Thomas McClurken

1805 - 1867

By: Roger Kemps © 2009

 

Thomas McClurken was born on March 31, 1805 in South Carolina. He died on January 10, 1867 in Oakdale, Illinois.

 

His parents were Thomas McClurken (1756 - 1845) and Elizabeth Smith (1767 – 1852). Thomas and his parents were Scotch-Irish. His siblings were:

 

·      John (May 4, 1792 – July 12, 1874)

·      Archibald (November 11, 1794 – April 7, 1853)

·      Nancy (December 25, 1797 – November 9, 1857)

·      James (January 5, 1801 – October 8, 1875)

·      David (June 22, 1811 – March 18, 1880)

 

Thomas shows up in the 1810 Census (male under 10) along with his parents, brothers, John, Archibald, and James, and sister, Nancy.

 

Thomas shows up in the 1820 Census (male 10 – 16) along with his parents, brothers James and David, and sister Nancy.

 

Thomas McClurken married Martha Kirkpatrick about 1830 in South Carolina. They were Covenanters. Thomas and Martha show up in the 1830 Census (male 20 – 30 and female 20 – 30) along with his parents, brother, David, and sister, Nancy.

 

Shortly after the Census, Thomas, and his brother, James, moved their families to Washington County, Illinois. (For an explanation of the circumstances associated with the move, see Covenanters). They crossed the Cumberland Gap and traveled by wagon train for six weeks, arriving in May. For a description of the trip, see History of Oakdale Township, pages 4, 8 and 29. In 1831, Thomas purchased 80 acres of Section 35 of what became Oakdale Township. Thomas and Martha purchased an additional 480 acres in Sections 22, 23, 26 and 34 in 1834, 1836, 1837, and 1854. For details, see Thomas Martha McClurken_Land  and the deeds in the reference file list.

 

Near Oakdale, Thomas and Martha had ten children (see the Outline Descendant Report of his father for grandchildren details):

 

·      Robert W. was born on December 14, 1831. He married Mary Jane Ardrey (1836 – 1909) and they had five children. Robert died on February 10, 1870 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 2, Grave 60).

·      Thomas Donnelly was born on December 24, 1833. He married Jane Stevensen (1839 – 1873) and they had three children. Thomas died on April 12, 1900 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 2, Grave 67).

·      David Smith was born on February 10, 1836 and died on September 1, 1838. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 2, Grave 8).

·      Archibald Valentine was born on February 18, 1837. He married Elizabeth Auld (1837 – 1915) and they had one child. Archibald died on November 4, 1862, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 3, Grave 59).

·      John Calvin was born on May 20, 1840. He enlisted on August 1, 1861 in the 10th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry, but he was discharged for disability. He died on January 7, 1912. See his obituary for additional details.

·      James Renwick was born on January 16, 1842.  He enlisted on August 1, 1861 in the 10th Regiment of the Missouri Infantry. He died of pneumonia on January 19, 1863 in Keokuk, Iowa. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 7, Grave 58).

·      Elizabeth Smith was born on May 20, 1846. She married Thomas Stevenson Ardrey (1840 – 1916) and they had seven children. Elizabeth died on October 14, 1926.

·      Rev. Samuel Rutherford was born on September 12, 1848. He married Jennie Ferguson and died September 16, 1911. For additional information, see his sketch.

·      David Faris was born on January 12, 1850. He married Martha Ann Matson (1853 – 1922) and they had four children. David died on July 30, 1926 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (New Section, Row 19, Grave 29). See his obituary for additional details.

·      Mary J. was born on September 3, 1852. She married Richard Murray (1840 – 1924) and they had two children. Mary died on October 22, 1939.

 

Thomas is mentioned in “History of Oakdale Township” (see references):

 

·      Page 4; May 1830 settled in precinct

·      Page 8; Wagon train arrival

·      Page 29; Wagon train arrival

·      Page 33; RP Church charter member

·      Page 97; 1856 School Board Director (“Hill” Thomas)

·      Page 120; Section 23 1837-5-29

·      Page 121; Section 22 1837-5-29

·      Page 121; Section 15 1834-11-19 & 1836-9-7

·      Page 123; Section 26 1836-9-7

·      Page 123; Section 35 1831-5-30

·      Page 124; Section 27 1834-2-10

·      Page 124; Section 34 1854-1-10 & 1854-6-10

 

Thomas and Martha were Charter Members of the Oakdale Reformed Presbyterian Church that was formed in 1834. It is likely that they participated in the Underground Railroad, along with other members of the congregation, because of their disdain for slavery.

 

Thomas and Martha show up in the 1840 Census (Washington County, Illinois), along with their four children.

 

Thomas and Martha show up in the 1850 Census (District 20 of Washington County, Illinois), along with eight of their children.

 

Thomas and Martha show up in the 1860 Census (T3S, R4W of Washington County, Illinois), along with six of their children.

 

Thomas died on January 10, 1867. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 2, Grave 65). A photo of his headstone is available at this link. For a summary of his estate, see Thomas McClurken Estate_1867.  

 

Martha died on September 5, 1889, and is buried, alongside of Thomas, in Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 2, Grave 64). A photo of her headstone is available at this link.

 

Reference sources and files:

 

Genealogy Trails Washington County, Illinois Website

Oakdale Cemetery Website

History of Oakdale Township and references

Narratives of Randolph County.pdf  pages 80 - 83

1810_Thos_McKlirkin_Chester_SC.jpg see line 19

1820_Thos_McKlirkin_Chester_SC.jpg see line 22

1830_Thomas_McClurken.jpg see line 9

1840_Thomas_Martha_McClurken.jpg see line 20

1850_Thomas_Martha_McClurken.jpg see line 14

1860_Thomas_Martha_McClurken.pdf  see line 1

Oakdale Reformed Presbyterian Church

Thomas_Martha_McClurken_Land.pdf

Thomas_11_11_1831_WHSWQ_S35_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 5/30/1831)

ThomasJr_15_10_1835_NEQSEQ_S27_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 2/10/1834)

Thomas_1_8_1838_NWQSWQ_S26_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 9/7/1836)

Martha_1_8_1838_SWQNWQ_S26_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 9/7/1836)

Martha_1_8_1838_SEQNWQ_S26_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 5/15/1837)

ThomasJr_1_8_1838_EHNEQ_S22_SWQNWQ_NWQSWQ_S23_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 5/29/1837)

Thomas_15_6_1854_WHSEQ_EHSWQ_S34_T3SR4W.jpg (purchased 1/10/1854)

John_C_McClurken_Civil_War.pdf

James_R_McClurken_Civil_War.pdf

Thomas McClurken Estate_1867

Thomas McClurken 1867_Probate Documents.pdf  (a large 6.7 MB file)

ODR_Thomas_McClurken

Covenanters

Oakdale

Scotch-Irish

History of Reformed Presbyterian Church in America  pages 582 & 583

Ancestry.com OneWorldTree

 

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Last updated  2/21/2011