The McNeal married the McElhany

On May 1, 1787 in Paxtang Presbyterian Church, William McElhany married Elizabeth "Betsy" McNeal who was born in 1768, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Information about her parents is given later in this post.

Here's information about the Paxtang Presbyterian Church, PA (located in Harrisburg PA) which is the building where the McElhaney wedding took place.

Built in 1740 the church is the oldest Presbyterian Church building in continuous use in Pennsylvania, and the second oldest in the United States. The present stone sanctuary was erected in 1740, replacing a log meeting house which had previously served as the place of worship. A stone marker south of the sanctuary indicates the site of the log building. A replica of the log meeting house was erected north of the present sanctuary.

 When Betsy McNeal McElhany died Oct. 30, 1849 she was buried in Lyme, Huron County, Ohio.

Betsy McNeal McElhany was the daughter of  Robert McNeall who was born in 1738 and died Sep. 23, 1818, in Livingston County, New York. His monument is in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Geneseo, Livingston County, New York. His wife  Jane McNeall  was born in.1741 and died Mar. 28, 1818, and is buried also in Geneseo, Livingston County, New York.

William McElhany, West Hanover, and Paxtang, PA

William McElhany was born in about 1766 in West Hanover Twp, Dauphin, Pennsylvania. (See below).  His only daughter was Jane McElhaney (McElhany) Booth (See post about her yesterday)

He was a veteran of  The "Pennsylvania -- 22nd Regiment Infantry -- War of 1812" and died on  Jan. 11, 1815.   See details in tomorrow's post about the War of 1812 Cemetery.

William McElhany was married on May 1, 1787 in Paxtang Presbyterian Church to Elizabeth "Betsy" McNeal McElhany  b. 1768, (See post under her name on Oct. 26).

Info on West Hanover Township, Dauphin, Pennsylvania (part of present day Harrisburg) from Wikipedia:

Originally a part of the County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Paxton Township, West Hanover Township was formed by action of the court of Lancaster in 1785.  On March 4, 1842 East and West Hanover Townships of Dauphin County were finally designated as separate governmental precincts.

Historical sources list the earliest settlements in the area of West Hanover as prior to 1735.  Many of these settlers, were of Scotch-Irish Presbyterian origin that came in large numbers with English Presbyterian and Protestant refugees to Penn’s Woods.

Census records from 1800 list 1,862 inhabitants and thirteen (13) slaves.  For the year 1820 there were 2,618 inhabitants.