William Peden (1749 - 1817)

Born 1749 in County Antrim, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1817 at about age 68 in Fairview, Greenville, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

William is generally accepted as the third son of the house of Peden. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but the date of his death and age at the time places it about 1749. He followed his brothers John and James and preceded David and their sister Elizabeth. Like all of the first family he was born in Ireland, coming with his father to America, according to the best authorities in 1768- 1770. He was a brave, daring Revolutionary soldier. A tradition still held at Fairview says he was a 'large, portly man, fair of countenance like his mother.' For some reason he preferred to follow his trade, that of blacksmithing, instead of extensive farming, so did not possess as many acres as his brothers. A few years ago the remains of his forge were visible.

His niece, Eleanor Dunbar, stated that he was much shattered by exposure and hard living during the war, 1776-1783, and contracted a bronchial trouble which was never cured. She remembered him quite plainly and recalled the conversations of the four brothers, her father and uncles, in which they indulged during the Saturday nights they always spent under the roofs of each other alternately. She also described his wife, "Aunt Mollie," as a thoroughly domestic body, always busy, a famous butter maker and housewife.

William was with Dan Morgan during the entire war, but which his company, or who his captain was, is lost. Tradition says he was with Captain Andrew Barry, of the "Tyger Irish" in the famous "Spartan Regiment," in which company his nephew, John Alexander, was first lieutenant, afterwards Major. The brothers were not all together in the same company, some were with Capt. Benjamin Roebuck. It is safe to assume, however, that the five younger brothers were together as they were inseparable in peace and war, and not apart from each other more than six days of the week, until death entered their circle and claimed John in 1810. William was among the first elders of Fairview church.

The threads of his line were furnished by his grandson, Wm. D. Paden, and grandaughter, Mrs. Mary P. Aughey, and great-grandson, Guilford R. Paden, and great-grand- daughter, Bettie Williams.

My grandfather, William Peden, was one of the seven sons of John Peden, the emigrant father. He married Mary Archer, of Pennsylvania. Died near Fairview, S. C, where he rests under the shadow of the Peden monument. On his grave-stone these words are inscribed: 'Sacred to the memory of William Peden, who departed this life Dec. 23, 1817. Aged 68 years.'

My grandmother moved with my father to Fayette County, Tenn., in 1833, and died at my father's house about 1846. (This emigration is corroborated by the following from the oldest church book now in existence at Fairveiw: '1833. Robert W. Peden, Dan Peden, David S. Peden (a brother-in- law), and Alexander Peden, with their families, regularly dis- missed. (Signed) Anthony Savage, C. S.')

William was born before 1770. He was the son of John Peden and Peggy McDill. He passed away after 1812.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ A source for this information is needed.

• The Pedens of America being a summary of the Peden, Alexander, Morton, Morrow reunion 1899, and an outline history of the ancestry and descendants of John Peden and Margaret McDill; Scotland, Ireland, America, 1768-1900. Author: Eleanor M Hewell, 1853-1929. From Page 160 to 162.