McLelland Genealogy

James McClellan and Ann Nancy Harrison

My great great grandfather was JAMES BURR McLELLAND, born 4 July 1812 in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. He married ELIZA GIBSON HEAD born 1813 also in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. They were first cousins related through their mothers, who were "HARRISON" sisters.

James Burr McLelland's Father is said to have been Reverend James McLELLAN / McClelland of Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. James Burr's Mother was Ann HARRISON (daughter of Burr Harrison). Eliza Gibson Head's Mother was Susannah Gibson HARRISON who married William Woodward HEAD). Ann and Susannah were sisters and both daughter's of Burr HARRISON and Elizabeth Dargan of Fairfield County, South Carolina. Therefore, James Burr and his wife Eliza were first cousins because both their mother's were sisters.

I will continue with the descendants of this family in a future post.

I am wanting to explore James Burr McLelland's pedigree on up the line. A wonderful genealogy friend sent me all the information she had on James Burr McLelland's parents and siblings:

Father: James McLelland / McClelland - Methodist Minister, living in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. It is said that he was "of" Charleston, South Carolina, on the southwest coast. I need to know more information about this person.

On the 1880 census records of son James Burr McLelland, he stated that his Father Rev. James McLelland was born in SCOTLAND. We have no reason to doubt this, other than we can't find any other sources that confirm this fact. James Burr's other two "known" siblings, Jane Dorcas and GKD are not found to have lived to the year of 1880, so it is currently impossible to tell if the information that the father James McClellan was indeed, born in Scotland.

Unfortunately, the information that was kindly provided to me stated that James Burr McLelland's mother, Ann Harrison died three weeks after her last child (presumably George/GKD) was born. This may be why not much can be found on her. We believe they had three children because they are listed on James McClellan's Will:

1. Jane Dorcas McLelland, born 31 Dec 1811, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
2. James Burr McLelland, born 4 July 1812, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina
3. George Kendrick Dougherty (GKD), born abt 1816, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina

Also, the year following the death of their mother Ann Harrison, the father Rev. James McLelland also died from accidental poisoning as was listed in his obituary in the City Gazette Newspaper, Charleston, South Carolina, 31 December 1817:

Obituary: "On the 4th inst. near Columbia, Mr. James McClellan, occasioned by his taking salt petre instead of salts."

His Will names children: Jane, James, and George D.
Executors: Andrew Wallace and Benjamin Harrison, Jr. D: 4 Dec. 1817. Probate: 6 Dec. 1817, Richland County Equity Court Roll #361.

I wondered who Andrew Wallace, one of the executors of his Will was. I found in an online google book: "Columbia & Richland County, A South Carolina Community 1740-1990", on page 82, the mention of an "Andrew Wallace". It says he was a prominent "Scot" who made a fortune as a local merchant. I believe this is the same person who was mentioned in Rev. James McLelland's Will, because he was known to be a Reverend of a Methodist Church.

Executor Benjamin Harrison, Jr. was obviously a brother of Rev. James McClellan's wife, Ann Harrison.

I also found that both James and Ann were witnesses to a Will in Richland County, South Carolina of "Starling Clark" on 13 December 1804. On this document, Ann Harrison was listed as "Nancy McClellan", therefore, it is presumed that she was called "Nancy" or her middle name was Nancy, since many times people were called by their middle names in those times. The spelling of McClellan was used on this document as well as James McClellan's will. Regarding this Will of Starling Clark, James McClellan appeared in court on 31 December 1807 to testify on behalf of the deceased that it was indeed Starling that signed his will.

Also, interestingly, this book also mentions that the Methodists formed a society in 1803 and within a year had built a wooden meeting house on the corner of Washington and Marion streets. Benett KENDRICK was the first Methodist Minister assigned to Columbia, (Richland County, South Carolina). One of the middle names of Rev. James McLelland's youngest son, George, also known as GKD, the "K" standing for "Kendrick". The "D" in his name stands for "Dougherty" or some spelling thereof. There was yet another prominent minister of the time name: George Daughtery. This is too coincidental for Rev. James McClellan's son not to have been named after these two men of the time.

The above information provides further proof of not only where Rev. James McClellan preached, and/or attended church, but also that he probably knew Bennet Kendrick and George Daughtery well enough to name one of his children after him.

Further research regarding this very ancient church in Columbia prompted me to contact the historian of the church. He indicated that all the ministers of this church had been recorded since the very beginning and he confirmed that Bennet Kendrick was indeed the minister who started this church. He also told me that no James McClellan was listed as a minister of this church, nor was he or his family members buried in the church graveyard, which is still there and records kept about who was buried there. Although this was a good lead, it didn't give me any further information. It may be that James McClellan was a minister of another Methodist church in the area and I haven't researched them as of yet. It is always nice to know where the final burial and resting place of our ancestors are. The tombstones of the early 1800's, unless well kept up by caring people, are usually unreadable by this time.

Will of "James McClellan"
Dated: 4 December 1817
Probated: 6 December 1817
"In the Name of God Amen, I James McClellan of Richland District in the State of South Carolina being Weak in Body but Sound in Mind and Memory do make and constitute this my last Will and Testament and do revoke all others that I may have made heretofore.

In the first place it is my Will and desire that all my just and lawful debts be paid out of the proceeds of my Estate and afterwards. I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my property to my Dear Children, viz, Jame, James and George D McClellan and I appoint and nominate as Executors of this my last Will and Testament my friends Andrew Wallace and Benjamin Harrison Junior. In witness my hand and Seal in presence of John Wyche, Zacheriah Phillips, Daniel Dockery this 4 Dec. 1817.
Jas. McClellan"

"Signed and Sealed and acknowledged in presence of Z. Phillips, John Wyche, Daniel Dockery. South Carolina, Richland District."

"Personally appeared John Wyche who being duly sworn made Oath and affired that he saw James McClellan sign Seal and acknowledge the written Deed to be his last Will and Testament, that the Testator was then of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding according to the best of this Deponents knowledge and belief and that this Deponent with Daniel Dockery and Zackariah Phillips at the request of this Testator in his presence and in the presence of each other witnessed the due execution thereof.
John Wyche"

"Sworn to before me, 6 December 1817, James S. Guignard, Ordinary.
Recorded in Will Book G, Page 42, Box 20, Package 481."
Richland County Public Library

Who raised the 3 children of this couple, who died before their time, is under question. It could have been any of the Harrison siblings, primarily Benjamin Harrison, who was listed on James McClellan's Will. Census records at that time do not reveal definite evidence of who the children, all under the age of 10 at the time, went to live with, but it can be assumed they lived with relatives.