New free-space project: McLaughlins in early Virginia

Question

I have created a free-space project for McLaughlins in early (colonial and early Commonwealth) Virginia.

Until the census started detailing family membership in 1850, records of family groupings were scant. It seems that many family relationships have been presumed by genealogists over the years. If there was once evidence for these presumptions, only seldom have they been recorded. Trying to trace my surname back, I hit a brick wall in the late 18th century Virginia. Others have pushed my ancestry back another three generations, but seemingly based upon dubious parentage assumptions.

The purpose of the project is to step back for a broader view than afforded by individual profiles and try to make better sense of the family movements and groups through this time and space. Maybe we can move closer to the truth.

Answer 1

The line I’m researching is Nancy McLaughlin (1808 - 1831) although I’m not sure if they connect to early Virginia. 

Interesting free space 

Comments

There does not seem to be any movement between Nancy's New England and Virginia, but I do find it interesting that her Grandfather, John McLaughlin I (1720 - 1787), may have been born in Londonderry, Ireland. His profile includes considerable narrative about the migration he was a part of. It seems that several McLaughlins who migrated to North America, including at least one Virginian, originated in Londonderry. How they all related would be interesting to know.

Answer 2

I have have  an ancestor named John Alexander McLaughlin that lived in Sistersville, Tyler Co. West Virginia 1850's Before migrating into Clay county Illinois. I believe his father, also a John Alexander McLaughlin or Laughlin, lived in Zanesville, Ohio in 1810 or so, then Columbiana Co, OH 1820-1850. 1850 census says he was born in Scotland? I don't know if this particular McLaughlin would fit in with yours or not.  But I am not able to get further back than the John Alexander Laughlin or McLaughlin that lived in Zanesville, and Columbiana Co. Ohio.

Comments

Since West Virginia was not formed until 1863, Tyler County would have been in Virginia when John Alexander McLaughlin lived there in the 1850s. Tyler County is bordered by the Ohio River. The opposite bank is in Ohio.

Some members of the families of the study did move from Virginia into Ohio, Indiana and Illinois in the decade or so before the outbreak of the Civil War, but that was long after your senior John Alexander (Mc)Laughlin had settled in Ohio.

I don't recall noting any McLaughlins from Virginia settling in Ohio as early as 1810, but you are certainly welcome to look into the families found in this study for clues.