Henry McClain Jr. (1750 - 1837)

Born 10 May 1750 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1837 at age 86 in Nelson, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Darlene Carerros [send private message], Derek Ralston [send private message], and Carol McClain [send private message]

Biography

Private Henry McClain Jr. served with Amherst County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Henry McClain Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A077950.

Find-A-Grave: Henry McClain BIRTH 10 May 1750 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania DEATH 14 Jun 1843 (aged 93) Nelson County, Virginia BURIAL McClain Family Burial Ground, Afton, Nelson County, Virginia -- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197075614/henry-mcclain -- Text from FG: This military monument was erected sometime in the early 1970's by Linda J. McClain. According to his will, dated 22 May 1843, he had seven adult children to which he left things equally; John b. 27 Nov 1776, Margaret (Bowler) b. abt 1782, Ufias/Euphias (Henderson) b. abt 1792, Esther (Farrar) b. abt 1790, Henry b. abt 1787, William b. Aug 1795 and Mary "Polly" b. 27 Nov 1797 (who predeceased him, but seems to have had children).

Revolutionary War

Private Henry McClean, born 5-10-1750 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, died 1841 in Nelson County, Virginia and his wife Esther Henderson are honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for service:

1. CAPTS MARTIN,GRAVES,LOVING
2. CAPT PAMPLIN

^[1]

Name

Name: Henry /McClain/^[2][3][4][5]

Birth

Birth:

Date: 10 MAY 1750

Place: Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States^[6]

Death

Death: Age: 91

Date: 07 MAR 1837

Place: Nelson, Virginia, United States

Death: Age: 91

Date: 1841

Place: Nelson, Virginia, United States^[7]

Found multiple copies of DEAT DATE. Using 07 MAR 1837Array

Residence

Residence:

Date: 1810

Place: Buckingham, Nelson, Virginia, United States^[8]

Residence:

Date: 1830

Place: Nelson, Virginia, United States^[9]

Event

Event:

Type: Arrival

Date: 1772

Place: Virginia^[10]

Died 1843 Nelson Co., Va. ^{[11] [12] [13]} Age: 91. 1841 Nelson, Virginia. ^[14] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] 1843 Nelson, Virginia, USA. Map: Latitude: N37.792. Longitude: W78.8844. ^[15] Age: 91. 1841 Nelson, Virginia. ^[14] 1843 Goodloe Property on Route 151, Nelson Co. VA. ^{[16] [17] [11] [18]} Found multiple copies of death date. Using 1843 Fact 1 Revolutionary War Veteran. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 9 I presume this is a mistake). ^{[12] [13]} Fact 8 (Note- There is indication in DAR records of Henrys name being spelled MCClean. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 7 (Reference DAR Patriot Index, pg 457- Pension). ^{[12] [13]} Fact 6 1832 Allowed pension for 8 mos. actual service as Private, Virginia Line. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 5 place. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 4 Reinlisted under Cap't. John Loving. When taken ill, his brother James took his. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 3 In Battle of Guilford Courthouse in Cap't John Graves Co. ^{[12] [13]} Fact 2 1779 Served under Capt. Azariah Martin in N. Car. ^{[12] [13]} Note: #N104. File . @M50@. @M656@. @M872@. Marriage Husband Henry McClain. Wife Ester Henderson. Child: John Shelton McClain. Marriage ABT 1775. ^[19] Marriage 1775 ^[20] Marriage 1775 ^[21] Marriage ABT 1775. ^{[22] [23]}

Notes

Note N104Served as Private '1776 under Capt Azariah Martin in N.C. Was in battle of Guilford Courthouse in Capt. John Graves' Company. NAT # 35417 D.A.R. Probably an imigrant not born in Penn. REVOLUTIONARY WAR REPORT FOR HENRY McLAIN STATE OF VIRGINIA AND COUNTY OF NELSON to wit: On this 6th day of October 1832 personally appeared before me Littleberry N. Liggon, a justice of the peace for the said County and State, Henry McLain, a resident of the said County and State aged eighty two years the tenth day of May last past who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declarationin order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated; he entered the service as a militiaman in the County of Amherst, Virginia, under Captain Azariah Martin, lieutenant James Alexander and Ensign William Mottin the year 1779. That they marched to Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina where they stayed perhaps two weeks. From there to Camden in South Carolina where they joined General Gateses army at Rootsbys(?) Mill in the evening and then engagement in which General Gates was defeated took place the following night and before day they had orders to retreat, he recollected that Colonel Dameron who had lost his hat told them to escape in the best way they could which they done, and set off in great confusion, and from there he went home as his company was not organized again; that some time after, the said Captain Martin drew his pay for a two months tour and gave it to him. The next time he entered the service under James Pamplin who was then either a captain or major in Amherst County and state of Virginia who marched them to Hillsborough in North Carolina where they were under the command of Captain John Graves and Pamplin returned after having stayed at Hillsborough some ten or fifteen days, from there they marched by Gifford (Guilford) Courthouse and on to River at the mouth of Creek where they joined General Greens army, after being stationed there a while they left General Green's army and marched to Salisbury in North Carolina and from thence to Pittsilvany in Virginia where they were discharged in the month of February after a tour of three months, he recollects Major Morris in addition to the other officers he has mentioned. The next and last time he was drafted in Amherst County, Virginia, and marched under Captain John Loving and Turner, which last did not stay with them long owing to his being taken sick when Lieutenant William Barnet took his place. When they marched they went through the county of Buckingham, Virginia, from thence to Williamsburg, where he was stationed until his brother James McLain took his place which was sometime before the expiration of the tour which he thinks was three months. There was no fighting while he was on that tour. His company had joined General Stevens before they got to Williamsburg, he thinks in the county of King William. Questioned by the magistrate 1st--Where and in what year were you born? Answer. I was born in the County of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania in the year of 1750 as I was told by my parents. 2nd--Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer. I have none. 3rd--Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Answer. I was living in Amherst County, Virginia, when called into service, have lived in that part of old Amherst which is now Nelson County since the Revolution, and am now living in Nelson County. 4th--How were you called into service--were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom? Answer. I was drafted. 5th--Did you ever receive a discharge and if so by whom was it given and wha has become of it. Answer. I don't recollect to have received but one written one and that was given by Captain Graves and is lost. REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD - HENRY McLAIN Pension No. 57196 Cert # 12837 Issued May 31, 1833 Rate: .66 per annum Commenced: Mar 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Virginia Agency Henry born May 10, 1750, married Esther Henderson, died 1843 Henry's children were: John born 1776 married Mary Wheeler 1809. They had 16 children one of which was Seaton William lived in West Virginia Henry Jr. Esther Euphe Polly (Mary) Peggy (Margaret) Seaton, son of John (see above) was born in 1830

External Files

• File M242 File: C:\Users\jgg78\OneDrive\Documents\Family Tree Maker\GRAHAMGOODWINbeta Media\U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970(8).jpg Format: jpg. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970.
• File M34 File: C:\Users\jgg78\OneDrive\Documents\Family Tree Maker\GRAHAMGOODWINbeta Media\McClainRevWar2.jpg Format: jpg. McClainRevWar2 11122015 9:43:17 AM.
• File M50 File: C:\Users\jgg78\OneDrive\Documents\Family Tree Maker\GRAHAMGOODWINbeta Media\McClainRevWar.jpg Format: jpg. McClainRevWar 11112015 4:26:15 PM.
• File M656 File: C:\Users\jgg78\OneDrive\Documents\Family Tree Maker\GRAHAMGOODWINbeta Media\McClain.jpg Format: jpg. McClain 4112019 3:41:21 PM. From Ancestry.com North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 D Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 039.
• File M872 File: C:\Users\jgg78\OneDrive\Documents\Family Tree Maker\GRAHAMGOODWINbeta Media\MartinAz(1).jpg Format: jpg. MartinAz(1) 842019 10:05:58 AM. From Ancestry.com robertfhalejr originally shared this on 30 Nov 2014 See Azariah Martin "Hen. Mclain at bottom of page.

FamilySearch: Esther Henderson G9CY-6R9 birth: 1755, Amherst Co. VA death: BEF 07 MAR 1837, Nelson Co VA father: John Henderson Sr. LRSK-QBM mother: Mary Downard L61S-627 spouse: Henry McClain

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed January 23, 2019), "Record of Henry McClean", Ancestor # A077950.
2. ↑ Source: #S104 Page: Year: 1810; Census Place: Buckingham, Nelson, Virginia; Roll: 70; Page: 684; Image: 0181430; Family History Library Film: 00131 Object: @M546@
3. ↑ Source: #S47 Page: 1830 US Census; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Page: 116; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 196; Family History Film: 0029675 Object: @M547@
4. ↑ Source: #S51 Page: Place: Virginia; Year: 1772; Page Number: 261
5. ↑ Source: #S96 Page: SAR Membership Number: 84429 Object: @M515@
6. ↑ Source: #S96 Page: SAR Membership Number: 84429 Object: @M515@
7. ↑ Source: #S96 Page: SAR Membership Number: 84429 Object: @M515@
8. ↑ Source: #S104 Page: Year: 1810; Census Place: Buckingham, Nelson, Virginia; Roll: 70; Page: 684; Image: 0181430; Family History Library Film: 00131 Object: @M546@
9. ↑ Source: #S47 Page: 1830 US Census; Census Place: Nelson, Virginia; Page: 116; NARA Series: M19; Roll Number: 196; Family History Film: 0029675 Object: @M547@
10. ↑ Source: #S51 Page: Place: Virginia; Year: 1772; Page Number: 261
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Source: #S10 Database online. Record for Ufious Euphorius Woods Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=6368535888&indiv=try
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9} Source: #S69 Date of Import: Jan 12, 1999
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9} Source: #S70 Tree #3717 Date of Import: Jan 11, 1999
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Source: #S18 Record for Esther Henderson File Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=SARMemberApps&h=891411&indiv=try
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5} Source: #S12 Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc.
16. ↑ Source: #S244 Mary C. Crist: Born in August County, VA/ August 11, 1835/ Married: March 13, 1861/ no death date given
17. ↑ Source: #S246 Margaret E. Crist: Place of Birth: Augusta Co., VA/ Date of Birth: Feb 2, 1845/ No death date listed
18. ↑ Source: #S247 page 155
19. ↑ Source: #S12 Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc.
20. ↑ Source: #S12 Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc.
21. ↑ Source: #S12 Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc.
22. ↑ Source: #S69 Date of Import: Jan 12, 1999
23. ↑ Source: #S70 Tree #3717 Date of Import: Jan 11, 1999

• Source: S104 Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1810 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1
• Repository: R1 Name: Ancestry.com Address: E-Mail Address: Phone Number:
• Source: S47 Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1830 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1
• Source: S51 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010; Repository: #R1
• Source: S96 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011; Repository: #R1

• WikiTree profile Mcclain-382 created through the import of WikiGedcom.ged on Nov 14, 2011 by Darlene Nelson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Darlene and others.

• Source: S133 Media: Records Abbreviation: Ancestry Title: Ancestry Repository: #R512 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y Page: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note Quality or Certainty of Data: 3 Data: Text:  : The owners of these tree files may have remove d or changed information since this source citation was
• Repository: R512 Name: Ancestry.com Address: Ancestry.com CONT 360 W 4800 N CONT Provo, UT 84604 USA Name: Ancestry.com SORT Ancestry.com Address 1: 360 W 4800 N City: Provo State: UT Postal Code: 84604 Country: USA Phone Number: 801-705-7000 Phone Number: 801-705-7001 (fax) URL: http://www.ancestry.com

Notes

Note HI1214(Research):Father: HENRY McCLAIN SR.(A) Married: ESTHER HENDERSON(A)

Born: 10 May, 1750 (166) Born:

Place: Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania (166) Place:

Died: 1843(A) Died:

Place: Nelson County, Virginia(A) Place:

Parents: Chart Number 1172

Their Children:

Name: MARGARET McCLAIN(A) Married: 1802(A), 6 January, 1802(1573)

Born: Albemarle County, Virginia(1573)

Place: WALKER BOWLER(A,1573)

Died:

Note NI1214Birth note: From Pension Application 7196 Certificate #12837 Nelson County State

of Virginia. This is the Pension Application of Henry Mclain. See

"McClain Exchange" Spring 1992 Page 20

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RICHARD and HENRY McCLAIN

OF AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA

"Under Construction"

Revision 1, 19 October, 1997

by Don A. Marsh

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FAMILY TRADITION

Family tradition is that...... well, before we get into "family tradition," let me explain where the family tradition originated.

HENRY McCLAIN was born 10 May, 1750 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His son JOHN McCLAIN was born 27 November, 1776 in Amherst County, Virginia. JOHN's son JACOB DUCKETT McCLAIN was born 10 October, 1810 in Nelson County, Virginia. His son SILAS WILSON McCLAIN was born 2 December, 1844 in Nelson County, Virginia.

SILAS married ELIZABETH S. COBURN and had, among other children, two daughters: BLANCHE RENETTA (bc 1874) and MARY OLIVE (bc 1876), both born in Polk County, Iowa. In the 1930s they researched the HENRY McCLAIN family. Almost everything we think we know about RICHARD McCLAIN derives from their research. This is our "family tradition."

The two sisters apparently lived in Emporia, Kansas. One sister was the driving force behind the research and was supposedly preparing to write a book on RICHARD's family when she died. The surviving sister took up the project but also died before completion of same. The book and all research has since disappeared.

In 1934, someone named R. M. McCLAIN wrote a history on the family of HENRY's son WILLIAM and his wife MARTHA GRAVES. This history has since become the definitive word on this family. The history was prefaced with a couple of paragraphs about the older generation - HENRY, and his two supposed brothers, DANIEL and JACOB - all of whom were supposedly born in Scotland. DANIEL and JACOB are mentioned only in passing - one supposedly having gone to Tennessee and the other to Pennsylvania - which going where being unknown.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having explained where our "family tradition" originated, let me continue with what it is.

1. RICHARD McCLAIN was born in Scotland in 1681.

2. RICHARD McCLAIN came to America in 1711.

3. RICHARD McCLAIN was in the Marsh Creek Area of Pennsylvania in 1746.

4. RICHARD McCLAIN was the father of HENRY McCLAIN (1750-1843) and JAMES W. McCLAIN (c1760-1813).

5. RICHARD McCLAIN was the father of HENRY, JACOB and DANIEL.

6. RICHARD McCLAIN died in 1777 and is buried on McClain's Mountain at Nellysford, Nelson County (then Amherst County), Virginia in an unmarked grave. In earlier years the grave was marked with rocks but can no longer be found.

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THE EARLY YEARS, TO 1763

I have now published a genealogical newsletter, McCLAIN EXCHANGE, on the McCLAIN families of America for the past six years. This December, we will publish our 1000th page of information. To date, the only identifiable piece of information on the family of RICHARD McCLAIN prior to 1763 is contained in the Revolutionary War pension application of HENRY McCLAIN, who states that he was born May 10, 1750 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

No other information on RICHARD McCLAIN prior to 1763 has surfaced. There is a tax list of 1756 Coleraine, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania which mentions a HENRY McCLAIN. This was much too early to be HENRY (1750-1843), but will later be shown to be a significant point of interest.

McCLAIN EXCHANGE contains numerous items in which the Marsh Creek area of Pennsylvania is mentioned. However, no RICHARD is referred to in any of the entries. In fact, to date, the name RICHARD McCLAIN has not surfaced at all in Pennsylvania except for a RICHARD who was the son of PATRICK McCLAIN - and who was too young to be the RICHARD of Amherst County, Virginia - and who also lived past the year 1800.

On the other hand, the names RICHARD and HENRY are very common in 1700s Maryland. Since there was a land dispute involving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Cecil County, Maryland, there is the distinct possibility that RICHARD could have come from Maryland. However, to date, no likely candidate has surfaced.

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FIRST PROOF OF RICHARD'S EXISTANCE

On April 27, 1763 (Deed Book A, Page 108), RICHARD McCLAIN bought 100 acres of land (for 8 pounds) from JAMES WOODS in Amherst County, Virginia. A note on the margin of that deed refers to a July 10, 1766 Land Patent "George the Third......to HENRY McCLAIN and _____ his wife and RICHARD McCLAIN." This patent was for 137 acres "unto the said HENRY McCLAIN one certain tract or parcel of land .....in the County of Amherst on the South Branches of Rockfish River."

The 100 acres purchased in 1763 were later, in 1808, sold by HENRY McCLAIN. The 137 acres in 1766 were later, in 1795, sold by JAMES W. McCLAIN.

RICHARD McCLAIN is not directly mentioned in any other land deeds which have been found to date. He is mentioned indirectly in one extremely important land deed which will be delved into shortly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

LAST PROOF OF RICHARD McCLAIN'S EXISTANCE

1777 letters of administration, which reveal nothing, are on file in Amherst County, Virginia for the estate of RICHARD McCLAIN. It is assumed he died in 1776-1777, probably in Amherst County, Virginia.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HENRY, JAMES, JACOB, DANIEL and THOMAS

If RICHARD McCLAIN was really born in 1681 - and there is NO concrete proof or documentation that he was - then it stands to reason that, having died in 1776 or 1777, he fathered many children. To date, only five possible names have come down to us - HENRY, JAMES W., JACOB, DANIEL and THOMAS.

We can approximate the birth years of three of these individuals. HENRY, as stated in his own Revolutionary War Pension Application, was born in 1750. JAMES W., having married in 1787 Amherst County, Virginia to SARAH "SALLY" BAILEY, was probably born 1755-1765. Further, JAMES witnessed a land deed in 1780 - an indication he was probably over 21 years old - hence born before 1759. THOMAS, indentured in 1770 for a "full term of three years and a half", was probably born about 1752 - assuming the indentureship was to last until he was 21 years of age. We have no clues as to the ages of JACOB and DANIEL, if those two men ever existed.

JACOB and DANIEL exist today only because of the 1934 family history by R. M. McCLAIN. In this history, he states that HENRY, JACOB and DANIEL were born in Scotland. Yet, we can prove that HENRY was born in 1750 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. So, we can either dismiss the 1934 history as being partially in error - or being totally incorrect. More on JACOB and DANIEL later when I get around to theorizing.

THOMAS very definitely existed. The 1770 (Book C, Page 144, 12-3-1770) indenture identifies him as "I THOMAS McLEAN son of HENRY McLEAN of the County of Amherst & Colony of Virginia...." No further record of this THOMAS has surfaced. More on THOMAS later.

In his Revolutionary War pension application, HENRY states that a portion of his term was served by his brother JAMES. JAMES W. McCLAIN, who died in 1813, appears to be the only other JAMES in Amherst County, Virginia in this time period. Further, JAMES W.'s son JAMES JR. served in the War of 1812 - in which JAMES W. was killed in action - and in his pension application, JAMES JR. states that he and his father served together..... that JAMES SR. was killed by Indians and JAMES JR. was captured and tortured by those same Indians. JAMES JR. further states that his father JAMES SR. had served in the Revolutionary War. This is currently the only proof that JAMES W. and HENRY were brothers.

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THE PROBLEM WITH RICHARD AND HENRY

THEORY NUMBER ONE: RICHARD WAS THE FATHER OF HENRY

Most researchers of this particular McCLAIN line believe that RICHARD was the father of HENRY (1750-1843). They have some powerful proof on their side. A land deed (Book L, Page 63) on 13 February, 1808 - in which HENRY (1750-1843) sells the 100 acres purchased by RICHARD on 27 April, 1763 - states "It being a tract of land conveyed by JAMES WOODS to RICHARD McCLAIN, father to said HENRY by indenture bearing the date Apr. 17, 1763. HENRY and his wife ESTHER do agree to."

That doesn't leave much room for argument. RICHARD was the father of HENRY - simple, uncomplicated, pure fact. However, is it really that simple? The truth is that there were TWO HENRY McCLAINs in Amherst County, Virginia in the late 1700s. So, let's look at a few more "facts" about RICHARD and HENRY.

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THE PROBLEM WITH RICHARD AND HENRY

THEORY NUMBER TWO: RICHARD WAS THE FATHER OF HENRY

This theory looks amazingly like Theory #1, doesn't it? But, there is a difference. We're talking about a different HENRY. Let's consider a few more facts.

The 1790 Tax List of Virginia is really a collection of several different tax lists taken from 1782 to 1785. Fortunately for our theorizing, all of the Amherst County tax lists were for the year 1783. That tax list contains:

--- HENRY McCLAIN JUN., with a household of five whites.

--- HENRY McCLAIN, with a household of three whites.

--- JAMES McCLAIN, with a household of one white.

So, in 1783 Amherst County, Virginia, we have TWO HENRY McCLAINs. Since HENRY McCLAIN (1750-1843) was married and had his first son born in 1776 (and a total of eight children), it stands to reason that by 1783 he had at least three children (possibly JOHN, MARGARET, and EUPHIAS). So, he must have been HENRY McCLAIN JR. with a household of five whites. The other HENRY, with a household of three, must have been the older HENRY - perhaps with a household including himself, his wife, and another person who will forever remain unidentified.

The 1787 tax list of Amherst County, Virginia lists two HENRYS:

--- HENRY McCLAIN, self, March 27

--- HENRY McLAND, self, April 21......tax free

--- JAMES McCLAIN, self, March 27

The Second HENRY is listed as "tax free", thus indicating an exemption normally given to the elderly.

The land deed of April 27, 1763 definitely establishes the existance of another HENRY in Amherst County, Virginia. HENRY, born 1750, would not have been co-purchasing land at the age of 13. Most researchers of this line have taken the stance that this HENRY must have been his brother. This is, of course, possible.

--- It should be noted that the 1763 land deed implies that HENRY was married and that RICHARD was single..... just what you would expect for a man who was possibly 82 years old at the time. Stretching our imagination, we can also wonder why HENRY's wife was and still is represented by a blank line. Obviously her name was either unknown, or difficult to spell, and whoever wrote the land deed apparently intended to fill in the blank at a later time. If her name had been Mary, Jane, or Margaret, would the deed still have a blank space for her name? If HENRY's wife's name was unusual, say EUPHIAS, would it still have a blank space for her name? Admittedly a weak argument, but one worth considering - and one that will again be taken up later in this study.

Further proof of there having been TWO HENRYs in Amherst County is a land deed of 8 August, 1795 (Book G, Page 622) in which JAMES W. sells 137-1/2 acres of land to WILLIAM MOORE.....it "being the tract of land formerly the property of HENRY McLAIN dec'd." Since there are no deeds conveying ownership of this land to JAMES W. McCLAIN, one has to wonder how he came to own same. This is the land granted in the July 10, 1766 deed to "HENRY McCLAIN and ______ his wife and RICHARD McCLAIN." When sold, there was no mention of the property having belonged even jointly to RICHARD. Does this mean that HENRY dec'd acquired the land through inheritance when RICHARD died?

Another curiosity to be considered is that a survey was made in 1765 and, on April 11th, HENRY McCLAIN was shown owning 137 acres of land (Deed Book C, Page 194). No entry was made for RICHARD McCLAIN owning land.

The elder HENRY was alive in 1770, as evidenced by the Indenture of his son THOMAS, previously mentioned. And, of course, he also appears on the 1783 tax rolls of Amherst County, Virginia

Perhaps the strongest evidence that RICHARD McCLAIN could NOT have been the father of HENRY McCLAIN (1750-1843) is contained in HENRY's Revolutionary War pension application. HENRY clearly states that he "entered the service.....in the year 1779." Part of this pension application is a deposition by LUCY PAGE who states that "in the time of the revolutionary war she lived at HENRY McLAINs Fathers and that the said HENRY was absent from the home. It was said as a Soldier of the Revolution......" The problem here is that RICHARD McCLAIN died in 1776-1777, at least two years before HENRY entered the service. Therefore, LUCY PAGE's deposition could be true only if HENRY's father were still alive in 1779. RICHARD wasn't; HENRY SR. was.

On 25 January, 1934, A. D. HILLER, Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau of Pensions, after studying HENRY's pension application, wrote a letter in which he stated HENRY's 'father was living during the revolution.' Since RICHARD died in 1776-1777, he could not have been HENRY's father if A. D. HILLER was correct.

Another curiosity is that HENRY McCLAIN (1750-1843) apparently did not name a son RICHARD...... or, if he did, the son must have died at an early age. And, in fact, the name RICHARD does not appear in any of HENRY McCLAIN's many descendants. It was, however, a common name among many of JAMES W. McCLAIN's descendants.

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SO, HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE 1808 LAND DEED

THAT STATES RICHARD WAS THE "FATHER TO SAID HENRY?"

Unfortunately, I don't have a good explanation for that. And, that IS the only reason I haven't completely made up my mind about the real father of HENRY and JAMES W. McCLAIN. The only explanation I can offer, good or bad, is that the original land deed was from JAMES WOODS to RICHARD McCLAIN. No mention of HENRY. Yet, in the margin of the deed is a referral (made at some unknown time) to a later land deed (July 10, 1766) which was in the name of "HENRY McCLAIN and ________ his wife and RICHARD McCLAIN." If RICHARD was the father of HENRY (instead of his brother) then the 1808 statement would still be true - depending on who "said HENRY" was.

In my own experience (about 7 years ago), I had a brother-in-law who was a Junior, and assumed his father's identity in order to facilitate selling a house that was in his father's name. Who's to say that was not what occurred with the 1808 land deed?

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Bottom line, as I run out of relevant documents concerning this period of our family's history, is that existing documentation is contradictory - or at the very least, subject to various interpretations. I don't know whether HENRY (1750-1843) and JAMES W. were sons of RICHARD, or sons of HENRY Senior. I may never know.

However, in the back of my mind is always the nagging question - could RICHARD McCLAIN really have fathered two sons after attaining the age of 69? And, if he could and did, then why weren't there more siblings around - for surely the man must have been a miracle worker in the field of virility. Amherst County should have been overflowing with McCLAINs.

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LOOSE ENDS, AND OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT

EUPHIAS McCLAIN. JAMES W. McCLAIN married SARAH "SALLY" BAILEY in 1787 Amherst County, Virginia. Their marriage license was witnessed by UFIOUS McCLAIN. There is no other record of this person. Yet, both HENRY (1750-1843) and JAMES W. named daughters EUPHIAS - and the name continues several generations later in JAMES' family. It is my theory, with no proof, that EUPHIAS was the mother of HENRY and JAMES W. McCLAIN. Whether she was the wife of HENRY (who had a wife in the 1766 land deed), or RICHARD (who did not have a wife in the 1766 land deed) is unknown.

HENRY, JACOB and DANIEL. R. M. McCLAIN's 1934 family history could be written off as inaccurate and forgotten, since it can be proven that HENRY (1750-1843) was born in Pennsylvania - not Scotland. However, is it possible that R. M. McCLAIN had confused HENRY SR. with HENRY JR. If that were the case, then his statement that the three brothers were born in Scotland could have been correct.

Family tradition is that 1930s researchers journeyed to Tennessee and visited with descendants of either DANIEL or JACOB. Again, no records now exist about these visitations.

LAWRENCE COUNTY, INDIANA. DANIEL McCLAIN (wife NANCY JORDAN) lived in Scott County, Kentucky in the early 1800s. After his death in 1821, his widow moved to Lawrence County, Indiana. By 1830, two of JAMES W. McCLAIN's sons (RICHARD W. and THOMAS D.) were also in Lawrence County, Indiana. After relatively short stays, they moved on to other parts of Indiana. But, was there a connection between the families?

MADISON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. JAMES W. McCLAIN sold his land in Amherst County, Virginia in 1802 and, sometime around then, moved to Madison County, Kentucky. He first appears on the tax list for that county in 1806. He was still living in that county when he was killed in the War of 1812.

On 9-1-1791, a JOHN McCLANE married POLLY WHITE in Madison County, Kentucky. Was this JOHN related to JAMES W.?

A JOHN McCLAIN is listed on the Madison County, Kentucky tax lists for the years 1789, 1790, 1792, 1793, 1794. In 1795, he is listed in Clark County, Kentucky as being delinquent on taxes in Madison County, Kentucky. Is this the JOHN who married POLLY WHITE? And, is he related to JAMES W.?

A JOHN McCLAIN is listed on the Madison County, Kentucky tax lists in 1800, 1801, and 1804. Who was he and was he related to JAMES W. McCLAIN?

JOHN, LEONARD and GEORGE McCLAIN are listed on the Madison County, Kentucky tax lists in 1804 and 1805. LEONARD disappears after 1805 and JOHN and GEORGE show up on the tax list from 1806-1809. This three, apparently, same men later show up in Hardin/Warren counties, Kentucky where they purchased Mammoth Cave. DAR records indicate they were from Greenbrier County, Virginia. Were they related to JAMES W. McCLAIN?

On 3-8-1810, a JONATHAN McCLANE married NANCY NEWLAND in Madison County, Kentucky. JONATHAN appears on the 1811 tax list of Madison County, Kentucky, but disappears after that. Was this JONATHAN related to JAMES W.?

A JONATHAN, SAMUEL and ISAAC McCLAIN all appear on the 1811 tax list of Madison County, Kentucky - for that year only. Then they disappear. Were they related to JAMES W. McCLAIN?

ALABAMA. PHILLIP B. McCLAIN, son of JAMES W., appears on the Madison County, Kentucky tax lists from 1819 through 1821, then disappears. 1850 and later census records indicate he had at least two children born in Alabama c1824-1827. Were unknown relatives living in Alabama?

AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA. A land deed on February 15, 1796 in Amherst County, Virginia (Book G, page 677) JAS. FRASER and wife MARGARET to JAS. CLARK, refers to land adjacent to DAVID McCLAIN. No other record of a DAVID McCLAIN in Amherst County has surfaced. Who was he?

On 29 December, 1804 in Amherst County, Virginia, , a SAMUEL McLAIN married ISABEL TONGATE/TONGATI. There is no other mention of a SAMUEL McLAIN in Amherst County. Who was he?

NORTH CAROLINA. A late 1800s Hendricks County, Indiana History profiled the children of JAMES W. McCLAIN. Passing mention is made of the family having come from Virginia and North Carolina. No other mention of North Carolina has ever surfaced.

1930s researchers stated that RICHARD McCLAIN might have come to Amherst County from Goochland County, Virginia. Nothing has been found in this area. However, JAMES W. McCLAIN's parents-in-law were married in Goochland County and may be the source of this information.

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SPECIAL ON WILD GEESE

As if there isn't already enough to think about, and research, on this line - here are a couple of more thoughts. Regardless of whether HENRY (1750-1843) and JAMES W. were sons of RICHARD, or HENRY SR. - it seems highly unlikely that there were no other siblings. Since most families then named children after parents, grandparents and siblings, a comparison of the names of HENRY's and JAMES W.'s children would probably reveal the names of brothers and/or sisters. For whatever it's worth, here's the names of KNOWN children of HENRY and JAMES W.

HENRY named children: JOHN; MARGARET; EUPHIAS; ESTHER; JAMES; and WILLIAM. There were undoubtably other children who died before their names were recorded.

JAMES W. named children: MARY; RICHARD W.; JONATHAN (went by JOHN usually); JAMES; PHILLIP; MICHAEL; EUPHIAS; THOMAS D.; MARGARET; HENRY; and WILLIAM D. Again, it is probable that there were other now unknown children who died at an early age.

--- It is believed that the names MARY, PHILLIP and MICHAEL were taken from the family of JAMES. W.'s wife SARAH BAILEY, whose parents were PHILLIP BAILEY and MARY SMITH.

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McClain Exchange

903 East Main Street

Mexia, Texas 76667

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• Source: S10 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;
• Source: S12 Ancestry.com One World Tree (sm) Publication: Name: Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., n.d.; NOTESource Medium: Ancestry.com
• Source: S16 Amherst Co. VA in the Revolution, L.N.Sweeny, 1951, repub. 1998 (ACVR) Note:
• Source: S18 Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;
• Source: S244 Family Bible
• Source: S246 Family Bible
• Source: S247 Nelson County Virginia Heritage 1807-2000
• Source: S69 Graham chart NOTESource Medium: Other
• Source: S70 WFT V.2 NOTESource Medium: Family Archive CD