John Gealey and Mary Renwick

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Husband John Gealey ¹

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         Father: James Gealey (      -      ) 2
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Wife Mary Renwick ³

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         Father: [Father] Renwick (      -      )
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Children

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1 M James Gealey ⁴

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         Spouse: Mary M. Smith (      -      ) 4
           Marr: 1800 4

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2 M William Gealey ¹

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            AKA: William Gealy 5
           Born: Abt 1791
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           Died: Abt 1875 - ? Lawrence Co, PA
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         Spouse: sJoanna Stewart (1801-      ) 5 6

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3 F Margaret Gealey ⁴

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4 F Sarah Gealey ⁴

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5 M Harry Gealey ⁴

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6 M Renwick Gealey ⁴

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General Notes: Husband - John Gealey

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He lived his early life in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and there married, in 1797, coming with two of his children, a daughter, aged sixteen years and William, aged six years, to the locality that became Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He cleared a small tract of land and erected thereon a log cabin, work that he completed in the fall. It was necessary for him to return east and to bring the remainder of his family to the new home, and although he realized the folly of leaving his children alone, there was no alternative, and he expected to be able to make the journey rapidly. Upon arrival at his home in the east, however, he was stricken ill, and after his recovery other members of his family contracted serious maladies, so that his departure to join his two children in Lawrence County was delayed until the following spring. In the meantime the son and daughter underwent severe discomfort and suffering. Although in no actual physical danger during their father's absence, the meagreness of their food supply and the lack of communication with neighbors, the nearest white settlers being three miles distant, made their plight miserable. The daughter cared for her younger brother with steadfast devotion, and received substantial assistance from an old Indian man, whose home was about one-half of a mile distant. His resources were, however, no more extensive than theirs, and during the last six weeks of their lonely stay the two subsisted upon potatoes alone. The reunion was a joyful one, and from that time prosperity attended the family, John Gealey clearing and cultivating four hundred acres of land, on which he lived until his death. He and his brothers were soldiers in the American army during the Revolutionary War, and four of his brothers met death in that struggle. [GPHWP, 1341]

In the month of November, 1798, John Gealey came with his family to Lawrence County from Washington County, Pennsylvania, where they lived on the bank of Peter's Creek. At the time Mr. Gealey settled, his family consisted of his wife and eight children, but only part of them came with him. He had been out in 1797, and made improvements, bringing with him his daughter, Margaret, who did the cooking for him while he was busy getting the place in shape to receive his family. After finishing their work for that fall, they went back, and in 1798 Mr. Gealey again came out, bringing with him this time his oldest daughter and his son, William, the latter about six years old at the time. Mr. Gealey left his children alone in the wilderness for a while, and went back after his wife and the rest of his family. The two children had not seen their mother for about a year, and when she came, in 1799, the meeting between her and her children can better be imagined than described. The children who came with their mother in 1799 were Renwick and Sarah. Mr. Gealey and his son, Harry, each settled a 400-acre tract. In 1800 the oldest son, James Gealey, was married to Mary M. Smith, who was living with Charles Blair, in the northern part of the township.
When Mr. Gealey first came, in 1797, he raised a log cabin, made a small clearing, and raised some corn. He brought his goods with him in a wagon, which was probably the first one in the township. A road had to be cut ahead in order to get the wagon through, and they advanced but slowly. The old homestead subsequently came into possession of the youngest son, Renwick Gealey. The Gealey family descended from James Gealey, who came from Ireland when a young man, probably about 1745. The land which John Gealey settled was settled under Elliott & Denniston, "land jobbers," Mr. Gealey, although having served in the Revolution, not choosing to settle on "donation" land. [TCHNCLC, 299]

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General Notes: Wife - Mary Renwick

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She was a descendant of James Renwick, of Scotland.

1 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1342.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915), Pg 1341.

3 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 300.

4 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 299.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 662.

6 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 288.