Because of the large number of McDowell immigrants who arrive in Pennsylvania and populate its counties, we have partitioned the state into eastern, central, and western counties. One should check each of the three files to access the names of the counties included in each of the files.

McDowell records in other family trees at this website including adjoining states can be accessed in the Table of Contents.

For a review of abbreviations and legal terms appearing in this file, click here.

We begin with a brief discussion of possible connections between various family trees which appear in western counties and follow that discussion with a hyperlinked Descendants Table which permits one both to jump to the people and county of interest or to view the genealogical structure of families. Hyperlinks to other McDowell family members or families are included as appropriate.

The following petition documents his approximate death date, the name of his wife and child, and the age of Catherine.

James and Nancy appeared in the following census records.

Joseph and Esther appeared in the following census records.

Isaiah appeared in the following census record.

Isaiah and Elizabeth appeared in the following census records.

Isaiah witnessed the following deed.

William appeared in the following census record.

Edward and Mary appeared in the following census records.

Strabane is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The community is located along the southern border of Canonsburg and the eastern border of Houston. It's southwest of Pittsburgh.

The 1787 Will of James Bradford exists and names Agness as his daugther and wife of John McDowell.

John and Agness appeared in the following census records.

Several history books recite the story of John and Agnes as well as their children and we present those stories in the following exerpts. We provide links to the original douments where appropriate. We note that their son is never included in the presentations although we present ample evidence that he is a son. His death in 1805 is likely the reason for this.

Exerpts from Reverend McMillan's diary were reproduced by Clark.

The Chartiers Church was incorporated in 1798.

John was a member of the Pennsylvania general assembly.[Crumrine, 471]

In 1808, he served as President of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson College. Note that his son-in-law John Urie witnessed the following deed.

John purchased two tracts of land in 1778 in what was then Yohogania County VA which became Washington County PA in 1781. The location of the first tract seems strange but the bounding neighbors are later neighbors of John.

A patent index reports a survey of Samuel Shannon for 200 acres of which 147 acres are returned to John S. McDowell.

A patent was granted to John on 1 April 1785 and he sold the land to Henry Vanderment who later sold pieces of the land to others.

A patent was granted to John on 10 November 1785 as reported in the following index record. Note that the tract has the name Mount Pleasant.

He purchased a lot in Cannonsburgh in 1795.

He purchased a tract in 1802 and sold it in 1808.

He sold two tracts in 1809.

His property is mentioned in the following deeds.

He witnessed the following deeds.

He served as an agent in 1777.

John served for many years as a Justice of the Peace and witnessed, acknowledged, or certified many deeds, estate documents, and wills. We collect the dates of those various records in the following table.

The following deed likely involves his son James.

John witnessed or executed the following Wills.

An account of the Will and estate of John McDowell deceased by his executors Richard Johnson and John Park exists in Washington County PA records as File No. 38, 1827. We provide transciptions and abstracts of the documents. Receipts for disbursements or legacies from his estate to his children are presented in their sections.

Following the death of John, Agness received yearly stipends. We transcribe below the first receipt and display another receipt from 1820 which demonstrates the typical language of the receipts. The remainder of the receipts are presented in a Table.

The next document is the final stipend to Agness which was prorated against her death date and provides her death date.

An account of the Will of Agnes McDowell deceased by her Executors Richard Johnson and John Park exist in Washington County PA records as file No. 36 dated 1827. We transcribe and abstract the documents therein as follows. Receipts of items from her Will are filed with the legatees.

Item. I order and ordain that all my Just debts (if any) and funeral expences be first paid.

Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Agnes the whole of the yearly interest of the money out on loan secured by bond or note, also the yearly rent of one house and two lots in the Town of Canonsburgh, also the rent of the place where Abraham Scott now lives (always excepting and reserving the real property and principal of the money on loan entire to be disposed of as hereafter directed) together with all privileges benefits and advantages of the palce where I now live, agreeable to an article dated the 4^th day of July 1808 between Alexander Scott and me, also all the horses, cows, sheep, and hogs, with all the house and kitchen furniture with all that part that may come taken on the sale of her father's estate, absolutely to will and dispose of as she sees fit and convenient, always preserving in her own power a sufficiency for her comfortable support during life, also saddles bridles and every implement for husbandery, but if it should so happen that through fondness for one child or grandchild my wife gives to one to the neglect of another such child shall refund out of their legacy by this Testament bequeathed and if to a grand child herein named my Executors shall strictly adhere to the same principles, but if any of them whether child or grand child meet with any account not of their own procuring, she is at full liberty to help such whether their distress be occasioned by sickness or otherwise always taking care to preserve a sufficiency for her own support.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Park one hundred pounds. I futher give and bequeath to grand daugther Agnes Park and my grandsons John and William Park ten pounds each and if any of them dies before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue then the deceased's share shall descend to the survivor of one and be equally divided if two.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel Scott one hundred pounds and I give and bequeath to my grandsons William and John and my grand daughter Agnes Scott ten pounds each and if any of them dies before they are of full age or have lawful issue then the deceased's share shall descend to the survivor if one and be equally divided if two.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Rebekah Scott one hundred pounds and I give and bequeath to my grandsons William and John and my grand daughter Agnes Scott, children of Abraham Scott, ten pounds each and if any of them before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue, then the deceased's share shall descend to the survivor if one and be equally divided if two.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grandsons John McDowell, Elijah, William, and Samuel McDowell sons of James McDowell deceased the whole price of the plantation on which William Shaw lives now sold and to be paid in four equal payments commencing the first day of April next, my Executors are hereby directed to take Judgment bonds for three payments and if they think necessary to enter them up with the Protholonary and principal and interest pay over to the heirs as they arrive at full age, but if any of them dies before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue, the deceased's share shall be equally among the survivor or survivors divided. I do further bequeath to the above named John and William McDowell ten pounds each exclusive of their share of the plantation.

Item. I give and bequeath to grandson James and grand daughter Margret McDowell twenty pounds each and if any of them dies before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue, the deceased's share shall descend to the survivor of the two. I further give and bequeath to my grandson John and grand daughter Agnes McDowell, all children of John McDowell deceased, thirty pounds each and if either of them should die before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue, the deceased's share shall descend to the survivor of the two.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughters Rebekah, Sarah, and Mary Urie fifty pounds each to be paid to such of them as may be of full age or the guardians of such as are not in one year after my wifes decease, but if any of the above named grand daughters marrys in my wifes lifetime and with her consent, if she finds she has a full sufficieny for a comforable support, she may suffer my Executors to collect as much of my estate as will pay them such portion or portions as she may deem expedient, but if any of the above grand daughters should have base born child or children, such grand daughter or daughters are debarred from receiving or enjoying any part of my estate, but the share of such or such as may die before they arrive at full age or have lawful issue in such case, fifteen pounds shall be paid to William Urie and fifteen pounds to David Urie the remainder to be equally divided among the sisters that hehave well.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson Thomas Urie ten pounds and to my grandsons William and David Urie fifteen pounds each, but if either of the above named dies before they arrive at full age or have lawfull issue, then deceased's share shall be equally divided among the survivors.

Item. I do further well and ordain that the real property not bequeathed by this Testament to with the place where I now live, the place where Abraham Scott now lives, one house and two lots in Canonsburgh, one lot and one half lot in the Town of Beaver, when sold, the purchase money be divided into six equal shares and one sixth part equally divided among the children of Mary Urie, one sixth part equally divided among the children James McDowell, one sixth part equally divided among the children of John McDowell, which three already named are all deceased, one sixth part to Sarah Park, one sixth part to Rachel Scott, one sixth part to Rebekah Scott. I further ordain that in one year after my wifes decease, my Executors collect so much of the money on loan as will pay the several legatee or their guardians the several sums bequeathed to each of them and the several dividends to be raised from the sale of the real property in two years, and for carrying this Testament into full operation my Executors are vested with full power and authority to sell and convey the real property to the highest bidder and if both or either of my Executors should become purchasers they are hereby empowered to convey to each other and if either of them should die or decline to act, the other shall possess all the necessary powers for doing the whole business relative to this Will. And if both of my Executors should die or decline to act in such case the Legatees on a day named meet and choose from among themselves or some other suitable person or persons to administer who shall possess all the powers given to the Executors. And if any of my heirs become purchasers and purchase ten pounds above their share, they shall have six months if fifty pounds, one year if one hundred pounds, two years six months without interest at the end of above periods liable to payment unless indulged by those who are to receive it. I do further give and bequeath the Rev^d Abraham Scott all my interest on Jefferson College Library. I do further give and bequeath unto the Board of Trust for propagating the gospel among the Indian Tribes fifty dollars to be applied in whatever way the board thinks most conducive of the greatest good. I give and bequeath to the Trustees of Jefferson College fifty dollars to be by them applied for whatever purpose appears for the most advantage of the Institution. I do further will and ordain that no legacie herein given and bequeathed shall be paid or in any wise recovered during my wifes lifetime but by her own consent and my Executors are earnestly requested to attend to it that she preserves a full sufficieny in her own hand. I further will and ordain that if any difference of opinion should arise about the meaning of this Will and Testament, in such case I order the difference to be referred to three referees indifferently chosen by the parties concerned whose verdict in writing shall be final and conclusive to the parties, and if any of my Legaties refuse to choose and submit to the Judgment of referees, such refusing Legatee shall be forever debarred and precluded from taking any part of my estate but the share or shares of such refusors shall be equally divided among those that do submit besides what I have said in the paragraph where Rebekah, Sarah, and Mary Urie are mentioned. I do further call and ordain that if any of the grand daugthers above named should be disobedient or stubborn to their Grandmother such an ones legacy shall be divided between the other two and if two of them shall be disobedient or stubborn, the whole shall be given to one observing the principles of the foregoing article or paragraph, and if all the above mention Grand daughters should be disobedient or stubborn, my wife is to have the disposing of the whole even if the conditions already mentioned are complyed with; what is contained in this paragraph is enjoined as additional duties. In the last place I do appoint and ordain John Park, Abraham Scott and Richard Johnston or any one or two of them as they may agree on themselves, the Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do utterly revoke all other Wills or bequests on whatsoever way made or done. And I do confirm and ratify this and no other as my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written.

This Schedule made [blank] day of April one thousand eight hundred and nine shewith that whereas some of property mentioned in this Will has been sold and other sums of interest have since arisen: I therefore now give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Agnes the yearly sum of fifty eight pounds Pennsylvania currency in lieu of all the rents and interest before mentioned in this Will. The purpose of the yearly interest and the houserent arising from the house and lots in Cannonsburg (after necessary repairs and improvements made) I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Rebeccah Urie till it amounts to the before mentioned sum of fifty pounds, after which time I give and bequeath it to my Granddaughter Sarah Urie till it amounts to the before mentioned sum of fifty pounds, and afterwards I bequeath it to my grandaughter Mary Urie till it amounts to her before mentioned fifty pounds, if my wife Agnes should survive such space of time: otherwise the sums bequeathed to them to be paid as befoe directed.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Alexander Scott my Clock at my wife's decease, and so much of this Will as is not altered by this schedule shall remain as before. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year above written.

Washington County Ss: Be it remembered that on the 26^th day of July, Anno Domini 1825, before me Robert Colmery, Register for the probate Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said County, came George Beaty and Matthew McNary, Esq., the subscribing witnesses to the within last Will and testament of Agness McDowell, decd, who being sworn, according to law, do depose and say, that they were present and heard the Testator therein named, acknowledge this to be her last Will and testament, and that at the doing thereof, she was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.

Mary and John appeared in the following census records.