Hugh McWhorter
Birth: ABT 1737
Death: 6 Mar 1812, Avoca, New York, USA
Father: Thomas McWhorter *
Notes: Hugh was a Sgt from Orange Co, NY in Hathorn's Regmt, Orange Militia, see Colonial History St ate of NY, Vol XV, page 423, Steuben, Co NY. He served in various Companies, Capt Colvil Shep herd's, Capt David McCamley's and Capt Richard Bailey's. The Manuscript and History sectio n of the N.Y.State Library at Albany gives us the following information: Certificate #261 (am ount burned) dated 6 Jun 1779, issued the Hugh McWhorter for his services as sergeant in Capt . Colvil Shepherd's company of Col John Hathorn's regiment of Orance County Militia (Florid a and Warwick districts). Certificate #341 (for---pounds, 13 shillings 2 pence) dated 25 Ju l 1779, issued to Hugh McWhorter for his services as sergeant in Capt.David McCamley's compan y of above regiment. Certificate #76 (Amount burned) dated 11 Jun 1780, issued to Hugh McWhor ter for his services in Capt. Richard Bailey's company in above regiment. In 1785 he was liv ing in Va. From abt 1790 to 1800 he was living in Northumberland Co, Pa. Soon after 1800 he m oved back to Avoca, Steuben Co, NY. In about 1794 his brother-in-law William Buchanan (wif e Mary McWhorter) had been sent by Capt. Williamson (an agent for Sir James Pultney who owne d a vast tract of land there), "to open and maintain a public house or inn for the entertainm ent of prospective settlers". The place where William Buchanan settled was first called "Buch anan's" then "Eight Mile Tree" and later Avoca. It was here that Hugh McWhorter made his hom e on a farm known in later years as the "Tilton farm". An old Steuben County History gives t he following, "The second to die in Avoca was Hugh McWhorter who died, 6 Mar 1812; at the tim e of his death an apple tree was planted near his head, which still marks his resting place . (In the old cemetary of the Huskins Farm, near Avoca). This tree has now (1879) grown to th e great size of eight and one half feet in circumference". In 1924 this tree was still standi ng and nearby was the crude little hewn flagstone marker with the name "Hugh McWhorte" on it , the stone cutter evidently not having allowed sufficient space for the last letter of the n ame. This grave in the little abondoned cenetery near Avoca was marked, at my request (sorr y I don't know the author) and thru my donation, as that of a soldier of the American Reavolu tion, by the Baron Steuben Chapter of the D.A.R. of Bath, N.Y. on Columbus Day 1926. From th e Surrogate's Office at Bathe, N.Y. it was learned that Hugh died intestate and on 16 Jun 181 2 Letters of Administration were granted to his widow Kezia and to his son Thomas. It is int eresting to note that Hugh's sons Thomas (RIN1242), James (RIN 1244) and a daughter Kezia (RI N 1245) married Buchanans. James'wife Anna Buchanan (RIN 1272) was not really a Buchanan, sh e was the wife of Michael Buchanan (RAIN 1273). It must have been when Hugh was living in Nor thumberland that his family and the Buchanans joined, or perhaps that was the reason he move d to Morthumberland? Some records indicate that Hugh was born 1747. Hugh and his brother i n law William Buchanan, RIN 1274, lived between Shaver's Bridge and the present village of Av oca. (History of McWhirter Clan, by Ethel Keim. Hugh's will, Case 7845, Bk 1, page 85, Bath , lists his children except for John, who had died young.
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