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William McElwee III

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Birth	:	28 Feb 1761 Brunswick County, Virginia, USA
Death	:	15 Nov 1854 York County, South Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, USA
Coordinate	:	35.1225014, -81.3061066
Description	:	Tombstone reads: William McElwee Esq. Feb 28, 1761-Nov 15, 1854 Served in American Revolution as a Lieutenant in General Thomas Sumpter's command WILLIAM McELWEE III (1761-1854), an American patriot in the Revolutionary War, was born in 1761 in that part of old Brunswick County, Virginia, that in 1781 became Greensville County, a son of William McElwee II (1718-1807) and Janet Black (1738-1825). 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. Here William III grew to manhood. After the principal fighting... Read More	Tombstone reads: William McElwee Esq. Feb 28, 1761-Nov 15, 1854 Served in American Revolution as a Lieutenant in General Thomas Sumpter's command WILLIAM McELWEE III (1761-1854), an American patriot in the Revolutionary War, was born in 1761 in that part of old Brunswick County, Virginia, that in 1781 became Greensville County, a son of William McElwee II (1718-1807) and Janet Black (1738-1825). 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. Here William III grew to manhood. After the principal fighting in the American Revolution moved from the Northern to the Southern Colonies, William McElwee III joined General Thomas Sumter’s partisans in the South Carolina Line in 1780, just before General Sir Henry Clinton took Charleston on May 12. General Lord Charles Cornwallis later declared Sumter to be his greatest plague in the Carolinas, giving him the sobriquet “South Carolina Gamecock.” William’s first fight was with a band of Tories under Christian Huck, a German-born captain in Banastre Tarleton's hated British Legion. Huck, whose 200 recruits were soundly defeated by 100 American patriots in an engagement in York County on July 12, 1780, was a remarkably poor choice for this assignment because of his great bitterness toward the Whigs in general, and the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians in particular. William was soon commissioned a lieutenant for his dedicated participation in the battle. Afterward, he fought with Sumter’s men in engagements at Rocky Mount on August 1, 1780, Hanging Rock on August 6, 1780, Fishing Creek on August 18, 1780 and Blackstock’s Farm on November 20, 1780. He was at home on a leave of absence at the time of the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780, fought near the McElwee home. He shouldered his rifle, went forward and fought with his countrymen independently of his regular military unit. On January 13, 1785, William married Rachel Newman (8/28/1766-10/17/1833), a daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Newman of Scotch-Irish extraction who had migrated from Virginia to old Lincoln County, North Carolina. After Jonathan’s death, Rebecca and her two children, Jonathan, Jr. and Rachel, moved to York County, South Carolina, near the McElwees. William and Rachel became the parents of thirteen children: (1) John (1/4/1786-9/2/1853) married Martha Miller; (2) Jane (10/10/1788-1/5/1853) m. Galbreath Caldwell; (3) Mary (2/7/1790-10/29/1879) m. Alexander Galloway; (4) Rebecca (7/12/1792-10/3/1861) m. John Robinson McElwee; (5) Jonathan Newman (3/8/1795-3/28/1882) m. Elizabeth Bonner McGill; (6) Elizabeth (7/17/1797-4/29/1848) m. Thomas Campbell Henry; (7) Naomi (7/7/1799-10/7/1866) m. John Kennedy; (8) William Meek (4/1/1802-6/1/1860) m. Maria Ramsey; (9) Nancy Agnes (5/23/1804-9/20/1875) m. James McElwee; (10) Rachel Newman (11/12/1806-9/28/1877) m. John McGill; (11) Eleanor (b.2/2/1809) m. William Sterling; (12) James (5/30/1811-3/5/1902) m. Jane Neely McElwee; and (13) Amelia (5/23/1815-6/23/1817) died in childhood. Rachel Newman McElwee died in York County on October 17, 1833, at age 67. Twenty-one years later, on November 15, 1854, William McElwee III, Esquire died in York County at the age of 93. They are buried beside each other in the graveyard at Bethany Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in York County, of which William had been a founder in 1797 and ruling elder for many years. Contributed by Robert Allison Ragan, a descendant, February 15, 2016.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William McElwee III's memorial?
William McElwee III's memorial is located at: Bethany Associated Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery, Clover, York County, USA.
When did William McElwee III death?
William McElwee III death on 15 Nov 1854 in York County, South Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William McElwee III's memorial?
Latitude: 35.1225014
Longitude: -81.3061066

Family Members:

Parent

William McElwee II

(1718 - 1807)

Janet Black McElwee

(1738 - 1825)

Spouse

Rachel Meek Newman McElwee

(1766 - 1833)

Siblings

(unknow - unknow)

John Calvin McElwee

(1765 - 1843)

Children

Jane McElwee Caldwell

(1788 - 1853)

Mary McElwee Galloway

(1790 - 1879)

Rebecca McElwee McElwee

(1792 - 1861)

Jonathan Newman McElwee

(1795 - 1882)

Elizabeth McElwee Henry

(1797 - 1848)

Naomi McElwee Kennedy

(1799 - 1866)

Nancy Agnes McElwee McElwee

(1804 - 1875)

Rachel Newman McElwee McGill

(1806 - 1877)

James McElwee

(1811 - 1902)

Amelia McElwee

(1815 - 1817)

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