McKain Research

For the past couple weeks I have been chasing the McKain's side of the tree. I recently found some information that was written by Vernie Dawson Lee in regarding the McKain's side of our tree. I am related to my 3rd great grandmother Clarenda McKain was born in 1779 in Maryland and died 26 April 1860 in Wells, Jefferson, Ohio. She married 11 February 1796 to Benjamin Roberts.

Vernie believed the McKain's were from Argyleshire ( Argyllshire is the present name) Scotland and moved to Londonderry Ireland, which is across the bay about 50 to miles. She believe that Rev. William McKain left with his sons John, James and William and sough asylum from religious and political persecution in Londonderry Ireland in the late 1600s.

She claim that Rev William son John was a defender of Londonderry, Ireland in the years between 1668-1669. And that we decent from John through his son John son William who married Ann ( last name unknown) in Edinburgh Scotland. William had a son name William born about 1755 and he was born in Edinburgh also. They both came to America and may have landed in Virginia or Maryland. William Jr. married Ann Fugate in 31 July 1779

In 1790 in Frederick Maryland, there is a census record for a William McKain 

Which states 2 males over 16 yrs old and one male under 16 yrs old and 2 females. Also on the next page prior there is a William Roberts which states 3 males over the age of 16 and 2 males under 16 yrs old and 2 females. Not sure if this William Roberts is related to Benjamin Roberts who married Clarenda McKain. I have learn to look at the census record to see if I can see any other family members on it. This census record is hard to tell due to it being in alphabetical order. I am not able to tell if they were neighbors or not or how close they lived from each other. 

According to Vernie, William McKain moved to Western Pennsylvania. That the family settled in Huntington County, Pennsylvania before 1790 and then moved east of  Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and then moved about 1790s into Jefferson County Ohio. Where William died when his son David was 9 years old in 1802. David was born in 1793 in Virginia, and he was a baby when the family came to east of Pittsburgh. It is thought of that the family came from Huntington County Pennsylvania which at that time period it was considered Virginia. It is believed that David might have been born in Winchester Virginia. William and Ann were in the area, that they bought land in 1769 and sold it in 1772. The location of the land is in Garrardstown, Berkeley County West Virginia ( was Virginia). 

Vernie believed David may have been born in Huntington Pennsylvania.  

Vernie stated that the original spelling of the last name was MacKain and was changed to McCain  when William was in Western Pennsylvania due to a Catholic priest spelled the last name McCain and William change it to McCain. 

Moses M Roberts 1810-1839

Researching Benjamin Roberts children, we really didn't know what happen to Moses Roberts until recently, when cousin Sally found this that was written by Vernie Dawson Lee.

Moses Roberts, a son of Benjamin Roberts, and his wife, Rebecca (Ball) Roberts emigrated to Illinois and settled near Danville. He was a Methodist Episcopal Minister and Circuit Rider, riding through the country near Danville, Illinois. The following report was received from the Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, regarding Moses Roberts: "1836----Moses Roberts, a native of Jefferson Co. Ohio, was received on trial this year and appointed to Danville, Ill. Circuit. At the close of the year he was discontinued for want of health. The next year he was again received and appointed to Eugene Circuit, Eugene Vermillion Co. Indiana. He often preached at the Old 'North Arm' Church, five miles north of Vermillion, Ill., and was considered a great evangelist. In 1839 he was appointed to the Paradise Circuit and in the fall of 1840 he died of typhoid fever. The little settlement of Paradise is in Paradise township Coles Co., Illinois. He was a very promising young man, a good preacher, very zealous and making a fine impression on his hearers. When on the Paradise Circuit he had a great revival at Wabash Point resulting in the conversion of about eighty souls. He had too, during the year a debate with a universalist, in which he came off conqueror." It was near the Old Camp Ground Cemetery at Wabash Point, Illinois that the Methodists camped and had revival meetings.

Source: Written by Vernie Dawson Lee

Families of Ruebsamen, Spear, Dawson, Burley by Neil Ruebsamen

I was able to find this page that was in a Illinois History book, of Wabash Point, Coles Co. Illinois. Which describes what a circuit preacher rider went through during the late 1830s. It included Moses Roberts death location.