The Rachel O'Neal Myth

It is time to put to rest the 90 year old myth that Alexander Forsyth of Baltimore married Rachel O'Neal.

The myth began in 1920 when Jennie Forsyth Jeffries published her book "The History of the Forsyth Family [1]".

There are many reasons why Jeffries cannot be trusted as a reliable source with respect to Alexander Forsyth's family. Jeffries links Alexander Forsyth of Baltimore directly to the ancient Forsyth family of Chevalier Guirand de Forsyth who flourished in 1190. Unfortunately, she fails to list any sources that would support her claims. Prior to her, Frederic Forsyth de Fronsac published three shorter works: "A Genealogical Record: Forsyth of Nydie [2]" in 1888, "Memorial of the De Forsyths De Fronsac [3]" in 1897 and "Memorial of the Family of Forsyth de Fronsac [4]" in 1903. Alexander Forsyth of Baltimore does not appear in any of his books. His works appear to provide the basis for much of the content of Jeffries' book, however Jeffries did not credit him so it is unclear if her work was independantly derived at. This seems unlikely since all the books describe nearly identical relations for all but the most recent Forsyth's. All four of the books appear to be no more than wishful accounts designed with the purpose of connecting all known early Forsyth families. Further evidence of this can be found in 1978, when the Lord Lyon, King of Arms of Scotland, recognized Alistair Forsyth of Ethie as the chief of the Forsyth Clan. He was recognized because his family could be traced back fifteen generations, to 1607, further than any other Forsyth family. His descent, being recognized by the Lyon Court in Edinburgh, implies any other claimed descent from earlier Forsyth's has not been recognized, and is therefore probably not valid. More recently, the Scottish Tourist Board published a brief history of the Forsyth Family as well, which contradicts many of these books' claims. I will not be discussing these claims beyond how they relate directly to Alexander Forsyth of Baltimore, as I think it can be sufficiently proved that the link to Alexander is invalid.

On page 35 of her book, Jeffries makes the following claim:

"It was at this time (1719) that James McGregor, who was a friend of the Forsyths, led a colony of Scots already in Ulster to America. They settled at what is now Londonderry, New Hampshire. These colonists, most of whom had sailed from Belfast and Carrickfergus, were refused land in the New England colonies because they were not English, it being the rule then that no Scot be permitted to settle in an English colony. However, they were allowed to settle on land to the north between the French and Indians on one side, and the English colonists on the other, presumably with the thought that they might be exterminated by the Indians. But McGregor, through the Forsyth and Denys families, made a secret agreement with the French that if the colony of Scots remained neutral in the war of reprisals going on between the French and English colonies, the Scots would not be disturbed. This agreement was carried out, and the French and indian raids to the time of the fall of Quebec in 1759 passed safely through the Scotch settlement. Among these Forsyths was James of Failzerton, Vicomte de Fronsac and titular Baron of Dykes. He was a son of Margaret, Vicomtess de Fronsac, and Walter Forsyth. James married Margaret, daughter of Major Hugh Montgomerie. James was a captain on the seas under the flag of the king of France during William of Orange's Irish campaign, and a defender of the cause of the Stuarts against William of Orange. His son, Matthew, was born in 1699 in Scotland. He went first to Ireland, where he married Esther, daughter of Robert Graham, whose wife was Janet Hume of the Hume family of Scotland."

And then on page 41 she states:

"The second son of Captain James Forsyth and Margaret Montgomerie and brother of Matthew, was James who signed the Londonderry Roll in 1719. There were political troubles, and those who signed the Londonderry Roll were by this obligated to leave Ireland. James being an old man did not leave, but his son Alexander did. Alexander married Rachel O'Neal, a member of the house of O'Neal, Earls and Princes of Tyrone in Ireland. They came to the United States in the latter part of the eighteenth century and settled in Baltimore. His death occurred in 1828. Among his sons were, first, Isaac; second, Alexander; third, Elijah. There were also three daughters. Mary, the eldest, married ____ Thompson, the second ____ Ryder, the third ____ Goldsmith. Elijah, the third son, married the daughter of Bernhard Cell of Baltimore, both of whom died before middle age, the father by accidental drowning while hunting, and the mother of the first epidemic of cholera in the United States. They left a large family which was soon scattered among their relatives."

The Petition of Ulsterman (Londonderry Roll) was signed on March 26, 1718 by 319 Scotch-Irish Protestant heads of families from three parishes located near Londonderry, Ireland, who were seeking to come to America. Londonderry was the location of one of the Protestants' final sieges in Ireland in 1689 in defense of King William of Orange. They kept hold up in the city for 105 days preventing the Catholic King James II from gaining control. Thirty years later, these Protestants of Londonderry were still living in the midst of Roman Catholic oppression. It was this oppression that led Rev. William Boyd in April of 1718 to carry the petition to Governor Shute of Massachusetts Bay seeking permission to form a new colony. They were granted permission, so in August of that year, 120 of those families including Rev. James McGregor landed in Boston. The original petition still exists and the signature of "James Forsaith" is clearly seen. Apparently, he was one of the almost 200 signers whose chose not to emigrate, as his name has not been found among those who came to America.

Besides the fact that Jeffries description of the entire affair seems erroneous, she also contradicts herself and her statements seem implausible for several reasons:

1. On page 35, Jeffries claims it was Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton, the son of Walter Forsyth who accompanied Rev. James McGregor. On page 41 she claims it was Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton's second son, James, who signed the Londonderry Roll and that it was his son Alexander that accompanied the expedition.

2. We know from his obituary that Alexander was not born until 1746/47, so he was not alive in 1718, and therefore could not have been the one to emigrate.

3. James Forsaith of Londonderry must have been a Protestant, and as such signed the Londonderry Roll in 1718. He must have born before 1697 to have been considered head of household. He would therefore have been more than likely Alexander's grandfather, not his father.

4. Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton, the father, must have been a Catholic, or he would have been fighting in support of William of Orange, and therefore could not have been one of the protestant signers.

5. Since Matthew is the eldest son, and was born in 1699, then James his younger brother must have been born no earlier than about 1701. If he was the same person as James Forsaith of Londonderry, the signer, then he would not yet have been of age to be considered as head of household, much less an old man.

6. Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton, Viscount of Fronsac, and titular Baron of Dykes was a man of property and wealth. His eldest son Matthew succeeded to these titles. It stands to reason that his second son James would have also acquired a portion of his father's estate, but we do not find this to be the case. At least Alexander did not acquire any of his titles or wealth.

7. Frederic Forsyth de Fronsac was a direct descendant of Matthew, and therefore most likely to know these family connections, however, he lists only Thomas and Alexander as brothers of Matthew. He does not list James at all. James appears to be an addition by Jeffries alone.

8. It is not possible that Jeffries simply left off a generation, because if James Forsaith of Londonderry were to be considered a heretofore unknown son of Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton, he would have had to have been of age to sign the roll, and therefore would have been the oldest son, and as such would have succeeded to his father's titles and lands. We know of course that that honor went to Matthew.

It appears that Jeffries forced an unwarranted connection between James Forsaith of Londonderry, Ireland and Captain James Forsyth of Failzerton, Scotland. We know that Alexander appears first in Charlestown, Chester county, Pennsylvania in 1769. James Forsaith of Londonderry would have been indeed an old man at that time. It is unclear if fifty years after the signing of the petition, political troubles were still rife enough to cause protestants like Alexander to depart or if he may have left of his own accord seeking better fortunes. There is one additional confusion concerning the spelling of the name Forsyth. We know that Matthew and his descendants in America all spelled their names as Forsaith. We also know that the signer of the Roll signed his name as James Forsaith. However, the Viscount of Fronsac and his father apparently signed their names a Forsyth. Matthew's known bothers spelled their names as Forsyth as well. Alexander's name is normally listed as Forsyth or Forsythe, but never as Forsaith. It is unclear how much significance, if any, should be applied to these alternate spellings. Until further evidence arises, it can be only considered speculation as to the ancestry of Alexander. Perhaps further searches into the public records in and around Londonderry, Ireland may lead to discoveries about James Forsaith of Londonderry, the signer, his ancestors and descendants.

Jeffries account of the Alexander Forsyth family has additional problems. She claims that Alexander's wife is Rachel O'Neal, a member of the House of O'Neal in Ireland. With that she set the ball rolling. Ever since then, descendants worldwide have considered themselves to be of royal Irish blood (and for many the disproof that I provide will not alter their long held beliefs in the slightest - bully for them, I guess).

Jeffries spelled the name incorrectly, it should have been O'Neill. However, a 1996 search by Jane Fitting using 'Catherine O'Neill's Historical Research Company' of North Ireland found no account of a Rachel as a descendant of the royal O'Neill's. This research company keeps every titled pedigree of all spellings of O'Neill in Ireland's history. It has also been shown that the last ruling O'Neill of county Tyrone in Ireland did not have a daughter named Rachel.

From what we know of Alexander and Rachel's children from Alexander's will, various census, birth, marriage and death records and obituaries, it is now known that Jeffies knowledge of the family was less than accurate. She mixed up which daughter married Josias Thompson, mispelled the last name of Elijah's wife, left off four children, and had the birth order wrong for the daughters.

It is unclear where Jeffries got her information from. It seems like her data may have come from the descendants of Elijah Forsyth because she seems to have more knowledge of that side of the family. Unfortunately, both Elijah and his wife died young, and there children were adopted, supposedly by Rachel, and left when they became of age. Traditions state the children hated there grandmother and after going out on their own never saw her again. If this is true, it is hard to imagine that they could have carried an accurate family lineage with them.

The above description of the problems with Jeffries book as it pertains to Alexander Forsyth of Baltimore should be sufficient to discount her as a relaible source.

The only other early document that supports the O'Neal surname, besides Jeffries book, was a Letter From Thomas Hitselberger to Avalena (Forsyth) Brown [5], dated March 19, 1923 where he lists her with no surname in his appended family chart, but with the surname O'Neil in his response to Avalena. It is likely that since his family chart had no surname that he was just echoing back to Avalena the surname she provided him in her letter, which is unfortunately not available. Avalena may have gotten the surname from Jenny Jeffries book (or from some other family member by hearsay). It does not really matter, as there is not any reason to assume that she had any confidence in the name herself.

The fact is that Alexander Forsyth married Rachel Lindsay.

In "David Lindsay's Heir's Agreement [6]" (1784) it states.

"... Alexan[d]er Forsyth of the County of York and Common-wealth aforesaid who intermar[r]ied with Rachel Lindsay another Daughter of the said David Lindsay the Elder [d]eceased ..."

Alexander is found in 1769 living in Charles Town, Chester County, Pennsylvania not far from Philadelphia which was undoubtedly his port of entry not long before. He is found there with his father-in-law, David Lindsay, and his brother-in-law, James Spotwood. It can be assumed that he married David's daughter about this time. David is last seen in Charles Town in 1771 and appears in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania the same year. David ran a tavern there called The Sign of the Bull's Head until he died in 1784. Alexander Forsyth is found in Carlisle in 1778, the first year for which tax records are available. David's grandson was an active member of the First Presbysterian Church in Carlisle, so it is can be assumed that Rachel was an active Presbyterian also. Alexander, Rachel and their young family moved to Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania in 1779 where Alexander leased a tavern there from Casper Reinecker called The Sign of the Horse. He remained there until about 1786. In 1787 he is found in Baltimore, Maryland running a tavern at Old Congress Hall. Old Congress Hall was owned by Henry Fite whose daughter Elizabeth inherited the tavern in 1789. Elizabeth Fite was married to George Reinecker, the son of Casper Reinecker. By 1796, Alexander was living near The Golden Horse Tavern on the northwest edge of town near Pennsylvania Ave, which was the road back to Hanover. Alexander's son, Alexander Jr., was the proprietor of The Golden Horse. In 1800 they moved to Pennsylvania Ave where Alexander and remained there until his death in 1829. It is also clear that there was only one Alexander Forsyth in Pennsylvania and Baltimore in the 18th century, so it is this person that married Rachel Lindsay.

As an aside, it is interesting to note that Alexander Forsyth's son-in-law Arthur Rider, the husband of Elizabeth Forsyth, married first, Rose O'Neal on October 7, 1802. It is possible that the last name of Arthur's first wife, and Alexander's wife could have somehow been transposed? After all, how many of us before we began to research our family histories new the maiden name of our grandmother, much less our great grandmother?

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