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History of the Renick Family
For more information, download the Renick Pioneers at https://sites.google.com/a/wildblue.net/renick-reunion/renick-family-in-america
Renwick ancestors were living in the lowlands of Scotland 400 to 500 years ago along the Scottish-English border region, James and John, are found in Scottish history in the 1600’s during a time of religious persecution called the Killing Time. John Renwick, a prisoner being transported to America, was alive when the ship made landfall at Perth Amboy, New Jersey in December 1685. James Renwick died a martyr’s death in Scotland in 1688 and was the last martyr killed in Scotland for his religious beliefs. Most of the Renwick clan quit using the "W" since it is silent and spelled our surname Rennick in Ulster. In America some use two "N' or one "N" versions.
There is an early record of the Rennick surname in Ireland for a soldier who got a lease in County Kildare in 1585. There were four Rennick men listed on the Muster rolls of County Fermanagh in 1631. By 1717, conditions had reached such a point that many Ulster Protestants began a new migration; this time to the American Colonies. It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million Scotch-Irish immigrated to America between the years 1717 and 1775.
Soon after 1717 Ulster-Scots left for the new world as fast as they could obtain ship passage. Most of the Ships landed at New Castle Delaware and Philadelphia Pennsylvania Ports. The Scotch-Irish made America their homeland, and became ingrained into the fabric of
America almost from the start.
According to most sources, the first traceable Renick ancestors in America were George
Renick who arrived about 1719 with his three sons, William, Thomas and Robert who are found in early records in Pennsylvania. George died in Pennsylvania. We know that Robert migrated to Augusta County, Virginia where he was killed by Indians. His descendants were the early settlers of Greenbrier County (W)VA. There are differing accounts about William and Thomas, but appears that some were in Hardy county, (W)VA; others migrated to Pickaway County and Chillocothe Ohio, while others migrated to Kentucky before 1800.
Why DNA Testing?
Because of conflicting Renick family histories, DNA testing of males with the
Renick surname, or a variation of the name, can confirm if they share a common ancestor, such as George Renick of Pennsylvania, with other Renick males . DNA matches should occur with descendants of ANY of his 3 sons.
To prove a Renick ancestry, testing must be done by a Renick male with a continuous Renick surname. The test is a y-DNA test.