James R. Hathorn II (abt. 1753 - 1811)

Born about 1753 in Ahascragh, Galway, Connacht, Ireland

Ancestors

Son of James Hathorn and Ann Christy (Ellis) Hathorn

Husband of Mary Ann (Cowan) Hathorn — married [date unknown] in Charleston Or Boonsbourgh, South Carolina

Descendants

Died 1811 at about age 58 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jerry Daniel [send private message]

Biography

James was born in about 1753 in Ahascragh, Galway, Connacht, Ireland. He was the son of James Hathorn and Ann Christy (Ellis) Hathorn.^[1]

James immigrated to South Carolina in 1763^[2]

When James was about 23 he married Mary Ann Cowan in about 1776 in Charleston Or Boonsbourgh, South Carolina. The couple had 8 children: David Hazlep Hathorn, Robert Nicholson Hathorn, James R. Hathorn, John Thomas Hathorn, Anna (Anne) Hathorn, Joseph Johnson Hawthorn, Sarah Hathorn and Esther Hathorn.

Notes from external profile

Note: Arrived 2/19/1763 in Charles Town, SC with mother, father, sister, and two uncles (Thomas and David Hathorn) He is buried at the old Greenville Pres. Church in Donalds, SC, in an unmarked grave. Uncles do not appear in the list for the ship on which he and his family arrive. See father's profile for a complete list.

Copied from Stub Entries to Indents for Revolutionary Claims - Salley

Page 81 # 485, Lib.O Issued the 23rd of April 1785 to Mr. James Hawthorn for Four Pounds, two Shillings and ten Pence arthing, sterling, for Militia Duty in 1785 and 1782, 29 days and Accounts Audited. Principal F24: 2:10 1/4 An. Int. FO;5:9

Page 109 #668, Lib.O Issued the 2nd day of May 1785 to Mr. James Hawthorn from 1780 to 1782 for Horse and Provisions for Militia use in 1780

Page 109 #511, Lib.5 August 19, 1785 James Hawthorn, 53 days waggon and hire for two horses 1778-1779

Jimmy's Will

JIMMY'S WILL Email Date: 6/2/01 10:21:03 AM From: JENNIFER ROMANO

Here is a transcription of the will. I will put in single brackets anything that Newell Bowie had in single brackets. Anything I put in, I will put in double brackets. Also, at the very beginning, there is a word following Jimmy's name which I cannot understand. It appears as Len then a small r put above the line, followed by "die". Also, the words "of James Hathorn Lenrdie" are underlined, to match the line above; but I can't get my computer to do that.

Beginning of transcribed material:

WILL OF JAMES HATHORN _____________________ Last Will & Testament of James Hathorn Lenrdie

So/be it remembered that I James Hathorn of Abbeville District being weake of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory of Elabert [sp?] in Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form following that is to say.

- First I bequeath to my eldest son David H. Hathorn one negro man named Jo, also my staff and chest all to be given to him at my decease and also the use of a Negro boy named Ben, till his eldest son, Andrew C. Hathorn comes of age and then he is to give him up to his said son as his property.

And next I bequeath to my second son Robert N. Hathorn all my wearing appearel and one Negro Girl named Flora I Leave to his eldest daughter Clonin A. Hathorn and he is to have the use of her til his said daughter comes of age. -

And next I bequeath to my son James Hathorn one tract of land in Pendleton and one in Abbeville at the Rock and also a Negro boy named George and a fither Eighteen hundred and seven in presence of -

test

John Murphy James Hathorn LS

Edward Sharp

Robert C. Sharp

End of transcribed material.

JIMMY'S CABIN

They traveled over rutted trails hardly wide enough for their ox drawn wagon. In that day and time their trek was really not considered difficult, particularly when compared to spending days in the hot and smelly hole of the good ship Earl (probable) as it made it's way across the Atlantic from Dublin to the port of Charles Town, SC.

In July of 1763, James Hathorn, his wife, Ann Christy, their son "Jimmy", and daughter Margaret, left family and friends in search of a better life. When they arrived, James partitioned the council and received the 300 acres that had been promised by the English king to the Protestants who paid their own passage from Ireland. Sadly, as a result of the trip, his health was so poor that he died before ever seeing what he surely envisioned as the most beautiful land in all of the world. Ann Christy and her two children were forced to lived in Charles Town until her son James was old and strong enough to cut out a place for them in the wilderness. Their wagon, loaded with all their worldly possessions, creaked and groaned as it followed the trail west to Longcane Creek and to their land grant.

The first order of business was to get an all important crop planted and then to build a place of shelter. James used a broad ax to fall Pine trees that were so tall that they must have seemed to reach the sky. One by one they were sized, shaved and notched to form the walls of a warm cabin for he, his mother, and sister. Rocks and sand were brought up from the creek, mixed with lime and used to build a fireplace and chimney. Their first crop consisted of corn and garden vegetables. With these meager staples, along with the wild game that James was able to put on their table, they survived their first hard winter.

Family lore has it that Grandmother Ann Christy made her peace with the local Indian chief soon after their arrival which resulted in his placing she and her family under his protection, they were able to live out their lives without fear of the many bands of Indians that followed the trail that crossed Longcane Creek just a few yards from her cabin. No one really knows how Ann Christy developed this relationship with the chief, however, it is speculated that she cared for either he, or a member of his family, when they were either ill or injured. Ann Christy lived in her cabin until her death in 1795 and as witnessed in her "Last Will and Testament", died a very wealthy woman. She lived to see her grandchildren reach adulthood and was considered to be an outstandingly good business woman. Though she never learned to even sign her name, she accumulated land comprising of at least two other plantations along with slaves, houses and farm animals.

The Hathorns family church was some five miles away at a place called Shoals Junction where it is believed that both Jimmy and Margaret were to first meet their future spouses. Jimmy's wife was named Mary Ann Cowan and they were married in the Greenville Presbyterian Church in 1776. Their first son, David Hazlep Hathorn, my great, great, great, great grandfather, was born in 1777. That same year Jimmy became part of the South Carolina Militia, and like many of his neighbors, spent parts of the next few years fighting the English through out the state of South Carolina while his wife and children were at home with his mother. During the summer of 1773, Jimmy started constructing a cabin for his own growing family. He chose a small knoll located on the 100 acres that he had also been granted upon reaching the age of 16 years. This new cabin was of a two story design and feature a large fireplace that was to be used for cooking as well as heating the first floor living area and the two bedrooms on the second. (picture attached)

In August of 1999, following a reunion of the family of James Hathorn, I had the opportunity to hack my way through the weeds and briars to photograph Jimmy and Mary's cabin. The fireplace had collapsed many years before leaving a gapping hole in the eastern end of the house, but surprisingly enough the cabin was in very good condition though in sore need of a caring hand. Field mice scurried across the floor where David and his seven bothers and sisters all mastered the art of crawling. Birds, using the hole left by the crumbled fireplace as their entrance, built their nest in every crook and cranny. One had only to look around to see the evidence left by untold numbers of small creatures that had sought out the protection afforded by the strong walls and roof. The old oak tree that today covers the home like God's umbrella was but a sapling when the children played the games that pioneer children played. The creek where David and his younger siblings fetched water, bathed in the summer, and washed their clothes still runs clear. The path where they surely saw Indians in route to a trading post is overgrown but still visible. This is were they lived, worked and became adults, a place were they were loved and cared for and the place where they learned the skills of survival in what was then the western territory.

There was no evidence of there ever being an electric line, running water, or plumbing of any kind that would have made life easier for it's inhabitants. The cabin has been the home of many, many families and each seemed to have left some personal mark. Initials carved in a heart by some young lover, a musket ball buried deep into a timber, clapboards nailed to the outside of those beautifully hand hued logs in a vain effort to modernize something that probably should have been left alone.

I'm sure that there was nothing unique or special about this humble structure except that it was lovingly built by a man, using the most basic of tools, and skills that few people today can even contemplate.

Research Notes

Unconnected Hawthornes

The following may save other researchers time:

The following information is correct, however, these James Hawthornes were not believed to be part of our line.

Cedar Springs ARP Church, Signers of 1797 Petition

Alphabetical list of signers of 1797 petition, calling for Rev. Alexander Porter to be their pastor. The names are taken from a transcript of the original records, so this list may contain errors made in the original transcription.

In the original petition, the names were consecutively numbered. Note that in the original, there was no No. 142. In the list below, the original number for each signature is included in parentheses.

74. HAWTHORN, Jas. (102) 75. HAWTHORNE, James (29)

I have found information that would indicate that both of the above listed James Hawthornes were from another family that migrated from Ireland to New York state and then to South Carolina. Many of this group followed the Rev. Porter on to Preble County, OH.

Unconnected Revolutionary Info.

The following is posted here for information only as it has no direct connection to James Hathorn other than taking place during his lifetime:

This information was collected as a part of the research done by the 25th Continental Regiment, a living history group. The regiment re-creates an American unit from 1776 that fought in the American Revolution.

HOW THE SOLDIERS COOKED:

We drew a day's ration of beef and flour, what was called a pound of each. The flour, perhaps, was not far from its nominal weight, but the beef was, as it always was in such cases, and indeed in all others in the army, not more than three fourths of a pound, and that, at the best, half bone. And how was it cooked? Why as it usually was when we had no cooking utensils with us, - that is, the flour was laid upon a flat stone and scorched on one side, while the beef was broiling on a stick in the fire. This was the common way of cookery when on the marches, and we could get anything to cook, and this was the mode at the time mentioned. After I had satisfied my hunger, I lay down upon the ground and slept...

Private Joseph Plumb Martin, 1777

We arrived at Valley Forge in the evening ... I lay here two nights and one day and had not a morsel of anything to eat all the time, save half of a small pumpkin, which I cooked by placing it upon a rock, the skin side uppermost, and making a fire upon it.

Private Joseph Plumb Martin, 1777

F[riday] 16 to T[hursday] 29. very Cold indeed / we git sum wheat that is [in] bags below ware we go after wood and burn it wich makith very good Coffe and selling sum of our thing we git sum money & so we have once in a while Sum Caffe.

Private Jeremiah Greenman, February, 1776

[At the siege of Yorktown, Sarah Osborne] took her stand just back of the American tents, say about a mile from the town, and busied herself washing, mending, and cooking for the soldiers, in which she was assisted by the other females ... cooked and carried in beef, and bread, and coffee (in a gallon pot) to the soldiers in the entrenchment.

Sarah Osborne, 1781

This information was collected as a part of the research done by the 25th Continental Regiment, a living history group. The regiment re-creates an American unit from 1776 that fought in the American Revolution.

THE ISSUE RATION approved by the Continental Congress appears generous. The "General Orders" issued by General George Washington state what was supposed to be issued to the Continental soldier. Subsequent orders and journal entries indicate what was actually received as time went on. In general, the soldiers' diet appears monotonous. Their diet does not appear to meet today's dietary guidelines as depicted in a comparison of the modern "food pyramid":

By order of his Excellency General Washington, a Board of General Officers sat yesterday in Cambridge, and unanimously recommended the following Rations to be delivered in the manner hereby directed - Viz: Corn'd

Beef and Pork, four days in a week. Salt Fish one day, and fresh Beef two days. As Milk cannot be procured during the Winter Season, the Men are to have one pound and a half of Beef, or eighteen Ounces of Pork pr. day. Half pint of Rice, or pint of Indian Meal pr Week - One Quart of Spruce Beer pr day, or nine Gallons of Molasses to one hundred Men pr week. Six pounds of Candles to one hundred Men pr week, for guards. Six Ounces of Butter, or nine Ounces of Hogs-Lard pr week. Three pints of Pease, or Beans pr man pr week, or Vegetables equivalent, allowing Six Shillings pr Bushel for Beans, or Pease - two and eight pence pr Bushel for Onions - One and four pence pr Bushel for Potatoes and Turnips - One pound of Flour pr man each day - Hard Bread to be dealt out one day in a week, in lieu of Flour.

General George Washington, General Orders Headquarters at Cambridge Mass., December 24, 1775.

We wenent down the river Sorrel to Shambalee Fort, where we tried to get baked bread (no other provisions to be had hear)

Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Fort Chambly, Canada, May 14, 1776.

They [the workmen] had only 12 ozs of pork 1 1/2 lb of Flower pr Day

Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Mount Independence VT, July 18, 1776.

The Weather being so wet and Stormy all Last Night, the Commisary is to Issue one gil of Rum to Every non Commisioned Officer and Soldier now in Camp. [Note: this order repeats frequently throughout the summer and into the fall.]

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 19, 1776.

As Live Cattle increce, the Commisary will Issue five Days Fresh and two Days Salt a Week.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 26, 1776.

The Troops are to Receive 1 lb. Flower Beef or 1 lb. of pork per Man a Day Till further Orders.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, August 5, 1776.

When there is not Beef, the Commisary will Isue a half a Pound of Porke 11/2 lb. Flour to each man Per Day til further Orders.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 1, 1776.

The Commissary will issue three Sheep to each Regt. and two to the Corps of Artillery tomorrow Morning at 10 o'clock. The Commanding Officers of Regts. will see that the sick weak Soldiers of Regts. are supplyed with this Refreshment.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 27, 1776.

Mr. Commissary Avery has orders to send directly from Saratoga one thousand Bushels of Turnips Potatoes, which will be served out to the Troops in due proportion upon their arrival at the Commissary Store.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders FortTiconderoga NY, September 29, 1776.

It having been represented to the General that many regiments would at this season choose to lesson their ration of meat and supply it with vegetables if they could be permitted, is concerned for the health of the troops, and desires to gratify them in every reasonable request, induces him to direct that Cols. of such regiments as choose to adopt that plan signify to the Commy. Gen. and in two days afterwards the Quartermasters of such regiments be allowed to draw one quarter part of the usual rations in money to be laid out in vegetables.

Orderly Book, General Orders Martin's Regiment - New Jersey Militia, July 22, 1776.

The PURCHASE of liquor from suttlers (people who traveled with the army to sell liquor to the soldeirs) and food from markets established in camp or nearby, supplemented the issue diet. Fruits and vegetables as well as liquor were purchased:

Pine apples as large as a quart Mug, for 6d [d = penny, s= shilling] each. ... A vessel came in on the 19th loaded with the above. She brought 300 dozen of Pine apples - I went on board her this morning (23d) and chose two out of several Cartloads, for which I gave only 1s/ 5 1/2d - The most beautiful fruit I ever saw, and in flavour much superior to any in England.

Lt. Mackenzie (British Army), Royal Welch Fusiliers Upon Arrival in New York City, June 29, 1773.

No Person is for the future to presume to sell any Stores, or Liquor to the troops, unless he be first appointed Sutler to some Regiment, by the Colonel or Officer commanding the same...

General George Washington, General Orders Headquarters at Cambridge, September 6, 1775.

Bought 50 lemmons

Lt. Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin, Journal Entry Camp at Cambridge, February 15, 1776.

No Suttler is to Sell Liquor to a Soldier after Sunset or Suffer them to be about their Huts after that time.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Camp at Crown Point, July 5, 1776.

Various frauds, impositions and abuses being every day committed, by traders, and huksters, coming to this camp, the Quarter Master Gen. and his Assistant are immediately to regulate the prices to be paid for the several commodities brought to sell particularly, garden stuff, venison, cheese, butter and all manner of eatibles. For the future all persons bringing any of the above articles immediately for sale are to carry them to the foot of the glasee of the old fort where the markitt is constantly to be held - Should any person or person be detected monopolising or fore stauling the markitt, they will be punish'd by a Court Martial and have all their goods seiz'd for the sick of the hospital. The markett is to be opened every morning at 8 oclock and be allow'd to continue till Sun Sett.

4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Ticonderoga, September 25, 1776.

The two hundered bushels of onions just brought to the Carrying Place at Lake George are to be one half of them sold at the markett post upon the glacis of the old fort and the other half at the markett place in front of Col. Pattersons Regt. upon Mount Independence.

4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, September 29, 1776.

FORAGING, or gathering food from the surrounding countryside, was another way the soldiers could add variety to their meals. Not everyone wanted soldiers to find food this way:

Our People are not alowed to tread on the ground scarcely they are not alowed to get orsters out of the Cove one man forbid the soldery catching eales But he got nothing for that But Cryes.

Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkins, Letter to His Wife Camp at Long Island NY, May 22, 1776.

A Sergant and twelve men to be Draufted from the Main Guard tomorrow to be posted on the South Side of the Lake near McDonald's for the Security of his Property, as he Complains of the Destruction offered to his Peas and Potatoes by the Soildiers.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 29, 1776.

Fishing in Battoes being Prejudicial to the men's Health, to the Service, to the Battoes, is positively Prohibited.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, July 31, 1776.

Strayed yesterday from Head Quarters, a Fat Sheep belonging to the General. He has that Opinion of the Soldiers under his Command that they will return Him his sheep whenever they find it.

2nd New Jersey Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, August 16, 1776.

Contrary to all good discipline and in dissobeydiance of the most possitive orders some officers and soldiers have presumed to shoot pidgeons and other game in and in about the several incampments.

4th Penn. Battalion Orderly Book, General Orders Fort Ticonderoga NY, October 10, 1776

ITEMS SENT FROM HOME further added to what was issued, bought or foraged:

... I sent a suguer Box By Naty Dodge I wish you could fill it with suguar send it as soon as you can ... I should Be glad of Sum Coffee

Lieutenant Joseph Hodgkins, Letter to His Wife Camp at Cambridge, June 20, 1775.

These Comes per your scooner Capt. Ingraham with sundry Artikles for the Army I understood per Letter from Colo. Huntington that it was very difficult to Obtain green Sase [sauce] in N York so ordered a Box filled with Betes, Carriots, Puttatoes, and Turnups directed to your Care to be divided between your Self and Brothors in Camp ... have also sent a Box of Choice good Old Cheese .

Jabez Huntington, Letter to His Son Addressed to Camp at New York, August 6, 1776.

If there is a good Opportunity to send me a small Matter of Honey Tamarinds they will be very acceptable.

Colonel Jedediah Huntington (HP/321) Letter to His Father From the Camp at New York, August 19, 1776.

Sources

1. ↑ Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confident based on a triangulated group on MyHeritageDNA who share a 14.9 cM segment on chromosome 2, consisting of M.M. and Thomas Kirkpatrick, her 5th cousin 1x removed, and B.K., her 6th cousin. (Thomas and B.K. are 4th cousins 1x removed.) These matches have been independently verified by via the MyHeritage Chromosome Browser. Their most-recent common ancestors are James Hathorn and Ann Christy Ellis, the 5x great grandparents of M.M., 4x great grandparents of Thomas Kirkpatrick and 5x great grandparents of B.K.
2. ↑ Petitions for Land, 1763-1773, "A Compilation of the Original Lists of Protestant Immigrants to South Carolina, 1763-1773", p. 6, Petitions for Land, 1763-1773, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 27 October 2021

Acknowledgments

• This profile was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.