James H. Laughlin (1736 - 1810)

Born 20 Jan 1736 in near Belfast, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1810 at age 74 in Spring Creek, Washington County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

James Laughlin was born on 20 January 1736 near Belfast, Ireland, the second or third (he was one of twin sons) of eight children and the second or third of four sons John and Jane Mathews Laughlin.

Alternate surname: Also Known as Mc Laughlin. (no source)

Alternate date of birth: James was born before 1732. (no source)

Christening (12 October 1732) Drumachose, County Londonderry, Ireland. (no source)

On 29 January 1758, about a week after he turned twenty-two, James married Mary Dunkin. She bore him eleven children, six sons and five daughters:

1. Margaret Laughlin
2. Susannah Laughlin
3. Alexander Laughlin
4. Matty Laughlin
5. Mary Laughlin
6. John Duncan Laughlin
7. James Laughlin
8. John Laughlin
9. Mary Laughlin
10. James Laughlin

On 22 March 1810, when he was seventy-four, James in [1] Spring Creek, Washington County, Virginia].

Discrepancy

No original source records have been located to confirm birth or marriage records. It appears that some erroneous information may have been published, and perhaps republished/reported, making the “actual facts” obscure. There is a great deal of conflicting information surrounding the Laughlin Family– Many Source-to-Source discrepancies; co-mingling of records, Lack of records; conflicting family stories; number of Laughlins’s with the same names, inter-marriages between families, etc.

The earliest record (most accurate vs the histories) seems to be the 1845 Diary (by James H. Laughlin ), along with other diary/correspondence information from the Litton and Duncan Families. ^[1]

• Diary indicates -- Arrival (of Parents, John Laughlin and Jane Matthews) as 1740 in Pennsylvania with 3 sons and 3 daughters: from County Down, Ireland. Later the family moved from Pennsylvania to Botetourt Co. Va., and then the family moved to Washington and Russell Counties VA.
• Earliest Laughlin/McLaughlin records Located in VA (Chalkey’s) 1766-1767
• Brother (John) Age 16 at arrival (b.1724) (m. Mary Price)
• Brother (Alexander) married Unknown (presumed Ann Sharp)
• James (m. Mary Jane Dunkin/Duncan) – (diary indicates Mary Jane married Brother of John who m. Mary Price); (“younger brother”). Some researchers show as “first child” (of John and Mary Price) but use DOB as January 20, 1736 near Belfast, Ireland (no source for this date) This date generally accepted as Birth of James.
• Source to Source Discrepancies, several Co-mingled facts. Children with same names, etc. ^[2]

Name Discrepancies

• Laughlin as aka McLaughlin (DAR) correct wife but name McLaughlin.

• Duncan as aka Dunkin, Dunken, etc.

• Birth: Date: 1736 (vs 1710 vs 1739) Place: Near Belfast IRELAND. Widely accepted as 1736

• Estimated marriage 1756 PA vs Marriage Discrepancies BET 1767 AND 1800 (Estimate based on birth of Jane Duncan; " Mary Jane "Polly" Dunkin who married James Laughlin, a brother of John Laughlin who married Mary Price. (James Parents s/b John Laughlin & Jane Matthews vs John Laughlin & Mary Price)" (son of Matthews).

• Death 1810 (Will) vs all other dates

Timeline

1736 January 20 ~ Birth James Laughlin, son of John and Jane Mathews Laughlin, was born about January 20, 1736 in or near Belfast, Ireland.

1740-1769 ~ Migration The Laughlin (aka McLaughlin) family may have been in Lancaster Pennsylvania as early as 1740 [Diary] but generally believed to have Immigrated to America about 1753. Moved to Botetourt County, Virginia, and then family from there to Washington and Russell counties.

1758 January 28 (?) ~ Marriage James married Mary Jane Duncan (aka Dunkin, Dunken), daughter of Thomas Dunkin and Elizabeth Alexander. Presumed to be married in Lancaster Pennsylvania and lived in Washington County, Virginia, Exact date and location unknown, generally accepted date January 29, 1758^[3]

1759-1765 ~ Move to Botetourt County, Virginia The family moved from Lancaster Pennsylvania (about 1764-1765) to Virginia and settled first in Botecourte Co. near Fincastle. Later moved to present-day Washington Co. near Abingdon. settling in an area northwest of the Sharps and other Laughlins. (near the mouth of Spring Creek); ^[4]

By 1768, James and his three siblings (Alexander, John, and Jane and husband (Thomas Price) had moved to Carvin's Cove, on Carvin's Creek, north of Roanoke, Virginia.

1769 ~ Move to Elk Garden in present-day Russell County, Virginia. James Laughlin and Thomas Price manned the home station at Elk Garden Fort, under the command of Sgt. John Kinkead ^[5]

1770 ~ Tithable James Laughlin appointed to "take a list of tithables and quantity of taxable land in Washington Co. " from Glade Hollow to upper settlement Elk Garden. (p. 259).^[6]

1770 Jan 29 ~ Constable [the Co. court] ordered that James Laughlin be constable from Glade Hollow as high as the upper settlement in Elk Garden. (p. 952).^[7]

1771 ~ Land grants James Laughlin received 136 and 34 acre grants for previously surveyed plots in Carvin's Cove on Carvin's Creek^[8]

1772 October 14 ~ Land purchase James Laughlin and wife Jane bought 136 acres at Calvin's Creek branch Roanoke in Botetourt Co., Virginia from Thomas Trouton. (p. 549).^[9][10]

1774 ~ Military service??? Disproved – at Point Pleasant -- Reportedly James Laughlin at Elk Garden Fort (Lord Dunsmore's War in1774) ^[11]

• James Laughlin (Among the listed men as defenders of the frontier in 1774, they did NOT participate in the Battle of Point Pleasant. Garrisons at Elk Garden Fort.

Private James Laughlin served with Virginia Line during the American Revolution.

James Laughlin is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A077867.

1776 ~ Military service REV WAR DAR Register
(MCLAUGHLIN, James Sr. Pvt from Virginia b. 1736 d. 3-27-1810 m. Jane Dunkin) Listed as a private in Revolutionary War and fought at the battles of Guilford Court House and Kings Mountain. Service Description: CAPT DANIEL SMITH'S 13TH COMPANY; SUMMERS, ANNALS OF SW VA, PART 2, PP 1396,1424 A077867

1777 February ~ Constable James Laughlin was appointed constable for the area from Glade Hollow to Elk Garden. (Summers (p. 836) Washington Co. His son, Alexander was overseer and surveyor of roads for the County. 1777-1784. (p. 843).^[12]

1778 May 19 ~ No longer constable. Court ordered that Richard Price be constable in the room of James Laughlin.^[13] 1778 Aug 18 ~ 'Surety for will: Washington Co., Virginia court: The last Will and Testament of Robert Gillespey deceased . . . . gave bond with James Dysart and James Laughlin their securities . . . . letters of administration of the said Robert Gillespeys Estate and the said Will annexed in due form. (pp 996-997).^[14]

1779 May 29 ~ Appraiser Washington Co., Virginia court ordered that James Laughlin, Thomas Price, James Scott, Richard Price or any three of them being first sworn appraise the estate of David Kinkead deceased and make return to next court (p. 1032).^[15]

1779 Aug 17 ~ Permission to build mill James had a mill on Spring Creek ^[16] (Washington Co., Virginia. On motion of Elizabeth Litten and James Laughlin administration is granted on the Estate of Burton Litten deceased who made Oath thereto and gave Bond with John Kinkead and Samuel Vanhook . . . . (pp 1040-41) and Ordered that James Laughlin is privileged to build a mill on Spring Creek on his own land. p (1041).^[17]

1780 - 1782 ~ British prisoners. Martin and Ruddell Station Prisoners - (Elizabeth, and daughters (Martha, Elizabeth and (James' wife) Jane, (and their families), held by the British at Montreal, (captive from Martin's Station).^[18] There is a good deal of existing (published) information already written about the "Atrocities on the Clinch". and Martin's and Ruddel's Stations.^[19]

1781 March 20 ~ 'Guardian, Washington Co.. On motion of James Laughlin and John Litten by the consent and order of the court they are appointed Guardians of the Estate of Captain John Dunkin and Solomon Litten prisoners with the Enemy in Canady and to use all legal methods for saving and securing the said Estate whereupon they together with William Davidson and John Vance entered into and acknowledge their bond in the sum of Eight Thousand pounds for the faithful performance of the same (p. 1072).^[20]

1782 ~ Land James Laughlin - 456 acres in Sullivan Co. TN on the north side of the Holstein River.^[21]

1799 ~ Kentucky James Laughlin settled 200 acres on Watts Creek in Knox (later Whitley) Co., Kentucky after October, 1799 ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association].

Death

James died March 27, 1810 in Washington Co. and is buried near Abingdon. Probably in old cemetery at Spring Creek Presbyterian Church. There is no longer a Findagrave entry for him or the cemetery.

Will

His will is recorded in Will Book #3 page 119 Washington Co., Virginia. Proved Apr 18 1810 Named wife Jane and 11 children Alexander (Primary Heir) Elizabeth Smith, Jane McFerron, Peggy Stephens, Milly Dilwood, Ann Duncan, Sally Young, Polly Porter, John Laughlin & James Laughlin son-in-law Willson Cox (m. Susannah Laughlin^[22]

JAMES LAUGHLIN'S WILL FROM WILL BOOK #3 PAGE 119 IN WASHINGTON CO. Virginia:

In the name of God, Amen. I James Laughlin of Washington Co. and state of Virginia being but frail in body & in a low state of Health; but of sound and disposing mind & memory do make & publish this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following viz. After all my just debts and funeral expenses are discharged, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Jane Laughlin my household furniture, also my negro girl named Agnes, her choice of my horses and two choice cows. Then to my son Alexander D. Laughlin the plantation on which I now live with my mill & one still & furniture. Also all the debts due to me by note or otherwise. Likewise to him the said Alexander D. Laughlin I give & bequeath my two negros viz, my negro man Sam, & my negro girl Ann under these conditions that he discharge my just debts & funeral expenses. Note the above plantation with its appurtenances is willed to him the said Alexander D. Laughlin on the condition that he suffer my wife Jane Laughlin peaceably & unmolested to occupy one of the back rooms in the house thence during her life furnish her horses & two cows in sufficient food & pay to her yearly twenty bushels of wheat & twenty bushels of corn. Then to my son-in-law Willson Cox, I give & bequeath the third choice of my horses likewise my farming utensils & horse gear. The balance of my personal property viz, horses, hogs, & cattle I wish vendered by my executors & the proceeds there of applied to the payment of the legacies herein after mentioned and the surplus if any remains applied as an assistence to my son Alexander in discharging the debts herein before.

Concerning a claim of land I have in Prices settlement in the State of Kentucky I wish my son Alexander to examine after if it be recovered I wish him paid his expenses & troubles out of said land & balance of the value divided equally between him the said Alexander D. Laughlin & Wilson Cox. Also I give & bequeath to each of my other children not here in mentioned viz, Elizabeth Smith, Jane McFerron, Peggy Stephens, Milly Dilwood, Ann Duncan, Sally Young, Polly Porter, John Laughlin & James Laughlin the sum of one dollar.

I further hereby do appoint my trusty friends Alexander D. Laughlin, Thomas McChesney executors of this my last Will & Testament.

Signed, sealed, & published & declared this 26th day of March 1810. In presence of

Thomas McChesney

James Laughlin

John Dunkin

s/John Laughlin

At a court held for Washington Co. the 18th day of April 1810 this last Will & Testament of James Laughlin desceased was produced in Court & proven by the oaths of Thomas McChesney & John Laughlin two of the witnesses there to & ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Thomas McChesney & Alexander D. Laughlin the executor there in named who took the oath of an executor prescribed by court entered into & acknowledged their bond with John Campbell & David Craig securities in the sum of two thousand dollars conditioned in the law directs a certificate is therefore granted them for the probate of the said Will in due form

Teste

D. Campbell DC**

Citations

1. ↑ A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions including Studies, Travels, Readings Correspondence, Business Anecdotes, Miscellaneous Memoranda of Men, Literature, Etc From January 1st, 1845 to August, 1845 and Sketch of my Life from Infancy by Samuel Hervey Laughlin. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~varussel/families/samuelherveylaughlindiary.html Digital Copy] This diary was transcribed by Anabel Easley Tidwell. (photocopy in the Historical Archives, Clinch Valley College, Wise Virginia).
2. ↑ Otis Ray Anderson, comp. Number 1294, World Family Tree, Volume 6.
3. ↑ James Laughlin, Will, Washington County, Virginia, Will Book 3, p119.
4. ↑ "The Southwest Virginian", Vol #2, Number 12)
5. ↑ "William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association
6. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
7. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
8. ↑ James Laughlin, Will, Washington County, Virginia, Will Book 3, p119.
9. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
10. ↑ James Laughlin, Will, Washington County, Virginia, Will Book 3, p119.
11. ↑ "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 June 2018, 21:22), entry for James H Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9HPG-B2G).
12. ↑ "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 June 2018, 21:22), entry for James H Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9HPG-B2G).
13. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
14. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
15. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
16. ↑ "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 June 2018, 21:22), entry for James H Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9HPG-B2G).
17. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
18. ↑ List of Captives Martin's Station
19. ↑ Martin's and Ruddel's Stations Martin’s Station Bourbon County KY Ruddel’s Station Harrison County KY Litton & Duncan Families
20. ↑ The family research file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones), citing Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786: Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 vol. (Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press, 1989).
21. ↑ "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 June 2018, 21:22), entry for James H Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9HPG-B2G).
22. ↑ Laughlin Family Research - Research by Rev. William C. Laughlin

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Laughlin-181 was created through the import of McChesney_Susan Berry m Abram McConnell.ged on Oct 16, 2012 by Patricia Hickin.

• Thank you to Terry Duncan for creating WikiTree profile Laughlin-531 through the import of J Duncan.ged on Apr 12, 2013;

• Jim Berry for creating WikiTree profile Laughlin-594 through the import of Thos_Berry_1776_anc.ged on Dec 19, 2013;

• Laughlin-728 was created by Angela Keagle through the import of Angela Kaye Keagle Family tree.ged on Jul 25, 2014;

• GEDCOM import.Laughlin-666 was created by Dennis Allen through the import of DennisMAllen(1)_2014-02-10.ged on Feb 10, 2014

Sources

• "A Diary of Public Events and Notices of My Life and Family and Of My Private Transactions by Samuel Hervey Laughlin" http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/ViewStory.aspx?tid=6985294&pid=-1188394295&did=082ee370-a821-4b03-8f2e-8e5aab524946&src=search

• IGI INDEX

• James Laughlin Bio compiled/created by jim berry

• – also refers to Joel Hager’s Research on Southwest Virginia World Connect (sourced)

• Digital Copy Fitzgerald, O. P. John B. McFerrin, a biography. (Nashville, Tennessee: Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South, 1888), pg. 16-17.

• VA Notes

• Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1745-1800. (Rosslyn, Va., 1912-1913; reprint, 1965). URL: https://archive.org/details/chroniclesscotc00lockgoog Chalkey's

A popular reference work that contains abstracts taken from the Augusta County court records. Chalkley's Chronicles may serve as a useful source for leads and to identify original records to consult, but there are many reasons to exercise caution when using it.

• James Laughlin, son of John Laughlin and Jane Mathews married Mary Jane Duncan

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 10 May 2016, 09:18), entry for James H. Mc Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:MRJ4-FM6); contributed by various users. Unable to access on 11 Mar 2019 by Patricia Prickett Hickin. ("Deleted by merge.")

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 June 2018, 21:22), entry for James H Laughlin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9HPG-B2G).

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9HPG-B2G?1=1&spouse=LCP5-834