Person:Deborah Stockton (1)

It is important to correct a persistent error in Deborah Stockton McMahon's history.

David Kelley, a substantial (and generally very accurate) researcher of the McMahon and related families gave the following information in his "Research Project, Robert McMahan 1760-1823", Copyright 2006:

pp. 9, 10

"John McMahon:

"John planned to go with the Shields families (his wife's sister was Nancy Stockton, Robert Shields' wife) and his brother Archibald to Tennessee, but died soon after the plans were finished. His wife Deborah and their younger children went to TN with the Shields in 1785.

"Name: Deborah STOCKTON Sex: F Birth: 1733 in Augusta Co., VA Death: AFT 1795 in Sevier Co., TN

"Note:

Deborah McMahan and some of her children made the trip to Shield's Station, Sevier Co., TN in 1785, shortly after John died.

Her son James was prominent as Sevier County's Register of Deeds in 1796-1800. However her older sons william and John Jr. must have remained on in Montgomery Co., VA. Whether Robert came to Sevier Co. or stayed in Virginia is not known."

The facts are that John and Deborah may have intended to relocate with the Shields family and their eldest son, John, likely did so. (Per his pension application, he did live for a time in Sevier, TN.) However, Deborah McMahon is in the Augusta County Tax Records beginning 1785 and remains a resident through at least 1807 (Court records.). Consecutive tax records 1785-1795 as well as an 1800 tax record prove her residence in Augusta County, VA. Additionally, in 1791 and 1792, she gave permission (in Augusta) for the marriages of her daughters, Mary and Elizabeth." (Chalkley) Deborah and her son William, John's heir, sold the home plantation in Augusta, known as the Plow and Harrow, to George Rowland in 1807. (Deed of Sale.) It is likely that Deborah then lived with William in Harrisonburg, VA until her death. The DAR/SAR show her date of death as 1820 and the place as Harrisonburg, VA.

William was not an older son born in 1755. He was born in 1780, shown as an "infant" in John's 1784 will and inherited the Plow and Harrow in around 1802 at his majority.

Conclusion: Deborah McMahon did not relocate to Sevier TN in 1785. She remained in Augusta to raise her younger children on the home plantation.

Letter proving mother, Deborah died bef. 2 Apr 1810

1.   John Claude Morris III #97222, in U.S. Sons of the American Revolution
   15 Aug 1969.

   Born: Abt. 1736 Augusta County, VA
   Died: Abt. 1820 Harrisonburg, VA
   Married: Abt. 1755

2. ↑ Augusta 1785, in Augusta County (Virgina) Tax List @ Binnsgenealogy.com paid site
   1785.

   p.12 "List of Titheables and taxable Property in Capt. Campbells Company taken by Joseph Bell Gentleman"
   
   p.13 Deborah McMahon - Male Tithb. above 21 (none) Horses 4, cattle 10

3. ↑ Augusta 1786b, in Www.binnsbenealogy. com County: Augusta, 1786B, p.6 Charles Cameron...list taken in Capt. Campbell's Company Charles Cameron. p. 8
   1786.

   Deborah McMahan: All Titheables (None) White Males Above 21 (None) Horses 4 Cattle 10

4. ↑ Augusta 1787, in Www.binnsgenealgy.com County: Augusta, p 7
   21 Apr 1787.

   21 April McMachon Deborah Number of titheable males above 16; Under 21 (None) Horses 4 Cattle 16

5.   Library of Virginia, Virginia Memory, Cancery Case Index (Rockingham County, VA) Part of Case 1818-05., in John Jr. McMahon. 2 Apr 1810 Letter John Jr. McMahon to brother William McMahon. (Harrisonburg, Virginia: Library of Virginia, Virginia Memroies, Rockingham County, Virginia).

   http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=165-1818-005
   
   Partial transcription:
   April the 2 1810
   Dear brother these are to inform you that we are in reasonable helth thanks to the Giver of all Blessings for his goodness to us Hoping these few Lines may find you in the Same blessing We received you (sic) letters favord By Mr. A Carns which gave us great
   satisfaction to hear that you was well but sorry to hear of the Death of our Mother but we aught to submit to the will of God for thats A Sean (?) that we all have to pass through....
   
   Signed John and Mary McMahan

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Find A Grave.

   Deborah Stockton McMahan
   
   Birth: 1738
   Albemarle County
   Virginia, USA
   Death: 1810
   Augusta County
   Virginia, USA
   
   Deborah Stockton married John McMahan. She was a daughter of Richard and Agnes Stockton, and a granddaughter of Davis Stockton (c.1685-1761) of Albemarle County, Virginia.
   
   John McMahan was born about 1734 and died in 1784. It is commonly thought that after John died his widow Deborah moved to what is now Sevier County, Tennessee, with her sister Nancy and brother-in-law Robert Shields. That appears to be wrong. It appears that widow Deborah (nee Stockton) McMahan stayed in Augusta County, Virginia. Deborah's son John McMahan Jr moved to Sevier County, Tennessee, as did a James McMahan and Archibald McMahan.
   
   From Joanna Standish:
   A "letter dated 2 Apr 1810 is from John McMahon Jr. to his brother William W. McMahon. In it, John acknowledges William's notice of "our Mother's death". She probably died in early 1810. William probably notified his kin fairly soon after she passed. (Remember, Deborah was proved to be living in 1807 when she signed the deed of sale for the Plow and Harrow.) John's letter again suggests that Deborah died in Virginia, not in Tennessee, as it is William (living in Virginia) who had informed John (in Tennessee) of her passing."
   
   Their known children are:
   John McMahan Jr, c.1755-1837?
   Nancy Agnes McMahan, c.1760
   Robert McMahan, c.1762
   William McMahan, c.1766
   Elizabeth McMahan, c.1771
   Mary McMahan, c.1772
   "3 yougest daughters" ?
   
   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41140129