Notes for David MCNARY
McNary Family book:
Martin McNary line:
David, the father of Martin went with a wealthy gentlelman to Dungarvon,
Ireland as a land steward, and there died. His widow, not named, returned to
Greenock with all the family except Martin, who remained with their employer.
He later went to sea as a cabin boy, was captured and held prisoner for a while
by some hostile nation, and finally came to America.
Remarkably similiar is the James McNary of PA family story:
James McNary was born in Scotland about 1711. Before coming to America, the family lived for a short time in Ireland. Around 1760, he came to America with his wife (unknown) and five children: John, James, Thomas, Jane and David. The family settled in York Co., PA. In 1783 most of the family moved to Washington Co., PA.
Canary family story:
There were three brothers in Boston by the name of MacNary (Scotch). One brother ran away to sea when a boy. The captain left him his vessel when he died. He traded in the West Indies and other foreign countries and brought his goods to Boston. When we had our trouble with England in 1776, he had been away three years and knew nothing of the trouble, tried to land in Boston, but was driven away because of his name. This so enraged him to be barred from his country because of his name that he changed his name to Canary. When peace was restored, he went before the proper officials and had his name made legal. One of the brothers, took sides with him and changed his name, too. The other brother said MacNary was good enough for him and moved to the west.
The sea captain was later lost at sea. The brother who stood by him was the father of Col. James Canary, who located in Perth, NY. He was Martin Canary who settled in Haddam, CT and who later became known as McNary. Col. James was the only one of his children who retained the Canary name.
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