Thomas MackGehee

Loch Katrine, Scotland

St. John's Parish, King William County, VA

Death Notes

Published in McGehee Descendants* Volume I, Page 31

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS MACK GEHEE [27-Jul-1727]
In the name of God Amen. I, Thomas Mack Gehee, of St. John’s Parish, King William county, being sick and weak, but of perfect mind and memory, do call to mind the uncertainty of this life and here make my last will and testament. First, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my merciful Redeemer, hoping through his mercy to obtain an everlasting crown of glory, my body to be decently buried, and all my just and principal debts to be paid.

I bequeath as here followeth:

Item 1st. I give and bequeath to my son, William Mack Gehee, ten shillings to buy him a mourning ring, being in full of his portion.

Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Anna Butler, ten shillings to buy her a mourning ring, being in full of her portion.

Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, John Lipscomb, and my daughter Dinah, his wife, twenty shillings to buy them mourning rings, being in full of their portion.

Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my son, Abraham Mack Gehee, ninety-six acres of land, being in part of the dividend of land I now live on, with the houses, orchards and appurtenances belonging thereunto, to him and his heirs forever.

Item 5th. I give and bequeath to my son Abraham Mack Gehee, one negro man named Bristol, to him and his heirs forever; also one feather bed and furniture, and one large chest.
      And it is my further will and testament that when my two sons, Jacob and Samuel, and my daughter, Sarah, come of age, that my said son, Abraham, do pay them five pounds each.

Item 6th. I give and bequeath to my son, Edward Mack Gehee, fifty acres of land, of the same dividend of land I now live on, belonging to my said plantation, also one negro man named Peter, to him and his heirs forever, on his paying to my sons, Samuel and Jacob, and my daughter, Sarah, when they arrive at the age of twenty one years, five pounds each. I also give and bequeath to my son, Edward Mack Gehee, one feather bed and furniture and the chest which was his mother’s.

Item 7th. I give and bequeath to my son, Samuel Mack Gehee, fifty acres of land, being part of the same dividend of land I now live on, also one feather bed and furniture, and one large chest, to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give and bequeath to my son, Samuel, my riding mare, saddle and bridle.

Item 8th. I give and bequeath to my son, Jacob Mack Gehee, fifty acres of land, one large chest, to him and his heirs forever. My further will and desire is that my son, Jacob, shall live with my son, Abraham Mack Gehee, and when he arrives at the age of eighteen to have a share in the crop with him in case my said son, Jacob, works with him.
      My further will and desire is that my said land, so given, to be divided among my children, to be laid out crosswise, beginning at Neckatewanna bridge up the head line to the corner, and down the back line until it includes Abraham’s portion of ninety-six acres, and so the list of my sons’ parts to be laid out in this course until they each have their complement.

Item 9th. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sarah, one feather bed and furniture, one chest of drawers, and one sealskin trunk. And it is my further will and desire that after my decease my said daughter, Sarah, be paid by my executors five pounds in current money or goods from a store, that is to say, the first year after my decease, fifty shillings, and the following fifty shillings more. And I give and bequeath unto my said daughter, Sarah, her mother’s horse, saddle and bridle.

Item 10th. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Dickson, one bed filled with feathers, a pair of blankets, my desk and all that is in the desk.

My further will and desire is that my draught mare and hogs be and remain on the plantation for the support and maintenance of my children. My cattle and sheep and hogs I desire to be equally divided among my five youngest children. Also, the last of my personal estate, likewise by lots, be equally divided among the same.

I do constitute my loving sons, Abraham, Edward and Samuel Mack Gehee, my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament, revoking and making void and disannulling all wills by me before made.

In witness whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord, seventeen hundred and twenty four.

Thomas Mack Gehee
Signed and sealed in the
presence of us:

Robert Bainbridge
      W. Craddock
      J. Buckley

General Notes

According to Dorothy Helmer, "Thomas MackGehee owned land in New Kent Co, as early as 1689, when it is recorded in St. Peter's Vestry, p. 20, that he 'marked the bounds of his land'." Several years later, on 28 October 1702, Thomas petitioned for 256 acres in Pamunkey Neck on the west side of Nicatywance Swamp, in King William Co. This patent was granted for transporting six persons into the Colony. However, this land grant was not confirmed until 10 November 1713, according to English Duplicates of lost Virginia Records. Less than a year after his above petition, Thomas bought 110 acres from Wiliam Glover, recorded 20 September 1703, King William County. This land was farther up the Nicatywance Swamp, which is now called Harrison Creek. According to Helmer, these acres had been granted to James Johnson on 1 April 1702, then sold to William Glover. Glover, in turn sold them to Thomas MackGehee. The Quit Rent Rolls of 1704 for King William County list 'Thomas MackGehee 250 acres.' "

Evidence suggests that Thomas MackGehee of Virginia was the son of a William MackGahye (born ~1618), who is thought to have arrived in Virginia in the 1640s, and who had another son named William (1672-1748).

For many years, Thomas Mackgehee was called the "immigrant," and identified as James MacGregor, son of Patrick MacGregor and Marian McDonald of Auchatrichaton. Believed to have come to America when Clan MacGregor was outlawed following Cromwell's defeat of the Scots, he supposedly changed his name to Thomas MackGehee in an attempt to hide his identity from the Crown. However quite a number of researchers today think that Thomas was actually the son of the immigrant, William MackGahey, not the immigrant himself. Recent material suggests that a William MackGahey had sons William and Thomas in Virginia by 1653:

1. His son Thomas is the Thomas mentioned above. Researchers believe his wife was Ann Baytop. This has been called into question recently. Thomas died in St. John's Parish, King William County, VA sometime after 27 July 1727 when his will was written.

2. His son William is known as William, "The Quaker". William lived in the part of King William County, VA that became Hanover County in 1720. In St. Paul's Processioning, this William McGehee appears to disappear after 1743. He would have been 66-76 years of age.

In addition to the immigrant now being identified as William MackGahey instead of Thomas MackGehee, recent DNA studies have not found a connection between McGehee descendants or McGregors.

Thomas owned land in several Virginia counties according to Dorothy Helmer. She said that, "Thomas MackGehee owned land in New Kent Co, as early as 1689, when it is recorded in St. Peter's Vestry, p. 20, that he 'marked the bounds of his land'." Several years later, on 28 October 1702, Thomas petitioned for 256 acres in Pamunkey Neck on the west side of Nicatywance Swamp, in King William Co. This patent was granted for transporting six persons into the Colony. However, this land grant was not confirmed until 10 November 1713, according to English Duplicates of lost Virginia Records. Less than a year after his above petition, Thomas bought 110 acres from Wiliam Glover, recorded 20 September 1703, King William County. This land was farther up the Nicatywance Swamp, which is now called Harrison Creek. According to Helmer, these acres had been granted to James Johnson on 1 April 1702, then sold to William Glover. Glover, in turn sold them to Thomas MackGehee. The Quit Rent Rolls of 1704 for King William County list "Thomas MackGehee 250 acres."

The children of Thomas MackGehee were: William, Anna, Diannah, Abraham, Edward, Mary, Samuel, Jacob and Sarah.
The children of William MackGehee, the Quaker, brother of Thomas, were probably: Catherine, wife of Thomas Butts, James, who married Rebecca Prewitt; and Samuel, who married Mary Ladd.

Click here for details of Thomas' family with Ann Bastrop