Marty and Karla Grant
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Alexander Mackey (ca 1708-ca 1774) of Albemarle Co., VA
[Mackey Home] - [Table of Contents] - Alexander Mackey
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Note that the Mackey surname has several common variants such as: McKay, McKee, McKey, etc.
Alexander Mackey (Sr) *might* be my 6 times great grandfather. I think he’s the father of my ancestor Martha Mackey Grant (1750s-1850), but that isn’t proven.
Alexander Mackey’s birth date is unknown. His first public record, as far as I’ve found, was a court case dated 1746, so if he was at least 21 at that time, then born before ca 1725. However, his oldest son, Alexander Jr, is often cited as being born in 1726, so if that’s the case, then Alexander Sr would have to be born much earlier than ca 1725. If we assume Sr was at least 18 when Jr was born in 1726, then we can say Sr was born before ca 1708. The problem with this is that we don’t know for sure when Jr was born. 1726 might be *way* off.
I don’t know where Alexander was born though some of his children were born in Ireland, most likely in Ulster Province (Northern Ireland), though I can’t be more specific than that. It’s possible Alexander Sr was also born there too, though he could have been born in Scotland and went to Northern Ireland while young. We can only speculate due to lack of records.
I have not found the name of his wife, but they would have married prior to ca 1726, likely in Ireland. Due to the wide age range of their children, it’s entirely possible Alexander was married more than once.
I don’t know when they came to America, but they were in Albemarle Co., VA by 1746, perhaps coming through Pennsylvania before then.
On 13 Sep 1746 in Albemarle Co., VA court, a case of Alexander Mackey vs Henry Taylor and John Austin for debt was held. Neither defendant appeared. This same case came up a few more times in 1747 and 1748. (Albemarle Co., VA Order Book 1744-1748, p. 185.)
On 13 Mar 1746/47 in Albemarle Co., VA court, a case of Alexander Mackey vs Henry Taylor and John Austin for debt was held. Henry Taylor so a judgment was granted against him. This same case came up a few more times in 1748. (Albemarle Co., VA Order Book 1744-1748, p. 251.)
On 27 Sep 1747 a deed from Rebecka Burch to Alexander Mackey was proven in court by Rebecka Burch. (Albemarle Co., VA Order Book 1744-1748, p. 251.)
The above court record doesn’t say so, but this was for 297 acres, the same mentioned in the Mackey book. I didn’t find the actual deed.
On 13 May 1748 in Albemarle Co., VA court, the case of Alexander Mackey vs Henry Taylor and John Austin was held. The defendants failed to appear so an attachment was granted. (Albemarle Co., VA Order Book 1744-1748, p. 365.)
In Albemarle Co., VA court, 13 Aug 1748 Alexander McKey vs Henry Taylor & John Austin for debt was tried again. Austin failed to appear and was summarily ruled against. (Albemarle Co., VA Order Book 1744-1748, p. 407.)
In March 1748/49 Court in Albemarle County, an attachment was granted against the estate of William Matthews to satisfy a debt of 16 pounds due to Alexander Mackie. (Albemarle Co., VA Court Papers 1744-1783, transcribed, p. 6.)
In April 1754 Court, Alexander Mackey was mentioned in another court order to attach the estate of William Cannon.
Samuel Boyd, Alexander Mackey and Joel Davis witnessed an undated deed between John Barron? and Henry Wood. It was proven in September 1763 by Alexander Mackey. (Albemarle Co., VA Deed Book 3, pp. 339-341.)
On 23 Feb 1767, Alexander Mackey Sen and Alexander Mackey Junr and Gray Haggard witnessed a deed from Nathaniel Harlow of Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle Co., VA, to Samuel Boyd of St Anns Parish, Albemarle County. (Albemarle Co., VA Deed Book 4, pp. 440-441.)
On 15 Apr 1774, Alexander Mackey Senr of Fredericksville Parish for love, good will and affection to “my son” Joel Mackey, gave him 297 acres. There were no witnesses to the deed. Alexander Mackey acknowledged the deed himself in April court, 1774. (Albemarle Co., VA Deed Book 6, pp. 337-338)
The above deed (1774) is the last record I found for Alexander Mackey Sr. He may have died shortly after that, or left that county. Joel and Alexander Jr both went to North Carolina. Perhaps Alexander Sr did as well, though I have no records showing that. However, there are hints that maybe he was still alive, perhaps through 1784.
On 10 May 1777, Alexander Mackey Junr witnessed a deed in Rutherford Co., NC between Anna Terrell, Steven Willis and William Terrel of Louisa Co., VA. The deed is significant in that it establishes several relationships (all of these were relatives of Alexander Mackey’s wife Susanna Lewis). The deed mentioned Joel Terrell of Albemarle Co., deceased, late husband of Anna, left her certain property, and that she was about to marry Stephen Willis, this deed protected her inheritance (this is a “marriage contract,” an early version of the “pre-nuptial” agreement). With full consent of her intended husband, she deeded all that property to William Terrell of Louisa Co., VA (perhaps her son). This Anna was a sister to Susanna Lewis Mackey. (Rutherford Co., NC Deed Book 5, pp. 68-69.)
That Alexander was “Junr” on this document suggests his father was still living then.
On 13 Nov 1777 Alexander & Joel McKey of Albemarle Co., VA, made a deed to Menoah Clarkson for 150 pounds for three different parcels on branches of Ivy Creek containing 262 acres in total. “The course of which Except Twelve acres will appear by the Records of Albemarle Court, which twelve acres are bound as follows, by a new dividing line between the said Alexander & Joel McKey and the said Alexander McKey land.” Signed by Alexander Mackey Junr and Joel Mackey. Witnesses were John Lewis Junr, William Chenault and Reuben Lindsay. (Albemarle Co., VA Deed book 7, pp. 128-129.)
The above appears to be Alexander and Joel selling their father’s land. However, that Alexander signed as “Junr” again suggests Sr was still alive then.
There is a marriage in Albemarle dated 4 Aug 1781 between Alex. McKie and Millie Smith, daughter of Charles. This isn’t Alexander Jr, so could be it be Sr remarrying? It certainly could be, but was Sr still alive then or had another Alexander slipped into the county? Could this possibly be Alexander (III) a potential son of Alexander Jr? Perhaps, but I don’t have enough information to be sure.
My gut feeling tells me that this Alexander of 1781 and after is not our Alexander Sr, but I could be wrong.
There were no Mackey (or similar names) on the 1782 Personal Property Tax List for Albemarle Co., VA suggesting they’d all moved away or died before then. Charles Smith, father of Milly who married an Alexander Mackey in 1781, was in Albemarle on the 1782 tax list in the same district where many of the Mackey kin were residing.
On 21 Feb 1782, Alexander McKie of Albemarle, made a deed to George Smith of Orange Co.,VA, and Charles Smith and Martin Burrus of Albemarle, nine Negroes Alexander McKie purchased of William Duvall. Alexr McKie signed. Witnesses were John Dickerson and Ambrus Edwards. (Alexander Co., VA Deed Book 8, p. 3.)
On 24 May 1782 Alexander McKie of Augusta Co., VA, made a deed to the same parties as on 21 Feb 1782, for two slaves, same witnesses. This shows Alexander moved to Augusta Co., VA between February and May. (Albemarle Co., VA Deed Book 8, p. 4.)
A court order dated 2 Jun 1783 was addressed to the Sheriff of Botetourt Co., VA to attach the goods of Alexander McKie “late of Albemarle” at a suit of John Alphin. It appears he left Augusta after May 1782 and moved to Botetourt. I’m still not certain if this is our Alexander Sr or another man. Note that he consistently spells his name McKie, though that’s not necessarily a problem.
When did Alexander Mackey Sr die? If we assume he never left Albemarle, then between 1777 and 1782. However, he might have gone to North Carolina with his children and died there instead. There is a 1784 deed in Rutherford Co., NC wherein Alexander Junr sold land to Abraham Musick that he entered in 1778 (with no suffix in use then). That suggests that Sr was not only still alive in 1784, but also in North Carolina. OR, the use of “Junr” on that deed was simply a mistake. (See Jr’s page for more on that record.)
However, there is the matter of the Alexander McKie in Albemarle in 1781 and 1782 and in Augusta also in 1782, and Botetourt by 1783. Is that our Alexander? I tried to find more on him in those counties without much success. I did find several court records, but none that were helpful.
A check of the tax lists 1782-1790 in Augusta and Botetourt might be useful. A job for another time though. *****
No Will, probate or estate records has been found that proves all of Alexander Mackey’s children.
His sons Joel and Alexander (Jr) are proven by 1774 and 1777 deeds in Albemarle Co., VA, but so far I’ve found no primary evidence for any other children. There are candidates though, but the proof is slim.
It’s entirely possible Alexander had no other sons besides Alexander Jr and Joel, but he was bound to have had some daughters. One candidate is Mary Mackey (1752), wife of Lewis Musick. Another is my ancestor, Martha Mackey (1755/60-1850), wife of Andrew Grant.
Note that Mary and Martha are of similar age, and 20+ years younger than Alexander Jr. This strongly suggests they were via a second wife, or that they weren’t children of Alexander Sr at all, but grandchildren instead.
More on both of them below.
1. Alexander Mackey (Jr) (c1726-1793/96) m Susannah Lewis.
2. Joel Mackey (c1740/50-c1829) m Sarah Joyce 1772.
3. Mary Mackey (1752-aft 1782) m Lewis Musick before 1781.
4. Martha Mackey (1755/60-1850) m Andrew Grant 1788.
Alexander Mackey (Jr) was born ca 1726, presumably in Ireland. I don’t know the basis for that birth date, but he was probably born prior to ca 1737 if he was at least 21 when he appeared on his first public record in 1758.
Alexander Jr is a proven son of Alexander Sr per a 1777 deed in Albemarle Co., VA.
At some point, likely in the 1750's, Alexander Mackey married Susanna Lewis in Albemarle Co., VA. She was born ca 1726 in Hanover Co, VA, daughter of David Lewis and Anne Terrell. They moved to what is now Rutherford Co., NC ca 1777.
See their own page for additional information.
Joel Mackey was born before 1755 (perhaps long before), presumably in Ireland.
Joel is a proven child of Alexander Sr as named in deeds dated 1774 and 1777.
Joel Mackey married Sarah Joyce in 1772 in Guilford (now Rockingham) Co., NC. They went back to Virginia briefly, but then returned to Guilford, then to Surry Co., NC for a few years, then to Buncombe Co., NC settling near Brevard. This area became Henderson Co., NC in 1838 and Transylvania County in 1861.
Joel died before 1829 in Buncombe Co., NC (now Transylvania Co., NC).
See their own page for additional information.
Mary Mackey was probably born in either Ireland or Albemarle County, Virginia. Undocumented online trees have her birth as 15 Jun 1752. I don’t know what the source for that is, but if accurate, she’s likely from a 2nd marriage.
I have not yet seen any proof that Mary was a Mackey, nor that she was a child of Alexander Mackey Sr. This may be absolutely correct, but I’d like to know what the evidence is. She does fit circumstantially as she was associated with the same families, so there’s that.
In the book The Mackeys and Allied Families, by Beatrice Doughtie, 1957, the author writes on page 270:
The compiler has been able to prove three chn. of Alex. Mackey, Sr.
2. Joel Mackey went to N. C.
3. Alex. Mackey, Jr. m. Susannah Lewis & went to N. C.
4. Mary Mackey m Lewis Musick s. of Sarah (Lewis) & Abraham Musick.
Although she says she was able to “prove” three children, she never presented the proof for Mary, nor did she include anything else about her.
In The Genealogy of The Lewis Family in America ..., by Wm Terrell Lewis, 1893, the author includes a great deal about the Musick family as they were closely tied to the Lewis family. On p. 187, he listed Lewis Musick as a child of Sarah Lewis (d/o David) and Abraham Musick, and that Lewis married Mary Mackey. He included more on them but offered no proof that Mary was a Mackey, nor did he tie her to Alexander Mackey.
Several Revolutionary War Pension applications make reference to Cpt. Lewis Musick who served under Col. James Miller.
Mary Mackey married Lewis Musick ca 1780, probably in Rutherford Co., NC. Lewis was a son of Abraham Musick and Sarah Lewis.
On 10 May 1780, Lewis Musick made a land entry in Rutherford Co.,NC. In the warrant his name was spelled Lewoues Mousick. He entered 640 acres on the dividing ridge between Broad River and Green River on the south side of “Twin Briches.” The land was surveyed as 220 acres on 20 May 1780. Robert Young and James Potts were chain carriers. (Young was a son-in-law of Alexander Mackey Jr.) It was granted on 26 Nov 1789, well after his death. (North Carolina Land Grant # 464, File # 500.)
On the same date, 10 May 1780, Lewis Musick also made a land entry for 100 acres on the Reedy Fork on the south side of the fork of Broad River including the shoal and mouth of Twin Briches (or might say Turin Briches.) The land was surveyed on 20 May 1780. Robert Young and James Potts were chain carriers. (Young was a son-in-law of Alexander Mackey Jr.) It was also granted on 26 Nov 1789. (North Carolina Land Grant # 462, File # 498.)
Lewis Musick was accidentally shot and killed in 1782, or perhaps it wasn’t an accident. William Terrell Lewis recounted what happened in his Lewis book on page 190:
Lewis, son of Sarah and Abraham Musick, was born about 1750 in Virginia. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was a terror to the Tories; he killed, it is said, about sixty of them himself. He moved with his father from South Carolina, in 1773, to Rutherford county, North Carolina. After the close of the Revolutionary war, while fighting the Cherokee Indians, in company with several others on a scout, he shot and wounded an Indian as he was crawling down the bank of a creek. Lewis Musick dismounted and ran in pursuit of the wounded Indian, and as he crossed the stream and ascended the opposite bank one of his own men, by name of McDaniel, who had been a Tory during the war, mistook him, as he said, for the Indian and fired on him, the ball passing through his head and killing him. Colonel David Musick, his brother, was one of the men that was present, and after McDaniel shot his brother Lewis he (Colonel David) cocked his gun and swore he would kill him if he was the last man on earth, but McDaniel begged and implored him not to kill him as it was done through a mistake; the Colonel at length became reconciled and did not kill him, but the family believed to this day that McDaniel knew very well who he was shooting at. This incident occurred in Rutherford county, North Carolina.
In October 1782 Alexander Mackey (Mary’s brother) and Mary Musick were appointed Administrators of the estate of Lewis Musick of Rutherford Co., NC. James Miller and Thomas Rowland were security for the administrators. This was recorded in the Secretary of State Papers in the Probates section.
In Jan 1783 court, Alexander Mackey and Mary Musick, administrators of the estates of Lewis Musick and John Musick, deceased, returned the inventories of the said estates to court and requested sales of the estate be granted. Lewis Musick’s brother John Musick died the same year he did, a few months earlier. Alexander Mackey was his administrator, though this court record makes it appear Mary was also.
In Apr 1785 court, Alexander Mackey, administrator of the estates of John & Lewis Musick deceased, returned amount of sales on each estate. That Mary wasn’t named suggests she was either dead or had moved away by then.
I didn’t find Mary Mackey Musick on the 1790 census. She may have been residing with relatives, perhaps still in Rutherford Co., NC. I didn’t find her in 1800 either. By then, if living, she may have been in Kentucky.
From the Lewis book, page 191:
Lewis Musick married Mary Mackey and left one daughter, viz: ..., Jane, who married Charles Duncan and was living near Jeffersonville, Ky. She had children; her oldest son was by the name of ... Lewis Duncan.
It appears that perhaps Jane Musick (1781-1834) was raised by her uncle Jehoida Musick for he was the bondsman for her 1801 marriage to Charles Duncan in Bourbon Co., KY.
Did Mary Mackey Music die while Jane was still young? Or did she remarry? I don’t know the answers.
I checked the Bourbon Co., KY tax lists also to see when the Musick family arrived there and to see if Mary herself was ever listed, and to see if any Mackeys lived there. It appears Jehoida Musick arrived by ca 1792. Perhaps he had Mary Mackey Musick and Jane with him or they joined him later. We know Jehoida’s brother David Musick joined him in 1792 for a year according to his Revolutionary War Pension application. However, David doesn’t appear on the tax list, nor does Jehoida ever have more than one white male over 21 with him during that time period.
Bourbon Co., KY Tax Lists
1791 No Mackey or Musick.
1792 List 2: Jehoyday Musick
1792 List 3: John McKee
1793 List 1: Jehoida Musick
1794 No List.
1795 List 1: Jehoiday Musick
Ephraim Musick
1796 List 1: Jehoida Musick, 200a Green Cr
1796 List 3: Thomas McKay
Mary McKay
Hugh McKay
Joseph McKay
Hugh McKee
1797 List 1: Jehoida Musick
1797 List 2: John McKee
James McKee
1797 List 3: Mary McKay
Hugh McKee
1798 No List.
1799 List 1: Jehoidah Music
1799 List 2: James McKee
1800 List 2: Jno McKay
Danl McKay
1800 List 3: Jehoidah Music
1801 List 1: Jahida Musick
Ginny Musick, 1 slave, 2 horses
From the above we can see that Jane (“Ginny”) Musick first appeared on the 1801 tax list in her own name. She was 20 then, but the reason she was listed was because she had slaves and horses, both of which were taxable. The fact that it was in her name and not her mothers suggests that Mary Mackey Musick was dead before 1801.
Jane did not appear in 1802, though her uncle Jehoida was still listed. She apparently immediately went to Jefferson Co., KY after marrying Charles Duncan.
I don’t know who the McKay’s were that appeared in Bourbon in 1796. I don’t believe they are part of our family.
Charles Duncan never appeared on the Bourbon tax lists in the 1790s through 1801 but other Duncans were listed, perhaps related.
I checked the tax lists for Jefferson Co., KY from 1790 to 1801 to see if Charles Duncan, Mary Musick (or any other Musick) or any Mackeys appeared there. There were no Musick listings there during that period. Mary herself wouldn’t have been listed unless she had land or slaves or son 16 and up.
Charles Duncan first appeared there in 1799.
There was a Samuel Mackey there beginning 1794, no known relation.
Jefferson Co., KY Tax Lists 1790-1801
1790-1793 no Duncan, Musick or Mackey
1794 List 1: Henry Dunkin.
1794 List 2: Samuel McKey. (Duncan and Mackey were in different districts.)
1795 List 1: Henry Dunkin.
1795 List 2: Samuel McKey.
1796 List 1: Henry Duncan.
1796 List 2: Samuel Mackey.
1797 List 1: Henry Duncan.
1797 List 2: Samuel Mackey.
1798 No Tax List
1799 List 1: Henry Duncan.
1799 List 2: Charles —, 2 whites over 21.*
Samuel McKey.
1800 List 1: Henry Duncan, Esq.
John Mackee
Enos Mackey
John Mackey
Alexander Mackey.
1800 List 2: Charles Duncan, 200a of 3rd rate land on Fern Creek originally entered by John May, 2 white males over 21.
Samuel Mackey.
1801 List 1: Charles Duncan, 200a Fern Creek, 1 white male over 21.
Samuel Mackey.
1801 List 2: Henry Duncan,
James Duncan,
John McKie,
Enos McKie,
Alexander McKie.
** In 1799 the page is damaged in the “D” section obscuring the surnames. There is a Charles there, perhaps Charles Duncan? He has two white males over 21 which matches his 1800 entry.
I don’t know who the other Mackeys were in Jefferson in 1800 and 1801. They could be part of our Mackey family, especially seeing one is named Alexander.
The 1800 census is lost for Kentucky.
On 11 Oct 1801, Charles Duncan obtained a marriage bond in Bourbon Co., KY to marry Jenny Musick. Jehoida Musick (her uncle) was bondsman. Bourbon was several counties east of Jefferson, so I wonder if Charles and Jane knew each other prior to him moving there? The Duncans went back to Jefferson right after marriage.
I found Charles Duncan on the 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 censuses in Jefferson Co., KY.
Martha Mackey was born ca 1755/60 (per census analysis) in Ireland (per 1850 census), or possibly in Albemarle Co, VA.
I have no data proving she is a child of Alexander Mackey Sr, but she does fit circumstantially. One, she was a Mackey in Rutherford Co., NC where Alexander Jr lived, two, the bondsman for her marriage was Robert Young, a son-in-law of the aforementioned Alexander Jr. This clearly associates her with Alexander Jr, who was likely her older half brother. She was of proper age to be his daughter, but since he didn’t name her in his Will, she’s probably not his daughter.
There is an alternate explanation for Martha. What if she wasn’t a Mackey by birth, but a widow Mackey instead? Alexander Mackey (Jr) may have had a son named Alexander (III). However, since Alexander III wasn’t named in Alexander Jr’s Will, he may have died before then. What if Alexander III was Martha’s 1st husband? If they married in the 1780s (before 1788), then he died shortly after, that could explain some things. If they had children, then Alexander Jr probably would have mentioned those grandchildren in his Will, but since he didn’t, then perhaps Alexander III and Martha had no children together.
On 18 Dec 1788, Andrew Grant obtained a marriage bond in Rutherford Co., NC, with Robert Young as his bondsman. The bride-to-be was listed as Mashew McY, which has confounded many over the years. The published version of the marriages listed her as Mashew McGee which is definitely incorrect.
McY is short for McKay, i.e. Mackey. I’ve seen examples of other Mackeys signing their name as McY, which illustrates this usage. Thus, from the marriage bond we see she is a Mackey. Her given name “Mashew” is also odd, for all the other records we have for her is as “Martha.”
It’s been theorized that Mashew was Martha’s “Irish Name” but Mashew isn’t an Irish name as far as I’ve been able to determine. There is a very rare Mashew surname, but I don’t think there’s a connection to our Martha. I could be wrong. Mashew can also be a variation of Meshew, i.e. Mishoe, Minshew, etc., but usually as a surname, not a given name.
I’ve found no other examples of anyone being named Mashew in that era, so this is interesting. My best guess is that it’s simply a case of bad handwriting and should say Martha instead.
Robert Young, the bondsman for the above, was a son-in-law of Alexander Mackey Jr, being married to Susannah Mackey, thus showing further connection with the Mackey family.
On the 1790 census, Andrew Grant was just a few houses from Alexander Mackey and his son David Mackey. That, I believe, is the last record that shows any association with the Andrew Grant family and members of the Mackey family.
However, it wasn’t the last Grant - Mackey connection, for David Mackey (son of Alexander Jr) and Charles Grant, brother of Andrew, married Potts sisters and they all soon moved to Christian Co., KY together where they were associated.
See Andrew and Martha’s own page for more information.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Alexander Mackey Sr.
Revised: February 15, 2026
Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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