Elizabeth’s Elders
About Researching the early NC & TN McClarneys
The family line that I’ve been doing the most research of is that of the McClarneys. I identify with them most closely. There are also fewer of us researching them, but while we McClarneys may be few in number, we’re very dedicated! I also hold dear many other family lines, such as the Standifers, Hargroves, and Rochelles, which fortunately, have been thoroughly researched by other genealogists.
The early McClarneys seemed quite fond of certain names: William, Henry, James, and so forth. Therefore, great care must be taken when researching the various family lines to differentiate one William or Henry or James from another. It can be quite difficult to sort out who’s who. Don’t simply assume that if you’ve found data on, say, a James McClarney that he’s the same James you’re interested in researching. Look at other documentation, such as formal documents such as census data, to make your determination.
That being said, I am nonetheless having problems differentiating between two William McClarneys. This is discussed in a separate entry “Two William McClarneys in 1700s NC.”
The McClarney family story says that three brothers came to America from Ireland long ago. I have not found documentation of that so far, nor am I certain of the brothers’ names. However, based on an early land grant I found in the NC Archives, it appears true that at least Thomas McClarney may have come here from Ireland. Thomas was given a land grant in New Hanover County NC in 1737, along with other Irish flax farmers. Another McClarney in the area at that time was William, who was in “Gooch’s Marines” in 1741 and in other militia after that. Thomas and William had separate households in 1762 in New Hanover Co NC. Thomas had 5 white men in his household while William had one. I am still uncertain as to how Thomas and William were related.
My branch of the McClarneys also owned land in Spotsylvania Co, VA in the 1760s into 1772, after which they owned land in Orange Co NC (part of which later became Caswell Co). Based on a later Caswell County census, it appears these McClarneys were related to William McClarney of New Hanover County.
My ancestor James (b. 1794 in NC) was part of the Caswell Co McClarneys. James moved from there to TN by 1840. His descendants later moved to other parts of the country.
Other branches of the McClarneys appeared to have migrated to KY, MO and OK, among others. Unfortunately I have not had the time to research those lines. This website contains a few names from these other branches (such as Holt McClarney) simply to give other McClarney researchers some leads. My research is directed towards my direct ancestors due to time limitations.
Luckily, the NC State Archives in Raleigh has a good bit of research information on file about some of the early Mcclarneys in NC. This includes a few original wills and estate documents. I’ll post photocopies of these items on this website soon.
My thanks to all the other McClarney and Caswell County researchers whom I’ve spoken to and worked with in the past few years: Stacy Magarotto, Anne Washburn, M.A. Downey and Tim McCrary. Also, thanks to Mary McClarney Bowling, whom I believe sent my grandmother information about her branch of the Kentucky McClarneys.
