave and have ready a winding sheet for the bodies of family members in the case of sudden death as there were no coffins available."
"Gen. McAlevy was a large man, and a large winding sheet was prepared for him but was never used, for he lived to be ninety-three and one of the first coffins imported to the area was used for his burial. The winding sheet became a relic and was divided among descendants."
Marriage Notes for James Reed and Jane(Jenny) McAlevy:
Family names and dates from Reed Family Bible later owned by Dorothy Reed Miller of Tyrone, PA
Children of James Reed and Jane(Jenny) McAlevy are:
| + | 52 | i. | Robert Reed4 Sr., born April 27, 1786 in Armagh Twp. Cumberland Co., PA; died August 17, 1850 in MT. Eaton, Wayne Co., Ohio. | |
| 53 | ii. | William Reed, born November 16, 1787 in Armagh Twp. Cumberland Co., PA; died February 19, 1861 in West Twp. Huntingdon Co., PA. |
| Notes for William Reed: Willliam was a surveyor and his name is mentioned frequently in deed books.He made his home with his brother James Jr. and was living with the widow and children of James 1860 census where he presumably died. |
| More About William Reed: Military service: 1812, Pvt. PA Militia49 |
| 54 | iii. | Margaret Reed, born April 18, 1789 in Armagh Twp. Cumberland Co., PA; died September 05, 1860 in Near Petersburg, Huntingdon Co., PA.She married Robert Elder March 21, 1816. |
| Notes for Margaret Reed: She also was enumerated at the home of the widow of James Jr. in the 1860 census |
| + | 55 | iv. | Elizabeth Reed, born April 09, 1791 in Union Twp. Mifflin Co., PA; died Unknown. | |
| + | 56 | v. | John Reed, born June 22, 1793 in Union Twp. Mifflin Co., PA; died March 26, 1868. | |
| + | 57 | vi. | James Reed Jr., born August 10, 1795 in Union Twp. Mifflin Co., PA; died October 14, 1855 in Near Petersburn, Huntingdon Co. PA. | |
| + | 58 | vii. | Joseph Reed, born July 17, 1797 in West Twp. Huntindon Co. PA; died May 20, 1855 in Near Petersburn, Huntingdon Co. PA. | |
| 59 | viii. | Mary Reed, born August 26, 1799 in West Twp. Huntindon Co. PA.She married John Oborn. | ||
| 60 | ix. | George Reed, born October 30, 1801 in West Twp. Huntindon Co. PA; died August 05, 1804 in West Twp, Huntingdon Co., PA. |
| Notes for George Reed: Died young. |
| + | 61 | x. | Jane "Jenny" Reed, born June 14, 1804 in West Twp. Huntingdon Co. PA. |