Our Family Tree

Stephen Michael MacLean has the birth of William MacLean as 2 Apr 1757 but at the same time he states, "Shortly after their arrival here (Dobbin Neighborhood), their son John was born, and about a year later William was born." It seems that Alexander and Elizabeth arrived in Dobbin in the 1748-49's.

Minuteman, Rutherford Regiment, surgeon's mate

South Fork of Catawba River, western North Carolina

Will of Alexander MacLean, written 1789, probated 1798

"December 15, 1789

"I, Alexander McLean, of the County of Lincoln, of the State of North Carolina, farmer…..make Wm. McLean and Thomas McLean my executors. ....
"To my son William McLean, I give the sum of five shillings sterling."

A copy of a journal by Dr. William from the May 12, 1811 trip to Tennessee to see this land can be found on pages 129 - 137. The journal was incomplete but does give an idea of clothes, travel, cost of boarding, and food.

The Last Will and Testament of William MacLean

May 28, 1826

I, William MacLean, of Lincoln County, State of North Carolina, do at this time, May 28th, 1826, think it is just and right to dispose of Same property in the following manner.

To my beloved wife, Mary Davidson MacLean, I give while she lives, her maintenance of this tract of land. Also, the following: These Negro men: Solomon, Martin, Ned, and Abraham. These Negro women: Dorsey, Beth, and Almy. All the farming implements and a sufficient number of horses, not less than three, also plough, hoes, and shovels and mattocks, spades, axes, plantation wagon, etc…..

Disposal of my books of Divinity to my wife, Scott’s family Bible. Also, Thompson’s sacred history. Lawson’s sermons in four volumns. McWhorter’s sermons in ten volumns. Isaac Ambrose’s Looking Into Jesus. Scangal’s works together with Brown’s Dictionary.

I do further will and bequeath all our kitchen furniture, this I designed to comprehend all the pots, potracks, ovens, pans, gridirons, shovels, tongs, andirons, and every other article which we now use in the kitchen.

I dispose of my western lands (in Tennessee) to my daughters.

To Eliza Jackson MacLean, Elizabeth J. Campbell, Violet, Rebecca Isabella, and Mary Margaret.

To each I give and devise two hundred acres of my land lying in Robinson County west of Tennessee, on the waters of Buzard Creek. I will that each legacy be laid off adjoining each other.

I dispose of my western land amoung my sons. To beloved son, John D. MacLean, 300 acres. To son, Richard Dobb Speight MacLean, 300 acres. To my son, William Baine MacLean, 200 acres. To my son, Thomas B. MacLean, 200 acres. To my son, Alexander, Iwill all the land bought from Wm. Youngblood on each side of little Catawba Creek, with the buildings and improvements thereon.

To my son, William Baine, all the remaining part of the land.

To my son, Robert Hamilton MacLean, I will all the tract of land whereon I now live.

To my son, Richard Dobbs Speight MacLean, I will my Negro boy.

To John D., I will by boy Cyrus.

To William Baine, I will Virgil.

To my son, Thomas Brevard, I will my Negro boy, Hendry.

To Robert, I will my Negro, Julius.

To my daughter, Eliza J. Campbell, a Negro woman.

To Violet Wilson, my Negro girl, Melinda, also a girl named Serina willed to her by her grandmother Violet Wilson Davidson. I also will to her a bureau.

To Rebecca Isabella, I will a Negro girl and a bureau, together with a horse and mare, saddle and bridle, and two bedsteads.

To my daughter, Mary Margaret, I will my Negro girl, Rose, together with a bureau, my Negro girls Milly and Phyllis.

To my son, Richard D. S. MacLean, I give Marshall’s Life of Washington, Latour’s Memories of Jackson’s Campagins, Montaingues Works, Smith’s Wealth of Nations, The Federalists, and Brockton’s Commentaries.

To Alexander Augustus, I will the following books—Gordon’s History of the American Revolution, The Abby Bengle History of the British Settlement, and Trade in North America, Anacharses’ Travels Through Greece, and Haywoods’ Manuals.

To my son, Thomas B., I will Robinson’s History of Charles I. McKenzie’s Voyages in North America, and the Present State of Society.

To my daughter, I leave my much esteemed Spectators.

To my daughter, Violet, all the works of Cooper, Harvey’s Meditations.

To Rebecca, I give Thompson’s Works Complete.

To Mary, I give Knox’s Essays and Franklins’ Translation. Disposal of my books—medical, surgical, chemical, botanical, philosophical, and astronomical, together with all my authors on the dead languages I will to my two sons, John D. MacLean and William B. MacLean in the following manner. That the 13 volumns of the Baren Von Sevotr’s Commentaries on Barchaves apportion….of the works of Margugail.

Arrange the other books in sets as nearly equal in value as they can be estimated and let numbers be put in a hat and drawn for the sets by my two sons. My son John is required to draw first, then his brother William, until they have drawn all.

Disposal of my miscellaneous books of which there are a great number—my will is that my executors shall sell them at public vendue and the money arising from this sale be equally divided amoung my children. My notes and books which are estimated to be worth 8 or 9 thousand dollars.

After the sale of these, I wish the money to be divided between my sons and a part to go to my wife.

I nominate my two sons, Richard D. MacLean and John D. MacLean, executors of this, my last will and testament. I particularly bind my executors to pay particular attention to the support of their mother in her new and declining years.

I will that I be buried near my father and mother and a small stone monument be placed at their heads, and another with the same inscription be placed at mine merely to mark the spot where my body lies.

This will is deliberately written on 8 pages. Each page I have signed and noted at my last testament.

William MacLean

January 4, 1828

Since the date of the above last will, I have acquired some property—in lieu of my Tennessee land. I give to Richard a tract of land acquired by Joseph Hart, about 200 acres with a grist and flour mill now nearly completed.

In consequence of the death of my daughter, Eliza, I give to each of her children, Violet, George, and William, that land willed to her and the books intended for her. I hereunto set my hand and seal.
William MacLean
(Seal)

Henry Campble
Phillip Cancellar
Wm. MacLean
Alexander MacLean Doc. M. Fozney, Exc./

State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, January Sessions, 1829.

The within will was proven in open court by the oath of Phillip Cancellor, and admitted to record. Witness: Verdry McBee.