Elizabeth McLellan (McLellan)

Hugh McLellan died Jan. 2, 1787, aged 77. His wife, who was a remarkably intelligent woman, retained her faculties down to a late period in her life. At the age of 90 she put the saddle and bridle upon her horse, and mounting from the horse-block rode over 2 miles to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Warren, spent the day, and returned alone. She died July 16, 1802 [*not 1804] in the 96th year of her age. At the time of her death she had 234 living descendents. Both she and her husband are buried in the old cemetery at the village."

About one-third of a mile in a northwesterly direction from Central Square in Gorham Village, is situated the first brick house erected in Cumberland County. It is the old McLellan homestead, and is of historical interest to all who have been sojourners in the town or read "Good Old Times," by Elijah Kellogg, himself a descendant of this family.In the year 1733, Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, with their first born William, left their humble home in the north of Ireland and came to America. For the first few years they lived in York, Wells, Saco, and Falmouth. In 1739, Hugh purchased a grantee's right of two hundred acres in Narragansett No. 7, which is now Gorham. For this land he paid ten pounds, all the money he possessed. The deed was given in the same year and was signed by Shubael Gorham. The family journeyed to their new home on a cold, winter's day, Hugh bearing a pack on his back, and carrying his little girl in his arms.Elizabeth rode on the white horse, with most of their household goods, and the boy, William, led the cow. At first, they had to live in a deserted hunter's cabin, and were very poor. Later, they built a comfortable log house in which they were living at the time of the outbreak of the French and Indian War.In 1746, the day following the massacre of the Bryant family who were neighbors of theirs, they entered the fort on the hill, which Hugh had helped to build, and there their daughter Jane was born. In seven years, after the close of the war, they returned to their home, and the succeeding years were prosperous. For many years following 1763, Hugh paid the highest provincial tax of anyone on town. He was a successful lumberman as well as farmer, and both land and mill were his.The family owned fifteen hundred acres, and had large stocks of cattle. They were blessed with many children and grandchildren, and one Thanksgiving Day when all were gathered about the table in the primitive log cabin, William, the eldest born, suggested that a larger dwelling house be built. His father replied that he had no idea of spending all the money he and Elizabeth had so hardly earned, in a brick house (and she would have no other), and they must build it themselves. So they hewed the imber, shaped the shingles, and sawed the boards in their own mills. A kiln was set up, the clay procured from their land, and the bricks made by the old Highlander and his sons. Four years passed before the house was completed, but it was a noble building when finished. The lower story has the thickness of four bricks and the upper, three. The walls are firm, and the well-seasoned timbers bearing the axe-clips of Hugh and his sturdy sons, are strong as ever. A brick in the wall between the two front windows in the second story, bears the date of erection, traced by the fingers of Elizabeth in the soft clay.

From Sprague's Journal of Maine History

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93015978/elizabeth-mclellan

Elizabeth McLellan McLellan
BIRTH
1706
Antrim (County Antrim), County Antrim, Northern Ireland
DEATH
16 Jul 1802 (aged 95–96)
Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, USA
BURIAL
South Street Cemetery
Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, USA
MEMORIAL ID
93015978 · View Source