Robert McClanahan Sr. (bef. 1714 - 1791)

Born before 1714 in Antrim, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Breckenridge) McClanahan — married 1739 in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died Dec 1791 after age 77 in Beverly Manor, Augusta , Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Carol Mecey [send private message], Ron Hallberg [send private message], and Michael McClanahan [send private message]

Biography

Robert left Ireland and landed in Pennsylvania with his brothers sometime after 1730. He married Sarah Breckinridge, the daughter of Alexander Breckinridge who arrived from Ireland in 1728.^[1] Among their children (not necessarily in birth order) are:

1. Alexander
2. Blair
3. Agnes, m. Mr. Dean
4. Letitia/Lettice, m. Mr. Kaiser
5. Jean, bapt. 8 Dec 1740; m. Alexander St.Clair ^[2]
6. John
7. Mary
8. Robert, baptized 19 Apr 1747; became a Doctor; served as Captain in the Botetourt Regiment under Col. Fleming in 1774; died at the Battle of Point Pleasant.^[3]
9. William, baptozed 10 Jan 1749; father of Col. Elisha McClanahan;^[3]

Robert acquired 331 acres from William Beverly on 27 May 1741. In 1747, he bought lots # 7 and # 12 in the brand new town of Staunton.^[4] Robert was a trustworthy man and, on 28 Nov 1749, Robert was commissioned as sheriff of the community.^[5]

In 1755, during the French and Indian War, the local Shawnee hit the war path. George Washington sent some Cherokee Warriors to help the settlers defend their lands and wrote to Robert McClanahan and David Stuart so that they should "treat these allies well".

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia:

• 1747 - Robert McClanahan sold the 331-acre tract in Beverley Manor to David Stuart. [as listed in Randolph's administrator vs. Kenny, Chalkley's Vol. 2].
• 21st May, 1750. Robert McClenachan, Gent., and Sarah, to Joseph Bell, in Beverley Manor, Sarah, wife of Robert. Delivered: Zachariah Bell, November, 1753, 216 acres in Beverley Manor. Page 779.
• 21st March, 1772. Robert McClenachan and Sarah to Alexander Sinclair (St. Clair), part of lot No. 9 in Staunton, adjoining George Wilson's lot, 1/4 acre. Delivered: Alexander St. Clair, 14th May, 1781. Page 197.

Will of Alexander McClanahan/McClenachan from Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia, Page 434:

Dated 7th June, 1791: Robert McClenachan's will--To wife, Sarah'; to daughters, Agnes Dean, Jene Sinclair, Lettis Kizer; to son, Alexander, plantation in Rockbridge whereon Robert Shaw lives; to grandsons, John and Robert McClenachan, sons of son Robert McClenachan, deceased, all Kentucky lands. Executors, Alex. McClenachan and Alex. St. Clair. Teste: Michael Bowyer, Alex. Humphreys, James St. Clair. Proved, December Court, 1791, by two of the witnesses.

Robert died on a farm one mile south of Staunton on what is now known as the Greenville Road.

Robert McClenachan, Sr. came to America with his brother Elijah, arriving with his future father-in-law, Alexander BRECKENRIDGE - they arrived in Philadelphia around 1727-1728. There are very few records at this time regarding their stay in Pennsylvania, however, there was a document in Philadelphia City Hall indicating that Robert Sr. moved to Virginia. And there is a record of Robert marrying Sarah BRECKENRIDGE in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1738.

Robert Sr. and Elijah MCCLENACHAN went to Augusta County, Virginia and were among the early pioneers of that county along with many of the BRECKENRIDGES, CUNNINGHAMS, LEWIS', STUARTS, MONTGOMERYS and POAGES. Records do show that Robert Sr. proved his importation in the Orange County (VA) Courthouse on 22 March 1740, the same day his father-in-law Alexander BRECKENRIDGE proved his importation. Proving importation was necessary in order to purchase land. Shortly thereafter, Robert Sr. purchased 331 acres from the William BEVERLY Manor. The deed was recorded 27 May 1741, at the Orange County Courthouse. Robert Sarah received a number of land grants from the BEVERLY Land Grant Tract and settled in Staunton, Augusta County.

Robert was very active in Augusta Co. In 1743 he received a license to open an "Ordinary", which is defined as a public house where food is served to the public. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography", Oct. 1899, describes "his log cabin hostelry was across the street from the courthouse. We may imagine the scene in the dining room on a court day. The dinner table was spread in this big room, and was composed of several split logs put together, and guests sat on benches constructed in like manner. The food was brought to the table in pewter or wooden platters and consisted probably of beef, certainly pork and venison, and possibly of bear meat; with cabbage, potatoes, and turnips, one or all. If Colonel LEWIS's mill was then grinding, corn dodgers were supplied for bread, otherwise there was only hominy; no knives or forks were furnished, but each guest whipped out his jack knife and helped himself as best he could, fingers being freely used. The charge for the meal, as fixed by the court, was 12 1/2 cents, coffee was not known, but liquors of several kinds were at hand, and at surprisingly low prices, according to the established rates--rum$1.30 per gallon, whiskey $1.00 per gallon, and claret 83 1/2 cents per quart, whatever else the people did without, they managed by some means to obtain liquors; such is the native depravity of man! But as far as we know, intemperance was not prevalent."

Robert Sr. was in Capt. John CHRISTIAN's company of Augusta Co., militia in 1742. He was Sheriff of the county about 1765. Appeared at a vestry meeting as Attorney-in-fact for Rev. John JONES, Rector. Aug. 1761, Robert convicted of selling liquor without a license. Oct. 8, 1771, verdict returned against Robert (at age 73) for Trespass and Assault and Battery. Cost 50 shillings. Robert bought and sold many parcels of land in and around Staunton, Virginia.

Robert MCCLENACHAN Sr. and Sarah BRECKENRIDGE had seven children: Alexander, Mary "Polly" Agnes, Jane "Jean", John, Letitia Esther, Robert Jr. and William.

Robert Sr. died in 1791 in Augusta Co. Virginia.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton, VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org, pp. 67-68
2. ↑ Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton, VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 48
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton, VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 51
4. ↑ Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton, VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 65
5. ↑ Waddell,Joseph Addision,"Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, From 1726 to 1871", Staunton,VA: C. Russell Caldwell, 1902, ed. 2, Archive.org, p. 67
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #145158616 accessed 03 January 2019, memorial page for Robert “McClanahan” McClenachan, Sr (1698–1791), citing Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Fishersville, Augusta County, Virginia, USA; No tombstone photo.

See also:

• SAR Membership Number: 78640

• White, H. M., "The McClanahans", Roanoke, VA: Stone Printing and Manufacturing Company, 1894, Archive.org, pp. 7-8

• Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia. The Commonwealth printing co. , Rosslyn, Virginia, 1912. [https://archive.org/details/chroniclesscotc00lockgoog/page/n92/mode/2up

• 1790 United States Federal Census, First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census,

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication:

• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls

• Will of Robert McClanahan

• Wikidata: Item Q76278980