Hugh McLellan

Hugh emigrated from Ireland in about 1733, about 13 years after Bryce, and ultimately settled in Gorham, Maine; he is a cousin to Bryce, and two of his daughters (Mary and Abigail) married two of Bryce's sons.Hugh Davis McLellan in his History of the McLellans of Gorham, Maine (1903) says that:The McLellans of Gorham, Me are descended from Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan, whose children intermarried with those of Bryce McLellan, of Portland, ME, and James McLellan of Saco, ME. Two of Bryce's boys (Joseph and James) married two of Hugh's girls (Mary and Abigail) in Maine. James was a brother and Bryce was a cousin of Hugh McLellan. Hugh was the son of Hugh McLellan, and Elizabeth was the daughter of Cary McLellan. Their families were remotely connected, and were descended from Sir Hugh McLellan of Argyle, Scotland, who was knighted in 1515. This branch of the McLellans migrated from Scotland, (probably the southern part of Boss, where the name is still numerous) to the north of Ireland with a colony of Scottish, some seventy or hundred years previous to the coming to America of Hugh and Elizabeth McLellan. In the year 1733, with their first child William, they sailed from Londonderry, and after a rough stormy passage of two months, arrived in Boston. On their voyage another child was born to them who died in infancy. From Boston they went to York, ME, thence to Wells, where they purchased land and remained for a time, but their farm proving to be poor and unproductive, they disposed of it and went to Saco, where Hugh's brother, James McLellan, lived. From Saco they went to Falmouth, where Hugh had a sister. Here they lived on Moses Pearson's farm at Back Cove, but fearing Indian depredation, moved to Falmouth Neck. Hugh McLellan purchased a grantees right to land in Narrangansett No. 7, which right consisted of 200 acres. For this grant he paid ten pounds, which was all the money he had. The deed was given by Shubael Gorham, Aug. 10, 1739. They took little with them besides a cow, a horse, and a few household goods. It was a wild almost uninhabited region for which they started; but as they were endowed with bold hearts and industrious hands, and trusted in god there was nothing to deter them from their undertaking. They moved up in the winter of 1738-9, and at first lived in a logging, or hunter's camp, and for a short time were poor. During the French and Indian War, the family lived in the fort on the hill, which they entered on the 20th of April, 1746, the day following the massacre of the Bryant family, and here their daughter Jane was born. After the war, or in about seven years, they returned to their log house, and subsequently, by industry, perserverence and prudence, they accumulated a competency, and even became wealthy for the times. Hugh McLellan was a successful farmer and lumberman, and in 1763 and for many years thereafter, he paid the highest provincial tax then paid in the town. About the year 1770, he commenced the erection of the brick house which stands on the north side of the Hill called Academy Hill; it was not completed, however, until the expiration of about four years. It is the oldest brick house in the county. The bricks used in the construction of the house were made by the family on their own land near the brook. The old Hunter's camp, in which the family first lived, stood on the eastern side of the road, nearly opposite the brick house, a few rods northerly from the house lately owned by Dr. Newman. They afterwards built a log house, which was situated on the western side of the road, and a little northerly from the site now occupied by the brick house, where they lived until the completion of the latter. At the time of the Revolution they contributed largely of their means in the aid of the cause. All their sons and sons-in-law were in the army. At the time when the families or the Gorham soldiers in the army were in great need, the town being poor in resources, and money hard to raise, through the means mostly furnished by Hugh McLellan the town was enabled to purchase a cargo of corn for distribution to the soldier's families. Hugh McLellan was a dedicated Presbyterian in belief, although he became a ruling elder in the Congregational Church, which, for a few years after its organization in Gorham, leaned a little towards the Presbyterian style of church government; and made choice of elders to fill the offices afterwards held by deacons. He was universally considered, both within and without the church, an upright conscientious man, hospitable and benevolent. No poor man ever went from his door without aid.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, 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. "From: History of Cumberland Co., Maine, pub. 1880, pgs. 287-8: Mrs. Abigail McLellan who died about 1821 related the following which was found in the manuscript of the late Col. Hugh D. McLellan: Â She was a girl living with her father's family at the time of the massacre of the Bryant family on April 19, 1746."All the families remaining in Gorham had removed into the fort during the winter and early part of the spring, except for four; they remained on their lands, hoping to get their plowing and sowing done so they might raise some crops. Capt. John Phinney, the patriarch of the settlement, who exercised a fatherly care over the weak and feeble plantation, was urgent to have all in the garrison, he feeling certain that the Indians would be upon them as soon as the ground was bared of snow. As the spring opened he entreated the settlers to make no delay about moving into the fort, a place of comparative safety, and where they might unite in defending each other. The forwardness of the spring increased his anxiety."On the evening of the 18th of April the McLellan family had completed their day's labor and were assembled in their log house; they expected to complete their work in the field the next day, and then designed to move immediately into the garrison. The evening was pleasant and warm; their door was open and their family dog reclining outside on the ground; suddenly the dog growled and became excited, and acted as if he discovered danger; the dog's conduct alarmed the family, and they uttered the word 'Indians'! The door was quickly closed and fastened; their light was extinguished; the windows - small openings cut in the logs of which the house was built - covered and fastened; blankets were hung around the fireplace so that no light might be seen outside; few words were spoken, and those in a low tone. There were four guns in the house and two male persons (Hugh McLellan and his son, William) capable of using them; and Mrs. McLellan was not much inferior to her husband in strength and courage."When the McLellans had put their house in the best state for defense their means afforded, they had a milk-pan full of gunpowder, and lead enough, but it was not in balls. Here was work for female hands, and while Mr. McLellan and William lay by the loop-holes, each with one gun pointed outside and another within reach, Mrs. McLellan was by the fire, behind the screen, with her little daughter Abigail melting lead in an iron skillet, and with an iron spoon turning it into a bullet-mould, and then making ball-cartridges. No one in the house closed their eyes that night. The tedious hours passed on; the morning came; all was fair and peaceful without, nor could any indications of Indians be discovered, and the McLellans concluded that the alarm of the dog was caused by some wild animal. Mr. McLellan decided to go to his work, and finish it that day, and then go immediately to the garrison. They yoked their oxen, and he and his son went to his field, charging Mrs. McLellan to keep the dog at home to be watchful, and on any alarm to blow the horn. Before they left the house, a neighbor, Mr. John Reed, came to borrow a chain; to him they made known their apprehensions. Reed said he had seen nothing unusual, and did not think the Indians were in the neighborhood; no signs of them had been seen, and he should finish his work before he moved into the fort. Reed took the chain, put it on his shoulder, and started for home. When he arrived at the brook, about a quarter of a mile north of the Gorham Academy (now called 'Tommy's Brook'), he was suddenly set upon by 2 powerful Indians, who had secreted themselves in the bushes. Reed was brave and athletic, but was unarmed; the 2 Indians overpowered him, bond him securely, and took him to Canada. After the close of the war he returned home. The McLellan family owed their escape to the capture of Reed, as the Indians who took him were on their way to the McLellan's house; but having taken Reed, and there being 2 men at McLellan's it would have been hazardous to have made an attack on them. Mrs. McLellan, hearing a gun fired, directed her daughter, Abigail, about 12 years of age, to go the Mr. Bryant's and inquire what the gun was fired for; but the child, being afraid secreted herself. When the mother discovered her, she again ordered her to go; the distance was short, and she soon arrived at Bryant's house. She entered, and the sight that presented itself to her astonished eyes paralyzed her voice and limbs for the moment. On the floor lay the 4 children in their blood. They all fell under the tomahawk except the babe. The eldest daughter was alive; she called Abigail by name and asked for water, but Abigail was stricken with horror, and heeded her not; instantly she was flying home, nor stopped to look around. She reached her father's house and fell prostrate at the door. Her mother took her up, laid her on a bed, and immediately blew the horn for her husband and son to come. Animation revived in the girl, and she uttered the word 'Indians' and fainted again. Mr. McLellan heard the horn and hastily ran home, leaving his oxen in the yoke. Abigail, on recovering from her swoon, related what she had seen at Bryant's house. "The McLellan family maintained anxious watching all that day and the following night. The next day, about noon, men were seen coming over what is now called the Academy Hill towards McLellan's house. At first sight they were supposed to be Indians, but they proved to be a scouting-party going to the fort; there were about a dozen armed men from Falmouth (Portand). McLellan's oxen, still yoked, were found in the woods, near by where they had been left the morning before. What furniture they had was quickly loaded on a cart, and under the protection of the scout they started for the fort. Near Bryant's house they met a party from the fort, who had ventured out that day to learn something of the extent of the mischief done by the savages. The bodies of Mr. Bryant and his children were carried to the fort, and buried near by with due propriety.

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

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93015727/hugh-mclellan

Hugh McLellan
BIRTH
Oct 1709
Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland
DEATH
2 Jan 1787 (aged 77)
Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, USA
BURIAL
South Street Cemetery
Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine, USA
MEMORIAL ID
93015727 · View Source