Lydia's Notes:
1850 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO: "Elitha", 24 years, born KY. Living with spouse, Robert, 6 children and brother, Benjamin POTTER.
1860 CENSUS, North Point, Holt, MO: 35 years, born KY. Living with spouse, Robert and 5 children. (Could not write name.)
1870 CENSUS, Colusa Twp, Colusa Co, CA, #8/5: "Lidia", 47 years, born KY, keeping house. Living with sons, Lawrence and Robert, along with brother, Benjamin POTTER, and brother, Levi POTTER and his family. (Son, Eli HOLSEY and family are nearby, also another brother, Abraham POTTER.)
1876 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO; "Liddy McCRURY" listed next to son, Robert, and his family.
1880 CENSUS, Union Twp, Holt, MO, #148: "Liddie", 56 years, born KY, father born NC, mother born NC, mother, widow. Living with son, Lawrence, and family.

Phone conversation with Carolyn KENT, Holt Co, MO on 30 Jun 1997: Carolyn stated that she has a copy of Lydia's obituary dated 31 Aug 1894 (Holt Coounty Sentinel, Oregon, MO). She also said we were at Odd Fellows Cemetery, not Guilliams! Apparently we were given wrong information when we were there doing research. (She also wonders if Lydia's maiden name was actually POTTER, since she is buried near them.)

Heirs at Lydia's probate were: Robert H. McCRORY, Jr; Eli HOLSEY, and Franklin L. McCRORY, her 3 sons.

Obituary copy received from. C. KENT, 28 Aug 1997: "Died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John BERG, 4 1/2 miles southwest of Craig, on the 20th of August, 1894, Mrs. Lydia McCRORY, aged 69 years 6 months and 28 days. She was born in Indiana on the 22nd of Jan 1825. She came to Holt Co over 40 years ago, and lived here until her death. The deceased was sick only about 2 weeks. She expressed herself as feeling much better on the day she died, so her death was a very sad surprise to her family. She was married twice. The first time to James HOLSEY, to whom 2 sons were born, one of whom is dead. She was married the second time to Robert McCRORY, who died in 1865. He served in the War of 1812. Two sons were born as a result of this last marriage, Robert and Lawrence, both of whom are living. Mrs. McCRORY has been a member of the Christian Church since about the year 1868. She was a kind mother, and was very much devoted to her family. The writer sympathizes with her family in their sad bereavement. The deceased was Interred in the Guilliams Cemetery, near Craig, on the 22nd of Aug 1894. Ondago."

Surname confirmed as POTTER by marriage record obtained 7 Sep 1997.

Lydia and Robert McCRORY married at his home 3 miles South of Mound City, MO (from Lydia's pension declaration) Application for pension filed 18 May 1880, with Lydia living at Bigelow, Holt Co, MO at that time. Pension of $12 per month was approved, with last payment 4 Aug 1894. Lydia's widowhood proven by William POTTER and Sarah ASHER, both stating that they had known her for 50 years. Lydia signed papers with X. Pension dropped because of her death (letter dated 3 Oct 1994).

"Lydia McCRARY" listed in William POTTER's probate records as having a $50 loan to him (1888).

Craig, volume 2, page 104: Lydia listed as Holt County pensioner receiving $8 per month, 23 Nov 1883. Living Bigelow Twp.

James 's Notes:
Marriage Record: "This is to certify that on the 8th day of July 1841, I did join together in the "bons" of matrimony James HALLSA and Lydia POTTER by the consent of their parents, they being present, and in the presence of sundry witnesses, according to law, All of Chariton Co Missouri. Peterson B. Parks J. P. Filed 30 Aug 1841.

From Carolyn KENT, Mound City, MO, 29 Aug 1997: Holt Co Circuit Court, Volume A, 1841-46, page 341, Feb 1845 term, State vs Amos HALSEY, Rape. Case removed to Clinton Co. Page 372, Sept term 1845, "State of MO vs Amos HALSEY, Rape. The defendant with John POTTER, William POTTER and James HALSA as his securities. To appear Clinton Co. Court next March 1 term." (This appears to show that James was at least 21 years of age at this time.) Reply from Clinton Co. Deputy Clerk in response to my letter written 17 Oct 1997: "We are not finding any record of this case in Clinton Co"

Death information from Pension declarartion filed by Lydia Halsa McCRORY on Robert McCRORY's War of 1812 service. (Partial copy received from Betty Files ELLIOTT, Nov 1997)

Robert 's Notes:
1830 CENSUS, Cooper Co, MO: "Robert McCRURY", 1 male under 5 (William); 2 males 20-30 (Robert and his brother); 1 female under 5 (Margaret); 1 female 20-30 (Mary).
1835 Morgan Co, MO: Robert purchased land. (M. HERRELL) [Morgan Co. was formed from part of Cooper Co.]
1840 CENSUS, Richland, Morgan, MO: 2 males under 5; 1 male 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 40-50; 1 female under 5; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 30-40.
1850 CENSUS, Holt Co, MO: 55 years, born SC, farmer. Living with wife, Elitha, 6 children and brother-in-law, Benjamin POTTER.
1860 CENSUS, North Point, Holt Co, MO: 61 years, born SC, farmer, $400, $560. Living with wife, Lydia and 5 children.

Sources: Holt Co. Court House, Baldwin Cemetery, and Gone Home, page 242.

"Robert McCRORY served his country as a soldier in the War of 1812 and for several years in Indian Warfare until he was mustered out of service at Council Bluffs, IA in 1819". (McCRORY History) M. HERRELL says he was actually discharged at Camp Missouri (later named Fort Atkinson, NE) and granted bounty land in Arkansas.

Robert owned 80 Acres at the time of his death. Have complete probate file and marriage certificate.
Cemetery stone reads "Go home dear Friends and do not weep. I am not dead, but only sleep." Have cemetery photos. (Robert's grave stone is the only thing that gives his middle initial as "H.")

Heirs listed in Robert's probate records: James (with his brother, John, as agent); Eliza and J. H. DISHER; William and Susannah; Lawrence (with brother, John, as Guardian); Matilda and Thomas TEARE; Julia and W. S. CANON; John; Samuel A. POLLOCK and his guardians (Alvira and Henry C. Offutt); and his widow, Lydia McCRORY.

From Carolyn KENT, Holt Co, MO Marriages, 1846-1852: Robert McCRORY and Nancy ALLARD, 20 Aug 1848. (M. HERRELL says Robert and Nancy were granted a divorce about 17 Feb 1849 by the MO State legislature. I can find no record of this.)

WAR of 1812 PENSIONERS: McCRORY, Robert, Lydia, WC-31117, served in Captain Armstrong's Company, U.S. Riflemen as a Private (page 1224). Discharge papers dated 30 Oct 1819, Camp Missouri; Robert enlisted at the Chester Co, SC, Court House on 24 Oct 1814, to serve 5 years; he was honorably discharged at Camp Missouri. (This later became Fort Atkinson, NE.) He stated that he was born in Chester Co. and was 21 years of age, although he was actually only 16. Robert was 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a fair complexion, dark eyes and hair. He was a farmer at the time of his enlistment. (John McCRORY, his brother ?, enlisted shortly before Robert. The other 2 brothers enlisted in the SC Militia.

Robert McCRORY had Bounty Land Warrant #24073; 160 Acres; Section 8, Township 20 N, Range 8 N in AR Territory, 28 Jan 1822. This was described as 1 NW, 5th PM, 20 North, 8 West, 8 and was done through the Script Warrant Act of 1812. In 1835, he acquired land in Morgan Co, MO (M. HERRELL). He also bought land in Holt Co, MO in 1844.

From Betty Files ELLIOTT: "According to Aunt Maude's papers, Robert was born in Charleston, SC, in 1790 (incorrect) about 3 weeks after his parents landed from Scotland. They went from Aukland, Ireland to Scotland to Charleston, SC."

M. HERRELL believes that Robert is probably the son of John McCRORY, who arrived in Fairfield Co, SC, from Ireland about 1790. John's will, dated 1809, lists as heirs his widow, Jane, and 4 sons: James, John, William and Robin. Robin is a diminutive of the name "Robert". (Our Robert had sons named James, John and William.)

Family photos provided by Peter A. MEREDITH, October 2008.