May not be a complete list, but it is what I had from 1993.
Source Sheet: JAMES
MCNAIR 1747 – 1817
Job Bennington's Declaration, May 5th, 1823: Aged 67; in the Pennsylvania Service; Capt. Porter, Lieut. James McNair, Colonel Proctor.
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Sources for James McNair
Job Bennington's Declaration, May 5th, 1823: Aged 67; in the Pennsylvania Service; Capt. Porter, Lieut. James McNair, Colonel Proctor.
Monday, August 24, 2026
James McNair, His Father Daniel, His Grandfather David (1747-1690)
Information from John Haynie
Notes for James McNair:
According to the book "Leaves of the Family Tree-McNair",page 175-176 is the following:The McNair family of East Tennessee traces it's ancestry to James McNair, a Revolutionary soldier who lived and died in Knox County, Tennessee.James McNair was one of the stalwart pioneers who braved the perils of the wilderness on the southwestern frontier, where he was one of the early white settlers of Hoston Co.Records show that this James McNair served with the milia on the western frontier of North Calolin during the Revolutary Warand he was probably of the intrepid band that followed Captian John Sevier to Kings Mountain.In 1774 he was living in Sullivan Co. Tennessee but as the settlements were pushed further and further down the TennesseeValley, he removed his family to Knox County where he was residing in 1794.
More About James McNair and Martha Price:
Marriage: March 07, 1773
More About James McNair and Rebecca Walker:
Marriage: July 11, 1811, Kingston, Roane Co. TN.
Children of James McNair and Martha Price are:
- Mary McNair, b. 1776,
Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- Bryce McNair, b. 1780,
Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- Hannah Price McNair, b. 1781,
Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- Elizabeth McNair, b. March 31,
1785, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- James Price McNair, b. Abt. 1787,
Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- Myra McNair, b. Abt. 1790,
Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
- Robert Huston McNair, d. date
unknown.
- John McNair, b. July 20,
1783, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown.
Children of James McNair and Rebecca Walker are:
- Tillie McNair, b. Bef. 1812,
Tenn, d. date unknown.
- +Nancy McNair, b. August 16,
1812, Tenn, d. June 1899, Duck Springs, Etowah Co. AL..
- James Price McNair (Jr), b. March 01,
1815, Sullivan Co. Tn, d. date unknown, Hixson Cemetery Hamilton Co. Tenn.
- Narcissus McNair, b. 1818, Tenn,
d. date unknown.
- David McNair, b. January 07,
1825, d. date unknown.
More About Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen:
Marriage: Abt. 1741, Augusta Co. VA.
Children of Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen are:
Marriage: Abt. 1741, Augusta Co. VA.
Children of Daniel McNair and Hannah Allen are:
- David McNair, b. Abt. 1741,
Augusta Co. Va., d. date unknown.
- +James McNair, b. April 29,
1747, Ft. Defiance, Augusea Co. VA, d. Bef. August 27, 1849, Knox Co. TN.
- John McNair, b. Aft. 1747,
d. date unknown.
- Joanna McNair, b. December
19, 1742, Ft. Defiance, August Co. NC, d. date unknown.
- Martha McNair, b. June 30,
1745, Ft. Defiance, August Co. NC, d. date unknown.
Children of David McNair ll are:
- +Daniel McNair, b. Abt. 1720,
County Donegel,Ireland, d. Abt. 1791, Churchville, Augusta Co., VA.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
James McNair's Will
His will was written with his own hand January 5, 1817, and
proved at the July term of the Knox Co. Court, 1818. The will in full is
recorded in Knox Co. Estate Book, Vol. 2, pages 351 and 352. His wife's will
was written March 23, 1817, and was proved at the same session of the Court.
The following is included in Gerry McNair Crow's notes: "Tenn. Census
taken from NC land grants 1787-1791, No. of Grant 2442, James McNair, 200 acres
1790 on the south side of Holstein (River) opposite the mouth of German
Creek." James' last will and testament is recorded in "Leaves From
The Family Tree" by Penelope Johnson Allen and is as follows: "In the
name of God., Amen, I, James McNair of the County of Knox, State of Tennessee,
being in a low state of health, but of sound memory, do make this my Last Will
and Testament. First I wish all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid
from my moveable property and my daughter Myre to have a horse worth 100
dollars or the money. "To my true and well beloved wife, Martha, I give
and bequeath my dwelling house as it stands with all and every part of
furniture, the kitchen, smoke house, crib and Garden and the half of all kind of
stock and farm tools, also old Cipeo, Rhoda and her child Cubit, all of which
is to be at her disposal in her life time or at her death--I do will that my
land at the death of my wife be sold to the highest bidder and also my boys,
Bob and Austin, and from the sale, my son John is to have and receive one half
of the purchase money, my son James on third, my son David and my daughters
Polly, Hannah, Betsy and Myre shall have equal shares of the other third part.
"My son John is to have one half of the stock and all untensils with his
mother and have full care of her. He has Bob and Austin as assistantsand the
whole plantation to cultivate for which he, the said John, is to let her have a
full third part of all produce. "I choose my true and trusted friends
Asahel Chapman and my son John as my executors to see that my last will and
testament be carefully executed. All former will being made void and of no
effect. This I say, is my last will and testament wrote with my own hand and
sealed with my seal this 5th day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventeen. "Signed Jas. M'Nair, in the presence
of Ro Armstrong, Fras. Bounds."
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
James McNair History Cont.- Military, Marriage, Family
James McNair - Continued
Sources:
Leaves
of the Family Tree
by Penelope Johnson Allen, 1937.
Chalkley's
Chronicles
The
McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies by James Birtley McNair, Chicago: 1929.
Reminiscent
History of the Ozark Region This Goodspeed Brothers collection of
sketches was originally published in
Chicago in 1864. Southern Historical Press, Inc. reprinted the book from an
1894 edition in 1978, 1984 and
1995.
Department
of Cultural Resources: North Carolina. Division of archives and History.
Certificates of payment for
military service.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mcnair/
Bryan states: Nothing here is 100%. Just a collection from times gone by...
"James McNair, the eldest son of Daniel and Hannah McNair. Baptismal records of Rev. John Craig state that James Sr. was baptized on 29 Apr. 1747 at the Stone (Prebysterian) Church in Ft. Defiance, Virginia (Staunton VA). James McNair was a pioneer of East TN and for many years a Free Mason.
James was imbued with the spirit of adventure, having begun to make explorations to the South when a youth of twenty. It is known that he made more than one trip to the "Indian Country" Tennessee, with his boyhood friend and neighbor, John Anderson, and a few other young men from Augusta Co., VA. It is of record that they made one trip as early as 1769 when they went down as far as what is now Hawkins Co., TN, where they "saw so many signs of the Indians" they "deemed it prudent to return." Among the members of the exploring expedition, who soon settled in Sullivan Co., TN, were James McNair, John Sawyers, and Gilbert Christian, while John Anderson located just across the disputed border line in Virginia. Of this adventure, The ANNALS OF TENNESSEE by Ramsey states, "The beauty and fertility of the valley of the Holston proved a temptation to some men of the regiment as a region for settlement. Gilbert Christian and William Anderson, accompanied by John Sawyers, John Anderson, Robert Christian, James McNair, and Nathan Page, shortly after the troops were disbanded, explored the valley. They crossed the North Fork at the ford and penetrated as far down as Big Creek in the present County of Hawkins, where they met a large party of Indians, and turned back."
Chalkley's Chronicles - Volumes I & II, JAMES MCNAIR - (p. 481) MILITARY SERVICES.
Job Bennington's Declaration, May 5th, 1823: Aged 67; in the Pennsylvania Service; Capt. Porter, Lieut. James McNair, Colonel Proctor.
"James McNair was a pioneer of east Tennessee, a soldier of the Revolutionary War and for many years a Freemason. He married a woman of Welsh extraction. His wife was an excellent shot with a rifle. On one occasion during the absence of her husband, she heard their dogs barking at some little distance from the house, and started out to learn the trouble. She soon discovered that they had treed a large bear. She returned to the house for her bun, and very soon the bear fell a victim of her marksmanship. After skinning the animal without assistance she made meat of the bruin.
Monday, August 17, 2026
James McNair (1747-1817) A Woven History
James McNair
History Sheet
Compiled by Nancy Quillin Long
March 2016
Sources:
Leaves of the Family Tree by Penelope Johnson Allen, 1937.
The McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies by James Birtley McNair, Chicago: 1929.
Department of Cultural Resources: North Carolina. Division of archives and History. Certificates of payment for military service.
Carolita Quillin Jones - invaluable to me
Ova McNair Ker - invaluable to me
History Sheet
Compiled by Nancy Quillin Long
March 2016
Sources:
Leaves of the Family Tree by Penelope Johnson Allen, 1937.
The McNair, McNear, and McNeir genealogies by James Birtley McNair, Chicago: 1929.
Department of Cultural Resources: North Carolina. Division of archives and History. Certificates of payment for military service.
Carolita Quillin Jones - invaluable to me
Ova McNair Ker - invaluable to me
For
the most part, this history sheet will be stories that others from long ago
shared about our James McNair. I could
do no better than giving you these colorful descriptions of him. But before I
share those stories, I will share my own genealogical search for the McNair
family. This family was the first prize
that I sought. I had a trip planned to
Ireland and McNair was the only family with "Mc" in their name and I
was hoping to find a family connection to Ireland. Silly me for thinking I could find shortcuts
through the world of genealogy. Anyway,
I am fortunate to live in a state capitol city where I have access to the state
archives, and may I say, it is a wonderful place. So I started there and as a rookie, I had
many lessons to learn. Needless to say,
I became frustrated trying to put a square peg into a round hole, so to
speak. In my frustration, I decided to do
a quick search of my maiden name (Quillin) and I stumbled over the pot of gold
at the end of the rainbow. My search
quickly revealed a book written about the Quillin family and the family name
was MACQUILLIN until they came to America in the 1660s. And they came from Ulster, Ireland. Enough
said. I abandoned my McNair search
temporarily and totally immersed myself in my Irish history through my maiden
name.
As
stated above, the McNair name was my first sought after treasure and I had all
the branches filled on the tree back through my great-great grandfather. Not only had I become a sleuth, but I had my
own private investigator, my mother, Carolita Quillin Jones. She had a love for family history and a
healthy respect for the sacrifices that were made by those who had gone before
us. Through her, I was able to contact quite a few older relatives and together
we paid visits to them. It was so much
fun reconnecting with these people. This proved invaluable in bringing to light
firsthand the information about the leaves on our tree. Mother put together her recollections and
added them to very old photos and before long, I had an amazing amount of
history on the McNair family. I loved
digging for the skeletons and finding the bones....she loved adding meat to the
bones. It worked for me!
After
my trip to Ireland and after I had pieced together my Quillin line, I returned
to all the information gathered on the McNairs.
My research kept revealing clues that I might have an ancestor that
fought as a Patriot in the Revolutionary War and I was very interested in
joining DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Little did I know what this was going to
entail. In the midst of this journey, I
was called to be a juror on an attempted murder case and spent a week in close
contact with the other selected jurors.
One of them, Caroline Bass, was a member of DAR and I learned about the
process for honoring our Patriots. She
vowed to help me in my search. Back in
the 1990s before the click of a mouse, this type of research was not easy;
however, I am proud that I learned the value of research and documentation and
how NOT to rely on everything my mouse now finds. Just because it is written, does not mean it
is so. I learned I had to document a tie before I could establish the
connection.
Once again, I came up short with the McNair
name. This James remained elusive, but I
was nearly there with him. I just
couldn't find that one voucher in the national archives that would credit him
for his service in the Revolution.
Here's where my research jumped track again. In trying to reach James, his son John (Jack)
McNair and our great-great grandfather's (Mack Manilus McNair) father, left
behind quite a paper trail. Being a
large land owner and having fought in the War of 1812, some wonderful
information came to light about him and his wife, Mary Ann Sherertz. And there it was...a book about the Sheretz
and Mary Ann's grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. It was a clear shot for my documentation into
DAR so I took that angle. On the
Sherertz branch of the tree, I will share more about that family, but it
pleases me to say that I was the very first person to honor Conrad Sherertz,
Sr. as a Patriot and placing his name into the DAR records. Learn more about this family in the Sheretz
history pages
Friday, August 14, 2026
The Way We Were
"The Way We Were"
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
Whenever we remember the way we were
The way we were
Recently, we watched this hit movie from 1973. Great movie then and now. Since viewing it again, the words of the hit song keep popping up in my head. "Misty water-colored memories. Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind."
This picture popped up on my screen this morning. It was taken in 2015. Every summer as we travelled to Wyoming and back, we used my sister's home as a jumping off point. In 2015, I was 11 years younger with a new pup, Finn. He was only 9 months old, but already a travelling trouper. My sister also had a dog Nali, that she most recently lost. These were such good times, and I now see it as a time when I was still so energetic....and so was my new pup.
Things are different today....and yes, sometimes painful. Neither of these dogs are with us; we are 11 years older and not as energetic with a new pup that challenges us daily. So emotions welled up inside of me as this picture was on my screen, and I know that this huge lump in my throat is because....I'm choosing to remember the laughter and fun this picture represents.
Monday, July 27, 2026
John McNair Bastardy Case
Taking the Bad with the Good
The McNair line was the first line that I attempted to document back into the 1700's in order to gain admission to Daughters of the American Revolution. Back in the 1980's and 1990's, any genealogical work had to be done the old-fashioned way: pounding the pavement, going to cemeteries and courthouses, writing letters, waiting by the mail and making payments by checks in order for someone else to xerox copies in the archives of their libraries. I did just that for James McNair. I've got ALL the documentation for James under his name but never filed for DAR....yet. The registrar for Daughters of the American Revolution of the Thankful Hubbard chapter was helping me find legitimate sources, and we hit a wall with James. BUT she uncovered Conrad Sherertz's service. Conrad was Mary Ann's father. (Mary Ann was the wife of John McNair, son of James). Being that so much time had been spent, I followed that line and gained my DAR membership being the first person to ever document Conrad Sheretz. It was quite an honor.
With that said, I had FRIED myself with all the research done and I put genealogy away for about 3 years. When I picked it up again, I DID follow through with gathering all the documents for James McNair's service in the Revolution.
I had received 4 envelopes of copies of legal pages from the Knox County, TN courthouse. The documents included land deeds, their witnessing of other people’s land deeds, having their lands processioned, etc. But then there was one document that caught my eye…. a bastardy case filed against John. This would have been shortly before his marriage to Mary Ann Sherertz. The woman accusing him of “having begotten the said child” could not read or write. She had to sign the document with an X. She gave birth to this child on 27 May 1821. It appears that in Oct 1821, John came to court again and made payment to Mabel Burnett. I would have never known this had it not been one of the court documents sent to me.
Here's the translation as best as I could read the documents:
17 SEPTEMBER 1821
State
of Tennessee
Knox
County
To the
Sheriff and any constable of said county
Greetings
Whereas
upon the examination of Mable Burnett of said county
single
woman this day taken oath before us Robert Lindsey and
Robert
Armstrong, two of the Justices of the peace for said
county
it appears that she was delivered on this 27th day of
May
last of a female bastard child which is likely to become
chargeable
on said county and the said Mabel Burnett
having
accused
John McNair of the said county with having begotten
the
said child. There are therefore in the
name of the state
do
command you to bring the said John McNair before us or any
two
Justices of the Peace of said county to enter into
recognizances
with sufficient sureties to appear at the next
court
of county pleas and quarter sessions to be held for
said
county at the courthouse in Knoxville on the 1st Mon. on
Oct
next. Then and there to answer this said
accusation and
to
abide by and perform the order of said court
? the same.
Given
under our hands and seal this 17 Sept 1821
Robert
Lindsey
Robert
Armstrong
(On the back of page)
State
of Tennessee
Knox
County
The
examination of Mable Burnett single woman of said county
taken
on oath before Robert Armstrong and Robert Lindsey two
of the
Justices of the Peace of said county this 17th day of
Sept.
in the year of our Lord 1821. Who
sayeth, that on the
27th
Day of May last she was delivered of a female bastard
child
which is likely to become chargeable to this county and
on her
oath as aforesaid doth accuse John McNair of said
county
with having begotten the said child
Taken
and acknowledged before us the day of year above
written
Robert
Armstrong (X) her mark
Robert
Lindsey Mable Burnett
29 SEPTEMBER 1821
State
of Tennessee
Knox County
Be it remembered that on this 29th day of Sept. in the year
of our Lord 1821. John McNair of the said county and William
S. Howell and John Boyd both of the said county, came
personally before Robert Lindsey and Robert Houston two of
the Justices of the peace for said county, and acknowledged
themselves to owe to the state ? the said John McNair
the sum of $400 and the said William S. Howell the sum of
$200 each to be respectively levied of their goods and
chattel, lands, and turnover to the ? of the state if the
said John McNair shall make default in the performance of the
condition underwritten.
The condition of the ? is such that whereas on the
examination of a Mable Burnett of said county single woman
lately taken on oath before Robert Armstrong and Robert
Lindsey two of the justices of the peace for said county. It
appears that on the 27 day of May last she the said Mable
Burnett was delivered of a female bastard child, which is
likely to become chargeable to said county and the said Mable
Burnett on her oath before said having accused the said John
McNair with having begotten the said child.
Now if the said John McNair shall personally appear before
the justices of the court of pleas and ? ? to be held
for the county of Knox at the courthouse in Knoxville on the
1st Mon of Oct must then and there to abide by and perform
what shall be enjoined on him by the said court the promises
? the above ? to as said, otherwise to remain on ? form and ?
Taken and acknowledged before us Robert Lindsey and Robert
Houston
Knox County
Be it remembered that on this 29th day of Sept. in the year
of our Lord 1821. John McNair of the said county and William
S. Howell and John Boyd both of the said county, came
personally before Robert Lindsey and Robert Houston two of
the Justices of the peace for said county, and acknowledged
themselves to owe to the state ? the said John McNair
the sum of $400 and the said William S. Howell the sum of
$200 each to be respectively levied of their goods and
chattel, lands, and turnover to the ? of the state if the
said John McNair shall make default in the performance of the
condition underwritten.
The condition of the ? is such that whereas on the
examination of a Mable Burnett of said county single woman
lately taken on oath before Robert Armstrong and Robert
Lindsey two of the justices of the peace for said county. It
appears that on the 27 day of May last she the said Mable
Burnett was delivered of a female bastard child, which is
likely to become chargeable to said county and the said Mable
Burnett on her oath before said having accused the said John
McNair with having begotten the said child.
Now if the said John McNair shall personally appear before
the justices of the court of pleas and ? ? to be held
for the county of Knox at the courthouse in Knoxville on the
1st Mon of Oct must then and there to abide by and perform
what shall be enjoined on him by the said court the promises
? the above ? to as said, otherwise to remain on ? form and ?
Taken and acknowledged before us Robert Lindsey and Robert
Houston
He had until the 1st Monday in Oct of 1821 to appear and abide by the court decsion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
The father of Frederick Short Ewing was James H Ewiing. History Sheet – James H Ewing Researching this era becomes dicey. The census shee...
-
Organized I appreciate order and organization. I’m detail oriented and want things to run smoothly. There’s always more to organize; it’...
.jpg)