John McGuire

Pioneer, Soldier and Indian Trader








John MacQuire(McGuire) born most likely in Ireland about 1720 married Rebecca Carter a daughter of Thomas Carter, the Elder. Deed Book 2, page 414 shows that a conveyance of 100 acres of land which was a part of a 400 acre plat. The deed was made the 27th day of June, 1757 and recites that Thomas Carter, the Elder is a resident of Goochland County, Virginia. The deed describes the land as situated in Cumberland County on the "branches of Turkey Cock Creek". Thomas Carter acknowledged his conveyance with his "mark" before Thompson Swann, Clerk.

Children of John and Rebecca McGuire:

Elijah McGuire, b. 19 January 1757, in Cumberland Co., VA., died 31 December 1843 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL. He married Everett Williams in 1784. She died 17 July 1848 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL and is buried next to her husband on their homestead. During the Revolution he was captured and held prisoner by the British at Charleston, he escaped and served as a Sergeant in Captain Philip Water's Troop of South Carolina Light Dragoons commanded by Lt. Colonel John Thomas until the end of the War.

John McGuire, b. circa 1759. He enlisted in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment on the 10th of July 1775 under Captain Thomas Lynch. He later served in the Militia and was at King's Mountain, South Carolina. [Historical and Genealogical magazine, volume XVII page 100, Annotated accounts in the archives of SC S066C

Nancy McGuire

Frank McGuire

Pheby McGuire

Aaron McGuire

Abel McGuire


Proof of Service of John McGuire serving with George Washington

I was commissioned and appointed by the Honourable Robert Dinwiddie, Wsq; Governor, & c. of Virginia, to visit and deliver a letter to the Commandant of the French Forces on the Ohio, and set out on the intended Journey the same Day. The next, I arrived at Fredericksburg, and engaged Mr. Jacob Vanbraam, to be my French Interpreter; and proceeded with him to Alexandria, where we provided Necessaries. From thence we went to Winchester, and got Baggage, Horses, & c. and from where we arrived the 14th of November. Here I engaged Mr. Gist to pilot us out, and also hired four others as Servitors, Barnaby Currin, and John MaC-Quire, Indian Traders, Henry Steward, and William Jenkins, and in company with those persons, left the Inhabitants the Day following.. (1753) NOTE: (Inhabitants is given the meaning of settlements) [Ref: Writings of Washington, Vol. I, 1745-1756, Page 23 ... Journey to French Commandant, 1753]

Washington's Headquarters at Wills Creek, from Lossing's Mount Vernon


"Of the remaining three men hired by Washington at Will's Creek, a John MacQuire was with Washington later at Fort Necessity....." [Ref: "George Washington in the Ohio Valley," Hugh Cleland, University of Pittsburg Press]

George Washington's entourage heading into the Ohio Valley


"While Gist made ready, George hired four men as hostlers and orderlies, or in the young Virginian's unceremonious words, as "servitors" Another, John MacQuire, also had traded with the Indians."
[Ref: "George Washington", Vol I, by Douglas Southall Freeman]


Some Colateral Information

In Colonial America there were no regular armies to protect the settlers and citizens from marauders and raiders. For their own protection militia groups were formed and trained by military advisers. These armed militia groups were protection when small skirmishes broke out, but when a crisis arose that they couldn't handle, regular units from England were sent in to help put down the insurrection.

During Bacon's Rebellion in 1677, a regiment commanded by Colonel Herbert Jeffery was brought to Virginia. Five companies of 200 men each, plus officers and non-commissioned officers. When the rebellion was put down, Colonel Jeffrey with one company of his regiment remained in Virginia. From this unit, eventually evolved the Virginia Regiment of George Washington time. Some of these soldiers were from the regular British Army and the others were recruited in London.

Three Companies of Foot were brought in from the British Army in 1720 to protect the settlers on the new frontier and became the foundation or nucleus of the 42nd Regiment of Foot, commanded by General James Edward Oglethorpe, and served in the new Colony of Georgia, founded in 1732.

In August of 1742, Lt. Governor William Gooch of Virginia stated that the Virginia consisted of about 16,000 men, about 60 men per company. In most colonies, to be exempt from military service you had to be: A Government Official, conscientous objector, indentured servant, slave, or handicapped. Free negroes, mulattoes, and Indians living in the settlements were required to enlist in the Militia. Fines and imprisonment were penalties imposed for disobeying the local laws requiring this service.

Ref: [Colonial Soldiers of the South, 1732-1774, by Murtie June Clark]


Dr. The Country in Account with George Washington, April 6, 1754 to May 31, 1754

April 10: To Cash to Jacob Arrans at enlisting. MB: this person was one of Captain Trent's men, master of the Indian Language and perfectly acquainted with all the ways and mountains between this and ye fork ..................................................pounds 4.6.8

To Cash to John McGuire at enlistment................1.6.3

Pay of the Virginia Regiment, Commencing from the 29th of May and Ending July 29th 1754

Captain George Mercer's Company:

Nr. 141 ........... Soldier ..............McGuire, John .....2.0.8

Return of Captain George Mercer's Company, 9 July 1754

Nr. 50 ..............Private ............. McGuire,John......absent on command at .................................................................................Will's Creek Jul 9, 1754 .................................................................................Attest: G. Mercer

Note: Will's Creek is the point of departure when Washington left to warn the French to leave the Ohio Valley, John McGuire was one of his party.


Transcription of John McGuire's Will

In the name of God, Amen. The 28th day of December in the year of our Lord 1799, I, John McGuire, of the State of South Carolina and Spartanburgh County, now drawing toward the evening of my days, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body -- knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die to make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all, I recommend my soul to the hands of God who gave it and my body, I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give, devise and discharge of the same in the following manner and form.

Imprimis it is my will and I do order that in the first place all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid and satisfied. Then I give and bequeath unto Pheby, my dear and blessed wife, her equality of my estate that I now possess. Exclusive of her part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Elijah one cow and calf called mot and one white steer two years old next spring. Exclusive of his part as he has received part before, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John his equal his equal part of my estate I now possess, likewise the colt that the mare is with that I now possess. Exclusive of his part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Nancy her equal part of my estate I now possess. Exclusive of her part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Frank an equal part of my estate I now possess. Exclusive of his part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Pheby her equal part of my estate I now possess. Exclusive of her part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Aaron his equal part of my estate I now possess. Exclusive of his part I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Abel his equal part of my estate I now possess. Exclusive of his part I ordain, constitute and appoint my trusty and true friends, Richard Vanables and Samuel Fowler to be my whole and sole Executors.

I order it that as long as my wife shall keep single, all the estate to be left in her hand for the use of the children only such things as my Executors see is not needed for her to keep. Such property to be sold and after her part the rest to be put to the use of the children now living with her, but if my wife should marry I order all to be sold and taken care of for my children, and if any of the children marries before my wife, I order it so that the estate shall be praised and that child to have its part, and I do utterly disallow, revoke and disannul every other former testaments, wills, legacies by me in any way before this time made, willed, bequeathed, ratified and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, sealed and delivered, published and pronounced, by the said John McGuire, before we subscribers James Luker burd and Matthew H. Burd.

/s/ John McGuire (Maguyre)


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