James McMahon

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McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell. 0 Footnote McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell ShortFootnote McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell Bibliography McMahan, James-Permelia Hartwell.

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Page James McMahan Born: January 15, 1798 At: Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

Note: Probably descended from John McMahan (c. 1720) and Margaret Murray of Northern Ireland and Chillisquaque Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (c. 1744). It is difficult, however, to tell from which of their offspring our James comes. At least two of their three sons married into an unrelated Murray family, further complicating efforts at placing the generations between James and his immigrant ancestors. James McMahan (son of John McMahan and Margaret Murray) married Mary Murray and had a son, James; John McMahan (ibid) married Jane Murray and had a son, James; either of these could be James (1798), or perhaps there is another generation between them. See Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County by J. L. Floyd and History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania by Herbert C. Bell.

Occupation: farmer Residence 1: Knox County, Ohio Note: 1828 Census: 1830 At: Harrison Township, Knox County, Ohio Census: 1840 At: Morris Township, Knox County, Ohio Census: 1850 At: Franklin Township, Morrow County, Ohio Census: 1860 At: Franklin Township, Morrow County, Ohio Residence 2: Albion, Noble County, Indiana Note: 1863 Died: September 4, 1866 At: Albion, Noble County, Indiana Buried at: Albion, Noble County, Indiana Note: Rose Hill Cemetery

Headstone:

James McMahan died Sept. 4, 1866 aged 68y, 7m, 20d.

Permelia McMahan died Sept. 15, 1875 aged 72y, 5m, 17d.

Note: grave visited and documented in May, 2011.

Marriage: December 16, 1820 At: Pennsylvania Spouse: Permelia Hartwell Born: March 27, 1803 Pennsylvania Parents: Hartwell, Oliver Jr. and Catharine Shryock (?) Residence 1: Harrison Township, Knox County, Ohio Residence 2: Morris Township, Knox County, Ohio Residence 3: Franklin Township, Morrow County, Ohio Died: September 15, 1875 At: Albion, Noble County, Indiana Buried at: Albion, Noble County, Indiana Note: Rose Hill Cemetery

Known issue: 1. Christopher, born 28 Sep 1821. Died in infancy. 2. Stephen, born 04 Jul 1823. Died 12 Mar 1845 in Morrow County, Ohio. 3. Permelia, born 15 Sep 1825. Married Ezekiel Teagarden 18 Dec 1846 in Knox County, Ohio. Died circa 1905 in Noble County, Indiana. 4. Catherine, born 20 Jan 1827. Married William McLow 01 Aug 1848. Died 23 May 1885 in Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois. 5. Mary, born 24 Jan 1829. 6. Oliver [see McMahan, Capt. Oliver and Mary Jane Squier]. 7. Lucy, born 07 Dec 1833. Married Levi Campbell 26 Jan 1860. 8. James Luther, born 28 Nov 1838. Married Clarisa Prouty 09 Sep 1860. Died in September of 1889. 9. Nancy, born 18 Mar 1840 . Married Samuel Cassell in March of 1862. 10. Elmina, born 15 Jul 1835. 11. Susan A., born 04 Nov 1843. Died young. 12. Alfred P., born 06 Feb 1847. Married Jane

Primary sources: 1. Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887. Lyman Willard Densmore. Published by George E. Crosby. Boston, Mass. 1887. 2. Headstone.

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Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887 Lyman Willard Densmore, Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887 Lyman Willard Densmore, Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887 Lyman Willard Densmore. Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887. Published by George E. Crosby. Boston, Mass. 1887 0 Footnote Lyman Willard Densmore, Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887 ShortFootnote Lyman Willard Densmore, Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887 Bibliography Lyman Willard Densmore. Handbook of Hartwell Genealogy, 1636-1887.

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31 Page 31 James McMahon, b. Northumberland Co., Pa., 15 Jan. 1798, d. 4 Sept. 1866; farmer, removed 1828 to Knox Co., O., 1863 to Albion, Ind.

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Headstone Headstone Headstone Headstone. 0 Footnote Headstone ShortFootnote Headstone Bibliography Headstone.

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Page James McMahan died Sept. 4, 1866 aged 68y, 7m, 20d. Permelia McMahan died Sept. 15, 1875 aged 72y, 5m, 17d.

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[R. A. Schauweker] [R. A. Schauweker] [R. A. Schauweker] [R. A. Schauweker]. 0 Footnote [R. A. Schauweker] ShortFootnote [R. A. Schauweker] Bibliography [R. A. Schauweker].

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Page Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County. J. L. Floyd. In 1735 or 1736 John McMahan, another of the five brothers, and the ancestor of the family in this country, came to America with his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Murray, the Murrays, Hewitts, Irwins, Chenneys and Shaws emigrating from the North of Ireland about the same time. They all settled in Sherman's Valley, in Juniata county, Pa., in the section then known as Leek township, Cumberland county. John and Margaret McMahan brought with them their eldest son, James, then two years old, and the following children were born in the new home: John, Elizabeth, Sara, Margaret, Rachel, Agnes, Mary and Benjamin. The family remained at the original settlement during the lifetime of the father, who passed away in Cumberland county in 1767. He was a man of property, as an extract from his will shows: "As to what worldly goods the Lord has blessed me with I dispose of in the following manner: That all my just debts be truly and immediately paid. Next, I leave to Margaret, my beloved wife, and to her four youngest children, the use of my whole estate, real and personal, till said Benjamin is at the age of 21 years, at which time I will that my real estate be equally divided between my two sons exclusive of the place my son James lives on, which I leave to him free of any encumbrance, that to John and Benjamin, they giving to my beloved wife a neat, comfortable house, separate to herself if demanded." John McMahan, being a strong Protestant, helped to lay the foundation of that faith in the Cumberland valley.

In 1769 his son James, in company with James, William and John Murray, Thomas Hewitt, Johnson Chenney and William Fisher, traveled over from Sherman's Valley to the Chillisquaque Valley, where they took up land, about three hundred acres on the south side of the Chillisquaque creek, later owned by the Voris family. Hewitt settled on a tract on the north side of the creek, west of the Red Bridge, and Murray on the north side, east of Hewitt's place and north of McMahan's. A little later the latter's younger brothers, John and Benjamin, came hither with their venerable mother and settled to the east of James McMahan's place, on the same side of the creek, on land where Centre church now stands. Here the two brothers and their mother lived together. William Fisher settled near the mouth of the creek, and built a mill, Wilson's mill. Mrs. McMahan was accidentally drowned in the Chillisquaque creek, while accompanying young James, her 12-year-old grandson (who was driving) on the way home from this mill, by the overturning of their wagon.

History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Herbert C. Bell. Published in 1891 by Brown, Runk and Company: Chicago, Illinois. 1128-1129. The McMahan Family of Northumberland county are descended from John and Margaret McMahan, natives of the North of Ireland, who immigrated to Pennsylvania about 1744 and settled in Sherman's valley, Cumberland county. They had one son, James, born to them in Ireland, and two sons and six daughters were born after coming to their new home in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Their names were: John; Benjamin: Rachel; Sarah; Elizabeth; Agnes; Margaret, and Mary. The father followed farming in Cumberland County until his death in 1767. Two years later, in 1769, James McMahan, in company with James, William, and John Murray, Johnson Cheney, Thomas Hewitt, and William Fisher paid a visit to the West Branch valley for the purpose of seeing the country and inspecting the lands which had been thrown open for settlement the previous year. They were so well pleased with the country that all decided to make it their future home, which purpose they afterwards carried into effect. James McMahan selected and purchased three hundred acres of land on Chillisquaque creek, and in 1771 located permanently upon his purchase. His wife, Mary, was a sister of Colonel James Murray, and became the mother of seven sons and one daughter: John; Jane; James; William; Thomas; Robert; Benjamin, and Samuel. Soon after he had effected a settlement, his brothers, John and Benjamin, and also his mother, followed him to this valley. John bought land about one mile east of James, a part of which farm is still the home of one of his grandsons. Benjamin subsequently moved to Huntingdon County, where many of his descendants now live. John McMahan married Jane, daughter of John Murray, and sister of Thomas Murray, Jr., who bore him nine children: James; Peggy; John; Hannah; Benjamin; Thomas; Polly; William, and Samuel. Mrs. Margaret McMahan also took up her abode on Chillisquaque creek, and a few years after coming she was drowned while crossing that stream in a wagon.

Whether the McMahans were soldiers from choice or from necessity we know not, but one thing is certain, as soldiers they did their duty and did it well. Major James McMahan, as he was familiarly known, got his first taste of war when a lad of eighteen, being fired upon by a band of Indians on the bank of the Juniata river and wounded in the left shoulder. He afterwards served as first sergeant in the Second battalion of Pennsylvania troops in the French and Indian war. He held a captain's commission in the Revolutionary war, and at the close of the Revolution he was promoted to major. At one time he had command of a small stockade fort, built on his own farm on the bank of Chillisquaque creek for the protection of the settlement against roving bands of Indians. During this period, while in the woods hunting stock. Major McMahan was taken prisoner by an Indian and a white man painted. But being left alone with the Indian he brained the savage with the butt of his gun, made his escape, and returned to the fort in safety. He went with Captain Boone's company to the relief of Fort Freeland, but it had surrendered before their arrival. In short, both James and John McMahan did admirable service in defense of Northumberland county, as well as elsewhere, throughout the struggle for American liberty, and at its close they retired to their farms, upon which the remaining years of their lives were spent. They were among the founders of Chillisquaque Presbyterian church, and were worthy men and good citizens. John McMahan, eldest son of Major McMahan, was a colonel in the war of 1812, while James, the second son, was a major in the same war, both serving with credit along the Niagara River. Colonel McMahan was complimented by General Scott as one of the bravest and most efficient officers in his command.

1126-1127

The Murrays of Chillisquaque. -- About the year 1770 three brothers, James, William, and John Murray, settled on lands lying along the Chillisquaque creek in Northumberland County in the vicinity of the present village of Pottsgrove, for which they obtained patents from the Commonwealth. To this original colony were afterwards added several members of a family of the name of Murray who had come from Scotland and settled on the Swatara (now in Dauphin county) in 1752. It is known that kinship was claimed between these two families but the relationship was probably remote and can not now be determined. There appear to have been others also of the same name who settled in the same locality at about the same period, but it is not known that any blood relationship existed between the latter and the two families first mentioned.

The Murrays were stanch Presbyterians and active members of the Chillisquaque church. The several families of the same name became at one time so numerous as to constitute a large proportion of the local community, but subsequently many of the members removed to different parts of the West and comparatively few of their descendants now remain in this State.

Among the members of the Swatara family who settled on the Chillisquaque, was John Murray who represented this district in the House of Representatives from 1807 to 1810, and served as a member of Congress from 1817 to 1820. He was born in 1708 and was married to Margaret Murray, a daughter of Colonel John Murray of Dauphin county.

James, one of the three brothers first mentioned and known as Colonel James Murray, took an active part in the war of the Revolution as colonel of a regiment of militia which had probably been raised in the upper end of the county. At the organization of the Northumberland county militia in January and February, 1776, James Murray was captain of the Seventh company of the Second battalion (Colonel James Potter's) and William Murray was captain of the Fifth company of the Third battalion (Colonel William Plunket's), in which the lieutenant colonel was James Murray. Subsequently James Murray became colonel (succeeding Colonel Plunket probably, as the latter was not in entire sympathy with the American cause after the declaration of independence); he was first called into active service in the winter of 1776-77, and on the 11th of November, 1777, marched with the Northumberland county militia to Philadelphia. His regiment was attached to General James Potter's brigade and participated in the movements in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 1776-78.

A paper dated May 1, 1778, is on record in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, giving the names of the captains and number of men in the rank and tile of the Second battalion of the Northumberland comity militia commanded by Colonel James Murray, a copy of which will be found in Chapter III. p. 119. James McMahan, one of the captains of this regiment and subsequently known as Major McMahan, was married to a sister of Colonel Murray. There are but few of Colonel Murray's descendants now living in the county.

John Murray, one of the three brothers first mentioned, had one son, Thomas, and three daughters: Jane, married to John McMahan; Ann, married to John Reznor, and Mary, unmarried. The son was known as Thomas Murray, Jr., to distinguish him from another of the same name a few years his senior. Thomas Murray, Jr. was a member of the House of Representatives in 1813, and in 1814 was elected to the Senate. In 1820 he was elected a member of the XVIIth Congress and served during the years 1821 and 1822, being the immediate successor of John Murray previously mentioned. On account of increasing ill health he declined a renomination, and died on the 25th of August, 1823. He was married to Charity Arbour, who in her early life had some thrilling experiences with the Indians and had frequently been obliged to fly to Fort Augusta for protection. Their children were Mary; John F.; William; Hannah; Joseph Arbour; Nancy; James; Thomas, and Margaret.