Morris

George McKenzie. Origin: Loyalist

The McKenzie name can be found in the 1740 Census, and there was an Eleanor McKenzie born on New Providence in 1776. That same year, both George McKenzie and Caleb McKenzie were members of the militia in New Providence, and much earlier (1727), a Roderick McKenzie married Eliza Evans in New Providence. George McKenzie was also a Judge and a Justice of the Peace on New Providence in May 1782.

However, a George McKenzie was also a self-professed member of the Board of American Loyalists and signatory to communications to the government on their behalf, so it is not clear whether there were two men with this name, or if he simply jumped on the Loyalist bandwagon. We found the Loyalist evidence more compelling.

McKenzie received two land grants in the Morris area of Long Island: 300 acres on 14 June 1788, and 300 acres on 20 July 1790 bounded by land of Sarah Wilson, John Morris, Crown land and vacant land.

References: BOL, CO 23, 1740C, Militia rolls