McClenny Family History

	History

	The McClenny family began a long time ago we know not where, but rumor has it we came from Ireland and/or Scotland. Marvin Edward "Ted" McClenny (Newmarket, Ontario, Canada) received the following information from a genealogist in Ireland and shared it with us on August 18, 2011: "You told me that you had found an entry for a Matthew McClenny in Griffith's Valuation, year 1860, in the Parish of Shankill - Dock Ward and that your interest is in trying to trace the origin of your great-grandfather Samuel McClenny. The first official record you have found for Samuel is in the 1871 Canadian Census, which shows he was born in Ireland on 15 July 1830. As you know, McClenny is a very unusual name. Registration of Marriages in Ireland show a Fanny McLenny, daughter of Mathew McLenny marrying in Belfast Registration District in 1861. I searched on McClenny c1860 and the system presented this marriage to me. I felt this was reasonable as both names sound exactly the same. I inspected the marriage certificate in the General Register Office in Belfast: 1861 Volume 3 Page 135 Marriage solemnized in The Registrar's Office in the Town of Belfast, District of Belfast 17th May 1861 George Doran - 22 years - Bachelor - Occupation: Draper - Residence at time of marriage: New Lodge Road, Belfast - Father: George Doran, Teacher Married Fanny McLenny - 19 years - Spinster - Residence at time of marriage: New Lodge Road, Belfast - Father: Mathew McLenny - Servant Signed: George (X his mark) Doran Fanny (X her mark) McLenny Witnesses: Mathew (X his mark) McLenny Jane (X her mark) Kerr I had hoped that this marriage would lead us to a church, but it is a civil marriage, ie it did not take place in a church, but in the Registrar's Office and so provides no clues to the church attended by Fanny's family. While in the General Register Office, I looked for further McClenny marriages, searching c1865 this time, and found the following marriage: 1865 Volume 6 Page 258 The Parish Church in the Parish of Tullylish in the Co Down 30th June 1865 John McCleny - 21 years - Bachelor - Occupation: Hackler - Residence at time of marriage: Ballymacanallen - Father: William McCleny, Labourer Married Margaret Johnston - 19 years - Spinster - Residence at time of marriage: [illegible] - Father: Samuel Johnston, Mason Signed: John ((X his mark) McCleny Margaret (X her mark) Johnston Witnesses: Thomas (X his mark) McCleny James (X his mark) Johnston "The parish church" was the Anglican or Church of Ireland church. Ballymacanallen is a townland in the Parish of Tullylish in Co Down. Griffith's Valuation (1864) does not list a McCleny, or any name with a different spelling which might sound like that. I then turned to the Index of the Birth Registers. I searched a sample of years 1864 -1880 and found the following births: 1866 Volume 12 Page 192 Registration District of Londonderry, Sub District of Claudy, Co Londonderry Born on: 9th September 1866 Born at: Alla, Cumber Child: John Father: Neal McLenny Occ: Labourer Residence: Greenock Mother: Mary Anne McLenny, formerly Morris Informant: Mary Ann (X her mark) McLenny, Mother, Alla Alla is a townland in the Parish of Cumber Upper, in Co Londonderry. Greenock is in Scotland and I think this probably indicates that Neal was working there, as so many people in north and west Co Londonderry did. 1879 Volume 1 Page 675 Registration District of Larne, Co Antrim Born on: 1st April 1879 Born at: Townparks Larne Child: Thomas Father: Matthew McClenny, Occ: Pensioner from the 23rd Foot Residence: Townparks Larne Mother: Sarah McClenny, formerly Knox Informant: Matthew (X his mark) McClenny, Father, Townparks Larne 23rd Foot is the 23rd Regiment of Foot. Being a "Pensioner" indicates that Matthew sustained an injury of some kind. I also found a reference in the Birth Index to a Robert McClenny being born to a George McClenny and Eliza McClenny (nee Tyndall) in the Wexford Registration District (in the south of Ireland) in 1878. I cou;ld not inspect this birth certificate as Wexford is outside of modern day Northern Ireland. Matthew McClenny, Belfast I think you were interested in Matthew McClenny of Belfast, because this was the only instance of the name you had found in the Irish records, but returning to him, Griffith's Valuation in 1860 recorded him living in Belfast, Parish of Shankill, Dock Ward in Columbus Street. I searched the Belfast Street Directories for the closest years available. The 1858-59 Belfast Street Directory showed that Columbus Street had not yet been built. The 1863 Belfast Street Directory showed did not record a Matthew McClenny living in Columbus Street. His name did not appear in the alphabetical section covering the whole city in the 1858-59, 1863 or 1865 Directories. I searched the records for Belfast City Cemetery from 1869 to the present and found only one McClenny and one McLenny burial: Joseph McClenny, aged 11 or 12 years died on 7th May 1887 at the Workhouse, 8 Shankill Rd. He was buried in the public ground. Catherine McLenny aged 2 or 3 years died on 3rd September 1889. Last address 25 Tyne Street, Belfast. No deaths of these name spellings appear in the 1887 or 1889 Index to Civil Registration of Deaths. As you probably know, the only McClenny in the 1901 or 1911 Census of Ireland is in Bangor Co Down and states that she was born in Belfast. Name Variations When we find an unusual name, that is a fortunate thing in genealogical terms. It generally makes searching easier, because we can identify the family so easily in the records. The wide geographical spread of the name McClenny - with the variant spellings - in Ireland does not bear out the pattern in which we generally see an usual name and makes me wonder if it is a misspelling of a more common name. You will note that all of the certificates recorded above show that the McClenny/McCleny/McLenny involved signed X his/her mark and would not have been a position to argue about spelling. I believe that the most likely explanation is that these are all a mis-hearing of the name McElhenny/McElheny/McIlhinney. This name would have sounded very much the same as McClenny in the Ulster accent. It is most common in Co Donegal, but spread out through the north of Ireland and into the south. I don't know if you have considered this possibility before, but I do believe this is likely to be the case. Even if the name is common in the southern USA, I would still think it a real possibility that it could have been misheard by officials there after emigration from Ireland If your ancestor was Samuel McClenny (McElheny), then I would expect him to be a Protestant (because of the name Samuel) and that he, or his ancestors originated from Co Donegal. I do not think a search for a Samuel McClenny born in 1830 would be feasible without further evidence of location, even if you did take on board the name McElheny. Civil Registration of Births, Deaths and Catholic Marriages did not commence in Ireland until 1864, so there is on central index to consult. Protestant and non-religious marriages were subject to Civil Registration from 1845. You may not like this theory of mine, but I do feel that evidence suggests it and hope this has been of interest." This is the end of the report received from "Ted" McClenny. The Biography of Benjamin Clenney written by Zelma O'Neal, Hermon F. Clenney and Karen Short states... One account is that Clunie, Cluny or Clenney was taken from a place in Stormont, Scotland. Another authority claims the surname came from the Gallic "Mac Ciolla Choinnigh" which meant son of descendant of the followers of St Canice. This is not intended for any conclusive evidence, but it does seem to verify ... handed down by our great-grandfather, Alvie Hark Clenney. The Clenney's are a mixture of Scotch and Irish... if they are of any other nationality, I don't know it. Also from the same book, A John de Cleny is found as early as 1296 in Scotland and again in 1684. Both the name John and William is found among those early Clenneys in Scotland. These and several other Clenneys lived in Wigtownshire just across the North channel from Ireland where King James had induced thousands of Protestants from Scotland to settle. This county in Northern Ireland was called Ulster. Soon oppressive taxation, interference in their religion and education, and restriction in woolen trade started an unheard of exodus to America. The authors of Benjamin Clenney's biography adhered strictly to Clenny without the Mc before. Their first record of the Benjamin of their book was in Anson County, NC. As more records become available in printed form, more can be found. Those researchers apparently had not found records where he was in Johnston County, NC before moving to Anson. He was not immediately close to our James McClenny of the 1793 will, but there are suggestions in the records that he may have been a McClenny and some slight hints of possible connections of some sort between the two. The authors of that biography looked more toward a possible connection between Benjaman and the Clenny family found in Orange County, NC in late 1700's to early 1800's. The Orange County record shows that Samuel and William Clenny (Revolutionary War Records exist) came from Delaware before North Carolina. There was a Clenney in Delaware in 1674. Apparently a descendant of this person moved to North Carolina. There was an Abraham Clenny in Sussex County, DE in 1676. Pauline McClenny Wolf reports a member of her family found an article in a book from a school in Little Rock, AR and copied it - she has been unable to find the book or any further info on it. From that article: "Known to the Irish Heads in Washington, D.C." we find the following: Patrick McClenney (head of Agriculture & Husbandry) 1705-1754 s/o Kevin & Mary McClenney (former Mary Duncan of Wales) m Eileen Kelly of Dublin Issue: 1. John 2. Mary 3. Wellman 4. adopted son Marcus Alton Patrick was the eldest of 3 - brother Darby, sister Scarlet. He was killed in 1754. His grandsons were the first known of his clan to come to America in the 1800's. They settled in the Carolinas and then moved westward. Some McClenny's were known to have traveled to California over the Goodnight Trail with a wagon train in 1800's. On December 15, 1656, John MacLeny, was brought to the US as a headright by Nicolas Meriweather. A headright was a person given transport by the one of whom he was called "headright." It could be a wife, child, relative or someone who would promise a certain amount of labor to repay the individual, who pay their way to the new world. For each person transported, the Virginia company would give 50 acres of land. We do not know if he was a member of our family. He lived in James City County, the same county in which Jamestown was located, which was located on both sides of the James River in Virginia. In 1696, we believe William McClenny (name may have been MackClenny) came to Nansemond County, VA (now Suffolk County) as an English soldier. When the companies disbanded, he remained in Virginia. By 1704 he owned 200 acres of land in Nansemond County and it appears from the Vestry Book of the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, that he had two sons, James and John. The following information has been discovered in one place or another (most is referenced) but has not yet been assigned to specific individuals described in the various family branch files as we have been unable thus far to positively identify the following persons: From a family member note - no documentation. 1704 William Macklenny Nansemond County 200 acres James Mulleny Nansemond County 500 acres 1729 James McClenny was on the Perquiman, NC tax list From a family member note - no documentation. 1744 Thomas McClenny, Isle of Wight County, VA sold land The Nansemond County Vestry Book includes the following: 1747 William Clenny William MackClenny From a family member note - no documentation. 1747 James McClenny of Edgecombe, NC sold land in Isle of Wight county, VA 1750 James McClenny of Edgecombe, NC sold land in Isle of Wight county, VA The Nansemond County Vestry Book includes the following: 1752 William McClenny William McClenny 1755 William McClenny John McClenny 1759 William M.clenny From a family member note - no documentation. 1767 Thomas McClenny, Isle of Wight County, VA sold land He is suspected to be an ancestor of Michael McClenny, 1793 Isle of Wight. From a family member note - no documentation. 1770 John McClenny sold land in Chowan County, NC (?) The Nansemond County Vestry Book includes the following: 1772 William MacLeney John MacLeney The First Census of the United States in 1783 on page 56 lists: James McClenny, head of family, with 4 whites and 3 blacks John McClenny, head of family, with 6 whites and 3 blacks Thos McClenney, head of family, with 4 (whites and blacks) Mial McClenney, head of family, with 6 whites and 0 blacks) William McCleuney, head of family, with 10 whites and 8 blacks) Mrs. D.C. McClenny of Richmond, VA reported in October, 1963 that Nansemond County Land Tax Records show: 1783 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny 200 acres William McClenny 260 acres The Heads of Families - Virginia, 1784, Nansemond County, page 73 lists: McClenney, Mial with 7 white souls, 1 dwelling, 2 other dwellings McClenney, Thomas with 4 white souls, 1 dwelling McClenney, John with 6 white souls, 1 dwelling, 4 other dwellings McClenney, James with 5 white souls, 1 dwelling, 3 other dwellings McClenney, James with 9 white souls, 1 dwelling, 4 other dwellings McClenney, Zach with 3 white souls McClenney, William with 9 white souls The Nansemond County Vestry Book includes the following: 1785 James McClenny Mrs. D.C. McClenny of Richmond, VA reported in October, 1963 that Nansemond County Land Tax Records show: 1787 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny 200 acres William McClenny 260 acres Wm. McClenny, Jr. 400 acres from George Callis 1790 Census, pg 142 Johnston County, NC James McClenny Mrs. D.C. McClenny of Richmond, VA reported in October, 1963 that Nansemond County Land Tax Records show: 1794 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny 200 acres William McClenny 260 acres Willia McClenny 400 acres William McClenny 175 acres From a family member note - no documentation. 1794 James McClenny of Southampton County, VA bought land from Bracey Nansemond County Land Tax Records show: 1795 James McClenny 100 acres Alterations John McClenny, Sr to John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres John McClenny, Sr. 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres William McClenny, Sr. 260 acres William McClenny 575 acres 1795 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny, Sr. 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres Wm. McClenny, Sr. 260 acres Wm. McClenny 400 acres and 175 acres 1796 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres Wm. McClenny, Sr. 260 acres Wm. McClenny 400 acres and 175 acres 1797 James McClenny 100 acres John McClenny, Sr. 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres Wm. McClenny, Sr. 260 acres Wm. McClenny sold to Wme. E. Moon of NC 400 acres Wm. McClenny 175 acres 1803 James McClenny Estate 100 acres John McClenny, Sr. 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 100 acres William McClenny 260 acres William McClenny 175 acres 1804 James McClenny Estate 100 acres John McClenny, Jr. 200 acres John McClenny, Sr. 100 acres William McClenny, Sr. 260 acres William McClenny 175 acres 1805 Records remained the same 1806 Records remained the same 1807 Records remained the same 1809 James McClenny 130 acres John McClenny 270 acres William McClenny, Sr. 260 acres William McClenny 175 acres 1811 James McClenny 130 acres John McClenny, Jr. 130 acres William McClenny, Sr. 260 acres William McClenny 175 acres 1817 James McClenny 130 acres 1820 James McClenny 130 acres 1821 James McClenny 130 acres 1826 James McClenny Estate 130 acres James McClenny Estate as guardian to Wm. D. McClenny 130 acres 1828 Mary McClenny from James McClenny Estate 130 acres 1835 James M. McClenny from Miles Butler Estate 247 acres 1845 James McClenny 220 acres 10 miles west of the court house Mary McClenny 130 acres 1850 James M. McClenny 208 acres Mary McClenny 130 acres 1851 James M. McClenny 208 acres James M. McClenny from Mary McClenny Estate 130 acres The Nansemond County, VA Clerks Fee Book Index for 1789 - 1800 pgs 195 - 196 lists a number of McClennys. Some of the following family members were found on Family Tree Maker CDroms. The reference numbers are shown as FTMC (Family Tree Make CDrom) and the CDrom number. Some of the following family members were found on GRS CDroms which were obtained from Automated Archives, Inc. The reference numbers are shown as GRSCD###. McClenny, James 1790 NC Census, pg 142 FTMCD311 Johnston County, NC household ages range 01-04-03-00-00 McClenny, James 1790 NC Census, pg 31 FTMCD311 Perquimans County, NC household ages range 01-00-01-00-00 McClenny, Capt. James Court appt. processioners of the lands within the bounds of his company. Clerks' Fee Books 1774 & 1789-1800 compiled by Hugh Watson, Jr. Genealogical Society Hampton, VA 1978 1796, pg 468 McClenny vs Saml Butler Clerks' Fee Books 1774 & 1789-1800 compiled by Hugh Watson, Jr. Genealogical Society Hampton, VA 1978 1798, pg 619 McClenny & Deed to Mrs. Eliz King Clerks' Fee Books 1774 & 1789-1800 compiled by Hugh Watson, Jr. Genealogical Society Hampton, VA 1978 1799, pg 677 McClenny, James vs. Johnson McClenny, William 1800 Census, pg 775 FTMCD312 Johnson County, NC household ages range 12100-00001-01 McClenney, Charity married on 01/10/1804 GRSCD004 Hatcher, William Guilford County, NC McClenny, James 1810 Census - Nansemond County, VA White Males over 16 1 Negros over 12 4 # of Mules/Horses 4 # of Cattle 8 McClenny, James 1810 Land Tax Records of Nansemond County, VA 130 (page or acres ?) McClenny, John 1810 Census - Nansemond County, VA White Males over 16 1 Negros over 12 2 # of Mules/Horses 3 # of Cattle 9 1 gigg valued at $ 50 1 chest of drawers w/wo desk not of mahogany McClenny, John 1810 Land Tax Records of Nansemond County, VA 270 (page or acres ?) McClenny, Sr, John & 1810 Census - Nansemond County, VA McClenny, Zacariah White Males over 16 2 Negros over 12 3 # of Mules/Horses 3 # of Cattle 12 McClenny, Jonathan 1810 Census - Nansemond County, VA White Males over 16 1 Negros over 12 0 # of Mules/Horses 1 # of Cattle 3 McClenny, Samuel 1810 Census - Nansemond County, VA White Males of 16 1 Negros over 12 0 # of Mules/Horses 2 # of Cattle 4 McClenny, William 1810 Land Tax Records of Nansemond County, VA 260 (page or acres ?) McClenny, William M. 1810 Land Tax Records of Nansemond County, VA 175 (page or acres ?) McClenny, Charity married on 10/19/1814 GRSCD004 Runnels, John Chowan County, NC McClenny, Stephen 1820 Census, pg 178 FTMCD314 Hertford County, NC McClenny, William 1820 Census, pg 119 FTMCD314 New Port Parish Isle of Wight County, VA McClenny, James 1830 Census, pg 243 FTMCD315 McLansborough Precinct Hamilton County, IL McClenny, William 1830 Census, pg 267 FTMCD315 Isle of Wight County, VA McClenny, Stephen married on 07/16/1832 GRSCD229 (could this have been Stephen G. McClenny ?) Woodfin, Sarah M. Powhatan County, VA McClenney, William D. married on 02/27/1834 GRSCD229 Archer, Martha (Mrs.) Powhatan, VA ------------------------------------------------------------ The following comes from the "NANSEMOND CHRONICLES 1606-1800 Virginia Colony" by Mrs. Evelyn Hurff Cross, copyright 1973 Fire of 1837 On June 3, 1837 a fire broke out at a Cabinet Shop of Edward Arnold. The wind blew very high from the Southwest. Before 6 o'clock the most valuable and thickly populated portions of the town on both side of the street were laid in ashes, including the Court House and the Jail. The new Clerk's office was fireproofed and escaped the loss of its records. One hundred and thirty houses were burned. Mr. David Jordan, in ahumane and generous manner, took many in his mansion. Mr. and Mrs. McClenney took others in their home. Western Branch Baptist Church was begun under the guidance of Mr. Jesse McClenney in this decade. The Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia advertised this Society to those who wanted insurance against fire. The company prospered. The Clerke's Office was being operated by a boy 16 years of age, John T. Kilby, who served as a deputy. The Clerke was Mr. Littlepage of Hanover County who refused to moved to Nansemond. His creditors kept him there. He could have used the Poor Debtor's Law but preferred to reside in his own home. Mr. Kilby studied law and succeeded Mr. Littlepage as Clerke of the county court. Judge Lawrence Baker appointed the younger Joseph Prentis as Clerke of the Circuit and Superior Court of Law and Chancery. Joseph Prentis first resigned this Commission as Surveyor and Inspector of the Ports of Portsmouth and Suffolk. He had held this position for twenty-seven years. Then he accepted Judge Baker's appointment. Railroad Accident The Iron Horse soon lived up to its name. A Passenger train with a Party of 150 persons were returning up the road between 9 and 10 in the morning of August 11, 1837, when it came in contact with another train near the bridge of Richard F. Godwin. Three young ladies, Miss Eley of Isle of Wight, Miss Roberts of do, and Miss McClenney of Nansemond were instantly killed. Some 140 others were badly injured. McClenry, William 1840 Census, pg 007 FTMCD316 Isle of Wight County, VA Note: Last name spelling McClenney, Harriet married on 03/14/1848 GRSCD004 Jordan, Thomas Chowan County, NC McClenny, William 1850 Census, pg 181 FTMCD316 Eastern District Isle of Wight County, VA McClenny, James 1840 Census, pg 388 FTMCD316 Pike County, AL McClenny, James 1840 Census, pg FTMCD316 Cuivre Twp St. Charles County, MO McClenny, James 1840 Census, pg 090 FTMCD316 Anson County, NC McClenny, Robert 1840 Census, pg 077 FTMCD316 Enoch Twp Monroe County, OH McClenny, William 1840 Census, pg 287 FTMCD316 Tyngsborough Middlesex County, MA McClenny, Elizabeth 1850 Census, pg 310 FTMCD317 Nottaway Parish Southampton County, VA McClenny, Fanny 1850 Census, pg 188 FTMCD317 Nansemond County, VA McClenny, James 1850 Census, pg 303 FTMCD317 Nottaway Parish Southampton County, VA McClenny, John 1850 Census, pg 012 FTMCD317 Grasshopper Falls Twp 1860 Census, pg 012 FTMCD318 Jefferson County, KS McClenny, Mary 1850 Census, pg 383 FTMCD317 Grimes County, TX McClenny, William 1850 Census, pg 176 FTMCD317 Nansemond County, VA Additional information: OF F McClenny, William D.1850 Census, pg 129 FTMCD317 Nansemond County, VA McClenny, H.W. 1860 Census, pg 227 FTMCD318 Anderson PO Grimes County, TX McClenny, Henry 1860 Census, pg 578 FTMCD318 Edenton PO Chowan County, NC McClenny, S. 1860 Census, pg 027 FTMCD318 Ramah Montgomery County, AL McClenny, James M. 1860 Census, pg 536 FTMCD318 Suffolk, PO Suffolk County, VA McClenny, John 1860 Census, pg 527 FTMCD318 Suffolk PO Nansemond County, VA McClenny, M. 1860 Census, pg 629 FTMCD318 Edenton PO Chowan County, NC McClenny, Sally 1860 Census, pg 1022 FTMCD318 Westbrooks District No Sampson County, NC McClenny, Sarah A. 1860 Census, pg 1024 FTMCD318 Westbrooks District No Sampson County, NC McClenny, Thomas 1860 Census, pg 649 FTMCD318 Mackeys Ferry Washington County, NC McClenny, William 1870 Census, pg 152 FTMCD319 2 W. Norfolk Norfolk County, VA McClenny, S. 1870 Census, pg 537 FTMCD319 Sabine Pass PCT3 Jefferson County, TX McClenny, William 1870 Census, pg 371 FTMCD319 First Twp Chowan County, NC McClenny, James 1880 Census, pg 171 FTMCD320 E.D. 96 Tarrant County, TX McClenny, J.D. 1880 Census, pg 107 FTMCD320 E.D. 154 Erath County, TX Family members have moved all across the United States and into Canada. If there are any of us anywhere else, we do not know. We would like to know how to locate every family member - help us!