Notes for: John MCFADIN
John McFadin was the third son of John McFadin. His birthplace is unknown but is likely to be either Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or Maryland. He is not referred to as "John, Jr." in his father's will, nor was he generally known as a "Junior." However, in order to differentiate him from numerous other John McFadins, he has come to be known as John McFadin Jr.
Prior to 1763 John served with his brother William in the Maryland Militia in Captain Joseph Chapline's Company. In the same regiment were a number of men who were among those prominent in the settlement of Western North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky including several who followed Daniel Boone.
By 1771 John and his family were in old Tryon Co., North Carolina, where other members of his family also resided. The North Carolina State Archives cite a series of land purchases by him over the period 1772-1775 amounting to more than 600 acres. Between 1777 and 1779 John sold off this land and appears to have departed the state, reportedly for Davidson Co., Tennessee. John was reputedly at Painted Stone, Virginia (later Shelbyville, Kentucky), in June 1780 with Squire Boone's Company of the Kentucky Militia.
From at least 1782, and for a period of several years, he is recorded as having resided in Davidson Co., Tennessee, as supported by various records of the county court. Brother James was apparently also nearby. In October 1784, John sold his land in Davidson Co. to his son David. He is then said to have been with his brothers William and Andrew on Silver Creek, a branch of the Red River, just over the disputed border in Kentucky during the period 1784-85.
In September 1799, John McFadin purchased land in Christian Co., Kentucky, and appears to have resided there until at least 1820 when he apparently moved to nearby Warren Co. His three youngest daughters are believed to most likely be from a second marriage.
John died in 1839 at the age of about 95 in Warren County, Kentucky, where his will was entered for probate in November with George Sumpter named as administrator of the estate. In his will John McFadin named his sons and daughters who had not predeceased him and the four orphaned minor children of his daughter Cynthia.
Sources:
1. The McFadden Family 1700-1998, A Biographical Account of John McFadden and His Descendants, by Etta R. (McFadden) Otto, pub. by Lennis McFadden, Rochester, NY, 1998.
2. Colonial Soldiers of the South 1732-1774, by Murtie June Clark, Genealogical Publishing Compnay, Baltimore.
3. Land Purchase 26 SEP 1799: 131 ¼ acres, Christian Co., KY, West Fork of Red River, Book 2, p.48.
Land Purchase 24 OCT 1807: 66 acres, Christian Co., KY, Pond River, Book 23, p.341. Note: This could be another of the several John McFadins in the area at the time.
4. Warren Co., Kentucky, Circuit Court Estate Papers No. 1324, Kentucky State Archives. [email David McFadden]