John Dailey and Other Early Rhode Islanders.
John Dailey, in 1689, bought 90 acres of land in Providence, R. I., and the year following exchanged certain lands with Ann Pratt. Dailey is an anglicized form of O’Dalaighe.[[11]] In Irish history the O’Dalys figure as powerful chieftains. Some of the name were hereditary poets and antiquarians to the MacCarthys Mor. John Dailey here mentioned of Providence had four children, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth and one other, a daughter. In 1703, he deeded to Joseph for “divers good causes,” 40 acres. In 1718, Joseph sold 57½ acres to Peter Ballou with house, orchard, etc., for £336. Some years previously, Samuel had sold 40 acres to Zachariah Jones for £20. John Dailey, Sr., died about 1719.
John Macoone was another Irish settler of Rhode Island. In the records the name is variously written Macoone, Mackoone, McCoon, Mackown, etc. Late generations have sometimes abbreviated it to Coon or Cooney. It probably comes from the old Irish MacCoonan. John, the immigrant, was a resident of Westerly, R. I., as early as 1669. Ten years later he is recorded as taking the oath of allegience. In 1681, he officiated as a juryman. He had, at least, two children, Isabel and John. In some accounts he is said to have had two others, who went from Westerly about 1695 and settled at Oyster Bay, L. I. Isabel married Edward Bliven and had five children. Her death occurred in 1753. Her brother John received a grant of 100 acres in 1692 and 100 more in 1709. In 1724, he and his wife, Ann, deeded land to their sons, John and Daniel.
John Malavery[[12]] was a resident of Providence as early as 1687. He had 56 acres of land, and other property. In 1704, he had 12 acres laid out in exchange with the town. He died about 1712. His son John was executor. The inventory included 18 loads of hay, 14 barrels of cider, gun, sword, etc. John Malavery, Jr., of Providence died in 1718. In his will he desires his wife to provide things fit and comfortable for his mother in her old age, and authorizes his wife to raise £30, which shall be levied out of his estate. The rest of movable estate to wife and income of land and use of dwelling house for life, while his widow. To sons, John and Nathaniel, equally, but if they died before of age, then the land was to go to Michael Inman, David Phillips and Daniel Mathewson, “my three sisters’ three sons.” The inventory included “4 guns, 2 swords.” A John Malavery of the third generation married Susannah Arnold in 1736.
At a session of the general assembly at Providence, in 1685, Joseph Devett, also spelled Devitt in the records, was a member of a committee appointed to consider and report concerning a petition for settling a “Plantation in the Narragansett and Niantick countries.” The difference between the names Devitt and McDevitt is not great.
Owen Higgins was a resident of Newport, R. I., very early. His wife was born in 1640. In 1701, his son Richard is recorded as a freeman in Newport.