Archibald McMahan

Notes:

Archibald McMahan is listed in the 1810 Census of Buncombe County, North Carolina. It is believed he migrated to Sevier County, Tennessee about 1811.

Archibald McMahan may have been a signer of a petition from "the district South of the rivers French Broad and Holston." The name appears on the petition as McGan, but is believed to be Archibald McMahan. This petition apparently includes the area of Jefferson County, South of the French Broad and perhaps part of the Cosby-English Mountain section of Cocke County, Tennessee.

Archibald obtained Grant #11578 for 25 acres in Sevier County, Tennessee dated 20 August 1825. He lived in the first district of Sevier County, Tennessee in the Jones Cove area.

Archibald McMahan is listed in the 1830 and 1840 Sevier County, Tennessee Federal Census. In the 1840 census, He is listed as Archibald McMahan, Sr. 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 70-80 and 1 female 60-70. In the 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee Census he is listed as a farmer living alone.

Archibald McMahan made his will 21 March 1852 a copy of which follows:

"I, Archibald McMahan of the County of Sevier, and State of Tennessee do hearby make and ordain this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others.

1st, I give and bequeath to my son David McMahan two negro slaves named Frank and Tibby.

2nd, I give and bequeath to my son Redmond McMahan one slave named Thomas.

3rd, I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Large one slave named Nancy.

4th, I give and bequeath to my son William McMahan one slave named Simon.

5th, I give and bequeath to my son Archibald McMahan one slave named Jane.

6th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Emitt one slave named Mary.

7th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Anna Roland one slave named Betsy.

8th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Duggan one slave named Winny.

9th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Susan Howard one slave named Lucy.

10th, I give and bequeath to my son James McMahan one slave named Carter.

11th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Maples during her natural life one slave named Henry and after her death to the heirs of her body.

I will and bequeath to my daughter Anna Roland my slave named Aggy to be taken good care of during said Aggy's lifetime and the said Aggy after my death may take what property she claims about my house that belongs to her, and also to take a cow and calf claimed by said Aggy.

I will and bequeath my slaves Jack and Charity to my son William McMahan to take care of them during their life.

I will and bequeath Rebecca McMahan, wife of Archibald McMahan Jr., and to George McMahan, illegitimate children of my son George McMahan one slave named James to be divided equally between them.

I hereby appoint David McMahan and Robert H. Henderson my executors to this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof, here unto set my hand and seal this 21st day of March 1852

Witnesses: his
George McMahan Archibald X McMahan
John McKisack mark

In addition to the foregoing I will and bequeth to the children of my deceased daughter, Sally Howard, three hundred dollars to be divided equally between them.

I will and bequeath that my real estate and the balance of my personal assets be sold and the proceeds be divided equally between sons David McMahan, Redmond McMahan, William McMahan, James McMahan, and Archibald McMahan and my daughters Jane Large, Nancy Emit, Anna Roland, Susan Howard, and to my daughters Mary Duggan and Elizabeth Maples, I will one half as much of my real estate and balance of my personal estate as is willed to the above named heirs, half a share with the above heirs.

In testimony whereof I herunto set my hand and affix my seal this 21st day of March, 1852.

Witnesses: his
George McMahan Archibald X McMahan
John McKisack mark

I do hereby revoke that part of my will appointing David McMahan one of my executors and do hereby appoint Fedric Emit and William McMahan in conjunction with Robert H. Hodsden my executors to carry out this my foregoing will and testement.

In addition to the foregoing will, I will and bequeath to my grand-daughter Martha McMahan, daughter of Wilson McMahan one hundred dollars to be paid her out of the proceeds of my personal property by my executors, and revoke enough of the foregoing will to carry the same into effect. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my seal this 11th day of May 1852.

Witnesses: his
George McMahan Archibald X McMahan
John McKisack mark

A stone in Pearl Valley Cemetery reading "A. McMahan born 17-- Died 27 February, 1853" is believed to be Archibald McMahan's resting place.
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Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 188.
"McMahan Family Tree", Glenn F. McMahan, 10 March 1932, p 1.
"The Townsend Heritage", Kathy Townsend, 1984, p 50.
Cliff Manis
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 63.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 July 1983, p 4, 7.
Smoky Mountain Historical Society Newsletter, David Templin, 1981, Vol 7, No 2, p 13.
"The Virginia Genealogist", Vol 27, No. 1, p. 149.
Mrs. H. S. Surface, 401 Surface Drive, Tazewell, VA 24651, 540-988-3581.
Barbara Byrd Williams, Box 105, Kenbridge, VA, 23944 (804) 676-1258.

Archibald married Elizabeth Byrd 28 Sep 1793, Grayson County, Virginia. Elizabeth (daughter of George Byrd and Mary) was born Abt 1777; died Abt 1844; was buried Pearl Valley Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

1. Redmond McMahan was born 11 Jul 1795, , Virginia.
2. David Crockett McMahan was born 10 Oct 1796, Grayson County, Virginia; died 4 Apr 1878, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Richardson Cove Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
3. George McMahan was born 1797, Virginia; died 1850/1859; was buried Jones Cove, Sevier County, Tennessee.
4. James Balford "Jim Bally" McMahan was born 1798, , Virginia; died 14 Dec 1887, , Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried , Sevier County, Tennessee.
5. Mary "Polly" McMahan was born 14 Feb 1801, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 1872; was buried Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
6. William "Bill" McMahan was born 1804, North Carolina; died 1866; was buried Sanders McMahan Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
7. Sarah "Sally" McMahan was born 1805, , Buncombe County, North Carolina; died Bef 21 Mar 1852.
8. Elizabeth McMahan was born 1807, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died Abt 1855/1856, Sevier County, Tennessee.
9. Archibald McMahan was born 12 Apr 1808, North Carolina; died 18 Feb 1872; was buried Pearl Valley Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
10. Anna McMahan was born 27 Apr 1809, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 28 Jul 1900; was buried Proffitt Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
11. Virginia Jane "Jin" McMahan was born 15 Sep 1812, Tennessee; died 6 Apr 1877; was buried Holders Cemetery, Cocke County, Tennessee.
12. Susan McMahan was born 4 Apr 1813, Tennessee; died 19 Mar 1884; was buried Howard-Campbell Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
13. Nancy McMahan was born 12 Mar 1820, Tennessee; died 24 Feb 1857; was buried Emerts Cove Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.
14. Wilson "Wilse" McMahan was born 1821, , Sevier County, Tennessee; died 1843, , Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Pearl Valley, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Notes:

It is believed Archibald McMahan left his home in Ireland and came to America about 1746 to seek his fortune in the wilderness of the new world. Archibald McMahan, then 16 years of age, landed in either the state of Virginia or North Carolina.

His great grandson Sanders McMahan said "Archibald 'the elder' was born in Scotland and he went to Ireland, met Mary McNulty and married there, then came to America through port of Washington North Carolina and settled Buncombe County, North Carolina.

There is debate over Archibald's given name. Some believe Archibald and Redmond are one in the same, but both names have not been found to be used together. We now believe they were brothers.

During Archibald's lifetime he accumulated quite a bit of wealth and at the time of his death he owned seventeen slaves.

It is not clear where Archibald McMahan was buried. Some say he was buried in McMinnville or Morrison, Tennessee.
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Reference:
"McMahan Family Tree", Glenn F. McMahan, 10 March 1932, p 1.
T. D. W McMahan records, Johnny Scott Large, p 63.
Rosa Lee Downey notes, 16 July 1983, p 1-2, 4.
Ann Turner, 2 January 1995.
"Yancy County, Buncombe County Heritage"
Kay McMahan Noska, 1407 Alvin Ave., El Campo, TX 77437, 14 January 1997.

Archibald married Ann McNulty 1768, Montgomery County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

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Reference:
Kay McMahan Noska, 1407 Alvin Ave., El Campo, TX 77437, 14 January 1997.

Notes:

Marjorie McMahan Cordingly published a thorough listing of the early McMahans in 1956, and a typewritten draft of her work is in the LDS library in Knoxville. It lists Archibald I's children and gives their birth and death dates.
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Reference:
Jim Christian, jsxian@worldnet.att.net, , 27 May 1998, 3 February 1999.

— Catherine Cole. [Group Sheet]