Abram McConnell Sr. (1757 - 1830)

Born 16 Oct 1757 in York, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Rosanna Elizabeth (Fryatt) McConnell — married 3 May 1780 in Berkeley, Virginia

Descendants

Died 7 Aug 1830 at age 72 in Washington, Virginia, United States

Biography

Abram McConnell Sr. has Irish ancestors.

Abram McConnell Sr. lived in Virginia.

Abram McConnell Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A075449.

Abram McConnell was born on 16 October 1757 in York County, Pennsylvania, the third of five known children and the second of three sons of Abraham McConnell and Elizabeth Unknown.

By the 1770s, he was living in Berkeley County, Virginia, somewhere in the area of Bunker Hill, Virginia, north of Winchester, near his father, Abraham, and uncle, Wiliam. Gardiner in her Chronicles of old Berkeley, writes, "the earliest settlers who came into what is now Berkeley County" were brothers Abraham and William McConnell.^[1], who may be Abram's father and uncle. On 10 March 1770 Abraham received a grant for 85 acres of land on Middle Creek (it originates near North Mountain and empties into Opequon Creek) in Frederick County, Virginia (now Berkeley County, West Virginia), between Leetown and Interstate-81.

Abram in the Revolution

When the Revolution broke out, Abram entered the Virginia forces as a private in Berkeley County under the commission of Capt. George Scott. For the next four years he served as a private, though on 1 April 1777 Abram was discharged at Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

(There was a Company No. 4 in Berkeley County, Virginia, c1776, commanded by Martin Pitzer, that was to come from the following area: "Beginning at the top of the North Mountain opposite Wm. Orr's, then in a direct line to Robert McDonald's then to Lee's Mill, then to Stephen Mayre's then up the road to Andrew Tate's, then along the road to Abraham McConnell's Old Place by the way of Hiram Henshaw's, then to Morgan Morgan's, then up the road to the Frederick County line, then along said line to the top of the North Mountain, then down the Mountain to the Beginning." Muster days were to be on the second Saturday in April & October.

In the midst of the war, on 3 May 1780, Abram and Rosanna Fryatt were married in Berkeley County.

Gov. David Campbell, 1779-1859

David Campbell, former governor of Virginia and a neighbor of Abram's in Washington County, wrote in behalf of the pension application:

"I have been asked to state, whether I knew Abram McConnell Sr. deceased, father of Abram, Thomas and James McConnell of Washington county, Virginia and others. In answer to which I say yes – I knew Mr Abram McConnell the elder very well, from the time he came to the county until his death.

"About the year 1793 when I was a boy going to a grammar school, Abram McConnell Sen'r. removed to the county of Washington from either the county of Berk[e]ley or Frederick and purchased and settled on the plantation, where he lived during the balance of his life. The school to which I was going was in his neighbourhood – I then became acquainted with him and Mrs. McConnell. After I reached manhood and engaged in public business and settled in Abingdon, Mrs. McConnell[,] a fine old lady[,] became intimate in my family. I always considered Mr. McConnell a man of truth and great respectability although he indulged a good deal in habits of intemperance.

"I have now no recollection of having any conversation with Mr. McConnell about the Revolutionary war and I do not think he would introduce such a conversation without some motive for it and I know of none he would have had previous to his death. As I understand his discharge as a Revolutionary soldier is produced I would have no doubt at all that he was one. In addition to this, I may add that Mr. McConnell came from the land of Revolutionary soldiers – The land where Charles Lee, [Horatio] Gates, [Daniel] Morgan, and Adam Stephen resided with many other distinguished men – and from which great numbers of soldiers were enlisted. Given under my hand this 25th day of December 1855.

"David Campbell"^[2]

Notes regarding Abram's service in the Revolution

The following information is from notes taken at the National Archives on December 4, 1995:

Declaration of James S McConnell, administrator of estate of father, Abram McConnell, deceased, soldier of Revolution in regard to act of Congress June 7, 1832; State of Virginia, Washington County, February 25, 1856.

Appeared James S. McConnell.

Abram, a private, resided in County of Berkeley[, VA] and entered army in the volunteers probably in 1776 under commission of Captain George Scott in the [blank] regiment of [blank] Virginia troops.

That he was honorably discharged at Basking Ridge[, New Jersey] on April 1, 1777.

Married Rosanna [Fryatt] in Berkeley [County] on May 3, 1780. Rosanna died in Washington County on May 8, 1846, leaving the following children: Abram, James, Thomas, William (deceased). All three were living in Washington County in 1856, applied for headstone. Copy of discharge.

[Abram] moved about 1793 from Berkeley to Washington County. [Actually, he first moved to Botetourt County,in the late 1780s.]

Abram McConnell was with the Virginia men under Campbell [at Kings Mountain].

David Campbell, former governor of Virginia, wrote:

When I was a boy going to school, Abram McConnell removed to the County of Washington from Berkeley or Frederick County and purchased and settled on a plantation where he lived for the rest of his life. My school was in his neighborhood. I became acquainted with him and Mrs. McConnell.

After I've reached manhood and engaged in public business and settled in Abingdon[,] Mrs. McConnell, a fine old lady, became intimate in my family. I always considered Mr. McConnell a man of truth and great respectability although he indulged a good deal in habits of intemperance."

Benjamin Reed, surety for James McConnell.

Abram in Botetourt and Washington counties

At some point after the war, Abram and Rosanna moved (along with Abram's oldest brother, William; his sister, Margaret; his brother John; and his youngest brother, Moses) from Berkeley to Botetourt County, Virginia. Abram was living (and perhaps some or all of his siblings) in the area of the southeastern corner of present-day Giles County. On 13 July 1790 Abram was appointed a constable in Botetourt.

On 7 November 1787 Abram acquired 100 acres on "Catawba [Creek/River in Botetourt County] adjoining his own land". In 1794 he sold __ acres to Michael Spessert (Spepert) BOTETOURT, VA. On 25 Feb 1794 he bought 100 acres from Alex Montgomery in Washington County, Virginia. Yet two months later, on 19 April 1794 he acquired 85 acres on south side of Catawba [Creek/River] adjoining his own and Stanley's land.

Abram's brothers and sister also appear in Botetourt records of the time:

Abram's oldest brother, William; his sister, Margaret; his brother John; and his youngest brother, Moses, all moved.

p 84: 1755 - 130 acres for Hugh McConnell north of James River

p 414: 1787--60 ac on Beaver Dam Creek to Moses McConnell

p417: 1779--Jas McConnell -- granted 400 acres on Timber Ridge, head of Long Run from James Rowland and Margaret

p 434: 1784 -- James McConnell deed 320 + 100 acres from Henry Bowen and Ann of Washington Co. on Broad Spring Branch of James River

p 482:1799 John McConnell & Catherine Riddleberger -- apparently a marriage

Marriage

Husband: Abram McConnell

Wife: Rosanna Elizabeth Fryatt

Date: 3 May 1780

Place: Washington, Virginia, USA

Children

Abram McConnell and Rosanna Elizabeth Fryatt had the following children:

Rosanna McConnell, born 1781,

Moses McConnell, born 1782.

Mary McConnell, born 1785.

William McConnell, born 1788.

Thomas McConnell, born 1790.

Abram McConnell, born 1793.

John McConnell, born 1796.

James Stephen McConnell, born 1799.

Bartley McConnell, born 1805.

About 1793 Abram moved to , Washington County, Virginia. This is the 16 June 1938 statement of A. D. Hiller, "Executive Assistant to the Administrator of Veteran Information", who says he moved from Berkeley to Washington County, and it overlooks Abram's years in Botetourt County.

1810 census

Name: Abram McCarrel [Abram McConnel]; Home in 1810: Washington County, Virginia.

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1; 16-25: 3; 45 and over:1.

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1.

Number of Household Members Under 16: 1

Number of Household Members Over 25: 2

Number of Household Members: 6

1820 census

Name: Abram Mcconnel Senior [Abram McConnell]; Home in 1820: Washington County, Virginia.

Free White Persons - Males - 16-25: 1; 45 and over: 1.

Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1.

Slaves - Males - Under 14: 1.

Slaves - Females - Under 14: 1

Free White Persons - Over 25: 2

Total Free White Persons: 3

Total Slaves: 2

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 5

Death

Date: 07 Aug 1830

Place: Washington County, Virginia

Burial: Green Spring Cemetery, Green Spring, Washington County, Virginia.^[3]

Three of Abram's sons who were living in Washington County in 1856 applied for a headstone.

Sources

1. ↑ Mabel Henshaw Gardiner in Chronicles of old Berkeley : a narrative history of a Virginia County from its beginnings to 1926, writes, "Many of these men came from Pennsylvania and settled east of the North Mountain." (Durham, N.C.: Seeman Press, 1938, 337 pgs. HeritageQuestOnline. Accessed 27 Jun 2006.
2. ↑ Pension file R6643, McConnell, Abram, [Sr.]. Revolutionary War, HeritageQuest.com, Series: M805, Roll 565 Images 256-272 File R6643, 20 Oct, 2012. Gov. Campbell's statement is found at "Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters," database, \i Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters\i0Publ. Facts: (http://revwarapps.org/ : not given) Recorded: 15 Aug 2012.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11842862/abram-mcconnell: accessed 17 July 2023), memorial page for Abram McConnell (16 Oct 1757–7 Aug 1830), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11842862, citing Green Spring Cemetery, Green Spring, Washington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Mander (contributor 47110820).

• "Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR3S-KMS : 29 January 2020), A. McConnell in entry for Abram McConnell, 1859.
• "Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, County Marriage Registers, 1853-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DSM9-HSW2 : 1 July 2022), Abram McConnell in entry for Thomas McConnell, 5 Apr 1859; citing Marriage Registration, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond.
• "United States Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1949", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHZ8-TQW : 26 April 2021), Abram McConnell, .

See also:

• Revolutionary War Pension file application R6643 for Abram McConnell, Abbingdon, Virginia, HeritageQuest.com, Series: M805, Roll 565 Images 256-272 File R6643, 20 Oct, 2012. Gov.Campbell's statement is found at "Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters," database, \i Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters\i0Publ. Facts: (http://revwarapps.org/ : not given) Recorded: 15 Aug 2012.
• Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters Author: Harris, C. Leon, transcr Publication: http://revwarapps.org/r6643.pdf Date: 17 Oct 2012
• McConnell Genealogy. Author: Bridgforth, Allan, Cabaniss Publication: Self-published c1965 Typescript, mimeographed. Name: Virginia Historical Society-Prickett Family Papers Address: Virginia Historical Society-Prickett Family Papers, 428 North Boulevard, PO Box 7311,Richmond, VA
• Berkeley Co WV by Henshaw Title: Chronicles of old Berkeley : a narrative history of a Virginia County from its beginnings to 1926 Author: Gardner, Mabel Henshaw Publication: Durham, N.C.: Seeman Press, 1938, 337 pgs.
• Land Tax Books Botetourt Co,. 1791-1794
• Botetourt Co., VA, INDEX to Deeds, 1770-1789-M-Z-Grantee Title: Botetourt Co., VA, INDEX to Deeds, 1770-1789-M-Z-Grantee Author: Botetourt Co., VA Publication: Botetourt Co., VA, INDEX to Deeds, 1770-1789-M-Z-Grantee M/F Date: 27 Oct 2007
• "The King's Mountain Men", Author: White, Katherine, Keogh Publication: Dayton, Va., J.K. Ruebush Co., 1924.
• McConnell Memorabilia - Wealtha Scott Title: McConnell Memorabilia Author: Scott, Wealtha Chaplin Publication: Versailles, MO: W.C. Scott, c1981, Printed by Fay Printing, Springfield MO Note: Available at Lib of Cong--LC contol# 81170106

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile McConnell-876 was created through the import of McChesney_Susan Berry m Abram McConnell.ged on Oct 16, 2012 by Patricia Hickin.
• WikiTree profile McConnell-894 was created through the import of GEDCOM - P_McCONNELL_Abram, Jr Ancestors 20121018.ged on Oct 22, 2012 by Patricia Hickin.