Gen. William Macpherson

Son of Capt John Macpherson and 1st wife, Margaret Rogers. William Macpherson is mistakenly described as Samuel Macpherson in the Harris family record, and as John Macpherson in the White family record.

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McPherson-1368

SAR insignia
William McPherson is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 240570
Rank: Major

William Macpherson , son of Captain John Macpherson , a native of Edinburgh , Scotland , of the noted clan of Clunie , who emigrated to America and took up his abode in Philadelphia . Mr. Macpherson's mother was Margaret Rodgers , daughter of Thomas Rodgers and his wife Elizabeth Baxter , who came from Londonderry , Ireland , to Boston in 1721 , and removed to Philadelphia in 1728. [1]

He was born in Philadelphia in 1756 . He was educated in Philadelphia and Princeton , N. J. , and became a Cadet (age 13) vin the British Army . July 26 , 1773. His father purchased him commissions as Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 16th Regiment , which was stationed at Pensacola at the beginning of the Revolution . At first he sympathized with the cause of his sovereign , but finally declined to bear arms against his fellow - countrymen , and tendered his resignation of the service . He joined the American Army on the Hudson , and given a commission as a brevet Major [2]due to the memory of his esteemed brother Major John Macpherson , who fell before the walls of Quebec , as well as in consideration of his own merit . "

He was born in Philadelphia in 1756 . He was educated in Philadelphia and Princeton , N. J. , and became a Cadet (age 13) vin the British Army . July 26 , 1773. His father purchased him commissions as Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 16th Regiment , which was stationed at Pensacola at the beginning of the Revolution . At first he sympathized with the cause of his sovereign , but finally declined to bear arms against his fellow - countrymen , and tendered his resignation of the service . He joined the American Army on the Hudson , and given a commission as a brevet Major [2]due to the memory of his esteemed brother Major John Macpherson , who fell before the walls of Quebec , as well as in consideration of his own merit . "

He was Aide - de - Camp to Generals La Fayette and Arthur St. Clair , and was appointed by General Washington , in 1780 , to the command of a partisan corps of cavalry , which performed duty in Virginia . Mr. Macpherson always retained the friendship of General Washington; who when he was President of the United States , appointed him on September 19 , 1789 , to be Surveyor of the Port of Philadelphia . On March 8 , 1792 , he was appointed Inspector of the Revenue Philadelphia, and on November 28 , 1793 , he was appointed as Naval Officer, which he occupied throughout the administrations of Presidents Adams, Jefferson , and Madison until his death .

During the 1794 Whiskey Insurrection, citizens of Philadelphia formed companies of militia and asked Major Macpherson to command a battalion , which became the “ Macpherson Blues . " Major Macpherson was promoted to Colonel , and Brigadier - General in the Militia. In 1798, the “ Blues " became a legion, with the addition of cavalry , artillery , grenadiers , and riflemen under the command of General Mac pherson . On March 11, 1799, President Adams appointed him Brigadier - General of the Provisional Army to command the troops to quell Fries's insurrection against the house and land tax , the last military duty discharged by him . General Macpherson was an original Member of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania , of which he was Vice - President from 1807 until the close of his life , being chosen Assistant Secretary of the General Society in 1790 , and Treasurer in 1799 . He also became a Member of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia ( to which his father likewise belonged ) in 1791 , and for many years held the honorable position of President of that Society .

During the life of Mrs. Macpherson General Macpherson resided for some time at No. 66 Spruce Street ( probably bis father - in - law's old residence ) , and afterwards at No. 8 North Eighth Street , in our city , making his country - seat at Stouton , on Poor Island ( already spoken of ) , inherited by Mrs. Macpherson from her grandfather Peter Keen , her uncle Reynold Keen's interest in the plantation * having been purchased by her husband in 1784.

Mrs. Macpherson died in Philadelphia , December 25 , 1797 , aged 33 years , and was buried. the next day in Gloria Dei Church yard , Wicacoa .

In 1799 General Macpherson removed to a house on the north side of Chestnut Street , “ opposite Morris's building , " adjoining that occupied by Commodore Dale the following year .

Five years after the death of Mrs. Macpherson , General Mac pherson took as his second wife Elizabeth , eldest daughter of the Rt . Rev. William White , Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania , and aunt of Mary Harrison White who married the Rev. James Montgomery , D.D. , a descendant of Jöran Kyn already mentioned .

General Macpherson d . at Stouton , November 5 , 1813 , " in the fifty - eighth year of his age , after a long and painful illness which he bore with great fortitude . The greater part of his life had been spent in the active service of his country , and he was universally beloved for his urbanity , and generosity , and respected for his integrity , honour , and Patriotism . "

Inscription

• To the Memory of
• William Macpherson
• formerly Brigadier General in the
• service of the United States
• who departed this life
• November 5 1813 Aged 58 years
• I am the Ressurection and the Life saith the Lord. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die

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References

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p50751.htm#i507502
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 2 2020, 3:24:08 UTC
• MacDonell, Alexander R. “JOHN MACPHERSON BERRIEN.” The Georgia Historical Quarterly 17, no. 1 (1933): 1–12. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40576231.
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 1 2020, 1:21:00 UTC
• http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/joseph-s-joseph-smith-harris/...
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 1 2020, 1:04:46 UTC