John McEachin, I

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mceachin/genealogy/burnham.htm

JOHN MCEACHIN SR.

John McEachin Sr. was born on February 24, 1741 in Kintyre, Argyllshire, Scotland. He was a member of the MacDonald clan of Clanranald, who wore the red, purple, and green colors of the clan. According to family tradition, John, along with his brother, Patrick, and friend, Hector McNeill, immigrated to America from Scotland in 1765. Other records indicate the immigration took place in 1756. If that was the case, John's parents and several other siblings likely made the trip overseas as well. They landed at Wilmington, North Carolina, and from there took flat boats up the Cape Fear River to Cross Creek (now Fayetteville). From there they migrated to Robeson County, North Carolina, where John McEachin established his home and plantation on the east side of Drowning Creek, in that section which is today a part of Hoke County. Patrick McEachin, John Sr.'s brother, settled about ten miles southeast of John, near the Old Centre Presbyterian Church. Hector McNeill established a farm and raised cattle on the west side of Drowning Creek, about three miles west of John McEachin in Richmond County. John McEachin and Hector McNeill are credited with having built Gilchrist's Bridge, a lengthy causeway over the Drowning Creek Swamp. The bridge, still in existence to this day, was formerly known as Robeson's Ferry Bridge.

John McEachin was married about 1767 to Miss Mary Currie, whose parentage has not been determined. She is believed to have been closely related to the Curries of Lumber Bridge settlement in Robeson County, North Carolina. She was born in 1750 in Scotland. John and Mary had nine children:

John McEachin Jr., who was born in 1769 and married first Sarah McNeill, then Sarah Smith; Archibald McEachin, who was born in 1772; Margaret McEachin, who was born in 1776 and married Angus McNeill; Mary McEachin, who was born in 1779 and married Angus James McLean; Edward McEachin, who was born in 1783 and married Mary Johnson; Flora McEachin, who was born in 1785 and married Archibald Lytch; Nancy McEachin, who was born in 1787 and married Hector McNeill; Peter McEachin, who was born in 1788 and married Maria Fairley; and James Alexander McEachin, who was born in 1790 and married Effie Powell.

John and Mary's daughter, Margaret, married Angus McNeill, son of Hector McNeill. Their marriage was solemnized on the bridge their fathers built. The ceremony took place in 1799. Hector McNeill, who married Nancy McEachin, was a grandson of the earlier Hector McNeill, and thus Hector McNeill and John McEachin had mutual grandchildren.

John McEachin acquired extensive property holdings in Richmond and Robeson Counties through land purchases and state grants. He owned several hundred acres on both sides of Drowning Creek, Raft Swamp, Lee's Branch, and McMillan's Mill Branch. Before his death, he conveyed his lands equally to his two youngest sons, Peter and James Alexander McEachin.

John McEachin died on October 8, 1815 at his house in Robeson County. His will was written just five days before his death and named his wife and children, who he left slaves, cattle, furniture, horses, and mules.

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http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mceachin/genealogy/mcneill1.htm

John McEachin was the brother of Patrick H. McEachin, the latter known as Para Ban, and they came from Kintyre, Scotland, about 1765. Whether there were other brothers or other members of the family is not known. John McEachin settled in Robeson County, NC on Drowning Creek, above Bethel Church on what has since been known as the Laughlin McNeill place. John married Mary Currie and they had the following children: <John> Archibald, James <Alexander>, Edward, Peter, Mary, Flora, Nancy, and I <Margaret>, who married Angus McNeill. <It appears that at least this paragraph was written by Margaret McEachin McNeill, who died in 1809, which means that the rest was probably written by someone else - see letter at the end.>

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John's wife Mary Currie was known as Mary Sr. and their daughter Mary McEachin / McEachern McLean / MacLean was known as Mary Jr.

1790 Census - Robeson Co. NC

John McEachran, p. 48

2 males 16-up, b. bef. 1774 <John, John Jr.>

3 males 0-16, b. 1774-1790 <Archibald, Edward, James>

4 females <Mary, Margaret, Mary Jr., Flora>

1800 Census - Robeson Co. NC

John McEachern, p. 400

1 male 45-up, b. bef. 1755 <John>

1 female 45-up, b. bef. 1755 <Mary>

1 male 16-26, b. 1774-1784 <John Jr.>

1 female 16-26, b. 1774-1784 <Mary Jr.>

1 female 10-16, b. 1784-1790 <Flora>

2 males 10-16, b. 1784-1790 <Archibald, Edward>

2 males 0-9, b. 1790-1800 <James, Peter>

1 female 0-9, b. 1790-1800 <Nancy>

1810 Census - Robeson Co. NC

John McEachern, p. 225

1 male 45-up, b. bef. 1765 <John>

1 female 45-up, b. bef. 1765 <Mary>

1 male 26-45, b. 1765-1784 <Edward>

2 females 16-26, b. 1784-1794 <Flora, Nancy>

2 males 16-26, b. 1784-1794 <James, Peter>

<neighbors - Mal. Curry, Duncan McMillan Sr&Jr, Hector McLean, Flora Gilchrist,

11 houses down from brother Patrick, name spelled McEachern in census>

Gravemarker reads:

"In memory of John McEachin, who was born February 24, 1741, died October 8, 1815."

Death notice appeared in the Oct. 27, 1815 edition of the Raleigh Register, on p.3, col.4:

"M'EACHIN: Died. At his residence in Robeson county, on the 8th inst.[of this month], in the 75th year of his age, Mr. JOHN M'EACHIN"

The Will of John McEachin:

In the Name of God Amen. I John McEachen of the State of North Carolina and County of Robeson, being of sound mind and memory (Blessed be God) to this the third day of October Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and Fifteen make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner following that is to say

First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary McEachin negro Hannah, five cows and calves, all the sheep, all the household furniture, one mare two years of age, and her livelihood of this plantation on during her life, at her death negro Hannah is to be left to which ever of my sons which my wife will make her choice to live and the rest of property left to her to be at her own disposal.

Second, I bequeath to my son John McEachen, ten dollars together with what he has had therefore.

Third, I bequeath to my daughter Margaret and Angus McNeill's son John one cow.

Fourth, I bequeath to my daughter Mary one cow or ten dollars in my money.

Fifth, I bequeath to my son Archibald, ten dollars.

Sixth, I bequeath to my daughter Flora, negro Anna.

Seventh, I bequeath to my son Edward, negroes Molly and Dick, three calves, one small stag young horse about five years of age.

Eighth, I bequeath to my son James, negroes Nancy and Easter, my sorrell horse, two cows and calves.

Ninth, I bequeath to my daughter Nancy, one cow or ten dollars in money.

Tenth, I bequeath to my son Peter, negroes Lettice and (Mingo?), the still and two cows or calves or something equal to them.

I also give and bequeath all my lands in Robeson and Richmond counties to my sons James and Peter McEachin, to be equally divided between them both and all the rest of the property not heretofore mentioned shall be equally divided between my three sons Edward, James and Peter McEachin, except

sufficient to pay all my lawful debts and I hereby make and ordain my two sons Edward and James McEachin, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof the said John McEachin here to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this day and year shown above.

Written signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John McEachin, the Testator as his Last Will and Testament in presence of:

Hector McEachin

Alexander Campbell

Robeson County November Term 1815. The due Execution of this Will was proved in Open Court and ordered to be recorded.

J. McQueen, CC

From Robeson Co. Cross-Index to Wills:

Devisor: John McEachin

Devisees: Mary (Sr.), John, Mary (Jr.), Archd., Flora, Edward, James, Nancy, Peter McEachin

Probated in 1815, Will Book I, p. 163

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John McEachin, father of my grandmother, Margaret McEachin, was born in Scotland about 1740 and came to this country in early youth and lived and died as above described. He married Mary Currie who was born about 1750 and died at the age of 87. John McEachin lived to be 74 years old. He had 7 children, viz.,

(1) Margaret my grandmother, who married Angus McNeill, born 1776, died 1809.

(2) James, born 1790, died 1868. He married Effie Purcell, daughter of John Purcell. She was born 1794, died 1843. They had 9 children, viz., John, Archie, Calvin, Purcell, Mary, Effie, Jane (my old teacher), Margaret Elizabeth, and Harriet (children of James McEachin & Effie Purcell). They are all dead except 3: Effie, Jane, and Calvin.

(3) Edward, born- died- married Mrs. Mary Johnson. They had 6 children - 2 sons and 4 daughters, viz., Daniel (Major), Evander, Jane, Annie, Eliza, and Amenda.

(4) Peter, born- died- married Miss Fairley. They had one daughter, Margaret, who married Mial Wall of Anson Co. NC.

(5) Nancy, born- died- married Hector McNeill <son of Lauchlin, as previously mentioned>. They had 6 children, 2 sons and 4 daughters.

(6) Flora, born 1785, died 1862, married Archie Lytch. They had 5 children, viz., Mary John Angus, William James, John Daniel, Sarah Ann, Mary Margaret, and Almenia (some mistake).

(7) Mary, born 1779, died 1856, married Angus McLean. She had 3 children: Angus, Giles, and Eliza.

< Unfortunately, there is no further mention of John & Mary's other sons John and Archie. >