70. George⁵ McAtee Sr. (William⁴, William³, Edmund Charles², Patrick¹) was born in Montgomery Co. Maryland 1767. George died 1850 in Frederick Co. Maryland, at 83 years of age. His body was interred 1850 in Frederick Co. Maryland, St. Pauls Cemetary.

He married twice. He married Mary Monica Brawner in Montgomery Co. Maryland, 1789. Mary became the mother of Elizabeth McAtee in Maryland, June 4, 1790. Mary became the mother of Cloe Matilda McAtee in Maryland, 1791. Mary became the mother of Richard McAtee in Montgomery Co. Maryland, 1794. Mary became the mother of Lucy McAtee in Maryland, March 11, 1796. He married Mary Hardy in Charles Co. Maryland, March 2, 1799. Mary was born in Frederick County, Maryland 1770. Mary was the daughter of Solomon Hardy and Rachel Livers. Mary died 1849 in St. Louis, Missouri, at 79 years of age. At 31 years of age Mary became the mother of Henry McAtee in Oakridge, OR, 1801. At 37 years of age Mary became the mother of Harry McAtee 1807. At 38 years of age Mary became the mother of George McAtee Jr in Montgomery Co. Maryland, January 9, 1809. At 40 years of age Mary became the mother of John L. McAtee in Montgomery Co. Maryland, July 7, 1810. At 41 years of age Mary became the mother of Benjamin Benedict McAtee in Franklin County, Kentucky, March 1, 1812. At 42 years of age Mary became the mother of Mary Jane McAtee 1812. At 44 years of age Mary became the mother of Samuel Wade McAtee in Scotts County, Kentucky, September 5, 1814.

At 22 years of age George became the father of Elizabeth McAtee in Maryland, June 4, 1790. At 24 years of age George became the father of Cloe Matilda McAtee in Maryland, 1791. At 27 years of age George became the father of Richard McAtee in Montgomery Co. Maryland, 1794. At 28 years of age George became the father of Lucy McAtee in Maryland, March 11, 1796. At 34 years of age George became the father of Henry McAtee in Oakridge, OR, 1801. At 40 years of age George became the father of Harry McAtee 1807. At 41 years of age George became the father of George McAtee Jr in Montgomery Co. Maryland, January 9, 1809. At 43 years of age George became the father of John L. McAtee in Montgomery Co. Maryland, July 7, 1810. At 44 years of age George became the father of Benjamin Benedict McAtee in Franklin County, Kentucky, March 1, 1812. At 45 years of age George became the father of Mary Jane McAtee 1812. At 47 years of age George became the father of Samuel Wade McAtee in Scotts County, Kentucky, September 5, 1814. George was listed as the head of a family on the 1850 Census in Maryland. The information given in the 1850 census states that George McAtee was born in Maryland and was 83 years of age.

This information was supplied to Megan Quillen on June 26, 1998 by Bob and Judy Nelson:

This information was found in Side-lights on Maryland History. It states that in 1777, George McAtee was a sargeant in Captain William McPherson's Company of Charles County Militia,-Also included in this company are James McAtee, William McAtee, Henry McAtee and John McAtee. Records also show that Edmond McAtee was a private in Captain William Winter's Company 26th Battalion, Charles County Militia in 1777. In 1777, Henry McAtee of James, was a private in Captain Samuel Smallwood's Company 26th Battalion, Charles County Militia. In Muster Rolls of the Montgomery County commanded by Colonel John Murdoch, the names of Samuel Macketee and Charles McAtee, privates in the 1st company commanded by Captain Aaron Harris. Samuel Macketee, in class 4, private in Captain William Baily's Company in the Lower Battalion Montgomery County Militia. An exact list of free Male Inhabitants of Montgomery County from the age of 16 to 50 years - distributed into Companies and Battalions of the Regular Militia as manuscripts are at the Maryland Historical Society. Since only one George McAtee, Head of Family, appeared in either the 1790 and 1800 Censuses of Maryland, and both times in Frederick County, a comparison of the ages and sex being given by male and female age groups, the number of the member and sex of the known children of George McAtee last of Ralls County Missouri,fit to a fair degree, the George McAtee of the Census Report and is tentatively approved as our ancestor (as per William Priest 1972).

Several of the sons and daughters are listed as born in Maryland, as shown in the later censuses in the various states in which they lived. The eldest of which we have dates is Lucinda, born in Maryland, March 11, 1796, who married Thomas Frasier and died in Ralls County, Missouri, December 11, 1872. The last of several children born in Maryland was George, Jr., born January 9, 1809. Next was John L., born July 7, 1810, but whether in Maryland or Kentucky is not yet known.

George McAtee Sr. did not appear in the 1810 Census of Maryland. He had probably left for Scott County, Kentucky, by the time the census was taken. The census records of Scott County in 1810 were destroyed by fire. An equivalent constructed from burned and damaged tax records is the only existing record of those early inhabitants of the county.

Excerpted from the county records are the following:

George McAtee first listed as a tax payer in 1814. He was taxed for three horses and two slaves. George McAtee, Deed Book F, Scott County, Kentucky, tax list in 1820--sold or morgaged livestock to Stephen Thomason (Chomason). Witnesses were John L. McAtee and Henry McAtee. A Stephan Chomason married Verlinda McAtee, possibly the daughter of George McAtee. They are found in Ralls County, Missouri, in 1839.

Richard McAtee appeared on the Scott County, Kentucky, tax list in 1820, taxed for one horse.

George Sr.'s wife Mary Hardy had died in 1849 in St. Louis, where she was helping to tend the sick. There had been an outbreak of cholera, but we do not know if she died of cholera or what took her life.

About 1827, George Sr. moved to Jefferson County, Kentucky, where he is said to have been associated with his son, George, in the butcher business, going on to Ralls County, Missouri, where some of the relatives had lived since 1832.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Henry McAtee, living in Schuyler County, Fabius Township, Missouri, sold out and moved into the central part of the state to prevent his slaves from escaping into nearby Iowa and to freedom.

The following is a letter written by George McAtee Sr., October 29, 1849, Post Office, Madisonville, Missouri, to his son George McAtee, Esq., who was at that time still in Louisville, Kentucky. One source says George Jr. moved to Missouri shortly after this letter was sent:

"Dear George,

Elizabeth and I have undertaken the task of communicating a few lines to you which I consider much of a task altho I feel equal to the task. Had we received your letter in due time we could have conveyed as much news to you as we now can. It lay in the post office some two or three months before we knew it. We were all in good health thank God. Many things have occured since you were here which we will endeavor to tell you so. Doctor Ned is married, more of that after a while. Ayers Taylor was to see us about the middle of June. They reached Davis County Iowa early in May. They intended coming down to see us but he got one of his horses crippled, which prevented their coming. Taylor came down afoot, earning something by various things which has been a considerable object with him. He was here the latter part of June. He said he would fetch his family down this fall. We received a letter from Benedict dated in September which gave us much satisfaction. He tells us they are all well, and what they are doing. He says he has no late news from you. He leaves us to conjecture whether he has heard from you since you left there or not. Hellen has a fine son which she calls by its two grandfathers. [George McAtee and Henry Bufford] Sammuel has sold his place and was about moving to the county seat [Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa] to fill the sheriffs place to which he was elected August last. He sold for seven hundred dollars. Henry is improving a place near the one he sold to you. Taylor tells me he paid one hundred dollars beside the wagon and team. I always thought Henry's place worth a good deal more than that. Reverend Mr. Cusack says the improvement on Henry' place is worth five hundred dollars. Benedict tells us Mary Jane and Taylor will be down this fall tho it will be late as Mary would be confined in September. Ben thinks he can pay for his place by this fall. If so he is settled for life. He says he thinks he will come to see us this winter. Now for Doc. Ned [George E. Frazer]. He was married the seventh of June. Elizabeth and Thomas went to the wedding. The day following they returned with a company of fifteen or twenty. He requested his mother to give him an infair dinner, and to invite the neighbors around. Accordingly there were preparations made for about two hundred persons. The houses were small, there were benches in the yard for convenience. They enjoyed themselves very well. They got through eating in the afternoon. As night approached they did disperse to about twenty who breakfasted with us next morning. About ten o' clock the premises were clear. I was glad to see Lucy with the children well and in good spirits, each one pleased with the parts thay had acted in the play. I was not unmindful of myself. I had taken a seat in the living room and called around me five or six of my female friends as sort of a guard. I always had more dependance in my female friends. They are more thoughtful. They anticipate our wants and wishes and act accordingly. John Randolph says they are the salt of the earth. I say more! They are the sugar of the earth and often sweeten our most bitter pills. We will now bring to a close as we write under many disadvantages. Could I write myself I would fill you up a sheet as large as a blanket, but we must content ourselves with the little I have written. When we write again we will try and write a more lengthy and more satisfactory letter. When you move, if you would strike the Mississippi above Hannibal, you must give us a call and not lengthen the road much. When you write again you must tell us of the deaths of our acquaintances. We heard of the death of Mrs. Nancy Tarleton, and when we hear from you we will hear more of the deaths of our acquaintances as to the ravages of the cholera were so great. Mrs. Mary Hardy died in St. Louis with the cholera*. She attended the sick as long as she was able. Lucy and Betsy and children all join with me in love and well wishes to you all. You must write as soon as you can. Now and ever, you most affectionate father,

George McAtee

P.S.

Dear Uncle: If I had room I would write a few lines to you though I only expect to start to California next Thursday week and would be glad if you could be here to see me take leave. I expect to find the road smooth and easy. Your most affectionate niece, E.R.F."

(E.R.F. was Elizabeth Frazer, granddaughter of George Sr. The 1850 Census listed George as living with his daughter, Lucy Frazer, and that he was blind and deaf. On November 1, 1849, Elizabeth Frazer married Lewis Coonts. The 1850 Census listed Lewis Coonts as "gone to the mines.")

*On June 26, 1832, the Cholera Epidemic reached America in New York City carried by an Irish immigrant worker. The Cholera epidemic had started in England and had been roaming through Europe since 1831. Americans had been well warned of the imposing danger and committees were formed before it hit American soil to discuss the best course of action when it arrived. Many New Yorkers tried to leave the city to get out of the cholera path, but it was difficult. Many Rhode Islanders were determined to keep cholera out of their state and fired upon those traveling across the Long Island Sound. Some did make it out though for the cholera soon reached New Orleans and St. Louis where Mary Hardy perished tending the sick. In New Orleans, cholera claimed more than 5,000 lives. The unlucky victims of cholera were described as "lips blue, the face haggard, the eyes sunk, skin dry, extremities cold, the limbs contracted and crumpled as if by fire, speaking in whispers, violent vomiting and purging, cramps of the calves of the legs and complete prostration of strength." At this time there is satisfactory treatment available using antibiotics and blood transfusions, and a vaccine for prevention. But there wasn't anything to treat the patients during the Cholera outbreak in 1832, and doctors were reduced to trying out several uneffective procedures and "medicines" such as large doses of calomel (a mercury compound normally used as a purgative), large doses of castor oil, ammonia, arsenic, phosphorus, rhubarb, opium, electric shock treatments and the application of red-hot irons to various parts of the body.

The above letter was found in the possession of Mrs. Reva Nichols, a great granddaughter of George McAtee Sr. and granddaughter of George Jr., and is important in that it proved the relationship between George Sr. and his sons and daughters (George, Henry, Benjamin, Sammuel and Lucy Frazer and Mary Jane Taylor).

Recently (1972) a descendant of Benjamin Benedict McAtee, Edgar B. Grass of Russell, Kansas, provided an important link in the McAtee line by sending to S.W. Priest a Xerox copy of a letter written by another son of George Sr. to his brother Benjamin Benedict in which letter mention is made of still another son, Richard McAtee, living in Kentucky. The letter follows:

"May 12, 1893

Dear Brother:

Not hearing from you for a time I thought I would write to know if you was among the living. I believe you wrote last. I have got so I hate to do anything but sleep and eat. I am Living with my son, paying him board sometimes overpaying, sometimes not paying. My health is tolerable good for an old man, I have rheumatism in rainy weather. It has rained all this spring so far as yet people are backwards with their crop. I promised to send you my photograph but I am waiting to get better looking. I got uglier instead so will send it sometime this summer. My family is composed of one son and nine grandchildren. They have enough to eat. All of our old kinfolks is dead that you would know so the young you are not interested in. Brother Dick's children and grandchildren is all right at this time. It appears to me that you have a good many storms in your country [Kansas] this season. I want you to write soon and tell me all about all our kinfolks, who is living and who is dead. If I was clear of the rheumatism I would come out to see you all, but if I travel any more my legs gives out. I will write oftener you must too,

Yours with good wishes,

John L. McAtee"

This letter was addressed to Ben McAtee but he never received it. He died March 21, 1893. His brother John was living in Grant, Boon County, Kentucky at that time.

Inquiry at the Grant, Kentucky post office failed to turn up any McAtees still living in that area but the D.A.R. Cemetery Records, Vol. I, Page 51 for Boon County, Kentucky, location not specified, shows the following:

John L. McAtee B July 7, 1810 D Jan. 6, 1900 James L. McAtee B Aug. 25, 1843 D Jan. 27, 1914 Nancy J. McAtee B Feb. 4, 1847 D Feb. 20, 1924 Coral J. McAtee B Jan. 14, 1878 D Aug. 26, 1897 James E. McAtee B 1885 D 1918

Historical events during the life of George McAtee Sr.: birth of John Quincy Adams, 6th President (1825-1829) on July 11, 1767; the citizens of Paris storm the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789; District of Columbia is chosen as the federal capital on June 20, 1790; John Fitch granted a US patent for his working steamboat on August 26, 1791; birth of Sylvester Graham, inventor of the Graham cracker on July 5, 1794; 1st African church established in the US incorporated on March 28, 1796; birth of Honore de Balzac, novelist on May 20, 1799; birth of Admiral David G. Farragut on July 5, 1801; 1st servicable steamboat, the Cleremont, goes on 1st voyage on August 7, 1807; birth of Edgar Allen Poe on January 19, 1809; Chile proclaims its independence on July 16, 1810; Congress passes 1st foreign aid bill on March 3, 1812; US forces led by Gen. Hull invade Canada (War of 1812) on July 12, 1812; Francis Scott Key inspired to write 'The Star-Spangled Banner' on September 14, 1814; President Zachary Taylor dies while in office of a typhus infection on July 9, 1850.

George McAtee Sr. and Mary Hardy had the following children:

77 i. Verlinda⁶ McAtee. She married Stephen Thomason.

78 ii. Henry McAtee was born in Oakridge, OR 1801. Henry died in Frederick Co. Maryland. He married Nancy McFerran.

79 iii. Harry McAtee was born 1807.

80 iv. George McAtee Jr was born in Montgomery Co. Maryland January 9, 1809. George died in Frederick Co. Maryland. He married Catherine Anna Simms in Washington, KA, December 7, 1841.

81 v. John L. McAtee was born in Montgomery Co. Maryland July 7, 1810. John died January 6, 1900 in Palmer, KA, at 89 years of age.

+ 82 vi. Benjamin Benedict McAtee was born March 1, 1812.

83 vii. Mary Jane McAtee was born 1812. She married Ayers Taylor in Maryland, August 1, 1837.

+ 84 viii. Samuel Wade McAtee was born September 5, 1814.

George McAtee Sr. and Mary Monica Brawner had the following children:

+ 85 ix. Elizabeth McAtee was born June 4, 1790.

+ 86 x. Cloe Matilda McAtee was born 1791.

87 xi. Richard McAtee was born in Montgomery Co. Maryland 1794.

+ 88 xii. Lucy McAtee was born March 11, 1796.

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