General Notes

Notes for WILLIAM MACKEACHEY: from Larry Keahey site
Williams time of death is only an estimate, due to his wife, Margaret MacKeachey, had received a land grant in the year of 1780. During this time in our history this met Margaret would have to be widowed to apply in her own right. This land was given to their son James MacKeachey who sold it in 1823 after he moved to Mississippi .
William MacKeachey held a land patent, dated 22 January 1773, in Anson County, North Carolina. He lived in that part of Anson which was cut off six years later into Richmond County, with the County seat at Rockingham. The MacKeachey property was on the boundary of what is now Moore and Richmond counties, in fact the line of demarcation was the Lumber River (called by some the Little Pee Dee) separating the plantation of Samuel Jackson from the MacKeachey farm. It has already been noted that William MacKeachey was appointed to appraise the inventory of the estate of Samuel Jackson in 1772.
There is a strong likelihood that there were Dawkins kin whose connection we cannot explain. There was a Deed in 1811 in Richmond County of John MacKeachey, Esq. to Jane (widow of George Dawkins) for 100 A on Drowning Creek, witnessed by Samuel and Willam MacKeachey. Minutes of the Court show that James MacKeachey took oath that Jane Dawkins, widow, could hold title to the land, and the Deed was registered. Dawkins descendants and Mrs. Edna Hurley of Biscoe, North Carolina has Bible records revealing that their immigrant ancestor was Jesse Dawkins, born1792 in Scotland, and wife, Euphemia (called "Effy"), born 1790 in Scotland. They had 4 known children: Sarah, John, George who = Jane; and William Keahey Dawkins. It is thought that Euphemia was a Keahey for that name has persisted in the family as a given name. We also know that the name Euphemia is used it in the Keahey family. With only these facts, it is impossible to say where the kinship began. Both Jesse and Euphemia Dawkins were a generation younger than William MacKeachey's boys. This may aid in future research as a valuable clue in tracing the MacKeachey ancestry as a constellation of names is easier to prove than on name standing alone.
At this point we need to discuss another Keahey connection. In the book, Early Families Of Richmond County North Carolina, page 93, we find that the McDonald family of Graham Bridge Road was written up by Polly McDonald Cobb. We quote, "Daniel McDonald was born in 1763 in Isle of Skye, Scotland. He was seven years old when he came to America with his father, James McDonald, who had to take the Tory oath. They settled on Drowning Creek where Richmond and Moore Counties join, five miles west of Pinehurst, near present day McDonald Chapel, near which is the McDonald family Cemetery with graves dating back to the 1700's. In 1780, at age 17, Daniel enlisted under General Nathaiel Green and took part in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse."
"After the Revolution, he returned home to find the home place occupied." His father, having been bound by the Tory oath, probably had his land confiscated. Daniel went to Richmond County to work for William Keahey, and after William died Daniel married his widow, Margeret. She appears in 1790 Census as a widow; she seems to have married later that year.
"Daniel entered land and built a house of which the original structure is still in use with additions and improvements made over the years. This house, built before 1800, located on Graham Bridge Road, four miles N.E. of Rockingham, just above Graham Bridge, overlooking Hitchcock Creek (Ledbetter Lake). Two rooms of the house are the original log construction that Daniel built. It was remodeled and new roof added in 1816."
In 1810 Daniel bought 150 acres adjoining his wife's son, John Keahey. Deed speaks of it being part of a tract granted by His Majesty's patent bearing the date of 22 January 1773. Daniel's wife, widow Keahey, died about 1819 and is buried near the Creek Bridge.