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Archiver > CLOUGH > 1999-09 > 0938481310
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Subject: [CLOUGH-L] VIRGINIA TRIP AND RESPONSE TO BILL'S FORWARDED MESSAGE
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 21:15:10 EDT
Hi everyone.
In order to bring everyone up to speed, here's my response to Nan's original
message that was exchanged between Bill, Nan Webber and Becky Harpole back in
April. I've corrected his rank - my original message referred to him as a
General but he was a Colonel.
********************************
Hi Nan,
I think we're related but I can't prove it yet. Several things lead me to
this:
1. Richard Clough - I'm researching Richard Clough Anderson - son of
Elizabeth Clough - daughter of Richard Clough and Ann Poindexter. As you may
know, Col. Anderson was with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge, as was our John
Clough. Col. Anderson was given land near Cincinnati. Across from
Cincinnati is the headwaters of the Licking River and it was one of the main
arteries of travel in northern Kentucky where our John Clough settled, near
Cynthiana. I think that our John Clough was either a nephew or cousin of
Col. Anderson. I'm sure that there is a lot of information on Col. Anderson
in Louisville, KY where he settled. Col. Anderson's son, Charles, was a
governor of Ohio. I'm hoping that I can find some research on their
families. I have several references that I'm working on.
2. Near Cynthiana, KY is a little spot on the map called Poindexter - there
because of a relation to Ann Poindexter or just home-sick for England?
3. "Headrights of Mr. John Buckner" - the Buckner family is prominent around
Paris (down the road from Cynthiana)- might be a connection.
I have a copy of a line drawing of the house at Goldmine, VA., built about
1736 by Robert and Elizabeth (Clough) Anderson. It was wrecked around 1900.
Two stories tall but it appears to be a very simple house - certainly not a
"plantation house" of movie fame.
Question: You noted that Ann Booker Clough - moved to Rockingham, Co, NC -
really North Carolina - not Virginia? Our John Clough is from Rockingham
Co., VA.
********************
Now, with that background, let's go with what I found in Harrisonburg, the
county seat of Rockingham Co., VA.
1. On November 24, 1783, the court "ordered that John Clough be exempted
from paying county and parish levy from a wound in his left hand received in
the Continental Army.
2. On August 23, 1785, John Clough sued Michael Mullen - no reason given in
the summary. It was continued to Sept. 26, 1785; it was continued to March
27, 1786; it ws discontinued in March 1786. That man did love to sue folks,
didn't he?
3. In the 1797 Census, John Cluff is noted as having 200 acres of land with
an assessment of 128 (pounds? dollars?). It further notes that he had "6
horses, mares, colts or mules and 10 cattle". There is also a notation
"cleared of pole tax".
4. That same census noted that he is in Militia Company #2. The
cross-reference that I have gives the names of others in the area.
5. I have a map of Rockingham County that only defines Militia Company #6 &
#7, so I have to do some more research.
6. I have a map that Harry Strickler constructed in 1924, using information
that he gathered from a number of sources. I haven't had time to look for
John's neighbors on that map. I did not locate his 200 acres but this map
deals mostly with thousands of acres.
7. The tax records show an event happening on April 15, 1788 but it's
written by a volunteer and I couldn't understand it. Those records are now in
Augusta Co.
Also, for the record: here is the exact wording of the notation of food to
Frances. Note the one critical word - distressed.
"The Court on considering the distressed Circumstance of Frances Clough & two
Children the Wife of John Clough a soldier in the Army of the States are of
Opinion that she be allowed 3 barls. of Corn at (pound symbol) 40 pr. barl. &
150 of pork at 30/pr lb".
I just spent some vacation with Lee Hash (a relative on my mother's side) and
his wife, Nancy. Lee has offered to help research John Clough for me. Since
he's retired and is a man of some means, I'm going to take him up on his
offer of help. Because of his professional standing while working for RCA
with NASA and because he's a true Southern Gentleman, he has access to the
National Archives that the ordinary citizen does not have. He is an expert
in genealogy research and I am convinced that Lee will find the connection
between our John Clough and Elizabeth Clough Anderson.
By the way, I have some information on John Herdman, the Bondsman on John
Clough marriage records. He's a neighbor, according to the 1787 census.
They were both counted on the same day, so they're true neighbors. When I
find either the area of the tax commissioner or the church, we'll have his
approproximate location. It's a presumption, but they're probably in the
same parish. Remember, for a long time, there was only one Church - The
Anglican Church of England, so it's a matter of finding the right parish.
I'm still researching the church records. A man owning 200 acres of land in
those times would be required to go to church. There have to be church
records - it's just a matter of finding them.
That's my brief summary. I think we have a better understanding of his life.
I have the references, etc. and I'll put it together in a more meaningful
way with book titles, pages, etc. at a later time.
Barb
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