John Porterfield (1763 - 1846)

Born 14 Oct 1763 in Orange County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 12 Nov 1846 at age 83 in United States

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Biography

John was born on 14 October 1763 in Orange County, North Carolina. ^[1] He passed away in 1846. ^{[1] [2]}

Revolutionary War Service

Private John Porterfield served with Orange County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

For his first tour, John was drafted 3 month tour starting on the 25th day of August 1780. He served as private in a company of militia under the command of Captain William Jamison and Captain James Thaxton (Thackston). He guarded the public jail and town of Hillsborough.^[1]

His second tour started about 10 December 1780. He joined General Greene. He was under the command of Captain William Nicholls. Archibald Murphey of Caswell County was Colonel of the Regiment. This tour ended about 10 March 1781.^[1]

His third and final tour started about 1 July 1781. He joined General Greene. He was under the command of Captain Wilson and Colonel Joseph Taylor of Granville [County]. This tour ended after about 4 months in November 1781. He served a total of 10 months.^[1]

John is one of ten Porterfields recognized as a DAR Patriot (as of December 2022). ^[3]

Pension Records

On December 1, 1849 his widow Margaret, 75, submitted an application for a widow's pension in Orange County, North Carolina, Margaret Porterfield, 75, filed for a widow's pension as the widow of John Porterfield, a pensioner at the rate of $33.33 per annum for his services in the revolution; she attested that they married November 7, 1796 and that her husband died November 12, 1846.^[1]

Family

John Porterfield and Margaret Clark were married 7 Nov 1796 in Orange County, North Carolina.^[4] They were the parents of 3 daughters and six sons:^[2]

• Catherine
• Margaret "Peggy"
• Pauline "Polly"
• John
• Jackson
• Andrew
• James
• George
• David

Research Notes

Earliest of his line

John is the earliest known male of this rather large line of Porterfields. Attempts to connect John to other Scottish or Scots-Irish Porterfields have not yet been successful. Lenover-1 19:22, 20 January 2021 (UTC)

Possible older son

Letter from S. M. McCaleb (provided by CJ Harris)

John Porterfield had an illegitimate son, Zillman, by Grizzell Allison in Orange County, North Carolina while he was apparently engaged to Margaret Clark. Zillman was born just about the time that John Porterfield married Margaret Clark. What is interesting is that Zillman Allison (Porterfield) married Celia Clark. I do not know if Celia and Margaret were related, or who Celia's parents were.

"This information came from Samuel Vanransalear Asiel Silo Moore McCaleb in his memoirs:

My great grandparents [Allison] immigrated from Scotland or Ireland, I have forgotten which. They raised 5 sons viz. Jo, Charles, John, James and Hamilton. I think several of them were soldiers of 1776. They also raised 5 girls. Nancy married Joshuah Bary. Peggy James Robinson, Jiney James Ray, Betty Samuel Madden, Mary Thomas Curtis who was a drummer in 1776 and Grisy never married but was the mother of Gilmon [Zillman] by John Porterfield.

The old man died before my recollection, the old lady died at the advanced age of one hundred and 5 or 6 years. I have seen her often and remember Granny Mattie perfectly well, even her features. She was of Irish descent and he was a Scotchman and I think came from Scotland. She was a Hamilton."

(Signed) S. M. McCaleb

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Will Graves, transcriber, "Pension application of John Porterfield W1995", Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters, https://revwarapps.org/w1995.pdf
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Ancestry.com Message Boards, Bill Porterfield, "looking for Catherine Porterfield Ray", 17 July 2001, http://boards.ancestry.com.au/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=172&p=surnames.porterfield
3. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 28 Dec 2022), "Record of John Porterfield", Ancestor # A091359.
4. ↑ North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Index, 1741-2004", Data Source: County Court Records - FHL # 0823664 and 0418148 Ancestry Record 8909 #2126533 (accessed 12 May 2022)