James Mackall of "The Cliffs" in Calvert County, being sick of body but praised be to God of good sense, do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament, that is to say r leave my Soul to God that did give it to me, hoping for Salvation by Jesus Christ my Redeemer and my body to have a decent and Christian burial according to the discretion of my Executor hereinafter mentioned and as for my worldly Estate it has pleased God to bestow on me, I give and bequeath as follows:

Imprimas: I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife, Mary Mackall, that plantation where I now live and the Negro Tobe during her natural life and at her death that the said plantation with the appurtenance Revert to my Eldest Son, John Mackall and his heirs forever and the Negro Tobe to my youngest son Benjamin Mackall.

Item: I give and bequeath that Parcel of Land called "Sharp's Outlet" containing Two Hundred Acres to my two sons James Mackall and Benjamin Mackall to be divided between them and their heirs forever.

Item: I give the Remainder of my Estate to be Divided Equally iri Six Shares Betwixt my aforesaid dear wife and five children, that is John, James, Jr., Benjamin, Ann, and Elizabeth

Item: I nominate and ordain my Dear, and Loving Wife to be the whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and to pay each of the children their Respective Share of my estate to them that are of age within one year after my death and the rest as they attain age or the day of marriage which shall happen first.

Item: I nominate and ordain my beloved friends Frances Maulding (Mauldin) and Thomas How (Howe) to be overseers of this my Last Will and Testament and to aid and assist my foresaid wife in managing the Same and seeing everything and things herein mentioned fullfilled, observed, and Kept according to the true intent thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Thirteenth day of November Anno Domi One Thousand-Six- Hundred and Ninety-Three.

James Mackall (seal)

Signed, sealed in the presence of: Frances Mauldin Thomas Howe Joseph Sherwood John Scott

Under the aforesaid Will was inscribed this, viz.

Memorand: That the said James Mackall upon the Twenty-first instant told John Scott to Draw his last will as is aforesaid and according to order the said Scott did it, but when it was underwritten, desired him if he did not like it he should deliver it to said Scott (we having givenit into the hands after reading) and if he did not like it to throw it away. Whereupon he took it and kist (kissed) it and returned it to Said Scott.

In testamony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this Thirteenth day of November 1693.

Thomas Howe Joseph Sherwood John Scott
11 December 1693

The above mentioned was sworn to by the said witnesses before me:

Is. Bigger

(see Archives of Maryland, Liber 2, Folio 242 and Liber 4.2, Folio 13)

Jess R. Finley, A Mackall Family In America,1996

The Mackall Family of Calvert County was founded by James Mackall, who arrived in Maryland not later than 1666. It is not improbable that, like Ninian Beall and Alexander Magruder, he came to Maryland as a Scottish prisoner of war. James Mackall soon became one of the important landowners of Calvert County. He settled on the Calvert Cliffs, below Parker's Creek. He acquired plantations in this area such as Sharp's Outlet, Neglect, part of Lower Bennett, and Mackall's Desire. He purchased the famous plantation, The Cage, on the lower Patuxent River. James Mackall "of the Cliffs" died in 1693, and left his dwelling plantation (not named) to his son John. He divided Sharp's Outlet and The Cage between his sons James and Benjamin. The three sons of James Mackall established branches of the Mackall Family which contributed so many outstanding fiqures to Maryland history...and were among the greatest land owners and office holders of Calvert County.

Stein goes on to point out that James Mackall was the most important of the Scotsmen to remain in Calvert County. Ninian Beall, Alexander Magruder and their descendents more closely associated with Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, MD. By 1663 James Mackall had probably settled at the Cliffs. Early land grants associate James Mackall with Thomas Sterling, a Scot, one of the largest land owners of the Upper Cliffs and possibly a Quaker. It seems probable that James Mackall made his residence at Lower Bennett.

JAMES MACKALL, b. in Scotland, 1630, emigrated to America, and settled at "The Clifts," of Calvert County, Md., before 1666; his will was probated 11th December, 1693; m. Mary GRAHAME, b. 1649; d. 1717; said to have been a GRAHAME of the "House of Claverhouse," Scotland. Their children were all minors at the time of their father's death.

James Mackall, the Pioneer, was born in Scotland in 1630 and came to this country about 1655. He settled in Calvert County, Maryland at what was known as "The Cliffs" and married Mary Grahame, a connection of the Claverhouse family of the Earldom of Dundee. It has been stated that she was a descendant of Earl Grahame of Montrose, or the Earl Grahame of Lennox. The Grahames of Lennox and Montrose are believed to have been of the same clan.

THE PIONEER James Mackall was born in Scotland in 1630 and came to this country in 1655, settling at "The Cliffs" in Calvert County, Colony of Maryland, situated on the east shore of the Patuxtant River several miles above Hunting Creek. The plantation consisted of less than four hundred acres. On 6 March 1675, James Mackall received a grant of fifty acres of land and at the same time purchased an additional fifty acres from Thomas Sterling. In 1681, a tract of land known as "Mackall's Desire" was surveyed for him. In Maryland at that time it was customary for the Governor to grant fifty acres of land to each person in a family including children and servants. Mary Grahame Mackall, wife of James Mackall whom he married after his arrival in this country, was born in England in 1639. It is said that she was of the Grahames of Montrose, a connection of the Clavendish Family of the Earl of Dundee. James Mackall died at "The Cliffs" in 1693, his will dated 30 November 1693 and proven 11 December 1693. He provided for his wife and five children: Ann Mackall Skinner; Elizabeth Mackall Skinner; Col. John Mackall,I; James Mackall,Jr; and Benjamin Mackall,I, leaving the bulk of his estate to his eldest son Col. John Mackall,I-executor of the will. Mary Grahame Mackall died at "The Cliffs" in 1718. Her will dated 25 June 1718 and proven 15 May 1718 mentioned her five children and the following grandchildren: Mary Mackall, daughter of James Mackall,Jr; Mary Skinner, daughter of Elizabeth Mackall Skinner; and Ann Skinner, daughter of Ann Mackall Skinner.

...James (1630-1693), who immigrated from Scotland as an indentured servant, and was free by 1668; illiterate...

I, Mary Mackall of Calvert County being sick of body but of perfect memory and rememberance, praised to God, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form follows:

First: I bequeath my soul to God who gave it me hoping that through the merits of Jesus Christ to receive a free pardon for all my Sins and for my body to be buried in Clrristian Burial at the discretion of My Executor herein mentioned.

Imprias: I give and bequeath to my Loving Son John Mackall and his wife Susannah, each of them One Gold Ring of the value of Twenty Shillings.

Item: I give and bequeath to my Loving Son James Mackall,Jr. and his wife Ann One Gold Ring of value of Twenty Shillings.

Item: I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Skinner One Gold Ring of the valie of Twenty Shillings.

Item: I give unto Mary Mackall, daughter of James Mackall,Jr. Three Pounds Sterling to be paid her at the age of twenty-one years or Day of marriage which shall happen first and the half of my wearing apparell.

Item: I give unto Mary Skinner, Daughter of William Skinner, three Pounds Sterling to be paid her at the age of twenty-one or Day of Marriage which shall happen first and the other half of my wearing apparell all to be divided equally between the two girls.

Item: I give to Ann Skinner, Daughter of Robert Skinner, my silver Tankard and one piece of speckeled lineing now in my house.

Item: All the rest of my Estate Moveable and UNmoveable I give to my son Benjamin Mackall' leaving him sole Executor of this my Last Wi!) and Testament, he paying all my just Debts and Legacies above mentioned.

In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th Day of January Anno Domini 1713.

Mary Mackall (seal) Sealed and signed in the presence of

John Cay
Thomas Howe

The foregoing will was thus endorsed 15 May 1715 Then came Jonothan Cay and Thomas Howe subscribing evidence to the within Within Will and made Oath on the Holy Evangetist of the Almighty God that they saw the testatrix sign, seal and declare the Instrument of Writing as her Last Will and Testament that at the time of her doing thereof She was to the best of their apprehension of Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory.

Before me-Addison Skinner Deputy Commissary of Calvert County

(see Archives of Maryland, Liber 14, Folio 657)

James Norbury MacKenzie says in his "Colonial Families", that James Mackall married in Scotland, Mary Grahame, a connection of the Claverhouse family "of the Earldom of Dundee". Now this marriage could not have taken place in Scotland for the following reason: had James Mackall been married before coming to Maryland, he would (after residing here for eight years) been entitled to 100 acres of land free and clear for the services of himself and his wife in establishing the Colony; such was the practice of the authorities at that time. At about the same time, George Mackall of Saint Mary's Co, received a grant of 100 acres of land free and clear, for the services of himself and his wife Ann, both of these grants are recorded at Annapolis, Md. James Mackall received only fifty acres of land, which proves that he was unmarried when he reached these shores.

It has been stated that Mary Grahame, who married James Mackall, was a descendent of Earl Grahame of Montrose, but I think it more than probable that she was of the house of Earl Grahame of Lennox. The Grahames of Lennox and Montrose are believed to have been of the same Clan.

There was a family of Grahames that settled in Maryland at a very early date and intermarried with quite a few of the early pioneer families, but the Grahame name as far as that branch of the family is concerned died out in the early part of the eighteenth century and the Grahames now in Maryland are the descendents of Charles Grahame, who came to this country in l742 and died in 1779. "He was of the house of Montrose". The only male of that family now living in Maryland is Mr. Malcolm Grahame, who is now in his eighties, "he has been a life long friend of my family and mine", he told me that his Grandfather said that he thought that all of the Grahames that came to this country were of the same family.

Now to support my contention that our Mary Grahame was of the line of Lennox, in the reign of Alexander III of Scotland, Malduin Earl of Lennox chartered certain lands to Sir Richard Grahame, who is referred to as the Earls brother. The Mackall clan were said to have been one of the principal vassals of the Earls of Lennox, after arriving in this country the families of Grahames, Mauldin and Mackalls have been closely connected by marriage and friendship, in many instances they acted as executors for each other. That friendship has been carried down thru the ages, to the present time.

Mary Grahame was always supposed to have been born in 1649. George Norbury MacKenzie gives that date in his "Colonial Families" but in view of the testimony of her daughter Ann that she was born in 1661, such being the case, her mother would have been only 12 years old at the time of Ann's birth, which I think is highly improbable. She must have been born quite some time prior to 1649.

The problems with Ann Mackall, seemingly the eldest child of James Mackall, the Pioneer, are her husbands, their order of husbandry, and their offspring by Ann.

Of the children of the pioneer James Mackall, John was always supposed to have been the oldest, but such is not the case. In looking over some old Chancery records, under date of May 2, 1716 (liber P L. Folio 279), Ann Mackall testifies that she was 55 years old. Such being the case it would place the year of Ann's birth as being in 1661. Later on in the same court, under date of May 27, 1735, (liber I R 3, Folio 889), Colonel John Mackall, her brother, testifies that he was 66 years old, thus making the year of his birth 1669. All known records confirm that date and as there is a lapse of about eight years between the births of Ann and John, I think that it is safe to assume that Elizabeth is also older than John.

Ann Mackall married four times, first, Andrew Tannehill; this marriage ended in either a divorce or an annulment, as Ann Mackall on May 2th, 1716, in the Chancery Court case mentioned above, stated that recently she had ridden to church several times with her former husband, Andrew Tannehill. There were no children by that union. Ann Mackall next married John Taney and had by him four children as follows: Mary Taney, died 1712, Benjamin Taney, N.O.R, Mackall Taney, N.O.R., Nathaniel Taney, N.O.R

- Ann Mackall next married a man named Bruce, N.O.R

Ann Mackall next married Robert Skinner,by whom she had two children as follows: Ann Skinner and Robert Skinner, Jr. Mary Taney, in her will dated in 1712, mentions her three brothers, also her half-sister, Ann Skinner, and her half-brother Robert Skinner, Jr., as being children of her mother by her fourth and last marriage.

Mildred Bowen O'Brien in her booklet, Mackall, lists different marriages and children than does Louis C. Mackall. Primary source material lends support for her view. Accordingly, I have used this view of Ann's life until indisputable proof is established.

Ann MACKALL married 1st) Andrew TANEYHILL: Children - John, Andrew, Elizabeth (Ann Elizabeth).
married 2nd) John SHORT
married 3rd) John TANEY: Children - Mary
married 4th) Robert SKINNER, Jr.: Children - Robert, Benjamin, Mackall, Ann, Nathaniel
married 5th) Mr. BRUSE

There is an arguement to include Clarke Skinner, brother of Robert Skinner. Jr. and Dr. William Skinner as a sixth husband for Anne; however the proof is not strong enough to make other than a passing comment. The most outragious claim to marriage with Ann was found in an old history of the Parrot's Cage wherein it was claimed that Anne Mackall was married to William Parrott, an original grantee in the County.
Caveat Emporator...Semper.

In August 2000 I received this absolutely fascinating e-mail which persuasively argues that Ann Mackall did not marry Andrew Taneyhill much less bear his children.

Dear Robert;

I recently came across your web page on the Mackall family of Calvert County, MD. Sad to say that the error re: the wife of Andrew Tanyhill will likely continue forever due to the same being recorded in several prominent genealogical works of many years ago.

Ann/Anne Mackall was not the wife of the immigrant Andrew Tanyhill, my gggggg grandfather; her given name was indeed Ann but after many years of research, Ann's surname remains unknown. The confusion over Ann probably arose due to the fact that there were three Ann Skinners extant during the early 1700s in Calvert County. There was 1) ANNE ( ) HOLLYDAY SKINNER, wife of Robert Skinner Sr. & mother of Clarke, Robert, Jr., Adderton, William Skinner, who died in 1714; 2) there was ANN ( ) TANYHILL SHORT SKINNER, the widow of Andrew Tanyhill & John Short & the wife of Clarke Skinner, who died around February 1715/16; and finally there was 3) ANNE MACKALL TANEY SKINNER [later BRUCE], the wife of Robert Skinner, Jr., (the brother of Clarke Skinner) who died 1712. The latter was the mother of Mary Taney whose will gave the names of her Skinner half siblings.

The administration bond of Benjamin Short, administrator of Ann Tanyhill Short Skinner was dated 8 Feb. 1716; his surety was Richard Hall. An inventory of Ann's estate was taken 18 Feb. of the same year & signed by Eliz. Bowen [her daughter] as nearest of kin. It is apparent from the inventory that Ann was living with daughter Elizabeth Bowen as it listed items at the 'Whome House' as well as items 'At Nathaniel Bowens.' No account of Ann's estate has been located in the MD Prerogative Court records but in 1718, Benjamin Short was cited by the Court re: an account. Clarke Skinner, Ann's third husband died in 1714 & she was admx. of his estate; following her death in 1715/16, Benjamin Short completed the administration of Clarke Skinner's estate as well as administering Ann's estate.

Ann Tanyhill Short Skinner many have been nee Hall & she may have been a relation of the immigrant Richard Hall of Calvert County, MD whose will she witnessed. In the few recorded documents re: Ann &/or her children, one of the Hall family either witnesses or is a surety.

This error re: the wife of Andrew Tanyhill could have been avoided if early researchers had dug a bit deeper & examined all the documents relating to Ann Skinner. As it stands now, the error will probably perpetuate itself forever.

Regards,
Rebekah Boyd

With but one husband, Dr. William Skinner, the story of Elizabeth Mackall should be a decidedly easier tale to tell. It is, of course, not without some confusion. Louis C. Mackall notes the marriage of Elizabeth to a Wm. Skinner but goes no further.

Elise Greenup Jourdan in Early Families of Soutern Maryland, vol. 2 with her attention directed to the Skinner Family states that Dr. William Skinner married Elizabeth Mackall, lived at The Reserve, and had the following children: Martha, William, James. Leonard, John, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth. No other wives are inferred for Dr. Skinner.

Mildred Bowen O'Brien in her booklet, Mackall also gives us the marriage to Dr. Skinner; however, lists the children as: James, Mary, William, Elizabeth. Conservatively, I have listed only the children that Jourdan and Bowen show in common.