14-4 CAPT. JAMES McCLUNG
PAXXX
The fourteenth child of James and Ann Gray McClung was born ca 1777 in Rockbridge County, VA. He was a captain of militia. The following sketch of him was written by Judge James Trice Patton, and published in the Lexington, VA Gazette on 16 May 1873:
"It shall be my province now to treat of a man in a rather different sphere of life from those heretofore mentioned--of one whose name is not familiar to those bearing it in remembrance, either as a politician, legislator, justice of the peace, practical farmer, nor in any special capacity for which those hitherto treated have been noted; but mainly in the character of a devout Christian. Capt. James McClung was a man of especially remarkable in that respect. As an evidence of that fact you may mention his name to anyone who now retains a knowledge of him and the first idea that would arise in connection with that recollection would be that o of his Christian character; or let those testify who have been accustomed to hear his memory referred to, and I venture the prediction it would be that their knowledge of him was from hearing him spoken of as perculiarly a Christian man. The birthplace of Capt. McClung was on the east bank of South River a few miles in an east of south direction from the town of Fairfield, where an inviting plot of ground between the river and the mountain was selected by one of the first settlers of his name in the Valley. Land with a good strong soil, but steep in places, plenty of timber and delightful springs of cool, delicious water. There were until very recently other lands in that vicinity belonging to different branches of the same family and in whose hands they had been retained from the earliest settlement of the county.
The residence of Capt. McClung's father was at the mouth of the "Little Mary" where a log house after the primitive style of the buildings among the early settlers was erected, but scarcely a vestige now remains to mark the spot. It is a rather narrow strip of land between the river and the mountains side of the well-known Diggs Survey, famous for its mineral deposits. In the course of the family inheritance this tract of land passed from James McClung the first, to James McClung of whom I write, and about half of it is still owned by the present James McClung living thereon, hving been owned by one of that name since its first settlement. The residence of Capt. James McClung, the subject of this sketch, was on that portion of the tract higher up the river where he spent the years of his life after his marriage. He was the youngest of fourteen children, and like most of the descendants of the first settlers, was of Scottish-Irish stock of the true blue Presbyterian stamp, and from my earliest knowledge of him was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was a constant attendant at the house of God, and so zealous was he in that observance that he has been known to walk from his home, a distance of twenty miles, to attend a meeting of Presbytery at Staunton. I once hearad a venerabale gentleman, who occupies one of those offices in the rear of the court house at Lexington, make a remark of Capt. James McClung somewhat to the following effect: I have never known the individual, who in my view, lived so near to god and have so much of the image of his blessed Master as did Capt. James McClung. He would walk along distance and attend for several days at a time upon the preaching of the Gospel when a revival of religion was going on. During the great revival of the Presbyterian Church which took place some thirty odd years ago, Capt. McClung devoted himself to that revival, and aided much in its progress. It was known as "Jones" revival throughout the churches in this section of the Valley by its being gotten up and conducted mainly, so far as human aid was concerned, by a Presbyterian minister by the name of Jones. He would attend the meetings; walk from church to church while they lasted, and his gift in prayer was so devout, so eloquent that his prayers had a powerful effect upon the audience. Indeed the Rev. Mr. Jones would seek his assistance in that way to get up a religious feeling at his appointments and to keep it up when once aroused. Upon one occasion on being called out to lead in prayer, he commenced the utterance of his devotions in a secluded part of the church, and warming up as he proceeded, his prayer became so devout, so touching, that Mr. Jones came down from the pulpit and led him forth before the audience. the old man never ceased of faltered in his pryaer, but grew more eloquent as he advanced, as though unconscious of any interruption, so much absorbed was he in his supplication before the throne of Grace.
His Christian cousel was much sought for by those touched with an awakening sense of their sinfulness; by those experiencing doubts of their worthiness; by ministers even and especially by young men preparing for the ministry. At one time the Rev. Wm. S. Plumer, meeting with him on the occasion of a religious service, sought an interview with him on the subject of his worthiness for the gospel ministry, and expressed his doubts of his acceptability. As I have heard the story, the two proceeded into the woods from the country church they were attending, and after consultation and prayerful consideration of the subject, the then young candidate felt much strengthened to persevere in his ministerial calling. I have heard it said to that conference it might be that the Presbyterian Church was indebted for the subsequent able service of that distinguished divine. Dr. Plummer always expressed the highest admiration for the Christian character of old Capt. James McClung.
He was truly a pillar to the Presbyterian Church and a shining light in the cause of Christianity during the long period of a well-spent life. No man could be so truly pious without, at the same time being a most useful and worthy citizen; but I have chosen to speak of him almost exclusively in his Christian character; and while I have exhausted the space I have hitherto allowed myself in such articles, have fallen short of exhausting the subject, for as much more could be written of the commendabale virtues of Capt. McClung as a Christian man and yet the half not be told. Many years will have to elapse before the pious example of this unpretending holy man will cease to be felt in the sphere of his useful labors; and though meek and lowly was his lot on this earth, his crown of glory can but be bright in the realms above; while the memory of his Christian virtues shall remain as enduring and lasting as the lofty peaks which tower around his once humble home at the foot of the South Mountain."
Capt. James McClung was a tall man with gray hair, gray eyes, heavy eyebrows, long, narrow and very white, smooth-shaven face, with beard under chin. He wore a blue homespun swallow-tail dress-coat.
He was a party to the following transaction: "Know all men by these presents that I James McClung of the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia have bargained and sold and delivered and by these presents do bargain sell and Confirm and deliver unto William McClung of the County of Wilkes and State of Georgia a Negro Woman Slave Named Charrity of the age of twenty one years with her child named Polly to have and to hold the said Negro Woman Slave and Child to him the said Wm. McClung his heirs or assigns from henceforth as his or their property absolutely without any manner of Condition in Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th Day of December 1798 Eight.
James McClung, (Seal)
Testators: John Graves and William Brown."
Capt. James McClung married Mary Campbell, daughter of Charles Campbell and sister of Dr. Samuel L. Campbell, of Lexington, VA, and of the historian Rev. John W. Campbell, of Petersburg, VA. The Campbells belonged to the House of Argyle. She was also a niece of Dr. Archibald Alexander, of Princeton. She was tall and slender. She survived her husband about five years. They reared eight children.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rootsr/PA-Wm.htm
