Martha Blair

Brief Life History of Martha

When Martha Blair was born on 1 August 1799, in Dervock, Derrykeighan, County Antrim, Ireland, her father, James Blair, was 57 and her mother, Mary Derrick, was 25. She married Joseph McKay about 1821, in Dervock, Derrykeighan, County Antrim, Ireland. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 8 daughters. She lived in Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1851 and Salt Lake, Utah, United States in 1860. She died on 13 April 1869, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 69, and was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.

Photos and Memories (15)

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Family Time Line

Joseph McKay
1799–1876
Martha Blair
1799–1869
Marriage: about 1821
Mary McKay
1822–1909
Martha McKay
1826–1900
Frances McKay
1832–1906
Ester Mckay
1832–1839
Ellen McKay
1832–1890
Hannah McKay
1833–
Joseph Blair McKay
1834–1922
Jane McKay
1837–1894
Samuel McKay
1838–1910
James McKay
1839–1890
Isaac McKay
1840–
Daniel McKay
1844–
Esther McKay
1844–1914

Sources (33)

  • Martha Mckay in household of Joseph Mckay, "Scotland Census, 1851"
  • Martha Mckay, "Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1908-1949"
  • Martha Blair, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Record of Members (Worldwide), 1836-1970"

Spouse and Children

World Events (8)

1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.

While the growth of the new nation was exponential, the United States didn’t have permanent location to house the Government. The First capital was temporary in New York City but by the second term of George Washington the Capital moved to Philadelphia for the following 10 years. Ultimately during the Presidency of John Adams, the Capital found a permanent home in the District of Columbia.

1802 · John Playfair publishes summary of James Hutton's theories of geology.

In 1802, John Playfair published the Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth. His influence was by James Hutton’s knowledge of the earth’s geology.

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

Name Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from any of numerous places in Scotland called Blair, named with Scottish Gaelic blàr (genitive blàir) ‘plain, field’, especially a battlefield (Irish blár). There were families of this name in the Middle Ages taking their names from any of the places called Blair in Dysart parish Fife, Dalry parish Ayrshire, and Blairgowrie in Perthshire.

Americanized form of French Belair and Blais .

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Story Highlight

Joseph McKay

Joseph McKay (Taken from, “Tell My Story, Too,” by Jolene S. Allphin) Born: 1799 Ireland Age: 57 Willie Handcart Company Joseph McKay was born in Ireland on Feb. 12, 1799. He was married to Ma …

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