General Notes

From EARLY SETTLERS OF REDDIES RIVER by Paul Gregory

"John McQueary, believed to be son of John McQueary, Sr. of Reddies River, married ca 1792 Nancy Shepherd, daughter of John and Sarah Shepherd.  No record of this marriage has been found and this is a projected date.  We know that the marriage took place as the will of John Shepherd included John and Nancy Shepherd McQueary as legatees.  The 1800 census reveals that John and Nancy had 5 children by this date -- two boys and three girls.  By 1810, two more boys had been born.  Apparently no children were born after this date.  It is interesting to note that both Nancy and John were between the ages of 26 and 45 in both the 1800 and 1810 census.  Analysing this data, we must conclude that both were born on or between 1765 and 1775.

Recently, the old family Bible has been located and the information in it was furnished to me by Mrs. Louis Taraba, a descendant who now lives in Kansas City.  This Bible record verifies the census data and specifically gives the birth dates.  John was born in 1765 and Nancy was born November 17, 1765.

John McQueary made his home on Reddies River, near Deep Ford Hill.  In 1798 he purchased 150 acres from his father-in-law, John Shepherd, Sr., and this property was located just below Lewis Shepherd's land near Deep Ford Hill.

John was active in the work of Reddies River Church.  The exact date he joined this church is not clear.  However, we know from the church minutes that he was a member as early as January 1, 1806 when "John McQueary, John and Robert Judd were to cite Larkin Pumphry to come to the next meeting to answer the charges that had been brought against him."  On other occasions, John represented the church at various associational meetings.  His status as a member was enhanced in 1808 when John and several other members donated one dollar each to the church to take care of some building needs.  One dollar in those days was a substantial donation.

John continued to serve the church faithfully.  In July 1829, John was elevated to the position of deacon in Reddies River Church.  He did not get to serve in this capacity very long as the church records say that John McQueary and his daughter, Sally Baldwin, along with Nancy Baldwin, requested letters of dismissal in September 1830, apparently in preparation for their leaving the county.

In 1831, John McQueary, Sr. and at least his sons John, Jr. and James moved to Hancock County, Indiana.  John, Sr. and John, Jr. and James settled in Brown Twp. while Andrew, who probably left earlier, settled in Greene Twp; and Morgan, who had earlier gone to Indiana, settled in James Twp. and James had already married and had small families of their own before they went west.  Wilkes County marriage bonds show the following marriages:

Sally McQueary to Joseph Baldwin        Dec 12, 1810  W. John McQueary
Lucy McQueary to Jonathan Faw            Oct 27, 1813
Morgan McQueary to Polly Case            June 18, 1816  W. Larkin Shepherd
John McQueary Jr. to Lucinda Kilby         Sept 21, 1821
Elizabeth McQueary to Perry Judd         June 10, 1823
James McQueary to Racheal Jennings  March 14, 1826   W. Perry Judd

Since no other McQueary family was in Wilkes County after William and his family left in 1811, it seems reasonable to assume that all of the above marriages were to the children of John and Nancy McQueary."

Some sources say he was born November 1754.  I think that is a little early, would make him 38 years old when he married Nancy Shepherd. 

Have copy of land transfer in Hancock County, Indiana for 1832.