John Nean Craig (1761 – 1842), Revolutionary Soldier and Patriot

JOHN** NEAN** CRAIG** was born March 10, 1761 in Cork or Down County, Ireland, and died February 10, 1842 in Keowee Lake Home, Pickens District, South Carolina. He married (1) CLARKE. He married (2) CATHERINE** WILSON**November 11, 1788 in Abbeville District, South Carolina, daughter of JOHN WILSON. She was born 1767, and died September 29, 1859 in South Carolina.

Child of JOHN CRAIG and CLARKE is WILLIAM** H.** CRAIG**, b. December 13, 1785.

The ten children of JOHN CRAIG and CATHERINE WILSON are:

MARTHA** CLARK** CRAIG**, b. July 21, 1792, South Carolina; d. January 03, 1876, Pickens County, South Carolina; m. ELISHA LAWRENCE, July 01, 1814; b. November 15, 1789, South Carolina; d. November 24, 1875, South Carolina.
ARTHUR** R.** CRAIG**, b. December 02, 1794, South Carolina; d. December 20, 1854, Pickens County, South Carolina; m. LUCINDA PARTHENIA GRESHAM, September 23, 1818; b. December 05, 1795, Pendleton District, South Carolina; d. October 07, 1875, Pickens County, South Carolina. ARTHUR R. CRAIG and LUCINDA GRESHAM are buried at CraigFamilyCemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina.
AMANDA** G CRAIG**, b. December 05, 1795; d. October 07, 1825. Burial: CraigFamilyCemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina.
MARGARET"PEGGY" CLARK** CRAIG** was born June 29, 1797 in South Carolina, and died after 1880 in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. She married THOMAS DANIEL BOONFebruary 28, 1822 in Pickens District, South Carolina, son of NATHAN BOON and FRANCIS ANN. He was born about September 16, 1800 in South Carolina, and died March 09, 1876 in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. MARGARET CRAIG and husband,THOMAS DANIEL BOON are buried at Boon's ChapelUnitedMethodistChurch, Okalona, Chickasaw County, Mississippi.
ROBERT** CRAIG**, b. May 14, 1800, Pendleton District, South Carolina; d. November 07, 1876, Keowee, Oconee County, South Carolina; m. RACHEL ANN SPEED, February 17, 1825, Anderson, South Carolina; b. November 22, 1803, Pendleton District, South Carolina; d. July 06, 1881, Keowee, Oconee County, South Carolina. ROBERT CRAIG and RACHEL ANN SPEED are buried at CraigFamilyCemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina.
JANE** BROWN** CRAIG**, b. April 26, 1802; d. November 30, 1824; m. ANDREW MCMULLEN, November 30, 1824.
ESTER** G CRAIG**, b. June 21, 1804; d. June 21, 1804. ESTER G CRAIG buried at CraigFamilyCemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina.
MARY** CRAIG**, b. July 24, 1806.
SARAH** WILSON** CRAIG**, b. July 28, 1809, Pickens County, South Carolina; d. About 1846, Pickens County, South Carolina; m. ROBERT KNOX, February 17, 1835; b. July 28, 1809; d. 1891. SARAH WILSON CRAIG is buried at CraigFamilyCemetery, Pickens County, South Carolina.ROBERT KNOX is buried at New HopeBaptistChurch, Oconee County, South Carolina.
CATHERINE** BROWN** CRAIG**, b. March 24, 1812; m. HIRAM GIBSON, April 25, 1833; b. January 03, 1807, South Carolina; d. Bef. 1875, Rabun County, Georgia.

John Nean Craig 1761 - 1842, Revolutionary Soldier and Patriot

John Nean Craig, a Revolutionary War soldier at the age of 15. His first marriage was to a Miss Clark who bore him a son, William H. on Dec. 13, 1785. His second marriage was to Catherine Wilson on Nov. 14, 1788. She bore him nine children. They lived on a 425 acre tract of land bordered on the west by KeoweeRiver, about half way between the old Pickens and Nimmons bridges. He was buried in the CraigCemetery, which has been moved because of the DukeLake which will cover the area, to a plot adjacent to OldPickensChurch cemetery. He died Feb. 10, 1842 at the age of 81.

Source: "Many of the Craig Children prominent in Oconee Affairs"Keowee Courier Newspaper.

JOHN NEAN CRAIG, PATRIOT

It is also to be noted that Lucinda Gresham married Arthur Craig. He was a son of John Nean Craig, also a Revolutionary soldier of renown. He owned the tract of land on which this burial ground is situated. The youth of that day were the same as they are today. In that age men were heroic, and youth courageous. Romance flourished, and what was more natural than that the sons and daughters of these distinguished soldiers should marry and establish homes of their own?

John Nean Craig died, February 10, 1812, in his eighty-first year. That he was a man of high ideals, strong convictions and vigorous action, is attested by the epitaph on yonder tombstone: reciting that he was a soldier during the Revolution, a patriot through life, and at death desired his epitaph to record his long cherished political creed --- Free Trade. States Rights, Liberty or Death. His was also the Christian faith, and though dead, he yet speaketh, after 123 years; and his words of wisdom would sound a reproach to time-serving politicians of the present day. We can well imagine how he challenged and fought the Tories of his time; and how he would fight the Tories of the present who would bore from within and undermine the American system of Government for which these early patriots fought and died.

The War of the American Revolution found many ready to take part in it, that a free and independent nation might be insured. We have stood today by the graves of three of these patriots; John Craig, John Gresham and Lieut. Joseph Reid, and paid our tribute to them.

Daughters of the Walhalla Chapter, I again congratulate you and commend you for your good works. We are enjoined in the Constitution of the National Society Daughters American Revolution to seek out and preserve such spots, and the Prophet of Holy Writ has further commanded us, Inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which the fathers have searched out. Shall they not teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Source:

Honoring the Memory of Two Revolutionary Heroes, Lieutenant Joseph Reid and John GreshamCompiled by R. T. Jaynes

Reprinted from the Keowee Courier, Walhalla, SC (Issues of Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21, 1935)

WALHALLA CHAPTER D. A. R. DEDICATES BRONZE MARKERS

Commemorating the Revolutionary Services of Jno. Gresham and Lieut. Joseph Reid.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/u/n/Mary-R-Mungo/FILE/0001page.html

MILITARY SERVICE

Craig, John

Number W22864BLWt. 26494-160-55

b. 1761, Ireland d. 10 February 1842 m. Catherine

He moved to York District, South Carolina, at the age of fifteen and entered service under Col. Thomas Neel. He was sent against the Indians under Gen. Williamson. His second and third tours of duty were under Capt. Sadler and Col. Neel and he was sent to BlackSwamp to serve under Gen. Moultrie. He was in the battle at Stono. Next, he served under Lts. Hugh McClure and John Steele and Capt. John McClure. He was in the engagements at Mobley’s Meeting House and Ramsour’s Mill. He also served under Cols. Neel, Locke (of N.C.), Lacey and Bratton and Maj. Dickson. He was in the skirmish with Tories At Williamson’s Lane (Huck’s Defeat) and was in the battles at Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Congaree Fort, Blackstock’s Plantation, Thompson’s Fort and Fart Watson.

A.A.1569; P614; The Chester Standard, 16 March 1854.

Source:Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution. Volume I, A-J By Bobby Gilmer MossPage 211

LAND GRANT

1785, 30 March; (Abbeville County, South Carolina) In land grants to Revolutionary soldiers in Abbeville County Court House Vol. 1-Page 241 states "John Craig, as a citizen two hundred acres of land situated above the Ancient Boundary Line on a branch of Saludy River called Rocky Branch, bounding on the Et on John Wilson's land, the other sides vacant." Recorded this 30 of March 1785. Robert Anderson C.L. (Catherine Wilson Craig was probably the daughter of John Wilson.) (John Wilson Senior?)