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OUR SCOTS-IRISH HERITAGE
Written by Leslie Mikesell Wood (1995) with special thanks to Ellen Byrne
for providing computer copies of pension, wills and indenture (1993).
Hugh and Rebecca McDonald/McDaniel
2nd great-grandparents of Conrad Allen. Hugh was listed as McDonald when he joined the Revolution, Rebecca said McDonald on her pension application. In the census records of Pulaski Co., Kentucky, they mostly used McDaniel.]
After our ancestor Hugh McDonald/McDaniel died, 24 Sept. 1828 at Pulaski County Kentucky, his widow Rebecca applied for and was given a small pension for his service in the war of the America Revolution against the British.
Out of these pension records comes a tale of courage, love and devotion that should make their descendants very proud.
Rebecca McDonald then 80 years old, her daughter Rebecca Cain and Samuel Knox age 88, all gave depositions. From them this story emerges:
Hugh & Samuel served together for 15 months. Hugh as an orderly Sgt., was in the battle of Sullivan's Island, also marched from there over the mountains to a battle with the Indians. Knox called Hugh "a fine patriot".
After this 1775/6 enlistment, Rebecca & Hugh were married 22 Sept.1778 in Fairfield District, South Carolina. Shortly after their marriage, Hugh went out as a volunteer on foot with Capt. Nelson's company and was out for several weeks. Then after just one year of marriage, Hugh volunteered again and served as a dragoon or light horseman. while marching toward Camden his regiment was in a skirmish with the British.
During the American retreat, Hugh & part of the company were captured and made prisoners of war. In Camden they were thrown into prison where they lay for about six weeks with the smallpox. Hugh and some other prisoners were then taken down to Charleston and put on board the "infamous" British prison ships.
After being attacked by a fever, the sick men were sent on shore to the barracks where young Rebecca came to nurse her husband. After a few weeks he recovered Hugh was again sent back to the prison ships. Even then Rebecca stayed with her husband on the odious ship until they were taken to old Jamestown Virginia. There they were landed and Hugh was freed in a prisoner exchange.
They were 500 miles from home and Hugh was not yet fully recovered from what was called "ship fever". He was not in good health for several months. The exchange took place in August but the couple did not reach home until the next 10th of May.
What trials they must have suffered together! Hugh was never paid for the loss of his horse and equipment. Near the end of her life, Rebecca received his small pension of $90 per annum to commence March 1831. In 1841 the government in arrears finally sent her $945 plus $45 for her semi-annual allowance.
In Hugh McDonald's will he left "my loving wife Rebecca" all his property until her death.
Children mentioned were Annie Mills; Jane Terpin; Rebecca McDonald; Rachel Allen; Hugh McDonald; Nancy Harris; Andrew McDonald; Martha Kissee and Peggy Roberts.
John Allen was executor. By 1835 an Indenture involving Hugh's land and signed by his children, has their name changed to "McDaniel". Census records of Pulaski Co. Kentucky mostly spelled the name "McDaniel". One reason names often changed spelling in those days was that so many people could not read or write. [end]
[Documents below show the change of name from McDonald to McDaniel.]
WILL OF HUGH McDONALD 5 Apr 1827
In the name of God Amen, know ye that I, Hugh McDonald of Pulaski Co & State of Kentucky, being of lawful age and possessing sound mind and recollection and for these knowing the mutability of all earthly things proper do make publish and ordain this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In the first place I hereby give unto my Loving Wife- Rebecca McDonald, all the property of which I may be possessed at my decease the real and personal of every description [after] the payment of my debts has taken place which are but a few. As soon after her decease as convenient [it] is my will and wish that my property be divided in the following manner, I hereby give or rather confirm a former gift unto Annie Mills- my oldest dau, of $63 which she took or retained of some money coming to me in South Carolina where she lives.
I hereby give unto Jane Terpin, wf of George Kinder Terpin the sum of $1.00, 12 mos. after the decease of my wife. I hereby give & bequeath unto my ygst dau- Rebecca McDonald, two beds with bedding & bed & a cow & calf, the articles to be chosen by herself from amongst my property & my wife's saddle over & above her equal share of the balance to which my wife die possessed. Third are the children that are to have an equal divided of my property, viz:
Rachel Allen, Hugh McDonald, Nancy Harris, Andrew McDonald, Bathth-[Martha?] Kissee, Peggy Roberts, and the above named Rebecca McDonald which property after my youngest dau has taken her extra part over & above the rest of these 6 persons is to be sold on a credit of 12 mos & the proceeds equally divided amongst them. It is my will & wish that there be no order for the appraisement of my estate until after the death of my wife.
I hereby appoint John Allen, executor of this my last will & testament with full power to transact the business and to make titles to every species of property herein named and bequeathed & In Testimony whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seal this 5th day of April A.D. 1827 Hugh McDonald
Acknowledged in presence: Jno Rousseau, Micajah Vanwinkle.
At a county ct held for Pulaski Co, Somerset, Mon 18 Feb 1829, this instrument of writing was produced to the court--the last will of Hugh McDonald decd ..Will Fox, Clk
I, Marshall Davenport, Clk of the Pulaski Co Ct, certify that the foregoing instrument consisting of 2 pgs is a true & accurate copy of the will of Hugh McDonald as shown and recorded in Will Bk 2, pg 350. Marshall Davenport, Clerk. [end]
McDaniel/McDonald Indenture, 24 Oct 1835
[provided by Ellen Byrne in 1993]
This indenture of bargain, sale and conveyance made and entered into 24 Oct 1835 between John Allen and Rachael his wf, Ephraim Cain and Rebecca his wf, Dabney Harris and Nancy his wf, George H. Turpin and Jane his wf, Thomas Kizzee and Martha his wf, John Roberts and Margaret his wf, John Mills and Ann his wf, Andrew McDaniel, Hugh McDaniel, heirs and legal representatives of Hugh McDaniel, decd by T. Quarles a commissioner of the Pulaski Circuit Ct, apptd for the purpose of the first part and James Short, assignee of Levi Cooper of the 2nd part, witness, that, whereas by a decree of the Pulaski Circuit Court, pronounced at this present term, Oct 1835, in a suit in chancery pending in said court.
Wherein James Short appear in complainant and the heirs and representatives before named of the said Hugh McDaniel, decd, were directed and ordered by said decree to convey to the complainant the tract of land in the bill mentioned' according to certain boundaries therein specified by deed of conveyance with a clause of special warranty and the said heirs and representatives of Hugh McDaniel, decd, having failed to make and execute the conveyance as directed and required by the said decree, the said T. Quarles has been apptd the commissioner of said court to make and execute the conveyance as directed and required by the said decree to the complainant for and in behalf of the said defendants subject to the approval of said court.
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and pursuant to said decree, the heirs at law and legal representatives before named of Hugh McDaniel decd by the said T. Quarles commissioner aforesaid, has granted, bargained, and sold and by these presents grants, bargains, sells, aliens and covenants of the premises and pursuant to said decree, the heirs at law and legal representatives before named of Hugh McDaniel, decd by the said T. Quarles, commissioner as aforesaid, has granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents grants, bargains, sells, aliens and conveys unto the said James Short, all that tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the county of Pulaski & State of Ky on the waters of Coldweather creek, containing 41 acres and bounded as follows:
beginning on a conditional line on Coldweather next to John McCallkister's at a sugartree and poplar, thence south west along said line to a black oak thence no west to a beech at the corner of Zachariah Roy's field, thence no to Coldweather creek, thence down the creek to a sugartree thence no to a buckeye thence so east to the beginning. It being the same tract of land which Hugh McDaniel, decd, obligated himself by bond to convey to Levi Cooper and which obligation was assigned to Samuel Cabbell by said Cooper and by said Cabbell assigned to the complainant and is the same referred to and alluded to the bill of the complainant and decreed to be conveyed by the Pulaski Circuit Ct at the present term.
To have and to hold the said tract of land with its appurtenances, according to the boundaries aforesaid unto the said James Short & his heirs forever. And the heirs at law and legal representatives before named of the said Hugh McDaniel, decd, for themselves by the said T. Quarles as commissioner aforesaid do hereby covenant to warrant and defend the said tract of land against the claim of themselves their heirs but against no other claimant whatever.
In testimony whereof the legal representatives and heirs before named of said Hugh McDaniel, decd, by the said T. Quarles as commissioner aforesaid have hereunto set their names and affixed their seals the date before named. Names: John Mills, Ann Mills, Andrew McDaniel, Hugh McDaniel, John Allen, Rachael Allen, Ephraim Cain, Rebecca Cain, Dabney Harris, Nancy Harris, George K. Turpin, Jane Turpin, Thomas Kizzee, Martha Kizzee, John Roberts, Margaret Roberts. Att: Will Fox, clk
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