He, his wife, and first-born son Samuel emigrated to America in 1737 and settled in Borden's Grant in 1737.[10] Assisted by one Wood, he made the first survey of the Grant for "Fairfax Ben" was given one thousand acres for the effort.
Land Grants
June, 1, 1740 - patent #19 for 400 acres on the Poak Hill branch it being a branch of the north branch of James River [11]
July 6, 1741 - patent for 400 acres on the West side of the Blue Ridge of Mountains on a branch of James River called the Mary (Maury).[12]
Nov 10, 1742 - patent for 300 acres in the forks of the James River on the north side of the river.[13]
Death
On Christmas day in 1742, with eight of his men, he fell into an ambush and was killed by indians. [Mason, Terry]
In a deposition given by John's son, Samuel McDowell, in 1806, Samuel testified that he remembered the day his father "set out after the Indians by whom he was killed. . . . I remember well to see the corpse of my father and the other seven men who were killed at that Battle all brought to my father's plantation after the Battle and there buried. But the date I cannot ascertain from my own knowledge being only seven year old the October before my father was killed." [14]
John passed away in 25 Dec1742 by Iroquois Indians on a raiding skirmish in Petits Gap, Rockbridge, Virginia. [15][15][4] He is buried in the McDowell Cemetery located in Rockbridge, Virginia, United States [15]
Paternal relationship is confirmed with a MyHeritage triangulated test match on chromosome 1 for 14.3 cM between TAL, NWR, and Thom Anderson;TAL/NWR: 14c1r; Thom Anderson/NWR: 10c; Thom Anderson/TAL: 9c3r
Samuel McDowell testified in the 1806 deposition that his mother told him that his father died in December of 1742. His mother's recollection appears correct, because Samuel affirmed: "I was born (as appeared by the record kept by my Father of the births of his children) in the year 1735 on the 27th of October, old stile." He also testified that John died the December after Samuel turned seven years old. If Samuel had just turn 7 in the year of John's death, then John died in December of 1742.
Note last child dob 5 yrs after demise of John.
Educated & grew to manhood in Ireland.
John was born in January 19, 1714. This date tends to be spurious too, too old, should be 1706 as some research below shows.
His memorial shows Scotland which again is spurious.[15]
There are issues with death/birth dates with this family that need to be researched. Fuller-5853 23:39, 23 April 2017 (EDT)
Sources
↑
Green, Thomas Marshall, "Historic Families of Kentucky, With Special Reference to Stockes Immediately derived from the Valley of Virginia", Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co., 1889, Archive.org,
p. 2,
p. 13
↑Ridenbaugh, Mary Young, "The Biography of Ephraim McDowell, M.D., The Father of Ovariotamy", New York: Charles L. Webster and Company, 1890, Archive.org,
p. 19
↑
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Page: Volume: 112; SAR Membership Number: 22282; Text: Record for Magdalena Wood Ancestry.com
↑McDowell, John Hugh, "History of the McDowells, Erwins, Irwins, and Connections", Memphis: C. R. Johnston & Co., 1918, Archive.org,
p. 232
↑
McClung, James Willson. "Historical Significance of Rockbridge County, Virginia", Staunton, VA: McClure COmpany, Inc.,1939, Archive.org,
p. 9
↑
McKnight/Parks Pedigree Chart Photocopy of this chart provided to Robert B. Nichol by William H. Willis [fr.-in-law] c. 1989
↑
"A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia" by Oren Frederic Morton publ 1920 , includes biographical description of Reid family, primarily including Andrew Reid and his son Samuel McDowell Reid p 264 Available here
↑Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton,VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org,
p. 37
↑Repr. of Joseph Borden v. Benjamin Borden et. al., 1834-41 (Augusta Chancery Court, Virginia), at pp. 1148-1155 (deposition of May 30,1803 and at pp. 1156-1163 deposition of November 17, 1806, both in Jessamine County, Kentucky Available at the Library of Virginia here
↑ 15.015.115.215.3
Find A Grave Find A Grave: Memorial #7874560 for Capt John McDowell; Created by: Laurie; Record added: Sep 17, 2003.
"Albemarle County in Virginia" by Edgar Woods pp 351-356 Woods Family; Available on Google Books; Albemarle_County_in_Virginia.pdf
"History and Genealogies of the Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh, and Brown" by William Harris Miller, Part 2, Chapter 2
"Lineage of Sophia Elizabeth Kavanaugh-Bear" by Sophia Elizabeth Bear-Sherlock, publ Madison, Indiana, USA; Date: 1929 downloaded from Heritage Quest
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Volume: 112; SAR Membership Number: 22282 Record for Magdalena Wood Ancestry.com
Gang, Robert J. III, Judge Samuel McDowell Son of Virginia - Father of Kentucky, Augusta Historical Bulletin, 2018 Vol. 54 pages 119 - 173
Draper, Lyman Copeland, Action at the Galudoghson December 14, 1742, 2006
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McDowell-2537 and McDowell-387 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, same dates. McDowell-2537 is unlinked & empty apart from dates. Use data from McDowell-387.
I have added a reference that details the action at Balcony Falls, Virginia - Draper, Lyman Copeland, Action at the Galudoghson December 14, 1742, 2006
I have added a reference: Gang, Robert J. III, Judge Samuel Son of Virginia - Father of Kentucky, Augusta Historical Bulletin, 2018 Vol. 54 pages 119 - 173
I have added photos from the new Capt. John McDowell gravestone dedication held at a McDowell family reunion held in Lexington, Virginia in August of 2019. All interested in the McDowell family should consider joining the Historic McDowell Family of Virginia and Kentucky Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehistoricmcdowellfamilyofvirginiaandkentucky
I have added a source (Bio of Ephraim McDowell written in 1897 by his granddaughter) which places John as passing at the hands of Indians in December 1743 (pg 26). It also states that John left only 3 children: Samuel, James, and Sarah. This may clear up the issues listed with birth dates, etc.
McDowell 1857 and McDowell 387 are one and the same. Capt. John McDowell was killed by Onondaga and Oneida Indians in December 1742. McDowell 387 has an incorrect death date and spelling for Balcony Falls, Virginia. I cannot attest to the certainty of the birth date.
McDowell-387 and McDowell-807 appear to represent the same person because: Have corrected his mother on my profile; date of birth is uncertain, and should be noted as such after merge.
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