HISTORY OF THE MCCLELLAN FAMILY

The following was transcribed from copies I received from both my nephew, James E. Garrison and my cousin Paul J. Ludwig in August 1995.  They  both appear to be photocopies of the same "original."  Any comments I may make will be both smaller font and italicized and underlined to distinguish them from the original.

Material secured from Earl McClellan, Payson Utah

....... The surname McClellan is of great antiquity, having been one of importance in the south of Scotland, where McClellan's were sheriffs of Galloway and leaders in their clan.  The office of sheriff in ancient days carried with it more prestige than in more modern times, so it was a distinctive honor to hold this position.

....... The ancestral seat of the family was Kirkcudbright, in the southwest county of Scotland.  Sir Robert McClellan, son of Thomas of Bonbie, was in the service of  King James VI and continued in the reign of King Charles II who crested him a peer by the title Kirkcudbright.

....... According to Crawford, there were no fewer than 12 Knights bearing the names McClellan McLellan, McClelland and McClellan; they all are derived from one original stock having it home in the southwestern part of Scotland.

In 1646 during the religious war, many families of the name removed from Scotland to Ireland.  The migration was known in Ireland as the "Ulster Plantation", the settlements being made near Belfast and Dunganoon.

....... About 1760-7 numerous families both from Scotland and Ireland emigrated to America, settling in Nova Scotia, New England, New York, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas  It is rather interesting to me to dwell on the days of Heraldry and knighthood, but we are not certain as to where we fit into the picture --- our actual knowledge of our forbearers is very limited.  The very earliest period of time that I have been able to obtain record of for the McClellan family (our McClellan) family in the U. S. is Aug. 19. 1795.

....... By corresponding with York County, South Carolina officials, my father obtained a copy of Hugh McClellan's will.  Hugh is the grandfather of James McClellan.  According to this will, a copy of which is displayed here tonight,  Hugh McClellan was a Christian gentleman, educated and fairly well provided for in a material way.  I quoted from the will:

....... I, Hugh McClellan of the state of South Carolina and York County Taylor, being in perfect health of body and perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God; but calling unto mind the mortality of my body and know that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of the Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be interred in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God.  And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life,  I divide and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.".....................

....... To his sons James and Robert he bequeathed the Plantation they lived on, after the death of their mother.

....... He later added a codicil to the will, stating that his wife, Elizabeth Lusk McClellan had passed away and that he recognized his three daughters, Jane, Agnes and Elizabeth by bequeathing to each an eighth part and authorizing his executors to deliver a good title to 350 acres of land to one William Potts who had bargained with him for it.

....... And that is about the sum and substance of the information we can glean from that source.

          Now this son Hugh, who was given a horse and saddle was the father of James McClellan.  Of this Hugh, born 13 February, 1773 and his wife Polly or Mary McCall, born 20 December, 1776, both at York, South Carolina, we know very little.  They had either seven or eight children.  The first two were born in Camden, York Co., South Carolina, and all the others in Bedford, Tennessee.  they moved later, some time after Sept. 11, 1815 to Nauvoo, Illinois.  they were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1840 at Nauvoo.  Both of them died there in 1847, in September.  It has been said that Mary went out to gather in the eggs and while reaching into the nest, was bitten by a rattlesnake, which caused her death.