Home > United States of America > South Carolina > York County > Clover > Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery > William McElwee II

William McElwee II

View larger map

Birth	:	1718 County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Death	:	Jun 1807 York County, South Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate	:	35.1225014, -81.3061066
Description	:	Tombstone reads: William McElweeMCELWEE died June 1807 in his 89th year emigrated from Ireland 1750 WILLIAM McELWEE II (1718-1807), an American Patriot in the Revolutionary War, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in the year 1718, a son of William McElwee I (1670-1722). According to tradition, his grandfather came to Ireland from County Ross, Scotland, in the 17th century, where he was a member of Clan Ross. In 1750, at age 32, William and his brother David immigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia. They first lived in Pennsylvania where in 1757 William married Janet Black (1738-1825). That same year or the next, William... Read More	Tombstone reads: William McElweeMCELWEE died June 1807 in his 89th year emigrated from Ireland 1750 WILLIAM McELWEE II (1718-1807), an American Patriot in the Revolutionary War, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in the year 1718, a son of William McElwee I (1670-1722). According to tradition, his grandfather came to Ireland from County Ross, Scotland, in the 17th century, where he was a member of Clan Ross. In 1750, at age 32, William and his brother David immigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia. They first lived in Pennsylvania where in 1757 William married Janet Black (1738-1825). That same year or the next, William and Janet McElwee moved to Brunswick County, Virginia, to that part of the county that is now Greensville County, adjacent to Halifax County, North Carolina, to the south. Here their first three children were born: James (1758-1834), William III (1761-1854) and John Calvin (1765-1843). In the summer of 1765, William McElwee II and his family moved to Clark’s Fork of Bullock’s Creek in York District, South Carolina, which was being settled by a colony of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The area was then considered in North Carolina, and it was from that state that he received on October 30, 1765, a land grant for 200 acres on both sides of Clark’s Fork of Bullock’s Creek. In 1772, the boundary line between the two Carolinas was established to be about three miles north of McElwee’s property, placing it in South Carolina. Here he built a 2-story home of hewn logs containing four rooms, a basement, porch and a massive granite-block-and-brick chimney. The fireplace inside was 9 feet wide and 7 feet high. A separate one-story building housed the kitchen. As a point of reference, this property is located about three miles east of the Kings Mountain Battlefield and is now part of the South Carolina State Park. In this comfortable home the McElwee’s next five children, all daughters, were born: Eleanor (1766-1856), Agnes (b. 1770), Ann (1771-1856), Mary (b. 1772) and Elizabeth (1774-1836). Here they lived happy and contented. William was a weaver by trade, in addition to being a farmer, and Janet a housekeeper and homemaker for her husband and eight children. Tradition records that on the day of the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, a group of Tories stopped at the McElwee home to build a fire in the yard and were preparing to kill hogs, when they heard the sound of the battle and fled. William McElwee II, the subject of this sketch, and his two sons, William McElwee III, age 19, who was at home on a leave of absence from his command, and John McElwee, age 15, shouldered their muskets and went forward to participated in the battle. As they were leaving, John started to turn back, but his mother called out to him to go forward to help his countrymen, which he did without further hesitation. Therefore, all three McElwees, the father and his two younger two sons, were American patriots, although neither was a member of any official military organization that engaged in the battle. Older son James, already fighting for his country’s independence, was at home that day due to a serious injury to his foot, which prevented him from rejoining his company for six months. William III continued to serve in the Revolution after Kings Mountain and was with General Nathanael Greene’s 4,500 Americans at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1871. William McElwee II died at his York County home in June 1807 at the age of 89. Janet Black McElwee, his wife of fifty years and mother of their eight children, died December 25, 1825, at the age of 87. They are both buried in the graveyard at Bethany Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in York County among numerous descendants. Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a descendant, February 15, 2016.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William McElwee II's memorial?
William McElwee II's memorial is located at: Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, USA.
When did William McElwee II death?
William McElwee II death on Jun 1807 in York County, South Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William McElwee II's memorial?
Latitude: 35.1225014
Longitude: -81.3061066

Family Members:

Spouse

Janet Black McElwee

(1738 - 1825)

Children

(unknow - unknow)

William McElwee III

(1761 - 1854)

John Calvin McElwee

(1765 - 1843)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1225014, -81.3061066

2. Oak Dale Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1103650, -81.3132170

3. Apple Road Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1358299, -81.3503265

4. Unity AME Zion Church Cemetery
Gaston County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1662560, -81.2994690

5. Ramah Presbyterian Church Cemetery
York, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0856960, -81.3470020

6. Clover AME Zion Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1199460, -81.2363400

7. Clover Community Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1146431, -81.2352295

8. Clover Chapel Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1147003, -81.2350006

9. Woodside Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1158028, -81.2300186

10. Kings Mountain Battleground Cemetery
Blacksburg, Cherokee County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1431007, -81.3786011

11. Saint James United Methodist Church Cemetery
York, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0629010, -81.2817120

12. Old Center Presbyterian Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0935249, -81.2352676

13. Gordon Cemetery
Cherokee County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1268997, -81.3861008

14. Gethsemane Apostle and Prophets Church
Rock Hill, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0788850, -81.2451860

15. Fitchette Family Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1002200, -81.2293840

16. Alexander Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0575440, -81.2633680

17. Mountainview Baptist Church
York, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0976327, -81.3923064

18. Trinity AME Zion Church Cemetery
Gastonia, Gaston County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1852798, -81.2533188

19. Southside Baptist Church Cemetery
Gastonia Township, Gaston County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1894060, -81.2584910

20. Enon Baptist Church Cemetery
York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0611110, -81.3643050

21. New Zion Untied Methodist Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0453606, -81.3317566

22. Green Pond United Methodist Church Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.1054802, -81.2065201

23. Kings Mountain Chapel Cemetery
Filbert, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0460854, -81.2640686

24. Beersheba Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate: 35.0370674, -81.3198853