Archibald (Glendenin) Clendening Sr (abt. 1685 - abt. 1749)

Born about 1685 in Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Esther (Mayse) Clendenning — married 1747 (to 1749) in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died about 17 May 1749 at about age 64 in Cowpasture, Augusta County, Colony of Virginia

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Archibald (Glendenin) Clendening Sr resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

Archibald Clendening was probably born before 31 March 1725 based on him already being in possession of land in Virginia on 31 March 1746. His origins are unknown and disputed as reflected in the Research Notes below.

Before 31 March 1746, Archibald was probably settled on his two tracts of land on the Cowpasture River, Augusta County, Virginia.

He passed away before 17 May 1749 when his Will was presented in Court and proved.

Land

Archibald Clendining claimed land surveyed on Cowpasture River in the 30,000 acre Lewis Land Grant.^[1] Morton describes the land as on Cowpasture River, near the mouth of Stuart's Creek.

By virtue of an Order of Council dated 29 October 1743, 340 acres of land in "that part of Orange [County] Now Augusta County" on "the East Side of the Cowpasture River Now in Possession of John Walker" was surveyed on 1 April 1746.^[2] It is not clear if John Walker sold the land, returned it to the Colony, or it was taken from him by the Colony.^[1] On 10 August 1759, the land was granted to Archibald (deceased) and his son John (see below).

By virtue of an Order of Council dated 29 October 1743, 195 acres of land in "that part of Orange [County] now Augusta County" on Cowpasture River Now in Possession of Archibald Clendining was surveyed on 31 March 1746.^[3] The land adjoins (along line G-H of the survey plat) a 130 tract also "in Possession of Archibald Clendining."

By virtue of an Order of Council dated 29 October 1743, 130 acres of land in "that part of Orange [County] Now Augusta County" on Cowpasture River Now in Possession of Archibald Clendining was surveyed on 31 March 1746.^[3] The land adjoins (along line A-H of the survey plat) a 195 acre tract also "in Possession of Archibald Clendining."

Archibald sold these two tracts, 195 and 130 acres, to Thomas Thompson in 1750.^[1]

On 10 August 1759, Francis Fauquier, acting Governor of Virginia, granted to Archibald Clendening and John Clendening a 340 acre tract in Augusta County "on the East Side of the Cow Pasture River corner to the Land in Possession of William Docharty."^[4] As Archibald Clendening Sr was deceased, this presumably means John Clendening traveled to Williamsburg to request the 340 acres of land surveyed 29 October 1743 be formally granted.

From 1814 to 1816, ownership of this 340 acre tract of land was disputed in the Chancery District Court at Stanton, Virginia, in the case of William Douglas vs. Jane Davis.^[5]

1. William Douglas was living on this land in 1816.
2. Jane Davis is the daughter of Archibald Clendenin Jr.
3. William Douglas brought the suit because "Jane Davis who is the hier at law, as aforesaid, of the said Archibald Clendenin Jr doth pretend & set up title to said land as one moiety thereof & premises, and gives out in speeches that the said Archibald Clendenin Jr was the grantee named in said patent with John Clendenin …"
4. Archibald Clendenin Sr still possessed the land at his death in 1749, and is buried there.
5. In his Will, Archibald Clendenin Sr bequeathed half of the land to his wife, and the other half to his son John Clendenin, John then to receive his mother's half upon her death.
6. After Archibald Clendenin Sr's death, there was a dispute over ownership of the land between his sons Archibald Clendenin Jr and John Clendenin. Archibald Jr claimed he was the Archibald Clendening named in the 10 August 1759 land. Archibald Jr rescinded his claim and on 17 February 1761 released and quit his claim to John in writing. This document was witnessed by G. Jones and Archibald Sr's son-in-law Ja's Brynside.
7. During the Court proceedings, William Douglas requested that James Brynside Sr be deposed. Depositions were taken on 13 September 1814 and 10 April 1816, at the public jail in Union, Monroe County, Virginia, where James was confined as a Debtor. James confirmed the land was granted to Archibald Clendenin Sr, Archibald Clendenin Jr had indeed pretended to have been granted the land, and had later relinquished his claim in writing to brother John Clendenin.

Will & Death

Last Will & Testament of Archibald Clendening of the Cowpasture in Virginia^[6][5]
13 December 1748
Augusta County, Virginia

In his Will, Archibald makes bequests to his wife Esther, their children, and his wife's children from her prior marriage to Robert Burnside:

• Esther Clendining my beloved Wife, half of plantation they lived on in Cowpasture
• my Well beloved Son John Clendening, the other half of the plantation, and his mother's half upon her death
• my Son Archibald Clendening Junior
• James Burnsides, the plantation in the Newfound Land 300 acres
• Rachele Burnsides, sister of James Burnsides, she not yet 18 years of age
• "her (Esther) two children named Margret and John"

Archibald subsequently refers to Margret as "her (Esther) youngest daughter named here Margret Clendening". Margaret is probably the daughter of Robert Burnside and Esther, and by 1748 apparently goes by the surname Clendening.

Executors: Thomas Gallispy, W'm Galaspy.
Witnesses: William Dougherty, Andrew A. Muldrough, Michael Reamey.

He appointed Thomas Gallespy and William Galaspy as his executors. The Will was presented in the Court of Augusta County on 17 May 1749, and was proved by the oaths of William Dougherty and Michael Reamey. Interestingly, Andrew Muldrough testified that he did not sign and witness the Will. Reamy and Dougherty "made oath that they Saw him Sign." The Court "ordered that the Sheriff summon Thomas & W'm. Gilaspy the Executors named in said Will to appear at the next Court to show cause why they will not take on them the burden of the Executor."

On 24 August 1749, Archibald Clendening's wife Esther, William Elliott, and John Gay posted bond with the Court in Augusta County, and Esther was appointed administratrix of Archibald Clendening's estate.^[7]

On 22 May 1750, the inventory and appraisement of Archibald's estate was returned to and recorded by the County Court of Augusta County.^[8] It was performed by Hugh Coffey, Alex'r. McLeroy, and John Cartenal. His inventory was appraised at £78.1.0.

Children

According to his son-in-law James Byrnside, Archibald Clendenin had three children living at the time of his death.^[5]

Archibald and Nancy Ann (Ewing) Clendenin:

• Archibald Clendenin

Archibald and Esther (Mayse) Clendenin:

• Margaret Clendenin [did he misstate relationship?]
• John Clendenin

Research Notes

Place Creation

• Orange County, Virginia was created in 20 Sep 1734 from Spotsylvania County.
• Augusta County, Virginia (unorganized; organized 1745) was created in 15 Dec 1738 and was formed from Orange County.
• Botetourt County, Virginia (pending; effective 1770) was created in 28 Nov 1769 from Augusta County.
• Cowpasture River lies to the west of and is not the same place as Beverley Manor.
• Newfound Land (see 1748 Will) refers to Bull River, west of and feeding into Cowpasture River above Fort Lewis.
• The entirety of Beverley Manor lies within present-day Augusta County, bounded on north by Middle River, east and south by South River, and west by a line a little east of Spotswood.

See Augusta County, Colony of Virginia for a map created from recent research. Spratlin-29 23:03, 7 April 2022 (UTC)

Need Primary Sources

• Land record before 13 December 1748 by which he obtained 300 acres on Newfound Land (Bull River, on upper Cowpasture River.
• Land record about 1759 by which John Walker sold sold 340 acres on Cowpasture River to his sons Archibald Jr and John.

Vital Statistics

Birth Estimate: 1700–1725 in Scotland or Ireland.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage Estimate: 1725 Unknown, possibly Virginia.^{[citation needed]}

It is more likely that Archibald Sr was born about 1685.^{[citation needed]}

Wife

• His first wife is disputed. Some believe she was Ann McSwain.^{[citation needed]}

However, Ann (McSwain) Clendennin (bef.1738-abt.1817) is currently attached as the wife of Archibald's son Archibald Clendenning Jr (1740-1763). Ann's maiden name is disputed.^{[citation needed]}

Some references list his first wife as a "Ewing," other references as Anne McSwain (b. about 1738). The account given in a Bible in the possession of one of the descendants of Ann McSwain by her second husband, John Rodgers, is as follows: “John Ewing was captured with his half-sister …"^{[citation needed]} Thus it is highly likely that Jeanet Ann Ewing and Ann McSwain represent the same individual.

Children

Does Archibald's Will imply that his wife Esther was married twice and had a son named John by his first marriage, and Archibald and Esther also had a son named John? Spratlin-29 16:45, 15 April 2022 (UTC)

Disputed Children

Mary (Glendinning) Gillespie (-1797) is:

1. a purported daughter of Archibald (Glendenin) Clendening (abt.1685-abt.1749) & Esther (Mayse) Clendenning (abt.1721-1756), and
2. futher purported to have married William Gillespy (bef.1725-aft.1801).

There are no known sources supporting her existence.

Land

Additional research into the 340 acre land grant is needed. How did the land pass from John Walker to the Clendenins: sold, returned to the Colony, or taken from him by the Colony.

Is there a deed or order anywhere giving them the land before the 10 August 1759 grant?

Spratlin-29 18:09, 24 January 2024 (UTC)

Allied Families Study

See Allied Families of Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.

Disputed Origins

This profile previously identified Archibald as the son of William Glendenning and Roseanne Kirkpatrick, of the County of Dumfries, Scotland. However, no source was cited for this claim and it is disputed as reflected in the notes below. These parents have been detached pending identification of a reliable source.

Disputed Relationships, 6 Mar 2022

We are actively involved in ongoing research on an Archibald Clendenning formerly Glendenin aka Glendenin who we are assuming from colonial experiences to be born about 1685.^{[citation needed]} From the information we've gathered he was apparently born in Dumfries, Dumfries-shire though our Ancestors are yet unclear.^{[citation needed]}

Disputed Relationships, 25 Mar 2022

There are 2 focuses here:

1) If there is a chance William Glendinning and Rosanne Kirkpatrick were Archibald's parents, he could not have been born before 1700 as is given on this profile because Archibald's parents were born somewhere around 1680s so he would have probably been born sometime after 1700.

2) Generally speaking, more times than not, Scottish mothers of families aren't mentioned in records. It would not be unusual for a parent not to mention a Mary, their daughter in their Will, who was married yet her husband was named as an executor. Because of this convention, using her NOT being named when other evidence is at hand is simply not appropriate.

She is evidenced in this family, where trace cMs are supplemented by almost 3 dozen descendants who took DNA tests and accessed their ancestors. We find then clues that Esther and Archibald's had first a daughter who eventually married William Gillespie from Falkirk. Archibald died in 1749, 3 years after the Glendinnings settled in Augusta County in 1746. This means the family would include her when they first settled there.

Parish Records for Archibald

In Scotland, though some Parish records appear before 1675, many such as the churches serving the Glendinnings only became the norm by 1700.

1) The first, William Glendinning and his wife, Roseanne Kirkpatrick were Lairds in Dumfries and had 9 children, the youngest son being Archibald (p. 131) who settled with a family in the Frontiers of Virginia. His son married, was raising a family. It was during the French/Indian War that he shared a feast with Indians in their home, the indians ate their food and massacred the whole household, except a very few during the French and Indian War.

2) A second Archibald from Westerkirk was born in 1704, raised his family in Westerkirk and died. He had 4 sons, none of which were Archibald and apparently none that migrated to the Colonies. Archibald Glendenning^[9]

3) A third was raised a resident of Selkirk, the next county north of Dumfries. There was an Archibald born to James Glendinning and Bessie. They had 2 sons, Adam and a couple years later, Archibald b. 10 Mar 1717.^[10]

Augusta County

The church that was serving Cowpasture is gone and their records lost so In order to validate that Mary (Gillespie) was a Glendenning and attached to this family, I had to use DNA and fill in their histories. We find the Glendennings have an expert that lives in Aberdeen that has both autosomal and Y-DNA results AND a very well researched family tree. I suppose it helps living in Aberdeen. The profile Ian appears is Archibald Glendinning, Fred Nix PM. Fred's profile is also quite impressive with a ton of information.

From Scotland to the Colonies

That connects us with Archibald Glendinning (Mary's paternal grandfather)

But Archibald Glendinning was born^[11] and died in Westerkirk. Archibald and his wife did not seem to have children named Archibald Glendinning.^[12]

Westerkirk Parrish Records, Parrish Records for Marriages The list of marriages For Glendinning in Westerkirk Dumfries from 1700 to 1750 - One for Archibald in Westerkirk.

Archibald Glendinning (Paternal grandfather) married Jane Beatty 18 Jun 1724.^[13]

For Children of James (Mary's paternal great grandfather), Siblings of Archibald The Parrish christened 25 Children born between 1700-1750 in Westerkirk Dumfries named Glendinning. There were 4 who were Archibalds siblings.^[14]

Father of Archibald is James. James married before 1700 Parrish kept records for marriages and births

1) Archibald - b. 27 Feb 1704 m. Jane Beatty in Westerkirk (See Above)

2) Jennet -b. 15 Mar 1702

3) James - b. 21 Apr 1704

Archibald and Jane had the following children:

1) Jennet b. 16 Nov. 1729 Westerkirk

2) James b. 14 Nov 1731 (maybe died when little) Westerkirk

3) John b.8 Dec 1734 Westerkirk

4) James b. 17 Dec 1738 Westerkirk

DNA Information

Amanda (Moyer) Torrey is using her DNA Connections to Gedmatch appropriate family and have put the results in a "suitcase." I enthusiastically invite whoever wishes to join me in the Free Space and add your own information. The more people that do this, the more relevant the information will be.^[15]

There is an accounting of the death of Archibald Glendinning's youngest son during the French and Indian War once he settled in the Shenandoah Valley to raise a family.^[16] Be forewarned its pretty horrible.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Oren F. Morton, Annals of Bath County, Virginia (Staunton, Virginia: The McClure Co., Inc., 1917) pp11-41, especially p25, p28, p32; image copy; Archive.org (title page).
2. ↑ Surveyor, Augusta County, Virginia, Surveyors records, 1744-1906, Surveyors records, v. 1-4 1744-1795; database with images, FamilySearch (image 42).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Surveyor, Augusta County, Virginia, Surveyors records, 1744-1906, Surveyors records, v. 1-4 1744-1795; database with images, FamilySearch (image 45).
4. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.34, 1756–765, p367; digital images, Library of Virginia (p367).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "William Douglas vs Jane Davis," Chancery Records Index, Original Case Number 82, Augusta County, Virginia, ; database with images, Library of Virginia (Index Number 1816-033), especiallly images 11-24. See also the Will of Archibald Glendenin of Cowpasture in images 25-26.
6. ↑ County Court, Augusta County, Virginia, Will books, 1745-1871; index to wills, 1745-1903, Index to wills 1745-1903 Will books, v. 1 1745-1753; database with images, FamilySeach (image 377).
7. ↑ County Court, Augusta County, Virginia, Will books, 1745-1871; index to wills, 1745-1903, Index to wills 1745-1903 Will books, v. 1 1745-1753; database with images, FamilySearch (images 397-398).
8. ↑ County Court, Augusta County, Virginia, Will books, 1745-1871; index to wills, 1745-1903, Index to wills 1745-1903 Will books, v. 1 1745-1753; database with images, FamilySearch (image 426).
9. ↑ Scotland's People, Christened.
10. ↑ Scotlands People, Archibald b. in Selkirk 10 Mar 1717.
11. ↑ Scotland's People, Archibald only child with that name born in Westerkirk at that time.
12. ↑ Scotland's People, 4 children from Westerkirk.
13. ↑ ScotlandsPeople, Archibald Glendinning m. Jane Beatty in Westerkirk.
14. ↑ Scotland's People, Children christened between 17__–1750.
15. ↑ DNA for Mary and William Gillespie.
16. ↑ Concerning Archibald Clendenning.

See also:

• Oren F. Morton, Annals of Bath County, Virginia (Staunton, Virginia: The McClure Co., Inc., 1917) pp11-41, p90; image copy; Archive.org (title page).
• F. B. Kegley, Kegley's Virginia Frontier: The Beginning of the Southwest, The Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740–1783 (Roanoke, Virginia: The Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938); image copy, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/402522-kegley-s-virginia-frontier-the-beginning-of-the-southwest-the-roanoke-of-colonial-days-1740-1783-with-maps-and-illustrations title page).
• Ewing Family Association (sourced), 1.0 1.1 Will Page 148.--Proved, 17th May, 1749. [please identify the content of interest on this page]
• Lyman Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, Complete in Three Volumes (Rosslyn, Virginia: The Commonwealth Printing Co., 1912); image copy, Archive.org (online, RootsWeb.com (https://sites.rootsweb.com/~chalkley/ title page).

Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia is 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.