James McCracken of Clearfield Co. PA
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  This is the generations of James McCracken and his wife Sarah Rebecca (Greenwood), one Scotch-Irish family that came to America in the mid 18th century.
 
 
The Scotch-Irish in colonial Pennsylvania were Scots from Scotland, Ireland and England.  At the time of the Irish plantation they were persuaded to take up residence in Northern Ireland where they were known as Ulstermen.  From there many emmigrated to America and are known to us as Scotch- Irish. 
 
They arrived via the port of Boston or Philadelphia and preferred to live in the frontier land so you will see them migrating outward as the populations grew. Many went south over the Philadelphia wagon road.  In our family there is a tradition that James McCracken had five brothers four of them going south and one to western Pennsylvania and he stayed in central Pennsylvania.  See the wagon road map.
 
The following pages are a tribute to Erie McCracken (1919 - 1989).  She was very much loved by everyone who met her, and in spite of her humble circumstances she kept a positive and upbeat outlook.  She was, indeed, the rock and anchor of her family, my best friend and Mother. 
 
This material is being compiled to preserve the genealogical facts of the McCracken Families of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Gathered from a great many sources over the course of thirty years to be preserved here for the descendants of James and Rebecca McCracken.

Every attempt has been made to keep errors to a minimum. However anyone with corrections, additions or comments are invited to contact me.
 
 McCracken is a sept of the MacNaughton clan.
 
James was of Scotch-Irish descent coming to the colonies as an infant.  Family lore has him being born on board the vessel bringing his parents here.  Since no records exist of the birth or the crossing we are taking the liberty of making some assumptions.
 
His father may have been Robert McCracken of Mount Bethel, Northampton, PA although there is no proof of that there are several reasons I would like to put forth for future researchers to consider.  The first is...
 
The Naming Pattern
 
The Scots traditionally named their first born son for the paternial father but, there was also an alternate naming patern which is what we find in this case.  That being, the first born son was named for the maternial father.  James and Rebecca named their first son Joseph for Joseph Greenwood, Rebecca's father.
 
Following the alternate naming pattern then, the second son would be named for the paternial father.  They named their second son Robert so we therefore can assume the name of James' father to be Robert McCracken. The only Robert McCracken found in Pennsylvania in the right time period is Robert McCracken (1709 - 1786) taking a land warrant in Bucks county, PA in 1750.
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The second is... 
 
 
A word of caution here.  Always verify the information you see here or anywhere else before putting it down as fact.  Many of the sources here are from people just like us and I can not guarentee that they varified their sources.  This is for informational purposes only and a starting place for anyone that wishes to continue the research.
There are many McCracken men in Mt Bethel of the right age to be the second generation.  We do know that Robert had at least one brother in Mt Bethel and probably two, Thomas and Hugh and they didn't leave a family group chart.  So we need to do a lot more digging to find out who's who.  I did find a Robert Jr. there which could be the son of Robert Sr.
 
Robert's will names only three daughters Margaret, Jennet and Ann.  Does that mean he only had three children?  More likely, it means he choose only to provide for his daughters and expected his sons to make their own way as he had done. 
   
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James McCracken, at age 22 to 25 was already in Cumberland county by 1775 and married with a son of his own.  If there were other brothers they may have been gone as well by 1775. For those that went directly to Kentucky as we suppose James' brothers did see this site for a good idea of the trip and route followed. 
 
 
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Is Robert McCracken of Northampton county, PA the father of James of Clearfield???
 
Thomas McCracken of Northampton is the brother of Robert, if this is a fact then we can probably assume, from the naming pattern of the Scots, that their father's name is John because Thomas named his first son John. 
 
One researcher says - "Robert McCracken, born in Northern Ireland, perhaps Belmont, Co. Down, about 1708-1709..." and that those early Irish immigrants were called "The Wild Geese of Ulster."   If nothing else it is a starting place for you McCracken researchers.
 
If Robert McCracken is the father of James, this causes some question about the dates used to calculate the birth of James. 
 
.   1.  Is the arrival (1753) and therefore the birth wrong?  
    2. Did Robert come earlier (1750) to purchase and build and later return home for his family? 
    3. Is there another Robert somewhere that we have not yet found? 
  
 
That area of Bucks county where Robert purchased his property in 1750 was divided in 1752 and is now in Northampton county.  It is approxamately 8 miles north of Easton, PA  in the area of Mount Bethel. 
 
Just a little note of interest - At the time this property was surveyed for Robert McCracken there was an ordinance in effect that required the owner to build within two years a building no less than 200 sq. feet with a stone chimney.  Can you imagine a small one room cabin no bigger than your smallest bedroom?
 
 
Robert McCracken is the gg-grandfather of Caroline Lavina (Scott) Harrison (1832 - 1892) first lady of the United States and wife of President Benjamin Harrison.  She in fact, died in the White House.
1. Robert McCracken + Mary
     2. Ann McCracken + Samuel Rea
         3. Ann Rea + George Scott
              4. John Scott + Mary Neal
                   5. Caroline Scott + Benjamin Harrison
 
 
Robert and Mary McCracken are buried in the Three Churches cemetery just outside of Mount Bethel, PA where their headstone reads -
 
132--"Robert McCracken died, Feb., 1786, aged 77 years."
133--"Mary, wife of Robert McCracken, died, Nov 1781, aged 73 years." 
 
A few plots away are these, the note says see 132 - does this infer that Samuel is another child of Robert? 
 
121--Samuel McCracken, died Sept. 8, 1794, in his 48th year. (See No. 132)
122--Jerusha McCracken, died Oct. 4, 1794, in her 50th year.
 
Note:    In 1793/94 there was a yellow fever epidemic in the area which could explain why Samuel and his wife died within a month of each other.
 
Below are the descendants of Thomas and Robert McCracken as shown by George McCracken in the McCrackens of Northampton County.
 

Descendants of Robert McCracken

1 Robert McCracken b: Abt. 1709 d: Feb 1786

.. +Mary b: Abt. 1709 d: Nov 1781

......... 2 Margaret McCracken

............. +John Vannetten

......... 2 Jennet McCracken

............. +John Neilson

......... 2 Ann McCracken

............. +Samuel Rea b: 1732 d: 19 Sep 1813

.................... 3 John Rea

.................... 3 Alexander Rea

.................... 3 William Rea

.................... 3 Sarah Rea

........................ +Robert Lyle

.................... 3 Isabel Rea

........................ +Jeptha Harrison b: Dec 1795

.................... 3 Ann Rea

........................ +George McElery Scott

............................... 4 John Witherspoon Scott b: Bef. 1793

................................... +Mary Potts Neal

........................................... 5 Caroline Lavina Scott b: 01 Oct 1832 d: 25 Oct 1892

............................................... +Benjamin Harrison b: 20 Aug 1833 d: 13 Mar 1901

.................... 3 Mary Rea

........................ +William McKibbin

.................... 3 daughter Rea

........................ +Alexander Sillyman

 

Descendants of Thomas McCracken

1 Thomas McCracken b: Bet. 1704 and 1708 d: Bet. 1790 and 28 Aug 1792

.. +Margaret d: Aft. 1801

......... 2 John McCracken d: 1813

......... 2 Margaret McCracken d: Aft. 1820

......... 2 Robert McCracken b: Abt. 1736 d: 09 Mar 1777

............. +Mary Hutchinson b: Bet. 1748 and 1750 d: 05 Mar 1830

.................... 3 Thomas McCracken d: 1795

.................... 3 Anna McCracken

.................... 3 [1] Robert McCracken b: Bef. 1777 d: Bet. 04 Dec 1837 and 1840

........................ +Eunice Bromley d: Bef. 1835

............................... 4 Amos T. McCracken

............................... 4 William R. McCracken

............................... 4 Movonia? McCracken d: 16 Jun 1908

............................... 4 John H. McCracken b: Abt. 1821 d: 17 May 1848

................................... +[2] Abigail Nickerson

............................... 4 Stephen Bromley McCracken b: 1825 d: 03 Aug 1902

........................................... 5 William R. McCracken

.................... *2nd Wife of [1] Robert McCracken:

........................ +[2] Abigail Nickerson

......... 2 Hugh McCracken b: Aft. 1737 d: Aft. 1798

............. +Elizabeth

.................... 3 Samuel McCracken

.................... 3 James McCracken d: 08 Aug 1820

............................... 4 Agnes McCracken

............................... 4 Fanny McCracken

............................... 4 Jacob McCracken

............................... 4 John McCracken

............................... 4 Henry McCracken

............................... 4 Peter McCracken

............................... 4 child McCracken

............................... 4 Catherine McCracken

................................... +Appleman

............................... 4 Ann McCracken

................................... +Hunt

............................... 4 Mary McCracken

................................... +Dildine

............................... 4 Rebecca McCracken

................................... +Bird

............................... 4 Robert McCracken b: 1773 d: 1839

................................... +Annie Harris

........................................... 5 John McCracken b: 1809 d: 1869

............................................... +Sarah b: 1810 d: 1877

........................................... 5 Jesse McCracken b: 1809 d: 1864

............................................... +Sarah Ann Miller

........................................... 5 Sally A. McCracken b: 1816 d: 1864

............................................... +John S. Miller

.................... 3 [6] Henry McCracken b: Abt. 1780 d: Bef. 1850

........................ +[5] Eleanor McCracken b: Abt. 1780

............................... 4 Rachel McCracken

............................... 4 son McCracken

............................... 4 son McCracken

............................... 4 son McCracken

............................... 4 son McCracken

............................... 4 dau McCracken

............................... 4 [4] James McCracken b: 24 Jan 1804 d: 07 May 1886

................................... +Catherine Jane (Collins)Smith b: 19 Sep 1809 d: 13 Apr 1870

........................................... 5 4 step children Smith

........................................... 5 Samuel McCracken b: 01 Jun 1837 d: 20 Oct 1889

............................................... +Catherine Miller b: 1836 d: 1888

........................................... 5 Uriah McCracken b: 04 Feb 1839 d: 07 Jul 1863

........................................... 5 John Wesley McCracken b: 10 Apr 1841 d: 17 May 1863

........................................... 5 Leroy McCracken b: 17 May 1843 d: 26 Jun 1906

............................................... +Charlotte Little b: 15 May 1849 d: 17 May 1920

........................................... 5 [3] Eleanora McCracken b: 27 Aug 1845

............................................... +David Friant

........................................... *2nd Husband of [3] Eleanora McCracken:

............................................... +Norman Riker

........................................... 5 Jacob McCracken b: 21 Apr 1847 d: 22 Apr 1849

........................................... 5 Phoebe McCracken b: 21 Jun 1852 d: 08 Feb 1929

............................................... +Eli Pickersgill b: 08 Jan 1845 d: 03 Apr 1931

............................... *2nd Wife of [4] James McCracken:

................................... +Sarah Mann b: 1793

.................... 3 Hannah McCracken b: 21 Feb 1780

........................ +Henry Silverthorn

............................... 4 Samuel Silverthorn b: 12 Jan 1803

............................... 4 Jane Silverthorn b: 18 Jan 1806

................................... +John Coulter

............................... 4 William Silverthorn b: 17 Oct 1807

................................... +

............................... 4 Nancy Silverthorn b: 07 Dec 1809

................................... +Samuel Peterson

............................... 4 Henry Silverthorn b: 09 Feb 1812

................................... +

............................... 4 Hannah Silverthorn b: 21 May 1814

................................... +Hampton Coffman

............................... 4 Joseph Silverthorn b: 14 Mar 1819

................................... +

............................... 4 Mary Silverthorn b: 14 Mar 1819

............................... 4 John N. Silverthorn b: 12 Mar 1821

.................... 3 Thomas McCracken b: 1784

............................... 4 Matilda McCracken

............................... 4 Thomas McCracken

......... 2 Samuel McCracken b: 1746 d: 09 Sep 1794

............. +Jerusha McIlhenny b: Abt. 1744 d: 04 Oct 1794

.................... 3 Agnes McCracken

.................... 3 James McCracken

........................ +Ann

.................... 3 [5] Eleanor McCracken b: Abt. 1780

........................ +[6] Henry McCracken b: Abt. 1780 d: Bef. 1850

.................... 3 William McCracken b: Abt. 1785

 

 

I will add more about this family later as time permits.
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This is a work in progress so come back often to see what has been added.
 
There are innumerable allied families, far to many to be all inclusive but please be sure to contact me if you have questions related to an allied line. Over the years I have taken a great deal of interest in the lines of the females who seem to have been a forgotten segment in genealogy in the past.  I have traced many of the females through their husbands and may have the information you are looking for.
 
Erie Randall

   

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