Glossary of Terms for the McCreary Family Heritage
This glossary provides definitions for historical, cultural, and genealogical terms used throughout the McCreary family heritage site.
A
Anglican
The Church of England and its associated denominations. Anglicanism was established when King Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1534. Anglican church governance is episcopal (led by bishops) rather than Presbyterian (led by elders). In Ireland, the Anglican Church was the official established church, and holding government positions often required conforming to Anglican practices, which discriminated against both Catholics and Presbyterians.
Antrim
A county in northern Ireland (Ulster) where many Scottish settlers, including McCreary families, established communities during the Ulster Plantation. County Antrim is closest to Scotland, separated by only 13 miles of sea at the narrowest point of the North Channel. Its proximity to Scotland and similar landscape made it attractive to Scottish immigrants.
Appalachian Backcountry
The frontier region along the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania south to Georgia in the 1700s. This area became the primary settlement zone for Scotch-Irish immigrants, who established farms, churches, and communities throughout the region. The backcountry was characterized by cheap land, minimal government oversight, danger from conflicts with Native Americans, and a culture of independence and self-reliance.
B
Baptist
A Protestant Christian denomination that emphasizes adult baptism (believer's baptism) rather than infant baptism, and the complete independence of local congregations. Baptists believe individuals should choose faith for themselves when old enough to understand it, rather than being baptized as infants. Baptist churches are even more decentralized than Presbyterian churches, with each congregation fully independent. Baptists became numerous on the American frontier alongside Presbyterians, though their worship style and governance differed.
Battle of Bannockburn
A decisive battle fought on June 23-24, 1314, near Stirling, Scotland, during the First War of Scottish Independence. Robert the Bruce led a Scottish army of approximately 7,000 men to victory over an English force of 15,000-20,000 under King Edward II. The victory secured Scottish independence and became a defining moment in Scottish national identity. Clans that fought at Bannockburn gained prestige and land grants.
Battle of Kings Mountain
A pivotal battle fought on October 7, 1780, during the American Revolution in South Carolina. Scotch-Irish "Overmountain Men" from what is now Tennessee surrounded and defeated a Loyalist force led by British Major Patrick Ferguson. The entire Loyalist force was killed or captured, with minimal casualties among the American forces. The victory demonstrated the effectiveness of frontier rifle tactics and proved decisive in the Southern campaign of the Revolution.
Battle of the Boyne
A battle fought on July 1, 1690 (July 12 by modern calendar), between forces of Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange near the River Boyne in Ireland. William's victory ended James's attempt to regain the throne and secured Protestant rule in Britain and Ireland. While not the bloodiest battle of the Williamite War, it became deeply symbolic in Irish Protestant culture and is still commemorated annually by Ulster Protestants.
Carolinas
The British colonies of North Carolina and South Carolina, major destinations for Scotch-Irish immigration in the mid-1700s. The Carolina backcountry, particularly the Piedmont region, attracted thousands of Scotch-Irish families moving south from Pennsylvania along the Great Wagon Road. McCreary families settled in both colonies, establishing Presbyterian churches and frontier communities.
Catholic
The Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination. In the context of McCreary family history, Catholicism was the religion of most native Irish people, while Scottish and English settlers who came during the Ulster Plantation were predominantly Protestant (Presbyterian or Anglican). Religious differences between Catholics and Protestants shaped Irish history for centuries, with Catholics facing legal discrimination under the Penal Laws following the Williamite War.
Celtic Christianity
The distinctive form of Christianity that developed in Ireland and Scotland from the 400s-600s CE, before being brought into alignment with Roman Catholic practices. Celtic Christianity emphasized monasticism, missionary work, scholarship, and art. Unlike Christianity in Roman-controlled Europe, Irish Christianity spread peacefully through persuasion rather than imperial conquest. Important Celtic Christian centers included Iona in Scotland and numerous Irish monasteries. While the Synod of Whitby (664) aligned Celtic regions with Rome, Celtic traditions of learning and monasticism remained influential for centuries.
Celtic Religion
The pre-Christian polytheistic religions practiced by Celtic peoples in Scotland and Ireland before the arrival of Christianity (c. 400 BCE - 500 CE). Ancient Celts worshipped multiple gods associated with nature, warfare, and fertility. Druids served as priests, judges, and keepers of oral traditions. Sacred sites included stone circles, groves, and wells. Religious practices centered on seasonal festivals (Samhain, Beltane, Lughnasadh, Imbolc) that later influenced Christian holy days. This worldview emphasized connection to the land and cycles of nature.
Clan System
The traditional Scottish social structure based on kinship and loyalty to a clan chief. Clans were extended family networks that controlled specific territories, maintained their own armies, and provided mutual protection and support. The clan system emphasized blood ties and personal loyalty to the chief above feudal obligations to lords or kings. This system shaped Scottish society from medieval times through the 1700s and influenced how Scottish families organized communities in Ulster and America.
Covenant Theology
A Protestant theological concept, particularly important in Presbyterian thought, that views the relationship between God and humans as based on covenants (sacred agreements or contracts). This theology influenced Scotch-Irish political thinking, leading them to view governments as having contractual obligations to the people. When authorities violated these obligations, resistance was justified. This theological framework helped inspire both Ulster resistance to English control and American revolutionary fervor.
Cromwell's Conquest
Oliver Cromwell's brutal military campaign to reconquer Ireland from 1649-1653 following the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Cromwell's forces besieged and captured major towns, with infamous massacres at Drogheda and Wexford. The conquest resulted in massive confiscation of Catholic-owned land (reducing Catholic landholding from 60% to 20% of Ireland), execution or exile of Irish leaders, and establishment of Protestant control. The campaign left a lasting legacy of trauma and bitterness in Irish-English relations.
Cumberland Valley
A valley in south-central Pennsylvania that became an early settlement area for Scotch-Irish immigrants arriving in the 1720s-1740s. The valley offered good farmland, ran along a natural transportation corridor, and provided a relatively safe frontier location. Many McCreary families settled in the Cumberland Valley before later generations moved south along the Great Wagon Road.
D
Dál Riata
An ancient Gaelic kingdom that existed from roughly 500-900 CE, spanning both northeastern Ireland and western Scotland (modern Argyll and Inner Hebrides). Founded by Irish Scots who migrated to Scotland, Dál Riata was crucial in spreading Christianity, the Gaelic language, and Irish culture to Scotland. The kingdom connected both sides of the North Channel and played a key role in Scotland's Christianization. Kenneth MacAlpin, who united the Picts and Scots to create the Kingdom of Scotland in 843, was a king of Dál Riata.
Donegal
A county in northwestern Ireland (Ulster) that received significant Scottish Presbyterian settlement during the Ulster Plantation. County Donegal was one of the six Ulster counties most heavily affected by the plantation scheme, with Scottish families receiving land grants and establishing Presbyterian communities in the early 1600s.
Down
A county in northeastern Ireland (Ulster) adjacent to County Antrim, where many Scottish settlers established farms and communities during the Ulster Plantation. County Down's proximity to Scotland and its landscape similar to the Scottish lowlands made it attractive to Presbyterian immigrants from Scotland.
Drogheda
An Irish town on the east coast north of Dublin, site of a notorious massacre during Cromwell's Conquest in September 1649. After a siege, Cromwell's forces breached the walls and killed approximately 3,500 people, including soldiers and civilians. Cromwell justified the massacre as revenge for Protestant deaths during the 1641 Rebellion. The event became symbolic of English brutality in Irish Catholic memory.
Druids
The priestly class in ancient Celtic society who served as religious leaders, judges, teachers, and keepers of oral tradition. Druids performed religious ceremonies, interpreted omens, presided over sacrifices, and preserved Celtic knowledge through memorization and oral transmission rather than writing. They held significant social and political power in pre-Christian Celtic Scotland and Ireland. Sacred sites like stone circles, groves, and wells were centers of druidic religious practice. Druidism declined with the Christianization of Ireland and Scotland beginning in the 400s-500s CE.
E
Edward I
King of England from 1272-1307, known as "Longshanks" and "the Hammer of the Scots." Edward invaded Scotland in 1296, beginning the First War of Scottish Independence. He sought to subjugate Scotland and assert English overlordship, leading to decades of war. His campaigns sparked Scottish resistance led by William Wallace and later Robert the Bruce.
F
Feudalism
A medieval European social and political system based on land ownership and military service. In feudalism, lords granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. The system created a hierarchy from king to nobles to knights to peasants. Feudalism was introduced to Scotland by Norman influence, where it existed alongside the traditional clan system, sometimes creating competing loyalties.
First War of Scottish Independence
A conflict from 1296-1328 between Scotland and England, sparked by Edward I's invasion and his attempt to assert English control over Scotland. The war included famous Scottish victories at Stirling Bridge (1297) led by William Wallace and Bannockburn (1314) led by Robert the Bruce. The war ended with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328), which recognized Scottish independence under Robert the Bruce.
Flight of the Earls
The departure of Ulster's Gaelic Irish lords from Ireland in September 1607. After their defeat in the Nine Years' War, the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell, along with nearly 100 family members and followers, fled to continental Europe to seek Spanish or Papal support. Their departure left Ulster without its traditional Gaelic leadership and provided the English crown with the opportunity to confiscate their lands and launch the Ulster Plantation.
G
Gaelic
A Celtic language spoken in Scotland (Scottish Gaelic) and Ireland (Irish Gaelic). Scottish Gaelic was the language of many Highland and western Scottish families, including the McCrearys. The surname MacRuairidh is the Scottish Gaelic form meaning "son of Rory." While most Scotch-Irish immigrants to America spoke English or Scots by the 1700s, Gaelic words and place names remained embedded in their cultural heritage.
Georgia
The southernmost British colony in America, established in 1733. Scotch-Irish immigrants moving south along the Great Wagon Road reached Georgia by the 1760s. The colony's frontier regions attracted settlers seeking cheap land, though Georgia received fewer Scotch-Irish immigrants than the Carolinas or Pennsylvania.
Glorious Revolution
The overthrow of Catholic King James II of England in 1688 and his replacement by Protestant William of Orange and his wife Mary (James's daughter). The revolution was "glorious" because it was largely bloodless in England, though it sparked the Williamite War in Ireland. The Glorious Revolution established the principle that Parliament, not the monarch, held ultimate authority in Britain and secured Protestant succession to the throne.
Great Wagon Road
The main overland route for Scotch-Irish migration from Pennsylvania southward through the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and into the Carolinas and Georgia. The road followed Native American trails and became the primary route for frontier settlement from the 1740s through the early 1800s. Thousands of Scotch-Irish families, including McCrearys, traveled the Great Wagon Road seeking land and opportunity.
I
Iona
A small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, site of the monastery founded by St. Columba in 563 CE. Iona became one of the most important religious centers in medieval Europe, serving as the base for Christianizing Scotland and northern England. The monastery was a major center of learning, scholarship, and art—the famous Book of Kells was begun there. Iona monks established churches and monasteries throughout Scotland, converting Pictish kings and spreading Celtic Christianity. Scottish kings were buried on Iona for centuries, reflecting its spiritual significance.
Irish Rebellion
A violent uprising in 1641 by Irish Catholics in Ulster against Protestant settlers who had taken their lands during the Ulster Plantation. The rebellion resulted in thousands of Protestant deaths (estimates range from 4,000 to 12,000, with contemporary Protestant sources claiming far higher numbers). Stories of massacres, some true and many exaggerated, became embedded in Protestant collective memory. The rebellion was eventually crushed by Cromwell's forces in a brutal reconquest from 1649-1653.
J
Jacobite
Supporters of King James II (in Latin: Jacobus) and his descendants' claim to the British throne after James was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In Ireland, Jacobites were primarily Catholics who fought for James during the Williamite War (1689-1691). The term later applied to supporters of James's son and grandson in failed uprisings in 1715 and 1745.
James B. McCreary
A prominent Kentucky politician (1838-1918) who served as the state's governor twice (1875-1879 and 1911-1915) and as a U.S. Senator (1902-1909). McCreary County, Kentucky, established in 1912, was named in his honor, recognizing the family's significance in the region.
James I
King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603, uniting the Scottish and English crowns in his person (the Union of the Crowns). James sponsored the Ulster Plantation beginning in 1609, using Scottish and English Protestant settlers to colonize northern Ireland. His reign facilitated Scottish migration to Ulster.
James II
King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685-1688. A Catholic monarch ruling Protestant kingdoms, James's efforts to expand Catholic rights and his autocratic tendencies led to his overthrow in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He fled to France, then raised an army in Ireland to reclaim his throne, triggering the Williamite War. His defeat at the Battle of the Boyne (1690) ended his hopes of restoration.
James VI
King of Scotland from 1567-1625, who became James I of England in 1603 when he inherited the English throne, creating the Union of the Crowns. As ruler of both kingdoms, James facilitated Scottish migration to Ireland through the Ulster Plantation and promoted closer ties between Scotland and England.
John Knox
A Scottish minister and theologian (c.1514-1572) who led the Scottish Reformation and established Presbyterianism in Scotland. Knox studied with John Calvin in Geneva and brought Calvinist theology to Scotland. His fierce sermons and political influence helped make the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the Kirk) the established church. Knox's emphasis on education, democratic church governance, and covenant theology shaped Scottish culture and was carried by Scotch-Irish immigrants to America.
K
Kenneth MacAlpin
King who united the Picts and Scots in 843 to create the Kingdom of Scotland (Alba). Kenneth MacAlpin (in Gaelic: Cináed mac Ailpín) is traditionally considered the first King of Scots and the founder of the Scottish nation. His unification laid the foundation for the clan system and Scottish national identity.
Kentucky
A state that became a major destination for Scotch-Irish settlement in the late 1700s and early 1800s. After the American Revolution, thousands of families from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas moved into Kentucky seeking land and opportunity. McCreary families were part of this westward migration. McCreary County, Kentucky (established 1912), was named for Governor James B. McCreary.
Kingdom of Scotland
The independent nation that existed from 843 (when Kenneth MacAlpin united the Picts and Scots) until 1707 (when Scotland and England merged to form Great Britain). The Kingdom of Scotland developed its own laws, culture, clan system, and later Presbyterian religion. Though the crowns were united in 1603, Scotland remained a separate kingdom until the 1707 Act of Union.
L
Lowlanders
People from the Lowlands of Scotland—the less mountainous southern and eastern regions of Scotland, as opposed to the Highlands in the north and west. Lowlanders typically spoke Scots (a Germanic language related to English) rather than Gaelic, practiced Presbyterian religion, and had more contact with England. Most Scottish settlers in the Ulster Plantation were Lowlanders, as were most Scotch-Irish immigrants to America.
M
Mac Ruaidhri
The Scottish Gaelic form of the McCreary surname, meaning "son of Ruaidhri" (Rory). The "Mac" prefix means "son of" in Gaelic. Over time and through Anglicization, Mac Ruaidhri evolved into various spellings: MacRory, McCrory, McCreary, MacCreary, McCrary, and others. All these surnames trace back to ancestors named Ruaidhri.
McCreary County, Kentucky
A county in southern Kentucky established in 1912 and named for James B. McCreary, who served as Kentucky's governor and U.S. Senator. The county's name honors the McCreary family's prominence in Kentucky history and reflects the significant Scotch-Irish settlement in the region.
Methodist
A Protestant Christian denomination that emerged in England in the 1700s as a movement within Anglicanism, founded by John and Charles Wesley. Methodism emphasized personal religious experience, emotional worship, conversion experiences, and holy living. Methodist circuit riders (traveling preachers) were particularly effective in reaching frontier communities in America, competing with Presbyterian ministers for converts. Methodist services were more emotional and less formal than Presbyterian services, featuring singing, emotional testimonies, and revival meetings. Methodists became one of the largest denominations in 19th century America.
Mississippi River
The major river that formed the western boundary of the United States after the Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the American Revolution. The treaty gave the new nation all territory east of the Mississippi, opening vast lands for settlement. This westward expansion drew Scotch-Irish families from the eastern states into Kentucky, Tennessee, and eventually across the Mississippi.
N
New Castle, Delaware
A port town on the Delaware River that served as a common entry point for Scotch-Irish immigrants arriving in America in the 1700s. Along with Philadelphia, New Castle was where many immigrant ships landed. From there, families typically traveled west into Pennsylvania or south along the Great Wagon Road.
Nine Years' War
A conflict from 1594-1603 between Irish forces led by Ulster lords Hugh O'Neill (Earl of Tyrone) and Red Hugh O'Donnell (Earl of Tyrconnell) against English conquest. The war ended with Irish defeat at the Battle of Kinsale (1601) and the eventual submission of the Ulster earls. The war's conclusion and the subsequent Flight of the Earls left Ulster open for the English and Scottish colonization scheme known as the Ulster Plantation.
No Surrender
The famous battle cry of the defenders of Derry during the 1689 siege, when the city refused to surrender to Jacobite forces despite disease, starvation, and bombardment. "No Surrender" became a motto of Ulster Protestant resistance and remains a symbol of determination and defiance in Ulster Protestant culture.
Norman Conquest
The invasion and conquest of England by William of Normandy in 1066, beginning with his victory at the Battle of Hastings. The Norman Conquest brought feudalism to England and eventually to Scotland, as Norman nobles were granted lands in both kingdoms. The Normans introduced the feudal system that sometimes conflicted with Scotland's traditional clan structure.
North Channel
The strait between northeastern Ireland and southwestern Scotland, only 13 miles wide at its narrowest point. This short sea crossing made migration from Scotland to Ulster relatively easy and inexpensive, facilitating the Ulster Plantation. The proximity meant that Scottish and Ulster communities maintained connections, with some families moving back and forth.
O
Oliver Cromwell
English military and political leader (1599-1658) who led parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and later ruled as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. Cromwell led the brutal reconquest of Ireland from 1649-1653, crushing the Irish Rebellion with infamous massacres at Drogheda and Wexford. His campaigns resulted in massive land confiscation from Catholics and redistribution to Protestants, reshaping Irish demographics and politics.
Overmountain Men
Frontiersmen from settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains (in what is now Tennessee) who played a crucial role in the American Revolution. These predominantly Scotch-Irish settlers crossed the mountains to fight at the Battle of Kings Mountain (1780), where they defeated a Loyalist force. The Overmountain Men exemplified frontier fighting tactics, using rifles, woodcraft, and knowledge of wilderness warfare.
P
Penal Laws
A series of harsh laws enacted in Ireland from 1691-1760 that stripped Catholics of civil rights, land ownership, voting rights, education opportunities, and religious freedom. Catholics could not own land, vote, hold office, carry weapons, practice law, or receive a university education. While primarily targeting Catholics, some provisions also affected Protestant dissenters like Presbyterians. The Penal Laws created a rigid social hierarchy that kept Catholics impoverished and politically powerless for generations.
Pennsylvania
A state in the Eastern United States were many McCreary families migrated to from Scotland and Ireland.
The large group of McCreary families that settled in Pennsylvania were know as the Pennsylvania Branch of the McCrearys. However, it is important to note that many of these families with the same McCreary surname do not have a known common ancestor.
Philadelphia
The major port city in Pennsylvania and the primary entry point for Scotch-Irish immigration to America in the 1700s. Founded by Quakers, Philadelphia offered religious tolerance and served as a gateway to Pennsylvania's interior. Most Scotch-Irish immigrants landed in Philadelphia, then moved west to frontier areas or south along the Great Wagon Road.
Picts
An ancient people who inhabited northern and eastern Scotland before the medieval period. The Picts were conquered and united with the Scots by Kenneth MacAlpin in 843, creating the Kingdom of Scotland. Pictish culture and language eventually disappeared, absorbed into Scottish Gaelic culture.
Presbyterian
A Protestant Christian denomination that follows a form of church governance by elders (presbyters) rather than bishops. Presbyterianism emerged from the Protestant Reformation, particularly influenced by John Calvin and John Knox in Scotland. The Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the Kirk) became the established church in 1690. Most Scotch-Irish immigrants, including McCreary families, were Presbyterian. This religious identity shaped their communities in Ulster and later in North America, where they established Presbyterian churches as centers of worship, education, and community life. Presbyterian beliefs emphasized education, individual Bible reading, and democratic church governance, values that influenced American frontier culture.
Protestant Reformation
A religious revolution that began in 1517 when Martin Luther challenged Catholic Church practices in Germany, leading to the creation of Protestant Christianity. The Reformation spread across Europe, with different regions developing distinct forms of Protestantism. In Switzerland, John Calvin developed theology that would influence Presbyterianism. In Scotland, John Knox led the Scottish Reformation (1560) that established Presbyterianism. The Reformation created permanent divisions between Catholics and Protestants that shaped European and British history for centuries, including the religious conflicts that drove Scotch-Irish emigration to America.
Q
Quaker
Members of the Religious Society of Friends, a Protestant Christian movement founded in England in the 1600s by George Fox. Quakers believe in direct personal experience of God without need for ministers, formal liturgy, or church hierarchy. They practice pacifism (opposition to war), simplicity, and equality. Quakers were persecuted in England but found refuge in America. William Penn, a Quaker, founded Pennsylvania as a colony offering religious freedom. Philadelphia became a major entry point for Scotch-Irish Presbyterian immigrants, though Quaker and Presbyterian religious styles differed greatly. Quakers were early opponents of slavery.
R
Robert the Bruce
King Robert I of Scotland (1274-1329), who led Scotland to independence from England. After years of guerrilla warfare, Robert achieved a decisive victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton (1328) recognized Scotland's independence under his rule. Robert the Bruce became Scotland's greatest national hero and a symbol of Scottish resistance to English domination.
Ruaidhri
A Scottish Gaelic personal name (anglicized as Rory) meaning "red king." The name likely referred to red hair or a fierce temperament. Ruaidhri was a common name in medieval Scotland and Ireland. The McCreary surname derives from Mac Ruaidhri, meaning "son of Ruaidhri," indicating descent from an ancestor named Ruaidhri who lived many generations ago.
S
Scotch-Irish
Also called Ulster Scots. The term refers to people of Scottish descent who settled in the Ulster region of northern Ireland during the 1600s-1700s, and their descendants who later immigrated to North America. These families were predominantly Presbyterian Scots who moved to Ireland as part of the Ulster Plantation. After several generations in Ireland, many faced economic hardship and religious discrimination, leading to mass migration to the American colonies in the 1700s. The Scotch-Irish played a significant role in settling the American frontier, particularly in Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Despite living in Ireland for generations, they maintained a distinct identity, separate from both native Irish Catholics and English settlers. The term "Scotch-Irish" is primarily used in America; in Ireland and Britain, they are typically called "Ulster Scots."
Scottish Reformation
The religious revolution in Scotland in 1560 that established Protestantism, specifically Presbyterianism, as Scotland's official religion. Led by John Knox and influenced by John Calvin's teachings, the Reformation overthrew Catholic Church authority and created the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the Kirk). The Scottish Reformation shaped Scottish culture, emphasizing education, democratic church governance, and covenant theology—values that Scotch-Irish immigrants carried to America.
Scots
A Celtic people from Ireland who migrated to western Scotland around 500 AD, establishing the Kingdom of Dál Riata. They spoke Gaelic and gradually expanded their influence. In 843, Kenneth MacAlpin, who ruled both the Scots and the Picts, united these groups to create the Kingdom of Scotland. The term "Scots" eventually came to refer to all people of Scotland.
Shenandoah Valley
A fertile valley in western Virginia between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The Shenandoah Valley was a major route for Scotch-Irish migration southward from Pennsylvania along the Great Wagon Road in the mid-1700s. The valley's good farmland, similar to Ulster and Scotland in climate and topography, attracted thousands of Presbyterian settlers who established farms and communities.
Siege of Derry
A 105-day siege from April to July 1689 during the Williamite War, when Jacobite forces surrounded the Protestant city of Derry (Londonderry) in Ulster. Despite starvation, disease, and bombardment that killed approximately 4,000 defenders and 7,000 civilians, the city refused to surrender to Catholic King James II's forces. When relief ships finally broke through, the siege ended in Protestant victory. "No Surrender" became the city's motto and a symbol of Ulster Protestant resistance. The siege remains a foundational event in Ulster Protestant identity and is commemorated annually.
St. Columba
Irish monk and missionary (521-597 CE) who founded the monastery at Iona, Scotland in 563. Columba (also called Colum Cille) left Ireland and established Iona as a base for Christianizing Scotland. From Iona, monks spread Christianity throughout Scotland and northern England, converting Pictish kings and establishing churches and monasteries. Iona became a major center of Celtic Christianity, learning, and art. Columba's Celtic Christian tradition emphasized monasticism, scholarship, missionary work, and illuminated manuscripts. He is one of Scotland's patron saints and his legacy shaped Scottish religious culture for centuries.
St. Patrick
Christian missionary and patron saint of Ireland (c. 385-461 CE). Patrick was kidnapped from Britain as a teenager and enslaved in Ireland. After escaping, he returned as a missionary, establishing churches, monasteries, and schools throughout Ireland. Patrick is credited with converting much of Ireland to Christianity, though Christian communities may have existed earlier. Irish Christianity under Patrick's influence developed distinctive features including strong monasticism and missionary emphasis. Unlike most of Europe where Christianity spread through Roman imperial power, Ireland adopted Christianity peacefully. Patrick's legacy made Ireland a center of Christian learning that sent missionaries throughout Europe during the early medieval period.
Synod of Whitby
A church council held in 664 CE in Northumbria (northern England) that resolved differences between Celtic and Roman Christian practices. The synod decided to follow Roman Catholic practices regarding the calculation of Easter and monastic tonsure (haircut) styles, rather than Celtic Christian traditions. While the decision favored Roman practices, Celtic monasticism and scholarship remained influential in Scotland and Ireland for centuries. The Synod of Whitby marked the beginning of closer ties between Celtic regions and the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome. This Catholic tradition would dominate Scotland and Ireland until the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s.
T
Tennessee
A state that became a major destination for Scotch-Irish settlement in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The region east of the Appalachian Mountains (East Tennessee) attracted thousands of Scotch-Irish families seeking land after the American Revolution. McCreary families were among those who settled in Tennessee, establishing farms, churches, and communities. The state's frontier character and Presbyterian heritage reflect its Scotch-Irish roots.
Test Acts
Laws passed in England and extended to Ireland requiring all public officials and military officers to conform to the Anglican Church by taking communion according to Anglican rites. The Test Acts (primarily from 1673 and 1678) were designed to exclude Catholics from power but also affected Presbyterian dissenters in Ulster. Ulster Scots could not hold government positions, teach in schools, or serve as military officers without conforming to Anglicanism, creating a system of "double discrimination" where they faced restrictions despite being Protestant.
Treaty of Limerick
The treaty signed in October 1691 that ended the Williamite War in Ireland. The treaty offered relatively generous terms to Irish Catholics who surrendered, including freedom to practice their religion and keep their property. However, the English Parliament largely ignored these terms and instead imposed the harsh Penal Laws, stripping Catholics of rights and land. The broken promises of the Treaty of Limerick added to Irish Catholic grievances against English rule.
Treaty of Paris
The treaty signed on September 3, 1783, that officially ended the American Revolutionary War. Britain recognized American independence and ceded all territory east of the Mississippi River, from the Great Lakes to Florida. This vast territorial gain opened Kentucky, Tennessee, and other western lands for settlement, drawing Scotch-Irish families westward from the crowded eastern states.
Tyrone
A county in central Ulster that was heavily affected by the Ulster Plantation. County Tyrone was named for the O'Neill dynasty that ruled the region before the Flight of the Earls in 1607. Scottish Presbyterian settlers, including some McCreary families, received land grants in Tyrone during the plantation, establishing farms and communities alongside native Irish and English settlers.
U
Ulster
The northern province of Ireland, consisting of nine counties. Ulster became the primary destination for Scottish Presbyterian settlement during the Ulster Plantation beginning in 1609. Six Ulster counties (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone) received the heaviest Scottish and English Protestant settlement. Ulster developed a distinct character, with a Protestant majority (primarily Presbyterian Scots) unlike the rest of Ireland, which remained predominantly Catholic. This demographic difference created lasting religious and political divisions.
Ulster Plantation
A colonization scheme implemented by the English and Scottish crowns beginning in 1609, following the Flight of the Earls and the defeat of Gaelic Irish lords in Ulster. The plantation involved confiscating land from native Irish Catholics and redistributing it to Protestant settlers from Scotland and England. The goal was to establish loyal Protestant communities in northern Ireland to strengthen English control and prevent future rebellions. Scottish lowlanders, primarily Presbyterians, formed the largest group of settlers. They received land grants in exchange for developing the territory, building settlements, and maintaining English authority. The plantation created lasting demographic and religious divisions in Ireland. For Scottish families like the McCrearys, it offered economic opportunity through land ownership, but it also placed them in a contested territory between native Irish Catholics who resented the land seizures and English Anglican authorities who sometimes discriminated against Presbyterians. These tensions eventually drove many Ulster Scots families to emigrate to North America in the 1700s.
Union of the Crowns
The dynastic union that occurred in 1603 when James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne as James I, becoming king of both Scotland and England. While the two kingdoms remained legally separate with their own parliaments and laws, they now shared a monarch. This union facilitated Scottish migration to Ireland (the Ulster Plantation) and eventually led to the full political union of Scotland and England in 1707.
W
Wexford
An Irish town on the southeast coast, site of a massacre during Cromwell's Conquest in October 1649. After capturing the town, Cromwell's forces killed approximately 2,000 people, including soldiers, civilians, and Catholic priests. Along with Drogheda, the Wexford massacre became symbolic of Cromwellian brutality and remained in Irish Catholic memory for generations.
William of Orange
Prince William III of Orange (1650-1702), a Dutch Protestant nobleman who became King William III of England, Scotland, and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. William was invited by English nobles to overthrow his Catholic father-in-law, James II. When James raised an army in Ireland to reclaim his throne, William personally led forces to defeat him at the Battle of the Boyne (1690) and the Siege of Derry (1689). William's victory secured Protestant rule in Britain and Ireland. He remains a hero in Ulster Protestant culture, with his victory at the Boyne commemorated annually.
Williamite War
The war fought in Ireland from 1689-1691 between supporters of Catholic King James II (Jacobites) and supporters of Protestant King William of Orange (Williamites). The war included the famous Siege of Derry (1689) and Battle of the Boyne (1690), both won by Williamite forces. The Treaty of Limerick (1691) ended the war with Protestant victory, followed by the imposition of harsh Penal Laws against Catholics. The war cemented Protestant political control in Ireland for centuries and became foundational in Ulster Protestant identity.
About This Glossary
Term definitions in this glossary aim to be:
- Precise - Accurately describing the term's meaning
- Concise - Providing essential information without unnecessary detail
- Distinct - Clearly differentiated from related terms
- Non-circular - Avoiding defining terms using themselves
- Contextual - Explaining relevance to McCreary family history
For terms not listed here, please see the References page for additional resources on Scotch-Irish history and genealogy.