McCLURES IN BOTETOURT COUNTY.
Territorial overlapping of Augusta, Botetourt and Rockbridge causes confusion in seeking to locate the early settlers of the two latter counties. While there were a number of McClures in Botetourt between 1770 and 1775, most of them lived in that part of the county that was cut off in 1777 in forming Rockbridge and properly belong to the family in that county.
There were one or two families that settled in the present limits of Botetourt.
John and Mary McClure settled in the Long Bottom, south side of James River 1764. His wife was an Allen, probably a daughter of Capt. James Allen, of Augusta County, and a sister of Hugh and Malcolm Allen, of Botetourt.
In his will recorded at Fincastle, the county seat, he mentions three sons:
I. Malcoln McClure, m. Elizabeth Evans. He died May 2, 1791. His will is recorded at Fincastle. Two children:
- 1. John McClure, who was living in Botetourt 1813.
- 2. Mary McClure, who m. prior to 1813, Walker Stuart of Rockbridge, grandfather of Mr. W. C. Stuart, of Lexington, Va.
The widow, Elizabeth (Evans) McClure m. about 1795 Alexander Crawford, of Rockbridge County, an Elder in New Providence church.
II. Samuel McClure received land from his father 1769. Was about to move out of the State Sept. 23, 1803. Three sons; John the oldest. See Chalkley, Vol. II, p. 89 and 250.
III. Nathaniel McClure, b. 1774, and m. Mary Jane Porter, b. 1773. Emigrated to Grant County, Ky. A son, John Allen McClure, b. in Kentucy 1797, m. Eunice Keeler Fish. Daughter, Laura McClure, b. in Grant Co., Ky., married a Rankin. Judge J. T. Simon, of Cynthiana,
