My McElfresh Branch
My great-grandmother was Maud Mae McElfresh. She was born May 11, 1884 in Wellsburg, Bracken Co., Kentucky, and married my great-grandfather, Noah Frederick Hamilton, about 1905. Maud was one of seven children born to Elmore McElfresh and Susannah Margaret Davis, who had moved their family from Bracken County, Kentucky to New Richmond, Clermont County, Ohio by 1910.
My immigrant McElfresh ancestor was David McElfresh, my 8th great-grandfather. He was one of 8 children born to Johne Macklefreishe and Janet Thomsone on June 27, 1658 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. He immigrated to America before 1692 when he married my 8th great-grandmother, Alice Jones. They settled in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, and had a total of 8 children -- Alice, Anne, Richard, John, Mary, Jane, David, and Thomas. David died around August 15, 1711 in the same county. Very little is known about Alice Jones, but I believe her name may have been Jane Alice Jones, and her father may have been Richard Jones.
I descend from their son, David, who was born in Maryland October 17, 1702. He married Mary Elizabeth Leeke January 3, 1722 in All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She was the daughter of Henry Leeke and Elizabeth Ward. My McElfresh family resided in Maryland until my 6th great-grandfather, Richard J. McElfresh, moved his wife, Susannah Green, and their oldest son, Richard, and his wife, Eleanor McGruder, to Fayette Co., Pennsylvania from Montgomery Co., Maryland. Richard and Eleanor had my 4th great-grandfather, Bazil McElfresh, who married Nancy Schreve. They moved to Brown County, Ohio, but it was their son, my 3rd great-grandfather, John Wesley McElfresh, who had settled in Bracken County, Kentucky by 1850 with his 2nd wife, Jacintha Elgantine Davis.
It was said by family members, John had traveled down the Ohio River in a flat boat with his brother. His brother supposedly decided to go further west with the intent of going to California, and John n settled in Mason County, Kentucky. I found him living in Bracken Co., Kentucky, however, through the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census. He married Jacintha Elgantine Davis April 25, 1847 in Brown Co., Ohio where his parents, Bazil McElfresh and Nancy Schreve, were living. John was married before to Sarah Dale on July 22, 1823, and he had about 14 children from that first marriage according to other researchers. I have only managed to find three -- Reason, Eldridge, and Jesse. John and Jacintha had a total of 15 children which included two sets of twins. The children were Thomas, John Wesley, Angelina, Marion, Nathan and his twin who was stillborn, Sally Ann, Josephina, Elmore (my great-great grandfather), Lorenza Dow, Lewis Rice, Josephine, Mary Ann and her twin brother, Milton, and Charles.
Elmore married my great-great grandmother, Susannah Margaret Davis June 2, 1880 in Bracken Co., Kentucky. She was the daughter of John Wilson Davis and Sarah Ann Young. Elmore and Susannah had seven children who were all born in Kentucky, but by 1910, they had moved their family to Clermont Co., Ohio. Elmore died sometime between 1900 and 1910, but since I have not been able to find a death record for him, I am not sure if he died in Kentucky or Ohio.
Johne Macklefrieshe and Janet Thomsone
I did manage to find more information about Johne and Janet through Family Search. Johne Macklefrieshe is where my McElfresh line stops, however. He was born possibly around 1630 in Midlothian, Scotland. He married Janet Thomsone November 30, 1654 in South Leith Parish, Midlothian, Scotland. Janet was the daughter of David Thomsone and Elizabeth Hamiltone, and she was born February 10, 1620 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Johne and Janet had 8 children, including a set of twins, all listed below.
Janet McElfresh, born September 16, 1655
James McElfresh, born January 25, 1657
David McElfresh, born June 27, 1658 (my 8th great-grandfather)
Thomas McElfresh, born September 20, 1660
Charles McElfresh, born December 26, 1661
Alexander McElfresh, born May 31, 1663
John McElfresh, born May 31, 1663 (twin)
Agnes McElfresh, born December 27, 1666
Janet Thomsone's parents, David and Elizabeth, were married in Midlothian, Scotland January 7, 1617. David Thomsone was born November 2, 1600, and he was the son of Henry Thomsone and Maroun Garrie, who were married April 14, 1597 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. Janet had one sister that I've been able to find named Cristene, and she was born October 15, 1617. If there were other siblings, I haven't found them yet.