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Facts and Events
Finley McClure was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA
Finley McClure's land (Beverley Manor SE, 444 acres, 1739/40) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.
Acquisition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:
- Pages 457-61. 28-29 Feb. 1739 [1740]. William Beverley of Essex County, Gent., to Finley McClure of Orange County. Lease and release; for ₤13.6.4 3 farthings. 444 acres, part of the Mannor of Beverley... Hammock's Branch corner to Patrick Campbell... line of the old pattent of Beverley Mannor... corner to David Mitchel... (signed) W. Beverley. Wit: W. Russell, Robt. Christian, David Mitchell. 29 Feb. 1739 [1740]. Acknowledged by Wm. Beverley, Gent. [Relinquishment of dower as above, Beverley to Ledgerwood] [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 3, Dorman, pg. 30].
Disposition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:
- Pages 206-10. 26-27 May 1742. Finley McLure of Orange County to John Burnlee (s/b. Brownlee) of same. Lease and release; for ₤24.7.6 current money. 144 acres, part of the Manor of Beverley.. corner to Patrick Campbell's... line of the pattent of Beverley Mannor... to David Mitchell (line)... (signed) Phinley McLure. Wit: Shurley Wattley [Whatley in release], James Clark, Cattlett Conway. 27 May 1742. Acknowledged by Finley McLure. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 5, Dorman, pg. 11].
Acquisition of Land in Augusta County:
- Finley McClure acquired 400 acres "on north side of Goose Creek; corner to George Home", prior to 22 April, 1748, as shown in the disposition below:
Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:
- Page 520.--22d April, 1748. £14.10.6. Finla (Finley) McClure to William Bewes, 400 acres; a Spanish oak; on north side of Goose Creek; corner to George Home. Teste: Jno. Buchanan, Gent; John Buchanan, Francis Beaty. Proved by all, 19th May, 1748.
Records of Finley McClure in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 2 - List of Musters, 1742: No. 5 - Capt. John Christian's List: John Christian, Captain; William Christian, Lieutenant; Fran Betty, Ensign; Jhn. Holms, Josep Read, Finley McClewr, George Camble, George Caldwell, Wm. Caldwell, Alex. Thompson, Jas. Caldwell, Isaac McCulough, Jas. Armstrong, Wm. Armstrong, Thos. Henderson, Wm. Henderson, Rob Conigham, Wm. Conigham, Thos. Black, Wm. Johnston, Joh Davison, And. Cowin, Jas. Moody, Jas. Willson, Niol. Leeper, Jno. Turk, Wm. Adams, David Mitchel, Rob. Ramsey, George Breakinsed, John Mitchel, Jas. Fulton, John Fulton, John Brownlee, Chas. Camble, Jas. Camble, Will Camble, Jno. Buchanan, Nathan McClewer, Jas. Robinson, Antho Black, Will Long, Thos. Bell, Jas. Bell, Jno. Black, Wm. Robinson, Thos. Shields, And. McCord, Thos. Beans, Arth. Hamilton, And. Scott, John Maxwell, Pat. Barney, Alex. Brackinsedg, Rob. Brackinsedg, James Brackinsedg, _____ McCoulough, Jas. Miler, Rob. McClenachan, Jno. Doacke, Sam Doacke, Patt Hayes, And. Boyd, Jas. Black, Alex. Fordice, David Steel, Moses Thompson, John Thompson, And. Russell, Rand McDonel, Hug Martine, Joh Robinson, Jas. Beans, Rob. Alexander, Ths. Lewis.
- Page 345.--20th August, 1756. John Brownlee and Sarah to Alexander Brownlee, £l5, 222 acres, part of 444 acres conveyed by Phinley McCluer to Brownlee, 27th May, 1742, recorded in Orange, in Beverley Manor, cor. said Jno. Brownlee's land on Pine Run, line of Fulton's land. (Note: this record confirms that the disposition above was to John Brownlee).
- Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1801 (A to B). - Brownlee vs. Myers.--Original deed by Phinley McClure, of Orange County, to John Brownlee, of same place, dated 26th May, 1742, conveys tract in B. M. Glade, of Hammock's Branch, Cor. Pat. Campbell, Cor. David Mitchell, 444 acres. Test, Shurley Whatley, James Clark, Catlett Conway.
Information on Finley McClure
From "The McClure Family", by James Alexander McClure, pg. 128:
Finley McClure, possibly a brother of James, settled in Augusta County as early as 1739. The name suggests his connection with the Finley family, well known both in Augusta Co. and in the north of Ireland. His deed for 440 acres "A part of the mannor of Beverly" joining Patrick Campbell and David Mitchel, is dated Feb. 28, 1739, Orange C. H. His name spelled McClewer, appears 1742 on the muster roll of Capt. John Christian's company of militia, third in a list of seventy-six. The Augusta records give two transfers of land, viz., 1742 and 1748, when he seems to have located in the western part of the county. The last mention of his name is 1768, when he witnessed a deed for John Tate.
He was probably the father of Michael Mcclure, who lived in that neighborhood, born about 1750 and married between 1774 and 1778 Mary Wetzell. (Chalkley, Vol. I, p. 377).
He witnessed the will, 5th Nov., 1780, of Archibald Gilkeson. Is mentioned in Wm. McPheters' list of tithables, Augusta, 1781.
We find him in the Rockingham County census of 1784, giving his family as six.
Having married a Wetzell, we are inclined to the opinion that he is the ancestor of John McClure, of Franklin, Pendleton Co., W. Va.
Martin Wetzell, of Augusta County, in his will written Feb. 9, 1795, and proven April 8, 1795, names John McClure, his grandson, his sole heir and executor. (Will Book I, p. 20, Chalkley III, p. 249). This Wetzell family mentioned in McClung's Western Adventure, was well known. Martin's brother, Lewis Wetzell, was the most renowned Indian fighter of his time. They were sons of John Wetzell, an early settler.
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