Mathew McClurkin 1761

Mathew Henry McClurkin

1761 - 1847

Mathew Henry McClurkin was born in 1761 in County Antrim, Ireland. He died on May 1, 1847 in Preble County, Ohio.

Mathew, and some of his siblings, is believed to have accompanied his parents on a voyage from County Antrim, Ireland to Charleston, South Carolina in 1776, on the last ship to arrive before the harbor was closed. For an explanation, see Covenanters.

It is believed that Mathew’s father was John McClurkin who was born about 1724 in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland.

Mathew and his siblings were of Scotch-Irish descent. They included:

· Robert (1746 – 1786)

· Thomas (1756 – 1845)

· John (1757 -1819)

· Archibald (1758 – 1780)

· Isabelle Kirkpatrick (about 1766 – about 1841)

· Mary Hood (about 1769 – 1831)

· Elizabeth McQuiston ( 1770 – 1844)

· Nancy McClure (1772 – 1848)

· Possibly three more

Mathew, and three of his brothers (John, Thomas and Archibald), served in the Revolutionary War. From his pension file, we learn that Mathew was living in Chester County, South Carolina when he volunteered in the spring of 1780. He served under the Command of Lieutenant Houston and Colonel Sumter. His service began at Indian Lands near the Catawba River, A small company of volunteers marched from Indian Lands to a place called Hanging Rock near the Catawba River, where early in the morning they attacked and defeated a company of Tories who were commanded by Colonel Bryan. The British soldiers were encamped about half a mile away and they made an attack on the volunteers who held their ground until evening. Then the volunteers left and marched to Bigger's Ferry on the Catawba River. At this place, the volunteers were attacked by the British forces and Mathew was severely wounded in the head and taken prisoner by the British troops. He and the other prisoners were taken to Charlotte in North Carolina, and confined in jail. Then they were sent to Camden in South Carolina and there confined in a prison for about 10 weeks. Then he was sent to Charleston to be put aboard a prison ship. On the way, about 16 miles from Camden, he and the other prisoners overpowered the guard and made their escape. About 2 weeks after his escape he again entered the service as a volunteer under Colonel Sumter. This time, the volunteers took a British Garrison about 3 miles south of the Congaree River at Thompson’s Plantation (Calhoun County). Mathew continued in the service for some time with Colonel Sumter in the south part of South Carolina. He was again taken prisoner by the British and was sent to Camden and confined as a prisoner until he obtained a parole from the British and returned to Chester. A short time after he returned home, peace was declared between the United States & the British government. After the peace was declared, he received, from the United States, about $60 for his services of about 10 months time. For additional details, see:

· Mathew_McClurkin_Pension_File_Transcription

· Matthew_McClurkin_Pension_File

· Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution Volume II, page 605

· Hanging Rock Battlefield

· Bigger’s Ferry pages 13 through 16

· Thompson’s Plantation see February 21st

· “The Revolutionary Soldiers of the Catholic Presbyterian Church, Chester, S.C.” pages 91 & 92

Mathew, along with his brothers John and Thomas, is listed on the Catholic Presbyterian Church Revolutionary War Marker (see image) at the historic church in Chester County, South Carolina (see additional images).

Mathew Henry McClurkin married Jennet McClurkin about 1786 in Laurens County, South Carolina. Jennet McClurkin was the daughter of James McClurkin Sr. and Mary. Jennet was born about 1766 in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Ireland. She was also a passenger on the Lord Dunluce that arrived in Charlestown December 20, 1772. Mathew and Jennet are believed to have been first cousins (his father John was the brother of her father James). Mathew and Jennet had four children:

· James M. McClurkin was born on September 7, 1787 in South Carolina. He married Susannah Leiper about 1811 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He died on January 17, 1851 in Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois and is buried in Old Bethel Cemetery.

· John McClurkin was born on November 28, 1790 in South Carolina. He married Margaret C. Wright in Franklin County, Indiana. He died on March 28, 1865 in Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa and is buried in Rice Cemetery.

· Catharine (also Katherine or Katie) McClurkin was born on March 1, 1792 in South Carolina. She married David Faris on February 26, 1811 in Preble County, Ohio. She died on April 19, 1869 in Preble County, Ohio and is buried in Hopewell Cemetery.

· Agnes Nancy McClurkin was born on January 3, 1794 in South Carolina. She married Nathan Ramsay on January 3, 1811 in Preble County, Ohio. She died on January 22, 1875 in Madison County, Ohio and was buried on January 26, 1875 in Providence Cemetery in Darke County.

Mathew and Jennet show up in the 1790 Census of Chester County, South Carolina, along with James, possibly John, two other females, and one slave. It is presumed that the others were not their children, but may have been related.

On August 18, 1790, Mathew purchased 50 acres in the Camden District of Fairfield County, South Carolina and another 200 acres of land on a branch of Rocky Creek. On November 27, 1792, Mathew and Jennet purchased an additional 50 acres of land on a branch of Rocky Creek. (The South Carolina Archives has four references to plats that were surveyed in 1785, 1786 and 1787 for 110, 100, 70 and 200 acres, all in the Camden District).

Jennet died in 1797.

Mathew Henry McClurkin and Mary Gaston, widow of Benjamin Elliot, were married about 1800 in Chester County, South Carolina. Mary was born on August 22, 1774 in Ireland.

Mathew and Mary show up in the 1800 Census of Chester County, South Carolina. Living with them were James, John, Katherine, Agnes, another female (under 10) and one slave.

Mathew and Mary had seven children:

· Jane McClurkin was born on July 10, 1801 in South Carolina. She married Samuel Hamilton on April 22, 1830 in Union County, Indiana. She died about 1855.

· Joseph McClurkin was born on April 24, 1803 in South Carolina. He married Nancy Cook on October 18, 1831 in Union County, Indiana. He died on January 12, 1874 and is buried in Archer Cemetery in Gibson County, Indiana.

· Letitia Strong McClurkin was born in 1806 in Kentucky. She married John Miller about 1827 in Kentucky She died on October 11, 1864 in Indiana.

· Isabelle McClurkin was born on May 14, 1808 in Tennessee. She married James Louden on September 12, 1845 in Union County, Indiana. She died on October 3, 1887 in Connersville, Indiana.

· Archibald McClurkin was born on February 14, 1810 in Franklin County, Indiana. He married Rachel Shannon on May 23, 1844 and he died on January 11, 1875.

· Mary Ann McClurkin was born on March 22, 1816 in Union County, Indiana. She married Robert Martin before 1840 in Union County, Indiana. She died on April 5, 1895 in Connersville, Indiana.

· Elizabeth was born about 1816 and died in 1844.

A short summary of Mathew and his wives and children is presented on page 217 of "A Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution Volume 2."

On November 9, 1803, Mathew and Mary sold 150 acres on a branch of Rocky Creek. The family moved to Tennessee and Kentucky. On May 25, 1809, while residing in Butler County, Ohio, Mathew purchased a potion of Section 3 in Township 10, Range 01 of Ohio (this could not be verified on the BLM website). On November 27, 1811, while residing in Franklin County, Indiana, Mathew purchased the NW Quarter of Section 34 of Township 11N, Range 01W in Union County, Indiana.

Mathew and Mary show up in the 1820 Census of Bath Township, Franklin County, Indiana. Living with them were: Joseph (10 – 16), Archibald (0 – 9), Jane (16 – 26), Letitia and Isabelle (10 -16), Mary Ann and Elizabeth (0 -9). (Son, John McClurkin, also appears on the same page).

Mary Gaston McClurkin died on February 21, 1822 in Preble County, Ohio and is buried in Beechwood (Covenanter) Cemetery, Morning Sun, Preble County, Ohio. For an image of her headstones, see this link.

Mathew shows up in the 1830 Census of Union County, Indiana with Joseph, Archibald, Jane, Isabelle, Mary Ann and Elizabeth.

Pages 55 & 56 of the Narratives of Randolph County are a transcript of a letter written in 1896 by Rev. J. J. McClurkin. At the end he indicates that Mathew “raised a large family in Ohio, in the New Light Covenanter Church, some of whom moved to Iowa, near Morning Sun, & others went to Princeton Indiana.”

On September 9, 1833, Mathew testified as part of his request for a Revolutionary War pension, under a 1832 act of Congress. It was granted on October 12, 1833, retroactive to March 4, 1831, at the rate of $20 per year. The pension file for Mathew contains 30 pages and provides additional details of his life and service. See the complete file at this link.

Mathew appears in the 1840 Census of Union County, Indiana. He is listed as living alone and as an 85 year old Revolutionary War pensioner. (His age seems to have shifted by about 5 years. His headstone is reported to show a birth year of 1756; however, his pension application indicated his birth year as 1761).

Mathew McClurkin’s will, transcribed from the LDS files of Miss Lois C. Meyer by Charles (Butch) Sanders, reads:

"In the name of the benevolent father of all, I Matthew McClurkin, of Prebble County, Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament.

First:

· I give and devise and bequeath to my sons, James and John, each one dollar $1.

· To my daughters, Catherine Faris and Agnes Adkins, each one dollar $1.

· To my son Archibald McClurkin, $100 and also my wearing apparel at my decease.

Second:

· I will and bequeath to my son, Joseph McClurkin $280.

· To my daughter, Jane Hamilton, $200 and one feather bed.

· To my daughter, Isabella Loudon, I give and bequeath $200.

· Also to my daughter Letitia Miller, I give and bequeath $100, and

· To my daughter, Mary Ann Martin, I give $100.

Third:

· And to my daughters, Jane Hamilton and Isabelle Loudon, I give and bequeath all my property and effects not named in this instrument and remaining unexpended at my death.

Fourth:

· I do hereby nominate and appoint Joseph McClurkin and Archibald McClurkin, executors of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing them to adjust and settle all claims against me and to collect all claims due me, and to pay the same over according to this my last will and testament.

In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this eighth (8th) day of April, eighteen hundred and forty-seven (April 8, 1847)

Signed: Matthew McClurkin

Witnesses: James Tuttle, Adam Spivey Written 4/8 1847".

Mathew Henry McClurkin died on May 1, 1847 in Preble County, Ohio. He is buried in Beechwood (Covenanter) Cemetery, near Morning Sun in Preble County, Ohio. For an image of his headstone, see this link.

For descendant information, see Outline Descendant Report of Mathew McClurkin.

Reference sources and files:

Scotch-Irish

Covenanters

Register_Report_for_John_McClurkin_Sr.pdf first 9 pages

James McClurken will dated December 9, 1794 (Jennet’s father)

James_McClurkin’s_family_as_per_Lois_C_Meyer see final section, Jennet McClurkin

James McClurken Family in America a letter from Lois C Meyer

Matthew_McClurkin_Pension_File

Matthew_McClurkin_Pension_File_Transcription

Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files Volume II: F - M

Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution Volume II, page 605, starts at lower left column