Barnard McNitt's Family

Barnard McNITT, born about 1700 in Ulster; died on 16 January 1773 at Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Barnard was the son of Alexander McNitt and Sarah _____. Barnard married first Margaret _____ who probably died about 1727 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Barnard married second Jean CLARK on 19 February 1727/8 at Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Barnard and Margaret had the following child:

Alexander McNITT, born on 10 December 1726 at Worcester.

Barnard and Jean had the following children:

Elizabeth McNITT, born on 28 March 1729 at Palmer. Barnard's will does not list an Elizabeth among his heirs, but does mention Isabel Bolton and her husband James. Since Elizabeth and Isabel are equivalent names, they may be the same person.
David McNITT, born on 27 April 1731 at Palmer; died before 1790 at Buckland, Franklin County, Massachusetts. David married Martha PATRICK on 18 March 1756 at Rutland, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
William McNITT (McNUTT), born on 25 July 1733 at Palmer. William married Elizabeth THOMSON on 8 May 1755 at Palmer. She was born on 1 May 1737 at Palmer.
Sarah McNITT, born on 29 May 1736 at Palmer. Sarah married Isaac FARRELL on 27 August 1762 at Palmer.
James McNITT, born on 1 January 1739 at Palmer.
Mary McNITT, born on 6 May 1741 at Palmer. Mary married Josiah FARRELL on 9 April 1768 at Palmer. He was born in 1730/1; died on 23 August 1809 at Brimfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Adam Clark McNITT, born on 16 April 1744 at Palmer; probably died young.
Margaret McNITT, born on 15 December 1746 at Palmer. Margaret married Reuben COOLEY on 22 January 1772 at Palmer. He was born on 2 June 1745 at Palmer.
Jean "Jane" McNITT, born on 25 August 1754 at Palmer; died about 1832 at Seneca County, New York. Jean married Thomas BROWN on 15 December 1774 at Palmer. He was born on 24 April 1755 at Palmer; died about 1819 at Seneca County, New York.
John McNITT, born on 25 April 1749 at Palmer; died on 13 April 1835 at Champion, Jefferson County, NY. John married first Mary FULLER on 23 December 1773 at Palmer. She died before 1777. John married second Patty WILSON on 14 January 1777 at Rowe, Franklin County, Massachusetts. She was born on 9 July 1758; died on 17 February 1848 at Champion.
Andrew McNITT, born on 15 August 1751 at Palmer; died in 1778 in Massachusetts. Andrew married Chloe CHAPIN on 18 July 1771 at Palmer. She was born on 12 July 1751 at Palmer.

I use the birthdates for Barnard's children as given in the published vital records of Palmer, while The MacNauchtan Saga uses those from Temple's history. The Saga lists two others as sons of Barnard by his first marriage - Joseph and Arthur, but also says that they may have been nephews adopted into the family. It also speculates that they were born before 1729, but since Joseph and Arthur married in 1761 and 1765 respectively, it is more likely that they were born in the late 1730's or early 1740's. Barnard's will mentions neither among his heirs.

Only two sources other than the Saga list either Joseph and Arthur as McNitts, but they also appear one or more times with the name McNall. The book History of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts lists Joseph as a McNitt and even says that he was born in 1727, but cites no evidence for either assertion and does not include Arthur among Barnard's children. Elsewhere in the book, an Arthur McNall appears in a list of assigned seats in the meeting house in 1764. Joseph McNall appears in the same list and is mentioned several times later as as a Revolutionary War soldier. The published vital records of Palmer show Arthur as a McNitt in the marriage records, but give Joseph's name as McNall.

I believe that neither Joseph nor Arthur were McNitts. The names McNitt and McNall might appear similar in handwritten records. If Joseph and Arthur really were born in the late 1730's or early 1740's, they would be about the right age to be sons of the Arthur McNall who died in Palmer in 1744 in his 29th year. Published vital records of Brimfield, Massachusetts record marriages of Elizabeth McNall in 1761 and Mary McNall in 1754. Perhaps they were part of the same family. The vital records of Brimfield, Massachusetts record the birth of Joseph McNall's daughter Polly in 1778. This is probably the same Joseph McNall who eventually settled in Chittenden County, Vermont and appears in the 1790 census there.

On the other hand, some genealogists think that Joseph and Arthur might have been nephews of Barnard, that their name was McNutt, and that they moved to Nova Scotia.

Please send corrections or additions to wmcnitt@hotmail.com

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