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Note: It is believed that Dennis McCarthy and his brother John were the first immigrants of the McCarthy family, arriving in Butler Co., PA before October, 1839. (see Notes: John McCarthy)
Land records of Butler Co. report an indenture dated October, 1839 for the purchase of 127 acres of land in Donegal Twp. by Denis & John "McCarty" from Sarah Catnack for $265. The deed was recorded in May, 1842. In Sept., 1846, Dennis McCarthy, alone, entered into an indenture to purchase 53 acres of land in Donegal Township, Butler Co., for $382 from Christian and Agnes Otto. The deed was recorded 31 Oct. 1854, 9 years later. In Nov., 1847, Armstrong Co. land records document an indenture for what appears to have been an exchange of land between Dennis & John McCarty of Sugercreek Township, Armstrong Co. and Samuel Thornburg - 106 acres in Clearfield Township, Butler Co. to the McCartys, for 83 acres in Donegal Township, Butler Co. (part of the 1842 purchase) which went to Thornburg. The transaction was recorded 25 Feb. 1851, a little over 3 years later.
[NOTE: According to Dr. Ralph Crandall in "Shaking Your Family Tree," "Sometimes many years lapsed between the time when the grantors signed the deed and the grantee (who was responsible for recording it) finally had it entered in the town or county deed book. Sometimes it was not recorded until an heir wished to sell the land many years later and needed to establish a clear title. Thus a deed might appear in the record book decades after the grantor had died..."].
In the index of Butler Co. naturalizations, Dennis "McCartney" and John McCarthy appear in Vol. 1, 1844. I obtained the papers and, unfortunately, very little information is provided. Dennis McCarthy, native of Ireland, filed his intentions for citizenship at Butler, Butler Co., PA in 1841 (it appears to be 14 December), as did his brother John. Dennis signed this declaration "Denis McCarthy" as he did the grant of naturalization which follows, dated 28 Oct. 1844, accompanied by a statement signed by Manasses Gillespie of Butler Co., PA and also dated 28 Oct. 1844 that he knows that Dennis McCarthy has lived within the US for 5 years and in PA for one year. Jacob Mechling, Jr was the prothonotary signing. Dennis' signature appears to contain a middle initial which is comprised of two parallel perpendicular lines with a curved line over them, curving up..
The 1850 census lists Dennis McCarty/McCarthy as a 36 year old farmer with real estate valued at $1000. He was living with his parents, four brothers and sister and brother-in-law and their children in Donegal Township, Butler Co., PA.
The Butler Co. Grantor Index also reports two 13 June 1856 transactions involving Dennis McCarthy in Oakland Township (formerly Donegal Township) in volume 3, pages 10 & 11. In the first of these, Dennis McCarthy sold 40 acres of land in Oakland Twp., Butler Co., PA to Charles Collins for $76.131/2. In the second, Dennis sold 50 acres of land, also in Oakland Twp., Butler Co., also to Charles Collins, for $64.77. These were obviously transactions which took place after Dennis' death in 1854; see below.
An 1858 Land Survey map of Butler county identifies acreage in excess of 100 acres owned by "McCarty" in south central Oakland Township, which was within Donegal Township until 1854. What amount of this was Dennis' and what was brother John's is not clear.
According to Kenneth T. H. McFarland, compiler, Births, Marriages and Deaths of Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania, 1852-1854, (Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1999), pg. 17, Dennis "McCarty" died 19 Oct. 1854 at Brady's Bend of cholera and is buried in "Butler Catholic," presumably a cemetery in Butler, Butler Co.
The Armstrong County, PA Will Book, volume 2, page 76 records the last will and testament of Dennis McCarthy of Brady's Bend Township, Armstrong Co. It is dated 20 Oct. 1854 and was registered 27 Oct. 1854. It reads as follows: "In the name of God Amen. I Dennis McCarthy of Brady's Bend being in good health of body, and of sound and disposing memory do make and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner of following that is to say, I order that all my just debts, funeral expenses, and charges of proving this my will, be in the first place fully paid and satisfied and after payment thereof and every part thereof I give and bequeath to Dennis Houlahan Forty five acres more or less of land belonging to me in Donegal Township Butler Co. - of old Duncan's place and fifty acres or all that I now own deducting the above devisee to Dennis Houlahan to my brother Richard McCarthy out of which he is to pay all my debts. However should an heir be born to me of my lawful wife Jane the above disposition of my property to be of no account. Likewise I make and constitute and appoint Richard Jennings and John R. Steel to be my executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my seal (?) the twentieth day of Oct, in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four."
Signed Dennis McCarthy (his mark)
The will was entered into probate 27 Oct. 1854; the following month, his widow refused to accept the will. The will is especially revealing as it confirms the relationship between Dennis McCarthy and Dennis Houlihan, his nephew (son of his sister Margaret) and namesake, as well as with brother Richard McCarthy.
Butler Deed Book 38, page 428 records a Deed of Release/quitclaim deed by Jane McCarthy to Richard McCarthy & Dennis "Hollahan" on 6 March 1855 in which Jane received $300 from Richard & Dennis for her release of all claims to the estate of her deceased husband, Dennis McCarthy, both real & personal. This document was recorded 6 May 1874. I don't know what accounted for the delay of almost 20 years. At the time of this transaction, Richard McCarthy and Dennis "Hollahan" were residents of Oakland Township; Dennis had been resident in Donegal Township; Jane was a resident of Brady's Bend, Armstrong Co., PA.
The following page of the Deed Book records an indenture between Richard Jennings & John R. Steel, executors of the estate of Dennis McCarthy and Daniel O'Donnel wherein O'Donnel purchased from the estate 50 acres of land in Oakland Township for $725 in order to satisfy debts of the estate. This transaction occurred after the Orphans' Court in Butler Co. ruled that the property should be sold. Again, the transaction itself wasn't recorded until 6 May 1874.
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