Person:James McCain (7)

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnsumner/mckain.htm

James McKain, Jr.

James McKain, Jr. was born in 1766 in Botetourt County, Virginia and as a young lad accompanied his father on the Donelson Voyage of 1779 - 1780.

1787 James McKain, Jr. married Elizabeth Eaton4, daughter of Amos Eaton of Eaton's Station.

1787 James McKain, Jr. is a juror.

1788 James McKain, Jr. is a juror. Prudence (Prudy) McKain5, James Jr.'s daughter, is born.

1789 James McKain, Jr. served as a juror. James McKain, Jr. filed two suits for debts, but he lost both. Andrew Jackson was the opposing attorney in the second suit.

In the late fall, James McKain, Jr. was a member of a scouting party led by Colonel James Winchester. Near Smith's fork, a tributary of Caney Fork in Dekalb County6 an Indian ambush turned into a series of small skirmishes. In his fight, James McKain, Jr. shot and killed the harelip Indian Chief called Ne-ussee (Moon)7. James was later quoted as saying; "that he had bullets in his rifle, that he aimed at Moon and fired and that Moon fell pierced by two bullets.

1790 James McKain, Jr. again served as a juror, was appointed road overseer, and took the oath as a Captain of a Militia Company.

1791 This year James Jr. again served as a juror, is mentioned as Captain McKain.

1791, Aug. 1 Thirty civil and military officers of the Mero District (Middle Tennessee) directed a petition to President George Washington asking his aid against the depredations and murders committed by the Indians. Among the signatories was James McKain of Sumner County.

1791, Oct. James McKain, Jr. was fined 8 shillings in court for breach of the peace. This must have been a brawl, for three others were also fined at this court session.

1792 Captain McKain resigned his militia commission.

1793, Oct. James McKain, Jr. entered bond as administrator of the estate of James McKain (Sr.).

1794 James McKain, Jr. administrator and heir of James McKain, Sr. now enters a series of court suits as defendant against claims on the estate, but now Andrew Jackson is his attorney.

1794, Jan. 7 This is a particularly interesting case. The plaintiff, Jason Thompson, won the case but was awarded damages of only one penny. Also a court sale of the estate's personal property was made, and debts were paid. An interesting sidelight happened in court concerning what I assume was James Jr.'s sister. "William Cage and John Dawson entered into bond in the sum of 200 dollars for the indemnification of the county of all charges and expenses that may accrue in consequence of Jane McKain having a base born child."

1794 Thomas Sharp "Big Foot" Spencer, a friend of James Jr. and a famous "Long Hunter", was killed in ambush near Crab Orchard. James contends that he was killed by white men.

1795, Apr. 7 James McKain, Jr. pleaded guilty in court to a charge of assault and battery and paid a fine of 3 dollars.

1795, May 4 James McKain, Jr. sold 20 acres on Station Camp Creek.

1795 Jenny McKain, probably another sister of James Jr., married Gabriel Black.

1796 James McKain makes numerous court appearances concerning administration of the estate and suits against the estate.

1796, Jun. 1 President Washington signed the statehood bill, thereupon making Tennessee the 16th state.

1796, Nov. 16 Samuel McKain was born, probable son of James McKain, Jr.

1797 James McKain, Jr. was a bondsman for the administrator of a will.

1798 James McKain, Jr. served as a juror, was sued and paid a $25 debt, and himself sued a renter of his lands for non-payment. He also entered the real estate business this year by buying 367 acres for $367 and selling it in two parcels for $840. This year there were 1279 free taxable inhabitants of Sumner County.

1799 This year James McKain, Jr. filed and won a court suit for non-payment of debt and twice served as bondsman for the court.

1800 James McKain, Jr. sold 16 acres on Station Camp Creek and defended the final suit against the estate of James McKain, Sr.

1801 James McKain, Jr. served as both a juror and a court bondsman.

1802 The town site of Gallatin was surveyed and the sale of lots by the county commissioners commenced in the spring. Joseph McKain & Co., merchants held a two story house at No. 12 Market (Main) Street in Nashville. (Perhaps a relative.)

1803 James McKain, Jr. bought lot No. 9 (containing 60 poles of land) in the town site of Gallatin for $49. This year he again served as a juror and a court bondsman. Again James Jr. entered court, along with three others, on an assault and battery charge. He pled guilty and paid a fine of one dollar. Also this year James Jr. filed suit against Daniel Miles for non-performance of a contract.

1803, Feb. 19 James Franklin, Jr. married Prudy McKain (Prudy would be 15 years old at this time). James McKain, Jr. was wedding bondsman.

1804 James McKain, Jr. served as a juror and both prosecuted and defended court suits. This year he purchased 640 acres in Sumner County on Goose Creek for $400. Taxes this year were: 6-1/4 cents on every free poll, 12-1/2 cents on every town lot, 50 cents on every stud horse, 6-1/4 cents on each 100 acres.

1805 James McKain was a marriage bondsman and a defendant in a court suit. He also finished the suit against Daniel Miles. Daniel Miles was to have built on lot 9 in Gallatin, a two story dwelling house, 34 by 22 feet, for James McKain, Jr. Miles was to furnish foot thick logs hewn to seven inches thick, shingles, sawn rafters, and under flooring. McKain was to furnish finished planks, nails, hauling, victuals, and lodging for Miles. Miles was to finish this building within six months from the first day of August, 1802. Miles did not build the house, was found guilty, and fined.

1806, 1808, 1809 In these years James McKain, Jr. was mentioned as a marriage bondsman.

1810 James McKain, Jr. sold lot 9 in Gallatin for $90.

1811, 1812, 1815, 1816 James McKain, Jr. served as a marriage bondsman and sold lands on Station Camp Creek and Goose Creek.

1850 In the 1850 census, James McKain, Jr., 84 years of age, was found living in the household of Prudence Franklin, age 62, his daughter.

1857 James McKain, Jr died this year at the home of Dr. James Franklin, his grandson. The gravesite no longer exists. As late as 1912, James McKain, Jr.'s chair, powder horn, hunting knife, and family bible were still in the possession of his great-grandchildren (Franklins) who were then living in the house where he died. Samuel McKain

1796, Nov. 16 Samuel was born in Sumner County, Tennessee.

1812 War of 1812: In 1812, the southern states and territories still had numerous Indians, mostly Creeks, Chocktawas, Chickasaws, and Cherokees. In 1813, with the backing of the British, hostile Creeks massacred 550 men, women, and children at Fort Mims, Alabama Territory. Also settlers on the Duck River in Tennessee were murdered. The Tennessee legislature called for volunteers to be led by Andrew Jackson and his able cavalry commander, John Coffee. This consisted of 1500 militia infantry under Jackson and 600 mounted volunteers under Coffee.

1813, Sep. 24 At Gallatin, Samuel enlisted as a private in Captain William Edwards' company of Mounted Riflemen in the 2nd Regiment of West Tennessee Volunteer Militia, commanded by Colonel Newton Cannon, Coffee's Division. He enlisted for a term of three months and 16 days, for which he was paid $8 per month, plus $43.20 allowance for a horse, and $4.50 for subsistence. These men traveled 274 miles to Huntsville, Western Territories (Alabama) where they were mustered in and out of service.

1813, Nov. 3 While camped on the Coosa River in Alabama, Jackson dispatched Coffee and his cavalry to fight the Creeks at Tallushatchee. Coffee divided his command as he approached the Indian fortified town. The right wing consisted of cavalry and the left wing consisted of mounted riflemen under Colonel Cannon. A small detachment drew the Indians out to fight, and then the two wings fell on the flanks of the Indians. The Indians suffered 200 killed, while Coffee had 5 killed and 41 wounded. Samuel was in this battle according to his pension application.

1813, Nov. 7 A fortified camp of friendly Indians at Talladega asked for help against an imminent attack of hostile Creeks. Under the command of Jackson, infantry and cavalry marched rapidly. With the infantry in the center and the cavalry and mounted riflemen on the wings, Jackson drew the Indians into battle where 290 Indians were killed with the loss of 15 killed and 15 wounded from the Tennessee troops. Samuel was in this battle according to his pension application. There were further battles in this campaign, but Samuel's enlistment was soon up.

1814, Sep. 1 Samuel McKain volunteered at Gallatin as a Sergeant in Captain Robert Moore's Company of Mounted Gunmen in the 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers commanded by Colonel Thomas Williamson, General Coffee's Division.

1814, Oct. 3 General Coffee mustered 2000 men at Fayetteville and began a march south. 1814, Oct. 22 After a trip of 470 miles they reached Camp Gaines near Mobile, Alabama Territory. Thence they rode to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, arriving in 16 days.

1814, Dec. 20 Coffee's men arrive in New Orleans after riding 135 miles from Baton Rouge in three days. General Jackson had sent an urgent appeal from New Orleans, " Come quick, the British are coming". A contemporary description of Coffee's men:

"They are not very military in appearance. They wear woolen hunting shirts, slouched hats or cap of skins of raccoons or foxes, with a belt of untanned deer skin in which stuck hunting knives. But they were admirable soldiers and remarkable for endurance and the ability to take care of themselves."

1814, Dec. 23 As a delaying tactic, Coffee's men (veterans of the Creek War) attacked the British encampment south of New Orleans during a foggy night. 1600 Americans fought 3000 British in hand to hand combat. The Americans suffered 95 killed or wounded with the British having 400 killed or wounded. This attack successfully delayed the British attack on New Orleans, allowing General Jackson time to carefully prepare his position, a mud and cotton bale line of defense.

1815, Jan. 8 In the famous Battle of New Orleans, 9000 British attacked the 5000 Americans awaiting the assault in their prepared positions. Coffee's men held the left of the American line away from the Mississippi River. Cannon fire met the British at 500 yards. At rifle range the cannons stopped to clear the air. The riflemen waited until they could see the belt buckles of the British and opened fire. As one American fired, he would step back to reload and another would take his place. This steady fusillade tore apart the approaching British line. The accuracy and massed fire of Coffee's men drove the British back from that end of the line before Jackson could ride over to see. The British retreated with a loss of most of their officers and 2000 troops killed. Jackson lost 7 killed and 6 wounded. One Tennessee sharp-shooter killed a retreating Redcoat at 300 yards, who was making obscene gestures at the defenders.

1815, Apr. Coffee's men returned to Nashville along the Natchez Trace where they were discharged. Samuel's bounty land application states that he fought in the Battle of New Orleans, and his Company disbanded in the Choctaw Nation on the way home. Samuel married Elizabeth Mayberry.

1818 Iredell McKain, their son, was born.

1820 Malissa McKain was born.

1823 Samuel buys 43 acres from Edward Douglass.

1823, Mar. 15 Houston McKain was born.

1835 Samuel buys 32 acres from Norwal Douglas.

1837, Jan. 20 The Gallatin newspaper, "the Union", had an article about a dinner to be given to Tennessee troops fighting the Indians (Seminole War) when they return. Attending to the arrangements was Colonel S. McKain.

1838 John McKain was born. Census records at this time indicated that three other daughters and an older man were living with them, but names were not given.

1839 Samuel bought 160 acres of land in Yalobusha County, Mississippi (Coffeeville).

1840 The 1840 census mentions Samuel, his family, and two slaves.

1841, Sep. Samuel McKain posts bond as the administrator of the estate of S. Hamilton.

1849 Samuel sells 67 acres, and from the description they appear to be on Station Camp Creek. Also this year he sells an adjoining 43 acres with the reservation that: "A thirty foot strip is not to be cultivated, for that is where the graveyard is located".