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Archiver > AYRSHIRE > 2002-05 > 1020275090


From: "Sandra Ferguson" <>
Subject: [AYR] Kilmarnock Seceders
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 13:44:50 -0400


My Smith family was known to be in York County, Pennsylvania, USA by at
least the 1780s, but may have been there as early as the 1750s, with the
first organization of their Seceders' church, the ROUND HILL, or HOPEWELL
Pres. church. I have been unable to find when they arrived, or from where
(although I'm sure it was Scotland), and feel the congregation may well
have either emigrated together, or some followed earlier "neighbors" to the
new world.
Some members of the congregation, the GEMMILL, were from Kilmarnock,
Ayrshire, as were the Fultons, so I wonder if the Smiths weren't also.
Researching a name like Smith is most difficult and I've had good luck in
the past with looking for others, theorizing that the Smiths would be
wherever their particular "namesakes" were, etc. So, going on this theory,
I suppose what I'm asking is if anyone recognizes the following surnames as
being part of an existing church in Ayrshire, ca 1750;
Smith, Finley, Duncan, McKelvey, Legget, Criswell/Creswell, McAlister,
Anderson, Morrison, Faris, Purdy, McCann Corbin, Eddy, Payne,
Gamble/Gammel/Gemmill, Bradley, Griffith, Pew, Sinclair, Warrick, Manifold,
Boyd. I feel if I could find a group or congregation of these folks, I'd
also find the Smiths.
My immediate ancestor was Joseph Smith, but I believe him to have been
the son of a James Smith, as this was what he named his eldest son.......so,
no breaks with an unusual given name, either.....

Sandra Ferguson


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