John McQuiston

Summary

John McQuiston was born around 1767 [24], probably in or near Tobermore in what is now County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. A later county-level reference in the History of Butler County Pennsylvania instead names County Donegal as his birthplace, reflecting either uncertainty or differing levels of geographic specificity [25]. He married Barbara Simpson Arthur, likely in Ireland, before emigrating to the United States. According to that same county history, John arrived in 1793, lived in Philadelphia for about three years, and then moved to Butler County, Pennsylvania, in May 1796 [25].

He was naturalized as a United States citizen in 1803 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [6], appears as head of household in every available U.S. federal census from 1800 through 1840 [1]–[5], and died on 18 May 1841 in Butler County, Pennsylvania [24]. His gravestone identifies him and Barbara as natives of Ireland who settled near Butler in 1796 and remained there until their deaths [24].

Timeline

Origins in Ireland

John's exact place of birth in Ireland is not fully resolved. His gravestone in South Cemetery, Butler, Pennsylvania, states that he and his wife Barbara were "natives of Ireland" and that they emigrated to the United States in May 1793 [24]. A biographical sketch in the History of Butler County Pennsylvania (1895) states that he was born in County Donegal and of Scotch-Irish ancestry [25].

Later McQuiston family correspondence provides additional detail. In 1898, Henry McQuiston wrote to George Dowe McQuesten that John and his brothers Robert and Thomas had come from Tobermore in County Derry (Londonderry), Ireland. According to the letter, John emigrated first; the two brothers followed him after 1800, with Robert eventually settling in Butler County and Thomas remaining in Philadelphia, where he died. Thomas reportedly left a son who "went to sea and was never heard from," and a daughter who married and had several children [6].

Taken together, these sources suggest a McQuiston family origin in the Tobermore area of what is now County Londonderry, with the Donegal reference in the county history either reflecting a broader regional association or a secondary author's misunderstanding. John belonged to a masonic lodge in Ireland [6]. No primary evidence has yet been located that identifies John's parents or a more precise Irish parish of origin.

Naturalization

On 29 June 1803, John McQuistion was admitted as a citizen of the United States in the Court of Common Pleas held at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The court, presided over by Judges George Thompson and George Wallace, recorded that John, "a native of Ireland," appeared and "prayed to be admitted a citizen of the United States." After satisfying the statutory requirements and taking the prescribed oaths and renunciations, he was granted citizenship [6].

Land, Occupation & Community

According to the History of Butler County Pennsylvania (1895), John McQuistion purchased 500 acres of land in Butler township from Robert Morris, the celebrated financier of the Revolution, in May 1796 [25]. He erected a stone house on this property (later in possession of the Doerr heirs). He subsequently purchased an adjoining 500 acre tract, part of which became the Boyd addition to the borough of Butler (better known as Springdale), with a portion occupied by the Standard Plate Glass Works. He cleared and improved 300 acres of this second tract, built and operated a tannery, and resided there until his death [25].

On 1 March 1797, John McQuiston entered into Articles of Agreement with Robert Morris (represented by attorney John Cunningham) for land on the waters of Big Connaughquenessing in Cunningham's District. The agreement stipulated that if John settled on the tract before 3 March 1798 and made required improvements (including building a house and fencing) over five years, Robert Morris would deed 100 acres as a gratuity and execute Warrantee Deeds for a total of 200 acres. In consideration, John agreed to buy another 100 acres at $2 per acre with lawful interest from the date of the agreement [7].

On 2 May 1804, a deed from Adam Sheiner to John McQuiston was recorded in Book A, pages 3 & 4. Both parties were identified as being of Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania [7].

John served as County Commissioner in 1823 [25]. He was one of the earliest settlers of the locality and one of the founders of the United Presbyterian church of Butler. He donated the land for the erection of a church and was a liberal supporter of that denomination. In politics, he was a stanch Democrat and one of the influential men of his day in local affairs [25].

Family

John McQuiston had 12 known children by his wife Barbara Simpson (Arthur) McQuiston: Joseph (born 18 January 1793), Mary (born c. 1795), Jane (born 12 July 1797), John (born c. 1800), William (born 1803), James (born c. 1805), Sarah (born 8 September 1806), Margaret (born c. 1807), Barbara (born 8 August 1808), Nancy (born c. 1810), Elizabeth (born 1811), and Thomas (born 1814).

Children

Joseph McQuiston

Joseph was born 18 January 1793 and died 24 August 1855. He married Isabella Harper on 7 May 1818. In 1820, he was living in the borough of Butler [8]. According to the 1850 census, he was a farmer [9]. Joseph and Isabella had eight children: Mary Ann (1819–1889), Barbara Simpson (1821–1836), John Butler (1823–1881), Daniel Harper (1824–1891), Katherine (1827–1849), Simpson Arthur (1830–1918), Joseph (1832–1910), and Lewis Handford (1834–1864).

Mary McQuiston

Mary was born c. 1795 and died 1854. She married James Borland. In 1830, James and Mary were living in New Hagerstown, Carroll County, Ohio [10]. According to the 1850 census, James was a tanner in Monroe Township, Harrison County, Ohio [11]. Mary and James had seven children: Nancy (1827–1890), Samuel (1829–), Lydia (1829–1887), Mary Jane (1833–1910), James (1835–1903), Simpson Arthur (1837–1910), and Joseph (1843–).

Jane McQuiston

Jane was born 12 July 1797 in Pennsylvania and died 2 August 1867. She married Henry Champion Dewolf. In 1840, they were living in the Borough of Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [12]. According to the 1850 census, Henry was a physician in Butler [13]. Jane and Henry had four children: Tensard R (1824–1859), Elvira (1825–1846), Henry C (1829–), and Glorvina (1832–).

John McQuiston

John was born c. 1800 and died c. 1828. He married Elizabeth Robinson. John and Elizabeth had three children: Richard Robinson (1825–1905), Joseph Louis (1827–), and Elizabeth. After John's death, Elizabeth remarried Thomas Cochran and they lived near Wexford, Pennsylvania.

William McQuiston

William was born 1803 and died 1872. He married Mary A Smith (born 1812). According to the 1850 census, William was a tanner in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [16], following in his father's occupation. William and Mary had seven children: Marshall (1833–), William W (1838–), Quincy Creasap (1842–), Sarah E (1843–), Christoph (1843–), James Livingston (1848–), and Nancy Jane (1851–).

James McQuiston

Photograph from the Jane Cooper collection.

James was born c. 1805 [17] and died 11 August 1851. He married Mary Hindman (born 1807). According to the 1850 census, James was a farmer in South Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [17]. James and Mary had seven children: John (1833–), Elizabeth (1836–), Barbara (1838–), Margaret (1840–), Robert (1842–), Sarah (1847–), and Lavina (1850–).

Sarah McQuiston

Sarah was born 8 September 1806 and died 8 January 1876. She married David H Potts (born 1805). According to the 1850 census, David was a shoemaker in North Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [18]. Sarah and David had six children: Levi (1828–), Barbara (1830–), John (1834–), Joseph (1838–), Elizabeth (1840–), and David (1846–).

Margaret McQuiston

Margaret was born c. 1807 [15] and died 1882. She married James Curtis Smith. By 1840, she was widowed and living in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [14]. Margaret and James had two children: John McQuiston Smith (1831–1922) and James Curtis Smith (1833–).

Barbara McQuiston

Barbara was born 8 August 1808 and died 31 August 1837. She married Andrew Marshall (1800–1832). Barbara and Andrew had one child: Andrew Eaton Marshall (1828–1860).

Nancy McQuiston

Nancy was born c. 1810 and died 9 September 1879. She married William L Bartley (1810–1893). According to the 1850 census, William was a farmer in South Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania [19]. The family appears in the 1860 [20] and 1870 [21] censuses in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania. Nancy and William had one child: Lydia (1837–).

Elizabeth McQuiston

Elizabeth was born 1811 and died 17 June 1876. She married John L. Bartley (1807–1892) on 17 November 1835. According to the 1860 census, John was a farmer in Oakland, Butler County, Pennsylvania [22]. Elizabeth and John had one child: John Walter Bartley (1843–).

Thomas McQuiston

Thomas was born 1814 and died 7 May 1853. He married Sarah White (born 1820). Thomas and Sarah had two children: John Pollock (1842–1885) and Sarah Jane (1843–1908).

Census Records

Grave & Cemetery

John McQuiston and Barbara Simpson (Arthur) McQuiston are buried together under a single gravestone in South Cemetery, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania. The graves and gravestone were moved from the original Presbyterian Burying Ground in Butler (now the site of McQuistion School) to the South Cemetery. [24]

Inscription: "In memory of John McQuistion, who departed this life May 18, A.D. 1841, aged 74 years. In memory of Barbara McQuistion, who departed this life March 5, A.D. 1837, aged 68 years. The Deceased as above were natives of Ireland, emigrated to the United States in May 1793, and settled in May 1796 within one mile of this borough where they resided until their decease. Reader: Prepare to meet thy God for ye know not the hour when the Son of Man cometh."

Inscription transcription and information about the relocation of the graves provided by Kelly Marshall.

Future Research Goals

• Marriage record (or banns) for John and Barbara.
• Exact arrival date and port in the United States.

DNA & Genetic Genealogy

Y-DNA

There are currently no direct male descendants of John McQuiston in the MitoYDNA database as of 23 November 2025 [23].

Autosomal DNA

The autosomal DNA analysis is based on AncestryDNA results for Jeffrey James Borland (1943–2016), a third-great-grandson of John and Barbara McQuiston. Jeff was a descendant of their daughter Mary (McQuiston) Borland through her son James II Borland. The research was performed by Kevin Borland, Jeff's great-nephew and president and founder of Borland Genetics.

The first objective in analyzing Jeff's DNA matches was to identify matches who descend from Mary's siblings—that is, descendants of John and Barbara's other children. This approach helps confirm the family structure and identify segments of DNA that likely originated from John and Barbara McQuiston.

Findings

The first such individual identified was Jeff's cousin Erin, who shares 51 cM across 2 segments with Jeff. Erin is a documented descendant of Joseph McQuiston through his daughter Katherine (McQuiston) Craig. Erin and Jeff are fourth cousins, twice removed, with Jeff being two generations older than Erin.

To confirm that the shared DNA segments originated from the McQuiston connection, the cluster of 8 shared matches between Jeff and Erin were examined. Of note, in this cluster, matching Jeff at 20 cM is Jeff and Erin's mutual cousin Tom, a documented descendant of another of James and Mary (McQuiston) Borland's children, Nancy (Borland) Morrow. This relationship further supports that the common ancestors resulting in the match cluster are indeed John and Barbara McQuiston.

The second individual identified per the protocol was Jeff's cousin John, a documented fourth cousin who matches Jeff at 30 cM. John is a descendant of Elizabeth (McQuiston) Bartley through her son John Walter Bartley. Jeff and John have 12 shared matches on Ancestry that form a distinct cluster. Also clustering with this second cluster is Jeff's documented fourth cousin, twice removed Brittany (matching Jeff at 12 cM), also a descendant of John Walter Bartley, further supporting the legitimacy of this cluster. Also in this second shared match cluster are 4 matches that form a sub-group, each being a descendant of John Wigton (1763–1853) and wife Magdalena (Covert) Wigton, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The donors' names are Stephanie, Dale, Tammy, and Sondra, matching at 40, 33, 27, and 25 cM respectively. The connection between the Wigton/Covert line and the McQuiston/Arthur line is not obvious and should be a high priority for genetic genealogists researching this line. Within this similarly compact match cluster, Jeff matches a donor Kathleen who is not a documented descendant of John and Barbara McQuiston, but rather who descends from a James McQuiston (1736–1804), who would have been a generation older than John McQuiston, the subject of this entry. James McQuiston died in 1804 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (per Kathleen's tree), which is also in the Pittsburgh region. Perhaps James McQuiston could have been John McQuiston's uncle. Further paper and genetic genealogy research is required to prove or disprove this contention.

Conclusion

From the data analyzed, it appears that Jeff Borland inherited at least 121 cM of his paternal DNA from his 2nd great-grandmother Mary (McQuiston) Borland (summing the segments shared with Erin, Stephanie and John which do not appear to overlap). Given that the total statistical length of one's paternal autosomal chromosomes is approximately 3700 cM, genetic information passed down from Mary (McQuiston) Borland constitutes upwards of 3.3% of Jeff's paternal genetic information. Given that one has 8 2nd great-grandparents on the paternal side, and that there appears to be no pedigree collapse on the Borland/McQuiston side of Jeff's family, the expectation value of DNA inherited from Mary would be 1/8 or 12.5%, which is considerably more than the actual figure of 3.3% computed via the match data presented. This means that there are likely a significant number of yet-to-be-identified matches and match clusters among Jeff's matches that also fall on the McQuiston side of Jeff's family.

References

1. 1800 U.S. Census, Middlesex, Butler County, Pennsylvania, roll 36, page 319, image 146, household of John McQueston; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1800usfedcenancestry&h=383051&ti=0&indiv=try : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M32, 52 rolls.
2. 1810 U.S. Census, Connoquenessing, Butler County, Pennsylvania, roll 46, page 1037, image 196, household of J McQuesten; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1810usfedcenancestry&h=427919&ti=0&indiv=try : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls.
3. 1820 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M33_98, page 139, image 155, household of John McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls.
4. 1830 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, roll 147, page 10, household of John McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1830usfedcenancestry&h=446489&ti=0&indiv=try : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls.
5. 1840 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, roll 448, page 26, household of John Mcquistion; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1840usfedcenancestry&h=2768554&ti=0&indiv=try : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls.
6. Naturalization record, John McQuistion, 29 June 1803, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; transcription image, Ancestry.com, The McQuiston, McCuiston and McQuesten families, 1620-1937 [database on-line] (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005 : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing Leona Bean McQuiston, The McQuiston, McCuiston and McQuesten families, 1620-1937 (Louisville, Ky.: Standard Press, 1937), page 442, image 476.
7. Articles of Agreement, Robert Morris (by attorney John Cunningham) and John McQuiston, 1 March 1797, and Deed, Adam Sheiner to John McQuiston, recorded 2 May 1804, Book A, pages 3 & 4, Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania; transcription image, Ancestry.com, The McQuiston, McCuiston and McQuesten families, 1620-1937 [database on-line] (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005 : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing Leona Bean McQuiston, The McQuiston, McCuiston and McQuesten families, 1620-1937 (Louisville, Ky.: Standard Press, 1937), page 441, image 475.
8. 1820 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M33_98, household of Joseph McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/records/218192?tid=382326&pid=6159862198&ssrc=pt : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls.
9. 1850 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 760, page 49a, household of Joseph McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
10. 1830 U.S. Census, New Hagerstown, Carroll County, Ohio (enumerated as Tuscarawas County), NARA roll 141, page 52, household of James Berland (Borland); digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058/records/391386?tid=382326&pid=-2088610905&ssrc=pt : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls.
11. 1850 U.S. Census, Monroe Township, Harrison County, Ohio, NARA roll M432_693, page 299B, household of James Borland; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/records/13846933?tid=382326&pid=-2088610905&ssrc=pt : accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
12. 1840 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 448, page 20, image 45, household of Henry Champion Dewolf; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls.
13. 1850 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M432_760, page 46B, image 97, household of Henry Champion Dewolf; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
14. 1840 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 448, page 26, household of Margaret Smith; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls.
15. 1850 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 760, page 49b, household of Margaret Smith; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
16. 1850 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 760, page 37b, household of William McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
17. 1850 U.S. Census, South Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M432_760, page 209A, image 415, household of James McQuiston; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
18. 1850 U.S. Census, North Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M432_760, page 93A, image 188, household of David H Potts; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
19. 1850 U.S. Census, South Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll 760, page 212b, household of William L Bartley; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M432, 1,009 rolls.
20. 1860 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M653_1086, page 96, household of William L Bartley; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls.
21. 1870 U.S. Census, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M593_1315, page 76B, household of William L Bartley; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls.
22. 1860 U.S. Census, Oakland, Butler County, Pennsylvania, NARA roll M653_1087, page 679, image 226, household of John L. Bartley; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 23 Nov 2025); citing National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls.
23. MitoYDNA database search for "McQuiston" (Y-DNA), mitoYDNA.org (https://mitoydna.org/Public/SearchData?Srch=McQuiston&typSrch=Name&Opt=Equals&kTyp=B : accessed 23 November 2025).
24. Grave stone, John McQuiston and Barbara Simpson (Arthur) McQuiston, South Cemetery, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania; photograph by Kelly Marshall, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14470365/john-mcquistion : accessed 23 Nov 2025).
25. History of Butler County Pennsylvania (1895), Biographical Sketches, Chapter 71, pages 831-870, John McQuistion.