Page:The McClure Family.djvu/152

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128
McCLURES IN VIRGINIA.

OTHER McCLURES IN AUGUSTA COUNTY.

A. Finley McClure, possibly a brother of James, settled in Augusta County as early as 1739. The name suggests his connection with the Finley family, well known both in Augusta Co. and in the north of Ireland. His deed for 440 acres "A part of the mannor of Beverly" joining Patrick Campbell and David Mitchel, is dated Feb. 28, 1739, Orange C. H. His name spelled McClewer, appears 1742 on the muster roll of Capt. John Christian's company of militia, third in a list of seventy-six. The Augusta records give two transfers of land, viz., 1742 and 1748, when he seems to have located in the western part of the county. The last mention of his name is 1768, when he witnessed a deed for John Tate.

He was probably the father of Michael McClure, who lived in that neighborhood, born about 1750 and married between 1774 and 1778 Mary Wetzell. (Chalkley, Vol. I, p. 377).

He witnessed the will, 5th Nov., 1780, of Archibald Gilkeson. Is mentioned in Wm. McPheters' list of tithables, Augusta, 1781.

We find him in the Rockingham County census of 1784, giving his family as six.

Having married a Wetzell, we are inclined to the opinion that he is the ancestor of John McClure, of Franklin, Pendleton Co., W. Va.

Martin Wetzell, of Augusta County, in his will written Feb. 9, 1795, and proven April 8, 1795, names John McClure, his grandson, his sole heir and executor. (Will Book I, p. 20, Chalkley II, p. 249). This Wetzell family mentioned in McClung's Western Adventure, was well known. Martin's brother, Lewis Wetzell, was the most renowned Indian fighter of his time. They were sons of John Wetzell, an early settler.

The following information was furnished me by Mr. John McClure, Franklin, W. Virginia: