As a British subject of Scotch-Irish descent, Alexander McHargue immigrated to Pennsylvania. We know that he was living there in 1745, as there is a record of the birth of his third son, William. In the 1750’s, he and his family, like many other Scotch-Irish immigrants, traveled through Virginia to settle in North Carolina. Courthouse records in Iredell County show that Alexander’s sons, James and our ancestor, William, owned land on the South Rocky Creek next to McHargue Mountain. The family was there long enough to have a mountain named after them.
We don’t know the name of Alexander’s first wife, mother of James, John and William, but it is thought that he lived with this family in North Carolina until her death. His three sons must have established homes of their own by the time Alexander later returned to Pennsylvania. We do know that Alexander married his second wife, Jane Tolland in Pennsylvania in 1760. Jane was a widow with one son, James Tolland. There are records of Alexander’s purchase of 127 acres in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He and his second family (Jane and their children Margaret and Alexander Jr.) must have lived on these 127 acres during the American Revolution, as Andrew is listed as a “Patriot Soldier of Pennsylvania,” in the Pennsylvania Archives.
Alexander died in 1789 and it is believed that he was buried in Paxton Township, Pennsylvania.
Will of Alexander McHargue I
“In the name of God Amen. I, Alexander McHargue of Paxton township, Dauphin County and State of Pennsylvania, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in the following manner. First I give and bequeath to Jane, my dearly beloved wife, her bed and furniture and the one-third part of my estate real and personal (except what is hereinafter mentioned and bequeathed to be paid out of my whole estate) to hold and fully enjoy during her natural life.
I give and bequeath to my son John’s son Alexander the sum of five pounds to be paid three years after my decease and that to be in full of his part of my estate real and personal.
I give and bequeath to my son James the sum of five pounds to be paid four years after my decease and that to be in full of his part of my estate real and personal.
I give and bequeath to my son William the sum of five pounds to be paid three years after my decease and that to be in full of his part of my estate real and personal.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary the sum of ten pounds in full of her part of my estate real and personal to be paid two years after my decease. But if she the said Mary be now dead or died before she receives the aforesaid sum of ten pounds then and in that cast I allow it to be paid to her brother that she died with for his trouble and expense in burying her.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret the sum of ten pounds in full of her part of my estate real and personal to be paid one year after my decease.
I give and bequeath to my wife’s son James Tolan the sum of five pounds to be paid five years after my decease and it is my will and I do allow the above said bequeathments to be paid out of the issues and profits of my whole estate yearly and every year as they become due.
I also give and bequeath to my son Alexander the whole of the remainder of my estate real and personal to him, his heirs and assigns forever but in case he my said son Alexander should die before he married then I allow my estate to be equally divided amongst all my children share and share alike yet notwithstanding if it be the choice of my son Alexander at any time after my decease to sell my real estate his title shall be good in law and then in that case I allow the one-third part of the money arising from such sale to be put into the hands of some proper person to be chosen by my beloved wife as her guardian to be by him put to interest for her use. But if he the said guardian finds that the said interest will not support her my said beloved wife in a decent manner than I allow him the said guardian to give her out of the principle stock from time to time as he thinks necessity requires and at her death my son Alexander shall receive what then remains of her third part of my estate real and personal to him and his heirs and assigns forever except he dies before he married as aforesaid then and in that case I allow it to be divided as aforesaid amongst all my children share and share alike.
I likewise constitute and ordain John Gilchrist the younger and my son Alexander McHargue my Executor of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly revoke and disannul all and every other former will and testament by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six.”
William McHargue I
William was the third son of Alexander and his first wife, born August 5,1745, in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. As a young boy, he moved with the family to North Carolina in the early 1750’s.
On January 19, 1774, William married Sarah McBroom, the marriage certificate being signed by Sarah’s brother, John McBroom. William and Sarah settled on the south side of McHargue Mountain in Rowan County, perhaps in his father’s first home which is believed to have been left to him when his father left N.C. to return to Pennsylvania. William’s brother, John, was married to Sarah’s sister, Margaret McBroom.
In February, 1777, William enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, he was in an engagement with the Tories on the South fork of the Catawba River in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in which his brother-in-law, John McBroom, and his captain were both killed. After the war, William, like many others, was given land grants in payment for his service as a soldier.
In 1803, William and Sarah, at ages 58 and 53, left North Carolina with all of their children except the oldest son, James. James remained in North Carolina and lived out his life on McHargue Mountain. He was the postmaster at New Hope from the time the office was established until his death in 1856. Members of the McHargue family continued to be in charge of the New Hope post office until nearly 1900.
The McHargue family leaving North Carolina included William and Sarah, their two married sons, Alexander and John with their wives and children, 17 year old William II, and 13 year old Samuel. The family crossed the Appalachian Mountains and stayed two years on the Clinch River in Tennessee. They then moved on to Knox County, Kentucky and settled near what is now Corbin. On the bank of Lynn Camp Creek, William and his sons built a fort for protection against the Indians. We don’t know how long it was necessary for him and his family to remain in the fort before they felt safe to build their homes. We also don’t know if William homesteaded or if he purchased the land he claimed, but we believe he possessed many acres, since his sons, who located near him, owned so much.
On the bank of Lynn Camp Creek, they erected one of the first, if not the first, water powered gristmills and sawmills in all southeastern Kentucky. The rocks (or burrs) used for his corn mill were conical shaped, being the first designed for water driven stone in the grinding of corn into meal. The very burrs used by William are now located in the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park where a working restoration of the original McHargue Mill still grinds corn on the Little Laurel River.
The burrs used by William in his mill were imported from a famous quarry in France. He brought them with him from North Carolina, hauling them by ox team through the Clinch River Valley and on through the Cumberland Gap.
In Kentucky, the McHargues farmed and raised stock – sheep, cattle, and horses – manufactured cloth in their homes, ground meal at the gristmill, and produced lumber at the sawmill. William owned a collection of books, and a family bible, and slaves.
William wrote the following letters on October 22, 1816, when he was 71 years old:
“To My Wife –
My age and infirmities call me to think of parting with you. The will of the Lord be done. I thank you for your tender care of me. May the Lord Bless and Reward you for it, and Sanctify your own tenderness, and support you under it. As you have studied to live a life of faith in the Son of God, so I hope and believe you will continue to the End. In all your Difficulties and Fears Encourage yourself in the Lord. Commit your Way to Him that is faithful and true. I resign you, my dear, to the husband of husbands, our dearest Lord, Jesus Christ.
To My Children –
Dear children, -- your Earthly father must leave you. Your Heavenly Father is immortal. O, cleave fast to Him, trifle not about your souls concern in time of health. Mind these things as the one thing Needful. This you will not Repent of When you Come within a Near view of Death, and the Endless Eternity. O, sirs! Press for an interest in Christ, the only Surety and Savior of Sinners. Among other Evidences, live by faith in the Son of God, study holiness in your heart and life. Think how you Will be able to Stand before Christ, your Judge at the last Day, unless you have Christ’s Image in you, and be made new Creatures. Lord make you all such, and bless you with His Best Blessing. My Blessing be upon you all.
The Believer dies in faith When he makes fresh application to Christ as his only hope and Savior; takes Him in his arms of faith as old Simeon did Before his Death, saying in the Lord Christ, I have Righteousness, and Strength.
We have many uses for faith in Christ at the hour of Death.
By faith, We must depend on Christ’s Blood for making the atonement, and Washing away the guilt of all our sins.
By faith, We must put on Righteousness of Christ for covering our Naked Souls, when they are to appear Before god.
By faith, We must Rely on Christ as our Leader, and trust Him for safe Conduct through the Dark Valley of Death, and for our Safe landing on the shore of Glory.
O, that it may Be our happiness to Be the preferred in Christ, Jesus, keep us by thy power through faith to Salvation. O, take us Within the bond of the covenant, and Be thou our father to protect, direct and provide for us. Give us a name in thy house, Better than of Sons and Daughters, that We may all meet at they right-hand with Everlasting Joy. Now my dear Wife and children, Remember What is above, as the words of your husband and loving father.”
William McHargue died August 8, 1836, at the age of 91 years. Each year since 1936, the 100th anniversary of his death, the annual McHargue Reunion is held to honor our ancestor, William McHargue. The gravestone that presently marks the graves of William and Sarah McHargue was donated by McHargue descendants and dedicated at that reunion in 1936. They are buried in the McHargue cemetery outside of London, Kentucky.
Sarah died on June 12, 1847; she was about 98 years old.
The will of William McHargue I
“In the name of God, amen.
I, William McHargue, Sr., of the county of Knox and State of Kentucky, being old and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory, for which I thank god. And calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it has pleased god to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in manner following. To wit.
1stly, I give and bequeath to Sarah, my wife, one-third part of my plantation during her natural life. And at her death the same to be equally divided between my two sons, William and Samuel, also one negro woman named Rachel during her natural life. Also one horse and saddle, three cows at her choice, six sheep, two beds and furniture, all her clothes, one wheel, one chest, one bible and such other books as she may choose. Also the pot vessels, flat irons, and….?… ware, also one loom and furniture during her natural life. And at her death the percents to be equally divided betwixt my two sons, William and Samuel.
2ndly, I give to my eldest son, James, five dollars out of the sale of the perishable part of my estate.
3rdly, I give to the heirs of my second son, Alexander, five dollars each out of accounts that is the …?.. of one of said heirs.
4thly, I give to my third son, John, five dollars of the sale of the perishable part of my estate.
5thly, I give to my fourth son, William, one negro woman named Synthia and her child. Also one negro man named Ned. Also one negro boy named Jim. Also one-half of my plantation grist and saw mills.
6thly, I give to my fifth son, Samuel, one negro girl named Delila. Also one Negro boy named Henderson, also one negro woman named Rachael at the death of my wife Sarah, also one-half of my plantation grist and saw mills.
7thly, I give to my sons William and Samuel all the proceeds arising out of the balance of the perishable part of my estate to be equally divided after paying my funeral expenses. And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons William and Samuel McHargue Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills of testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 27th day of April in the year of our Lord 1833.”
William and Sarah had five sons; James 11/13/1775; Alexander 12/18/1777; John 12/25/1780; William 10/22/1786; and Samuel 9/11/1790
The fourth son, William II is our ancestor.
William McHargue II
William Mchargue II was born in Rowan County, N.C., on October 22, 1786. He left North Carolina with his family when he was 17 years old to migrate to Kentucky. The family spent two years on the Clinch River in Tennessee before moving on to Kentucky, and William II would have been 19 by the time the family arrived in Knox County.
In all likelihood William II was a great help to his sixty year-old father as they cleared the land, built their homes and erected probably the first water power grist and sawmills in the Cumberland Valley and all of Southeastern Kentucky.
On March 12, 1812, at age 25, William II married a 16 year-old Kentucky girl, Barbara Storm. At first they located on or near the original McHargue homestead. In 1818, they moved with their three sons, Samuel, John and James, to a new home on the East Bank of Robison Creek where the London to Barbourville State road crossed the stream.
Here, as the years went by, William added one industry after another until he found himself the center of a village of varied industries. There was the water-power grist mill; the grocery store; the horse power grist mill and carding machine; the spinning of thread and weaving of cloth; the blacksmith shop in which farm implements were manufactured and repaired; the work house where carpenters prepared material for furniture and for building houses; the tanyard where hides were dressed and processed into leather for making shoes and harness; and at a distance the sawmill where logs were converted into lumber.
On this homestead, a voting precinct was established, a church built, a schoolhouse erected and a cemetery donated to the public. William McHargue II was a large landholder and a slave owner. His varied industries were carried on by his own family members and the labor of his slaves.
William II was 50 when his father died. He inherited one half of his father’s plantation, grist and saw mills. Stella McHargue Hensley of Lily, Kentucky is a great granddaughter of William II, and she wrote, “William Mchargue II did give the land for the McHargue Cemetery that I can see from my home place. He also gave land for the McHargue School. The McHargue Christian Church was built on his land.”
Barbara Storm was also from an early American family. Her father was John Storm who served in Captain Ballard Smith’s 1st Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War. Her brother, James was a pioneer preacher in the mountains of Kentucky.
Sixty-nine year old Barbara died April 29, 1865, and William three years later on February 18, 1868, at the age of 81. Two of his twelve children preceded him in death, William III, Emily Jane in 1863. Our ancestor, Henderson McHargue died just four days after his father, on February 22, 1868.
William and Barbara are buried in the McHargue Cemetery. Their gravestone reads, “A mother and father undeserved has fallen asleep, Which caused their children around them to weep. Their corps in the tomb the cold sod lies over them, They pasd through the portals that lead up to glory.” James, Hiram, and Madison, sons of William and Barbara are buried there, as are William’s brothers, Alexander and Samuel.
Henderson McHargue
Henderson was the eighth child of William II and Barbara; he was born on July 7, 1826 in Knox County. He married Sarah Angeline Ferris on January 3, 1850, but Sarah died nine months later on August 23rd at age 20. On March 22, 1853, Henderson married 20 year old Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of Stephen Marshall Jackson and Minerva Moore.
Before his death, Henderson McHargue introduced the next progressive movement in the McHargue mills. When the water power and horse power were no longer enough for the mills to meet the demand, Henderson built a new mill that was a corn and grist mill and carding machine, all in one large framed building, and all propelled by steam. All the machinery for the mill had to be hauled from Lexington in ox drawn wagons. Hauling the boiler required twelve yoke of oxen, some of which his neighbors loaned Henderson, refusing to accept pay. The hauling job was contracted to a noted teamster named Bill Haily for a total of $300.
The steam-powered mill was an attraction that drew people from other counties. They ground three different grades of flour plus bran, ground corn, and carded wool all at the same time. The customers of the mill hauled their products by hand, in bobsleds, on horse and mule back, in ox-carts, and wagons. There was a camp house on the mill yard to accommodate those who came from a distance, and barns in which travelers could care for their teams.
There was always a large crowd around the mill during the busy season in late summer. To pass the time, some would visit the old familiar swimming hole, some would go fishing, others would play marbles, swap horses, play games of “fox and goose”, or have repairs made to farm implements and wagons.
During the fall season, the mill was a great place for shooting matches. Farmers would bring in a beef, mutton, or a fat hog, and sometimes chickens and turkeys. The matches were always shot with single shot, muzzle loading, cap and ball, or flint-lock rifles.
Henderson and Elizabeth had five children who lived to adulthood, Alice Jane (1856), William Harvey (1857), Mahala Catherine (1858), Stephen A. (1860), and James Henderson (1862), Henderson died at age 42, on February 22, 1868, and is buried in the Salem Cemetery in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Next to his grave is that of a daughter who died in infancy. Her marker reads, “Nanny Jackson, Daughter of Henderson & Elizabeth McHargue. Nanny was born November 8, 1866, and died April 16, 1867. We don’t know why they weren’t buried in the McHargue cemetery; the Salem Cemetery being some distance away.
Elizabeth McHargue would have been about 35 at the time of Henderson’s death. Nearly five years later, on October 20, 1872, she married again. Her second husband was a Pulaski County man named Conrad R. Raney. Just three days prior to Elizabeth’s marriage, she had hosted the wedding of her 14-15 year old daughter, Mahaly Catherine McHargue and Thomas Gastineau. Thomas Gastineau, the new son-in-law, was the surer at the marriage of Elizabeth and Conrad.
Henderson and Elizabeth’s first child was our ancestor, Alice Jane McHargue. She was just twelve at the time her father died.
Alice Jane McHargue
Alice Jane was born on April 4, 1856; she was sixteen years old when she married 22 year old William Levi Bobbitt on August 29, 1872 (two months prior to the weddings of her mother and her sister) in Pulaski County, Kentucky. They were married at her mother’s home (her father had died four years earlier) by G. E. Clonch (maybe this person was related to the unknown Clonch/Claunch man who went to Idaho with Talitha Green Bobbitt). Alice Jane and William had three daughters and then three sons, the oldest son, James Henderson Bobbitt was our ancestor. He was named after his mother’s brother, James Henderson McHargue.
William Levi lost both his legs just below the knees in a thrashing machine accident. He died in 1908, when he was fifty-eight, but Alice Jane lived nearly another 30 years. Sometime after William Levi’s death, their youngest child, George William, went to Wyoming to homestead, and at some point Alice Jane went there to live with her bachelor son. She returned to Kentucky in 1932, and died there in 1937 at age 81. She is buried next to her husband in the Bobbitt Cemetery in Pulaski County.
Alice Jane and William Levi had six children, Cora, Stella, Nancy T., James Henderson, John H., and George William. James Henderson is our ancestor.
James Henderson married Talitha Cecile Green(e).
Their daughter was Pauline Hansen Bobbitt, my mother.
The lineage of Arlene Hansen...
William Bobbitt & Joanna Sturdivant - VA
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Captain William Bobbitt & Elizabeth McKenzie - VA
James Levi Bobbitt & Rebecca Day - VA to KY
James L. Bobbitt Jr. & Jane Hubble - Pulaski Co KY
William Levi Bobbitt & Alice Jane McHargue - Pulaski Co KY
James Henderson Bobbitt & Talitha Cecil Greene - Pulaski Co KY
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Arlene Hansen (me)