William Mc Cew

by


William Mc Cew probably was born during the 1730s. We seek information on his origins and path to Albany.

William Mc Cew was a tailor and an Albany resident as, during the 1760s, his third ward house and property were accorded moderate assessments. A number of community-based documents (including a membership list from St. Peter's dated 1771) from the 1760s and early 70s referenced his house and his dependants.

In September 1758, he married Mary Burk at the Albany Dutch church. At that time, both partners were identified as "of Albany." The marriage does not seem to have produced any children but the Mc Cews were raising a young girl named Jenny and also employed apprentices and journeymen tailors.

His marriage was tenuous as in September 1763 he posted a notice in the New York newspaper that his wife had eloped and that he would no longer be responsible for her debts.

However, Mary was identified as his principal heir and executor by the time a sickly William Mc Cew filed a will early in September 1771. He was dead by September 24 when the will passed probate. Named in the will exclusively were local and New York business and craftsmen of Scottish backgrounds.

Following his passing, the widow Mc Cew carried on his tailoring business and was advertizing for workers in the Albany newspaper in 1772. We seek more definitive information on his passing.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of William Mc Cew is CAP biography number 4394. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 9/10/11