"David McConnaughey's early youth was spent amid the stirring scenes of the Revolution. Prudence Thompson, also a native of Pennsylvania, was of Scotch extraction. They began housekeeping in Washington Co., PA., and for a number of years successfully maintained one of the best hotels in that part of the state".
While at home, Prudence was a member of the Middle Springs Presbyteriaan Church in Southhamton Twp., so it is possible this is where David and Prudence were married. They were living in Newton Twp. in 1800. Shortly after this they moved to Washington Co., PA, where they are listed in the 1810 census. Two or three years later they moved to Fayette Co., PA. They must have lived in Wharton Twp. part of this time but also lived in Uniontown, where their youngest child, Rosannah Jane was born. Some of the family belonged to the Mount Moriah Baptist Church. SOme of the records from there are:
4/14/1833 - Anderw McConahey and Elizabeth Conn were baptized.
5/12/1833 - Prudence McConahey, Sarah McConahey baptized
9/14/1834 - Eleanor McConnehey baptized
8/13/1836 - Br. D. Mc Connehey and wife dismissed by letter.
3/11/1837 - Letters of dismission voted to Br. Jehu Chadwick and wife, Elisa Husted, Rachel Vance, Eleanor McConnehay, Elisa Davis and Margaret Ross.This was evidently when the move was made to Ohio. (Aug. 1836) with some of the family coming in March 1837. The story is told that David and Prudence had some gold pieces and were afraid they would be stolen, so they put them in the bottom of the suarbowl and kept it full of sugar. After settling in New Market, the family tried to join the Baptist church there. When they were told they would have to be rebaptized, tehy, along with others, started their own church".
(Quotes from material at the McConnaughey Society of America and from Klister Stender's "Schrunk - Torry Fuller-Mart Genealogy)The old New Market Baptist Church that denied the family admission was a log church and was organized about 1821. This church was anti mission in principle and declined to receive into communion, persons belonging to the denomination by letters to the church. The McConnaughery, among others, organized a new group, originally known as Little Rock Fork Baptist Church, at the home of Oliver Harris on 9 Jun 1838. Sixteen members were presentat this meeting including: William and Rachel Vance, David and Prudence McConnaughey, Jacob Johnson, Lydia Vance, Margaret Ross, Samuel Harris and Mary Wheaton. In 1838, this church was admitted to the Strait Creek Association, and in the same year, a brick church was erected. Before the year ended, however, a tornado blew it down and it was rebuilt in 1840. This building was occupied until 1877 at which time the structure which stands today was put up. As a result of this new Baptist group, membership declined in the old Baptist group that denied them admission and the meetings of the old church were eventually discontinued.
Never married.
See HH book, vol I, pg. 62. On 28 Sep. 1755, Enos and Rachel Thomas deed 40 acres of land, consideration 5 shillings, on "Draines of Opeckon", land willed to Enos by his father, Evan - to John Hiett, Jr. -- Deed book 4, p. 69, Frederick Co., VA.