Click Here to Return To Milestones Vol 9 No 4
The Isle of Skye, off the coast of Scotland produces men who place duty before persona inclinations.
Such a man was Lord Michael McKinnon, native of the island. He trained his children to adhere to their ideas and sacrifice everything to duty. Early in 1770 two of his sons, Daniel and Joseph, came to America. Daniel, a high Episcopal preacher to George IV of England, was sent by the crown to the church at Philadelphia.
He was a man of decided opinions and did not fit in well with the growing tendency in the colonies to question the crown's authority. He was a staunch royalist and preached his convictions from the pulpit. His belief, however, did not prevent his marriage to Miss Polly Dawson, a lovely colonial girl, who was a member of an ardent Whig family.
For several years Polly was very happy with her ecclesiastical husband. A daughter, whom they named Katie, was born.
The young wife, however, did experience troublesome moments when her family reproached her for her husband's denunciation of the American cause.
One night Polly retired early. Later she was awakened by angry shouting in the lower hall. She went to the top of the wide, shallow stairway and looked down into the hall. Below were a number of men. In the front line, pressing close to her husband, who was standing on the second step. were her father and brother, Daniel. The minister, partially dressed, his thin intelligent face pale in the light of the candleabrum, was speaking quietly.
"I will not take the oath of Allegiance against my king. I am the servant of the church and his majesty is its head. I will not denounce him for a group of people who are rebelling against a just and kind ruler."
Wrathful shouts filled the hall. The colonist surged forward but Reverend McKinnon did not move. Polly's brother looked up and saw his sister standing in the shadows.
"If ye will not take the oath, then ye must go back to England and my sister and her child will stay in America," he shouted.
The minister turned quickly and held out his hand to his wife, who came swiftly down the steps.
"Daniel," she said, "Please take these men and go away. My husband and I will settle this question."
Finally the crowd dispersed and Polly turned back up the stairs, accompanied by her husband. But neither slept that night. Polly pleaded and begged that he take the oath of allegiance, but her husband remained adamant. Finally the girl decided words were useless. She was sad at the thought of leaving her family, but there was no question in her loyal heart but that she must go with her husband. Her family decided otherwise. They forced her to change her mind and she left her husband with these last words ringing in her ears ;'If you go with them Polly we will never see each other again."
Filial obligations ruled, however for Polly and one bleak winter morning Daniel McKinnon sailed for England, alone.
Daniel Dawson sold 'all his' possession and together with all his family, Polly and her baby, started west. They crossed the Allegheny mountains on pack mules. Snow and bitter cold combined with the danger of Indian attacks to harass the little party until it reached Fort Pitt. Polly was apathetic. She loved her husband, and in her heart was hoping for the time when he would either come or send for her. At times Daniel Dawson was conscience-stricken as he watched his sister, but he was certain the family decision was right.
The party remained at Fort Pitt until spring. In the meantime, Dawson had been hunting for a suitable place to farm. At last he found it, high on the hills overlooking the Ohio river, between Little and Big Beaver creeks. Early in April he brought his family and sister to their new home. They were the first settlers in what is now Ohioville.
The young wife waited anxiously for those long expected "mail days". But no mail arrived from England. Daniel McKinnon was keeping his promise. One day years later Joseph McKinnon, the younger brother who had chose to remain in America, came to visit his sister-in-law. He told Polly her husband had been made a bishop in the church and was a favorite of the king. He would never return to America.
From then, until her death, Polly heard no more of her husband. She was buried in the Ohioville cemetery.