James Boyd Magill

Descendants of JAMES BOYD MAGILL 1799-1880 Emigrant from Ireland to Chester Co., S. C. in 1823 A Biographical and Historical Genealogy, including Allied Families By Hazel Parker Jones Copyright 1963 By Hazel Parker Jones Copies are available from Mrs. Tillman Jones Kershaw, S. C. Other books by Hazel Parker Jones: The History of Sand Hill Baptist Church, 1814-1955, Kershaw, S. C.; 1956. The History of the Samuel Jones Family, Kershaw County, S. C., 1756-1960; 1961. Printed by Jacobs Brothers, Printers Clinton, S. C. To the l\1emory of My Husband, Burrell Tillman Jones, 1890-1962 PREFACE "Wise men lay up knowledge"-PROVERBs 10: 14 James Boyd Magill was born in 1799 in County Antrim, Ireland, immigrated with his bride directly to Chester County, South Carolina in 1883 and died there in 1880. This book, a work of love and family appreciation on the part of the compiler, records as much data as possible about him, his ancestors in Ireland, and of the descendants of his eight children in America. The Magill family, itself of ancient and honorable lineage, has had the good fortune to be allied through marriage with many other ancient, honorable and well-known families. Considerable data on a number of these, some of which are early connections in foreign countries, and others, correlated with later descendants here in Ameri ca is recorded in Chapter 31, Alllied Families. A copy of the old Magill Family Register compiled many years ago in Ireland and further Magill family records will be found in Chapter 32, and the bibliography following records both the sources from which much data was obtained or verified, and from which addi tional information may be obtained. Information and data has been gleaned from well-preserved and treasured family Bibles, family trees, registers, records and other family keepsakes, from church, cemetery and military records, and from much contact and correspondence with family descendants and others. In addition, many well-known books, family histories and other authentic sources have been searched for family records and data. These are referred to and acknowledged in foot::10tes on the proper pages and in the bibliography. Wherever possible. full credit has been given. Only one who has handled and copied so many records and dates can understand and appreciate the many ways in which errors may occur, and no one can regret even the least of these so much as the compiler. It would have been an impossible task for one person to have gathered together so full and wide-spread a record as is contained in this family history, and the author is greatly indebted to the many descendants and other interested people in Ireland, Scotland, Eng land and Canada, and in many parts of this country who have helped to make this book possible. Many of these were professional people with busy schedules who have freely shared their valuable family records and their equally valued encouragement and good wishes with the compiler in this arduous, but well-loved undertaking. To each of these who have so kindly helped, in so many ways, goes sincere thanks and appreciation. Also, much appreciation is due those early family historians of long ago who collected, compiled, and passed down our earliest family records, and to their descendants, who through the years, have treasured and preserved these early writings for us. Reaching back across the years, we have but joined our efforts with theirs, sharing with them one common goal-the preservation of the Magill family records. Hazel Parker Jones 4 Table of Contents CHAPTER Page Preface ---------------------------·----------------------------------------------------- 4 1. John Magill, died after 1704 7 2. George Frederic Magill, 1762-1828 10 3. Rev. Robert Magill, 1788-1839 11 4. Neill Magill, II, 1791-1854 14 5. David Magill, 1819-1907 ------------------------------------- 15 6. Rev. George Magill, D.D., 1829-1923 ---------------------------- 17 7. Agnes Nancy Magill Beattie, 1796-1889 ____ 20 8. James Boyd Magill, 1799-1880 ---------------------------------------- 28 9. Sarah Boyd Magill Miller, 1824-1889 ___ 30 10. Thomas Rodgers Magill, 1826-1903 --------------------------- 38 11. James Robert Magill, I, 1828-1907 __________ 40 12. James Robert Magill, II, 1853-1930 43 13. Elias Lynch Fraser Magill, 1855-1936 51 14. John Fraser Magill, 1879-1930 ________________ 56 15. Furman Arthur Magill, 1884-1918 ________ 60 16. John Boyd Magill, I, 1857-1915 ____________ 61 17. Rebecca Jane Magill Jones, 1858-1942 ____________________ 66 18. Mary Esther Magill Haile, 1860-1916 ________________________ 74 19. Wilburnia Ann Magill Jones, 1863-1939 ___________________ 77 5 CHAPTER Page 20. Margaret Moffatt Magill Yarborough, 1830-1906 81 21. Mary Elizabeth Magill Reid, 1831-1904 __________ . _____ 84 22. Martha Jane Magill Baskin, 1833-? __________________ 92 23. John George Magill, 1839-1908 ------------------------------------ 93 24. Nancy Ellen Magill Porter, 1845-1878 _____________ _______ 95 25. : James Boyd Magill Porter, 1865-1940 ____________ _________ 96 26.,: Thomas Reece Porter, 1867-1909 ____________________________ 98 27. ; William Robert Porter, 1871-1946 ------------------------------- 102 28. , Mary Rebecca Porter Glenn, 1873- _______________________ 104 29. Lizzie Magill Porter McCain, 1876-1956 ___________________ 107 30. Nancy Eva Porter Simpson, 1878- _______________________ 109 31. Allied Families ----------------------------------------------------- 112 32. Further Magill Records --------------------------- --- 152 33. Military Lists ________________ 159 Bibliography __________________ 167 Index ______________________ 169 6 Chapter 1 JOHN MAGILL died after 1704, Ireland (1) John Magill, an officer in the Army of King William III1, was killed in an engagement near Portglenone, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He "married Ann -----------, a descendant of Lord Montgomery and Sir Arthur Rawdon", both of Ireland2 • See Chapter 31, Allied Families: Montgomery, Rawdon. His son: (2) Arthur Magill, named for Sir Arthur Rawdon, was born Dec., 1704, Bowlane, Antrim, Co. Antrim, Ireland in the same house where later his sons and grandson were born. He died 31 Oct. 1741 and was buried in a marked grave at Shane's Castle. This castle is still in existence and is situated between Antrim and Randalstown, C,o. Antrim, on the edge of Lough Neagh, largest lake in the British Isles. See Chap. 31: Rawdon; and Chap. 32, Part 3. Also, concerning the removal of this Magill headstone from Shane'~ Castle to Kirkinriola cem., see Chap. 10, last paragraph. Children (known) : (3) Neill Magill, b. 1729. (4) William Magill, m. Mary Britton, d. 1802. One record adds that other children were John, Charles, and Arthur Magill; these three emigrated to America in 1766 (John settled in Va.) and Alexander Magill. See Chapter 32, Part 3, Magill Genea logy. (3) Neill Magill (son of No. 2), a member of the Antrim Volunteers, was born 1729, Bowlane, Antrim, Ireland in the Magill family home; died 4 May 1785, and was buried beside his father at Shane's Castle, Co. Antrim, Ireland. See Magill Family Regis ter, and Magill Genealogy, Chap. 32. His son: (5) George Magill, b. August 1762. See Chapter 2. According to a high Scottish authority, the Magill family prob ably originated in Galloway, a district of southwest Scotland which comprises the counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigtown and famous 1. King William III, b. 1650-d. 1702, was Protestant ruler of England, Scot land and Wales, 1689-1702. In the Battle of the Boyne River, Southern Ireland on 1 July 1690, William III and his army met and overcame the exiled James II and his troops. 2. Reference: The Compendium of American Genealogy, Genealogical Book Co., Baltimore, Md.; Vol. 6, article: Capers, William, 1790-1855. 7 for the scenic beauty of its mountains, lakes and moorland. This is the part of Scotland which lies nearest Northeastern Ireland in which County Antrim, home of many of this Magill line, is located. The Magill family had spread from southwest Scotland to the southeastern and central parts by the 16th century, and the family is certainly found in Ireland by or before the 17th century. The spelling of the name as Magill has been the normal, accepted form of the name for many years in Ireland, but MacGill, Makgill and M'GILL are also common, especially in Scotland. The original spelling, MacGill, is a typically Scottish name, meaning "son of Gill." One record states that the first Magills of this family line in Ireland were three brothers, who came to Ireland with King William III of England, and each settled in different places-Ballymena, Antrim and in County Tyrone. Another writer states that some of the Magill name came over from Scotland with the Plantation of Lord Montgomery (1606) and settled in Ireland. See Chapter 31, Allied Family-Montgomery, and Chapter 1, No. 1 John Magill. A more recent writer recorded that this family is descended from McGill, Viscount of Oxenford (spelled variously), probably in Co. Midlothian, Scotland. (See Chap. 11 and Chap. 32, Part 3, No. 6.) It appears that the early Magills lived in or near Antrim for many years, but later members of the family line were settled in Broughshane, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and it was from Broughshane that (No.11) James Boyd Magill emigrated in 1823 with his bride and settled in Chester Co., S. C. The Magills were of the Presbyterian faith and many of this family, including the immigrant ancestors, attended the First Brough shane Presbyterian church, organized in 1655 and situated in the village. This church, largely rebuilt and modernized in 1925-26, is built in the form of a T. There are three galleries; the steps up to them go from the outside-relics of the old day-and as also was the custom in those days, the graveyard is right up to the walls. It is considered one of the most beautiful of country churches. A recent pastor of this church has written, "The Magills were fine people, with strong qualities of character, very forthright and loyal to their convictions.

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