USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Sandwich > History of the Somonauk United Presbyterian church near Sandwich, De Kalb County, Illinois : with ancestral lines of the early members > Part 27
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(signed) Ebenezer Russell.
4th. A quitclaim deed, from Archibald McNaughton to Alexander McNaughton, dated January 8th. 1818, recorded in Libro N. of Deeds, page 64.
These McNaughton papers were copied November 4th. 1847, from the original documents, then in the possession of Samuel Dobbin, who at that date was the owner of lot No. 32. He married Anna (4) McNaughton (Alexander 3, John 2 Alexander 1. The latter was the original grantee of lot 32 of the Algyle patent.)
THE TURNER PATENT
August 7, 1764, there was granted by the Crown to Alexander Turner and twenty-four other citizens of Pelham, Mass., 25,000 acres in what was later the town of Salem, Washington County, New York. A list of the grantees furnished by the New York State Library follows:
Alexander Turner
James Turner
Hugh Bolton
Benjamin Southwick
Thomas Johnson
James Lukes
Daniel Ballard
Matthew Bolton
George Thompson
Samuel Southwick
John McCreles
Jonathan Marsh
Daniel McCollem
John Crawford
William Crossett
Joshua Conkey
John Lucore
Alexander Turner, Jr.
William Edgar
Robert Hamilton
Joseph Rugg
William Conkey
Charles Kidd
Thomas White
Adam Clark Grey
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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAMILIES
THE MCNAUGHTON FAMILY
The McNaughton family is connected by blood and marriage with so many of the families of the Somonauk Church, and the history of the American head of this house is so woven into the history of the Argyle Patent that, although the family remained in Washington County, New York, their lineage is indispensable to this volume. The following account of the family is mainly from a series of articles written by the Honorable James Gibson and published in The Salem Review Press in 1887.
"The history of this family shows the great antiquity of its origin, and in many particulars is exceedingly romantic.
"It originated in Argyllshire, Scotland, and its principal seats have been located in the highlands of that section, and from thence immi- grated all the early settlers of the name who came to this part of America. When we consider the wonderful tenacity with which the Highlander holds fast to the names used in the family and find there is no ancient family of McNaughtons in this section that has not among its children the names of Alexander, John, Malcolm, Donald, Daniel or Duncan, we should expect to find the same names among their ancestors in Argyllshire. Accordingly, turning to the pages of history of the Scottish clans: The NECTHAN'S, as the name was called by the Keltic race, existed and were powerful long before the intro- duction of surnames among them. The heads of this clan were for ages Thanes of Loch Tay, and possessed all the country between the South side of Loch Fyne and Lochawe. (Buchanan's History of the Origin of the Clans, p. 84.) 'Later Donald McNaughton, of Argyll- shire, nearly connected with the McDougalls of Lorn joined his clan with that of the former against Robert the Bruce in the great battle of Dalre, A. D. 1306. His son and successor, Duncan, was a loyal subject of King David II, who as a reward for his fidelity conferred on his son Alexander lands in the island of Lewis which the clans long held, and the ruins of their castle on that island are still pointed out.' (Anderson's Scottish Nation.)
"Donald, a younger son of the family, was, in 1436, elected Bishop of Dunkeld. Alexander, of that ilk, who lived in the beginning of the 16th century was knighted by James IV, whom he accompanied to Flodden and in that disastrous battle lost his life. His son John
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was succeeded by his second son Malcolm who died near the end of the reign of James VI, and was succeeded by his eldest son Alexander. John, the latter's grandson was with his clan under Claverhouse, at the battle of Killiecrankie, and largely contributed to its favorable result.
"It is thus seen that few families in Washington county can trace a more ancient lineage than the McNaughtons, as it can readily be followed back for more than eight hundred years.
"Alexander McNaughton was the first settler of the name in this county, which he always wrote Alexander M'Nacthen-this is "Alex- ander, the Son of Nacthen,' that being the family name of the race, traced back, as was done in the opening section of this sketch, for more than eight hundred years. He was born in Argyllshire, in Isla, the most southern island of the Hebrides and immigrated in the first company brought over by Laughlin Campbell, landing in the city of New York, in July, 1738. He brought with him his wife [Mary McDonald] and children John, Moses, Jeannett and Eleanor. Not obtaining the promised grant of lands on which to settle in this county, he and family, with many others of his associate colonists, settled at [Tappan] in Orange county, and there remained till his re- moval in 1765 to the Argyle patent.
"Alexander McNaughton left a brother Duncan in Scotland, who had married Margaret, a sister of Donald Fisher, who had become the owner of some of the military patents located in Pawlet and Hebron and perhaps on his invitation she came to America, her hus- band having died in Scotland, bringing with her all the children she had, except Malcolm, who had come before, and was with his uncle Alexander on the Argyle patent or subsequently came there with him.
"In the grant of the Argyle patent as finally made in 1764, a trust was created for the benefit of all of the settlers who came to this country in the three companies brought over by Laughlin Camp- bell in 1738, 1739 and 1740, of the descendants of such of them as had died, or those of their families surviving. In this trust Alexander McNaughton was the presiding trustee and the affairs and manage- ment of the trust were largely under his direction. In order to pro- vide for the expenses of the surveying and allottment of the lands, an assessment was made according to the number of acres allotted, and on receiving his deed the grantee would pay his share of the expenses. But as some of the parties or immigrants entitled to shares never came forward to receive their deeds and pay their portion of the expenses, all such shares were sold and conveyances made to the pur- chasers. In this way persons not of the original immigrants, became owners of shares in the Argyle patent. And indeed there were cases where the conveyance was made, and the expenses paid, but the grantee never claimed or occupied the lands and those who did actually occupy, had possession without any title.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAMILIES
"In this connection an explanation may be made of how the patent received the name of Argyle. The common statement that it was originally granted to the Duke of Argyle and that he parcelled it out among his clan, is withiut the slightest foundation. The Duke of Argyle had nothing whatever to do with the grant of the patent, or with its allottment or settlement. The whole subject is matter of history and it is difficult to see how such a story could have originated. The learned and distinguished Dr. Asa Fitch, now deceased, exploded this fable more than forty years ago. (See Fitch's History of Wash- ington County, New York, Section 78.)
"Laughlin Campbell, a native of Isla, which forms part of Argyll- shire, in Scotland, had received encouragement from the Provincial authorities of New York, that if he would procure the immigration to the province of a number of families from Scotland, those brought over by him should receive a grant of lands free of expense sufficient to enable them to obtain a support. The object of the government of New York, in this matter, was to procure the settlement of that portion of this county lying south of what is now Whitehall, and on the borders of Wood creek, and form a barrier against French and Indian invasion from Canada by way of Lake Champlain. In pur- suance of this encouragement, Campbell procured the immigration in 1738, of a colony from Argyllshire consisting of 33 families and 49 single persons, making in all 177 persons. In 1739, he in like manner, procured an immigration of 42 families and 24 single persons, making in all 193 persons. And in 1740, he obtained 15 families and 46 single persons in addition, making together 100 persons. The immi- gration having been obtained, all solicitude on the part of the pro- vincial authorities to fulfill the promises made to Campbell in their. behalf, wholly ceased, and no grant of lands for their settlement was made and they were left to take care of themselves as best thy could.
"The colonists thus introduced, suffered great hardships for many years, and this seems to have finally shamed those having control to make the grant of lands as originally promised. In the meantime, the lands about Whitehall and Wood Creek had been granted to others, and were included in the Skenesborough and Artillery patents, and could not, therefore, be granted to the Scotch settlers. The lands in the Argyle patent were therefore granted in their place. Thus, after the lapse of over twenty years, the settlers, or their descendants, who came over under the offers made to Laughlin Campbell, received a grant of those lands in part fulfillment of the original promises made to him. This grant was made by the Governor and Council of the Province of New York, by patent to Alexander McNaughton and others, in trust, to be allotted among those settlers and their descend- ants. The patent was issued in the usual form of such grants and in the same form and manner as Skenesborough and other patents located in this section were issued.
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"This much for the story of the Duke of Argyle granting or re- ceiving a grant of the patent. The name of Argyle was given because the settlers were all from the Shire of Argyle in Scotland.
"Alexander McNaughton settled on that portion of the patent which now lies in the town of Greenwich, and on the farm which was long after occupied by Deacon Samuel Dobbin as a homestead. Here he built a common log house in 1764, and a few years after another of squared logs. He was appointed a justice of the peace, and was the first one appointed on the Argyle patent to that office.
"It was while acting as such justice that he was summoned to New Perth, as Salem was then called, to enforce the law against Ethan Allen and his ruffianly associates, who had by force of arms raided the lands granted to Charles Hutchan, Donald Campbell and others in the northeast corner of the present town of Salem and had torn off the roofs from their log houses, and by threats compelled the occu- pants to leave the premises."
The fore going petitions and memorials that resulted in the grant- ing of the Argyle Patent have made plain the large credit that is due Alexander McNaughton for his sagacity in acting for the colonists and for his subsequent administration of the trust created for the benefit of the settlers brought by Laughlin Campbell, in which trust he was the presiding trustee and principal administrator.
ALEXANDER (1) McNAUGHTON, one of the five original trus- tees of the Argyle Patent, was born in the Isle of Islay, Scotland, about 1693; died in the home of his son-in-law, Hon. Edward Savage, in Salem, New York, in 1784; married in Argyleshire, Scotland, about 1725, Mary McDonald, born there in 1690; died in the home of Duncan Taylor, a relative, where the family had tarried on their way home from Burgoyne's camp.
Alexander McNaughton, with his wife and their four elder chil- dren, came with the first of Captain Lauchlan Campbell's Highland Scotch colonists. They left Scotland in July 1738 and landed in New York September 22. Settling first on the Kakiate Patent-the name of a patent, not the name of a town or township-they later removed to Tappan in Orange (now Rockland) County, New York, where they resided when the Argyle Patent was granted in 1764. The next year this family and the Livingston family settled on the Argyle Patent.
Children :
i. John (2) born on the island of Islay about 1726; died before 1800, in the McNaughton homestead in Greenwich, Wash- ington County, N. Y .; married about 1752, Margaret, daughter of Duncan and Mary (Gillis) Taylor of Argyle. Children :
Alexander (3).
Archibald.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAMILIES
Mary, married James Mains.
Robert.
Daniel.
Eleanor, married Col. John McCrea, a brother of Jane McCrea.
Margaret, married David McKnight.
ii. Moses, died aged about twenty-one years in Orange County, N. Y. He was the schoolmaster in the family and taught the other children, under the supervision of his mother.
iii. Janet, married Archibald Brown and died in Argyle June 22, 1770. Her remains were the first interred in the old Argyle cemetery, the land occupied by the cemetery being a part of her husband's farm. They had no children but had taken her niece Janet (Jane) (3) Livingston to live with them, who was three years of age at her aunt's death. iv. Eleanor, born May 5, 1735, in the Island of Islay; died in the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Shaw, in East Greenwich, N. Y., Mar. 7, 1817; married in Tappan, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1756, Archibald (1) Livingston, later owner of Lot No. 66 in the Argyle Patent, N. Y. See page 352.)
v. Mary, born in Orange, N. Y., Apr. 24, 1742; died in Salem, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1834; married in Salem, Dec. 31, 1767, Hon. Edward Savage. (See page 352.)
A half mile south of the village of Argyle, New York, is situated the old cemetery where lie the unmarked graves of some of the earliest of the colonists. In memory of these pioneers a bronze tablet was erected here by James A. and Henry J. Patten, which was dedicated in June, 1923. The inscription reads :
In this cemetery are interred the mortal remains of
MARY McDONALD, WIFE OF ALEXANDER McNAUGHTON. Born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1690. Died in Argyle, N. Y., in 1777.
JANET McNAUGHTON, her daughter. Wife of Archibald Brown. Died in Argyle, N. Y., June 22, 1770.
MARY LIVINGSTON ROBERTSON, her granddaughter.
WILLIAM PATTEN. Born near Stonebridge, Ireland, November 5, 1752. Died in Argyle, N. Y., December 12, 1841.
MARTHA NESBITT, his wife. Born in Kilmore, Ireland, 1752. Died in Argyle, N. Y., March 2, 1817.
The land occupied by this cemetery was formerly the homestead of Archibald Brown and the remains of his wife were the first interred in the cemetery.
Alexander McNaughton was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, about 1692. Died in Salem, N. Y., in 1784. His remains were interred in
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the McNaughton burial ground on his own land, lot 32 of the Argyle patent.
Eleanor McNaughton, his daughter, wife of Archibald Livingston, was born in the Isle of Islay, Scotland, May 5, 1735. Died in East Greenwich, N. Y., March 7, 1817.
Archibald Livingston, her husband, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1730. Died near East Greenwich, N. Y., September 2, 1792.
Mary Livingston, their daughter, was born in Tappan, New York, September 26, 1757. Died in Argyle, N. Y., August 7, 1793.
William Robertson, her husband, was born in Peterhead, Scotland, January 19, 1752. Died in Argyle, N. Y., February 15, 1825.
Mary Robertson, their daughter, was born in Argyle, N. Y., August 7, 1793. Died near Sandwich, Ill., April 6, 1890. James Patten, her husband, was born near Stonebridge, Ireland, July 4, 1793. Died in Salem, N. Y., December 21, 1827. Son of William Patten and Martha Nesbitt.
THE LIVINGSTON FAMILY
ARCHIBALD (1) LIVINGSTON born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1730, died in his home in Argyle, New York, Sept. 2, 1792. With his parents he went to the north of Ireland in 1744, came to America in 1751, settled among the Highland Scotch in Orange County, N. Y., removing to Washington County in 1765. He married at Tappan, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1756, Eleanor (2) a daughter of Alexander McNaugh- ton, born May 5, 1735, in the Island of Islay. Archibald Livingston became the owner of Lot No. 66 in the Argyle Patent.
Children:
i. Mary (2), born Sept. 26, 1757; died in Argyle, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1793; married Sept. 24, 1775, William (3) Robertson. (See page 227.)
ii. Margaret, born May 30, 1759; died in Argyle Dec. 7, 1839; married about 1783, John Taylor born 1748; died Apr. 16, 1813; son of Duncan and Mary (Gillis) Taylor, of Argyle.
iii. Janet (Jane), born Feb. 2, 1767; died in Cambridge, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1853; married first, in Argyle, Aug. 21, 1800, James Shaw; born in the parish of Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, in 1768; died near East Greenwich, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1822. Son of John and Margaret (Thompson) Shaw.
Mrs. Shaw married second, in East Greenwich, N. Y., May 16, 1826, William Stevenson, born in the parish of Steinkirk, Galloway, Scotland, Feb. 15, 1772; died in Coila, Washington County, N. Y., July 8, 1844.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY FAMILIES
iv. Hon. Alexander, born June 8, 1769; died Oct. 23, 1863; married, 1806, Elizabeth (2) McDougall; born in Argyle (now Greenwich) in 1787; died on the Livingston home- stead, Lot. No. 66 of the Argyle Patent, Feb. 28, 1853. She was a daughter of William and Sarah (Gilleland) McDougall. William was a soldier of the Revolution.
v. Moses, born Mar. 2, 1772; died Aug. 24, 1793.
vi. Marianne, born June 29, 1774; died near East Greenwich, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1842; married in the home of her father, Apr. 7, 1801, Alexander Shaw, born in 1764, son of John and Margaret (Thompson) Shaw.
vii. Eleanor, born in Argyle, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1777; died near East Greenwich, N. Y., Apr. 24, 1855; married in the home of her father, Aug. 6, 1798, William (2) McDougall, Jr., born in New York City Sept. 23, 1770; died near East Greenwich, N. Y., June 17, 1819, son of William (1) and Sarah (Gilleland) McDougall.
Mrs. Archibald Livingston (Eleanor (2) McNaughton) told her granddaughter, Mrs. James (4) Patten, who spent the first twenty-four years of her life with her grandmother, that nearly all of the first Highland Scotch settlers on the Argyle Patent were related either by blood or by marriage. Mrs. Livingston also said that there were Campbells among the Argyle colonists who were related to the Duke of Argyle. Being ten years of age at the time of the Re- bellion of 1745 she remembered it distinctly and narrated to her descendants many tales of Bonny Prince Charley.
The torch of tradition lighted by Eleanor Livingston and handed on . by Mrs. Patten kindled in her granddaughter, Jennie M. Patten, the interest that culminated in the church history.
THE SAVAGE FAMILY
The Savage family is of French origin. They were driven from France by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. They settled for a time in the north of Ireland, members of the family intermarrying with persons of Scottish descent. A portion of the family came to America in 1716 and settled in Massachusetts.
JOHN (1) SAVAGE, born in 1706, was appointed captain of a com- pany of volunteers in 1758 and served under General Bradstreet in his expedition against Fort Frontenac and under General Abercrombie in the assault of Fort Ticonderoga. He moved to Salem in 1767; married Eleanor Hamilton and died there in 1792, aged 85.
EDWARD (2) SAVAGE, a son of John, born in Rutland, Mass., January 9, 1745, came to Salem with the family in 1767. He was
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the first sheriff of the county after the Revolutionary War; also surro- gate. A member of the state legislature for twenty-one years, he was three times elected a member of the council of appointment. He took part in the battle of Plattsburg in 1814, and died October 13, 1833, aged 87. Married December 31, 1767, Mary (2) a daughter of Alexander McNaughton, born in Orange County, New York, April 24, 1742; died in Salem, New York, February 23, 1834.
Children :
i. Alexander (3), died in infancy.
ii. Jane, born July 6, 1777; died Jan. 27, 1802; married, 1800, Rev. Joseph Sweetman. Child: Jane Sweetman, married Rev. Nathaniel Bacon, of Niles, Mich.
iii. John, born Feb. 22, 1779.
iv. Mary, born Nov. 22, 1782; died Apr. 29, 1784.
JOHN (3) SAVAGE, LL.D., born February 22, 1779, in Salem, New York; died in Utica, Oct. 19, 1863; married, Feb. 27, 1810, Esther, daughter of Gen. Timothy Newell, who died Mar. 14, 1811. Was grad- uated from Union College in 1799, receiving first honors, and was admitted to the bar. Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1822, he held that office until 1836, when he resigned. He married second, Ruth Wheeler, of Lanesboro, Mass., Nov. 8, 1816.
Children:
i. Mary Ann (4), born Apr. 1, 1819; died May 18, 1846; married Nov. 8, 1837, Hon. Ward Hunt.
ii. Laura Wheeler, born Oct. 28, 1822; died March 2, 1905.
THE GILLASPIE FAMILY
NEAL (1) GILIASPIE, married Mary McIlpheder and with two oldest sons came with Captain Lachlin Campbell in 1739. Neal Gil- laspie was one of the original five trustees of the Argyle patent and a relative of the McNaughtons.
Children :
i. Gilbert (2).
ii. Angus.
iii. Daniel, married and had a son Gilbert.
iv. Catharine, married William Goodson.
v. Neil, married Mary Van Winkle. Children:
i. Catharine (3), married John Winne.
ii. Mary, married Casparus Bain.
iii. Eleanor, married George Ferguson.
iv. Janet, died unmarried.
v. Nancy, died unmarried.
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vi. Margaret, died unmarried.
vii. Neil.
viii. John.
ix. Jacob, married Miss Raney.
x. Daniel, married at Massena Springs, N. Y.
The will of Neal Gillaspie of the Precinct of Wallkill, Ulster County, New York, yeoman, date March 4, 1769, probated March 31, 1769.
I Neal Gillaspie of the Precinct of Wall-kill Ulster County, yeoman, being sick
Whereas I was proprietor in a patent of land called the Scotch patent or Argyle patent and one of the trustees of the same whereof on the said patent, I was obliged with the other trustees to convey my part of said patent to some one it Trust. I confided to my son Neal Gillaspie and he is now vested with the deed, dated Jan. 15, 1765, and : executed by myself, Duncan Reed, Peter Middleton Arch. Campbell and Alexander McNachten, trustees in said patent, of 453 acres.
I will that my son Neal shall make over by deed to my son Daniel 100 acres. To my Wife 100 acres. To my Daughter Cachy or (Cattie) wife of William Goodson (or Goodjen) 100 acres.
And the lot of 45 acres laid out for a town lot in said patent, my son Neal shall by deed of trust make over to someone for my Grandson Gilbert son of Daniel. If my son Neal does this then I leave him his share of my property as hereafter mentioned (1) My farm where I now Dwell with all the utensils to be sold by my executors and all debts to be paid and also the debts of my son Daniel. From the re- mainder, one third to be paid to my wife (and she is to pay 20 to my daughter Cashy wife of William Goodson,) one third to my son Daniel and one third to my son Neal.
I leave to my sons Daniel and Neal and my daughter Cashy certain cattle. I leave to my wife and children each their wearing apparel.
Whereas I perchased lot 62 in said Scotch patent of Mary Beatoy for 60 and whereas my kinsman, Alexander Campbell came to this country upon encouragement given him by me, I leave him all of said lot of 300 acres and he is to pay the 60 with interest in Seven years.
I make my wife and my good friend Alexander Kidd and David Jager Executors and my trusted friend Cadwallader Colden Jr. overseer.
Witnesses
Thomas Beatty. Samuel Haines. Archibald McNeal.
THE CLARK FAMILY
In the picturesque cemetery at Cedar Springs, Abbeville, South Caro- lina, is a tomb bearing an inscription which, though unimposing and even inaccurate in some particulars, serves to call the attention of the passerby
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to one of the most unusual and interesting characters on the pages of church history in America-the clergyman, physician, financier Thomas Clark. The inscription reads as follows:
TO THE MEMORY
OF REV. THOMAS CLARK, D.D. WHO WAS BORN IN IRELAND* LICENSED TO PREACH APRIL, 1748 LABORED IN BALLIBAY 16 YEARS EMIGRATED TO NEW YORK 28TH JULY 1764 AFTER LABORING THERE MANY YEARS CAME TO ABBEVILLE, S. C. 1786
WHERE HE LABORED AS THE FOUNDER
AND FIRST PASTOR AT CEDAR SPRINGS AND LONG CANE UNTIL HIS DEATH DEC. 26TH. 1792
A member of the Clark family contributes the inscription on the graves of Mrs. Clark and their infant son, who were buried beside the church in Cahans, Ireland:
HERE LIES THE CORPSE OF ELIZABETH CLARK, ALIAS NESBITT SPOUSE OF THE REV. THOMAS CLARK WHO DIED DECEMBER 18, 1762 AGED 32 YEARS. A TRUE CHRISTIAN ROBERT CLARK WHO DIED JULY 18, 1862, AGED 6 YEARS
REV. DR. THOMAS (1) CLARK, M.D., born in Galloway, Scotland, about 1722; died in Cedar Springs, South Carolina, December 26, 1792; married in Ireland about 1752 Elizabeth Nesbitt, who was born in 1730; died December 18, 1762; probably a daughter of Thomas Nesbitt, ** of Drum-a-connor, who was one of the elders who signed Dr. Clark's call to become pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Cahans, four Irish miles from Ballibay, in County Monaghan, Ireland. Robert, her brother, whose wife was Nicolina Montgomery, went security in the sum of £4000 when Dr. Clark was liberated from Monaghan jail. It has been stated that Dr. Clark was a graduate of Glasgow University, but the Registrar reports that no record can be found of a degree having been conferred upon one of that name at or near 1748.
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