Scotch-Irish-L Archives

Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 2000-03 > 0952223273


From: "Dorothy Chance" <>
Subject: Re: Erskine College, SC (Broughshane, Ahoghill)
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 20:27:53 -0600


>Would you consider sharing with the list? Either the names of the books
>you reviewed there or info you gathered -- or both.

My pleasure!

In the Book Store at Erskine, I was introduced to _A Place Called Due West_
by Lowry Ware, published for the author by the R. L. Bryan Company in 1997.
A detailed history of the village of Due West by a professional historian
who still lives there. The lady in the bookstore (who was most gracious and
helped me find lodging for the night) said that Dr. Ware had just been in
the store and said that this is the book for folks who like reading history!
At the time, I failed to realize that she was speaking of its author!

On page 21, one of the early ministers of the congregation in the village of
Due West is described: "Peter McMullen was born in County Antrim about 1750
and educated at the University of Glasgow and the theological seminary of
the anti-Burger branch of the Secession church. He had a single pastorate
in Ireland, at Ahoghil where he served from 1781 to 1788. . . . Some
families of the congregation determined to emigrate, and they sailed on the
"Old Irish Volunteer' which after a voyage of twelve weeks reached
Charleston about the first of January of 1789..."

Early names mentioned include Miller, Rogers, Lindsay, Brownlee, McClain,
Martin, Webb, Tyler, Cowan, Haddon, Ellis, Dunn, Drake, Stevenson,
Seawright, Agnew, Murphy, Wallace, Hawthorn, Sharp, McKinney, McAdams, etc.
Of this list, only the Agnews and Stevensons came south from Pennsylvania,
all the others came directly from Ireland. The Cowans and the Dunns
reportedly came from McMullen's congregation at Ahoghil. Nearly all of
these families were related and most were Seceders in Ireland."

McCain Library on the Erskine campus yielded gold mines of information for
me including a catalogue of 1897-1898 listing my grandmother as a senior!
What a wonderful experience to hold it in my own hands!

Among the loose papers found for me by the archivist, Mrs. Edith Brawley
mailto: was a Moffatt letter from James S. Moffatt to
his grandson telling the family story. "Grandfather William Moffatt, with
our grandmother, nee Barbara Chesnut, left County Antrim, Ireland, in August
1772. Their church membership was at Brushane meeting house, Rev. John
Brown Dissenting minister then pastor. The Strongs, Simontons, Bonners,
Chesnuts, McDills, Browns, Mills with many others came over in the same
ship, landing at Charleston about the 10th of October, 1772." (All of these
names are in my own collection so I am eager to learn more of this ship and
its story!)

Anyone fortunate enough to be able to visit Due West and Erskine looking for
Scotch Irish footsteps will be received graciously and find their quest
gratified!

This thread: