This page is comprehensive,“wordy”, and verges on repetitive - there has been an attempt to lay out all known relevant information - any corrections or additions are welcome

The Ancestry of our fourth-great grandfather Nathaniel Kinney

The possible link to Jacob Kinney of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania

A Timeline from Various Records Involving Jacob Kinney(s) In That Period (With A few other Kinneys/McKinneys in Northumberland County during that time included, just in case)

My grandmother was Edna Clawson (Laird), daughter of my great-grandmother Sarah Kinney (Clawson), daughter of my great-great-grandfather William Harrison “Harry” Kinney (for whom there is a separate biographical page on this website), the son of my third great grandfather David Kinney, who was the son of my fourth great-grandfather Nathaniel Kinney. Nathaniel Kinney has been at the outer boundary of my ability to trace our Kinney ancestry - and this page is about the possible link to the next generation back from Nathaniel, a story that brings us to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania - and the successor counties of Union and Snyder.

The details of Nathaniel’s life are murky. According to Nathaniel’s tombstone in Shelby County, Indiana, he was born in 1766. The biography of his daughter in an 1880 Ohio county history shown below, states that he was born in Pennsylvania. But of his four children still living at the time of the 1880 census - two state that he was born in New Jersey, and two state that he was born in Maryland. He married Barbara Sargent ca 1797, likely in Frederick County, Maryland, but there is no marriage or census record for him there. He and Barbara had nine identified children - the first seven shown as born in Maryland, and the last two born in Knox County Ohio after Nathaniel and Barbara moved there ca 1815. Ca 1836 he went to Shelby County Indiana, where his oldest son Jacob lived, and according to his tombstone he died there in 1838. Yet a Stanley Kinney family Bible reportedly lists his death year as 1839, the article below lists his death year as 1840, and Barbara is shown back in Knox County Ohio in the 1840 census without Nathaniel.

I have no record of him in Pennsylvania; have only found one record of him in Frederick County, Maryland - his war of 1812 service card; have a series of deed, tax, and census records of him in Knox County, Ohio between 1820 and 1836; and he is shown in two deed records and with his tombstone in Shelby County, Indiana.

An 1880 Morrow County Ohio history includes a biography of Nathaniel Kinney’s daughter - Sarah Kinney (Breece) and her husband Saul Breece - indicating that before moving to Frederick County, Maryland, Nathaniel was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.  That biography is posted below.

As stated above, Nathaniel Kinney’s tombstone in Center Cemetery in Shelby County, Indiana lists his birth year as 1766. If the biography above and the tombstone inscription are both correct - Nathaniel Kinney was born in 1766 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. But at least one of those two things is likely not correct, as Northumberland County was not established until 1772, and its townships first laid out in that year. It is quite possible that Nathaniel was born in New Jersey and moved to Northumberland County with whoever his family was at a very early age - which could explain why two of his children listed his birth state as New Jersey in the 1880 census - and none of his four children enumerated in the 1880 census listed his birth state as Pennsylvania.

Nathaniel’s oldest child was named Jacob – and the one major Kinney who lived in Northumberland County during this period was Jacob Kinney. Jacob was in tax records, a few census records, and filed for a Revolutionary War pension from the Northumberland - Union County area (one record placed him in Beaver Township). There were different spellings of Jacob’s name in these records - from Kinney to Keney to Keen to Ginney. There was even one taxable year in which there appear to be Jacob Kinney’s in two different townships. Examining the life of Jacob Kinney may lead to breaking the “brick wall” of Nathaniel’s ancestry. Posted below is every known record reference to a Jacob in Northumberland and Union Counties in this period to see if it opens some doors to breaking through that “brick wall”.

In this period there were also residents of Northumberland County by the name of McKinney, and persons by that name are included in the timeline. There are some researchers who believe that a McKinney might be the logical Northumberland parent of our Nathaniel. Listed below from this period are all Kinneys - by whatever spelling - and McKinneys, which may help point us to Nathaniel’s father.

The location where the primary Jacob lived in Northumberland County became part of Union County in 1813, and then part of Union County became Snyder County in 1855. Martin Kinney, presumed to be a son of Jacob, was shown in censuses in Northumberland and Union Counties, and died in 1859 - four years after Snyder County was formed - and is buried in Snyder County.

Jacob’s revolutionary war pension shows his last payment was made in the second quarter of 1834 - implying that his death was likely in this period in 1834. There is a little confusion in searching for records of Jacob in this period, as they could be in the records of any of these three counties. The early records for Jacob Kinney - multiple ones - place a Jacob in Penns Township and also in Buffalo Township. Penns Township was in Snyder County in 1855, after being in Northumberland and then Union County. However, Buffalo Township appears to have been in Northumberland and then Union County - and in the part of Union County that did not split off to become Snyder County. In today’s Union County, there are West Buffalo, Buffalo, and East Buffalo Townships.

Jacob’s pension record states he was eighty years old in 1832, implying a birth year of 1752. His pension record states he was born in New Jersey. As stated above, various records place Nathaniel’s birth year about 1766, which - if both are correct - would make Jacob fourteen years old at the time of Nathaniel’s birth. Then again, the pension record that addresses Jacob’s birth year also states that he was not sure the year he was born.

Jacob appears to have been married ca 1776 - ten years after Nathaniel was born - and then had a son named Martin. There was a Martin “Kiny” in Frederick County for awhile when Nathaniel lived there, shown below in Liberty, Frederick County in the 1800 census. That Martin Kinney (Kiny) appears to be about Jacob’s age and was shown in Woodsboro Church Records in 1787, 1791, and 1800 - church records that also contained the baptism record of one of the sisters of Nathaniel’s wife Barbara Sargent. Woodsboro was in Liberty Township in Frederick County, and the church was a German Lutheran Church.

The 1800 census entry for Martin Kinney (shown as Mart. Kinney) is posted below. The listing shows 2-2-1-0-1 on the left side of the double line and 1-2-0-1-0 on the right side of the double line. That means that there was one male over the age of forty-five; one female between the ages of twenty-six and forty-five; one male between the ages of sixteen and twenty-six; two males and two females between the ages of ten and sixteen; and two males and one female under the age of ten. That listing indicates that this Martin Kinney was born before 1755 - which would have been in the same period of the birth of Jacob Kinney of Northumberland County.

In order to try to unravel the mystery of Jacob Kinney (and other Kinneys-McKinneys) of Northumberland County, I have compiled every record I could find about a Jacob in this period - with multiple different surname spellings. For those for which I have the original record, it is posted.  Every mention of a Jacob in these records is listed in chronological order below.  I always hope that there are more records out there, I have searched for a few years now, so I believe the listing below to be nearly complete.

In almost all records it appears that Jacob did not own property - but just paid personal property tax. It also appears a Jacob Kinney (there are other spellings of his surname) was living on the land of John Aurand. And I have not found Jacob in the last three or four censuses of his life - he was clearly living with someone else, but I have not yet identified an entry where he might have been present. For the revolutionary war pension file of Jacob, each image from the file is posted and transcribed as well, in an attempt to make each part of the file more understandable.

While I have listed a few McKinney references in the timeline below - at the end of this web page is included a compilation of some McKinney references of this period - from Northumberland tax records, a county history, a family history book, a newsletter and a McKinney internet site - to give context to these references.

There are too many coincidences that lead to a conclusion that Jacob Kinney was related to Nathaniel Kinney. Was he a father by an earlier marriage? Was he an uncle? Did Nathaniel live with him before moving to Frederick County, Maryland? Are some of the ages off in the various records that would make a possible familial relationship work? Am I on the wrong path and there are Keney’s or McKinney’s in this area who are the real family members? Maybe we will never know. Maybe a DNA link will present itself as more and more people are tested. But not knowing the answers to these questions won’t be for lack of trying.

Some of the records below are confusing, many inconclusive, and additions, corrections, or speculation is welcome. Below are Jacob Kinney records in the Northumberland County region for Jacob, other Kinneys, and some McKinneys - in chronological order, with a section on McKinney’s following the chronology. I have not made all analysis possible from these records, and hope that having them all in one place will spur thinking on this subject by other researchers. Having said that, some conclusions and suggestions for further research are made at the bottom of the page.

The Jacob Kinney Timeline in Records

1752 – In 1832 Jacob Kinney said he thought he was about eighty years old, and had been in New Jersey before moving to Pennsylvania.  That would make about 1752 his year of birth in New Jersey. Below is that page from Jacob Kinney’s Revolutionary War pension file - taken in Union County, Pennsylvania - stating his birth in New Jersey, moving to Northumberland County, and enlisting at age twenty-three - which, given the year he enlisted, would place his birth year about 1752/53. NOTE: The page below is Item number three in Jacob’s pension file - the full page is posted farther down this page where each item in his pension file is posted and transcribed.

1772. Northumberland County was established as Pennsylvania’s tenth county in 1772, and its townships first laid out in that year. The county was created from portions of Berks, Lancaster, and Cumberland Counties. The seven original townships were Bald Eagle, Buffalo, Penn’s, Turbot, Augusta, Wyoming, and Muncy. While there were settlers living here in the years just up to the county’s establishment, the period right after seems to have been a time of much new settlement in the area.

1774. If the 1834 record on Jacob’s pension is correct - that he arrived sixty years before - it would put his year of arrival in Northumberland County as 1774.

1775.  The Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1755-1855, by John Blair Linn [published in 1877 and therefore past copyright protections in terms of posting it on this page], lists inhabitants in 1775.  There is an inference in the heading of this chapter that these are residents of “Buffalo”, but it is not marked on or just before the list. On the list is John Aurand with forty acres, two horses, and three cows, also a grist and saw mill.  On the same list is Jacob Keen, with five acres and one cow.  Jacob Keen is not shown as living on anyone else’s property in this listing - which does list a number of other people living on other people’s land, but Jacob Keen is the name shown below as the person who was renting on John Aurand’s land. A John Row is also in this 1775 list, showing he had thirty acres.

There is a Jacob Keen who continues to be shown in some Northumberland records, shown below, such as in the 1781 Tax Exoneration list as having a large number of acres. In that location are listed tax entries for Jacob (by different surname spellings), and John Aurand - so that they can be summarized and compared.

In the Aurand(t) Book by Robert Aurand Cody is a biography of “John Aurand(t), the Immigrant”.  In it, it is stated that he was born in Germany in 1725, immigrated in 1753, and in 1772 sold his land in Berks County, Pennsylvania and moved with this family to Northumberland County.  That year he purchased 690 acres along Turtle Creek, “which empties into the Susquehanna River just below present-day Lewisburg”.  John died in 1808, and his will refers to land and tenements situated in Buffaloe Township, County of Northumberland.

1775-76.  The Snyder County Pioneers book by Dr. Charles Fisher, places Jacob in Captain John Clark’s Company of the Northumberland County Associators in 1775.  The service under John Clark is listed in other places with the date 1776.  The Fifth Series of the Pennsylvania Archives, Volume VIII, dated 1906, lists lists Jacob Keeny in the first company of the Fourth Battalion, under Captain John Clark - and lists the date of September 26, 1776 with Jacob’s name. The information contained in the archives entry is shown below in the “Annals of Buffalo Valley”. Jacob Kinney’s pension file is shown in its entirety below, and refers to his service under Captain Clark.

The Annals of Buffalo Valley states that this company was called into service about December 5, 1776 and served for three months and eighteen days.  On the roll of Captain John Clarke’s Company was Jacob Keeny.  A book on “Clarks from Pennsylvania and Allied Families, from early 1700’s to 1984”, has a section on Captain John Clark, which reads: “John Clark was born in 1736. He married Florence Watson. The Associators of of Buffalo and Penn Townships, practically coextensive with the present counties of Union and Snyder, on August 31, 1776, held an election for field officers, and on the 8th of October following commissions were issued to them as officers of the 4th Battalion of Northumberland County Associators, and also to the company officers, as follows: Company #1: Captain John Clark, First Lieutenant Henry Pontius; Second Lieutenant James Moore; Ensign Patrick Watson. When the danger of Philadelphia became imminent, it is probable that officers and men volunteered to fill up Capt. Clark’s company, as their names are found on the roll. The company left the valley on December 5 [1776] and served three months and eighteen days. It appears from some memorandums in an old account-book which contained the roster, that the company did not leave Reading until January 3, 1777, and consequently did not participate at Trenton and Princeton, but was in the subsequent skirmishes. . .” This description of where the unit went matches the description of where Jacob Kinney described the unit going in his pension file, although he mentioned a few additional locations.

[The 1919 book, “Snyder County Annals, Volume One, contains a brief biography of John Clark: “Clark, John, born 1736; died Feb. 22, 1809; 73 years; buried Lewis Cemetery, Union Co. Captain of 1st Co., 3rd battalion, Northumberland Co. Associators, 1776. He married Florence Watson, died Sept. 16, 1807, 76 years buried by his side.”

The same book contains a brief biography of “Jacob Keeny, lived Turtle Creek 1777 on John Aurand’s place. Private, Capt. John Clark’s Northumberland Co. Associators, 1776; private Northumberland Co. militia.”]

The Annals of Buffalo Valley book also lists residences and information about some of the soldiers – and states “Jacob Keeny on John Aurand’s place, Turtle creek.”  [There are multiple references in local histories to Jacob Kinney living on Turtle Creek at John Aurand’s land. Turtle Creek has its own wikipedia page which mentions John Aurand in the history section, and describes clearly the creek’s location in what is now Union County, and was Northumberland County at the time John Aurand and Jacob Kinney lived there.]

In a Pennsylvania Archives listing for Associators and Militia in Northumberland County, which seems to be a repeat of the above information from other sources, Jacob Keeny is listed with the date September 26, 1776. In Jacob’s pension file, there is a statement from “George Stock”, made in 1833 in Union County, indicating that he and Jacob had served together under Captain Clarke. In the list below is a “George Schock”, who I assume to be the same person. There is a pension file for George Stock, and Jacob Kinney made a statement that was included in that file in support, and dated in 1832.

1776.  In the annals of Buffalo Valley, there is a listing of inhabitants of Penn Township in 1776 - which includes George, John and Martin Row, as well as George Row, Jr. Mordecai McKinney and David McKinney were each selected to represent their townships in the Northumberland County Committee - David for Augusta Township and Mordecai for Muncy Township. The rest of records on the McKinneys are shown in the McKinney section at the bottom of this webpage.

Some records show Jacob Kinney married in this year, and list his wife as a “Row”, which is also found in records as “Rau”. Jacob appeared to have been involved with the Salem Lutheran Church in Penn Township, the records of which show a marriage for him in 1776 and a child in 1777.  [If this was his only marriage, and it took place in 1776, he was not Nathaniel’s father.]  One researcher (Barbara at aurand@infionline.net): “Jacob has a listing in the Row's, aka Salem, Church which is in Penn Twp, Snyder Co but would have been in Northumberland Co and then Union Co before Snyder was formed.  The 1777 listing is as follows:  Parents Jacob Kiney (Kenney) and wife, Cathrina, had a son, Johanes, born 12 (no 12th of what) & baptized 7 Sept.  Godparents=Johanes Shaefer with his wife.” The listing from a book that includes Row’s church records is posted below.

In the pedigree resource file at the LDS family search page is the following information: JACOB KINNEY Compact Disc #82 Pin #679272 Sex: M Birth: 1752 Place: NEW JERSEY No Parents or Marriage(s) listed.  Spouse:  CATHERINA ROW Disc #82 Pin #679273 Marriage: 1 Jun 1776 Place: PENN TP, SNYDER, PA Notes and Sources: None.  Submitter: Harvey TRESSLER PO 61, Milton, PA, 17847-0061].  This entry matches the baptism above.

Catharine RAU.204 (the footnote 204 is tied to: Alva Rowe Shirk, Rau/Row/Rowe Family in Pennsylvania, Page 11; footnote #490 is tied to: Raymond Edwin Bowlby, B.A., M.A., Bowlby Families in England and America, Page 16, Part 3.).  Parents: George RAU Jr. and Magdalene (SECOND WIFE OF RAU, GEORGE JR.). Spouse: Jacob KINNEY.  In this record, there are a number of Kinneys listed alphabetically that appear related to this family: Clinton Douglas KINNEY was born on 13 JUN 1860 in Fairfield, Greene Co., OH. Spouse: Susan Elizabeth BRUMBAUGH. Clinton Douglas KINNEY and Susan Elizabeth BRUMBAUGH were married on 11 MAR 1884. Jacob KINNEY.204 Spouse: Catharine RAU. John KINNEY.490 Spouse: Johanna BOWLBY. John KINNEY and Johanna BOWLBY were married. Children were: Mary KINNEY. Julia KINNEY.259 Spouse: Daniel BOSSLER. Children were: Morton Raymond BOSSLER, Elmer BOSSLER, Ruth BOSSLER, Earle BOSSLER, Claude A. BOSSLER, Grant BOSSLER, Rev. Carl BOSSLER.  Mary KINNEY.490 Parents: John KINNEY and Johanna BOWLBY.  Mary A. KINNY38 was born about 1861. Parents: Thomas KINNY. Spouse: Philip Harrison BURKE. Philip Harrison BURKE and Mary A. KINNY were married on 24 OCT 1892 in Wilmore, Cambria Co., PA. Children were: James Philip BURKE, Thomas A. BURKE. Thomas KINNY.38 Children were: Mary A. KINNY.

Note: There is a book on file with the Salt Lake City Family History Library titled “The Rau - Row - Rowe Family” compiled by Wava Rowe Wright and published in 1977 - which lists the Rau family in this area at this time, but does not include Catherine marrying Jacob. All other Rau family members listed in this book seem to match the others listed above.

Further Note: Ancestry.com has 109 family trees for Martin Kinney, born 1776 in Northumberland County. Most every one lists Martin as a son of Jacob and Catherine, and many list two children of Jacob and Catherine - Martin, and the son John, shown above in church records. Martin fits - he was born in the right place at the right time, just after the marriage of Jacob and Catherine - and he remained in the area until his death in 1859. I am listing him as a son of Jacob, but I have not found a specific record that ties them together. The 1850 census shows he has a granddaughter named Catherine. I have listed the various census and burial records of Martin in the chronology below. I have not found a John Kinney that matches in later records.

In Charles Fisher’s 1978 book on Central Pennsylvania Marriages 1700-1896, he has a category “Marriages of some Soldiers and Patriots of the Revolutionary Period”. In that listing is an undated marriage for Jacob Kinney, in Snyder County, to Catherine, no surname listed nor a date listed.

1777.  The Snyder County Annals, which has individual biographies of early settlers, listed Jacob Keeny as having lived on John Aurand’s place Turtle Creek, in 1777. There are a couple of typos in this item, and they were circled in pencil. That biography is shown below:

NOTE: This brief biography above, links many different things into one biography of Jacob - his different military service, his living on John Aurand’s land, the spelling of the name as Ginny and Guinny, and the enumeration in the 1790 census. After reading each entry below, I wonder if they all link as they are spelled out here.

The news article below was from the Selinsgrove Times Tribune of Ocrtober 31, 1935. The area of Selinsgrove was originally in Northumberland County, was in Union County (where Jacob’s son Martin was shown in various censuses - and from where Jacob filed his pension), and then was in the territory of Snyder County when it was formed in 1855. Martin Kinney is shown as buried in the Old Lutheran Cemetery there. One of the authors of the article below was involved in other local histories, and this biography of Jacob Kinney seems to match the Annals of Snyder County - indicating that this version of his history - and the spelling of his surname - was used in different histories.

1778. In the Annals of Buffalo Valley, this period is described below, where settlers abandon their homes and farms and move together to secure locations. This includes Penns Township, where Jacob was reported to be living at this time.

1778-1783.  Jacob in mentioned in “Frontier Rangers from Northumberland County, PA 1778-1783” by Paul Myers.  He is listed three times, none tied to a specific date.  Each of the three times he is listed as a private.  Once his surname is spelled “Keney” and the other two times it is spelled “Kenny”.  Once he is listed in the Company of John Moll [spelled Mull in the service card record below].  Each time the source is a listing in the Pennsylvania Archives. In the same listing is a listing for Patrick Kinney in the Thomas Gaskin Company. [The Snyder County Pioneers book, by Dr. Charles A. Fisher, places Jacob’s service in the Simon Herrold party of Rangers as in 1780.] George Stock, who signed a letter for Jacob Kinney’s pension file ca 1832 - and for whom Jacob Kinney signed a letter at the same time - is also shown on this list.

There is a service card for Jacob “Keney” serving in Captain John Mull’s Company in 1779. The front and back of that card are posted below.

1778-1780. Northumberland County Tax Records are presented by surname group, and the records found cover a period in the 1780’s. Listed just below are all those that might be of Jacob (and a few other Kinny’s) by whatever spelling, listed by each year. Also listed are all those for John Aurant(d), and all those for Rau, Row, and Ray. The McKinney tax records are listed in the McKinney section at the end of this page. Presenting them together allows for the ability to compare the locations of all at each time - in case there are conclusions to be drawn by who was located where and when. A map of the early townships follows this list.

First Name Surname Year Town or Ward County

Jacob Ginny 1778-1780 Penn Northumberland

Jacob Kinny 1781 Penn Northumberland

Jacob Keene 1781 Buffalo * Northumberland

Jacob Keene 1782 Buffalo Northumberland

David Kinny 1786 Turbot Northumberland

Jacob Ginney 1786 Penn Northumberland

Peter Kinny 1786 Mahoning Northumberland

Jacob Kinny 1787 Penn Northumberland

David Kinny 1787 Chillisquaque Northumberland

Jacob Kinny 1788 Penn Northumberland

Peter Kinny 1788 Derry Northumberland

* Listed with John Aurand; John Aurand is where Jacob was listed in the 1781 tax records, and in other records listing that Jacob was a tenant of John Aurand. I have listed where John Aurand was shown in the tax records just below, so that where the Jacob entries were can be contrasted with where the John Aurand records were listed.

John Aurand 1778-1780 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurand 1778-1780 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurant 1781 Penn Northumberland

John Aurant 1781 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurant 1782 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurand 1785 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurand 1785 Turbot Northumberland

John Aurant 1786 Penn Northumberland

John Aurant 1786 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurant 1787 Penn Northumberland

John Aurant 1787 Buffalo Northumberland

John Aurant 1788 Penn Northumberland

John Aurant 1788 Buffalo Northumberland

John Henry Aurant 1788 Buffalo Northumberland

Rau - Row - Ray. For the same period of the tax records above are the tax records for the family of Jacob’s wife, Catherine Rau. The Ray’s are probably not connected, but are here. They are posted below.

George Ray Junior 1778-1780 Penn Northumberland

John Raw 1778-1780 Penn Northumberland

George Raw 1778-1780 Penn Northumberland

Martin Raw 1778-1780 Penn Northumberland

Martin Row 1781 Penn Northumberland

George Row 1781 Penn Northumberland

John Row 1781 Penn Northumberland

John Row 1781 Penn Northumberland

Deeter Row 1781 Mahoning Northumberland

Joseph Row 1781 Wyoming Northumberland

Martin Row 1781 Penn Northumberland

George Row 1782 Penn Northumberland

Joseph Roe 1785 White Deer Northumberland

Deiter Row 1785 Mahoning Northumberland

George Rau 1786 Penn Northumberland

Martin Rau 1786 Penn Northumberland

Martin Row 1786 Penn Northumberland

Dicter Row 1786 Mahanoy Northumberland

Peter Row 1786 Mahanoy Northumberland

John Row 1786 Penn Northumberland

George Row 1786 Penn Northumberland

Martin Row 1786 Penn Northumberland

Robt Ray 1786 White Deer Northumberland

Robt Ray 1786 White Deer Northumberland

Teeter Row 1787 Mahanoy Northumberland

John Row 1787 Penn Northumberland

George Row 1787 Penn Northumberland

Martin Row 1787 Penn Northumberland

Martin Row 1787 Penn Northumberland

John Ray 1787 Buffalo Northumberland

Widow Ray 1788 Augusta Northumberland

Robt Ray 1788 Turbot Northumberland

William Ray 1788 Bald Eagle Northumberland

George Row 1788 Penn Northumberland

Dieterich Row 1788 Mahanoy Northumberland

Sudwick Row 1788 Turbot Northumberland

Charles Fisher Snyder made a 1948 presentation on the Northumberland County militia. That presentation included the map below, which puts the tax listings above in context. An 1868 map of Union and Snyder Counties (Snyder was created in 1855), is shown below in the chronology of that time and shows what townships tell on what side of the county line between those two counties.

1778-1780. Included in the 1778-1780 records for Penns Township is Jacob Ginny. That record is posted below.

Also in 1778-1780, David McKinney, Esq’r. was listed in the Northumberland Tax Records in Augusta Township. NOTE: This is the first reference in the timeline to a McKinney, and there is a brief collection of McKinney items at the bottom of this page - including all references to a McKinney in Northumberland tax records from this one through the 1780’s, just like the Kinney, Aurant, and Row lists above - to put into context the McKinney references and how they fit in.

1780.  In the Annals of Buffalo Valley record, there is a listing for residents of Penn’s Township in 1780.  One is for “weaver Ginney”.  I have no idea if that is our Jacob.  The pages from “Annals” are shown below, and while “Ginney” is listed in the township, John Aurand is not.  

In this same year, George Row, father-in-law to Jacob, died.  There is a brief biography of him in the Snyder County Historical Society Bulletin article “Soldiers of 1776”: GEORGE ROW.  Born 1723.  His widow’s Pension Application states that ‘George Row enlisted in Battalion of Northumberland County, commanded by Col. Peter Hosterman, Esq. Was stationed at Foutz’s Mill in Buffaloe Valley said County.  July, 1780 was wounded by the Indians in defense of this place, a musket or rifle ball pierced his breast, dying within eight hours after he was wounded.  Was fifty-eight years of age.  His widow Mary Magdalena Row, is much in need of a pension.  Pension granted.’  Private in Capt. Michael Weaver’s Co. of Rangers on the Frontier for Northumberland County, also private in Lieut. Spees’ Co., Northumberland County Militia, June 1780.  Pa. Arch. 3rd series, Vol. 23, pp. 256-257-341-342 and 5th series, Vol. 4, p. 553, and Vol. 8, p. 680 (Raw, Rowe, and Rau).  Buried in Row’s Church Cemetery, Salem, east end, grave marked.” In the Snyder County Historical Society BULLETIN, Volume III, Number 6, beginning on p. 845 is a history of Salem, or Row’s Lutheran and Reformed Church.  The church was listed as organized in 1775.

George Row’s death was described in the “Annals” in the 1780 section, and is posted below:

The Find-A-Grave database has George Friederich Rau (Row, Rowe); Birth 1723 Baden-Baden, Stadtkreis Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Death Jul 1780 (aged 56–57) Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, USA; Burial Salem Lutheran Cemetery Salem, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, USA.

The entry has the following narrative: “Married Mary Magdalene, and came to America. Source: Irene Mast.

The Rau immigrants came from the Palatinate of Bavaria in Germany. These Rau's with their wives, or families, or singly, came to the colony of America fleeing the religious wars and persecution of Protestants by Catholics. Source: Rau, Row, Rowe Family in Pennsylvania, Elisabeth Imbody Adams.

A George Rau came to America in 1754 to Philadelphia per "Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808.

George Rau arrived in Philadelphia on the Ship Phoenix from Rotterdam on 1 Oct 1754. George Rau took the oath of allegiance in Philadelphia, then he and his wife Mary Magdalene and two infant sons, John and George, Jr. proceeded to Northumberland County of Pennsylvania. Source: Riegel/Metzer/Wallace/Carter Family Tree.

George took the oath of allegiance in Philadelphia and was granted a warrant of survey in Northumberland (now Snyder Co.) in 1774 and assessed there for the first time in 1776. He was killed while serving in the Northumberland Co. Militia. Source: One Big Family.

On 18 May 1774, he was granted a warrant of survey for 50 acres of land in Northumberland (now Snyder) County. He was assessed for the first time in Penn Twp. in 1776. It is believed that he became a resident on his land soon after the granting of the warrant and lived there until his death. This tract of land lay back (north) of the present Salem (Rau's) Church. His wife was named Mary Magdalene. George Jr. and John were their sons both Revolutionary soldiers. Source: Riegel/Metzer/Wallace/Carter Family Tree.

He laid claim to tracts of land, 100 acres applied for on August 6, 1755, and surveys made May 27, 1767, land known as Row's Land. On June 12, 1772, George had 50 acres in Penn's Township surveyed. One of the original land grants to Row's Land was surveyed and signed by the first Governor after Pennsylvania became a state (1787). Ruth Row Clutcher has the documents. On May 28, 1774, he was granted a warrant of survey for 50 acres of land in Northumberland (now Snyder) county. He was assessed for the first time in Penn Township in 1776. Source: Irene Mast.

George, Senior, served as a Private in Captain Michael Weaver's Company of the Northumberland County Militia and may also have served in Lt. Spee's party of Rangers. His widow's application for pension follows: 'George Row, Senior, enlisted in a Battalion of Northumberland County Militia, commanded by Col. Peter Hosterman. He was stationed at Fourtz (Focht's) Mill [In this and a previous reference, this mill is spelled four different ways] in the Buffalo Valley in July 1780 was wounded by the Indians in defense of this place. A musket ball pierced his breast and he died within five hours after being wounded. His widow Mary Magdalene Rowe is much in need of a pension.' The pension was granted. Source: Dr. Charles Adams, Snyder County Pioneers.”

The gravestone Inscription:

George Row
Born 1723
Killed by Indians
1780
"Der Ted Gewiss Ungewiss der Tag, Die Stunde Auch Nieman Wissen Mag Drum fuerchte"
(Translated as "Death cometh, Uncertain the day, The hour neither, No one knoweth of, Therefore fear.")

The grant of administration for George Row (sic) Senior is shown in Northumberland Wills-Adms Book 1, p. 18, dated in 1780. The grant is made to George Row, Junior and sureties are listed as Andrew Moor and George Conrad:

There were two other Rows listed in the Snyder County Annals listing for Revolutionary soldiers. One was John Row, who lived in Penn Township 1777-1778 and was a private in the Northumberland County militia. The second was Ludwig Low, who was a private in Captain John Clark’s Northumberland Associators in 1776 and was later a private in Robinson’s Rangers.

1781.  In the tax records for the County of Northumberland in 1781, Jacob Kinny is listed in Penns Township with no land, one cow and a tax of one cent.  He is not listed in Penns Township in the 1782 tax record. The tax records were contained in “The Proprietary Supply and State Tax Lists of Northumberland Co through 1787,” published by the Pennsylvania Archives in 1897 and digitized by Google in their book project. Below is the cover page, which can be referred back to from any other postings here, and the page of Penns Township records that contains Jacob Kinney. Peter Stock is shown in this township in these tax records in 1781 - but no George Stock. It is confusing that a Jacob was in two townships in this year’s tax records.

In the Annals of Buffalo Valley, Jacob Kinney is listed as a Penn’s Township resident in 1781.  Yet in the same year and reference, Jacob Keen is listed as a tenant of John Aurand in this year in Buffalo Township. continuing the confusion between the two references. [In the Penns Township reference from Annals, just below, the pdf version of this book cut off the right of the page.]

On the same page of “Annals” for 1781, is listed the residents for Buffalo Township, containing Jacob Keen - the tenant of John Aurand. The right side is cut off of this entry as well.

John Aurand is shown in the 1781 tax records for Buffalo Township. Jacob Keen is shown as a tenant. There are three different records - one which is for “uncultivated lands” - that contain them and each one is posted below. It is unclear what the differences are in the three different schedules. The first one at top states that Jacob Keen is a tenant of John Aurand’s with 180 acres. The second, below left, has Jacob Keen with 180 acres and a value of $360. The third, below right, is the schedule of uncultivated lands and shows John Aurand with 400 acres. It lists “adjoining Minch and Keen” in the column next to the initial information. The other significant fact here is that Jacob Keen is listed - even though many other compilations of records list Jacob Kinney as John Aurand’s tenant. It is also significant that “Jacob Kinny” is listed in this same year as a taxpayer in Penn’s Township. Were there two Jacobs? Was the same Jacob listed in two places? It is unclear.

Also in the 1781 section of Annals, posted below, is mentioned the death of Mrs. John Aurand, and that there was a burial ground at the mouth of Turtle Creek.

Also apparently in tax records there is a listing for David McKinny in Bald Eagle Township (which the list below indicates was in 1782), and one for Mordecai McKinney in an unclear township (the list indicates Muncy Township). The original record for David McKinny is posted below is shown for reference, but all the McKinney tax listings are summarized at the bottom of this web page.

1782. There is another listing for Jacob Keen in Buffalo Township in Northumberland County, posted below.

There is a listing in the 1782’s tax records in Bald Eagle Township for David McKinney, deceased.

1783-84.  In the tax records for Northumberland, John, Henry, and Jacob Aurand are listed in Buffaloe Township – but I have yet to find a listing for Jacob Kinney. In Augusta Township that year is David McKinney.

1785. In the tax records in August Township in Northumberland County is a listing for “Widow McKinney”, posted below, but part of the larger list of McKinney tax records listed in the McKinney section at the bottom of this page.

1786.  In Probate and Orphans Court Records of Snyder County, Pennsylvania 1772-1855” by Charles A. Fisher (and this appears to count a period when the future Snyder County was in either Northumberland or Union Counties).  There is an item from Orphans Court records dated September 3, 1786 for George “Row”, which states: “Mary Magdalene, widow.  Petitioned the court for a pension, stating that her husband was killed by the Indians at Fochts Hill in July, 1780, in a battle at that place.  Col. Peter Hosterman certified to the service and death of George.  She was granted a lump sum of eighteen pounds.  Later she again applied.”

In the 1786 Northumberland County tax records for Penns Township is a listing for Martin and George Rau. That listing is posted below.

In Northumberland Tax Records for 1786 is also a listing in Turbutt Township for David Kinney. In Mahoning Township in this year’s tax records is Peter Kinny.

In the 1786 Northumberland listings for Penns Township is also a listing for Jacob Ginny, which is posted below.

1787 – In one tax record, that appears undated, and is labeled “state tax”, Jacob Kinny is listed as having no land, one cow, and taxed at four cents.  This is from a printed record of the Pennsylvania archives, and listed as p. 738.  The index to this book places this in 1787. The original record is posted below, and indicates the same information, but lists Penns Township as the location of the tax record.

In Chillisquaque Township tax records - also in the 1787 year is David Kinny. In Potters Township this year is Ronimus and Adam Kieny.

1788 - Jacob Kinny is shown again in the Penns Township Northumberland County tax records in 1788, posted below. Just as in 1787, he is shown as having one cow - but this time he is listed with 100 acres of land.

1790 - In the 1790 census, Jacob Ginney (sic – Kinney) is shown in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania – with no township listed – with one male over and three under sixteen years of age and three females. If one of the males was Jacob, and one of the females was his wife - then there were four children, two boys and two girls. If this is the Jacob that had Martin and John as sons, that fits.

1793 - Abraham McKinney was listed in Northumberland tax records this year, unclear township, shown in the Snyder County Annals in a Settlers listing. There are a number of listings for Abraham, also listed as Abram and A., seeming to indicate he was also in elected office.

1796 – In the book Annals of Buffalo Valley, John Aurand is listed as an inhabitant of “East Buffalo” in this year. 

David Keney is listed in this place in this year as a farmer with a round log cabin. Yet in each of these townships all residents are listed, and there is no Jacob Kinney (or Ginney).

1799 – In a listing of “Early Assessment Records” of Northumberland County by Mary Belle Lontz is listed David Keney, laborer in the 1799 listing for West Buffalo Township.

Martin Kinney is shown in East Buffalo in this year, according to the Annals of Buffalo Valley, posted below:

1800. In early Pennsylvania, state censuses were taken every seven years. Even though there was an 1800 federal census, there was also an 1800 state census. The 1800 state census, posted below, shows Martin Kinney in Buffalo Township in Northumberland County. John, Martin, and Frederick Rau are shown in Penns Township in this same year’s state enumeration - with two of them shown as masons.

Given that Martin Kinney was shown in the 1800 Pennsylvania state census in Northumberland County, he should also be shown there in the U.S. Census of the same year - but he was not readily apparent in census indexes for that year. I have finally concluded he is likely shown below, with an ink spot over his last name, which has confused census indexers. Some of the same families shown above in the state census are near this entry in the federal census - in East Buffalo Township. The entry shows a man between ages twenty-six and forty-five and a woman between the ages of sixteen and twenty-six. Later records seem to indicate that Martin was born in 1776 and his wife ca 1778-1779. In 1800, he would have been a couple of years younger that the age range below, and the age range for her in this entry fits.

1807 - John Aurand, the owner of the land where Jacob Kinney was reported to have lived, died and left a will and probate. His death is noted in the 1807 section of the “Annals” below.

1808. John Aurand’s will was in Northumberland County Will Book Two, pp. 76-77. The will refers to his wife Catherine, mentions but does not name his children, and mentions tenements. There’s no mention of Jacob. The will is posted below.

1810 - Martin Kinney is shown in East Buffalo in Northumberland County in the 1810 census. Everyone whose surname begins with “K” in that township’s entry that year are posted below. There are census entries below for Martin in 1810, 1820 1830, 1840, and 1850 - with him dying in 1859. The 1800 listings were posted above. These listings show him in Northumberland County, then Union County, then Snyder County - generally with Martin being in the same place and the county boundaries changing around him.

1813 - The location where Jacob Kinney lived became part of Union County, as Union County was formed and included areas formerly included in Northumberland County.

1820 - Martin Kenny is shown in Penn Township Union County - with four people in the entry, a man and a woman each over the age of forty-five years, and two girls, one between the ages of ten and fifteen, and the other under the age of ten. The actual census entry is shown below:

1830. It appears that Martin Kinney is shown in the 1830 census in Washington Township, Union County, Pennsylvania. I write “appears” because the name is written so Martin is not totally clear, and the surname reads such as Rinny - and it is included in the “R” alphabetical section of the census. Yet it is clear that he was in this area for the three preceding censuses, and for two censuses and his burial after this year. On the ancestry.com census website, the entry is indexed as “Vartin Rinny”, although there has been at least one correction to “Martin Kinny”. The entry is posted below.

The entry for Martin shows one man between the ages of fifty and sixty; one woman between the ages of forty and fifty; two men and one woman between the ages of twenty and thirty; two men between the ages of fifteen and twenty; and one boy and one girl between the ages of ten and fifteen years of age. The ages of the oldest man and woman match the ages of Martin and his wife.

1832-34 – Jacob Kinney filed for a revolutionary war pension file in 1832 [S22861] from Union County Pennsylvania, was granted the pension, and appears to have died in the second quarter of 1834.  The pension file answers some questions – tying the 1832 Jacob to the Captain Clark military service in the Northumberland County area in 1776, indicating he was from New Jersey and came to Pennsylvania at a young age, was approximately eighty years old at the time of his application in 1832, and lived in Beaver Township at the time of his application in 1832. And an 1834 record on the pension states that Jacob had arrived sixty years before - roughly putting his arrival at 1774. 

But it leaves unanswered just as many questions – such as who his family was; which township he was living in at the time of his service; and where he lived between his revolutionary service and time of the application.

There were seventeen images in Jacob’s pension file: 1) The cover card; 2) A summary card: 3) A statement of Jacob’s in 1832 that included his birth and service (the top of which is shown at the beginning of the Jacob Kinney timeline on this web page); 4) A statement in support of the pension by John George Ozraim (?); 5) George Stock appears; 6) An 1833 statement by Jacob regarding his service (used at the top of this web page); 7) Joseph Stilewell attests to George Stock statement; 8) Cover of Jacob Kinney’s declaration; 9) Jacob Kinney, June 1833 statement of service; 10) 1832 attest to J. George Heim (?) clergyman; 11) Invalid cover card listing; 12) Paper of pension office re new cert; 13) Jacob Kinney September 1833 statement of certificate and money; 14) 1833 Abraham Frederick Attorney re pension; 15) Union County office attests to pension statement; 16) Lewis Cass Secretary of War Pension Amount; and 17) Jacob Kinney re pension July 1833.  The card showing his pension was dropped in the second quarter of 1834 is listed below – but was not part of the pension file.  All but the first of the seventeen items are posted below.

SPECIAL NOTE: There was one person involved in the pension - a clergyman John George and an unclear surname. In Jacob’s pension file I read it as Ozraim and Heim, in another place as Haim, and in George Stock’s pension as Grimes and Zaim. No matter how hard I try to decipher it, I have been unable to successfully do it. The reader will see this problem in the references on the pages just below. I have looked for other records - including census records - for a John George and one of these surnames, and I have yet to make a match.

The first item is the cover card, and the pension number from that card is listed as S22861 above. The second item is the summary card in the file, posted below.

The following pages of Jacob Kinney’s file, in part, respond to required pension questions. However, in his pension text - the questions are never listed. Just the responses are listed. George Stock was in the same unit as Jacob and also filed for a pension. His file actually lists the questions, so those pages are posted just below, so it is clear what questions Jacob was answering. George made a statement in Jacob’s pension for Jacob - and Jacob made a statement in George Stock’s pension for George. Jacob’s statements in George Stock’s pension follow the pages in Jacob’s pension file.

The top of item three is posted above at the beginning of the chronology about Jacob Kinney - because it describes his age and prior residence in New Jersey. Below is posted the entire item three, and a transcription follows.

A transcription of the text on the above item three: “Pennsylvania.  Union County.  On the twenty-fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court of Common Pleas, at New Berlin, in and for the County of Union, now sitting.  Jacob Kinney, a resident of Beaver Township, in the county of Union, and state of Pennsylvania aged about eighty years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his common oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.  Signed Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney – states that he entered the service of the United States under the command of the following named officers and served as hereafter stated – signed George Stock (?)

I was born in the State of New Jersey, and when young moved to Northumberland County, now Union Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and when about 23 years of age, I enlisted, under Capt. Clark, our Colonel’s name was Potter.  We started or marched from Penns Township, Union County [NOTE: Then Northumberland, not Union], for Reading, Pa. from there to Philadelphia, from there to Frankfort, from there to Bristol, from there to Trenton, New Jersey, from Trenton to Princeton, from there to Morristown, where we met Gen. Washington’s army – when we marched to the vicinity of Amboy, where we laid five weeks, and during that time had six skirmishes with the British.  There my term of enlistment expired – I was discharged and paid (?).  Not long after my return home I was cased (?) out to defend the settlers from the depredation of the Indians, our Captain’s name was Hockenberry.  He lived in (?) Northumberland county, Pa.  I cannot describe any particular places – our excursions were principally confined to this county – we sometimes extended our marches up the West branch of the Susquehanna as far as the big Island – we suffered much – I am now lame and old, and poor.  My lameness originated from the exposures in the Indian wars – I was out more than a year in the engagements. . .”[picks up at the top of page four]

NOTE: There’s a reference to a Captain Hockenberry above, and then below to Captian Hackenboom. There is a Captain Hawkins Boon - which is the closest name to this in any of the records of the Northumberland militia.

The image of page four in the pension file is posted below:

Page Four Transcription: A transcription of the text on the above page: “. . . During the time I lay at Amboy, New Jersey we were engaged in battle, the Americans retreated, I stood my ground and was among the last who retreated – I shot eleven of the enemy, and at the same time I was concealed in a low marshy place at length.  I had to retreat – when I started to run I received a ball through my clothes near my waist.”  Signed Jacob (X – his mark) Kinney.

The next section appears to be the answers to a number of questions that are not listed in the document, but seemed to be the standard questions asked of revolutionary war pensioners [Those questions are posted above from George Stock’s pension, and don’t seem to match answers numerically below, but do match the information provided.  It seems to explain why a clergyman’s statement is included, and why he makes a statement about relinquishment of claims.]:

“1. I do not recall (?) the year in which I was born. 

2. I never had a record of my age. 

3. 4. 5. I have answered in my declaration.

7. two unclear words and an apparent signature by George Stock.” 

“I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the ????? and declare that my name is not on any pension roll of any of the United States.

Sworn & subscribed the 24th day of Sept. 1832.  s/Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney.  Joseph Stilwell, ??? [Jos. Stilwell, Esq. is shown in the 1830 census with six people – in New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania.  The Find-A-Grave database shows Joseph Stilwell buried in New Berlin Cemetery, born 1778 and died August 22, 1856 in New Berlin.  He is shown in the 1850 census in New Berlin, a farmer born in Pennsylvania ca 1778.]

Mr. John George Fleim (the surname is totally unclear from the handwriting – I am trying to find the name of Clergymen in Union County in this period to see what might match - there is a note at the beginning of the section on Jacob’s pension about this clergyman and his unclear surname), a clergyman residing in the county of Union, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and George Stock resident in the same county and state, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jacob Kinney who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be about eighty years of age, that he is respected and he lived in the neighborhood where he reside, to have been a soldier of the revolution and states we concur in that opinion. /s/ J. George Fleir (?), George Stock.  Sworn & subscribed the 24th day of Sept. 1832.  Joseph Stilwell, Prob. (? - Title Unclear)

Page Five of Jacob Kinney’s revolutionary war pension file is a statement from George Stock, posted below, a transcription follows.

Item Five Transcription: Pennsylvania Union County.  Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Union, George Stock, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he and Jacob Kinney, was (sic) enlisted in one company, under the command of Capt. Clark.  We both enlisted in 1776 Union County – marched together to Reading, Pa., from there to Philadelphia, from there to Frankefort (?), from there to Bristol, Trenton N. J., Princeton, Morristown, Amboy and served three months together under the same officers ?. Sworn and Subscribed before the 19th day of March 1833.  /s/George Stock.  William Kepler.  Union County. 

I do certify that the above deponents, George Stock is a person of credibility and that his testimony is to be believed.  Witness by hand and done this March 20th, 1833.  /s/ William Kepler.  Seal.

Item six is a statement by Jacob Kinney, which is posted below. The bottom part of the statement with Jacob Kinney’s signature is the heading on this web page. A transcription of the page follows the image.

Page Six Transcription: Affidavit Supplementary to the Annexed Declaration of Jacob Kinney [Jacob’s name is over a crossed out name of George Stock], a Soldier of the revolution.

Pennsylvania.  Union County.  Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Union, Jacob Kinney, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith; that in the year 1776, he enlisted in Union county, Pa. [NOTE: it was in Northumberland County at the time, Union was not created from Northumberland until 1813.] in a company commanded by Capt. Clarke, for a tour of three months, and marched under his command to Reading Pa., from thence to Philadelphia, from thence to Frankfort, from thence to Bristol Co Trenton N. J. to Princeton, Morristown, and to Amboy where he was discharged, after having faithfully served out his tour of enlistment which was as above stated 3 months.

About 6 months after my return home, I was called out again in under Capt. Hockenboon (?), I was out at this time about 4 or 6 weeks.  From age and loss of memory I cannot give you further pertinences (?) than what I have already given in my original declaration.  But I am positive, and can swear with a clear conscience that I was out in the revolutionary war, engaged for my country more than one year.  I have no documentary evidence or living witness who can testify to my services other than to the 3 months enlistment, the affidavit of George Stock, which is hereto annexed.  Sworn & Subscribed before me this 20th of March 1833. William Kepler, J. P. /s/Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney

Union County.  I do certify that the above deponent, Jacob Kinney, is a person of credibility and that his testimony is to be believed.  Witness my hand and seal this 20th day of March, A. D. 1833.  /s/William Kepler, J. P. Seal

Item Seven is Joseph Kepler swearing to the statement of George Stock on April 1, 1833 in Union County. Item Eight is the cover sheet of the statement of Jacob Kinney. Item Nine is a statement of service by Jacob Kinney, dated June 29, 1833. That item is posted below and a transcription follows.

Item Nine Transcription: “Affidavit Supplementary to the Annexed Declaration of Jacob Kinney a Soldier of the revolution.

Pennsylvania.  Union County.  Personally appeared before me, the Undersigned A Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Jacob Kinney, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served three months as an enlisted soldier at Amboy in the State of New Jersey, under Capt. Clarke, under the command of General Washington in the year 1777.  He served 4 or 6 weeks in the Militia under Capt. Hackenboom.  This tour to the best of his recollection was up the west branch of the Susquehanna river, that he served 7 or 8 months in the Militia under the Different Captains that is under Capt. Michael Weaver, Capt. John Shaffer and Capt. John Snyder, the tours were principally up the west Branch of the Susquehanna River, Centre County, Pa. and in this County Union formerly Northumberland, and for such services I claim a pension.

/s/Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney.  Sworn and subscribed this 29th day of June A. D. 1833 before me.  Thos. Youngman, Justice of the Peace. 

State of Pennsylvania.  Union County.  That (?) I Joseph Stilwell, Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas, in and for said county, do hereby certify (?) that Thomas Youngman, whose insigme appears to the foregoing affidavit, is, and was, at the date thereof, a Justice of the peace, duly appointed and commissioned for the county aforesaid, and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given to his official ?? and that I believe the signatures to be his.  In witness whereof I have hereunto sets hand and seal of office, at New Berlin this 5th day of July 1833.  Joseph Stilwell. Prothy.

Item Ten: The swearing of various people that Jacob’s statement is of credibility. The page is posted below, and the transcription follows.

Item Ten Transcription: And the said courts do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant, was a revolutionary war soldier and served as he states, the court further certifies that it appears to them that it appears to them that J. George Hiam (? – this clergyman’s name was in previous documents in this file, this time is appears that the first letter of his surname was H, and that there’s an I and just four or five letters total in the name, this is clearer than the previous handwriting but it’s still unclear what the precise surname is) who has signed the certificate forwarding this is a clergyman resident in Union county; state aforesaid and that George Stock is also a resident in Union county, and state aforesaid, and is a creditable person and that their statement is entitled to credits (?).  Hugh Wilson (?) Adam Light, Joseph Stilwell, Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas, of Union county, do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Jacob Kinney, for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court the 24th day of Sept. 1832.  /s/Joseph Stilwell, Prot.

Item Eleven is the Invalid Cover Card listing, posted below.

Item Twelve is a brief paper from the pension office. Item Thirteen, posted below and transcribed below that, is a statement of Jacob Kinney made in September 1833.

Item Thirteen Transcription: Pennsylvania.  Union County.  On this 19th day of September A. D. 1833, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the peace for said county of Union, Personally appeared Jacob Kinney, who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the companies commanded by captains Captain Clarke, Captain (Capt. Is crossed out) Hockenboon (?), Capt. Weaver, Capt. Shaeffer [NOTE: John Shaffer was named in the church records about the birth of Jacob and Catherine’s son John in 1777] & Capt. John Snyder (unclear) at one time in a Regiment commanded by Col. Potter; and at another time, while in New Jersey, under the command of Gen. Washington, in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Pennsylvania, that he received a certificate, of that fact under the signature and seal of the secretary of War; which certificate, together with a power of attorney was placed into the hands of Samuel Kepler of New Berlin, Union county, and who drew the money out of the United States Bank at Philadelphia, and absconded with the money and certificate.  /s/Jacob Kinney.  Sworn & Subscribed to before me, the day and year aforesaid, Thos. Youngman. 

Union county, Pa.  On this 30th day of September 1833, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the peace for said county of Union, Personally appeared J. K. Honning (Konning?), who on his oath, declares that same time in the last of August or beginning of the present month, Jacob Kinney, the above deponent, employed him to write a power of attorney for him, empowering Samuel Kepler, of New Berlin, to receive in the United State Bank at Philadelphia, his said Jacob Kinney’s pension, and that the power of attorney together with the certificate was placed in said Kepler’s hands and that said Kepler absconded”

Item Fourteen picks up with the text from the end of Item Thirteen and is posted below:

Item Fourteen Transcription: (Picks up from item thirteen) and has not since returned and in all probability never will return.  /s/J. H. Horning (?).  Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid John Marley.

Union county, pa.  On this 30th day of September AD 1833, before me the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for said county of Union, Personally appeared Abraham Frederick, who on his oath, declares that some time in the last of August or beginning of the present month, he was in the city of Philadelphia, and in company with Samuel Kepler (?), above mentioned whom he frequently heard say that he had got a power of Attorney from H. H. Honning (?), from old Jacob Kinney, above mentioned, for drawing said Kinney’s pension, and that he knows said Kepler, draw the money and told the deponent so.  And at one time proposed to send back said Kinney’s Certificate with him (the present deponent, who lives in New Berlin, Union county and was in Philadelphia at that time with a canal board) but that the matter was subsequently forgot – he further declares that Samuel Kepler above mentioned has absconded and taken with him the certificate as well as the money belonging to Jacob Kinney, an old revolutionary soldier above mentioned. /s/Abm. Frederick  Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid.  John Maclay (?).

Item Fifteen attests to the previous pension statement, and is posted below.

Item Fifteen Transcription: Union County official attests to pension statement: “Union County Pa.  I Joseph L. Stilwell, Prothonatory of the courts of common pleas, in and for said county of Union, do hereby certify that Thomas Youngman and John Maclay, whose names appear to the foregoing depositions, are and were, at the dates thereof, Justices of the peace, duly appointed and commissions for the county aforesaid, and that full faith and credit is, and ought to be given to their official acts, and that I believe the signatures to be there.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, at New Berlin, the 30th day of Sept. 1833 – Joseph Stillwell, Prochy. 

Item Sixteen appears to be an addressed item regarding the pension, with the letter enclosed shown as the next item. 

Item Sixteen Transcription:  Item Sixteen appears to be an addressed item regarding the pension, with the letter enclosed shown as the next item.  It reads: “on public service.  P. O. ?? July 9, New Berlin, Pa.  July 12 rec.  Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, Washington city.  11 mos. 28 d’s.  $36.40.

Item Seventeen is the item enclosed.

Item Seventeen Transcription: Union county, Pa.  New Berlin, July 7, 1833 – Hon. Lewis Cass – I herewith forward the papers that have been sent back to me for re-amendment.  I have given all the particulars as near as I can recount them.  The precise length of time I served under the different Capts.  I mentioned in my last affidavit (?) I am unable to say.  But certain I am that including my term of enlistments I serviced, as least one year in the revolutionary war, and that in the most imminent and perilious (sic) times, in this part of the country.  With much respect your most obedient and humble servant.  /s/Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney

George Stock Pension File. Jacob Kinney gave statements twice in the George Stock pension file. As shown above, they are listed as serving together in a Pennsylvania unit - and George gave statements for Jacob in his pension file. The first one of two where Jacob gave a statement is Item #7 in George Stock’s pension file.

George Stock Pension File, Item Seven Transcription: W. G. George Grimes (this name was also unclear in the statement of Jacob Kinney in his own file - ?) Clergyman residing in the County of Union and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Jacob Kinney resident in the same county and state, hereby certify that we are . . . and  . . . with George Stock, as he has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 77 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.  /s/ J George Zaim (an entirely different spelling of the surname of the clergyman - ?) and Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney.  Swearing subscribed this 24th Sept 1832.

The second Jacob Kinney statement in the George Stock pension file was Item #14.

George Stock Pension File, Item Fourteen Transcription: Pennsylvania Union County.  Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Union, Jacob Kinney, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that (unclear few words) George Stock enlisted in the year 1776, in Union county Pa. in a company commanded by Capt. Clarke, and marched under said Capt. To Reading Pa. from there to Philadelphia from there to Frankfort, from there to Bristol, to Trenton, to Princeton, Morristown and to Amboy where we were discharged, said George Stock, having faithfully served out his tour of enlistment which was three months.  I cannot swear to any further services of said George Stock, but believe him to have been further engaged in the Revolutionary War.  /s/ Jacob (x – his mark) Kinney.  Sworn and subscribed before me the 20th day of March A. D. 1833 William Kepler, J. P.

Now that you have seen the connection between Jacob Kinney and George Stock - both in Jacob’s and George’s pension files - and in their listing together in militia records, there was a history of the Stock family in a series of 1938 newspaper articles in the Selinsgrove (Snyder County) newspaper. Posted below is the first set of those articles, which gives the Stock family history, gives a brief biography of George, and describes a particular incident with the family and ties them to this general area in this period. This article gives good context to George Stock. The article is divided into five images - one and two at the top; three and four next; and five at the bottom.

1833. In the Snyder County Annals section on Revolutionary Soldiers, there is a listing for Joseph Kinny, Pensioner, Union Co., private and corporal and sergeant, P. M. Feb. 2, 1833, 75 years.

1834. In a book on selected final pension payments for Revolutionary War veterans in Pennsylvania, Jacob Kinney is shown in Union County on April 29, 1834, former private, resident of this county for sixty years (which would have put his arrival ca 1774) and previously of New Jersey.  On May 6, 1834 John Bickel (signature) collected $36.40.  The pension appears to have been awarded in 1832.

I have obtained the index card for Jacob Kinney’s final pension payment, shown below.  It states that the Pension Act date was 1832, that the Agency of Payment was Philadelphia, and that the final payment was in the second quarter of 1834.

1840. Martin Kinney is shown in the 1840 census in Beaver Township, Union County, Pennsylvania. Martin’s entry shows a man between the ages of sixty and seventy; a woman between the ages of fifty and sixty; and a man and woman each between the ages of twenty and thirty. Jacob Kinney was shown in his 1832 pension application as living in Beaver Township.

1850. Martin Kinney and his family are shown in the 1850 census in Beaver Township, Union County, Pennsylvania in an entry taken on November 7, 1850. Shown is Martin Kinny, 74, a farmer, property valued at $1800, born in Pennsylvania; with Magdalena, 71; Leah Kinny, 39; and Henry Kinney, 30, all born in Pennslyvania. Also in the entry is Phoebe Ann Hoot, 28, born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Martin; and eight Hoot children, certainly the children of Phoebe - Mary A., 15; Henry, 14; Phillip, 11; Catherine A., 9; Louvena, 7; Eliza G., 6; Sarah, 4; and Lucy Ann, 2 - all born in Pennsylvania. Philip’s 1907 death certificate in Snyder County lists his parents as Peter Hoot and Phoebe Kinney.

1855. NOTE: The part of Union County where Jacob Kinney lived (which was Northumberland County until 1813) - became part of Snyder County in 1855. While Jacob never lived in Snyder County after it was created - he lived in the territory it included when he was alive. Jacob’s son Martin lived in Beaver Township - where he was shown in the Union County censuses of 1840 and 1850. He is shown below buried in Snyder County, where he died in 1859 - seeming to indicate he was in the same place but that same place was in Union County and then Snyder County once Snyder County was formed in 1855. A map of the two counties - from an 1868 atlas - is posted below and shows where the townships were in those counties at that time.

1859. Martin Kinney is shown in the Old Lutheran Cemetery in Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, born in 1780 and died in 1859. The tombstone photo is legible enough to read age 79 years, but I cannot read months and days. It appears there is some other writing, possibly in German. The entry is on the Find-A-Grave website, and the photo was taken and posted by Jane Hubbert, who gave permission for this use. It indicates that Martin was likely in the portion of the region that was divided into Snyder County in 1855. It’s significant that it was a Lutheran cemetery as well - indicating that ancestral connection. The birth year is not exactly right given other records.

The McKinneys in Northumberland County In the Early Period

Some researchers think that the Jacob Kinney detailed in the above records is not the ancestor of Nathaniel Kinney, but that the McKinney’s in Northumberland County during this period are a real possibility as the connection with Nathaniel. Maybe, over time, a DNA connection will be made to one or the other. Below are McKinney references that are about the families that came to Northumberland County in this period - and, significantly, include men by the name of Jacob and David.

First are the relevant pages from the 1953 “Descendants of Mordecai McKinney” book; then a listing from the McKinney Maze newsletter of 1982; and then a listing from the McKinney Project, which I accessed online in 2017, but does not appear to be online now. And then will be the early tax records for McKinneys and then listings for them in other records. First, the pages from the Mordecai McKinney book:

There was a biography of David McKinney in the 1891 Northumberland County History, on p. 450, posted below.

The Northumberland County tax records for McKinneys in this period are posted below:

Name Year Town or Ward County

David McKinney Esquire 1778-1780 Augusta Northumberland

David McKinney 1782 Bald Eagle Northumberland

Mordica McKinney 1782 Muncy Northumberland

David McKinney 1785 Augusta Northumberland

Abraham McKinney 1785 Augusta Northumberland

John McKiney 1786 Catawissa Northumberland

Rebecca McKinny 1786 Augusta Northumberland

John McKinny 1786 Pine Creek Northumberland

David McKinny 1786 Bald Eagle Northumberland

Wm McKinney 1787 Augusta Northumberland

Widow McKinny 1787 Augusta Northumberland

Widow McKinny 1788 Augusta Northumberland

John McKinny 1788 Pine Creek Northumberland

David Mc Kenny 1781 Bald Eagle Northumberland

Mordecai McKinny 1781 Muncy Northumberland

David McKinny 1781 Cumberland Northumberland

David McKenny 1781 Potter Northumberland

David McKenney 1782 Augusta Northumberland

David McKenney 1785 Augusta Northumberland

David McKenney 1785 Bald Eagle Northumberland

Widow Mc Kinny 1785 Augusta Northumberland

A listing of the David McKinney Family from the McKinney Project webpage that does not seem to still be up on the internet:

The David McKinney Family of Sunbury, Pennsylvania (part of The Mordecai McKinney Family of Somerset & Hunterdon County, New Jersey) - David McKinney was born 1725, Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey; died 13 Sep 1784, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; was buried Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. David married Rebecca Lane Abt 1761. Rebecca (daughter of Abraham Lane) was born Abt 1727; died Abt 1823. Children:

i. Abraham McKinney was born 12 Nov 1762, Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; died 13 Sep 1835, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; was buried Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

    ii. Maria McKinney was born 1764, Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; died 17 Apr 1848, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

  iii. Johannes McKinney was born 1765, Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

  iv. Isaac McKinney was born 1767, Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; died 11 Sep 1849, Centre County, Pennsylvania; was buried Jacksonville, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

    v. Sarah McKinney was born 24 Aug 1769, Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; died 22 Sep 1774, Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; was buried Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

  vi. James McKinney

vii. Jacob McKinney

viii. Elizabeth McKinney

ix. Rachel McKinney

From the McKinney Maze of September 1982:

WILLS & ADMINISTRATIONS OF NORTHUMBERLAND CO., PA, Fisher:

            - Mordecai McKinney was surety for David Thomas, 1804

    - Letter granted to Abraham McKinney by Philip Borell, dec'd. 1811

            - William McKinney, heir of Charles O'Hara, Milford Twp., Nov 20, 1789

The same McKinney Maze article refers to the Annals of Buffalo Valley:

Annals of Buffalo Valley, Linn -- Some additional notes: Most of the settlers left the valley for the fort at Sunbury in 1756 after Penn's Creek massacre. p. 99: Lt. Mordecai McKinney of Muncy Township was mentioned in an incident at Derr's Trading Post, July 4, 1777. David McKinney was a committee man, August 1776. Mordecai was also mentioned ( p 111, 114, 117) in the trial of Robert Robb, and was paid 1lb. 2sh 6 pence by Mr. Clay for expenses of Col. Murray's battalion, Jan 1777.

In 1778, most Jersey people returned to Jersey from Lycoming Co because of the Wyoming Valley Massacre. Both Robert Covenhoven and Albert Polhemus died at Northumberland leaving seven small children -- some of whom went to Wm. Thompson and some to Elias Younkton to be raised as Presbyterians. David McKinney was a representative in the assembly in 1780; James McKinney was mentioned as a 'single man'. 1781 surveys show Jacob Kinney and James McKinney in Penn's Township, White Deer. 1784 gives Abraham McKinney and Jacob Lamison in White Deer Township militia. David was an election inspector in 1782 and living across the Great Island on Indian land. In 1801, Abraham McKinney was county commissioner, and elected to Congress in 1806 and 1807. Abraham ran against James Laird for the Senate in 1808 and lost. Mordecai McKinney Jr. was Deputy Attorney General in 1818, and Jacob McKinney d 5 Feb 1861 (no age given).

Summary and Conclusion

Despite all the information on this page, it is hard to draw any strong conclusions about who might be Nathaniel Kinney’s family. There are a few clues in the information above:

1) Names. Nathaniel’s oldest son was named Jacob - his third oldest son was named David. There were no Martin’s in his family.

2) Ancestry. It appears from Nathaniel’s possible relative Martin Kinney in Frederick County, Maryland - and the family of his wife, the Sargents - that they were of German ancestry. That makes the connection with John Aurand, a German immigrant, a likely connection. I have not found a religious affiliation for the McKinney’s, but if they are not German, it is quite possible they are not relatives.

3) New Jersey. Two of Nathaniel’s children alive in 1880 list their father’s birth place as New Jersey. It appears both the McKinneys and Jacob Kinney were originally from New Jersey.

There are many unanswered questions from the information above:

1) Where was Jacob Kinney between the last entries in Northumberland County tax records in the late 1700’s, and his application for a revolutionary war pension in 1832.

2) What about the two Jacob Kinney’s that appear in the same year’s tax records. Does that suggest two Jacob Kinney’s in the same area at the same time?

Possible additional avenues of research:

1) If descendants of Martin Kinney can be found, then there can be a possible DNA match with a descendant of Nathaniel Kinney. Continually check on possible DNA links, because there could always be McKinneys and other lines that might connect.

2) In one item on the internet, there is a reference to the following publication: “Ancestors and Descendants of David McKinney of Hunterdon County, New Jersey and Northumberland County, Pennsylvania”. (n.d.). (n.p.): (n.p.). However, there are no further citations, not even an author. See if I can find this publication.

3) Row’s (Rau’s) Lutheran Church, where Jacob Kinney was a member - ties that Jacob to a German or Lutheran background - just as the Sargeants and Martin Kinney in Frederick County, Maryland. Look for further church records that might contain the McKinneys - and will help determine if they are a possible connection.

4) Continue to find out the actual name of the clergyman who signed the pension documents for both Jacob Kinney and George Stock. If the church he served can be identified, it will locate them and will also determine whether they were in a German Reformed Church in Union County.

5) In the Salt Lake City library, systematically go through the records of Northumberland, Union, and Snyder Counties and look for references to Kinney and McKinneys. Also look at inter-related names, like Rau and Stock to see if there are any additional clues.

6) There are still some names that appear in Jacob’s pension application - Hackenboom (?), and others - that should be followed up on to determine where they lived and whether anything can be gleaned from these connections.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate any advice, corrections, or additions.

John Laird - October 2022