Intro by Barry: After Kevin’s death, Sarah used Pages at Tumblr to continue his McKee Genealogy work. Here with Sarah’s permission I have copied Kevin’s homepage, and some of his links. This is a THANK YOU for Kevin’s pioneering, great work for all McKee families!
Kevin McKee
Kevin has been in the restaurant business for over twenty years. (Kevin’s two daughters pictured at right). The past seven years Kevin has served as General Manager for Denny’s in his hometown of Woodland, CA.
He has served on the Board of Directors of VME, Inc. (an internet services company).
Kevin is a US Navy veteran (1972-80). (Bryan, Kevin’s son pictured left with his daughter Courtney aboard).
Since the 1980s Kevin has been actively seeking his family roots and history, which has broadened into quite the MCKEE library and family tree. Kevin’s branch of the McKee family, from Donegal Ireland to Peterborough, Canada — then to Marysville, Kansas — is documented on his Family Tree Website.
Since there is a lot to learn regarding this branch alone, the search has opened up other research in lateral MCKEE migrations with hopes of linking other families. In order to broaden this search and define it even further, more possibilities open up with DNA research (Thank You, Linda McKee).
While Kevin is working on a MCKEE family publication – he will be sharing information on the McKEE Surname, its beginnings and migrations.
Pictures of Great-Grandparents E. J. McKee and wife Anna Randolph (1900 Wedding) and Father Vaun L McKee 1950; Click here to view more Family Pictures.
Family members of William McKee and Sarah Thompson (ones known to have immigrated) – Robert McKee/Anne Elliott, brother Samuel McKee/Beaven Elliott and their children- possibly brothers and other kin. Families settled in Smith Twp, Peterborough County, Ontario, Canada around 1831 receiving land. Marriages to Fitzgerald Elliott, Roseborough, Finlay, Crawford, in Canada; Randolph, Pelsue, Tarvin, and Dalton (on both sides)- others along the way, some remained Ontario- some (I believe) to Exeter, Huron County, Ontario, Canada then on to Kansas (Marshall County) in 1871. Read some Kansas History here.
Kevin McKee has done extensive research and was involved in two reunions, 1986 and 1998 and is discovering new cousins. Kevin will exchange information; would like to continue to build a large family tree. Through his extensive lateral family research, he enjoys the discovery and history involved with Genealogy. Kevin also acknowledges his maternal ancestors in Quick, Ekstrom, Curry, Brady, Raine and others very ably covered by his Aunt Lana (Quick) Lanham and included in the Family Tree portion.
Please look into my McKee Newsletter below, as I will periodically share McKee Family Matters other than my own direct line. If anyone would like to send me their McKee history by e mail, I can paste- and post it on the Newsletter. Interested in the other Surnames that have crossed my McKee path? I have provided links to folks or pages where there is help. If you can add more info or have info on another name E-Mail me as I will update this page as frequently as possible. (My grandchildren- Courtney and Madison at right.)
If you would like to get on a mailing list of McKee matters-and a way of communicating with others doing the same: Join the “McKee RootsWeb” mailing list for the discussion and sharing of information regarding the McKee Surname.
Do we share the Donegal connection? I have found a site that includes searchable database – Valuation Registers, Taxes, Entitlements, Passenger Lists. If your family was from here its a must see! Check Lindel Buckley’s Donegal Genealogical Resources. Great work Lindel!
The page McKee Family Matters is dedicated to the McKee name and all those who are interested in news on our heritage, backgrounds, family stories, letters, and anything that might be sent this way to share with other McKees from around the world. I have been asked to do something like this, and time permitting, and with interest and input, I will endeavor to disseminate information that I and others run across that would be interested in sharing.
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I have been shopping for McKee tidbits to insert in this updated version – in time for the holidays 1999.
Tom McKee sent me an E-Mail in August and mentions: ” I was re-reading some old John McKee of Brooklyn letters when I came across something I had forgotten about and should be of interest to you but you maybe already aware of it. If so, just deep six it. I will copy the pertinent paragraph.”
“Fifty years after the Battle of the Boyne, McKees came over from Scotland and settled near Ballymena, County Antrim, and are still there. They have got the name of Patrick in their family. Other McKees settled about the same time at Ballyshannon (southern Donegal) T
hey emigrated to Peterborough, Ontario, Canada where they still are, but in Ireland they have become extinct.”
I was lucky to receive a note from a fellow genealogist who shares the same area and family names who, as I did discovered similarities in the surnames of my ancestors and those who settled around them. This similarity blossomed into discovering my ancestors home in Ireland. By reading through histories of families who also settled in Ontario, Donegal was common mention. I then contacted and hired Donegal Ancestry, http://donegalancestry.com/ and received the news! His note in part says “In the course of my research on Irish emigrant correspondence, I had occasion to investigate the Brown family of Donegal. In the course of this investigation I discovered the place of origin of the Freeborn family, many of whose members emigrated to Smith Township and thence further afield to Perth County and to the US. In the same parish, I also discovered the place of origin of the McKee family and the Loves, both of whom intermarried extensively with the Freeborns and who also came to Smith Township area of Upper Canada about the same time (1833-34). Indeed, the families may have come together”.
A Couple of the references provided to me in this correspondence were:
Marriage – Andrew McKee to Ann Love 24 January xxxx.
Marriage -John McKee son of Adam McKee of Rossnowlagh townland by License to Christian Paine of the townland of Ardeenlan, Daughter of William Paine now living in Farmanagh dated 9 May 1787 (Note that Rossnowlagh is on the coast of Donegal Bay in the southern part of the parish, about two miles from Ballintra and about eight from Donegal. Ardeelan townland is immediately south of Rossnowlagh).
Marriage – Robert McKee, Son of Adam McKee of Rossnowlagh townland to Eleanor Graham daughter of Arthur Graham of the townland of Durinish (modern spelling Durnesh) Durinish is just east of Rossnowlagh.
A cousin of Elliott connections recently made a trip to the homeland (Donegal, Ireland) and was able to obtain the following information of Elliott McKee connection -which migrations included Ontario;
William Elliott of Lismintan (Father) William Elliott married Margaret Love of Carrick West-her father William Love on 25 July 1786. Their children were: Anne baptised 25 July 1786 (married Robert McKee 19 August 1802); Jane 30 April 1788; Elizabeth 12 Oct 1790, George 5 Feb 1793, Mary Bevan 30 May 1795 (married Samuel McKee 22 Sept 1812), William 30 May 1797, Elsy 21 Aug 1799, Hannah 4 Aug 1802, John 1 Aug 1805.
Robert McKee – son of William McKee Ballybulgan to Anne Elliott daughter of William Elliott Lismintan. Children William, 4 Aug 1806, Sarah 17 April 1809, Samuel 3 Dec 1811, Margaret 19 April 1821, George 16 April 1824, John 5 Oct 1828.
Samuel McKee Ballybulgan father was William McKee married Mary Bevan Elliot Lismintan her father William Elliott married 22 October 1812. Children 22 Sept 1813, Margaret 23 Sept 1819, Sarah 10 April 1823.
Sarah Thompson, wife of William McKee Ballybulgan buried 28 Jan 1790.
William McKee Ballybulgan buried 10 Feb 1807.
In Jan 2009, Kevin posted a personal message Kevin’s Journey which tells the story of his struggle with colon cancer.
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