Catherine McMahan

There is NO evidence that Catherine Cole / Coleman was a wife of Robert McMahan c.1706-1769

The name of Robert McMahan's first wife was probably Jean, but it might have been Joan or Jane. She appears to be the mother of ALL of his children.

Robert McMahan's second wife was widow Margaret (nee ___?___) Reaburn. In 1769 Robert was hung for the murder of her son Robert Reaburn in 1768.

THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE. JUNE 1, 1769. NUMBER 94

WILLIAMSBURG, June 1. Last Friday were executed, pursuant to their sentence (being all that were capitally convicted and condemened the last General Court) the following criminals, viz. Robert McMachen, from Augusta, for murder ; William Jones (alias Richard Chapman) from Southampton, and James Biggars, from Bedford, for horsestealing ; and John Derby (alias Derby Finn) from Westmoreland, for picking of pockets.

Robert's last name is shown in some records as McMahon, and is shown in "The Virginia Gazette" article as McMachen.

The name of his first wife is shown in court records as either Joan, or Jane. (Jean was probably her actual name as their daughter was named Jean in her baptismal record.)

Jerry Stockton - jerrystockton8@msn.com

- - -

“Robert McMahan and his wife Catherine left Dublin, Ireland in 1746, bound for Virginia. They were accompanied by their ten ( some say 12 ) sons. Robert died at sea on the way over [SIC: he was hanged for murder in 1769] and the rest of his family settled in that part of Augusta Co., VA, that later became Montgomery Co., VA , where Catherine worked as a housekeeper for David Stuart. She is given the surname Cole in some Augusta or Montgomery Co. records, which I suspect was a second Husband who probably worked for David Stuart. No record has been found of his given name nor are there any children known from this second marriage.”