September 30, 2007
A look at John McConnell
By O.C. Stonestreet
John McConnell was born in Ireland in 1721 and came to America in 1740 when he was 19 years old.
McConnell followed what was called the “Great Wagon Road” from Pennsylvania to the South in the late 1740s and settled in the Davidson’s Creek area of what would eventually become the southwestern corner — the Davidson Township — of Iredell County. It is likely he did not make the trip at one time, but may have lived a few years in Maryland or Virginia before reaching North Carolina.
McConnell purchased a grant of 587 acres from an agent of Lord Granville in 1752. At the time of the purchase, this tract was a part of Anson County.
Anson was divided up into smaller chunks in 1753, and the area where Mr. McConnell lived became Rowan County. In 1788, following the War for Independence, Rowan itself was further divided, and McConnell found himself living in the county of Iredell. Thus, in less than 40 years, John McConnell lived in three counties without having moved!
John and his wife, Mary Winsley (or Winslow) McConnell, had a nine children: seven daughters and two sons. This area is still home to their many descendants. John McConnell’s name can be found on a tablet in the vestibule of Centre Presbyterian Church, which lists its congregation’s members known to have served in the Cause of Independence. While John perhaps did not participate in actual fighting, he was remembered as a wagon master, taking supplies to the troops. Both of his sons fought in the War for Independence.
John purchased more land as he prospered and became a prominent member of the community, serving in various respected capacities, such as juror, constable and a member of the local militia. By vocation, he was a weaver, a trade he probably learned before his arrival in America.
John McConnell passed away on Dec. 30, 1801, in his 80th year. He was subsequently buried in what was referred to as the Baker Cemetery, about three miles west of Mount Mourne. One would have thought that his travels were over.
McConnell made a will about six months before his death. Wills are very useful documents: they list names of children and their spouses, they often include an inventory of possessions and give details of life long ago.
A portion of McConnell’s will is given here — with original spellings and punctuation. Careful reading will reveal that the unknown scribe spelled John’s surname three different ways, probably to demonstrate his spelling prowess.
The late Joel P. McConnell of Mooresville furnished this writer with the basis of this article. The original will can be seen in Book I, page 180, of Iredell County Wills.
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In the name of God Amen this 12th day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred & one I, John McConald Sr. of the County of Iredell in the state of North Carolina, being old & stricken in years & not in a good state of health but of perfect sound mind & memory & calling to mind my mortality & that it is appointed for all once to die Do make this my Last will and Testement in the following manner & form first of recommending my soul to God who gave it my body to the Earth to be buried in Christian burial without pompt hopeing through the merits Death and portion of my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ to receive a full and free pardon of all my sins & to inherit everlasting Life & as touching such worldly estate as God hath blessed me with in this life I give and bequeath in the following manner and form.
Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife the plantation on which I now live my dwelling house with all the furniture therein her chois of two negroes & one horse, of her own chuseing four cows, six head of sheep, saddle and bridle, Six head of hogs at her chois all to be at her own disposal the house and land Excepted but to be peacibly possessed by her During her lifetime & at her death sd house & land be deeded to my son Benjamin both old and new tracts to them their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give an bequeath to my grand sons William Andreas McRee & John Lata McConnel, David McRees son and Benjamin McConnells son five hundred acres of land in the Cumbarland to be eaqually devided between them & if either of sd boys should die before mature age of 21 their part to be at their fathers Disposal to them their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my Loving sons John and Benjamin at my wifes decease all my books to be equally divided between them & their heirs forever.
Item, it is my will & I order that the remaining part of my estate heretofore not mentioned be put to sale Excepting my wearing apparel which I leave to my two sons equal & the sd money ariseing from the said sale to be equally divided between my Wife, Wm. Andrew McRee, my daughter Margaret, my son John, my daughter Rebkah, my daughter Ann, my daughter Sarah & my daughter Jeane & my son Benjamin to them forever.
Item, I name, nominate, constitute, & appoint my loving friend Moses Winslow & my son Benjamin, Executors of this my Last Will & Testement hereby revoking all other wills heretofore by me made by word or writing ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testement.
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Much of the original McConnell tract is now under the waters of Lake Norman.
Because of the lake, John’s headstone and those of others were removed in 1961 from Baker’s Graveyard, where John had been interred 160 years earlier and reburied in a corner of the graveyard at Centre Presbyterian Church in Mount Mourne. There his marker can be seen today, though it is barely readable.
One hopes John has finally settled down.
