HISTORY OF THE FORSYTHE FAMILY

As recorded by Frances (Fanny) Forsyth Hayden (I have inserted sic where there are spelling errors, or possible incorrect information)

"John Forsythe, third son of George Forsythe and Mary Patterson of BALLYMAGOUGH (sic), PARISH of MORNE (same as Kilkeel Civil Parish), COUNTY DOWN, IRELAND, born September A. D. 1788; married May 9, 1813 to ELIZABETH, second daughter of William McKinley and Jane Thompson, who was born in CAMRAY (sic), PARISH of CLONDUFF, near RATHFRILAND, in the same county, March, 1790.

"To this couple were born ten children:
          1. William -- born Sunday May 8, 1814; died September 22, 1816
          2. James -- born Saturday December 2, 1816
          3. Mary Jane -- born Tuesday September 22, 1818
          4. John -- born Wednesday May 31, 1820
          5. William -- born Saturday October 16, 1822
          6. George -- born Friday April 16, 1825
          7. Eliza -- born Friday March 10, 1827
          8. Thompson -- born Friday October 28, 1828
          9. Fanny -- born Tuesday July 27, 1831
        10. Archibald -- born Thursday June 4, 1833

"The oldest child, William, died of smallpox, the other children all lived to reach years of maturity and establish homes of their own.  The parents had by frugal industry acquired a home of six acres of land when the eldest son, James, emigrated to America and soon persuaded his parents to join him here.

"Accordingly, they sold their home in the fatherland and with their family took passage on a sailing vessel landing in Philadelphia in the spring of 1843.

"In about two years from this time James again went to Ireland for his bride, Sarah Perry.  They were married in December 1845 (sic), in KALKEEL (sic), COUNTY DOWN, IRELAND, and then returned to America.

"The entire family had settled in Allegheny (sic), Pennsylvania, where they remained for eight years.  There four other children were married:
          MARY JANE to Rev. JOHN KIDNEY in the spring of 1844.
          WILLIAM to POLLY FORSYTH (no relative) in the summer of 1849.
          JOHN to ELLEN PERRY in the fall of 1849.
          ELIZA to JOHN (sic) MORRISON in the winter of 1849 (sic).

"In 1851 the family and three (sic) of their married children James, John and Eliza (sic) and their families, came to Iowa, settling in Wapello County.  There the father died in November 1853.

"In September, 1854, the youngest son, Archie married Mary Mannimaker (sic) of Ohio.  In March, 1855 FANNY was married to SAMUEL HAYDEN, and three weeks later GEORGE married RACHEL EDGAR.  THOMPSON married SARAH McKINLEY in the spring of 1859.

"ELIZABETH McKINLEY FORSYTH died in 1873.  Both she and her husband, JOHN FORSYTH, are buried in the Kirkville, Iowa cemetary (sic)."

Also part of the historical record is this story related by Verona Blanchard:

"I can't tell this story in great detail.  I heard it only once many years ago.  As best as I recall, Tillie Ross gave this account of the incident that brought about the Forsyth's family move to America.

"James had put in a hard day of work.  On his way home he sat down along the side of the road, perhaps half reclining, waiting for other members of the family to join him going on to the house.

"An English Lord came along, dressed in fancy garb, and ordered Jim to open a gate for him.  Jim resented this.  Perhaps it was particularly his weariness, perhaps a growing resentment of having to obey commands and demands of the upper class.  Anyway, it angered him.  He got to his feet and in doing so picked up a stone and hit the Lord's horse with it.

"The horse bolted and the Lord was busy getting the animal under control -- Jim ran home telling his mother of the episode.  His mother was alarmed and said, 'Jim, you know what this means.  You will have to leave or he will kill you.  I'll pack a few things and you must leave as quickly as possible.'"

"Jim made his way to an English port where he boarded a ship for America.  He sent for his folks, who soon followed.  Our family history records the events that follows."