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Facts and Events
John McClure was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
__________________________
Military Service
- American Revolutionary War Veteran
Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 3, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
John McClure, born 4/15/1760, 2nd son of John [McClure] by his 2nd wife; entered service 1776 in Botetourt County, Virginia, where he resided; entered service 1788 in Russell County, Virginia where he resided as Indian Spy; entered service for War of 1812 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, where he resided; moved in 1829 to Rabun County, Georgia, where he applied for Pension in 1844; Pension Application rejected, insufficient proof of service; married (1) wife (mentioned but not named) 1790 in Russell County, Virginia; married (2) 12/6/1829 to Margaret McClain; soldier resided 1855 in Habersham County, Georgia; died there 5/24/1859; leaving widow Margaret; query letter in file in 1940 from descendant Martha H. (Mrs. George S.) Swezey, Wayneston, Virginia, who was also a descendant of Virginia Revolutionary War soldier William Porter Sr. of Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia, whose wife was Mary. F-R6632, R1669.
Citations
- http://www.mcclureconnections.com/mcclure.php
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).
- United States. 1790 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M637).
Name: John Mc Clure [John Mcclure]
Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Spartanburg, South Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females: 2
Number of Household Members: 6
- United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704).
Name: John Mcclure
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Spartanburg, South Carolina
Birth Year: abt 1759
Age: 81
Free White Persons - Males - 80 thru 89: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Slaves - Males - Under 10: 2
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 1
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 10: 1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
Total Free White Persons: 2
Total Slaves: 9
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 11
- United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule.
Name: John McCluer [John McClure]
Age: 90
Birth Year: abt 1760
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 3, Habersham, Georgia, USA
Gender: Male
Family Number: 13
Household Members: Name Age
A J McCluer 32 [John's son Andrew J. McCluer, from John's 1st marriage]
M J McCluer 30
C B McCluer 10
M A W McCluer 9
T M W McCluer 3
John McCluer 90
Margret McCluer 64 [John's 2nd wife Margaret (McClain)]
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Pension Application of John McClure R6632 VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 18 Aug 2014.
State of Georgia }
Rabun County } SS
On this 3rd day of December in the year 1844 Personally appeared before the Inferior Court of said County John McClure a resident of the county and state above written aged 84 Eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the Provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he enlisted in the army of the United States on the 10th day of March 1776 for a Term of eighteen months with Major Patrick Lockhart who sent him from Botetourt County State of Virginia his place of residence heading a company of eighteen men to Long Island [NY] and there in September or October joined the Army under Captain Frelinghuysen [probably Frederick Frelinghuysen of the NJ Militia] Major not recollected Col. Warner and Genls. [Charles] Lee Reed and Washington and served said time as orderly sergeant and was in the battle of Trenton December 26th 1776 also in the battle at Princeton January [3rd] 1777 and received a discharge from Capt. Frelinghuysen October 11th 1777 Then took the place of James McAdams (an enlisted soldier) in the State of Pennsylvania October 12th 1777 and served eleven months his McAdams’s remaining time under Capt. Bawler as orderly sergeant the Major not recollected Col. Warner & Genl [Horatio] Gates and was in the Battle at Still Water October 15th 1777 [sic: Battle of Stillwater NY, 19 Sep 1777] also in the Battle at Monmouth June [28th] 1778 and received a discharge from Capt. Bawler September 12th 1778 then enlisted also in the State of Pennsylvania September 20th 1778 for a term of eighteen months under Captain Thomas Luck Major Quirk [see endnote] Col. not recollected and Genl Cadwallader [sic: Gen. John Cadwalader of the PA Militia] and served said time as orderly sergeant and received a discharge from Major Quirk the last of March or first of April 1780 making an aggregate of three years and eleven months, service as an enlisted soldier in the Revolutionary War on the part of the United States marching through and performing said duty in the States of Virginia Maryland New York and Pennsylvania. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State he further declares that the reasons why he did not apply for a Pension sooner are that he was so unfortunate as to get his house burnt in 1792 at which time his discharges were burnt and he thought he could not reach a pension without his discharges.
(Signature) John McClure
Sir [Henry Howell Cobb, House of Representatives] Pen off/ Dec’r. 18th 44
I have the honor to inform you that the unsupported declaration of Jno McClure has been examined & filed. His narrative of his service is so obscure and confused in its statements & exhibits such inconsistencies & ignorance of the service, that his claim will not be allowed except upon proof abundant & credible and furnishing a consistent statement of the several terms of service in which he alleges he was engaged. He states that he was sent to Long Island March 76 (before the declaration of independance) from Botetourt Co Va. at the head of 18 mo men and joined the army on Long Island in Sept. or Oct’r. (which had been driven off the Island by the battle of 27 aug) under Capt. Freelenghuysen
Col Warner Gen’l. Lee Gen’l. Washington. There were no 18 mo drafts or enlistments in 76 in Va. & there was no Va. officer bearing the name of Frelinghuysen or Warner
He again alleges that he became a substitute in the Pa. Forces under Capt Bowler Col. Warner Gen’l. Gates for eleven months. There were no officers of the designated names in the Pa Line.
In the third tour he asserts that he entered for 18 mo in 78 in Pa. under Capt. Thos Luck Major Quirk & Gen’l. Cadwallader. There was no authority to raise men for 18 mo in 78 either in Va. or [Pa] Majr Quirk was an officer in the [Va] State troops had command of no Capt named Luck & was never commanded by Col. (not Genl [sic]) Cadwallader. It is very apparent that he has no claim House of Rep. 20th Dec 1844
Sir [James L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions] I have received your reply to the application of Mr McClure for a pension.
I know nothing of the circumstances connected with this claim and only reply for the purpose of saying to you that from my personal knowledge of the character of Mr McClure I cannot believe that he would attempt to practice a fraud upon the Government and would therefore request a suspension of action upon his claim until he shall have had an opportunity of supplying the necessary proof. The errors in his statement are doubtless attributable to the feebleness of mind produced by extreme old age and should be considered an evidence of the justice of his clam than otherwise as an effort to commit a fraud would have been more carefully prepared
I am very Respectfully your obdt sert
[signed] Howell Cobb
State of Georgia } SS
Habersham County } Personally Came Before me Elihu S. Barclay one of the justices of the Inferior Court in and for said County John McCroskey [sic: John McCroskey, pension application R6656] who being first duly sworn according to Law, Saith on his Oath that John McClure served four years in succession as an Indian Spy on the part of the United States. Sent from the Counties of Washington Montgomery and Russel [sic: Russell] in the State of Virginia elected by the Magistates of said Counties in the following years separately Viz 1786 1787 1788 and 1789 and severally served as above through and during said years. deponent further says that he himself was a resident of Russel County in the State of Virginia at the same time that John McClure served as an Indian Spy and was an eyewitness to his services and knows of a certainty that he did render said services and that his particular boundaries to range in were from the head of Clinch River to a place called the Rye Cove and his coadjutor in service was a man by the name of Alexander Mcfarland. deponent also further says that he has been acquainted with John McClure all his lifetime was a school mate with him in the days of their youth. has always understood him to be a true friend to his Country and to have rendered a large portion of services in the revolutionary war on the part of the Untied States previous to his services as an Indian Spy, but was an eyewitness to his services as a Spy only. he further says that John McClure has remained a friend to liberty and his Country, a proof of which is that even in his old age he served in the capacity of a Major in the late war in South Carolina, as Sisters ferries
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of August 1845.
(Signed) John McCroskey
[On 12 Sep 1845 the Pension Office pointed out that service in 1786 to 1789 was after the Revolutionary War and therefore not covered by the pension act of 1832.]
State of Georgia }
Rabun County } SS
Personally came Before me M. F Cannon one of the justices of the Peace in said county John McClure who being first duly sworn according to law saith on his oath in order to explain the true intent and meaning of his declaration of December 1844 (now at the war department). First. That he was sent (or started) to Long Island March 1776 from Botetourt County, Virginia, heading eighteen men! (not eighteen months men) and joined the Army of the United States where he met them after the Battle of the 27th August (which Battle drew them off the Island) in September or October under Capt. Frelinghuysen from the State of New Jersey he thinks. In his Second Tour he says he became a substitute in the State of Pennsylvania (not the Pennsylvania forces) under Capt Bowler Col Warner and Genl Gates for the time of Eleven months, but does not intend in his declaration to convey the idea that said officers were of the Pennsylvania line, nor does he now recollect what state or line they were of.
In the third Tour he says that he enlisted for a term of eighteen months under Capt Thomas Luck. Major Quirk and Cadwallader a higher officer than Quirk but does not know that Capt Thomas Quirk was commanded in the line direct under and by Quirk and Cadwallader, but merely that Quirk and Cadwallader were there and higher in office than Luck. nor does he recollect from what state Capt Luck was, or by the authority of what state he enlisted under Luck. he only knows this distinctly that he enlisted under Capt Thomas Luck in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1778. he also says that in relation to the higher officers than his captains in his Three several tours. he does not recollect the direct line of command from the higher officers down to his Captains but that he in all his Services was mostly in the main Army and the higher officers named in his declaration were there.
He further States, that in addition to the services already enumerated in his declaration in favour of the United States that he served four years as an Indian Spy. to wit 1786 - 1787 - 1788 and 1789 elected by the magistrates of the counties of Russel Montgonery and Washington (State of Virginia) and that he was a resident of Russel County (State of Virginia) at the time he rendered the services as an indian Spy.
sworn to and Subscribed the 14th day of March 1846 before me.
(Signed) John McClure
[On 14 May 1846 the Pension Office stated that McClure’s claim had not been allowed because his name could not be found on the rolls of regular soldiers, and there was no testimony from witnesses of his service.]
Georgia Habersham } before me Laven J Keel an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County } county personally came John McCroskey and after being duly sworn
deposeth and saith that he deponant lived in a short Distance of John McClure say 2 or 3 Miles at the time of his in listment in the year 1776 I was Living amediately in the neighbourhood of his friends and relations and heard them frequently speak of his in listing I did not see McClure in the survice but I am as sure that he was in the Survice of the united States as I could be of any thing that I did not see from heareing his relations and friends so often and repeatedly speak of him having in listed together with a great many other circumstances connected – in the year 1791 McClure and myself became neighbours in Pendleton Dist South Carolina and I beleave in 1792 John McClure had his house burnt I heard him repeatedly speak of his loss and of his deep regret of having lost his discharges from the sur vice of the united states that he hated the loss of his discharges so verry much.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14 day of Oct 1847
(Signed) John McCroskey
Pension Office/ November 20, 1850
Sir [Thomas J. Hughes Esq/ Clarksville Georgia] It appears from an examination of the additional evidence forwarded by you to this Office in support of the application of Major John McClure for an Invalid Pension, that although he was Commissioned on the 30 day of September 1792 and was in all probability in the service acting as an Officer under said Commission, yet there is no evidence that he was injured until the 24 day of July 1813 which was during the war of 1812. And is of course, if entitled at all to a pension, entitled under the Laws, Regulations and Rules which govern other applications for pensions on account of wounds injuries or disease incurred by soldiers in said wars. And is not one of the cases embraced in the act of April 25, 1808. As it appears from the evidence furnished that he was merely training the troops and not actually in the service of the United States at the time of receiving the injury, it is not in my power, under the laws, Regulations and rules to grant the applicant an Invalid Pension. I am Respectfully our obt. Servt./ J L Edwards/ Commissioner of Pensions
Brief in the case of John McClure. July 9/53 [apparently prepared in the Pension Office]
The claimant, in December, 1844, made a declaration which was very vague and obscure, and manifested great ignorance of the service. Among the terms claimed, was eleven months, from October, 1777, as a substitute for an enlisted soldier, named James McAdams, of the Pennsylvania troops – being the balance of McAdams’s term of enlistment. After the expiration of that service, he again enlisted in the Pennsylvania troops, September 20th 1778, under Captain Thomas Luck, Major Quirk, colonel not recollected – General Cadwallader. He served as orderly sergeant for the term of eighteen months, and received a discharge from Major Quirk the last of March or the first of April, 1780 – making an aggregate of three years and eleven months’ service as an enlisted soldier. The inconsistencies in his statements having been pointed out, he, in 1845, made a supplemental declaration, in which he said he did not mean to say that his service as a substitute was in the Pennsylvania Forces, nor did he mean to convey the idea that his officers were of the Pennsylvania Line, as “he could not recollect what State or Line they were of,” but merely that “he became a substitute in the State of Pennsylvania.” And, further, that he did not mean to convey the idea that his tour of eighteen months, ending in April, 1780, was in the Pennsylvania Line; for he did not recollect the direct line of command from the higher officers down to his captain, &c. He also alleged certain service as an Indian Spy, after the close of the war.
The alleged service was not sustained by a particle of testimony – the only witness being a female, who stated she had seen she believe, three discharges as a regular soldier. Numerous efforts having failed to establish the claim upon the averments of McClure, M. Thompson, Esq., on the 2d of June, 1852, filed the certificate of the Auditor General of Pennsylvania, marked No 8, and on the 16th of August following, was informed that the soldier embraced by it was not his client of that name, but referred to a soldier who served in 1782 and 1783 – whereas claimant alleged no service beyond the 1st of April, 1780, &c. Hence, Mr. Tompson’s argument, {paper No. 9} in favor of the identity of his client with the soldier embraced by the certificate. It is not necessary to reply to that argument further than to say that Mr. Thompson has entirely misconceived the character of the payment indicated by that certificate. In the first place, they show conclusively, that the soldier was attached to the 8th Regiment of the Continental Line, and received certificates for depreciation of pay due to him to January, 1783; for it will be seen by the caption of that certificate, that it was a settlement between the United States and us, {John McClure and others,} for pay, &c., to January the 1st 1782; and that, after stating the amount of the certificate, &c, the Auditor General proceeds to say that “the item below is under the same heading, with the exception of the year, being 1783, instead of 1782, viz: it was for depreciation of pay due to January, 1783, on the same principle as shown by the first item, and then follows the item – showing that the certificate was issued December 21st 1784, being the same day on which the first certificate was issued!
But, secondly, in connexion with the evidence furnished by that certificate, it is shown by our records, that John McClure was a sergeant in the 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, and on the 5th of November, 1789, received 100 acres of land as a war’s man [i.e. served to the end of the war], in pursuance of the Resolution of the Continental Congress, of September 16th 1776!
State of Georgia }
Baldwin County } On this 11th Day of November One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me S B Brown a Justice of the peace in & for the State & County aforesaid Gen’l. Benjamin Cleveland a Representative from Habersham County in the State Legislature now assembled in this County at Milledgeville, and after being duly sworn states upon his Oath that he has been personally and Intimately acquainted with old Col. John McClure who now Resides in Habersham County and who is an applicant for a Revolutionary Pension, (his application being made from Rabun County Georgia) for the last Thirty Years or upwards, and from his earliest acquaintance with him he has been regarded as a soldier of the Revolutionary war. he has often heared him speak of his Revolutionary services, giving a minute and detailed account of them, and that he always gave the same narrative of them so that he (affiant) is fully convinced and confirmed in the Belief that he rendered the services, for which he claims to be pensioned, he further states that said claimant has from his earliest acquaintance with him ben a Respectable and Reputable man. In the War of 1812 he the said applicant commanded as a Major from Pendleton District South Carolina for which service he has received Bounty Lands, under the late Act of Congress, he further states that he now lives a near neighbor to old Col. McClure the said applicant that he retains his Mental faculties uncomonly well for one of his age. That he even now speaks of the scenes of the Revolution with much accuracy and precision. he speaks of Battles, of Marches & of Incidents connected with them, with great minuteness and correctness, so as to confirm all who hear him, in the balief that he served as he alledges he did.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above Benjamin Cleveland
State of Georgia }
Habersham County }
On this the 14th day of July in the year 1855, before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State aforesaid personally came John McClure aged ninety five years on the 15 day of April last, and now a resident of the county and state aforesaid, who after being duly sworn according to law makes the following general supplemental declaration in order to aid his claim to a Revolutionary pension under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. In doing of which he intends to give a more explicit declaration of some of the facts set forth in his original declaration made December 3rd 1844, and the supplemental thereto made in March 1845 both now on file in the Pension Office together with such additional facts & statements in regard to his Revolutionary services, as his attention and recollection have been called to since the filing of his original papers.– He therefore states that he was the second son of his father John McClure by his second wife, and was raised in Boutetout County State of Virginia that at the age of sixteen years, being stout and well grown and large at that age, in the year 1776 (and from the impression fixed on his mind in the month set forth in his original declaration) he enlisted in the Regular army in said county for the term of eighteen months and was made after his enlistment an orderly sergeant and was sent as formerly related, and placed under the command of Captain Frelinghuison, and joined the main army, under the officers as related in his original declaration. That during this term of service he was at the Battle of Trenton, also the Battle of Princeton and went with a division of the Army he thinks commanded by General Lee to guard and convey the prisoners taken at Trenton to Philadelphia.
That the division of the army to which he belonged went into winter quarters in January 1777 at Valey Forge [sic: Valley Forge PA, winter of 1777-78]. That a great part of the succeeding Spring & Summer he spent under various commands in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, until in the month of August or early part of September of that year, the division of the army to which he belonged & himself were ordered and sent he believes under General [Anthony] Wayne into Connecticut to watch the movements of the enemy in that direction, but to what particular point they marched he cannot now recollect. That while there his said term of service expired, and he was discharged by Captain Frelinghuison– he believes in the month of October 1777. And he believes he received his pay from the United States paymaster name not recollected– while he was in Connecticut– He then returned to a place near the line of New York & Pennsylvania – the name of the place not recollected– and immediately substituted himself for an enlisted soldier by the name of McAdams, under command of Captain Bawler by his consent and was an orderly sergeant in said company, and served out the ballance of his– McAdams’ term of service in said company – which was about eleven months, during which term he was on various services in New York and Pennsylvania, and was at the Battle of Still Water, under the command of the officers named in his original declaration and was discharged as therein related, thus ending his second term of service. In the early part of the fall of 1778 he again enlisted under a Captain Luck for the term of eighteen months under the command of the Field officers mentioned in his original declaration. The regiment to which he then belonged was from Virginia as he believes, though in Pennsylvania, as he believes at the time of his enlistment. The army to which he was then attached was in active service and passed through sections of Pennsylvania New Jersey New York and finally into Connecticut, where he was again discharged at the expiration of his last term of service in the Spring of the year 1780, by Major Quirk, and again received his pay while in Connecticut as he believes, but he cannot recollect the name of the place where he was discharged nor can he remember the name of the officer from whom he received his pay. This ended his third & last term of service. He then remained in Connecticut at will, about eight months, then went to Armstrongs Station in Kentucky, remained about two years, then returned to Russell County, Virginia, where he remained until the year 1790, four years of this period he served as an Indian Spy. In February – as he believes – of 1790, he married – and in December following moved to the State of South Carolina, and settled in what was then Pendleton District & said State. In 1792 his house caught fire, when he was absent from home, and was consumed with all his books & papers, amongst which were his three discharges above mentioned, and a Journal of his own keeping in which was Memoranda of all his marches and movements, and important events & transactions of all his terms of Revolutionary service — The loss of these papers may have caused some decrepitency in his recollection, for from fact of keeping a Journal he did not fix dates & events as acurately in his mind as he otherwise would have done. Still he believes the relations given of his services are substantially correct so far as facts are concerned. as to the dates of those events being mentioned positively– they are so stated from impressions fixed upon his memory as the only data to guide him in his relations of gone by times– As to officers named and the various divisions of the army with which he acted, he did not always know at the time definitely to which of the states they belonged personally, as the particular regular or continental lines of the different states was not with him a matter of inquiry at the time, his object being only to perform his duty under any officer that acted as his commander.
That when the law for the benefit of which he now asks was passed, he was stout and felt independent and able to gain his own subsistence and was also told that as he had lost his discharges he could not get a pension if he did apply. he therefore concluded to make no application, until about the year 1844 he becoming very infirm from age, and being dependent he was prevailed upon by his friends to make application for a pension.
He would further state as a matter of personal identity that he commanded as Lieutenant Colonel the Regiment of South Carolina Militia stationed at Sisters Ferry [sic: possibly Two Sisters Ferry on the Savannah River] in the war of 1812. That in the year 1829, he moved from S.C. to Rabun County Georgia within a few miles of his present residence.
(Signed) John McClure
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled
Your Petitioner Margaret McClure resident of the State of Georgia, Most respectfully represents that her husband John McClure late of said State served in the Revolutionary War from the State of Virginia in the States of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania in the Continental army as a noncommissioned officer and that he served two terms which embraced nearly the whole Period of the war and was under Captain Quik, Col. Frelinghuisen. Your Petitioner further represents that her husband has applied for a Pension under act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, and that her claim has been suspended a number of times for the alledged cause that she has not sufficiently identified himself with the service connectisted with his name in the Auditor’s Office for the State of Pennsylvania.
Your memorialist feels convinced that there exists on the suspended files of the Pension Office sufficient evidence to allow the issuing of a Pension Certificate under the act aforesaid and for further proof and information your memorialist respectfully refers your honorable body to the said papers.
You humble Petitioner therefore prays that an act may be passed granting him the Pension, as the widow & heir of the said John McClure, which was due to him at his death which took place May 24th 1856, under the said act of June 7, 1832. I am respectfully your humble Petitioner
(Signed) Margaret McClure
Signed in the Presence of
A. J. McClure Martin C. Fuller JP
NOTES: The only known Major Quirk was Thomas Quirk of Virginia, who did not serve as Major until 17 Aug 1778 in George Rogers Clark’s Illinois Regiment.
A document dated 11 Nov 1853 states that during the War of 1812 “Col. John McClure became a volunteer and from the confidence Inspired in the Minds of his Acquaintances by his Revolutionary character and services, he was Elected a Field Officer in the Volunteer Regiment which was then made up (and marched to Sisters ferry) over a Competitor who was thought to be his superior in point of sprightliness of Intellect.”
The file contains a copy of the following marriage record from Habersham County: “John McClure was married to Margaret McClain December the 6th 1829.”
Not all the 127 pages in this file are transcribed here.
http://revwarapps.org/r6632.pdf
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