McMaster-Elliott

McMaster-Elliott chronicles the compelling story of the McMasters and Elliotts, two Scots-Irish families who came to America during the 18th century as part of The Great Migration from Ulster and soon found themselves living side-by-side in Winnsboro, South Carolina.

After introducing the book's two main protagonists, Kitt McMaster and Nell Elliott, this dual family history traces the ancestry of each family back to their earliest named forebears in Ireland. After describing why and how they came to America, McMaster-Elliott presents a running narrative of each family, with continuity from one generation to the next, until the two families are joined together in marriage in the early 20th century. It then gives detailed biographies of each of the six children of Kitt and Nell McMaster and concludes by listing all of their descendants to date.

But the story of the McMasters and Elliotts is inseparable from the community of which they were a part and to which they so greatly contributed. Readers of McMaster-Elliott will learn much about Winnsboro's unique history from its origins prior to the Revolution through the 20th century. In addition, the book delves into the history and development of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with special emphasis on Bethel ARP in Winnsboro, a congregation which played a major role in the lives of both families. This aspect of the narrative offers insight into the spiritual and communal fabric of Winnsboro, enriching the reader's understanding of its religious and cultural heritage. McMaster-Elliott is thus a vital resource, not only for the descendants of Kitt and Nell McMaster, but also for anyone interested in the rich tapestry of Winnsboro's past.