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Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ answers the most common questions students and visitors have about the McCreary family heritage. The questions are organized by topic to help you find what you're looking for.

Basic Background Questions

1. Who were the McCreary families?

The McCrearys were Scottish families who later moved to Ireland and then to North America. They were part of a larger group called the Scotch-Irish (also known as Ulster Scots).

2. What does the name "McCreary" mean?

McCreary comes from the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Ruaidhri," which means "son of Rory." The name Rory means "red king," probably referring to red hair.

3. How do you spell McCreary?

There are many spellings: McCreary, McCrary, MacCreary, McCreery, McCrory, MacRory, and Magrory. All are variations of the same surname.

4. Why are there so many different spellings?

Before standardized spelling, people wrote names as they sounded. Also, clerks and immigration officials often spelled names phonetically or made errors when recording them.

5. When did the McCreary migrations happen?

The main migrations occurred in three waves: Scotland to Ireland (1600s), Ireland to America (1700s-1800s), and westward expansion across America (1800s).

Geography Questions

6. Where did the McCreary families originally come from?

They originally came from Scotland, particularly the western regions and lowland areas like Ayrshire and Galloway.

7. What part of Ireland did they move to?

They moved to Ulster, the northern province of Ireland. Counties like Antrim, Down, Donegal, and Tyrone had many McCreary families.

8. How far is Scotland from Ireland?

At the narrowest point (between Scotland and County Antrim), it's only 13 miles across the North Channel. You can see Scotland from Ireland on a clear day.

9. Where did McCrearys first settle in America?

Most landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From there, many moved to the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania.

10. What other American states had McCreary families?

Virginia (especially the Shenandoah Valley), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky were major settlement areas.

11. Why did they settle in mountain and frontier areas?

The best coastal land was already taken. Also, frontier land was cheaper, and Scotch-Irish families had farming experience in rugged terrain.

12. What is the Great Wagon Road?

A major route that ran from Pennsylvania south through Virginia and into the Carolinas. Thousands of Scotch-Irish families traveled this road seeking land.

13. What is the Cumberland Gap?

A natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains that allowed settlers to reach Kentucky and Tennessee from Virginia and North Carolina.

14. Are there places named after McCrearys?

Yes! McCreary County in Kentucky was named for Governor James B. McCreary in 1912.

15. Can I visit McCreary heritage sites today?

Yes, there are heritage sites in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and across the American states where McCrearys settled. Check the Heritage Tourism section for details.

Timeline & Historical Events

16. When did the McCrearys live in Scotland?

From ancient times through the 1600s. Some Scottish McCrearys never left, so the family still exists in Scotland today.

17. What was happening in Scotland in the 1500s-1600s?

Scotland experienced religious conflict (the Reformation), wars with England, and economic hardship that pushed people to seek opportunities elsewhere.

18. What was the Ulster Plantation?

A British government plan starting in 1609 to settle Protestant Scottish and English families in northern Ireland to control the region.

19. Why did the British want Scots to move to Ireland?

To establish loyal Protestant communities in Catholic Ireland and prevent Irish rebellions against English rule.

20. When did most McCrearys move to Ireland?

Mainly between 1609-1700, during and after the Ulster Plantation period.

21. How long did McCreary families live in Ireland?

Usually 2-4 generations (about 50-100 years) before most emigrated to America in the 1700s.

22. What was the Irish Rebellion of 1641?

A violent uprising where Irish Catholics attacked Protestant settlers who had taken their land. Thousands died, creating lasting fear and tension.

23. What was the Siege of Derry?

A famous 105-day siege in 1689 where Protestant defenders refused to surrender to Catholic forces, even while starving. "No Surrender" became their motto.

24. What was the Battle of the Boyne?

A battle in 1690 where Protestant King William defeated Catholic King James II, securing Protestant rule in Ireland and Britain.

25. When did McCrearys start coming to America?

The first major wave was around 1718. Migration continued heavily through the 1700s and into the 1800s.

26. Why did they leave Ireland?

High rents, religious discrimination against Presbyterians, limited economic opportunities, and the promise of free or cheap land in America.

27. How long did the ocean voyage take?

Usually 6-8 weeks crossing the Atlantic. Conditions were often dangerous, with storms, disease, and crowded ships.

28. What happened during the American Revolution?

Many Scotch-Irish, including McCrearys, fought for American independence. They were particularly important in frontier battles like Kings Mountain.

29. What was the Battle of Kings Mountain?

A 1780 Revolutionary War battle where Scotch-Irish "Overmountain Men" defeated British forces in South Carolina, helping win the war.

30. When did westward expansion happen?

After the Revolution (1780s-1800s), families moved west into Kentucky, Tennessee, and eventually across the Mississippi River.

Religion Questions

31. What religion were the McCrearys?

Almost all McCreary families were Presbyterian, a type of Protestant Christianity.

32. What is Presbyterian?

A Protestant denomination that emphasizes democratic church governance by elders (presbyters) rather than bishops, and believes in individual Bible reading.

33. How is Presbyterian different from Catholic?

Presbyterians reject the Pope's authority, don't pray to saints, have married ministers, emphasize personal Bible study, and use simpler worship services.

34. What is the difference between Presbyterian and Anglican?

Anglicans (Church of England) have bishops leading the church, while Presbyterians have councils of elders. Presbyterians also have simpler worship.

35. Who was John Knox?

The Scottish minister who led the Protestant Reformation in Scotland in 1560 and established Presbyterianism as Scotland's main religion.

36. What was the Reformation?

A religious revolution starting in 1517 that created Protestant Christianity as a split from the Catholic Church.

37. Why was religion so important to identity?

Religion determined where you could live, work, vote, and own property. It also affected who you could marry and where your children went to school.

38. What were the Penal Laws?

Harsh Irish laws (1691-1760) that took away rights from Catholics. Some provisions also discriminated against Presbyterians.

39. What was "double discrimination"?

Ulster Scots faced discrimination from both Catholics (who saw them as invaders) and Anglicans (who saw them as religious dissenters).

40. What is a kirk?

The Scottish word for church. "The Kirk" refers to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

41. Did McCrearys practice other religions in America?

Some later generations joined Methodist or Baptist churches, especially on the frontier where Presbyterian churches weren't available.

42. What role did churches play in communities?

Presbyterian churches were centers of worship, education, social life, and community decisions. They often ran schools and helped new settlers.

43. What is covenant theology?

A Presbyterian belief that relationships between God and people, and between rulers and people, are based on contracts. If rulers break the contract, people can resist.

44. How did religion influence American politics?

Presbyterian ideas about covenants and resistance to unjust authority helped inspire the American Revolution.

45. What is Celtic Christianity?

An early form of Christianity practiced in Ireland and Scotland (400s-600s CE) before it aligned with Roman Catholic practices.

Culture & Traditions

46. What language did McCrearys speak?

Originally Scottish Gaelic, but by the time they moved to Ulster, most spoke Scots (similar to English) or English.

47. What is Gaelic?

A Celtic language spoken in Scotland and Ireland. Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic are related but different languages.

48. What were Scottish clans?

Extended family groups that controlled territories, had their own leaders (chiefs), and provided mutual protection and support.

49. Were McCrearys part of a clan?

Yes, they were connected to clan systems in Scotland, though the exact clan affiliations are sometimes unclear due to the complexity of Scottish clan relationships.

50. What is tartan?

A plaid pattern associated with Scottish clans. Different clans traditionally had different tartan patterns.

51. What kind of music did they bring?

Scottish and Irish folk music, including fiddle tunes, ballads, and psalms. This evolved into American bluegrass and country music.

52. What instruments did they play?

Fiddles, bagpipes (in Scotland), and later in America, banjos, guitars, and dulcimers.

53. What foods were traditional?

Oatmeal, potatoes, cabbage, turnips, barley, and mutton (sheep meat). In America, they added corn, beans, and squash.

54. What were their houses like?

In Scotland and Ireland: small stone or thatch cottages. In America: log cabins on the frontier, later frame houses.

55. What kind of work did they do?

Mainly farming (growing crops and raising livestock). Some were weavers, blacksmiths, millers, or shopkeepers.

56. Were they educated?

Presbyterian culture strongly valued education. Most communities established schools, often connected to churches.

57. What is a "Scotch-Irish" person?

Someone of Scottish descent who lived in Ireland for several generations, then often emigrated to America. Also called "Ulster Scots."

58. Is "Scotch-Irish" the same as Irish?

No. Scotch-Irish refers to Protestant Scottish families who lived in Ulster, while "Irish" usually refers to Catholic native Irish families.

59. What values were important to Scotch-Irish culture?

Independence, self-reliance, education, Presbyterian faith, family loyalty, and resistance to outside authority.

60. How did they influence American culture?

They shaped frontier culture, American music (bluegrass/country), attitudes toward government, and settlement patterns in Appalachia and the South.

Genealogy & Research Questions

Start with your family tree, working backward from what you know. Use genealogy databases like FamilySearch.org or Ancestry.com.

62. Why is it hard to trace McCreary ancestors?

Many Irish and Scottish records before 1800 were lost, destroyed, or never existed. Also, name variations make searching difficult.

63. What records were destroyed?

The 1922 fire at the Irish Public Record Office in Dublin destroyed census records, parish registers, wills, and other vital documents.

64. Where can I find McCreary records?

Try FamilySearch.org (free), Ancestry.com (paid), Irish archives (PRONI in Belfast, National Archives in Dublin), and Scottish records (ScotlandsPeople).

65. What is a "brick wall" in genealogy?

A point where you can't find records to go further back in your family tree. This is common with Scotch-Irish research before 1800.

66. Can DNA tests help?

Yes! DNA tests can connect you with living cousins who are researching the same family lines, helping break through brick walls.

67. What DNA test should I take?

Autosomal DNA tests (AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage) are best for finding cousins and recent ancestry.

Not necessarily. Multiple unrelated families might have had ancestors named Ruaidhri (Rory), creating separate McCreary lines.

69. What are primary sources?

Original documents created at the time (birth certificates, letters, diaries). These are the most reliable genealogy sources.

70. What are church records?

Baptism, marriage, and burial records kept by churches. These are often the oldest records available for families.

71. What is Griffith's Valuation?

An Irish property survey from 1847-1864. It's free to search and shows who owned or rented land in each Irish townland.

72. What was a townland?

A small administrative division in Ireland, smaller than a parish. Knowing your ancestor's townland helps narrow searches.

73. How much does genealogy research cost?

Free resources exist (FamilySearch.org), but paid databases (Ancestry.com ~$25/month, Roots Ireland ~$18/day) offer more records.

74. Should I trust online family trees?

Use them as clues, but verify everything with original sources. Many online trees contain errors that get copied repeatedly.

75. What's the best way to start research?

Interview living relatives, gather family documents (Bibles, certificates, photos), and build your tree backward one generation at a time.

American Frontier & Settlement

76. What was the American frontier?

The edge of settled territory, where Europeans met wilderness and Native American lands. It moved westward over time.

77. How did families get land?

Through purchase, land grants for military service, squatting (settling unclaimed land), or the Homestead Act (later 1800s).

78. What was frontier life like?

Difficult and dangerous. Families built their own houses, grew their own food, made their own clothes, and faced threats from disease and conflicts.

79. Did they have conflicts with Native Americans?

Yes. As settlers moved onto Native lands, violent conflicts occurred. Many frontier families, including Scotch-Irish, participated in these conflicts.

80. What was a log cabin?

A house made from logs notched and stacked. Scotch-Irish and other settlers built these quickly on the frontier.

81. How did frontier communities form?

Families from the same region often settled together. They built churches, schools, and mills to create communities.

82. What did frontier children do?

They worked on farms (planting, harvesting, caring for animals), helped with household tasks, and attended school when available.

83. Were there frontier schools?

Yes, often one-room schoolhouses run by churches. Presbyterian communities prioritized education.

84. What was a circuit rider?

A traveling minister who visited isolated frontier communities on horseback, preaching and performing marriages and baptisms.

85. How did families communicate over long distances?

Letters carried by travelers, postal riders, or family members. Mail was slow and unreliable.

Historical Challenges & Conflicts

86. What was feudalism?

A medieval system where lords owned land and peasants worked it in exchange for protection. This existed in Scotland before the clan system.

87. Who was William Wallace?

A Scottish hero who led resistance against English invasion in the 1290s, portrayed in the movie "Braveheart."

88. Who was Robert the Bruce?

The Scottish king who defeated England at the Battle of Bannockburn (1314) and secured Scottish independence.

89. What was the Glorious Revolution?

The 1688 overthrow of Catholic King James II and his replacement by Protestant William of Orange, securing Protestant rule.

90. What were the Test Acts?

Laws requiring government officials to be Anglican. This prevented Presbyterians from holding office in Ireland.

91. Why did Presbyterians face discrimination in Ireland?

The Anglican Church was the official church. Both Catholics and Presbyterian dissenters faced restrictions on rights and opportunities.

92. What was Cromwell's Conquest?

Oliver Cromwell's brutal 1649-1653 military campaign that crushed Irish resistance, with massacres at Drogheda and Wexford.

93. What was the Treaty of Paris (1783)?

The treaty ending the American Revolution, giving America all land east of the Mississippi River.

94. What opened Kentucky and Tennessee for settlement?

The Treaty of Paris and later treaties with Native tribes opened these territories for settlement in the 1780s-1800s.

95. What was the Mississippi River's significance?

It was America's western boundary after 1783. Crossing it represented a new phase of westward expansion.

Modern Questions

96. Do McCreary families still exist?

Yes! McCrearys live throughout America, Scotland, Ireland, and other countries where descendants settled.

97. Are there McCreary family reunions?

Some branches organize reunions. Check genealogy websites and DNA project groups for connections.

98. Can I visit ancestral homes?

Some old homes and areas still exist in Scotland and Ulster, though specific family properties may be hard to identify without detailed records.

99. How is this history taught in schools?

Scotch-Irish migration is part of American history courses covering colonial settlement, westward expansion, and cultural development.

100. Why should I care about this history?

Understanding where your family came from helps you know who you are. It connects you to larger historical movements and shows how ordinary people shaped history through their choices and courage.

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