The earliest family in New Jersey was not recorded in the first attempt at compiling a
listing of the McClung Family (Printed 1904).
It appears that there is a McClung family who moved into New Jersey about the same time as
the McClung family who came to Philadelphia. This family went south into Salem (later
Cumberland County cut from that) County where James and Agnes were found in the graveyard
as dying in 1788 and 1769. James Jr. has been found in 1800 in Salem County, NJ.
Kristen Johnson Ingram is searching for records of her 5g grandmother, Nancy McClung who was
born abt 1767 in Pittsgrove, Salem Co NJ, She married Samuel Johnson abt. 1788. Her parents
are listed as James and Agnes McCLung, but they would have been 67 and 54 respectively. It
appears that this is one of the first families in America.
James and Agnes are buried at Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church in Daretown (Elmer NJ). Since
this is so close to Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania , they could have come from anywhere.
James' tombstone reads, "In Memory of James McClong, one of the elders of this church.
Departed this life 28th Day of February 1788 in the 87th year of his age,"
Agnes' tombstone says, "Here lies the body of Agnes McClong who died 5th of September 1769
age 56 years. All ye who come to my grave to see - and as I am so must you be -Repent in
Time, no time delay - prepare to follow me."
Nancy McClung is listed as the wife of Samuel Johnson in *The House of John Johnson* and
*350 Years of American Ancestors.*
Their children are listed as Nancy, see above, and William, who served as a private in
Captain Jacob Dubois' Company of Minutemen, 2nd Battallion.
So far, no McClongs or McClungs are found in New Jersey prior to this couple, who were
apparently married before they came to this country.
The Pittsgrove James McClung died 28 Feb 1788. He was a charter member and elder of the
Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church in Daretown. The cemetery also has many Johnsons, Dubois,
VanMeters, Newkirks and Mayhews who are still in the area. These are descendants of Nancy
McClung.
Also searched in the Salem County records: deeds and miscellaneous documents, ranging from
marriages,muster rolls for Minutemen (which included William McClung, ostensibly the son
of James and Agnes), cemetery census lists. Also searched were: the Salem County Historical
Society AND the Gloucester county historical society library, since they have a lot of Salem
documents, but the McClungs remained pretty elusive. At the courthouse there was found no
will or probate, only Nancy's signature as "Nancy Johnson" on a deed she and Samuel
transferred to one of his brothers.
James Jr. who stayed there in Cumberland at least as long as the 1790
census and probably longer.
Samuel was born about 1775 in Ireland. It is not known how he is related
to the earlier McClung family in America. He married Eliza MacNara. They had one child.
Samuel died 29 Dec 1864 at Killyfaddy, County Armaugh, Ireland.
The son of Samuel and Eliza MacNara McClung was born 1808 in Ireland. He married 1) Esther
Kirker. She was born in 1816 and died 1850. He md 2) about 1854. He died 23 Nov 1868 at Killyfaddy, County Armaugh,
Ireland, of stomach disease. They had five
children:
The first child of James and Esther Kirk McClung was born 1846. He remained in Tassagh,
Ireland. He died 11 Mar 1913 at Holywood Rd, Belfast, Ireland. He married 1) Ann Eliza
Robinson 1 Aug 1870. She was the daughter of Samuel Robinson of Bessbrook, Co. Armaugh.
They had six children.
The second child of James and Esther Kirk McClung was born in Ireland 10 Sep 1848. He emigrated
to America in 1868. He was a soap manufacturer. He lived at 168 Randolph Ave, Jersey City,
NJ. The McC Gen, p. 157 states that he also married Esther Kirk. She was born in 1846.
The third child of James and Esther Kirk McClung was born 1855 in Ireland. He married
Margaret Frickelton (or Frackleton). He was a cooper by trade. They had nine children. He
died 29 July 1898 at 22 Bristol St., Belfast.
The fourth child of James and Esther Kirk McClung was born 1857. He married 22 Aug 1881 to
Eliza Gilliland, daughter of William Gilliland of Keady. They lived at Portadown, Ireland.
He died 2 Oct 1887. They had fourteen children
The fifth child of James and Esther Kirk McClung was born in 1859. She married Robert
Crozer. The lived at Portedown, Ireland.