James Mc Cracken Private — SC Militia American

James Mc. Cracken Private - SC Militia American Revolutionary War SC Society - Sons of the American Revolution Governor Paul Hamilton Chapter F. J. (Joe) Riddle, Jr. 4 th Great Grandson September 2015 1

James Mc. Cracken This is a brief on my 4 th Great Grandfather’s life in American and his service in the American Revolutionary War as a South Carolina Militia Private from ~1775 to 1783. 2

Mc. Cracken - Agenda n n James Mc. Cracken was from Scotland South Carolina – General Duty Act 1761 Arrival in America Revolutionary War Service ~1775 -1783 n 1776 : Cherokee Expedition n 1778 : Florida Expedition n 1780 : Blackstock’s Plantation 3

Mc. Cracken – Agenda Family life n Family, Land Ownership and movement West n Historical Records n United States Archives, South Carolina, Tennessee, WEB n 4

Mc. Cracken – Immigrant n James Mc. Cracken born in Galloway Scotland n n n Born December 14, 1754 Poor Protestant South Carolina – General Duty Act 1761 n n Common House of Assembly : 1761 Amendments of Duty Act 1752 William Bull : Esquire, Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of South Carolina “Encouragement heretofore given to poor protestants to become settlers in this province” 5

Mc. Cracken – General Duty Act 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Defray the expense of the passage from Europe of every free poor Protestant Arrive within 3 years Above the age of 12 years old Certificate of Good Character from Minister or Elder Given 2 Pounds Sterling to purchase Tools & Provisions 6

Mc. Cracken – Immigrant n James Mc. Cracken arrival in America Arrived January 5, 1768 in Charleston SC from Belfast on the Brigantine “Chichester” as a 14 year old boy by himself n Ship Master paid by the Court n Also received : “ 100 Acres - Draft of Enroee & Duncan Creek on Cawseys Branch” Near current Whitmire, SC 7 n

Mc. Cracken – SC Militia n Revolutionary War Service ~1775 -1783 n n 1776 : Cherokee Expedition 1778 : Florida Expedition 1780 : Blackstock’s Plantation Thought also to serve in The Snow Campaign, Charleston & Savannah 8

Mc. Cracken – SC Militia 1776 : Cherokee Expedition n n July 1776 to December 1776 – heart of Cherokee lands – currently Tennessee July 1776 British encouraged Cherokee raids in VA, NC, SC, & GA Patriot retaliation march to heart of Cherokees – VA: Col William Christian, GA, NC: Brigadier Gen G. Rutherford, SC: Col Andrew Williamson Majority of Cherokees seek peace terms – rogue of young men continue raids Expedition met little resistance – rebuilt abandoned forts – show of force discourage further raids 9

Mc. Cracken – SC Militia 1778 : Florida Expedition n n June 1778 –Alligator Creek (Jacksonville FL) Patriots: GA Continental Battalions (General Robert Howe, Gen James Screven, Elijah Clarke), GA Militia (Governor Houstoun), SC Militia (Gen Andrew Williamson) No Agreement on who was in command. Hot & poor provisions. British & Loyalists ( Col Brown, Major Prevost) Stand-off at St John’s River – British “Win” Patriots abandoned expedition 10

Mc. Cracken – SC Militia n n Nov 20, 1780 : Blackstock’s Plantation (Ninety-Six District – Tyger River Crossing) Patriot (Brig Gen Thomas Sumter) vs British (Lt Col Banastre Tarleton) Sumter posted himself strongly – steep hillside in front, rear protected by Tyger, left protected by log barn of logs where riflemen were posted, : Tarleton advanced into Patriots with smaller force then retreated. Patriot “Win” - British 90 killed 100 wounded; Patriot 3 killed 5 wounded. 1 st Tarleton Loss!!! Sumpter shoulder wound. 11

Mc. Cracken – SC Militia n n Revolutionary War Service discussed in W 7416 Pension Recognized Service as a Horseman known as a “Dragoon” 12

Mc. Cracken – Family life n n Marriage & Children n 22 Jan 1779 Married Mary Smith and they had 12 Children (oldest John – my line) Upstate South Carolina n 1768 Original Land was on Cawsey Branch near Whitmire SC n Purchase other deeds in area Move Westward n ~1810 Moved to TN and then on to Alabama ~1816 Died Alabama n 8 Aug 1841 13

Mc. Cracken – Records Historical Records n National Archives : Pension n Charleston & Columbia SC Records n Newberry County SC Historical Society n Lawrence County TN Historical Society 14

Mc. Cracken – Records Historical Records n “Descendents of James Mc. Cracken and Mary Smith”, Phillip G. Mc. Cracken, July, 1997. n Ancestry & Find-a-Grave 15

Mc. Cracken - Summary Born 14 Dec 1754 Died 8 Aug 1824 n Took opportunity of SC Laws to come to America (SC) from Scotland n American Revolutionary War Service: Private in SC Militia as a “Dragoon” ~1775 -1783 n Moved West with family ~1810 acquiring “Indian Land” n Excellent Records 16 n

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to brief you on my th Great Grandfather: 4 Patriot James Mc. Cracken and may God Bless America! 17