Susanna Montgomery1

b. 17 May 1791, d. 22 March 1876
FatherRichard Montgomery2 b. abt 1755, d. 8 Feb 1840
MotherElizabeth McCall2 b. 9 Feb 1766, d. 9 Apr 1855
Birth17 May 1791 Susanna Montgomery was born on 17 May 1791.1,3 
Marriage28 Nov 1815 She married James McClure, son of Andrew McClure and Mary Mitchell, on 28 Nov 1815.4 
Migration1816 Susanna and James spent the first year or two following their marriage living in Ashe County, North Carolina.5 
  However they did not choose to settle there permanently. In the early summer of 1816 James contemplated moving to the "west country" but did not do so. Susanna gave birth to twin daughters in July 1817 whom they named Mary and Eliza, no doubt in honor of their mothers. However Eliza died in December. By 1819 the couple was back in Virginia where they settled in Russell County. Susanna gave birth in Virginia to her next child, a daughter they named Elizabeth. The other twin, Mary, died in 1826. James and Susanna named their next born daughter Mary Ann in her memory.6 
Migration  James found that times were difficult in Russell County. He had trouble selling the leather goods he produced and land values were weak. In 1828 his brother Thomas moved to Hawkins County, Tennessee. In June 1830 Susanna gave birth to a daughter the couple named Virginia. A few months later they joined Thomas in Hawkins County.6 
  There James and Susanna settled on a 500 acre farm a few miles west of Rogersville on the old Knoxville to Bristol stage road. James kept a tavern, ran a tanyard and farmed the land. His efforts were succesful and about 1847 he built a large brick home on his land.7 
  As trains replaced stage coaches, James focused on developing his farmland. In 1850 it was valued at $6,000. By 1860 it had increased in worth to $12,000. James also reported that he held $10,000 in personal property that year [suggesting slaves helped run the farm].8,9 
Widowed11 Apr 1866  James died on 11 Apr 1866. He had not recovered from injuries sustained when he was accidently struck by Union cavalry soldiers. James, who was deaf the last years of his life, apparently did not hear the approaching horses. 
  James's will left Susanna the use of the family farm which on her death was to pass to their daughters Nancy, Mary Ann, Virginia and Martha. 
Cens-187013 Jun 1870  The 1870 census enumerated Susan as the head of a household that included herself and 4 daughters, none of whom had married except Mary who appeared to be the widowed mother of a 12 year old son. They were assisted in running the farm (now valued at $8,000) by a 50 year old black man named Henry McClure [might he have been a former slave who stayed with the family and took on the McClure name?].10 
Death22 Mar 1876 Susanna died on 22 Mar 1876 at age 84.7 
Burial She was buried at the McClure Cemetery near the family home, along with James and 5 of their children.3,7 
Description  A 1914 McClure family history described Susannah as a tall, handsome woman.7 

Related Links and Images:

Susanna's birth entry in a Montgomery family bible11,12
Susanna and James's marriage entry11

Family

James McClure b. Nov 1789, d. 11 Apr 1866
Children
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S1913] Richard and Elizabeth (McCall) Montgomery family data from bible pages belonging to an unidentified family member. Record states: "Susanna Montgomery was born May 17th 1791."
  2. [S1913] Richard and Elizabeth (McCall) Montgomery family data from bible pages belonging to an unidentified family member.
  3. [S2142] "Hawkins County Cemetery inscriptions", database, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Hawkins County (http://www.usgwtombstones.org/tennessee/hawkins.html : viewed Oct. 2008).
  4. [S1913] Richard and Elizabeth (McCall) Montgomery family data from bible pages belonging to an unidentified family member. Record states: "Susanna Montgomery was marrid [sic] to James McClure November 28th, 1815."
  5. [S2143] James Alexander McClure, The McClure Family, p. 30.
  6. [S2143] James Alexander McClure, The McClure Family, p. 30. The text includes transcripts of several letters between James and his brother John McClure.
  7. [S2143] James Alexander McClure, The McClure Family, p. 33.
  8. [S2140] James McClure household, 1850 U.S. cens, Hawkins Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., District 10, p. 383 (stamped), dwelling 191, family 191, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2008, image 27 of 35. Household includes: James McClure, 62, farmer, owns land val $6,000, b. VA; Susan, 55, b. PA; Nancy, 26, b. VA; Montgomery, 24, b. VA; Mary, 22, b. TN; Virginia, 20, b. TN; Margaret, 18, b. TN; Martha, 14, b. TN.
  9. [S2141] James McClure household, 1860 U.S. cens, Hawkins Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., District 11, p. after 132 (stamped), dwelling 152, family 151, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2008, image 22 of 22. Household includes: James McClure, 70, farmer, owns land val $12,000, and personal prop of $10,000, b. VA; Susan, 60, b. VA; Nancy J., 24, b. ?; Virginia 28, b. ?; Martha, 22, b. TN; Mary A. Dunlop, 30, b. TN; George Dunlop, 2; Montgomery McClure, 32, farmer, owns land val at $6,000 and person prop of $1,100, b. ?
  10. [S2144] Susan McClure household, 1870 U.S. cens, Hawkins Co., Tennessee, pop. sched., District 10, p. after 125 (stamped), dwelling 114, family 114, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2008, image 18 of 48. Household includes: Susan McClure, 76, owns land val at $8,000, b. VA; Nancy, 40, b. VA; Virginia, 36, b. VA; Martha, 32, b. TN; Mary A. Dunlap, 42, b. VA; George Dunlap, 12, b. TN; Henry McClure, black, 50, b. VA, servant.
  11. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Carol Lockas.
  12. [S16] It is not known who originally owned this Montgomery family bible. The script does not appear to be that of Richard Montgomery Sr., at least compared to his signature on his Rev. War. pension application. The pages containing family information were located tucked into the bible of Peter and Margaret (Montgomery) Clark. Margaret was a daughter of Richard Montgomery Sr..
  13. [S2143] James Alexander McClure, The McClure Family, p. 34.
  14. [S2139] "Hawkins County Will Book II", transcription, USGenWeb: Tennessee, Hawkins County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~almadiso/madison.htm : viewed Oct. 2008), James McClure will; dated 7 June 1865 (page number and recording date not provided).