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The
McCord land was sold to John Bossart about 1760. The McCords probably
left this section at this date. No later tangible clues concerning the
McCords were found by the writer.
A Samuel McCord served
under Captain John McConnell of Leterkenny in 1780-81 and 82. Captain
John McConnell lived a few miles north of Fort McCord.
The four McCords who served
under Captain Strain belonged to Lurgan Township, while some of the land
entries mentioned by Virginia Shannon Fendrick in American Revolutionary
Soldiers from Franklin County definitely do not belong to the Fort
McCord area. (In the Jakes File #924 in the appendix a Pvt Wm. McCord
is listed under Capt. William Strain from 1780-82 with the note that he
settled in Franklin County prior to 1745 and built the Fort; his wife
was Sarah. This is probably the William, son of David the Weaver, who
married Sarah Kerr and is not the son of William of the Fort.)
From Schaumann Tax Lists
Cumbewrland County PA PA State Library:
William McCord
30 Hamilton Rates
1768 2 horses 2 cattle 50 warranted 30 clear
36 Lurgan Rates 1768 2 horses 1 cattle 10 clear
106 Hamilton Rates
1769 2 horses 4 cattle 6 sheep 100 warr. 7 clear
114 Lurgan Rates 1769 1 horse 2 cattle 50 warranted 10 clear
189 Hamilton Rates
1770 2 horses 3 cattle 6 sheep 150 warr. 100 clear
195 Lurgan Rates 1770 2 horses 1 cattle 300 warranted 10 clear
Samuel McCord
220 Rye Rates 1770 Freeman (Rye Twp now in Perry County)
(This strongly suggests
two William McCords; one may be the William who marries Sarah Kerr and
is probably the son of David and the other could well be the son of William
of the Fort. The William McCord, son of John, who marries into the McKinney
and Robinson families will also have to be accounted for.)
From Pennsylvania Archives
Vol. 20, Series 3 in Cumberland County Tax Lists: 1778 Lurgan Township
William McCord 68 acres 2 horses 2 cattle
1788 Toboyne Twp William McCord 137 acres 5 horse 8 cattle
(Toboyne Twp is now in Perry County and this is the William who married
Agnes McKinney.)
From the Fryberg Collection,
Pennsylvania Historical Society Library in Philadelphia comes an anonymous
history of the McCord Family that has useful references but jumbles up
the William McCords rather badly by my interpretation.
William McCord's Estate
#25. Cumberland County.
Adms.
Inventory - June 27, 1759,
by Albert Forrance and Robert Shield.
Value Pounds 90.
List of Goods and Chattels
- 30 June 1759. By order of Wm. McCleary, Adms. of Estate of William
McCord, by Hugh Duovill and David Kennedy.
Pounds 19.0.6. There is
a handwritten note on a notice of inventory which states that William's
estate was probated in York County PA.
To One bed and beding of Clowes
" " Churn
" " pch. (pouch?)
" " trouch (trough?)
" " Spaid (spade)
" " pot
" " putter (pewter) Dish and three plates
" " Spining wheel
One Cow
One Hacket
One Mear (mare)
Jean P. McCord has a record
that sold at venue were: 1 colt, heiffer, tub, pair of cairds, cutting
block and knife, door hinges. Inventory appraised at ninety pounds.
The Account of William
McCleary is dated December 2, 1761. Value Pounds 109.0.6 (sum of the inventory
and appraisal). After paying off all indebtedness, a Balance to be distributed
among the children is given as Pounds 11.3.9. Since a wife is not mentioned,
she may be the Mary McCord shot accidentally by a Provincial soldier.
Some accounts state that one of these William McCords married a Mary Irwin.
Jean P. McCord states that a grand-daughter of William McCord (of the
Fort) in a letter of 1886 says that his wife was either Jane Lowry (Lowery)
or Mary Irwin, that one of these was her grandmother and one her great-aunt.
The James McCord genealogy states that the grand-daughter, Mary Irwin
McCord Mears made this statement in a letter of 1884. (I believe this
Mary Irwin McCord is a daughter of Robert McCord and she would have to
be referring to her great-grandmother and great-great aunt if her reference
is correct. Moreover, unless the John McCord of Bedford County, Virginia
is the son of William of the Fort rather than the John of Mecklenburg
County, this does not fit.) This letter is probably the basis for Alenia's
determining that Robert's and David's parents are William and Mary Irwin
McCord. If the John, son of David, is the Mecklenburg County John, who
is buried at Sugar Creek Church and would have been born in 1732, it adds
ten years of age to the estimated ages of David McCord's children. The
tombstone date should be checked to see if there is an error in copying.
Mecklenburg County records indicate this John McCord actually died in
1809, and he would have been born in 1741/2 much more in accord with the
rest of the David, the Weaver, story. If John of Bedford County is the
son of William of the Fort, it makes the introduction of Mary Irwin into
the family naming more probable. Jean P. McCord refers to very authentic
letters dating back to 1843 as the basis for many of her conclusions.
Did Alenia have copies?)
That William of the Fort survived
the "massacre" is evidenced by his being awarded money as compensation
for destruction of his home.
From Cumberland County
Abstracts of Wills 1750-1800 Vol. I. Collections of the Genealogical
Society of Philadelphia 1905 Vol 91.
p.222 Andrew Murphy Sr. of Lurgan (Cumberland now Franklin)
will written 4 September 1779 proved 20 June 1780 includes daughter Catherine
wife of James McCord. This Catherine is probably the wife of James McCord
son of William of the Fort.
p.297, 373 William Armstrong of Derry will written 4 October 1784 proven 16
March 1785 mentions James McCord, a nephew. Was William Armstrong married
to a daughter of William McCord the Immigrant as this would suggest?
This could also be Family R.
p.108 George McCord will written 27 February 1763 proved 4 March 1763 Wife
Ann Children's names not given Brothers now living James McCord was
a witness.
From American Revolutionary
Soldiers of Franklin County Pennsylvania:
David McCord served as
private, 1782 under Capt. Wm. Strain. Penna. Arch. 5th Ser. Vol.6,
p.431.
Mark McCord served as private,
1782, under Capt. Wm. Strain. Penna. Arch. 5th Ser. Vol.6 p.431.
Samuel McCord served as
private under Capt. John McConnell 1780-81-82. He was born 1757, died
1837, wife Mary Hendricks, born in New Jersey. They had issue: Margaret
mar._____Sample; Mary mar._____Jenkins; Jane Mar._____Hubley; Nelly mar.____Knox;
Sons, Robert, John and Samuel. Penna. Arch. 5th Ser.Vol.6 pp.
268, 303, 310.
William McCord. Fort McCord
a private fort built 1755-6 by Wm. McCord, a settler before 1745, on what
was later Bossert land. William McCord occupied Pew No. 19 in the old
Log Church at Rocky Spring. In 1773 David McCreight sold 38 ac. land
to Wm. McCord for 5 shillings and again in 1773. Wm. McCord sold 224
ac. land to Thos. Lindsay and in 1790, Wm. McCord (the son of David the
Weaver) and wife Sarah sold 290 ac. to Andrew Harshman, the latter a tract
from the Proprietors, Jan. 6, 1775. Wm. McCord Sr. and Wm. McCord Jr.
are shown as serving under Capt. Wm. Strain, 1782. William McCord served
as above, 1780, undated rolls. Dr. A. R. Johnston, New Bloomfield, Penna.,
in his family History states, that Wm. Anderson and wife Margaret McCord
probably came to Perry County, Penna. about 1766. "I think that
he and his wife and her father and brother, (both named Wm. McCord), came
here from the neighborhood of Chambersburg, Penna., "letters papers
and public records point to that conclusion. The Orphans' Court, Chambersburg,
shows one Samuel Bell, who died Oct. 1823, leaving a sister Rosanna, wife
of Andrew McCord. Penna. Arch. 5th Ser. Vol.6, pp.143, 390, 398.
From Pennsylvania Marriages
p. 159:
1764, Nov. 22 Mark
McCord and Catharine Miller.
1774, July 25 William
McCord and Phebe Costilow.
From Pennsylvania Vital
Records Vol. 1 Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983:
p. 663 11 December 1781
Samuel McCord m. Martha McCormick from
Marriages by John
Elder in Cumberland County.
p. 650 28 September 1768
John McCord m. Nancy Sillick by Rev. J. C.
Bucher
p. 689 22 November 1764 Mark
McCord m. Catherine Miller in Cumberland
County.
(These are not sons of
the William McCord who marries Agnes McKinney, nor are they sons of the
William who marries Sarah Kerr. Mark and John must have been born in
the 1740s and Samuel in the 1760s. Could Samuel be a brother of the Robert
from whom Howard descends (Family R)? Note that a Samuel McCordey appears
in Westmoreland County in 1790 in the same township as that of Robert.)
A deed listed by Michael
McCord: Cumberland County, Hopewell Township, Vol. 1, Bk A., P.68, September
17, 1753. James McCord, Bill of Sale to James McCall. James McCord of
Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, Yeoman, for 25 pounds paid by James
McCall of the Township of Lurgan, Carpenter, sells one still of 94 gallons.
Signed James McCord Witnessed Aaron Ryley, James McAlney (This James
McCord is possiblythe son of William the Immigrant who will go to Mecklenburg
County and then South Carolina.)
Greg McNaghten has found
the Journal of the Captivity of Jean Lowry and her Children Giving
an account of her being taken by the Indians the 1st of April 1756 from
William McCords's in Rocky Springs Settlement in Pennsylvania with an
account of the hardships she suffered, etc. Philadelphia: William Bradford,
1760. A few paragraphs are quoted describing the taking of the Fort and
Battle of Sideling Hill.
The indians having made
several incursions upon Pennsylvania and the neighbouring Provinces, all
who lived in the frontier parts were dismaid and mostly assembled the
adjacent families unto some house, they apprehended most convenient, and
raised a kind of stockade about the house they assembled unto. Such a
fort of strength was, by a few neighbours, raised about William M'Cord's
house, in Rocky Spring Settlement and thither my husband (John Lowry)
had carried me and our six children, thinking it a place of greater safty
than our own cottage: But alas! We were soon convinced of the contrary.
For on the 1st of April 1756, about One O'Clock
in the afternoon, the savage indians surrounded the house. My husband
being below and a good marks-man (as I have since been informed) killed
one of the indians, and was instantly killed himself. And there being
no other Man at that time present, the barbarians rushed into the house,
(the Women and children were mostly upstairs) plundered the house of what
they pleased, and seized two of my children that were below. Then most
rudely calling to us that were above. The young indians shooting arrows
in at the upper windows, which wounded some. Then suddenly they set the
house on fire, which was quickly all ablaze, while with my three small
children, I was still in the upper room in the utmost confusion of mind
and body. Oh how my tortur'd mind was hurry'd! Horrer of the indian
barbarities and rudenesses made me think of prefering death unto a miserable
life: But here I had many deaths to suffer in one: It's impossible for
me to relate the thousandth part of my agony for my trembling children:
But divine providence determined me to deliver myself and children up
into their cruel hands, not knowing how the Lord might over-rule them
and dispose of us, rather than instantly perish in the devouring flames:
For now we were near suffocated with the smoke. Bursting thro' every
where upon us, and terrify'd with the thundering noise of the ascending
flame. Another distressing thing to my overwhelmed mind at this time
was, my being big with child, and knowing that it was the usual indian
manner to kill every woman they took in that condition; yet I adventured
to open a window and called out to the barbarians to receive my children,
while I put them out by it, which they did, and afterwards came out myself,
expecting present death, but glory to God, I got unlooked for favours
from them, or rather from glorious King Christ, according to Psal. Cx
2. They did indeed suspect me, and spoke somewhat concerning my condition....I
was now in the hands of the savage indians with my five children, they
immediately commanded us prisoners to march right over Blew Mountain;
so many of them going before us, and so many after us, as they thought
proper. Oh what a distressing journey was this, to an oppre'd and overwhelmed
mind!...Thus, near three days was I hurried over mountains and miry vales.
But on the 5th of the month,
being the Lords Day, about 50 men, many of them my former neighbours,
came upon us, about sun rise or sooner and fired upon the indians: At
the first attack only one indian was killed and another wounded, upon
which they fled, and were soon hid among the Laurel (a great deal of it
growing in this place) our people then came up and untied me and removed
us to a rising ground a little distance. No expression can sufficiently
shew my joy, when instead of savage indians I found myself in the midst
of friends and neighbours, who had assembled so quickly and pursued so
diligently for our rescue. But alas! My joy was very short; for while
our people was busy in untying myself and children, taking care of us,
none of the prisoners being bound besides me that night, as I can remember,
just then did our savage enemys return upon and surround our people; this
gave them great advantage, altho' our people did the best they could for
two hours. A great many of our people were killed and wounded....
(There is much more to this
story; I have given only the first part dealing with the Indian attack
itself.
Greg McNaghten has also given
references from the Lyman Draper collection and other sources:
I may have mentioned that
one of the Lowry girls, Jane married my 5x great-grandfather John McNaghten.
Guyte wrote the the administration of John Lowry (Entry#1, Box L, Carlisle
Court House, Carlisle, PA) shows that his daughter Sarah was captured
at the Fort Massacre and never heard of again. The appraisers were Wm.
Swan, Joseph Swan, James Eaton, Wm. McCleary, William McCord, and James
Warden. Elizabeth Lowry later married Thomas Kennedy.
Sarah (Sally) stayed with
the indians and later married a trader also living with the indians named
John Leith. David Leith his grandson recounts via a man named McKnight
(McNaghten probably) in the Lyman Draper collection the circumstances
of his grandmother Sally's capture by the indains at Fort McCord. I quote:
The Indians came in
the night and secreted themselves on a bluff
which overlooked the
fort, and there remained till the men had
all gone out into the fields to work, when they rushed down and easily took
the fort with its women and children - Mrs. Lowry and children among them.
The men returned and followed the indians all day, a "pet" or
friendly Indian with the whites. In the night they discovered Indian
fires in the bushes beyond an open space - a kind of spot they would shoose
when they could so as to discover pursuers - and the pet Indian insisted
that they should flank around and attack them in the rear - but the whites
rushed straight ahead, attacked the Indians, got repulsed and some died
- and recovered no
prisoners. (The Draper Papers, Lyman C.Draper,
Reel 50, Volume 22,
pages 61 through 79)
He includes more including
comments on the Lowry family that I am not including.
Alice Cavett has furnished
a number of pages on the Fort McCord area from which the following is
taken:
Maryland Gazette
reported the Raid at Fort McCord and stated that two daughters of William
McCord of Fort escaped at the Battle of Bloody Run or Sideling Hill, April
4, 1756. From authentic letters written in 1843 in possession of Mrs.
O. M. Follin, 531 E. Main Street, Kent, Ohio: Mary McCord, daughter of
William McCord of Fort McCord, married Robert Anderson. She said that
young Mary was captured by the Indians and held for a long time.
Revised 9 December 1999
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