James Felix McGuire (1734 - 1782)

Born Jan 1734 in Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Husband of Margaret Elizabeth Black — married about 1755 in Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 19 Aug 1782 at age 48 in Battle of Blue Licks, Fayette County, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

James McGuire was probably born about 1735 in Pennsylvania. His parents are unknown. This profile previously indicated that James was a son of John McGuire and Catherine Mary MNU. This is now discounted by virtue of Y-DNA testing linking James to a group of McGuire's originating in Pennsylvania and migrating into Virginia c1750. The DNA is NOT a match to that of John McGuire's supposed brothers, Thomas and Edward.

It must be said that researching this James McGuire is complicated by several factors. One is that there were multiple James McGuire's and in many cases, it is impossible to attribute a given record to a specific individual, particularly with regard to military records. Another serious complication is that an 1803 courthouse fire in Fayette Co., KY destroyed all records prior to that date. James also died without leaving a will, so attempts to reconstruct his family life are also difficult.

A sizeable amount of folklore about James has built up over the years. Many, if not most, on-line sources claim he had the middle name, Felix. While no primary source document includes that middle name, it has been left in this profile merely to aid other researchers who may find such reference useful. James did have at least one grandson named Felix.

Similar uncertainty surrounds James' married life. He is widely reported to have married Margaret Elizabeth Black some time around 1755. Again, there are no available primary source documents supporting any marriage.

Despite the many uncertainties, we can construct at least a tentative biographical sketch for James. After leaving Pennsylvania, James and likely brothers Cornelius (c1725-1779) and John (c1730-1782) arrived in what was then Albemarle County, Virginia, some time around 1750. Albemarle Co. split to form Amherst Co. in 1761. John and Cornelius are mentioned in several land records in Amherst Co. through at least 1769 and there is one mention of James McGuire there from 1778, although James was probably not resident at the time. There is a record from 1779 in which James proved his claim to have been a soldier in Capt. Christian's Company in 1760, probably in adjoining Augusta Co.

James, Cornelius and John all moved to Botetourt County before 1774, when they begin to appear in tithable lists. James is present there until 1775. Cornelius died there c1779 and John died in Montgomery Co. c1782. James surveyed 100 acres land there in 1774, in the fork of Greenbrier and New Rivers, located near Bellepoint and Hinton, in today's Summers Co., West Virginia. James never formally applied for a patent for this land.

About 1775 or 1776, James moved to Kentucky. He probably lived in or near Boonesborough at first, but he apparently moved into David McGee's Station by 1780 (then in Fayette Co.). McGee's Station was located about 2.5 miles northwest of Boonesborough and near the town of Becknerville. James obtained a treasury warrant for 100 acres on 22 March 1780. However, James 'signed over' this warrant to David McGee 17 September 1780. McGee was granted the land in 1786.

And this brings us to the Battle of Blue Licks. Following attacks by British and Indian forces on Bryan's Station, a contingent of Kentucky militia caught up with those forces on 19 August 1782 at Blue Licks on Licking River. Lieutenant James McGuire was among those killed. His name is inscribed on a monument commemorating the action. The men killed, including James, are thought to have been buried in a mass grave about 2 days after the battle. No records for James' commission as a Lieutenant have been located, presumably burned in the 1803 courthouse fire mentioned above. An unsourced website puts James Felix McGuire's enlistment into the militia to be June of 1782.

Sources

• U. S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Ancestry); 1755, James Mcguire, born Ireland, married Elizabeth Black, born Ireland. Note: Record is unsourced and incorrect, at least about births in Ireland. No primary documentary evidence for a marriage located. Note: A similar record for Margaret Eliz Black also in Ancestry.

• Botetourt County, Virginia Court Order Book, 1776-1780, p. 338 (FHL Film 7893756, Image 182); 9 December 1779, Ordered that James McGuires Claim be Certified proof having been made in Court that he Served in Capt. Christian’s Company of Regulars of the Second Virginia Regiment in the year 1760 as a Soldier Commended by Col. Wm. Byrd.

• Botetourt County, Virginia Surveyors Record, 1774-1808, p. 56-57 (FHL Film7893753, Image 37); 21 March 1774, Surveyed for James McGuier 100 acres in Botetourt Co. in the fork of New River and Greenbrier, part of an order of Council granted John Robinson & Company for 100,000 acres...

• Botetourt County, Virginia Lists of Tithables, 1770-1789 (FHL Film 7856374); same content as Library of Virginia Microfilm Reel 149, Botetourt County Tithables, 1770-1782 and 1783-1789; James McGuire appears on these lists for 1774 and 1775, both on Greenbrier River.

• Amherst County, Virginia Deed Book E, p. 126 (FHL Film 7893711, Image 358); 18 October 1778, Thos. Mann Randolph, of Goochland, to Peterfield Trent, of Chesterfield, for £3750, 2790 acres in AC. 2500 acres of it patented in name of Randolph, Harmer & King; 120 acres of it patented in name of Jno. Depriest and 50 acres of it patented in name of James McGuire; adjoining Jno. Rose, Robert Barnett and where Wm. Britt now lives as my overseer; 32 negroes named as slaves. Wit: Thos. Randolph, Peyton Randolph, Mary Cary, Thos. Anderson (3 Nov 1778), Gabl. Penn (Nov 1778), Wm. Cabell (Nov 3 1778).

• Kentucky Secretary of State, Virginia Treasury Warrant Database, Warrant No. 4281; 22 March 1780 (Issue Date), James McGuire, 100 acres, “I do hereby signe over all my Right and Title to a one hundred acre Warrant that is in the office unto David McGee for value received, Given under my hand this 17 September 1780”. [Signed] James his mark McGuyer. Wit: Charles Rice, William McGee. Note: File contains a survey for David McGee, based on the warrant, dated 8 March 1784, for 100 acres on waters of lower Howard’s Creek adjoining McGee’s Settlement and Preemption.

• Library of Virginia Land Office Grants 2, p. 391; 24 May 1786, Land grant for David McGee, assignee of James McGuire, for 100 acres in Fayette Co., by virtue of Treasury Warrant No. 4281 issued 22 March 1780 and surveyed 8 March 1784, on waters of the west fork of lower Howard’s Creek adjoining McGee’s Settlement and Preemption.

• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=worldmarr_ga&h=812012&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• https://wch.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=revwarmuster&h=258290&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=worldmarr_ga&h=812012&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKJ-DKRM : 13 December 2015), James Felix McGuire, 1782; Burial, , Robertson, Kentucky, United States of America, Blue Licks State Park Cemetery; citing record ID 49827811, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.