The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: VA
Qualifying Service: Lieutenant
Hugh McGavock was born on 21 September 1761 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
His military service began in 1779 as an Ensign when he began recruiting men from his home area. On 1 February 1780, when he recruited enough men to meet the required Lieutenant’s quota, he was promoted to Lieutenant. He was ordered to proceed with his men to Albemarle Barracks, just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Upon his arrival, he joined Colonel Joseph Crockett’s Virginia Western Battalion then guarding the British prisoners that were imprisoned there. In the fall of 1780, the battalion was ordered to move to Fredericktown, Maryland, where it guarded British prisoners through the winter of 1780.
In May 1781, the Western Battalion was ordered to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh), where it would board boats and descend the Ohio River to Fort Nelson at the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville). This movement anticipated and supported General George Rogers Clark’s plans to attack Detroit. While there, Hugh and Captains John Chapman and Abraham Tipton were fired on by a party of Native American warriors while on patrol to Colonel John Floyd’s Station, about six miles from the falls. Captains Chapman and Tipton were both killed during the attack. Hugh only survived the firing due to his horse wheeling around and galloping in the direction from which it came. The others were doomed as their horses bolted forward into the deadly fire.
Hugh remained at the falls until after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in October of 1781. Shortly thereafter, the regiment was dismissed from service due to the end of hostilities, and Hugh returned to his home. In fact, in a letter preserved in the Illinois Papers Collection at the Virginia State Archives, General George Rogers Clark corresponded to Hugh giving him logistical instructions concerning the return of the Western Battalion to its home area. Dated December 1, 1781, from Fort Nelson, General Clark wrote, "You receive sixteen horses for the purpose of carrying the baggage of Col. Crockett's Regiment to Holston [River]. It is out of my power at this distance to direct you in what manner to dispose of the horses after your arrival there to the public advantage, but refer you all together to Col. Crockett who will be pleased to instruct you. I am Sir yr Obt Serv’t/ G. R. Clark"
On 29 March 1785, he married Nancy Kent in Botetourt County, Virginia. There had the following known children:
James was born on 1 April 1786 and married Lucinda Ewing.
Robert was born on 20 October 1794 and married Ann Hickman.
Hugh was born on 4 September 1796 and married Elizabeth Hay.
Jacob was born on 20 September 1790 and married Louise Caroline Grundy.
Margaret was born on 12 March 1800 and married Samuel McNutt.
Randal was born on 19 Jun 1803 and married Cynthia [surname unknown].
The Patriot died on 2 April 1844 in Max Meadows, Wythe County, Virginia, and was interred at McGavock Cemetery.
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