The Pennsylvania Branch: Foundation of the American McCreary Family

Introduction

The Pennsylvania branch of the McCreary family represents the foundational American settlement of this Scotch-Irish lineage. Beginning in the early 18th century, McCreary families departing from Ulster ports arrived in the Delaware Valley and established themselves in what would become one of the most significant concentrations of Scotch-Irish culture in colonial America. This branch would serve as the wellspring from which subsequent generations would spread throughout the Appalachian frontier and beyond, carrying with them the distinctive cultural, religious, and social traditions that had been forged in Scotland and tempered in Ulster.

The Great Migration Context

Push Factors from Ulster

The McCreary families who arrived in Pennsylvania during the 18th century were part of a larger exodus driven by multiple intersecting pressures in Ulster:

Economic Pressures:

Lease Expirations: Plantation-era leases (granted for 31 years) expired in the early 1700s
Rent Increases: Dramatic rent hikes from English and Anglo-Irish landlords
Agricultural Crises: Severe droughts in 1714-1719 and 1728-1729 devastated crops and livestock
Limited Economic Opportunities: Restricted trade and manufacturing under English mercantile laws

Religious Discrimination:

Despite their Protestantism, Ulster Presbyterians faced legal restrictions that added urgency to economic distress:

Test Acts Requirements: Conformity to Anglican Church required for public office
Unrecognized Marriages: Presbyterian marriages not legally valid
School Restrictions: Presbyterian schools operated under limitations
Invalid Ceremonies: Presbyterian ministers couldn't perform legally binding ceremonies
"Double Discrimination": Caught between Catholic Irish below and Anglican English above

Pull Factors to Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offered several powerful attractions to Ulster emigrants:

Religious Freedom:

William Penn's "holy experiment" promised genuine religious tolerance
Presbyterians could worship freely without Anglican conformity
Establish own churches and participate fully in civic life
No religious discrimination for holding office

Economic Opportunities:

Fertile lands available at reasonable prices
Ownership possibilities unavailable in Ulster
Growing markets for agricultural products
No restrictive trade laws limiting commerce

Political Rights:

Representative government with actual participation
Political rights that seemed extraordinary to excluded Ulster Presbyterians
Legal equality regardless of religious denomination

Established Networks:

Regular shipping routes between Ulster ports and Philadelphia
Ships carried flaxseed to Ulster, returned with emigrants
Letters from earlier emigrants described opportunities
Presbyterian congregational networks helped newcomers
Family connections provided information and assistance

Initial Settlement Patterns

Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley

Most McCreary families arrived through Philadelphia (primary port) or New Castle, Delaware (secondary port).

Philadelphia as Gateway (Not Destination):

Philadelphia in the early 18th century was the largest city in the colonies, but most Scotch-Irish immigrants didn't stay:

Prime lands near Philadelphia already claimed
Quaker establishment viewed Scotch-Irish with apprehension
Seen as prone to violence and religious enthusiasm
Land prices too high for typical immigrant families

Typical Arrival Pattern:

Brief stay in Philadelphia or immediate vicinity (days to weeks)
Purchase supplies and equipment for frontier life
Make contacts with earlier Ulster emigrants
Gather information about available lands
Connect with Presbyterian congregation networks
Receive orientation and settlement location recommendations
Depart for interior settlements

The Cumberland Valley

The Cumberland Valley, stretching southwest from Harrisburg through Carlisle to Chambersburg and beyond, became the first major concentration of McCreary settlement in Pennsylvania. This fertile valley, bounded by the Appalachian ridges, offered excellent agricultural land at affordable prices. The valley's orientation southwest along the Appalachian chain created a natural corridor that would eventually become the famous Great Wagon Road, channeling migration from Pennsylvania into the southern backcountry.

McCreary families established farms in the Cumberland Valley beginning in the 1720s and continuing through the mid-18th century. They created dispersed settlement patterns rather than nucleated villages, with families claiming land, clearing forests, and establishing individual farmsteads connected by rough roads and paths. The typical farm ranged from 100 to 300 acres, though some families acquired larger holdings over time.

Other Pennsylvania Settlement Areas

Beyond the Cumberland Valley, McCreary families settled in several other regions of Pennsylvania that attracted Scotch-Irish emigrants:

Settlement Region	Established	Characteristics	McCreary Settlement Pattern
Cumberland Valley	1720s-1750s	Fertile valley, affordable land, first major concentration	Primary settlement area, largest concentration
Lancaster County	1730s-1760s	Mix of German and Scots-Irish, good farmland	Some settlement, cultural exchange with Germans
York County	1749+	Frontier position, affordable prices	Secondary concentration, grain and livestock economy
Juniata River Valley	1760s-1780s	Remote, heavily forested, larger holdings available	Later wave settlement, frontier hardships

Lancaster County:

More heavily German than Scots-Irish
Cultural exchanges with Pennsylvania German neighbors
Intermarriage occurred while maintaining Presbyterian identity
Good agricultural land

York County:

Established in 1749 as frontier county
Affordable land prices attracted families
Typical frontier economy: grain and livestock
Growing Scotch-Irish concentration

Juniata River Valley:

Later settlement period (1760s-1780s)
Heavily forested and remote
Larger land holdings available
Required willingness to endure frontier hardships
Became Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Juniata counties

Economic Life

Agricultural Practices

The McCreary families in Pennsylvania quickly adapted their agricultural practices to New World conditions while maintaining some Ulster patterns.

Primary Crops:

Wheat: Foundation of Pennsylvania economy, surplus shipped to Atlantic markets
Rye: Hardy grain for bread and animal feed
Corn: New World crop quickly adopted for versatility
Oats: Traditional Scottish/Irish grain for porridge and livestock

Diversified Agriculture (Unlike Ulster's intensive flax cultivation):

Kitchen Gardens: Vegetables for family subsistence
Orchards: Apples and other fruits for eating, cider, and sale
Livestock: Cattle, pigs, sheep, and horses for food, labor, and market
Mixed Strategy: Provided both subsistence and market goods

Crop/Product	Primary Use	Market Value	Season
Wheat	Bread flour, export to cities	High	Summer harvest
Corn	Food, animal feed, whiskey	Medium	Fall harvest
Rye	Bread, animal feed	Medium	Summer harvest
Oats	Porridge, animal feed	Low-Medium	Summer harvest
Cattle	Meat, dairy, leather	High	Year-round
Pigs	Meat (salted/smoked)	Medium	Fall butchering
Apples	Fresh, cider, dried	Medium	Fall harvest
Whiskey	Beverage, currency	High	Year-round

Whiskey Production - A Characteristic Enterprise:

Whiskey production became emblematic of Scotch-Irish frontier economy:

Traditional Knowledge: Distilling skills from Scotland and Ireland
Surplus Grain: Converted excess grain into valuable product
Liquid Currency: Easier to transport than grain, commanded good prices
Multiple Uses: Beverage, medicine, trade commodity, currency
Small-Scale Operations: Many families operated small stills on farms
Future Conflict: Later brought families into conflict with federal authorities during Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Land Acquisition and Management

Land acquisition patterns reveal the ambitions and challenges of McCreary families in Pennsylvania.

Typical Land Holdings:

Initial Purchases: Often modest, 50-200 acres
Expansion Strategy: Families aimed to grow holdings over time
Generational Planning: Purchase land for adult sons to establish nearby
Goal: Maintain extended family networks and mutual support

Penn Family Land Policies:

Two main pathways to land ownership:

Direct Purchase:
Clear title from Penn family or proprietors
Higher initial cost but secure ownership
Preferred by families with capital
Warrant Lands:
Settlers could occupy and improve land before completing purchase
Lower initial cost, payment over time
Risk of disputes over boundaries and titles
Some McCreary families used this system

Challenges and Complexities:

Boundary Disputes: Unclear property lines led to conflicts
Title Questions: Uncertain ownership created legal challenges
Post-Revolutionary Transition: Shift from colonial to state/private ownership
Mixed Outcomes: Some families navigated successfully, others lost disputed lands

Frontier Commerce

While primarily agricultural, the Pennsylvania frontier economy included various commercial activities in which McCreary families participated.

Community Enterprises:

Grist Mills: Essential for grinding grain into flour
Some families established mills serving their neighborhoods
Provided community service and income
Often located on streams for water power
Blacksmith Shops: Critical for tool repair and horseshoeing
Needed services for farming communities
Supplemental income for farming families
Tanneries: Leather production for shoes, harnesses, and goods
Processing animal hides
Local manufacturing
Other Artisan Enterprises: Carpentry, coopering (barrel-making), weaving

The Great Wagon Road - Major Commercial Artery:

The Great Wagon Road developed through the Cumberland Valley and transformed frontier commerce:

Freighting Business: Some McCreary families engaged in goods transport
Large Wagons: Pulled by teams of 4-6 horses
Two-Way Trade:
Outbound: Frontier agricultural products to Philadelphia markets
Inbound: Manufactured goods and luxuries to backcountry settlements
Economic Connection: Linked frontier communities to Atlantic world markets
Cultural Exchange: Brought news, ideas, and goods from coastal cities

Religious and Cultural Life

Presbyterian Congregations

The Presbyterian church stood at the center of Scotch-Irish community life in Pennsylvania. McCreary families were instrumental in founding and maintaining Presbyterian congregations throughout their settlement areas.

Multiple Functions of Presbyterian Churches:

Religious services and worship
Education for children and adults
Social connection and community gatherings
Community organization and governance
Support networks during hardships

Typical Congregational Development Pattern:

Informal Beginnings: Worship meetings in homes or temporary structures
Community Stabilization: As settlements grew, organization improved
Calling Ministers: Often from Ulster or Scotland, maintaining cultural ties
Meetinghouse Construction: Permanent buildings for worship
Elder Election: Local leadership through elected elders
Presbytery Formation: Multiple congregations organized into regional networks

Presbyterian Church Governance - Reinforcing Democratic Values:

Elected Elders: Congregation chose its own leaders
Representative System: Elders represented congregation in presbytery
Collective Decision-Making: Major decisions made by groups, not individuals
Political Influence: These governance patterns shaped political attitudes about self-government and resistance to tyranny

Presbyterian Worship Characteristics:

Preaching: Central focus on biblical exposition and instruction
Psalm Singing: Congregational singing without instrumental accompaniment
Rigorous Theology: Detailed doctrinal instruction (catechisms, confessions)
Minister's Multiple Roles: Spiritual leader, educator, community intellectual

Network Connections:

Presbyteries organized multiple congregations, creating networks that:

Connected frontier settlements to each other
Maintained ties to eastern Presbyterian bodies
Preserved connections to Ulster and Scotland
Facilitated information exchange and mutual support
Provided circuit-riding ministers to isolated communities

Education and Literacy

Presbyterianism's emphasis on biblical literacy and educated clergy created a strong educational culture among McCreary families and other Scotch-Irish settlers.

Educational Values and Motivations:

Religious Requirement: Biblical literacy essential for Presbyterian faith
Cultural Priority: Education valued even in harsh frontier conditions
Social Mobility: Pathway to higher status and professional opportunities
Community Investment: Families cooperated to establish schools

Subscription Schools - Typical Frontier Education:

The standard educational model on the frontier:

Funding: Families paid ("subscribed") a teacher to instruct children
Curriculum: Reading, writing, arithmetic, sometimes Latin and Greek
Primary Texts: Bible, psalters, catechisms (embedding religious instruction)
Location: Often in homes, churches, or simple schoolhouses
Seasonal: School terms worked around agricultural demands

Ministers as Educators:

Ministers played crucial educational roles:

Running schools themselves
Identifying and training suitable instructors
Providing advanced instruction in theology and classics
Serving as community intellectuals and knowledge resources

Educational Outcomes:

High Literacy Rates: Even in frontier areas, Scotch-Irish communities showed strong literacy
Gender Differences: Boys more likely to receive extended education
Practical Skills: Education combined academic and practical knowledge

Advanced Education:

Some families invested in higher education for promising sons:

Institution	Location	Purpose	Typical Students
Academies	Philadelphia and other towns	College preparation, advanced studies	Sons of more prosperous families
Princeton	New Jersey	Ministry preparation, learned professions	Presbyterian students seeking professional careers
Study with Ministers	Local	Theological training, classical education	Aspiring ministers without funds for college

Social Impact:

This investment in education reflected:

Deep religious values about biblical knowledge
Social ambition for family advancement
Pathways to ministry, law, medicine, and teaching
Community leadership development

Cultural Preservation and Adaptation

In Pennsylvania, McCreary families maintained elements of their Scottish and Ulster heritage while adapting to American conditions.

Language:

Scots-Irish Dialect: Continued in daily use with characteristic vocabulary, pronunciation, and expressions
Scots Gaelic: Some families maintained knowledge, though declining
English: Dominant language for communication and commerce
Distinctive Speech Patterns: Marked Scotch-Irish identity into 19th century

Food Traditions - Continuity and Change:

Traditional (from Scotland/Ulster)	Adapted/New (in Pennsylvania)	Hybrid Practices
Oatcakes and porridge	Corn bread and hominy	Mixing oats and corn
Sowans (fermented oat drink)	Apple cider	Using local fruits
Potato and cabbage preparations	Pumpkin and squash dishes	Vegetable stews combining old and new
Mutton and preserved meats	Venison and wild game	Preserved pork and beef

Work Patterns and Community Cooperation:

Traditional seasonal rhythms adapted to frontier conditions:

Barn-Raising: Community gathered to construct large buildings
Harvesting: Neighbors helped each other bring in crops
Butchering: Communal events for processing livestock
Quilting Bees: Women gathered for textile work and socializing
Corn-Husking: Social gathering combined with essential work

These cooperative work patterns:

Reduced individual labor burden
Strengthened community bonds
Provided social opportunities in isolated settlements
Maintained cultural traditions of mutual aid

Celebrations and Social Gatherings:

Sacramental Occasions - Major Religious and Social Events:

Multi-day communion services were centerpieces of Scotch-Irish social life:

Duration: Typically Thursday through Monday
Religious Focus: Preaching, communion, theological instruction
Social Opportunities:
Dispersed families reunited
Courtship and matchmaking
Exchange of news and information
Trading and commerce
Political discussion

Other Social Gatherings:

Weddings: Extended family celebrations with feasting
Funerals: Community gatherings to support bereaved families
Market Days: Commerce combined with social connection
Militia Musters: Military training combined with socializing

Kinship Networks

The McCreary families in Pennsylvania maintained strong kinship bonds that shaped settlement patterns and social organization.

Extended Family Networks:

Networks included multiple layers of connection:

Nuclear Families: Parents and children
Extended Kin: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
In-Laws: Marriage connections between families
Townland Connections: Families from same Ulster communities
Clan Associations: Broader Scottish clan identity

Settlement Clustering:

Kinship bonds shaped where families settled:

Related families claimed neighboring lands
Created mutual support networks in wilderness
Maintained cultural and linguistic connections
Provided security in dangerous frontier conditions
Facilitated church and school establishment

Kinship Networks as Mutual Aid Societies:

Family networks provided essential support:

Type of Aid	How Networks Functioned	Examples
Agricultural Labor	Shared work during peak seasons	Planting, harvesting, barn-raising
Tools and Livestock	Pooled expensive resources	Sharing plows, draft animals
Housing	Temporary shelter for new arrivals	Welcoming Ulster emigrants
Community Building	Cooperative establishment	Churches, schools, mills
Crisis Support	Aid during emergencies	Crop failure, illness, Indian attacks
Information	Knowledge about land, conditions	Settlement locations, opportunities

Marriage Patterns:

Marriage reinforced and expanded kinship networks:

Endogamy: McCrearys frequently married other Scotch-Irish families
Religious Compatibility: Presbyterian identity crucial in partner selection
Economic Considerations: Land holdings and family status mattered
Family and Church Networks: Arranged through social connections
Ulster Regional Ties: Often united families from same Irish counties
Complex Webs: Created intricate relationship networks across settlements

Gender Roles and Women's Work

Women in McCreary families bore enormous responsibilities in frontier Pennsylvania.

Household Production Responsibilities:

Women managed complex household economies:

Food Preparation and Preservation:
Cooking daily meals over open hearths
Preserving meat (smoking, salting)
Drying fruits and vegetables
Making cheese and butter
Baking bread
Brewing beer and cider
Textile Production:
Spinning wool and flax into thread
Weaving cloth
Sewing clothing for entire family
Mending and repairing garments
Knitting stockings and mittens
Other Manufacturing:
Soap making from animal fats
Candle making for lighting
Herbal medicine preparation
Dyeing cloth
Kitchen Gardens and Poultry:
Growing vegetables
Tending herb gardens
Caring for chickens, geese, and ducks
Collecting eggs

Agricultural Labor:

During planting and harvest seasons, women worked in fields alongside men:

Planting and weeding crops
Harvesting grain and vegetables
Processing flax and hemp
Helping with haymaking

Reproductive Role - Central to Family Survival:

Aspect	Typical Experience
Family Size	6-10 children common for couples surviving childbearing years
Childbirth Frequency	Births every 18-24 months during fertile years
Maternal Mortality	Significant danger, constant threat to women's lives
Infant Mortality	High, many children died before age 5
Midwives	Older, experienced women attended deliveries
Healthcare Services	Midwives provided crucial medical care beyond childbirth

Religious and Community Participation:

Beyond household roles, women contributed significantly to community life:

Church Membership: - Full members of Presbyterian churches - Participated in worship services - Subject to church discipline (same standards as men) - Could not serve as elders or ministers (gender restrictions)

Informal Support Networks:

Women formed crucial mutual aid systems:

Visiting sick neighbors
Assisting with childbirths as midwives or helpers
Preparing bodies for burial
Providing emotional support during hardships
Sharing knowledge about household arts
Collective work (quilting bees, spinning gatherings)
Information exchange about family news, health remedies, recipes

Child-Rearing and Socialization

Children in McCreary families entered the work force at young ages, with tasks assigned according to age and gender.

Age-Graded Work Responsibilities:

Age Range	Boys' Tasks	Girls' Tasks
3-6 years	Gathering eggs, feeding chickens, simple errands	Caring for younger siblings, gathering eggs, helping mother
7-10 years	Feeding livestock, carrying water/wood, weeding gardens	Spinning, knitting, simple cooking, garden work
11-14 years	Plowing, planting, harvest work, learning trades	Weaving, sewing, food preservation, full household duties
15+ years	Full agricultural/trade work alongside father	Complete household management skills

Presbyterian Religious Culture and Discipline:

Moral and Religious Instruction: - Children taught catechisms from young ages - Required attendance at church services (often hours long) - Faced punishment for misbehavior - Expected to memorize Scripture and religious doctrine

Goals of Child-Rearing: - Instill self-discipline and self-control - Cultivate respect for authority (parental, church, civil) - Develop religious devotion and biblical knowledge - Prepare for productive adult roles

Affection Within Structure:

Despite strict discipline, evidence suggests genuine emotional bonds:

Letters and memoirs record parental affection
Grief over children's deaths
Pride in children's accomplishments
Concern for children's welfare and futures

Transition to Adulthood - Complex Negotiations:

The path to adult independence involved family planning and negotiation:

For Sons:

Land Acquisition: Parents tried to establish sons on farms
Methods:
Direct land purchase for son
Inheritance of portion of family land
Assistance in acquiring frontier land
Teaching trades for non-farm careers
Timing: Often delayed until mid-20s due to economic requirements
Goal: Maintain son nearby if possible, preserving family network

For Daughters:

Dowries Provided:
Household goods (furniture, textiles, kitchenware)
Livestock (cows, pigs, poultry)
Occasionally land or money
Marriage Age: Typically early-to-mid 20s
Goal: Successful establishment of new household

Family Cohesion Strategy:

These practices aimed to:

Launch next generation successfully
Maintain extended family networks
Keep family members geographically proximate when possible
Preserve family land holdings across generations

Political Engagement and Revolutionary Spirit

Frontier Politics

The Scotch-Irish in Pennsylvania developed a distinctive political culture that blended Presbyterian covenant theology, frontier independence, and resentment of eastern establishment authority. McCreary families participated in this culture, which emphasized natural rights, representative government, and resistance to perceived tyranny.

Conflict with Pennsylvania's Quaker-dominated eastern establishment emerged early. The Scotch-Irish frontier settlers resented Quaker pacifism, which they saw as leaving the frontier undefended against Indian attacks. They also chafed at underrepresentation in the colonial assembly, where eastern counties controlled legislation despite the growing frontier population.

The Paxton Boys incident of 1763-1764 exemplified these tensions. Scotch-Irish settlers from the Paxton area, frustrated by Quaker Indian policy, massacred peaceful Conestoga Indians and marched on Philadelphia. While this violent episode revealed the dark side of frontier attitudes toward Native Americans, it also demonstrated the political assertiveness and willingness to use force that characterized Scotch-Irish political culture.

Revolutionary Leadership

When the American Revolution erupted, the Pennsylvania Scotch-Irish, including McCreary families, overwhelmingly supported independence. Their tradition of resistance to authority, religious conflict with Anglican establishment, and frontier egalitarianism made them natural revolutionaries.

McCreary men served in various capacities during the Revolution. Some joined Continental Army units, while others served in militia companies that combined military service with continued work on family farms. The militia system suited frontier conditions, allowing men to respond to local threats while maintaining agricultural production.

The ideological framework of the Revolution resonated deeply with Presbyterian political thought. Covenant theology, which conceived of political society as a contract between people and rulers, provided religious justification for resistance to tyranny. Ministers preached Revolutionary sermons that linked American independence to biblical themes of liberty and deliverance from oppression.

Post-Revolutionary Challenges

The end of the Revolution brought new challenges for Pennsylvania's McCreary families. The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 revealed continuing tensions between frontier settlers and eastern authorities. When the new federal government imposed an excise tax on distilled spirits, frontier farmers saw it as an unjust burden that threatened their economic survival and liberty.

Many Scotch-Irish farmers, including some McCrearys, resisted the tax through noncompliance and occasional violence against tax collectors. While the rebellion was suppressed by federal military force, it revealed the persistent independence and resistance to outside authority that characterized frontier political culture. The episode also demonstrated the complex transition from revolutionary resistance to acceptance of constitutional government.

Migration Patterns and Expansion

The Great Wagon Road and Southward Movement

Pennsylvania served as a staging ground for further migration. By the mid-18th century, the Cumberland Valley became crowded by frontier standards, land prices increased, and the next generation of McCreary families sought opportunities elsewhere. The Great Wagon Road, which ran southwest from Pennsylvania through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and into the Carolina backcountry, channeled this migration.

McCreary families participated in this southward movement beginning in the 1740s and accelerating through the pre-Revolutionary period. They traveled in family groups or small clusters of related families, using large wagons to transport household goods, tools, and livestock. The journey could take weeks or months, with families stopping to work for cash, repair equipment, or rest livestock.

The motivations for migration combined economic opportunity with cultural patterns. The availability of inexpensive land on the southern frontier attracted families who could not afford Pennsylvania land prices. Additionally, the Scotch-Irish cultural preference for dispersed settlement and individual land ownership meant that as population density increased, many families chose to move rather than adjust to more intensive land use.

Western Pennsylvania and the Trans-Appalachian Frontier

Other McCreary families moved west within Pennsylvania, settling in what would become Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene counties. This region, west of the Appalachian ridges, remained disputed territory until after the Revolution. The rugged terrain and exposure to Indian warfare made settlement challenging, but the availability of land attracted frontier-oriented families.

The settlement of western Pennsylvania created new patterns of McCreary family concentration. Towns like Washington and Greensburg became centers of Scotch-Irish culture, with Presbyterian churches, academies, and commercial enterprises. These communities maintained connections to older settlements in the Cumberland Valley while developing their own regional identities.

After the Revolution opened the trans-Appalachian West, Pennsylvania McCrearys continued moving, some to Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1780s-1790s, others to Ohio after 1800, and still others to Indiana and Illinois in the early 19th century. Pennsylvania thus served not as a final destination but as a crucial waystation in the family's westward expansion.

Legacy of the Pennsylvania Branch

Demographic and Geographic Impact

The Pennsylvania branch of the McCreary family established demographic patterns that would influence subsequent generations. The large families typical of frontier conditions, combined with relatively low mortality rates compared to earlier periods, meant rapid population growth. By the early 19th century, descendants of the original Pennsylvania settlers numbered in the hundreds, spreading across multiple states.

The geographic dispersal of McCreary descendants from Pennsylvania created a broad distribution across the American interior. Family connections stretched from Pennsylvania to Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and eventually Ohio and beyond. These networks maintained some cohesion through correspondence, family visits, and occasionally through chain migration where information from settled relatives encouraged others to join them.

Cultural Contributions

The Pennsylvania McCrearys contributed to the distinctive Scotch-Irish culture of the American backcountry. Their Presbyterian religion, emphasis on education, agricultural practices, political attitudes, and social customs helped define frontier society. The individualism, egalitarianism, and combativeness often attributed to the American frontier owed much to Scotch-Irish culture transmitted through families like the McCrearys.

The cultural legacy included both positive and negative elements. The emphasis on education, religious devotion, and community cooperation produced literate, organized settlements with functional institutions. The tradition of resistance to authority and defense of liberty contributed to American democratic development. However, the same culture included attitudes toward Native Americans that justified violence and dispossession, and a tendency toward feuding and personal violence that plagued frontier communities.

The Pennsylvania experience offered McCreary families opportunities for economic advancement impossible in Ulster. Most families succeeded in establishing viable farms, achieving a level of material security and independence that would have been unattainable in Ireland. Some families accumulated substantial land holdings and achieved local prominence.

Social mobility varied among different branches of the family. Some McCrearys remained subsistence farmers throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, while others achieved notable success as large landowners, merchants, or professionals. Access to education allowed some family members to enter ministry, law, or medicine. Political opportunities in the new republic allowed ambitious individuals to achieve positions of local leadership.

Preservation of Family Memory and Identity

The Pennsylvania McCrearys maintained family memory and identity through several mechanisms. Oral tradition passed down stories of migration from Ulster, frontier hardships, and notable ancestors. Family Bibles recorded births, marriages, and deaths, creating written genealogical records. Letters preserved in family collections documented relationships and transmitted information across generations.

Presbyterian church records provided another crucial source of family history. Baptismal records, marriage records, and minutes of church sessions documented family participation in religious community. Cemetery records, particularly in Presbyterian churchyards, marked family presence across generations.

The Pennsylvania branch thus represents more than simply the first American generation of McCreary families. It established patterns of settlement, economy, culture, and family organization that subsequent generations would carry throughout the expanding American nation. The foundations laid in Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley and surrounding regions shaped the family's trajectory for centuries to come.