ISABELLA  who wed Walter McChesney.

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THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

Isabella was born about 1735.  While her last name is not confirmed, we do know that she married Walter McChesney in Rockbridge County Virginia.

 According to researcher Simpson at potts@home.ffni.com she was possibly the daughter of Benjamin Borden and Magdalena Woods.  This is based on a deed dated March 31, 1801 Rockbridge County VA.  Isabella McChesney with William and Jane Young (daughter of Walter and Isabella) sold their interest in a tract of land containing 100 acres on waters of Walker Creek.  The land had been conveyed to Walter McChesney by the executors of Benjamin Borden.  Walter left this land to his son Samuel with the right of dower to his wife, Isabella.  Therefore it is possible that Isabella may be a daughter of Benjamin Border. Dan Collins was another researcher reporting this.

However, Magdalena Woods as mother is problematic.  From the mcDowell Walker Project listing on World wide Tree of Ancestry.com comes a history of this women.  It states in 1734 she married John McDowell in Lancaster County PA.    They had moved to Augusta County Virginia by 1741.  Mr. McDowell died shortly after that time.  She next married Benjamin Borden, jr. in 1744.  So she could have been Isabella's step mother, but not birth mother.

However, when Benjamin wrote his will March 30, 1753, proved Nov. 21, 1753 in Augusta County Va, Will Book 2-1 he lists daughter's Martha and Hannah, and the 3 children of Magdalena.  No Isabella, so I do not believe her to be his daughter. .

The Princeton Art Guild 1987 Caldwell County, Kentucky yearbook recognizes two children of Walter McChesney and his wife, Isabella.
1. Mary McChesney, born about 1764 who was married in Rockbridge in the year 1782 to William Asherst.
2. Walter McChesney was born in Rockbridge County in 1772. He married Margaret Stevenson of South Carolina. He was called "the fourth child". The 1830 Caldwell County Census has Walter McChesney with wife and 8 children on page 150
There were at least 2 other children, names and dates unknown. They had a daughter who lived in Lexington Kentucky. Not sure where that info is from.
Sources for the 1987 yearbook information are Caldwell county court, Census, Cemetery, Marriage and Church records.

The Virginia Tax Payers 1782-1787 by Fothergill lists a number of McChesney's in Rockland Ct (??There is no Rockland County). They are Isabella, Samuel and James. Walter must have died between 1782 when he was a thithable homeowner and 1787. In the next county, Augusta are listed James and Robert McChesney.

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Date Last Edited: 3/21/2011
Date edited 6/21/2024