The Maclay family was a family of conservative people, lead by their current patriarch Mr. Maclay. His wife and their daughter, Tara, were witches, which the family disapproved of. Presumadly in order to keep their women in line, Mr. Maclay made up the rumor that their innate magical abilities were the result of them being part-demon and that Tara's alleged demonhood would resurface on her 20th birthday. This was proven false at said event when Spike hit Tara, triggering his chip which would only do so if he harmed, or intended to harm, a pure human.