Person:Patrick Marion (1)

The following account is based upon a transcription of a handwritten record authored by Rev. John Preston Marion arr. 1893, regarding his ancestors:

"____ Marion, my great-grandfather, was born in France, about 1730. He moved from France to Ireland in ____ and settled in County Antrim, near the town of Craigbilly. Time of his death is not known, but did not live to an old age, for his youngest son had no recollection of him.

William Marion 1757-18__, was born near Craigbilly in 1757. Moved to South Carolina in 1810. Located in Fairfield County on the Wateree, near the Wateree Presbyterian Church, Mt. Olivet. A carpenter by trade, worked mostly on mills, gins, cotton presses...A member of the Wateree Presbyterian Church and lived to be 70 or 80 years of age. Married Jeane Stewart. Had three sons -- James, Robert and William; four daughters, Nellie, Rosannah, Nancy and Martha...

Nancy Marion married in Ireland, a captain, David Taylor, who was in command of an artillery company in the British Army for twenty-five years...

Patrick Marion 1772-1854 Paternal grandfather's family: Mary, James (died in infancy), James, William, Agnus, Jane, Elleanor, David Taylor, John Alexander.

[Patrick] Marion was born in August, 1772 in County Antrim, Ireland, about a mile and a quarter from Craigbilly. He was baptized by Rev. Stavely, and Rev. Henry his successor--all of the Irish Presbyterian Church. His religious life developed under the ministry of these men. He served an apprenticeship as a weaver, and engaged in the manufacture and sale of linen.

Married Jane McNeely, the only daughter of James McNeely...Mr. McNeely owned a grain and flax mill... After marrying this most estimable woman, he settled in the neighborhood of his father and followed his occupation of weaving for several years, He afterward engaged in trading--selling yarn, linen, muslin, etc. He frequently sold his goods in Belfast and Bellamina. He owned a place near Craigbilly containing about five acres of land. On this place was a good stone house--in every way comfortable. Twenty five years of his married life were happily spent upon this place. Here his entire family of children were born, and living until the youngest was about two years of age.

In 1821 he moved to America; His brother William had preceded him to America, and sent back encouraging reports. This induced him to bid farewell to his native land and try his fortune in the new world. The household, in company with several others, landed in Charleston, December, 1821. Thence, they made their way by wagons to the Wateree in Fairfield County, SC. The wagoner in charge of the party was a man by the name of Murphy.

The first year after moving to the above mentioned locality, he rented land from a Mr. Banks. The second year, he bought a place from Hugh Young, three miles east of New Hope Church in the same county. At this time (1822) a part of the place is owned by Thomas Sterling, and another, where the house once stood, by Alexander Tennent. Here he resided for twelve years, at which time grandmother died. After this he ceased housekeeping and lived with his children. He was not successful as a farmer owing to his having spent the prime of his life in another pursuit. After ceasing to keep house, the remainder of his life was principally spent with his youngest son, John Alexander Marion, our father. At his son's home on Little Rocky Creek, Chester County, SC six miles due east of Chester Courthouse on the direct road leading from Chester to Richburg, he died in the year 1854 in the eighty-third year of his age."

Rev. John Preston Marion was the son of John Alexander Marion and Margaret Jane Sterling and the grandson of Patrick and Jane McNeely Marion. Rev. Marion is listed at page 65 of the Presbyterian Ministerial Directory, 1898: http://books.google.com/books?id=9WXozG4cLPIC&pg=PA65

1. ↑ Snowden and Cutler, History of South Carolina, Volume 5
   38.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Grave Marker.

   New Hope Cemetery, Fairfield, South Carolina
   "In memory of Patrick Marion, who departed this life September 22nd 1854, in the 83rd year of his age."