Appendix E
McKinley Families

 

Sarah Curran (Drennan) [DS.2] told her nephew, George William Curran [DS.8.3], that President McKinley was her cousin. There are conflicting records concerning that statement. Documents in Ulster indicate that there was a McKinley farm in Conagher (close to the River Bush) near Balleymoney, County Antrim where the family had been settled circa 1669. People from the McKinley family emigrated, from time to time, to the United States. The last such person was Francis McKinley, who emigrated in 1836. The Ulster-Scot Historical Foundation (Balmoral Avenue, Belfast BT9 6NY, Northern Ireland) states in its publications that James McKinley, who emigrated from Conagher to the United States circa 1743, was the great great grandfather of President McKinley. That genealogy is tabulated below in the center column. The data from Burke's Presidential Families is listed in the right hand column. There is little difference in the generations of interest.

Sarah [DS.2] may have used the word "cousin" to mean any relative who is close enough so that she knows the connection (not merely someone with the same family name). Based on the information in the following table, I expect that confirmation of her statement will require more information about the McKinley family in Scotland.

 

Data from Ulster-Scot Historical Foundation

Data from Burke's Presidential Families

   

David McKinley
m. Esther and had issue ß

 

James McKinley

John McKinley
m. Margaret and had issue ß

 

David McKinley, who fought in American Revolutionary War.

David McKinley, who fought in American Revolutionary War.
m. Hannah Rose and had issue ß

 

James McKinley

James McKinley, m. Mary, daughter of Andrew Rose and had issue ß

Generation of Sarah McKinley (Curran) [S]
Þ Þ Þ

William McKinley

William McKinley (b. in Merser County, PA on 15 Nov 1807, d. at Canton, OH on 24 Nov 1892) m. 6 Jun 1829 Nancy Campbell (b. at New Lisbon) (now Lisbon) OH 22 Apr 1809 Dau of Abner Allison, by his wife Ann Campbell. Had issue ß

Generation of Sarah Curran (Drennan) [DS.2]
Þ Þ Þ

President
William McKinley

President
William McKinley

 

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