Page:The McClure Family.djvu/33

Rh family located according to its will and pleasure, not troubling themselves about land titles, and after erecting rude cabins, set to work to clear and cultivate the land. For at least a year the first comers must have subsisted on wild meat, the deer and other game which abounded, without bread or any substitute for it. During the first twelve or fifteen years the dwellings were hardly better furnished than the wigwams of the Indians. There were no tables, chairs, knives and forks, glass or chinaware, and many things now found in the humblest homes. The mention of 'cart wheels and tire' in an inventory of 1746 is the first intimation of a wheel-vehicle in the settlement. But horses and cattle were numerous and "the big ha' Bible, was found in nearly every cabin."

Of the life of this pioneer we have but little information. He was a charter member of Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, organized 1740, as shown by its sessional records. His name is signed to the following:

"Know all men by these presents yt we ye under Subscribers Do appoint and Constitute our trusty and welbeloved friends. Colonel Jas. Patton, John Finley, George Hutchison, John Christian and Alex'r Brackenridge, to manage our publick affairs, to Chuse & purchase a piece of ground to build our meeting house upon it, to collect our minister's salary and to pay of all Charges Relating to said Affairs, to get pay of the people in proportion of this & to replace seats in our said meeting house, wch we do hereby promise to Reimburse them; they allways giving us a months warning by an advertisement on ye meeting house Dore and a majority of the above five persons provided all be apprised of theire meetting; theire acting Shall Stand these persons above named Shall be accountable to ye minister and Session twice Every yeare for all theire proceedings Relating to the whole affair to which we Subscribe our names in the presence of the Re'd Mr. Jno. Craig.

August ye 14th, 1741, Copia Vera."

The Baptismal Register, 1740-1750, kept by the pastor, Rev. John Craig, and now in the possession of Gen. John