Richard McCauley provides this history of the M'Cauly Clan

The patriarch of our branch of the M'Cauly Clan as of now is Henry M'Cauly (one record is spelled Henri M'Cauly, during this time Scotland was tied closer to France than to England). At this time there is no official records in Scotland. The only records are the parish records written by the church ministers. We have two records of Henry, the first says that he was a merchant in Glasgow, Scotland. The second record says he is the father of Reverend John M'Cauly, a minister in Dumbartonshire.

John being a good minister kept good parish records of his family, which is to be expected. John's wife is Katherine Buchanan, the Buchanan Clan's territory was north and each of Loch Lommand. The next record that we find from John is in the Orkneys Islands. The Orkneys Islands are off the north east coast of Scotland. The islands are very stark and isolated. This would not have been a good assignment for a minister with young children. James is born during this period of time. John and Katherine have four children that we know of Alexander, John, James and Isobel. The next record that we find is at Carncross, Scotland, saying that James is going to Virginia in North America to become a merchant. Alexander and John would soon follow. The last record we found in Scotland is in Sterlingshire and tells of Isobel's marriage to Alexander Monarch.

James is next found in Norfolk, Virginia as Captain of a merchant ship that sails to Central and South America. During this period if you were a Captain of a merchant vessel you were automatically a Captain in the British Navy. There are records to indicate that the British Army seized two shiploads of mahogany lumber and James applies to the British Government for reimbursement. There is no indication that he ever received any compensation. James has his ship, the Elizabeth, seized by the Virginia Militia. The only information about the ship is it is listed as a fast sailing ship.

At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, James joins the Queen's Loyal Virginia Regiment as a surgeon. The Queen's Rangers soon absorb this unit. He is taken prisoner at least twice and maybe three times. There is one record of a British prisoner of war performing surgery for General Marion Francis. He is listed as Doctor James McCally. This can not be proven to be our James.

James' wife is Elizabeth Watson. Nothing is known of Elizabeth at this time. They have seven children, William, Polly who marries a Duncanson and later a man named Porter, James Jr. who marries Penelope Williams, Rebecca who marries William Bennett, Susannah who marries at least 3 times, Henry who will discuss later and Jonathon.

At the end of the war James and his family moves from the coast to Pendleton County. From there his family moves to Harrison County with his daughter, Rebecca, and her family. Here James dies on September 17, 1810. His wife Catherine moves to Clarksburg where her son, James Jr., lives. A year later the courts appoints William Bennett as guardian of Jonathon McCally.

Henry is our next subject. Henry was born in 1789 in Pendleton County. After moving to Harrison County with his family, he next shows up as a teenager working in Highland County, Ohio supplying lumber for the state's new capitol. Henry next shows up in Harrison County, Virginia. On August 10, 1810 his marriage bond to Sarah Alkire is signed by his father, James, her father, John Alkire and his brother-in-law, William Bennett. Where Henry lives later becomes Lewis County, Virginia. There is no record of Henry until 1824 when he is shown as living at Sand Fork. Henry and Sarah have eleven children; Susannah, Prudence, Elizabeth, John S., James, Lysander, George, Solomon, Joseph, Margaret and Sarah.

In the fall of 1869 Henry is charged as being a Southern sympathizer. Being too sick to respond to the summons, Henry, at the age of 80, is disenfranchised. This means that he has no rights as a citizen of the state. Shortly thereafter he moves to Kentucky where the disenfranchisement has no effect. There in 1873 Henry dies. His wife Sarah dies on November 30, 1887.

The next subject of our text is John S. McCally. John was born on December 16, 1816 in what is now Lewis County, WV. On October 3, 1838, John married Mary Burkhammer. They eventually settled in Roane County just below Reedyville. John and Mary had nine children; Amanda, Lucinda, Sarah, George, Joseph W., Malissa, John G., Josephine and Mattie. Besides operating his own 400-acre farm, John was given the task of overseeing the 200 acres that would eventually belong to the children of Solomon, his brother. One June 24, 1905, John died and was buried beside his wife in Mt. Olive Cemetery at Reedyville.

Or next subject is Joseph Will McCally. Grandpa Joe, as my father referred to him, was a farmer for most of his life. He was known to be very frugal and would spend his money very wisely, a trait that I did not inherit. On March 3, 1875 he married Sarah B. Boggs. Joseph and Sarah had eight children; Hezekiah Oathwell, John D., Maggie D., Martha B., Freeda, Lilly and Freddie. After Joseph became too old to continue farming he began a new career. He started making and selling his own salves and medicines. He would buy the ingredients and then mix the medicines and salves according to his secret formulas. His tiny black liver pills were his big seller. He would get in his buggy and travel the county selling his medicines. At the end of the day he would always find a friend or relative to spend the night with. On March 15, 1939 Joseph died. He too is buried beside his wife at Mt. Olive Cemetery at Reedyville.

Our final subject is John D. McCauley. The first thing I notice is the change in spelling of McCally. Around 1900 the spelling was changed, not only did our branch of the family change the spelling but also branches in Lewis County, WV, in Columbus, Ohio in Kentucky and in Missouri. No one knew that the other ones were changing the spelling. I was told the spelling was changed to match the pronunciation of the name. John was born on March 8, 1882 at Reedyville. On February 28, 1904 he married Ella Jane Phillips. They lived for many years on their farm on Buck Ridge near Peniel. He started a local phone company and was doing quite well until the stock market crash of 1929 wiped out the company. He also worked building houses, doing road work and masonry work. John and Ella had ten children; Roxie, Ruth, Bessie, Bertha, Sue, Hugh, Coy, Grace, Willadean and Velma. On January 8, 1957 John died and was buried in the cemetery at the Peniel Church.