John McConnell

John McConnell

Posted 16 Jun 2012 by RiRichard

John McConnell, born about 1757, was a Revolutionary War soldier and lived in Rowan Co, North Carolina, and the part that became Iredell County.

His father, William died in 1772. On May 8, 1790, John McConnell, orphan of William McConnell, being of lawful age, did choose David Woodson his guardian, security James Brandon. 300

In December he entered the war as a volunteer under Capt. Jacob Nichols (Nichols was the adjacent neighbor to the McConnells) and Gen. (Griffith) Rutherford (who was related to McConnells of PA). They attacked the British sloops of war as they attempted to come up the Savannah River and prevented their landing.

At enlistment, he was listed as having married to Mary "Polly" Dobbins, daughter of John Dobbins (or Dobyns) on 22 Mar 1782 and died in about 11 Apr 1822. They had been married in Rowan County March 22, 1782 by David Caldwell, JP (captain in the Revolution). All early marriage licenses and bonds of Iredell before 1858 were burned by the register of deeds to make room for new records. Known as the "courthouse fire," but the courthouse didn't burn, just the marriage records.

A search of our D.A.R. Patriot Index provided the information found below. McCONNELL, John Birth: NC Before (ante) 1755 Service: NC Rank: Sol Death: NC 11 Apr 1822 Patriot Pensioned: No Widow Pensioned: Yes Children Pensioned: No Heirs Pensioned: Yes Spouse: (1) Mary Dobbins

In 1787 John McConnell received a state grant of 50 shillings/100 a., 300 acres on Rockey Creek next to (Richard) Rimington and Cowden. In 1800, John McConnell, smith, is listed in the tax records with 300 acres, valued at $300, 1 barn, 40 X 18, smith shop, 1 slave. 1815 Tax, Capt. Moody's Co. John McConnell Tan: 1WP, 100 a. valued at $150.

John McConnell died in Iredell County April 11, 1822. From those certifying to his service, it must be that he lived in the Snow Creek locality and one may assume is buried there, though so far as known he is without a headstone.

Mary applied for a widow's pension on 7 Jun 1844 in Iredell County, North Carolina, aged 84. Accompanying the application of Mrs. McConnell was a letter from William F. Cowan at Snow Creek, Iredell County, dated May 6, 1854, and the testimony of Hugh Andrew, native of Rowan but resident of Iredell, as reported by the clerk of court, J.F. Alexander, to this effect: "This credible and respectable witness, being duly sworn, certified that he was acquainted with John McConnell, who was reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution. He knew that McConnell was in the militia two or more terms of three months after Andrew became acquainted with him, and he always believed that McConnell had been in the service before that. (Hugh Andrew was born in Rowan, but grew up in Orange Co., NC. At the time of the Regulators' revolt in Orange c. 1771, he fled with another Regulator back to the Rowan property owned by his parents.)

Andrew was also acquainted with the widow, Mary McConnell, who was the daughter of John Dobbins, and he was present at her wedding. The ceremony was performed by Col. David Caldwell at the house of one Reid (several Reids lived near the McConnell settlement on Hunting and Rockey creeks) in the spring of 1782. Mr. Andrew stated that he lived within four miles of them at that time and even afterwards, up to the death of John McConnell. They maintained a respectable standing in society, Mr. Andrew testified, and raised several children. His first acquaintance with them began in 1780 and they always maintained a character for strict veracity. Percival Campbell witnessed Mary McConnell's signature. He had known the family sixty years. At this time, 1854, two children were living - James E. and a daughter, Sally."

In the fall of 1845, she had moved to Caldwell Co., Kentucky where she applied for BLW on 2 Jun 1855. S. McConnell was a witness to the children's affidavit, in1854. John Dobbins, a nephew of soldier's widow was of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The children of John and Mary were Walter, Margaret, John (who served in War of 1812 from Iredell Co.), Jane, Eliza, Ester, Mary, Andrew, Isabella, Tinah, Turzy, Sally and James Elbert.

His will lists the following children living: "Wife Polly. Children at home: Betsey, Easter, Polly, Andrew, Isabell, Linah, Turzy, Sally, Elbert. Children left home: Walter, Margaret Piles, John D., Jane Peeks. Executor: Wife, Polly, Witness: Richard White, Jurat.

In 1787, there was a land grant to William McConnell on Rocky Creek for 50 shillings - 100 acres to William McConnell, 640 acres on Rocky Creek adjoining John McConnell & Cowden's old lines. Rowan Co., NC. In 1787 a land grant to John for 50 shillings - 300 acres to John McConnell on Rocky Creek adjoining Rimmington and Cowden. Rowan Co., NC. It is unclear if this is our John, but in 1790, May 08 Court: John McConnell, orphan of William McConnell, being of lawful age, chose David Woodson his guardian. Security: James Brandon. Rowan Co., NC

In 1800, John McConnell was listed as a blacksmith with 4 houses valued at $60. He had 300 acres valued at $300. There were two John McConnell's living in Iredell County at the same time. Our John lived in the northern part and the other John McConnell lived in the southern part.

Joel P McConnell, said that he is sorry to advise that all of his copies of the book "McConnell Families of Davidson Creek Settlement" have been sold he was now trying for a second printing. He had not found any connection to our McConnell's. He mentioned that there was a War Pension Application by Mary Dobbins McConnell would be of some interest: "I, Mary McConnell, of said county aged from my best information, about 96 years, do make the following: ' I am the widow of John McConnell, deceased, who was in his lifetime a soldier in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution. He served in the South Carolina troops in said War. Several years ago while I lived in Rowan County, North Carolina, I made an application for pension as his widow and which application was granted. I renewed my application from this county last year and am now a pensioner of the United States in the Kentucky Agency (?) as the widow of said John McConnell under the Act (?) of July 7th (and extensions)______1838 at the rate of $26 per year. The said John McConnell died in Iredell County North Carolina on (or about) the __day of March AD 1822 leaving me his widow since which time. I have never married again but I am still the widow of said John McConnell. For proof of the service and death of John McConnell and of my marriage to him I refer to the proof on which my above named pension was granted at that is the best proof known to me on that point. I was married to said John McConnell in Rowan County in the state of North Carolina (on or about0 the 22nd day of March AD 1782 by one David Caldwell a Justice of the peace and my name before said marriage was Mary Dobbins. I make the declaration for the purpose of receiving the ______of the county land not of _______ approved March 3rd 1855. Words ' about 96 years' were in her hand before signing. Witness my hand in Caldwell County Kentucky on this 2nd day of June AD 1855. I have never before applied and received the benefit of this in any other ____. Signed with an X "Mary McConnell." Affidavit of James E McConnell and Sally E McConnell both of Caldwell County Kentucky aged respectively forty one and forty seven years: "We the undersigned above "

Joel has a similar document from Iredell Co North Carolina. The only new info is: "entered the service in what was then called Rowan County NC as a volunteer in the month of December 1779...served under General Rutherford's command by Captain Jacob Nickols. Under whose command they attacked the British Troops of War as they attempted to come into what was then called Savannah River and prevented them from landing and finally succeeded in getting their ships. and that afterwards he was draughted under General Morgan Commanded by Capt. Able Armstrong and was gone to his certain knowledge three months during which time he was at the battle of Cowpens and was engaged in the battle and that after the Americans gained the duty he assisted in guarding Heads of the British army. They had taken prisoners to the Island ford on the Catawta River in Rowan County NC where they (the prisoners) were delivered up to General Morgan and that he then returned to his mother's _____in what was then called Rowan County North Carolina in the month of February in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one." "... the aforementioned John McConnell died on the 11th day of April 1822." Signed on March 17 1854... Caldwell county KY by "Miss Sally E McConnell and James E McConnell aged respectively 46 and 40 years..." " ... sent some money... in the year 1846 about a year after we moved here..." we have no interest in the result of her application ....except that as her children we are solicitous that she shall obtain what we believe to her just dues".