Col. William McCauley

Male 1747 - 1825  (78 years)


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  • Name William McCauley 
    • William McCauley was previously shown on this site as Major William James McCauley...and that he was born Sep 1738. That William was a Major, and then a Colonel is documented (see Pension Claim of William Brittain). Due to lack of documentation that he had a middle name James or otherwise, or that his birth date is known, he is no longer shown with these. — There is but scant documentation for his being married to Catherine Catred Johnstone, to wit: A historical summary of people and events surrounding the McCauley Family Cemetery, "located on a promontory above University Lake on land acquired by the University of North Carolina" states in a discussion about his brother, Matthew: "Older brother William was born in Country Antrim [sic] in about 1747, emigrated with his two small children (James and Jane) and his brother Matthew to North Carolina in the 1770s, and married Katherine Johnston Long, a widow, in the same year.". Note: Although 1747 is used here, this year is also not documented with primary documents.
    Title Col. 
    Born 1738 or 1747  Carrickfergus, Antrim Co, N Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Birth information undocumented.
    Gender Male 
    Died 1825  Hillsborough, Orange Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried
    • Information often given that William was buried in New Hope Presbyterian Church Cemetery in the Old Section, Chapel Hill, Orange County, are apparently unsubstantiated and not in agreement with oral history passed down that he was buried at his "home place," presumably "Great Meadows" (however that claim is also undocumented). Our William McCauley's burial place has not been found and proven.
    Person ID I2143  adkinshorton
    Last Modified 1 Dec 2020 

    Father Erin McCauley,   b. Carrickfergus, Antrim Co, N Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Carrickfergus, Antrim Co, N Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • This marriage location is presumed since Erin's two sons were reported to have been born there. Erin's wife is not known.
    Family ID F7911  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Unknown 1st Wife of William McCauley 
    Married Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • This undocumented marriage of William to an unknown spouse occurred prior to his emigrating to the Americas in the 1770s. She is reportedly the mother of his two children born in Ireland, James and Jane, who emigrated with him. William remarried just after his arrival in North Carolina. — William V. Burlingame in his 2017 historical summary regarding the McCauley Family Cemetery, subsection The McCauleys in North Carolina.
    Children 
     1. Jane McCauley,   b. Est 1769, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. James McCauley,   b. Est 1772, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 6 Nov 2020 
    Family ID F1638  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Katherine Johnston 
    Married
    • The marriage of William McCauley and the widow, Katherine Johnston Long, occurred the same year William and family arrived from Ireland in the 1770s. — William V. Burlingame, 2017 historical summary, The McCauley Cemetery with subsection The McCauleys in North Carolina. (This marriage remains undocumented. No statement is made about whether she was of North Carolina, or perhaps also emigrated from Ireland before becoming his wife.)
    Children 
    +1. John McCauley,   b. Est 1776, Orange Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Orange Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location
    +2. Matthew McCauley,   b. Est 1778, Orange Co, NC Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Catred McCauley,   b. Est 1783, NC Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Polly McCauley,   b. Est 1787, NC Find all individuals with events at this location
    +5. Charles McCauley,   b. Est 1791, NC Find all individuals with events at this location
    Documents
    1778 Orange County Land Claim by William McCauley
    1778 Orange County Land Claim by William McCauley
    Warrant issued June 12, 1778
    This document shows property belonging to William, bordering on George Long's land.
    1787 Orange County Land Deed - Sold by William & Cathrin McCauley to Thomas Crabtree
    1787 Orange County Land Deed - Sold by William & Cathrin McCauley to Thomas Crabtree
    Tract of land joining along the border of land owned by George Reeves
    This document shows clearly that William was married to a wife named Cathrin prior to this deed transfer in 1787, and also shows owning land close to a Reeves family. Note that William lists a grandson, James Reeves, in his 1818 will.
    Last Modified 21 Nov 2020 
    Family ID F7899  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Nancy Jacobs 
    Married
    • "A Historical Sketch of New Hope Church, in Orange County, N.C." (rev. ed.), by Rev. D. Irvin Craig, 1891, page 48.
    Histories
    Col. William McCauley & Nancy <em>Jacobs</em> Craig
    Col. William McCauley & Nancy Jacobs Craig
    "A Historical Sketch of New Hope Church, in Orange County, N.C." (rev. ed.), by Rev. D. Irvin Craig, 1891, page 48.
    Last Modified 1 Dec 2020 
    Family ID F1470  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    William McCauley
    William McCauley
    Masonic Apron said to have been worn at cornerstone placement ceremonies at the University of North Carolina. William and his brother, Matthew had together donated 250 acres of land toward the tract for the university and land sales to support creation of the university.

    Documents
    1790-NC Census, Moore Co, NC
    1790-NC Census, Moore Co, NC
         << View United States Federal Census Help >>

    William McAuley
    1800-NC Census, Hillsborough, Orange Co, NC
    1800-NC Census, Hillsborough, Orange Co, NC
         << View United States Federal Census Help >>

    William McCauley - This document enumerates 7 slaves (unnamed).
    1810-NC Census, Hillsborough, Orange Co, NC
    1810-NC Census, Hillsborough, Orange Co, NC
         << View United States Federal Census Help >>

    William McCauley
    50347 Order (1815) - Estate of William McCauley to Admin of Eldest Son, John
    50347 Order (1815) - Estate of William McCauley to Admin of Eldest Son, John
    William McCauley - Will
    William McCauley - Will
    1818 Will, proved 1826, Orange Co, NC

    View Transcription (2020 by Doug Couch) This document names 11 slaves.
    • Jacob, Edy, Fenisse, Patsey, Peter, Lindy, Dicey & her child Green, Allan, and to be freed on William's death: Caly and Nancy.
    View Indenture Bonds related to other slaves of William McCauley.
    (Last revised: 29 Nov 2020)
    1820-NC Census, Orange Co, NC
    1820-NC Census, Orange Co, NC
         << View United States Federal Census Help >>

    William McCauley - This document enumerates 12 slaves (unnamed).
    1832 Pension Claim Statements of William Brittain
    1832 Pension Claim Statements of William Brittain
    Transcription of pension application of William Brittain S8100 fn40NC
    ...in which application he names William McCauley, a Major, and later as a Colonel

    Southern Campaigns American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters revwarapps.org
    State of North Carolina, Buncombe County:
         • Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1832
         • Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions July Sessions 1833
    transcribed by Will Graves 14 Aug 2009, rev. 9 Oct 2014

    Headstones
    William Blackwood
    William McCauley
    Memorial Marker
    Revolutionary War Soldiers of New Hope Congregation, 1775-1783

    Click Text Link for a Better Image: Opens in new tab. After it loads, hold the CTRL key and press the + key a few times to view enlarged (low res image).
    William McCauley
    William McCauley
    gravestone [disambiguation]
    Although this gravestone appears to be for a William McCauley, it could be a different surname, and it is unlikely this was for our William McCauley 1747-1825, believed to have been buried on his own property called "Great Meadows".

    Histories
    The Battle of Hillsborough - 1781
    The Battle of Hillsborough - 1781
    1781 Revolutionary War - Maj. William McCauley and Capt. Matthew McCauley were captured when Hillsborough was taken by Confederate Col. David Fanning on September 12, 1781.

    Click Here to View History of
    The Battle of Hillsborough

    Note: Any links on the history page lead to pages on carolana.org web site.

    William McCauley - 'Orange County 1752-1952' References
    William McCauley - "Orange County 1752-1952" References
    History of Events from the Political Life of William McCauley

    Click Image of Page Numbers Legend above to View Larger
    Note: p.96 refers to brother, Matthew McCauley as a slaveholder (William's slaves are mentioned in other documents.)
    William McCauley - 'Historical Sketches of North Carolina 1584-1851' References
    William McCauley - "Historical Sketches of North Carolina 1584-1851" References
    William is listed as a Senator from 1783-1788, and as a Representative in the House of Commons for 1824-1825
    William McCauley - 'Hillsboro [North Carolina], Colonial and Revolutionary' References
    William McCauley - "Hillsboro [North Carolina], Colonial and Revolutionary" References
    • 1777 Magistrate
    • 1778 Representative in the House
    • 1780 Senator

  • Notes 
    • View Historical Notes for William McCauley
    • Media previously shown on William McCauley's page which have been removed:
      • Two Muster Rolls where a William McCauley was on board the U.S. Schooner Enterprize. It appears this was a different McCauley from Lake Champlain area.
      • Loyalist Land Grants. Neither William nor his brother were Loyalists. Just what Orange County was referred to is unclear, but evidently not in North Carolina in 1786.


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