JAMES McMACHAN (McMAHAN) AND HIS DESCENDANTS One of the first McMahan ancestors in North Carolina is James McMachan (b1713,14-d June 3, 1799). James’ tombstone, at the Whitaker’s Graveyard in Davie County, lists his name as James McMachan. This is apparently the Irish form of the name. The spelling McMahan is an Americanized form of the name which is first seen on the tombstone of Rachel McMahan wife of David McMachan (grandson of James) and on their sons tombstone William McMahan. The spelling McMahon is an anglicized form of the name. The home of James McMachan was on Dutchman’s Creek where he farmed 422 acres at the forks of the Yadkin River. James was the neighbor of Squire Boone and Morgan Bryan. He was married to Susanna (b1718-d February 6, 1802) also buried at Whitaker’s Graveyard. James had 5 sons and 3 daughters. The children had close relations with both the Boone’s and the Bryan’s. Samuel McMachan married Mary Bryan, Sarah McMachan married Jesse Boone and John McMachan b. May 23, 1741 married Sallie Boone in 1770. Jesse and Sallie Boone were children of Israel, oldest brother of Daniel Boone. A daughter of James McMachan, Elizabeth, married the Rowan County Tory chief, Samuel Bryan son of Morgan Bryan. Like so many others in the fork of the Yadkin, Samuel Bryan made no secret about his loyalties to the crown of England. John McMachan may have decided to simply avoid the split feelings about the American Revolution, held by so many Scotch-Irish in the northern part of Rowan County, by moving to Kentucky with his brother-in-law, Daniel Boone, also a non-combatant. This passive behavior pattern will appear again later with the McMahan’s when John’s grandson William will be asked to fight for his country. John and Sallie had 4 boys before Sallie died in Boonesboro February 1777. John returned to Rowan County, where he married Elizabeth Frances Battle Bryan, widow of Captain John Bryan, whose sister married Daniel Boone. John and Elizabeth had one son named David McMachan (b March 16, 1788) in Rowan County. John died in Rowan County on October 7, 1824 and is David McMachan, married Susanna Riblin 5/13/1811 and later married Rachel Latham4/19/1817. David and Rachel had six children one of whom was William Franklin McMachan b March 9, 1831. David died June 2, 1853 again leaving his wife and children large sums of land and is also buried at Olive Branch Cemetery. According to the 1850 Federal Census, Rachel, age 55 had $800 of real estate and William, a student at age 19, had $300 of real estate. The name, according to the census, is still spelled McMachan. William, later farmed, meet Margaret Holman (b. September 1,1836 d. January 12, 1908) and married in Davie County March 16, 1852. William and Margaret had 7 children, the oldest boy being Isaac Napoleon (b. September 3, 1859). A few years later, war broke out between the states and, like his grandfather, William refused to take part. Like many in the area, succession was not popular to William; therefore, when called upon by the Confederate Army to serve in Company H, 63rd Regiment NC Troopers, William furnished T. H. Bracken as his substitute. William also signed a petition to exempt others from serving in the Confederate Army. In this exemption letter and in the NC Muster Roles we see the first instance of the spelling McMahan. William later died January 15, 1891 and is buried at the Smith Grove Methodist Cemetery in Davie County. At his death, William’s farm covered over 2700 acres. Isaac Napoleon McMahan married Martha Jane Sane (b. 10/1 8/1 857 d. 6/1 4/1 938) on 9/29/1881. His father provided him with 100 acres of land. Isaac, who had red hair, would haul liquor and tobacco in a horse drawn wagon down to southern NC and parts of SC. Isaac and Martha had 7 children before moving to High Point. Isaac later died May 29, 1943 at the age of 83. Both Martha and Isaac are buried in the New High Point Cemetery. One of the children, Frank Calvin McMahan was born August 22, 1886 attended Yadkin College where he studied Latin and Mathematics, however, to the dismay of his mother, insisted on farming. Frank married Sadie Tucker (b March 27, 1885 3/27/1885 d 6/19/1922). Frank and Sadie had 9 children, the youngest only 2 months old at the death of his mother, June 19, 1922. Frank, like many family members, contracted Typhoid Fever, but survived. Frank, later moved the family to Davidson County where he met Lizzie Mariah Huffman (b. October 20, 1889) and were married New Years Eve, 1926. Frank and Lizzie had 3 children, the last birth taking the life of Lizzie June 3, 1931. In 1937, Frank married again to Sallie Minor Sheets. Two years later Frank died March 26, 1939 and is buried at Friendship Church in Davidson County beside Lizzie.