Archibald Clendenin Jr.1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 13684, (abt 1730 - 1763)
FatherArchibald Clendenning4,5 (abt 1685 - abt 1749)
MotherNancy Ann Ewing4

Key Events:

Birth: about 1730, Virginia6,7
Marriage: before 1756, Ann [surname unknown] (30 Nov 1738 - about 1817)8,9,10
Death: 15 Jul 1763, Greenbrier, Augusta Co., Virginia4,11,12

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Archibald Clendenin Jr. was born about 1730 in Virginia.6,7
     He was mentioned in the will of Archibald Clendenning, his father, dated 13 Dec 1748.13 His father died about 1749, when Archibald was about 19 years old.4

Into the Frontier – Greenbrier --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     By 1750 some hearty souls had moved westward into Greenbrier, and by 1755, enough settlements had been made in Greenbrier to justify the Colonial Government of Virginia to have Fort Savannah built in the "Big Levels."Archibald had made a settlement two miles west of Fort Savannah (Lewisburg), and a few families had settled on Muddy Creek, and in McDowell Bottoms, below Alderson, on the south side, near the mouth of Wolf Creek.14
     Archibald married Ann [surname unknown], daughter of Margaret Sergeant, before 1756.8,9,10
     Archibald seems to have settled on Big Levels of Greenbrier about 1756. This was about two miles from present day Lewisburg, West Virginia. It seems likely the family, like others in the area, left during the French and Indian War and returned about 1761, after the peace treaty was made. He purchased the 360 acre grant George See had acquired from the Greenbrier Land Company in 1751, which was adjacent to the one of similar size his father and brother had obtained. It appears he and the family occupied one or both parcels.15,16,17
     On 10 Aug 1759 Archibald Clendenning Sr. And John Clendenning were granted a patent on land in Augusta Co., Virginia, some 340 acres on the east side of the Cow Pasture River. After the death of his father, Archibald Clendenin Jr. claimed to be the patentee Archibald, but in 1861 acknowledged he was not.18,19
     Archibald was the King's Colonial surveyor and Augusta Co. Constable for the Greenbrier area on 25 Aug 1762.20,21,22 He received payment in the settlement of the estate of James Dunlap on 23 Jun 1763 in Augusta Co., Virginia.23

Cornstalk's Raid --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Exactly what happened at the Clendenin farm on 15 Jul 1763 is lost to history, but the various accounts agree on the major points. The Shawnee chief Cornstalk, and a band of perhaps sixty tribesmen, had attacked the settlers at Muddy Creek. The next day twenty or so proceeded to the Clendenin farm. They initially posed as friendly, asking for something to eat, and were offered some of the elk that Archibald, a noted hunter, had just brought home. Indians had visited with the Whites before, so this was not suspicious. Some accounts suggest as many as 100 settlers joined in the feast, but the more reliable sources suggest that only the Clendenins, Ann's half-brother John Ewing, and two slaves were there. At some point the Indians attacked, killing and scalping Archibald, and by some accounts also killing their infant son in the process, though this seems doubtful. While some accounts report others killed, none have actually been named. Two slaves working in the field escaped without being noticed. The buildings were burned, and the Ann and the children, including young John Ewing, were taken captive and marched off to join the captives from Muddy Creek.24,25,26
     Archibald died on 15 Jul 1763 in Greenbrier, Augusta Co., Virginia.4,11,12

Settling His Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     His widow Ann [surname unknown] qualified as administratrix of his estate on 16 Aug 1763 in Augusta Co., Virginia, with Felix Gilbert and Wm. Mays as sureties.27 An appraisal of his estate was filed on 5 Apr 1764 in Augusta Co., Virginia, by Jno. Fulton, Samuel Steel, Nathaniel Steel, and Robert Alexander, which included "1 tomhawk, pipe, pistole and 1 cow wounded with an arrow."28 Settlement of his estate was recorded on 19 Aug 1767 in Augusta Co., Virginia, with payments being made to Ash Claftrock, John Clendenning, Wm. Galespie, Zopher Carpenter, James Furguson, David Galloway, James Millican, Robt. Galespie, Geo. Roberts, Benj. Kimsey, John Bailer, and John Jeremiah.29

Children:
     Children with Ann [surname unknown]:

  • John Clendenin4 (abt 1758 - abt 1764)
  • Jane Clendenin30,31,5 (Jan 1758 or Feb 1758 - abt Aug 1824)
  • James Clendenin4,5 (abt 1763 - abt 20 Jul 1763)

Citations

  1. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol II pg 182-3, citing Circuit Court Judgments and Causes Ended (William Douglass vs. Davis--O. S. 232; N. S. 82), shows Archibald Clendennin had a son Archbald Jr.
  2. [S661] Moses, "The Clendenin Massacre", shows name as Archibald Clendenin.
  3. [S745] Norman, "Descendants Of Adam Clendenin", shows name as Archibald Clendenin Jr.
  4. [S652] Marlow, "Ancestors of Rebecca Davis", pg 3.
  5. [S745] Norman, "Descendants Of Adam Clendenin."
  6. [S652] Marlow, "Ancestors of Rebecca Davis", pg 3, shows year, as c. 1735, and state.
  7. [S745] Norman, "Descendants Of Adam Clendenin", shows year, as c. 1830.
  8. [S402] Marlow, "Linah Mims," e-mail to author, 20 Oct 2001, shows married.
  9. [S661] Moses, "The Clendenin Massacre", citing Ruth Woods Dayton, Greenbrier Pioneers and Their Homes (Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Publishing Company, 1942) pp. 225-235, shows married prior to moving to Greenbrier, c. 1756.
  10. [S745] Norman, "Descendants Of Adam Clendenin", shows married c. 1754.
  11. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol II pg 93, citing Circuit Court Judgments and Causes Ended (O. S. 56; N. S. 19), show he was killed by Indians in Greenbrier and year, and James Burnsides, Sr., deposed he 15th July, 1763.
  12. [S745] Norman, "Descendants Of Adam Clendenin", shows "killed by Indians in the Muddy Creek Massacre in Greenbrier County VA July 15, 1763," but Greebrier Co. did not exist until 1778.
  13. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol III pg 12, citing Will Book 1, pg 148.
  14. [S653] Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County.
  15. [S654] "Clendennin House or Fort", citing Dayton 1942:225 for move in 1761, Augusta Co. Chancert Court files O.S. 56, N.S. 19 for the land purchase. But this purchase was one of two parcels Archibald accuired in Greenbrier, the first being from his father. Other sources report settlers left the area during the French and Indian war, so it seems likely Archibald had moved there, left, and returned after the war.
  16. [S661] Moses, "The Clendenin Massacre", citing Ruth Woods Dayton, Greenbrier Pioneers and Their Homes (Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Publishing Company, 1942) pp. 225-235, shows moved to Greenbrier about 1756. Citing manuscript written by Harry H Handley for Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society Volume II, Number 2, October 1970 , pp 5-13 and that Archibald Sr. and George See had each obtained adjoining grants of 360 acres, and Archibald Jr. had inherited his father's and acquired See's. Also shows Archibald Jr. and family living on tracts by 1759.
  17. [S685] Royall, Sketches of History, Life, and Manners, pg 60-61, shows he settled within two miles of Lewisburg, "where Mr. Ballard Smith now lives," in 1763.
  18. [S1473] Virginia Colonial Land Office Patents,, 34:367, Archibald Clendening and John Clendening, 1759.
  19. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol II pg 182-3, citing Circuit Court Judgments and Causes Ended (William Douglass vs. Davis--O. S. 232; N. S. 82), show the property was in Bath Co., which it was at the time of the suit, but Bath was not established until 1791.
  20. [S653] Historical Booklet - Greenbrier County, shows he was a surveyor of the King.
  21. [S654] "Clendennin House or Fort", citing Chalkley 1912 (I):225, shows he was King's Colonial surveyor and Augusta Co. Constable for Greenbrier.
  22. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol I pg 101, citing Augusta County Court Records, Order Book No. VII, pg 341, shows "appointed Constable on the waters of the Greenbrier" and date.
  23. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol III pg 80, citing Will Book 3, pg 270.
  24. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol II pg 93, citing Circuit Court Judgments and Causes Ended (O. S. 56; N. S. 19), shows John Ewing was deposed in c. 1804 he was captured 15th July, 1763.
  25. [S657] Matthews, "Captive of The Shawnee", shows date as June 1763, describes 17 (another place 19) Indians seemingly friendly arrival, then killing and scalping Archibald and setting fire to the cabin, and taking Ann, John, and the children off. There is no mention of any settlers other than the family and two slaves. In describing Ann's return to the homestead, mentions she buried her husband's body, with no reference to a child's body there.
  26. [S685] Royall, Sketches of History, Life, and Manners, pg 61-62, describes the Shawanese killing Yokum and others at Muddy Creek, then coming to the Clendenings; asking for food, Ann getting meat from the kettle, scalping of Archibald, plundering and burning the house, and the capture of Ann, her three children, and John Ewing. There is no mention of any other settlers.
  27. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol I pg 108, citing Augusta County Court Records, Order Book No. VIII, pg 213, showing she qualified, and vol III, pg 80, citing Will Book 3, pg 275, shows sureties.
  28. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol III pg 85, citing Will Book 3, pg 353.
  29. [S655] Chalkley, Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish, vol III pg 100, citing Will Book 4, pg 37.
  30. [S402] Marlow, "Linah Mims," e-mail to author, 20 Oct 2001.
  31. [S661] Moses, "The Clendenin Massacre", citing Ruth Woods Dayton, Greenbrier Pioneers and Their Homes (Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Publishing Company, 1942) pp. 225-235.