There is considerable confusion about the origins and ancestry of Jane, Hugh Jameson's second wife, and what little has been written about this does not always seem to add up. Indeed, we have written about this in depth elsewhere.[1]

One conclusion we feel has merit is that she was somehow connected, probably a daughter, of a Daniel McHenry. This is also (as to the surname), a theory of E.O. Jameson in "The Jameson's in America."[2]

Part of our conclusion on this is that Thomas Jameson, brother of Hugh, purchased a piece of property in Londonderry, NH that was bounded on the north by that of a Daniel Macheney. Hugh, who may have actually been living with his brother Thomas on his land, would likely have know this Daniel Macheney (McHenry?) and his family. It is thought that perhaps "Jane," Hugh's second wife was somehow related to this family because of this probable association and because they named their second son "Daniel," an uncommon name in these parts at this time, according to familiar cultural traditions.[3] It also should be said, that the name McHenry, was uncommon at that time and place, in fact unknown, apart from this instance - yet could be easily found in the area of Ulster from which our Jameson family had emigrated.

Close examination of the various early Londonderry, NH land deals involving the lands occupied by Daniel Macheney suggest his name as MacKenney or some variation on that spelling. They were different, pretty much all of them, on each of the documents. It is quite possible any of these were actually "McHenry" or for that matter "McKenney" as a phonetic spelling going either way. Thing is the only reference we really have to the name McHenry is from E.O.Jameson.

Unlike "McHenry" there are a "few" references to "McKenney's" in various old NH references, but not that many.

It is possible that E.O. Jameson got the surname all wrong and it was indeed McKenney (or some other variation of the spelling) and not McHenry. He may possibly have been influenced by old Ulster records of the name McHenry and unaware or unconcerned with these land records.

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