General Notes

Robert Maxwell died 1792 in East Nottingham Twp., Chester Co., PA. had a
GRAND DAUGHTER NAMED AGNES McCULLAGH[daughter of which child?].The following is from the book "The Cline's". It was supposed to have been gathered from the Ohio State Geneological Library, Columbus, OH, and from information furnished by Mrs. Cecil Maxwell of Cardington.

The ancient House of Maxwell was conspicuously connected with the history of Scotland. It is believed to have been founded by Maccus, son of Undwin, the the 12th century. Maccuswell, meaning Macus' well or pool became in the course of time Maxwell. Undwin was said to be the son of Aulaf, king of Northumbria, 940 ad. and the descendant of Maccus. With fourteen other families he returned to Scotland when England submitted to William the Conqueror in 1066. Later some returned to England, others scattered to England, America, Australia and India.

In history, the Maxwell name first appeared about the middle of the 10th century. Some of the family crossed into England where the name was written Max, followed by either "well" or "ville". There were Maxwells among the Jamestown settlers and some of the earliest Connecticut settlers were Maxwells. Before the revolution the family was scattered from Massachusettes to South Carolina and a far west as anyone lived then. Robert Maxwell was of the Harrison County, WV Maxwells, who were Scots, while another branch of Maxwells in the Shenandoah Valley were believed to be of English origin. The Harrison County Maxwells came into what is now West Virginia from Pennsylvania about 1800.


The following is taken from "Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia":

"... there is every reason to believe that in its origin the race is Saxon rather than Celtic, the ancestor being Maccus, son of Anlaf, King of Northumberland in the middle of the tenth century. On the downfall of the Saxon monarchy and the accession of William of Normandy, in 1066, many of the prominent Saxons fled across the border into Scotland with Edgar Atheling the heir of the old Saxon royal house. In the new home they were protected and favored, and under Wallace and the Bruces, the Maxwells greatly distinguished themselves. The earldoms of Farnham, Dirletoun and Nithsdale (all now dormant through attainder or failure of issue) as well as numerous baronies and lordships have been theirs. Loyal to the Stuart kings in prosperity or defeat, one of the family, Thomas Maxwell, served in King James' army in the Irish revolt of 1691 and remained in Ireland, settling in Tyrone. A descendant of his, John Maxwell, came to New Jersey and located in Warren County in 1747. He was the father of Brigadier-General William Maxwell of revolutionary fame, and tradition further says that the West Virginia Maxwells sprang from the same source. Documentary verification of this belief has not been obtainable, but there is no reason to question it."

The following is from "Maxwell History & Genealogy", written by .......... in 1916:

"The Maxwells in West Virginia cannot be traced to a single ancestor. At least two distinct branches have representatives here. Robert Maxwell came from the Shenandoah Valley, through Hampshire County into Randolph County, more than twenty years before the coming of the branch that settled in Harrison County, and it is not known that any relationship existed between them. The Shenandoah Maxwells seem to have been English, the Harrison County family were Scotch. The latter came into what is now West Virginia from Pennsylvania by way of the Monongahela River about the year 1800. The ancestors of this branch cannot be traced very far in the past.


1st wife unknown. 7/24/1776 mentioned as Pvt. in Capt. James McDowell's Co., 4th Battalion, Chester Co. Militia. Seven months in the Artillery. Listed as having received depreciation pay after the War. Will dated 12/30/1791 & probated 11/13/1792 mentions son, Thomas.

Reference: PA Archives, 5th Series; Vol. V. page 592; Vol. III, page 1028; & Vol. IV, page 219.