Anthony M. & Sheryl F. Cooper Family Page:Information about Samuel McGaughy
Samuel McGaughy (b. Jul 15, 1763, d. Jan 5, 1841)
Notes for Samuel McGaughy:
WFT 13 Tree # 3538
Samuel McGaughey was a Captain from North Carolina in the Revolutionary War.
BIRTH and DEATH and MARRIAGE:Family records.Book: DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM AND MARGARET MCGAUGHY, 1740-1984.By Polly Rachel McGaughey Sutton, Quintella Printing Co., Oklahoma City, Okla, 1984.
Lived in Lawrence Co., Al
Will recorded: Mounton, Lawrence Co., AL.
WFT 18 Tree # 2068
William and Margaret McGaughey/y, Supplement 1991, Polly Sutton, p. 87-88.
Source includes extensive biography. "they were living in the fort there when the Revolution broke out. When his father was called out against the Indians on Clinch River in the Spring of 1778, Samuel - then 15 years of age - substituted for his father, serving under Capt. John Shelby; that he served in the same capacity and place in Aug. 1778 under Capt. James Montgomery. On 1 Mar. 1779, he volunteered for service in his own name, and the pension record shows that he served 12 months as a private in the North Carolina and Virginia Militia; four months as Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in 1781.The total time of his service appearing in this record is 35 months. He states that he was in the battle of Tiger River, Pacolat River, Eutaw Sprints and King's Mountain."
"at 55 years of age, with his entire family, with the possible exception of two daughters who had already married in Greeneville and his son, John, he joined his two brothers in Maury County for the long trek to Alabama, going by way of the Natchez Trace opened in 1806 and over the Tennessee River at present day Muscle Shoals, into the fertile, rolling lands of Lawrence Co., Ala.
WFT 21 Tree # 1524
In a deposition of Samuel McGaughey, dated June 15, 1883, he swears that he was born 7-12-1763 in York Co., Pa.The Wm. McGaughey II records say that Wm. and Elizabeth Lackey were married 1-1760.On this ground we are assuming that Samuel was the first child.
Samuel says that he came when he was nine years of age, with his parents, to the Holston Valley Setlement, (now Washington County, Va.) that they were living in the fort there when the Revolution broke out, that when his father was called out against the Indians on Clinch River in the spring of 1778, he Samuel, then 15 years of age, substituted for his father, serving under Cap't John Shelby, that he served in the same capacity and place in Aug. 1778 under Cap't Jas. Montgomery.
Miss Mattie Lee Huff says there is a record that when young Samuel was leaving for his first service the women of his family sheared the sheep, carded, spun and wove the wool and made all his necessary clothing within a week's time.
Mar. 1, 1779 he volunteered for service in his own name, and his pension record shows that he served 12 mo. as a private in N. Ca. and Va. Militia, 4 mo. as Lt. and was promoted to be Capt. in 1781.The total time of his service appearing in this record is 35 mo.He states that he was in the battles of Tiger River, Pacolat River, Eutaw Springs and King's Mountain.
Samuel further states his father's family Bible is in his possession, that he, himself lived on the French Broad (Sevier Co.) until 1818, when he came to Lawrence Co. Al.This deposition of Samuel's has great historical value, definitely establishing much of the family's earlier history, it gives us the date 2-24-1784, and locations, Sullivan Co., North Carolina of his marriage to Jane McLaughlin, who was the daughter of John McLaughlin, who had a farm and dairy, and was also a weaver, about 12 miles from Abingdon, Va.The witness of her deposition for Samuel, was her son-in-law, Asbury D. Simpson, married to Mary Ann McGaughey in 1823.Other depositions were filed by Agnes Alexander, "younger sister", Jeremiah Alexander and Wm. F. Simpson for Jane, the widow.The witnesses were, Rev. John C. Stephenson of Lawrence Co. Al. (John Campbell Stephenson, B. 1797 in Tn., son of Hugh W. Stephenson, who came to Lawrence Co., Al., in 1819 from Maury Co., Tn. for many years pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Mount Hope to which the McGaugheys belonged.Also brother of Pleasant Write Stephenson, b. 1800 who married Margaret McGaughey, Dau. of Samuel McGaughey.Pleasant W. Stephenson was Executor for his mother-in-law, Jane, widow of Samuel.
After the Revolution, Samuel with his father settled in East Tn.He was made Territorial Sheriff by his friend, John Sevier (perhaps the most interesting figure in early Tn. history, Governor of the Independent State of Franklin, 1784-1788 and in 1796, Governor of the State of Tn. for three successive terms.
We have found no record of the services rendered to John Sevier by William or Samuel McGaughey, but we do know of the deep friendship and admiration, evidenced by the name of Sevier McGaughey handed down, and that for a number of years they were close neighbors.
Sevier Co. was taken out of Greene in 1784, Samuel McGaughey was on the Commission which located the county seat at Sevierville in 1794.In 1791 he bought one of the first 64 lots sold in Knoxville, but he seems never to have made his home there.He lived on a beautifully situated farm near "McGaughey's Station" not far from the Nollichucky River.The ruins of the old Fort are on the road from Sevierville to Knoxville and is marked by a D.A.R. as one of the historic places.
Samuel McGaughey and his wife were members of the Urbana Presbyterian Church in Blount Co. Tn., their pastor at one time being Gideon Blackburn.(Later going westward to Maury Co.) in "Tenn. the Volunteer State" (John Trotwood Moore) we find mention of the Busebia Church, organized 1786 by Hezekiah Balch and the statement, "It soon became the neucleus of an excellent neighborhood, of intelligent, worthy, and patriotic citizens emigrants principally from the Valley of Virginia, among them Boyds, Moores, Tipton, McCroskeys, McGaugheys and others".
The burning of Sevier Courthouse in 1856 with all records has made it impossible to build up a more complete story of Samuel's life.
In 1810 Samuel McGaughey sold land in Blount County, on Pistol Creek, adjoining present Maryville College lands, for $1000.He did not go with his father, Wm., to Maury County for he distinctly says he stayed on French Broad till 1818.
Surely Samuel had the pioneer characteristics of daring and restlessness, for at 55 years of age we find him, with apparently his whole family, except John and possibly two daughters, married already in Tn., making again the westward trek to Lawrence Co., Al.He probably followed the road from Knoxville thru Columbia, perhaps hoined there by George Washington McGaughey, his brother, and we can imagine visiting William's grace (?) and there finding the "Natchez Trace" opened in 1806, leading the over the lands of Lawrence County, al., just south of the Tn. River.They settled west of Moulton and extablished the village of Mt. Hope, where for at least two generations they wer prominent, useful citizens.At the present time there are only negroes of the name left in Lawrence Co., many apparently having taken the name of their former masters.
Samuel died at Moulton, his will being recorded there 1-20-1841.Listed as "all full age, all residents of State" were his widow, Jane, and his five children.They were Samuel E., Executor, Jas. N., Margaret married to Pleasant W. Stephenson, Jane married to John L. Stinson, and Mary A. married to Asbury Simpson.Then bondsmen of the will were Jas. F. McGaughey (son of Jas. Harvey, brother of Samuel) and Alfred D.F. McGaughey, ( brother of Jas. Porter McGaughey).
WFT 110 Tree # 1860
The pension records showSamuel was a disttinguished officer in the American Revolution. Samuel entered the army before he was fifteen years of age and rose to the ranks lieutenant, captain, and major. He fought under Colonels EvanShelby, Isaac Shlby, and John Sevier. An interesting and true incident, which shows the patriotism ofthe McGaugheys, has been preserved in the family. When Samuel was ordered to the front, William's wife and daughters sheared the sheep, carded the wool, spun it, dyed it, wove it, cut and made a suit of clothes in the space of one week,m which he wore on his first expedition.
More About Samuel McGaughy:
Burial: Unknown, Mt. Hope Presbyterian Cemetery, Lawrence, AL.9421, 9422
More About Samuel McGaughy and Jane McLaughlin:
Marriage: Feb 24, 1784, , Sullivan, NC.9423, 9424, 9425, 9426, 9427, 9428, 9429, 9430, 9431, 9432, 9433
Children of Samuel McGaughy and Jane McLaughlin are:
- +Sarah McGaughey, b. 17939434, d. date unknown.