James McMahan (1775 - bef. 1860)

Born 1775 in Virginia

Husband of Eleanor (Unknown) Wilson — married 1839 in Yancey, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died before 1860 before age 85 in Yancey County, North Carolina

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Biography

James McMahan is the third son of 9 children of Redmond McMahan. There may be more that are not known, especially females. James was born in Virginia as stated in his witness statement for William Jones Rev War pension, 6 Aug 1855, in which he stated he age 80 and born in VA.

About 1796, shortly after moving to North Carolina, James started a relationship with his later to be wed wife, Elendor "Nelly" Wilson. There is an article in the Raleigh NC Weekly Journal, 5 Apr 1839, that "Mr James McMahan, age 63, married Miss Nelly Wilson age 61, after a courtship of 40 years." Their first son, Archibald, was born 1803.

Redmond moved his family to Buncombe NC before 1794. Redmond's first record in the area is 22 July 1794 with a purchase of 160 acres from Thomas Ray. His first record in Buncombe was 1 Oct 1799 with a purchase from William Cross for 150 acres was registered, but no location was given. On 22 Oct 1799, again from William Cross, he purchased 100 acres on Rose Creek for 100 pounds. His first census record was 1800 in Buncombe NC, age 16-25, with 1 female same age and 2 females under 10, one page over from father Redmond. In 1801 he sold 100 acres to Samuel Ballad and 3 months later purchased 50 acres from Nehemiah Gudger, and in 1830 he sold his 150 acres on Rose Creek to Samuel Chunn.

James remains in Buncombe NC, later becoming Yancey County in 1833. He is seen in all the census records from 1810-1850 in those counties. He has two more land purchases with John Rice for 50 acres each in 1822 & 1827, the last one on the Little Ivy River.

James died, probably in Yancey NC 1855-1860. I cannot find him nor his wife in the 1860 census. The known children are below, but I do not have the names of the first two females shown in the 1800 census, nor the youngest female shown in the 1810 census.

1, Archibald, 1803-1880

2. Wilson, 1805-unknown

3. Rosannah, 1806-bef 1880

4. Edmond, 1810-1892

5. Emmie Ann, 1813-1888

6. Elendor, 1814-1886,

7. Margaret, 1817-70

8. James, 1820-1870

James named two of his children after his wife, son Wilson, & daughter Elendor.

Sources

• Will Graves, Southern Campaigns American Revolution Pension Statements, R5698 for William Jones. testimony from James McMahan.[1]

• Buncombe Co, Register of Deeds, CMD1, pg 16. recorded 1 Oct 1799, James McMahan grantee, William Cross grantee, 150a, no location. [2]

• The Weekly Standard, Raleigh, NC, Newspapers.com, 6 April 1839, page 3, [3]

• John Phillips, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by John and others.