John FLEMING

                   CC NEILSON; JOHN FLEMING, PIONEER OF FLEMING CO (KY), R.S. COTTERILL (Robert
     Spencer Cotterill, historian and educator, s/o Francis Marion and Jenny
     (Spencer) Cotterill, born Fleming Co., KY 12 AUG 1884); ... the father of
     "That branch of the Fleming family to which John Fleming belonged came to
     America from County Armagh, North Ireland, and it seems PROBABLE that it
      came at the same time as the Stockton family with which it had been closely
     associated in Ireland and with which it continued closely associated in
     America (Fn 1 refers to Dr. TCS book; there is NO footnote to explain the
     "close association" claimed here).  The two families settled in Chester, PA
     about 1730, removed to Lancaster and finally, about 1750, across the Potomac
     into that part of Frederick, CA which is now Berkeley.  In the course of
     these removals, the father of John Fleming had married Sarah Keith and their
     son, the said John Fleming, had been born in 1735; on the death of her first
     husband, Sarah Keith Fleming had married about 1740 Robert Stockton, son of
      the Stockton immigrant (Robert).
     Sarah and Robert on arrival in VA had 3 ch: Robert, Isabella b 1743, George,
     b. 1745 (latter being that one of later Fleming City, KY) John Fleming being
     their half-brother..."
          In May and April of 1751 both the Flemings and Stockton acquired
     land in Frederick Co., VA. Robert Stockton bought 300 acres on the waters of
     Opequon Creek and John Fleming (grandfather of Col. John) leased 29 acres at
     Maidstone (now Williamsport) on the Potomac which included a brick house and
     the lucrative Watkin's Ferry across the Potomac at that Place. (Fleming's
     lease from Fairfax was dated 7 MAR 1751 and was to run for 21 years;
     Frederick Co., Deed Book 12, p. 474)
     Here, according to Fleming family tradition, John lived with his grandfather
     for the next 17 years.  According to tradition he was a young man of
     convivial habits, very fond of whiskey, and given to playing the violin; he
     was said to have been called "Beau" Fleming.  In 1767 John Fleming, Sr.,
     died intestate and evidently John Fleming, the younger inherited the
     Maidstone property, since he sold it in 1773 (Frederick Co., Will Book 5, p.
     242; estate administered by Isaac Ruddle and the sale of personal property
     was held 5 DEC 1767. Sale of the property 18 AUG 1773 by John Fleming to
     John Nelson is recorded in Berkeley Co., Deed Book 2, p. 162. Previously, 2
     MAR 1772, Fleming had mortgaged this property to William McClary (husband of
     Isabella Stockton, d/o Robert 2)  1768 He had leased from Lord Fairfax a
     tract of 342 acres on the Potomac for the lives of himself, Robert Stockton,
     Jr, and Thomas Jones.  Robert died in 1772 and settlement of his estate
     revealed that he and John Fleming had resided together and owned the
     household furniture in common. In 1773 after selling his property, John
     Fleming, George Stockton and William McClary ... removed to Westmoreland Co.,
     PA (W.F.Horn, 'The Horn Papers, Vol.3, 1946, Greene Co., Hist. Soc.,
     Waynesburg, PA; Isabella McClary, John Fleming, Robert Stockton, Thomas
     Jones and Samuel Strode possessed land in the disputed territory of western
     PA).  In April 1776, John Fleming, George Stockton, Wm. McClary and Samuel
     Strode went down the Ohio and landed at the mouth of Salt Lick Creek where
     McClary had claims on the waters of this stream.  They remained in KY for
     about 2 months while they built about 30 log cabins, most on Fleming Creek,
     and 4 on North Fork, as a basis for future land claims.  The most important
     was built for Stockton at Big Spring on the Indian Road near present
     Flemingsburg. In June the others returned for their families, while Fleming
     stayed in the Stockton cabin and with Simon Kenton and William Kennedy
     visited neighboring stations.  In April 1780 Fleming is reported as coming
     down the Ohio in charge of one of the boats that made up the migration of
     Jacob Van Meter.  Thomas Jones was with him, and probably Samuel Strode,
     since he landed at Louisville at the same time. (Fleming Co. Land Book C,
     123; Deposition of Simon Kenton; Bourbon Co. Circuit Court Records, File 501;
     Deposition of Thomas Dunnl Clark Co. Circuit Court Records, File 119;
     Deposition of John Cowan in Fleming Heirs vs Allen; Danske Dandridge,
     'Historic Sheperdstown', Charlotteville, 1910, p 349; Deposition of Samuel
     Strode)
     After securing their preemptions, Strode went to Linn's Station to live and
     Fleming to Strode's Station (near Winchester) which had been built by John
     and James Strode in the fall of 1779 and which quickly became the
     headquarters for former Berkely Co., men.  Early in 1782 he married Lucy
     Pettit Donaldson, widow of Patrick Donaldson who had been killed in the
     Indian seige in the spring of 1781. He acquired 6 step-daughters and 2
     step-sons. (Draper Mss. 12CC146. In a statement by Rev. John Craig who
     married Mary Donaldson gives the names of the Donaldson children. Elizabeth
     married Benjamin Couchman and Rebecca married Thomas Jones.)  In AUG 1782 he
     was a member of Holder's party in pursuit of Indians who stole Hoy and
     Calloway from Hoy's station in Madison Co.  During the encounter, Fleming
     was shot through the hip and groin, and was taken back to Strode's station.
     When Thomas Marshall in December 1782 opened the county surveyors office in
     Fayette County, he named John Fleming one of his deputy surveyors.  Fleming
     began surveying in JUL 1783. He made his last survey for Fayette Co., on 23
     JAN 1786. With the division of Fayette Co. that year, he found himself
     living in Bourbon Co.  Most of Strodes people had moved out of the station in
     1785;  In APR 1787 he was appointed deputy surveyor of Bourbon Co. where he
     resided until 1788 when he removed to that part of Fayette Co., which in 1792
     became Clark, where he lived until his death in the spring of 1791. The cause
     of Flemings death is not known. He was survived by his wife and 3 sons;
     William P. (b 15 DEC 1782), John (b. 19 AUG 1785) and Thomas (b. 29 OCT
     1788). His estate was heavily involved because he had a habit of securing
     money from various people on his notes which were to be voided on the
     delivery of the land.  There were so many of these that in 1793, Clark Co.
     Court appointed commissioners to allocate the land due, and assigned some
     3,500 acres to 21 people.
VIRGINIA MCCOMAS, 20 JUN 1980 letter to Howard Humphrey cites; PA Archives,
     5th series, vo. 1, p. 129, Ensign John Jones (her line) commissioned 29 APR
     1758 2nd PA Batt. along with Capt. Wm. Thompson (one of the Thompson
     Expedition to KY 1780 with Fleming & Strode); p 198 Sgt John Fleming "ae 23"
     from Chester Co., appointed 16 MAY 1758"
ORPHAN'S COURT, LANCASTER, PA, 1740; SEE UNDER MOTHER'S NOTES
DR.T.C.STOCKTON, 1911, PG 250; "Col. John Fleming, after whom Fleming County
    was called. Emigrated with Mjr. George Stockton (his 1/2 bro) to KY in 1787,
    descending the Ohio river in a canoe, and settled at Stroud's Station. He
    afterwards removed to Fleming County, and settled Fleming's Station in 1790,
    where he remained till his death in 1794 ... Col John had 3 sons, Charles,
    John and George, (wife not named). (WRONG CHILDREN)
Ann Garcia, 9/91; History of Fleming Co., KY, First 100 Years, by R.S.
    Cotteril 537197-g976.9 c847hi; "born 1735 in PA. lived with his grandfather
    after his mother's 2nd marriage. They operated a ferry on the Potomac,
    "Watkin's Ferry". After his grandfather's death, he lived with his 1/2
    brother, Robert Stockton until 1770. He was a shrewd, sensible man with an
    affinity for whiskey."
(Charles McBee, 11/91); "History of Kentucky", by Lewis Collins, 1882; Fleming
     County, erected out of Mason, and named in honor of Col. John Fleming, was
     the 26th in order of formation in the state, and the first of a batch of 13
     counties established in 1798.  Flemingsburg, on the Maysville and Mount
     Sterling turnpikes....was incorporated in 1812 and named after the Fleming
     family.  Col. John Fleming, after whom Fleming county was called, was born in
     VA; and in company with Major George Stockton, emigrated to KY in the year
     1787, descending the Ohio River in a canoe, and settled at Strode's Station.
     He afterwards removed to Fleming county, and settled Fleming's Station in
     the year 1790., where he remained till his death in the year 1794.  ...
     ... Lewis County - Visitors in 1776, Early in April of this year, Maj.
     George Stockton, Col. John Fleming, Samuel Strode and Wm. McClary descended
     the OH river ....
(McBee) TALLEYS NORTH AREA KY PAPERS: 14 JAN 1800: Sweet, Benj. to Joshua
     Sweet, 78a Fleming Cr. being part of tract that John Flemin dec. sold Sweet
     (244)
NATIONAL GEN. SOC. QUARTERLY: AUGUSTA CO., VA: Early Settlers and
    Pre-Revolutionary Soldiers, evidenced by Suits & Judgments: Fleming, John:
    Suit 1765. "Credit as soldier" Judgment OCT 1765 (ch 1, 333);  Flemon, John,
    was a soldier in Capt. Lewis' Co., 1759,  Judgments, MAY 1769, (ch 1, 343);
    Flemon, John, Capt. Lewis' Co (no date) Sworn Oct 29 1766. Judgments Mch 1767
    A (ch 1, 498)
                  

                   ORPHANS COURT, LANCASTER CO., PA, 1740; SEE UNDER MOTHER'S NOTES
Historic Families of KY, Thomas Marshall Green, 1881; Col Wm. Fleming m. a d/o
       Col. Stephen Trigg and Elizabeth Clarke Christian
                  

                   ORPHAN'S COURT REC, LANCASTER CO, PA 1740; SEE UNDER MOTHER'S NOTES
                  

                   ORPHANS COURT, LANCASTER, CO, PA 1740; SEE NOTES UNDER MOTHER