- Scotch-Irish Immigrant to America
Biography
Thomas McCrary, Sr. was born circa 1737 in Ulster, County Antrim, Ireland to John Andrew McCreary (1705-1768) and Nancy Agnes Crawford (1710-1768) and died 9 January 1793 Duncan Creek, Laurens County, South Carolina, United States of unspecified causes. He married Leticia Brandon (1737-1797) 1754 in York County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Thomas McCrary was born in Ireland of Scots-Irish parents. There are no known confirmed records of his parents, the date of his birth nor any details of his life in Erin. He arrived in American about 1750, this according to tradition and not a known fact. There were ports of entry in Baltimore and Philadelphia and many immigrants from Northern Ireland arrived at either one of these places. Tradition tells us he came with his brothers, Andrew, John and Robert.
According to cousins who have researched the family, there is evidence (but no documentary proof) that they settled for a short time in Pennsylvanis, in the area of York (then Baltimore) Co., and in Lancaster Co. According to the researchers they were many McCrary's (of various spellings) in that area as early as 1730 through 1740's. "Surviving Early Records of York Count, Pennsylvania, 1749-84", in the South Central Genealogical Society, contains an entry (#70), which lists Andrew, John, Robert and Thomas McCrary. But is this our Thomas? Some researchers believe their parents were John and Martha McCrary who lived in Berkeley Co. now Laurens Co., SC, in the Duncan Creek area at the same time as the four brothers.
The McCrarys arrived in Laurens County, South Carolina circa 1752-1755.He owned over 3000 acres in grants in Berkley and Cravens County beginning in 1765 in Laurens Co, SC; he acquired more grants through 1787 because of his war service. He was a farmer. He was a Justice of the Peace in 1779 in Laurens Co, SC. According to family tradition he came to America 1750. He probably came through either Baltimore or Philadelphia. The name is sometimes spelled as McCreary, McCrery, and McCrarey.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Elizabeth McCrary (1755-1800) | |||
| Matthew McCrary (1761-1794) | |||
| Andrew McCrary (1761-1827) | |||
| Jane McCrary (1763-1825) | |||
| Thomas McCrary (1763-1835) | 9 July 1763 Duncan Creek, Laurens County, South Carolina, United States | 26 June 1835 Lawrence County, Alabama, United States | Cassandra Adair (1767-1835) |
| Charles McCrary (1764-) | |||
| Moses McCrary (1766-1807) | |||
| Christopher McCrary (1768-1840) | |||
| George Brandon McCrary (1770-1845) | |||
| Andrew McCrary (1775-1852) | |||
| Mary McCrary (1777-) | |||
| Catherine McCrary (1778-) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Elizabeth Crawford McCreary (1725-1773) | |||
| Nancy Agnes McCreary (1728-1812) | |||
| Mary McCreary (1730-1787) | |||
| Garrett McCreary (1731-) | |||
| Thomas McCrary (1737-1793) | 1737 Ulster, County Antrim, Ireland | 9 January 1793 Duncan Creek, Laurens County, South Carolina, United States | Leticia Brandon (1737-1797) |
| John McCreary (1739-1789) | 1739 Augusta County, Virginia, United states | 1789 Fayette County, Kentucky, United States | Susanna Lytle Estill (1744-1792) |
| Robert McCreary (1740-1796) | 1740 Augusta County, Virginia, United states | 17 February 1796 Fayette County, Kentucky, United States | Mary McClanahan (1748-1798) |
| William McCreary (1741-1760) | |||
| Rachel McCreery (1742-) | |||
| Betsy McCreary (1744-) | |||
| Sarah McCreary (1745-) | |||
| Jane McCreary (1747-1784) | |||
| James McCreary (1750-) | |||
Residences
See Also
- Thomas McCrary
- McCrary in County Antrim
- McCrary in York County, Pennsylvania
- McCrary in Laurens County, South Carolina
- Colonel Williams Memorial Petition