Our goal is to use genetic genealogy to prove or disprove connections not found through traditional genealogical research and we have set these out under the Overview Page. 

Through Big Y 700 testing, we have identified two main Y-Haplogroups: 1a McCord branches of South Ayrshire and 1b McCord branching of Stewartstown and Cookstown in Northern Ireland. Respectively, the 1a group is defined by the Y-SNPs R-A223 and 1b by R-DF8, and both haplogroup are descending subclades of the R-M222 haplogroup that is primarily associated with male lines of Irish and Scottish descend, particularly in the north of Ireland. It has been discovered the DF85 Y-DNA haplogroup is primarily associated with McCord families, who lived in the Stewartstown and Cookstown districts of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

In the Project, there are a growing number of members with a family tradition traced to Stewartstown in County Tyrone, who are testing the Big Y and are positive for R-DF85 > S673 > R-FT137198 > BY25898 > BY18329.  If the Stewartstown tradition is to be accepted, there is a high probability, the BY18329 branch originated in the Isles of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland and if correct, this could lead to a significant break-through for the McCord Heritage in America, and help to redefine the two major SNP branches in Scotland, the R-A223 (see News Page)and F-DF85 haplogroups. In the Project Results Page, R-A223 is identified by the group number 1a and R-DF85 by the group number 1b. 

The McCords in the District of Stewartstown in County Tyrone

Family traditions, based mainly on McCord traditions preserved in America, narrate that the McCords of Stewartstown descend from John Duncan MacKorda aka McCord. This tradition has him brought to Ireland, when only a young child, some say after the battle of battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. In this style of tradition, he is said to have been son of James MacKorda, chief of the Clan MacKorda in the Highlands of Scotland, who was born in the Isles of Skye in 1660, married Mary “Sarah” MacDougall, and died at Killiecrankie in 1689. James is said to have been the son of John MacKorda and Mary Allison of the Isles of Skye.

No. 1: The McKorda family, a Scotch Highland clan, lived on the Island of Skye, near the northwest coast of Scotland until the latter part of the 17th century. James was the chieftain of the clan. His son John is said to have been born at Argle on that island. It goes on to say, it appears, however, that the MacKorda family was allied with the McDonalds and other Highland clans who were Jacobites, and supported the Stuarts in their efforts to regain the throne of England. At any rate, James McKorda fought under the Viscount of Dundee and with him was killed at the battle of Killiecrankie. It further states Jame's son John succeeded him as head of the clan and participated in the Jacobite Rising in 1715. At, or about, this time John died. Following the suppression of this rebellin, John's seven sons, John, David, William, Robert, Samuel, Benjamin and James, together with their kinsmen and friends fled across the Channel to North Ireland and settled in Tyrone County, near Stewartstown. It is reported that descendants of this family still live in that section and still are Presbyterians. 

[McChord, J. H.: The McChords of Kentucky (Louiville, 1941), p. 2-3]

No. 2: The McCord family settled early in [Winchester]county’s history, being founded in the spring of 1732, by James McCord, who was born in the highlands of Scotland in 1688. When only a year old, he was taken by his father to Ireland, settling in Stewartstown in County Tyrone, where he grew into manhood and married Sarah McCord, a cousin. When he emigrated to America, the couple settled at Scarsdale, Westchester, and he was the first Presbyterian elder in the county. He was a very strict member of the church and kept the Sabbath holy according to his believes, his conscience not even permitting the lighting of a fire on the Sabbath if it went out. He travelled all over the county, preaching on the Sabbath, as there was no regularly ordained minister. He died in 1759 and was buried at White Plains.  He four children, namely, John, Samuel and Mary, all born in Ireland, and Benjamin, who was born in Westchester County in 1741 and died in 1807. The last named was a captain in the British irregular service, and the battle of White Plains, during the Revolutionary war, was fought on his farm.

[Donovan, J. O.: Biographical History of Westchester County, New York, (Chicago, 1899), Vol. 1, p. 327]

No. 3: Four McCord brothers and one sister, all born near Stewartstown in County Tyrone, Ireland, emigrated to America; the names of the brothers were James (born in 1760), Samuel, John and Joseph McCord. James was married in Ireland and emigrated to America with his wife, Jane Curry, in 1783, and they settled on a farm near Liberty Corner, Somerset County in New Jersey, where he died in 1840, aged eighty years. Jane survived him by 21 years and died at the age of 101. Samuel married Miss McMurtry and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John married Mary Todd near Morristown and settled at Succasunna, New Jersey.  Joseph joined them a few years later, and settled at Morristown in New Jersey. He married twice, firstly to Chloe Wick (had oneson, Ebenezer), and secondly, Anna Till, and had by her fourteen children. 

[Armstrong, William C.: Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey (Baltimore, 1979), p. 471-476]

The reference to Argyle being in Skye is an error, Argyle is the name of a region and not a place-name on the Isles of Skye. Two Jacobite rebellions are mentioned and it is unclear if John MacKorda and his family definitely fled after the first in 1689 or the second in 1715. Unfortunately, there are very few contemporary records in Ulster and Scotland to collaborated the Stewartstown tradition about the family descending from John Duncan McKorda from the Isle of Skye.  

The earliest and most authentic reference to the McCords living on the manor of Stewartstown dates from the 20th January 1726, when George Conyngham of Springhill, Esquire, demised to Russell Pattison of Mullantain in parish of Donaghenry, Linen Draper, certain properties in the village of Coagh in 1726. A copy of this lease is preserved in a Memorial of Lease registered in Dublin. It mentions the name of John McCord, who with Alexander Campbell, rented six acres of land next to each other. Below is a copy of my abstract of the Memorial of Indented Lease dated 20th January, 1726. 

A Memorial of a lease indented bearing date and perfected the Twentieth day of January One Thousand Seven hundred twenty and six [1726] made between George Conyngham of Springhill County of Londonderry, Esquire of the one part and Russell Pattison of Mullentean in the County of Tyrone [Mullantain, parish of Donaghenry], Linnen Draper on the other part, whereby the said George Conyngham for the consideration therein mentioned did demise unto the said Russell Pattison all and whole one rood of land in the Town of Coagh between the dwelling house now possessed by John Vance and the meeting house, together with the six acres of land on the like measure now in the possession of John McCord and Alexander Campbel Contigious and lying close to the Road leasing from Coagh aforesaid to Ballinderry Together likewise with four acres of land of the like measure in the upper part of the Ten acres Park lying at the back of the said meeting house with all and Singular the Rights Members appendances and appurtenances whatsoever to the said Demised Premises belonging or in any wise appertaining lying and being in and near the said Town of Coagh in the manor of Castlestewart and County of Tyrone aforesaid reserving to the said George Conyngham his heirs and assigns all bogs, mosses, water etc. To have and to hold the said demised premise with the appurtences to Russell Pattison his heirs and assigns from the first day of November last past during the natural life and lives of Edward Pattison, Benjamin Pattison sons to the said Russell Pattison and John Pattison son of Benjamin Pattison brother of the said Russell Pattison and the survivors or survivor of them paying half yearly on every first day of May every first day of November by equal portions thereafter follows the fees and conditions of lease.  The said lease was witnessed by Hugh Sharp of Ballinderry and Michael Johnston of Little Bridge both in the County of Derry, Gents, and this memorial witnessed by the said Michael Johnstons and by Andrew Carmichael of Dungannon in the County of Tyrone, Commissioner for taking affidavits, and Michael Johnston gave oath before Stewart Blacker, Esq., and John Hamilton, Esq., both justices of the Peace at Dungannon in County Tyrone 4th day of October 1731 that he had witnessed the lease and memorial. The Memorial was registered 19th April 1732.

The Conyngham family, of Ayrshire origin, arrived in Ulster shortly after the Plantation of James I. Where they first settled is not clear from existing records but on the eve of the 1641 rebellion, they owned properties in the cities of Derry and Armagh (held land at Drumcrow and in the city of Armagh), as well as land in County Tyrone. Colonel William Conyngham (d. 1666) was one of Oliver Cromwell’s Commissioners in County Armagh.  In 1672 the lease of the Tyrone estate, at Mullanahoe [near Coagh] in the manor of Castle Stewart, was renewed, the original title deeds "having been lost or destroyed in the recent rebellion" in 1641. The recipient was Colonel William Conyngham. An indenture dated 23rd April, 1658, refers to him as a resident of Armagh in Co. Armagh. He bought the ‘town, village, hamlet, place, bailiboe or parcel of land called Ballydrum (Springhill) in the parish of Ardtrea’, an area of 350 acres, for the sum of £200 in 1653. 

The small town of Coagh lies in the civil parish of Tamlaght and barony of Dungannon in County of Tyrone, five miles east from of Cookstown. It owes existence to George Butle, son of David Butle and Anne Conygnham of Belfast, who inherited the Springhill estate from his uncle William Conygnham, who died in 1721; thereafter, he took the name George Butle Conyngham of Springhill.  After taking up residents at Springhill, George obtained a charter in 1728 from King George II, allowing him to host four market fairs in Coagh. He also built a market-house and school-house to support a school for local children. 

The Religious Census of 1766, an important genealogical source, lists the names of a number of McCords in the parishes of Artrea and Derrylorn in County Tyrone.  They appear to have been Presbyterian Dissenters, also described as being Protestant, and after their flight from Scotland and arrival in Ulster, seem to have finally settled in the Ardrea and Stewartstown area, probably through the kindness of William Conyngham, known as “Good Will”; he was heir to his father Colonel William Conyngham, the elder. 

Parish of Artrea 1766

James McCord, Ballynagarve, dissenter 

James McCord, Cloghog, dissenter

Barket McCorde, Lisnamorrow (Londonderry portion), dissenter

William McCorde, Lisnamorrow (Londonderry portion, dissenter 

Andrew McCorde, Enniskellen, dissenter  

James McCorde, Enniskillen, dissenter 

Thomas McCorde, Enniskillen, dissenter 

William McCorde, Enniskillen, dissenter 

Thomas McCorde, Lisnahall, dissenter 

William McCorde, Lisnahall, dissenter 

Parish of Derryloran 1766 

James McCord (1), Teressan, protestant

James McCord (2), Teressan, protestant 

John McCord, Teressan, protestant 

Ben McCord, Teressan, protestant 

Widow McCord, Teressan, protestant 

James McCord, Cookstown, protestant 

The Religious Census for the civil parish of Donaghenry is wanting and only names three people out of what must have been a large number of parishioners.  There are several early references to the McCords of Stewartstown in the Belfast Newsletter, which provide an interesting comparison with the names listed in the article on the Pioneer Families by William C. Armstrong, where four McCord brothers and one sister, all born near Stewartstown in County Tyrone, Ireland, emigrated to America; the names of the brothers were James (born in 1760), Samuel, John and Joseph McCord. According to this tradition, James was married in Ireland and emigrated to America with his wife, Jane Curry, in 1783 (probably 1784), and event that took place two years after the grain flax mill of James McCord of Leck, Stewartstown’s was malicious set alight by a fire and burned to the ground.

The Corn Mill of James McCord, Leck, Stewartstown 1780

"That on the Morning of the 9th Inst. some evil minded Person maliciously set fire to the Corn-mill of Leck, near Stewartstown, in the County Tyrone, and the Property of James Mc Cord, by which said Mill was consumed with all the Grain therein, together with a Flax Mill thereunto adjoining. Now in Order to bring the Perpetrators of said enormous Crime to Punishment, we whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do promise to pay the several sums of Names annexed, to the Person or Persons who shall within six calendar Months from the Date hereof, discover and prosecute to Conviction the Person or Persons guilty of the said Crime. Dated at Leck, this 16th Day of December, 1780".  

Subscribed by Rev. George Harris, Thos. Johnston, Robt. Magill, Wm. Magill, Jas. Johnston, Pat. McConnell, Thos. Seaton, John Rea, James Atkins, Thos. McCord, Wm McCrea, Thos. Harris, John McConchy, Jas. Cook, Jos. McCord, Robt. McMaster, Robt. Holmes, Robt. Moffitt, Robt. Wilson, Geo. Anderson, Francis Loundon, Thos. Dawson, Arch. Wining, And. Reynolds, Wm Davidson, Wm. Musgrove, Robt Read, J. Hamilton, John Collins, John Maffett and James Maffett. 

[Belfast Newsletter 29 December 1870 - 2 January 1781, p.3]

James McCord, probably of Stewartstown 1784

"Cattle Stolen. Whereas several Robberies have been lately committed in the neighbourhood of Stewartstown by some person or persons, who feloniously took and stole off the lands of Killoon, two Cows the property of Mrs. Henry, on Cow the property of John Junk of Ballyveeny, three sheep from Oliver Junk, two Heifers from John Wilson of Corglasson, which were taken out of his Cow-house, and one from Mrs. Mc Master with several others in said neighbourhood. 

Now we whose names are hereunto subscribed, do promise to pay the sums annexed to our respective names to any person or persons who will within twelve months from the date hereof, inform of and prosecute to conviction any one concerned in said Robberies.  And if any person will inform and convict their accomplice or accomplices, he or they shall not only entitled to the promised reward, but interest shall be made to procure his or their pardons. Given under our hands this 11th day of March, 1784".  

"James Caufield, Humphrey Bell, Edw. Hill, John Maxwell, Mary Henry, John Junk, Oliver Junk, John Wilson, Jane McMaster, Robt. Leckee, Sam. Park, John Moore, Samuel Park, junior, Sam. McRandles, Robt. Read, Robt. Robinson, Hugh Roney, Alex. Davidson, James Campbell, Wm. Wier, Robt. Robinson, Thos. Speer, David McNeely, James McCord, Oliver McMaster, Thos. Harris, Henry Watson, Thos. Junk, Pat. McConell and John Henry". Total sum of money £45 10s 0p. 

[Belfast Newsletter 16 to 19 March, 1784, p. 3]

Note: Killoon is Killoon, Ballyveeny and Corglasson are located in the parish of Ballyclog north of Stewartstown and east of Cookstown.  

Andrew McCord, merchant in Stewartstown 1790-91

Advert, the ship Cadiz, master Wm McKibben, bound for Charlestown, South Carolina, sailing from Belfast on 19 April, 1790, passengers to apply Alexander Mitchell, Ballymena, Thomas Davison, Broughshane, John Dickson, Cullybackey, Andrew McCord, Stewartstown, John Coulter, Killinchy.

[Belfast Newsletter 2-5 March, 1790, p. 3]

Advert, the ship Cleopatra, master Henry Geddis, bound for Philadelphia, America, sailing from Belfast on 15 May, 1791, passengers to apply Hugh Crawford, Thomas Nevin, Downpatrick, John Singleton, Armagh, John Turner, Dungannon, John Waite, Lurgan, Alexander Mitchell, Ballymena, Neal Kennedy, Ballymoney, James Black, Coleraine, Andrew McCord, Stewartstown, William Forsyth, Larne. 

[Belfast Newsletter,18-22 March, 1791, p.3]

The first notice in the Belfast Newsletter confirms at least one McCord family came from near Stewartstown and lived in the townland of Leck in 1780. Leck is located in the parish of Ballyclog and lies north of Stewartstown bounding the parish of Artrea, where the form McCorde is listed in the Religious Census of 1766. This list of names is highly indicative of McKorda, a variant form of McCorde, also found in early charters in Wigtownshire, Galloway. It begs the question, could the four McCord brothers who emigrated to America about 1783, all have come from the townland of Leck near Stewartstown?