John McBride

John McBride, born in Pennsylvania, March 22, 1755, moved with his parents to North Carolina when he was about 10 years old.

The family, like many of the Scots-Irish of that era, probably traversed The Great Wagon Road through Virginia and settled in North Carolina’s Piedmont region in what would become Guilford County. As the impact of the declaration of war against Great Britain reached Gilford County, young McBride enlisted and served as an Indian Spy, Express Rider, First Sergeant, Ensign, Lieutenant and Adjutant in the North Carolina Troops for two years, nine months and fifteen days.

He served under Captains Whitson, White, Taylor, John Nelson, John Hamilton, Daniel Gillaspie, Arthur Forbes and John McAdow and Colonels MacDowell, John Paisley and John Gillaspie.

McBride was involved in numerous skirmishes, battles and expeditions with American Indians and Tories throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. As an express rider, he carried communications from Colonel John Paisley, the commander of the Guilford Militia, and from the Committee of Public Safety to different parts of the state often at the hazard of his life. He marched with General Nathaniel Greene through North Carolina a short time before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

John McBride Gravestone, courtesy of Marti Fiddle of Alamance Co NC

Eleanor McBride Gravestone, courtesy of Marti Fiddle of Alamance Co NC

Revolutionary War Pension file for John Mc Bride S*W4730 NARA M8004 Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty - Land Warrant Application Files Fold3.com.

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On August 20, 1832, while residing in Guilford County, McBride began collecting his pension.

McBride married Eleanor Ryan in 1783, and they resided together in Guilford County until late in life when they moved to be close to their daughter, Mary, in Orange County, North Carolina. Together, they had six children: William, Edward, Mary, Eleanor, Ann, and Margaret. A page torn from the family Bible, included in pension record W4730, lists the children and their dates of birth.

McBride was a blacksmith by trade, and a member of the Masonic Order.

He died May 27, 1843, in Orange County followed by Eleanor on March 27, 1846. They are buried at Mt. Hermon United Methodist Church Cemetery, Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina.