Mary Ann Hemphill

The HEMPHILL FAMILY

"The HEMPHILLs of Silver Creek and Old Fort emigrated from the North of

Ireland, previous to the Revolution. They were of Scotch descent,

Presbyterians in religion, Whigs of the Revolution, and good, well-to-do

citizens. I remember an anecdote told me in 1840 by a pensioned soldier of

the olden time, in connection with the Silver Creek branch of the family.

FERGUSON, on his march from the Catawba to Gilbert Town in 1780, had a chart

of the country through which he was passing; on this chart was drawn an

isolated mountain, directly on the line to Gilbert Town, to which he gave the

name it now bears - "The Pilot Mountain". He was encamped near Mrs.

HEMPHILL's; sending out a foraging party, they seized and carried to camp her

flock of sheep. Mounting her horse, she found FERGUSON in his marquee. He

asked, ' What can I do for you madam?" She answered, "Col. FERGUSON, I am

told, and believe you to be a gentleman. Your men have taken all my sheep;

winter is coming, and I have no means of clothing my little children except

from the wool of my sheep." "Where is your husband?" he asked. "I will not

tell you a lie sir; he is out with the Whigs." "Well, madam, your husband is

engaged in a rebellion against his lawful king, with others who are at war

with me; but I am not here to oppress women and children, but my soldiers must

be fed; you may have half of the sheep." "May I take my choice, she asked.

"Yes" said the colonel. With thanks, she left, following the orderly, who had

been instructed, and, reaching the penned flock, she first selected the old

bell wether, the leader of the flock for years, and, as was expected, the

whole flock leaped the enclosure, following the flying leader home, and thus

by her Irish forethought, outwitted the distinguished British colonel"

Birth: Dec. 5, 1758 Death: Sep., 1804

Mary Ann (Mackie) Hemphill was the daughter of Thomas MACKIE, who was born on 18 October 1724 in Burnsquare Ceres, Fife, Scotland, and he died 22 July 1796 in Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia.

(Information furnished by Zoe Tom)

Family links:

Parents:

 Thomas Mackie (1724 - 1796)

Spouse:

 Thomas Hemphill (1746 - 1826)

Children:

 Ann Hemphill (____ - 1788)*

 Martha Hemphill McEntire (1774 - 1835)*

 James Hemphill (1780 - 1857)*

 Andrew W Hemphill (1782 - 1853)*

 Rachel Hemphill Whiteside (1790 - 1833)*

 Rutha Bertha Hemphill Whiteside (1794 - 1847)*

 Thomas McEntire Hemphill (1796 - 1874)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: Aged 46

Burial: Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery Old Fort McDowell County North Carolina, USA