The surname first appears in
Scottish records in 1547, when James McBay gave his bond to John Campbell
of Glenurguhay (The Black Book of Caymouth). Callome McBee and Donald
McBee in Brockland were fined in 1613 for "reset of outlawed
Macgregors" (that is, concealing them), and Archibald Reoche McBee of
Corsarie, Mull, was put to the horn in 1629 (in other words, he was
denounced as a rebel).
The majority of the bearers of the name in Ireland would be descendants of
Scottish settlers of Planter stock, who came over in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. In some instances, however, the name appears as a
synonym for Mac and Bheatha, an Oriel sept, Oriel being the ancient
territory covering what are now counties of Armagh, Monaghan, Louth and
Down.
My research focuses on John McBee. From family folklore and family songs,
it is certain he was born in Ireland, but when he came to the America is
unknown. We do know that he settled in Georgia, and married a Nancy Morris
from Tattnall County, GA. In 1860 John disappears and Nancy remarries a
Nathan Wanslee. When she marries Nathan in 1861, she already has two
children named Robert Michael McBee and Mary McBee. Nancy then leaves
Georgia for Arkansas and dies in Arizona in 1887. Robert remains in
Georgia and enlists in the 21st regiment Company "H",out of Dade
County, GA. Robert serves the complete duration of the Civil War, and was
present at the surrender at Appomatox, Va. on April 9, 1865. In May of
that same year he married HETTIE WIGGINS in Montgomery Co., GA. He shows
up again in Charlton County, GA in the 1870 census with 3 of his 8
children. Sometime after that he moves his family to Brantley Co., GA
where he dies in 1887, but it is unknown where he is buried. He leaves
behind a wife and eight children.
Descendants of ROBERT MICHAEL MCBEE ---
1st Generation ---
1. ROBERT MICHAEL MCBEE was born in 1846 in Georgia and died in 1887 in
Brantley County,Georgia. He was married to HETTIE WIGGINS, daughter of
JAMES WIGGINS AND MARY SUMMERALL. HETTIE was born on May 08, 1846 and died
on May 01, 1928 in Brantley County, Georgia. ROBERT and HETTIE were
married on May 02, 1865 in Montgomery County, Georgia
--- 2nd Generation ---
2. JAMES JESSE MCBEE was born on September 15, 1873 in Charlton County,
Georgia and died on April 01, 1945 in St. Augustine, Florida. He was
married to CAROLINE BELINDA TODD, daughter of ALBERT LINDBERG TODD AND
FRANCES LORETTA HARDEE. CAROLINE was born on December 05, 1884 in
Florence, South Carolina and died on September 15, 1964 in Virginia Beach,
Virginia JAMES AND CAROLINE were married on October 31, 1907 in Georgia.
They are both buried in Brantley County, GA.
--- 3rd Generation ---
3. HARRY RICHARD MCBEE, SR.was born on September 03, 1925 in St.
Augustine, Florida and died on July 01, 1978 in New London, Connecticut.
He was married to GEORGETTE LAGASSE, daughter of MERRILL LAGASSE and
ALEXINA AUDET. GEORGETTE was born on September 03, 1926 in Fall River,
Massachusetts. m: February 11, 1946 in St. Augustine, Florida HARRY and
GEORGETTE were married on February 11, 1946 in St. Augustine, FL. Thanks
to Linda McBee Mans for
this information
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