Virginia McClung
Virginia McClung was born on the 17th of
November, 1854 (Primary
source and
IGI) to James and Nancey (Nancy) McClung in
Greenbrier,
Virginia.
1 Our first mention of her is found in the 1860
federal census where she appears with her 62 year old father and her 25 year
old mother, her 3 year old sister Esther B., her month old brother General Davis
(born in July 1860 - as the date of the census is the 15th of August, 1860, an
early "reading" of the census made it seem his name was Gerard) and
a 12 year old boy whose name is difficult to interpret (but might read WM Kelly), in district #2 of the above county. James McClung's land is worth
$2500.00 and his total (other) assets are worth $540.00, we find.
A picture (B&W) passed down
within the Leighton family reveals that
around
1874, Nancy had acquired the
last name (maiden name retrieved or another marriage?) Guilford and was in
Toledo, Iowa. Virginia isn't in the picture, her 2 siblings are. Nancy appears
to be of usual height with maybe a little extra weight than she liked. A round
serious face sat under probable light brown or dark blond hair. Her daughter
Esther looks much like her mother. Young General looks so proper in his suit.
The McClung family has lived in this area of
Rockbridge/Greenbrier Virginia (which lay within the area which
stayed with the union during the civil war and so which we now call West
Virginia) for Generations. James's grandfather William McClung was born (to a
man whose own name was John McClung) here around 1738. His wife was
Abigail, born a Dickinson around 1748, she died 7 November,
1820. She gave birth to John McClung (our Virginia McClung's grandfather) on
the 10th of January 1768. She was still to give birth to James in 1770, William
Jr. on 11 April, 1772, daughters Catherine in 1775, and Mary in 1780, sons
Charles in 1782, and Samuel in 1784, Abigail in 1786, Janet in 1788, and
Alexander in 1792. It is possible she had other children who did not live.
Infant mortality was much worse in those days 200 years ago.
Some additional Dickinson data
William McClung was born in 1738 and died on
1-18-1833. William's father was John McClung born about 1705 or 1710 in Ireland
and died 2-6-1787 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia. He married Rebecca Stuart also
born around 1710.
William McClung and his brothers in 1771 trading post entries
Greenbrier County Virginia Legislative Petitions 1780 B - 1782 - William McClung (senior) is probably ours.
John's father was also named John. He was born in Scotland, probably around 1670 and emigrated to Ireland around 1690.
Land owners in Greenbrier after the Revolutionary War
From 28 July 07 trip to NEHGS from GREENBRIER COUNTY RECORDS, Volume 2: Personal property tax lists: 1782/83, 1786/88, 1792, 1796, 1799, 1805, 1815 transcribed by Larry Shuck in 1989. 1782/3 - 1786/8 - 1792 - 1796 - 1799 1799B - 1805 1805B - 1815 1815B - Source - 1820 1820B - 1830 - 1840 - Source - Wills page 154 - Sims Index Sims Index2 - Index - Source
Bath County Va. personal tax lists (info) (Is this John McClung possibly the son-in-law of John Bollar even though most sources state they lived in Greenbrier?):
| John Bollar Sr | 1791 | 1792 | 1793 | 1794 | 1795 | 1796 | 1797 | 1798 | 1799 | 1800 | 1801 |
| John McClung (doesn't fit to be "Black" John) | 1791 | 1792 | 1793 | 1794 | 1795 | 1796 | 1797 | 1798 | 1799 | 1800 | 1801 |
Also, 1791 tax list B (pg 5) 1791 (pg 6) (tithables, blacks above 16, blacks above 12, studs, book value(?) of studs, total amount of tax) and 1803 tax list A (pg 10) 1803 (pg 11) Greenbrier tax lists (McClung entries) (white tithables, blacks above 16, blacks above 12 & under 16, horses, ordinary licenses, stud horses this season, stabble the year?, doll & cents).
It is claimed by our William's descendants
that he was an Ensign in the Virginia
Militia during the Revolutionary War. The number of McClung's in the area make
more detail difficult. Several William McClung’s did serve during the
Revolutionary War2, but proof of any of
these men and Virginia's great grandfather being the same person has not been
obtained. A pension application filed after the war may shed some light on the
past3. Surely, William's will, written on
the 22nd day of October 1832,
pt1
pt2
pt3
pt4 gives some extra information on the man, but doesn't
seem to answer the question as to his services during the war. William grew up
in Virginia during the French Indian Wars, probably many family and
friends were in the local militia of the area.
Our William McClung has his service listed on
his tombstone. There is also a book: "Virginia
Militia in the Revolutionary War Part III, Virginians Share in the Military
Movements of the Revolution", pg 228 which has
his service noted. The tombstone may not be as compelling
evidence as it would at first appear, however, as it has been mentioned that
the tombstone was erected by later descendants of William and thus is not
primary source material for his service. The military warrant referred to in
the records might very well prove William’s service, if not actually what that
service consisted of.
Surely, a William McClung and brother or
probable cousin Henry (this Henry has not been identified as to his lineage and
no mention of him in any other records exist) are remembered in history for
failure to make a 9 April 1770 general muster of the militia under Captain
Samuel McDowell.4 Apparently, McDowell had problems with the McClung clan, as
the same reference reports that on 20 September 1768, a John McClung Jr failed
to appear at 1 private muster. If this was our William, perhaps his wife was
having difficulty with the pregnancy or delivery of her son James, born that
year. DAR records, (in the application
of the Gr.-gr.-gr.-granddaughter
of Samuel McDowell and Mary McClung, his wife, m. 1754) contain the following
description of Colonel Samuel McDowell: (1735-1817), served in the House of Delegates
and as colonel of Augusta county, Virginia militia. He was given a grant of
land in Mercer county, Kentucky where he was appointed judge and where he died.
Samuel McDowell dealt
with the McClungs because they were family and handled his life admirably, it
appears.
1787 Greenbrier Tax lists McClung entries 1 2
Virginia McClung's father's father John McClung was married on the 14th of March, 1793 to Jane Bollar (or Pollar). The Bollar family bible, and other sources list her father as John Bollar. This is bolstered by the fact that one of their children carries this name, and from other data, we learn that the Bollar family was quite prominent in the area. A fitting match for William McClung's child. John and Jane had William Jr (27 Feb or 27 Nov, 1793), Abigail Dickson (8 October, 1795), Margaret Bollar (5 August 1800), Matthew (17 November, 1805), Mary (15 December, 1808), Nancy (6 November, 1811), Alexander (7 February, 1814). Jane died on the 9th of September, 1828, but doesn't seem to show on the 1820 census. Perhaps she was a victim of overworked census takers.
The 1790 and 1800 census returns for our McClung family in Virginia have not been located yet. Perhaps they are not extant. There are known tax records which feature McClung family members, perhaps ours, but the records do not allow for identification of the various family ties.
1790 map of Virginia 1800 map of Virginia
In 1971 Netti Schreiner-Yantis
published
A Supplement
to the 1810 Census of Virginia, in which she abstracted the personal
property tax lists for those Virginia counties whose federal census records for
1810 had been lost.
John, like his father and grandfather before him (and several generations after him) was a farmer. Most likely tobacco products. This may not be our John McClung in the 1810 Bath County Virginia federal census (2 males 16-25, he 45 and over, 2 16-25 year old ladies, one 26-44, one 45 years and over, 1 slave DOES NOT FIT). Most references to the McClung family involve Rockbridge and Greenbrier counties. Bath County was home to the related Bollar family, however, and Bath County was formed from a portion of other counties, including some of Greenbrier, in 1791.
The 1820 Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, Virginia federal census says that John, "son to Wm" (the census recorders had a difficult time with such a large McClung clan also) owned 3 slaves, and had 1 boy under 10 years (Alexander), 2 10 to 16 years old (John, Matthew), himself, 2 girls under 10 (Nancy, Jinny), 1 10 to 16 year old girl (Mary), and no Jane. McClung book says she died in 1828, but one wonders if this is accurate given no appearance in 1820 census and last birth in 1814. Perhaps her body had given out, partly due to so many childbirths, common for the time.
In the 1830 Greenbrier County, Virginia federal census 1a 1b 2a 2b, there are two entries for a John McClung over 60 years old. Both own slaves. It is likely that one is our John McClung. Due to neighbors, it would seem that the first image is more likely, the one in "2a" being 'Curly'.
The 1840 census
(this is a
transcription) reveals that James
McClung, Virginia's father, was most likely still living with his younger
children. "Black" John, his father, is listed above on page 206. James is
leading a household of 1 10 to 15 year old boy, 1 15 to 20 year old boy, 1 20
to 30 year old man and 2 15 to 20 year old young ladies. James reports owning
no slaves in 1840.
On the
16th of September, 1850 we find James, 51
years old, living with Stuart, a probable 21 year old son from a previous
marriage. His assets total 2790 1850 dollars. The census says that he lives in
district #18 of Greenbrier county.
1850 Greenbrier co Va Agricultural census with our James McClung - holding 75 acres improved land, 245 acres unimproved land, cash value of farm was $2240, $50 worth of farming implements and machinery, $340 worth of livestock. Source
In the 1860 District 2, Greenbrier County, Virginia federal census returns we find proof that Virginia's mother Nancy did indeed marry a man far older than she was. Full (large) image It is unknown when she remarried to a Guilford man in accordance with the picture passed down within the family, but she appears with him in the 1870 census below, located 9 Sept 07 at Ancestry.com. Surely the marriage would have been after James McClung's January 1862 death from paralysis.** It seems that the brother A H McClung who provided James' death information was Alexander McClung, enumerated on the census page immediately before our James in 1860 (and a little after in the 1850 census transcript above), #9-5 in Rev McClung's book, on page 156,
1 June, 1870 Toledo, Tama County, Iowa federal census returns show Nancy Guilford and her three children Virginia, Esther B and Davis with their adopted father George Guilford. Unfortunately, the marriage, her second as stated in the above picture, did not last. In 1880, George W Guilford appears in Toledo, Tama County, Iowa federal census alone, divorced. Is this Nancy back in West Virginia in 1880?
In the
1870 census,
we also find Virginia McClung over 650 miles west of
her native Greenbrier county (and 4 counties to the Southeast of her 1 June
appearance in Tama County) in Montrose township, Lee county,
Iowa. On the
31st of August, 1870, she is listed as a 15 year old housekeeper in the M.D.
Wright household. She is reported as being able to read and write. How did she
get here? Did her family flee West Virginia during the civil war? The
destruction wreaked on that part of the country was not a small amount.
On the 26th of October, 1870 Virginia McClung married Jerome D. Parks (born 26 January, 1838), who lived not far away in Montrose with her. Parks history
Jerome listed in 1874 Lee county, Iowa landowners atlas (J. Parks) 1872 Montrose township, Lee County Plat Map - Jerome Parks immediately under "N" in Montrose in section 4 (brother in law Charles Brown reside in sections 7&8, and his future wife's employer M D Wright owned much of section 21 and some in section 20 and 30, as well). No biography of M D Wright has been found in the 1872 history despite Wright's apparent wealth. - a better view of Jerome's neighbors. It would appear that Jerome had approx 40 acres here possibly held for his parents (it shows in Lucy's probate papers below, but not Jerome's) in addition to some in Jefferson County according to his probate papers. From http://cdm.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/maps&CISOPTR=3916&REC=20&CISOSHOW=3912
Jerome died a little over 4 years later on the second day of February, 1875. Virginia was left with 3 young children to care for, on her own. She and Jerome had had Estella May Parks (born 19 July 1871), Chester D Parks (born 11 December 1872), and Virginia Nancy Parks (born on the 7th of December, 1874 in Montrose or Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa).5 There must have been someone special in the lives of Nancy and the kids named Estella May, as General also named a child Estella May, if this Ancestry.com oneworldview record and the 1900 Greenbrier County, West Virginia federal census returns can be believed. It also appears as if the marriage of General and his wife took place back in West Virginia, lending weight to Nancy returning there prior to the 1880 census above. Census records don't appear to shed light on Estella May's importance to the family.
She made a difficult choice not long after
when Manasseh Reeves and his wife Anna Everett asked her to let them adopt
young Virgie Parks. They were traveling to Kansas to start a new life and they
wanted Virgie with them. It is easy to imagine the turmoil and pain that
Virginia felt as she left her young children forever. Estella
May was subsequently adopted by the Downing family and she later married John
Downing, settling down in Scandia Kansas. Chester was taken in by Frederick
Parks (father of Jerome) where he stayed until Lucy Parks' death in September
1881.
Chester was adopted by another family and later lived with his cousin Isabell
Jones.6
It is difficult not to look back on Nancy and Virginia (and poor Jerome Parks) and see the sadness inherent in a young lady (Nancy) marrying two men, each old enough to be her father, neither marriage lasting long, and her daughter likewise plagued with too many young children too early in her life. Jerome wanting to protect Virginia, the second generation of troubled McClung women, 16 years his junior... Her not having grown up enough to stop the affair (or rumors of an affair) which directly led to Jerome's untimely death - and the next (3rd) generation of children (Virgie) given up to adopted parents. Jerome Parks' probate papers - with some state of Virginia's 21 year old mind and proving Nancy Guilford still lived in Toledo until at least 1875. The April 2010 discovery of Esther McClung's marriage to a Drake man in Iowa at 15 years old about 1872 or 1873 and her left with 2 young children in 1880 just adds to the tragedy of these women. It is difficult to avoid wondering if rape were a part of these girl's young experiences.
In May 1876, Manasseh and his wife settled in
Elk county Kansas with Virgie, later moving to Grenola (whose name was provided
by Anna Reeves).7
Sometime in the first two weeks of July,
1882, the Reeves family received
a letter from a Mr. J.A. Goedecke.
LETTERHEAD- Local Freight Office, Galena
Division
Chicago & North-Western Railway Co.
A.B. Brinkerhoff, Agent,
Office No. 2, N. State Street Chicago,66 ,
188
"Manassa Reeves
Grenola, Kansas
Dr Sir
Mrs. Barber as witness tells me you have
Virginia Parks my wifes youngest daughter. Jennie died July 4 at 8:28 AM and
requested me to send a token of her esteem to Virgia which I will do as soon as
I hear from you please answer as soon as possible. Jennie died a good christian
and always prayed for her children.
Yours Respectfully
J. A. Goedeckr
1009 South Adams St.
Peoria, Ill
Will send a picture as soon as I can get
copys taken."
8
There is a discrepancy over the number 66
after Chicago in the letterhead. In
the typewritten version Jean Leighton
passed on, it is there. In the
Xerox of the original letter she also passed
down, it is not.
This is James Goedecke in the 1881-2 Peoria city directory. He does not appear in directories immediately before or after but is in Peoria again in 1885 and 1887.
And this is probably James and Jennie Goedecke with Jennie's sister Hesther as Hettee (also married at about 15 years old and with 2 young children and no husband) in 1880 Michigan City, La Porte County, Indiana federal census.
The Reeves sent back this
(pt1
pt2)
to "Mr. Goedeckr":
Grenola July 16th 82
Mr Goedeckr
Dr sir
yours rec'ed. yes we have Virga yet. We
adopted her when she was a few days over two months old. and are doing just the
same for her as if she was our own flesh and blood. you say jennie died july
4th was that this month. I suppose so. it is hard to part with loved ones here
and we sympathize with you in your Affliction but there is one consolation,
that she died the death of a christian there is hope of meeting on the other
shore where there will be no parting or sorrow. We will be glad to have a token
from her to Virga and also her picture so when she gets old enough we can tell
her of her own Mother and it will be a satisfaction to her to have something
and know how she died. and to know she was not forgotten by the mother who gave
her birth.
Respectfully yours
M.R. Reeves
Elk co Grenola Kan
The Mrs. Barber referred to is most likely Elizabeth (Parks) Barber, who would have been Jerome Parks' sister, therefore Virgies' aunt.
That Nancy Virginia Parks Reeves received her
token is evidenced by the passing down within the family of several pictures of
her blood family.
9
1810 census 1 2 3 4 5 1820 census 1 2 3 4 1830 census 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1840 census transcription
General history of Greenbrier (no McClungs noted)
John Bolar dispute with McClintic from McClintic perspective - John was the father of Jane Bolar
Bollar family source documents and POC for Hammond’s book supplied by Mary Frances Abart, Thank you Mary!
Narrative of Col. John Stuart poss brother of our Rebecca Stuart
Info on John McClung to be added to 1904 McClung book data - Adobe [bottom] pg 192 for Greenbrier McClungs, 213 "Grandfather Billie", 214 Black John"
Information regarding William McClung's Rev War service supplied by Kevin Johnson
A bit of additional info on William and early McClungs.
A page with some Dickinson, McClung and Bollar court references
If This were "Black" John
It is important to note that the first seemingly verifiable record of "Black" John is the 1810 census where he is listed as "son of William", In the 1815 and 1820 records, he is also referred to as "son of William". In 1820 the children's ages match perfectly for our "Black" John's children, only Jane (Bollar) McClung missing.
The 1810 Rockbridge Co, Virginia federal census entry (previously disregarded) for John McClung actually fits fairly well for our "Black" John (scroll to bottom in link): he had 2 boys under 10 years of age, 3 boys between 10 and 16 years, 2 boys 16 to 26 years old, himself (over 45 years old), 3 girls under 10 years of age, and Jane (26 to 45 years old) living with him. He owned 10 slaves. We have no proof that this is "Black" John, but of the available data this fits best in 1810. Of note, the McClungs had a history in Rockbridge: July 1778 Rockbridge county Virginia Tithe lists A B - William McClung (senior) is probably ours. It is interesting though that there is a James, a Henry, another William, and a Joseph not really well "accounted" for in Rev. McClung's (or successive) treatments on this clan.
We certainly know that "Constable John McClung" is not ours as he appears with "son of William" in the same census returns in 1810.
Footnotes:
A.
DAR
records, hyper-linked to above
B.
Virginia Militia in the
Revolutionary War Part III, Virginians Share in the Military Movements of the
Revolution", pg 228
C.
Historical
Register of Virginians in the Revolution John H. Gwathmey 872 pp., (1938), 1996. ISBN 0806305576 pg
517
4.
Virginia's
Colonial Soldiers by Lloyd D Bockstruck, copyright Gen. Pub Co. Inc 1988 page
341.
5.
Virginia
(Parks) Reeves’ family Bible has dates mentioned.
6.
Letter
to Jean Leighton by
Isabell Parks Hiltbrunner,
part1
part2
part3
part4 mentions fate of other children.
