Mary Gaston McClure

Ancestor Number

A075312 »

Date of Birth

1712

Place of Birth

County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Date of Death

1802

Place of Death

Chester County, South Carolina

Spouse(s)

Captain James McClure

Children

William, John, James, Hugh, Mary, Martha, and Margaret Olive

American Revolution Service

At the time of the American Revolution, Mary Gaston McClure was an elderly widow of some 15 or 20 years, the mother of seven adult children—four sons and three daughters. She urged everyone to take up arms and sent forth her sons, sons-in-law and neighbors in the cause of freedom.

State of Service

South Carolina

Donor

Descendants of Mary Gaston McClure. Patricia Marsh Mitchell DAR # 86392, Cynthia Marsh Smith DAR # 869314, Jane Biggs Alexander.

Mary Gaston McClure, Ancestor Number A075312, was born in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, in 1712.

She died and was buried in Chester County, South Carolina, in 1802. At the time of the American Revolution, Mrs. McClure was the elderly widow of Captain James McClure and the mother of seven adult children—four sons (William, John, James and Hugh) and three daughters (Mary, Martha and Margaret Olive).

Gravesite of Revolution Patriot, Mary Gaston McClure of South Carolina - Burial Site in the Burnt Meeting House Church Cemetary, Chester County, South Carolina. Photo from Find a Grave.

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Mrs. McClure had a fearless spirit, urging everyone to take up arms and sent forth her sons, sons-in-law and neighbors in the cause of freedom. All of her sons fought the battles of liberty on every field.

Mrs. McClure’s son, James, and her son-in-law, Ned Martin, returned from Sumpter’s Camp at Clem’s Branch in Lancaster District, South Carolina, and were melting her pewter dishes to make bullets for the American cause, when Captain Huck and his band of Redcoats and Tories came burning and pillaging the countryside and took the young men captive. When Huck attempted to burn her family Bible, Mrs. McClure snatched it from the fire, and Huck struck her with the flat of his sword. The soldiers set fire to the house, but Mrs. McClure extinguished the flames and managed to save some gold coins hidden previously by stooping down, feigning an injury, and covering the coins with her foot. Mrs. McClure dispatched her daughter Mary to Sumpter’s camp to alert Mrs. McClure’s son, Captain John McClure. Captain McClure and John Bratton led their companies of York and Chester men 30 miles to attack and rout the British, rescuing the young men.

Captain John McClure fought bravely at Hanging Rock and Rocky Mount, but was stricken down and died of his wounds at Charlotte, attended by his brave mother. Mrs. McClure’s other son, Hugh, suffered grave injuries and was crippled for life. Her eldest son, William, entered the army as a surgeon and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston.

Mrs. McClure lived until the age of 89 or 90 and is buried in the Burnt Meeting House Church Cemetery in Chester County, South Carolina.