McClure Research Clues  

 

  1. Possible Gilliland connection:  In the household of Pleasant McClure [1880 Webster Co., MO census] was found a James B. Gilliland [age 25].  James (and his parents) was born in Kentucky.  On 19 Aug 1854, Manley McClure’s daughter, Nettie Caroline, married at Manley’s home in Kentucky.  One of the two witnesses to this marriage was a George Gilliland.  There is a publication that follows the Cowdens and Gillilands of Fagg Manor, Chester Co. PA.  These families intermarried on a somewhat regular basis. There were McClure families also located in Chester Co. PA.
  2. Possible Alexander McClure connection: A document concerning the minor heirs [guardian papers] for the children of Alexander McClure, dec’d, appeared [19 Dec 1825] in the records of Barren Co. KY. Among the minor children listed was William P. McClure.  This Alexander McClure married [17 Nov 1808 – Rockbridge Co. VA] Elizabeth “Betsy” Paxton.  This may have been a second marriage for Alexander.  This particular Alexander is also thought to have been descended from the Halbert McClure line of Ireland and Virginia.  Popular male names in this line were: Alexander, Nathaniel, and Moses.  Some of these Halbert line McClures left Virginia and settled in Fayette Co. KY [north of the Allen/Barren Cos. Area of KY].  An early deposition taken in Fayette Co. KY describes some McClure movement into Pennsylvania.  If Moses is the father of Pleasant McClure, he is probably connected to this Halbert McClure line.
  3. Possible connection to “Twigs” book McClures: This McClure publication tells of a William McClure [ b. 22 Jul 1791 – PA] who settled in Jackson Twp., Livingston Co. MO. [This William is said to have descended from the brothers David and William McClure who (about 1750) settled in the Cumberland Valley of PA.  David McClure was born 1726, in Northern Ireland.]  A son of the William McClure of Livingston Co. MO was named William “Pleasant” McClure.  At least 3 other William Pleasant McClures descend in this line.   It is quite possible that OUR Pleasant is somehow connected to this line, however, none of the dates in the “Twigs” book line up with what data we have.
  4. Possible connection to Pennsylvania McClures: Many McClure families are found (early) in the Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties of PA. Records indicate that some of these McClures moved into Ohio and Kentucky. These PA McClures are thought to have been descendants of Thomas and James McClure of Ireland.
  5. Possible Blankenship connection: In 1836, Allen co. KY, Pleasant McClure witnessed the Will of Elijah Blankenship.  A McClure researcher, Nellie Blankenship, said that her McClures originated in Chester Co. PA. They went into Virginia; into western North Carolina [about 1800]; into Georgia [about 1845].  Some of these McClure families went to Missouri [around 1845].  After living in Missouri 10 years or so, they returned to Georgia  [Manley McClure’s 1850 Kentucky census indicates that he was born 1800-01 in Georgia.
  6. Possible Beard connection: A Jefferson Co. KY marriage record shows: Daniel McClure married [8 Apr 1785] a Martha Beard.  Two of the “older” McClure girls in Allen Co. KY married “Beards.”   Nancy McClure [30 Jul 1816] married David Beard; Matilda McClure [27 Jan 1821] married Allen Beard.  There are many Beard families found located in Sumner Co. TN.

We are deeply indebted to cousin Donna Tattershall for all her work to dig up all these clues and put this together.

Document created October 5, 2005
James and Marcia Foley

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