Lineage Of John Stone, Blockmaker

By Spessard Stone

Appendix F

The McCranie Family



Daniel McCranie, Jr. 1772-1854

     Daniel McCranie, Jr., was born 1772 in North Carolina. In North Carolina about 1793, Daniel married Sarah McMillan, born 1774, daughter of Malcolm McMillan of Robeson County, North Carolina. The McCranies moved to Bulloch County, Georgia circa 1800 and to Montgomery County by 1802. Later they resettled in Lowndes County, in that portion that is now Cook County. Sarah died 1842. Daniel died 17 June 1854. They are buried in Wilkes Cemetery, Cook County.
     Susan Neal wrote in "One of Cook County's oldest cemeteries is resting place for early settlers" for The Valdosta Times of 1 October 2001:

     "Wilkes Cemetery, one of the two oldest in the county, is the final resting place for some of the area's earliest settlers, with the earliest known grave dating back to 1842.
     "Located off Val Del Road on a quiet, peaceful lot on Community Church Road, the little community Calvary Holiness Church, even though it originally was not a church cemetery.
     "The Rev. Dillard Ensley, president of the Cook County Historical Society, in his volume of cemeteries and burials in the county has accounted for all the graves in the area cemeteries, marked and unmarked.
     "'People were probably being buried there (Wilkes) as early as the late 1830s, but the earliest marked graves are in the 1840s,' Ensley said.
     "One of the earliest settlers buried in Wilkes is Daniel 'Big Thumb' McCranie, 'of full Scottish blood and fiery temper.'
     "McCranie came to Cook County in the winter of 1824 or 1825 while it was still Irwin County. The county was named Lowndes about a year after his arrival, and later Cook.
     "He was known to still wear a kilt on certain occasions and provided forage for militia during the Battle of Brushy Creek.
     "The earliest known burial in Wilkes is that of his wife, Sarah McMillan McCranie, who was born in 1774 and died in 1842. The names of the couple's 10 children are inscribed on the back of the grave stone, which was recently placed by descendants, Ensley said.
     "The McCranies had seven sons and three daughters. Five of the sons fought in the Battle of Brushy Creek. Daniel McCranie died June 17, 1854.
     "Hester Ann Clark Lindsey traveled to the county with her children and the McCranies. Lindsey's husband, Thomas, had been killed in an Indian raid in Montgomery County, Ga. Lindsey had seven children, two of whom married McCranoie children...
     "Ensley said the name of the cemetery came from Archibald Duncan Wilkes, who moved to the area 25 to 30 years after Sarah McMillan McCranie's burial in 1842. He bought land around the cemetery and reportedly gave additional land for it to be extended...
     "Before it was given the Wilkes name, Ensley said it was informally called Bear Creek Cemetery. It could also have been called the McCranie or Lindsey burial ground, or any other settler name by anyone's guess..."

     The 1850 census of Lowndes County, Georgia listed eight McCranie families, including in household #238, Daniel McCranie, 78, & Kitty, 46; # 240, Malcolm, 47, Jane, 30, & 10 children; # 241, Archibald, 40, Nancy, 42, & 6 children; # 253, Christian, 50, & 2 children; # 259, William and Melvina McCranie and children; # 291, Daniel, 45, Winnie, 30, & 5 children. In distant households were: # 662, John D., 33, Susannah, 26; # 663, Mary, 65, Margaret, 40, Cornelius, 37.

     All the children, with the exception of Neil (Florida) and Duncan (Liberty County, Georgia), reared their families in present day Berrien and Cook counties.

     Issue of Daniel and Sarah (McMillan) McCranie:
     1. Neil E. McCranie, born 1794; married Rebecca Monroe.
     2. Mary McCranie, born 1795; married John Lindsey, son of Thomas Lindsey.
     3. John McCranie, born 1797; married Christiana Morrison, daughter of John Morrison.
     4. Daniel McCranie, born 1800; married Winnie Lindsey, daughter of Thomas Lindsey.
     5. Malcolm McCranie, born 1802; married Elizabeth Parrish, daughter of Henry Parrish.
     6. Duncan McCranie, born 1805; married ___________; lived in Liberty Co., Ga.
     7. Nancy McCranie, born 1808; married Robert N. Parrish.
     8. Archibald McCranie, born 1810; married Nancy McMillan.
     9. William McCranie, born 1812; married Melvina Beasley.
     10. Elizabeth McCranie, born 1815; married Sampson G. Williams, son of James & Elizabeth (Holloway) Williams.



William McCranie 1812-1889

     William McCranie, son of Daniel and Sarah (McMillan) McCranie, was born 25 September 1812, Montgomery County, Georgia and died 27 March 1889, near Adel, Georgia. Burial was in Linesink Cemetery, now the city cemetery of Adel. At Morven, Lowndes County, Georgia on 15 August 1833, he was married by Durham Handcock, Justice of the Peace, to Melvina Beasley, daughter of Elijah and Rebecca (Burnett) Beasley. Melvina was born in September, 1812, Bulloch County, Georgia; died 26 June 1893 with burial in Wilkes Burial Ground, near Adel, Cook County, Georgia.

     William, when three years old, moved with his parents to Brushy Creek, then in Irwin County. After marriage, he first settled on the Coffee Road, about one mile from its crossing of the Withlacoochee River, but later relocated to about one-half from the business section of Adel. He was a farmer and spent considerable time fishing and hunting.

     William served in the militia. He was an ensign in the 776th militia district in 1833-34. During the Second Seminole War, he enlisted as a private at Brushy Creek on or about July 1836 for the term of one year as a private in Capt. Levi J. Knight’s Company and was discharged at Florida in 1837. At the time of entering service, he was described as: "24 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches in height, with blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, by occupation a farmer, and that he was born at County of Montgomery, State of Georgia." He enlisted on 23 September 1839 as a private in Capt. W. C. Newbern’s Company, Bailey’s Regt., Fla. Mil. (Fla. Wars) and was honorably discharged on 20 December 1839. For his service in the latter company he received bounty land warrant no. 79234 for 120 acres, issued October 1855.

     William and his friend Jack Lindsey (husband of his sister Mary) participated in two battles with the Indians at Brushy Creek in sight of his father's home and on Cow Creek in Clinch County.

     Anthony McCranie related:

     "One incident of the Indians after the battle of Cow Creek he [Uncle Billy] sometimes tells with seemingly a pleasing smile. The Indians had been completely routed and the white men were in close pursuit. He and Jack Lindsey had crossed the swamp when an Indian buck jumped from behind a covering of bush. They discovered each other simultaneously and three rifles flew to each shoulder in an instant, but he and Jack were too quick for their antagonist. They fired together, aiming at the heart and they never could say which killed the Indian..."

     Under the "Act of July 27, 1892," Melvina McCranie on 21 September 1892 applied for a pension as the widow of William McCranie from his service in Captains Knight and Newbern’s companies in the Indian war. She gave his death as "near Adel on the 27 day of March, A. D. 1889." Her address was Adel, Berrien County, Georgia. On 25 January 1893, John McDermid[sp?], age 82, gave an affidavit that "he was present at the marriage of Wm. McCranie and Melvina Beasley which occurred in Lowndes Co. Ga in 1833 and he further swears the said Melvina McCranie has not since married." On the same day, Phillip Hires, 43, of Adel, and Johnson Mock, 52, of Adel, gave a joint affidavit "that they knew Wm McCranie who was the husband of Melvina McCranie & they further swear that they were present at the death of Wm McCranie which occurred at his residence near Adel on the 21st [has 21st] day of March 1889 and further swear that Melvina McCranie his said wife (who makes application for a pension under the Act of July 27th 1892 and whose pension claim is no 1480) has not since married." Her application was approved 20 March 1893 from William’s service in Capt. Newbern’s Company, and she, under certificate no. 566 (issued 4 April 1893), briefly received $8.00 per month. Melvina died 26 June 1893.

     Issue of William and Melvina (Beasley) McCranie:
     1. Sarah McCranie, born 1834; married 26 May 1859 Richard N. Hutchinson.
     2. Daniel McCranie, born 1836; died in CSA; never married.
     3. Elzy McCranie, born 1838; md. 19 Oct 1859 Martha Bryan.
     4. Nancy McCranie, born 1839; married 7 Jan 1858 Marion Bonus McClellan(d).
     5. Elijah McCranie, born 1841; married Elizabeth (McClelland) Tucker, daughter of John McClelland.
     6. Malcolm McCranie, born 1842; died in CSA; never married.
     7. Mary McCranie, born 1844; married 1 Apr 1866 Elias J. "Boody" McClelland, born ca. 1840, GA, son of John and Elizabeth (Alexander) McClelland. No issue.
     8. William McCranie, born 1846; married in TX ____________.
     9. Ansel McCranie, born 1848; married Mary "Mollie" Wells.
     10. John McCranie, born 1849; married Harriet Lineberger. They moved to Florida.
     11. Elizabeth McCranie, born 1850; burned to death childhood.
     12. Melvina McCranie, born 16 May 1852; died 29 Mar 1931, Cook Co., GA; married Needham L. Purvis.
     13. Neal McCranie, born 1854; married Rebecca Bonnell.
     14. Eliza C. McCranie, born 1856; married Phillip Hiers.
     15. Martin S. McCranie, born ca. 1858; married (1) Laura Young (2) Mrs. Asa Rooks; (3) Mrs. Wright.



Nancy McCranie McClellan(d) 1839-1912

     Nancy McCranie, daughter of William and Melvina (Beasley) McCranie, was born 18 April 1839, Lowndes County, Georgia; died 12 September 1912. In Berrien County, Georgia on 7 January 1858, she married Marion Bonus McClellan, son of John and Elizabeth (Alexander) McClelland. Family researcher Michael Durrence lists the spelling of the family name as "McClelland," but Marion spelled his surname "McClellan," and his death certificate, the informant being Guss McClellan, has his father as John McClellan and mother's maiden name as Hendrie, with no given name stated. Marion was born 21 September 1834, Irwin County, Georgia; died 31 January 1918 in Calhoun County, Florida. Bonus and Nancy are buried at Frink, about 12 miles from Blountstown in Calhoun County, Florida. He married (2) 9 June 1917 in Calhoun County, Florida, Elia C. Vason.

     During the Civil War, Marion McClellan enlisted at Worth County, Georgia on 13 May 1862 as a private in Company B, 10th Battalion Georgia Infantry, Confederate States Army. About 3 weeks before the surrender of the 10th at Appomattox, Va. in April 1865, he had been detailed to get horses back in Georgia where he was at the time. On 22 August 1907, Marion B. McClellan (no "d" in CSA pension application) applied for a pension from military service in the Confederate States. He stated he'd been a resident of Florida ever since 1884. W. R. McClellan of Sneads, Jackson County and A. Newell of Henderson, Calhoun County gave a joint affidavit that they had served with Marion in Co. B, 10th Ga. Battalion which had surrendered at Appomattox Court House, Va. Marion wasn't present, however, as "he was sent back to Ga., he was detailed & sent after horses about 3 weeks before the surrender, to get horses." On 2 September 1907, the county commissioners of Calhoun County recommended a pension be granted. On 28 December 1907, the claim for pension of Marion B. McClellan of Frink, Fla. was approved at the rate of $120 per annum.

     Under the Act of 1909, Marion B. McClellan [no "d"] reapplied on 25 September 1909. He stated he'd continuously resided in Florida since 1 April 1884. He listed his property as: real estate, located at Frink, Fla., Calhoun Co., $2,000; cattle, horses and other livestock, $1,000; personal property, $50.00; mortgages, notes and other securities, $250.00; total $3,300.00. He gave his postoffice address as Frink, Calhoun County, State of Florida. His claim was approved 1 March 1910, with pay from 1 July 1909 at the rate of $120 per annum.

     On 8 April 1929, Mrs. Elia C. McClellan [no "d"] applied for a widow's pension as the widow of Marion B. McClellan. She stated she was a resident of Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida [no age given] and had resided in Florida all her life. On 8 April 1929, the county commissioners of Leon County recommended that a pension should be granted the applicant. On 12 April 1929, the Pension Committee of the Senate Chamber, Capitol [Tallahassee] was advised that Mrs. Elia C. McClellan was "not eligible to pension under the General Law on account of her marriage being June 9, 1917, and the law requires a widow to have been married prior to June 1, 1917...Mrs. McClellan stated that she and Mr. McClellan were to have been married two or three months prior to June 9, 1917, but owing to her illness that the wedding had to be postponed until the above mentioned date, which was just eight days too late to be entitled to pension under the General Pension Law." In an accompanying letter to the Pension Committee, Elia C. Vason [as she signed] wrote in part, "This is to certify that the delay of my marriage was due to sever illness from Flue and nervous collapse, later underwent a major operation which has left me an invalid unable to work and dependant." A private bill to direct the State Board of Pensions to place Mrs. Elia C. McClellan on the pension roll of the State of Florida to be paid a Confederate pension was introduced and, subsequently, enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida. It became a law without the Governor's approval. Elia's date of death has not been learned.

     Issue of Marion Bonus and Nancy (McCranie) McClellan(d):
     1. Samantha McClellan, born 28 Nov 1858; died on 3 Jan 1923; married Jack Gordon.
     2. Sophronia McClellan, born 4 Nov 1859; died 18 Jun 1938, Quincy, FL; married Thomas Franklin Williams. See Appendix E.
     3. William McClellan, born ca. 1861; md. Eletha Watson.
     4. Eliza Melvina McClellan, born 21 Jan 1863; died on 21 Jan 1936.
     5. John J. McClellan, born 29 Oct 1865; died 2 Mar 1930, Pomona Park, Putnam Co., FL; married 14 Aug 1884 Kate Amelia Byrd.
     6. Mary McClellan, born 6 Jan 1867, Colquitt, GA; died on 28 Nov 1948, FL; married Lorenza Tucker.
     7. Elizabeth Ann McClellan, born 15 Jan 1868, Berrien Co.
     8. Fannie Jane McClellan, born 5 Feb 1869; married on 10 Jul 1884 Frank McFarland.
     9. Lovie Viola McClellan, born 22 Dec 1873; married on 6 Jan 1895 W. H. Hornsby.
     10. Gus T. McClellan, born 28 Sep 1876; died 21 Sep 1945; married Victoria Fowler, born 10 Jan 1884; died 19 May 1969. They are buried at a private cemetery in the Frinks community, Calhoun Co., FL. "McClellan" is on their tombstones.
     11. Eula Elva McClellan, born 3 Sep 1879; married 2 Jul 1893 James J. Mixon.
     12. Hilton Hammond McClellan, born 24 Jul 1881; died 16 May 1961, FL.

     Acknowledgments: Anthony McCranie, McCranie Isle of Jura Argyleshire, Scotland McCranie Families North Carolina and Georgia, 1987, pages 255, 335, 336, 337, 338, 341; Folks Huxford, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume 1, pp. 202-203; pension application of Melvina McCranie, National Archives; U. S. Original Census Schedules Seventh Census 1850 Lowndes County, Georgia; pension applications of Marion Bonus McClellan and Mrs. Elia C. McClellan, Florida Archives, Tallahassee, Florida; "Certificate of Death" of Marion Bonus McClellan..




     July 28, 2001 & links = October 17, 2001& "Scottish Fantasy," April 5, 2002