John McQuiddy, Sr. was born March 22, 1760 at Culpeper County, Virginia, the fourth child of David McQuiddy and Mary Todd Skaines/Gaines.  He had seven siblings.  Three of his brothers were known to have served in the Revolutionary War.  At age five, he migrated with his parents and family to Spotsylvania County, Virginia.  He learned the farming trade from his father.

In 1776, at the age of 16, John enlisted in the Virginia State Militia, serving a total of 22 months.  He served initially under the command of Captain John Craig, then an additional two tours under Captain Thomas Bartlett.  During his tours he served under the command of Colonels Matthews, Meriwether, Winslow and McWilliams.  His Revolutionary War pension application indicates he was “…marched to Norfolk, Portsmouth, James Town and many other places on the James River…” and was in “…frequent skirmishes with small parties…” but was never in “…any general engagements…” during the years 1776 through 1778.  

John was honorably discharged following these actions, and volunteered August 10, 1779, under the command of Captain John Craig, Lieutenant Thomas Sharp and Ensign John Johnson “…as a guard to the commissioners in running Walker’s line.”  He was discharged from this engagement June 4, 1780.  After his return home in that year, he substituted for Ezekiel Haydon.  He did not recollect the names of company officers, but he remembered being under the command of Major Quarles for part of the tour.  He was stationed at Cabin Point, and was marched to Petersburg where he “…delivered up his arms and was honorably discharged.”

In summer 1781, John was drafted in the company commanded by Captain John Chew.  Colonel Matthews commanded the Regiment.  His unit was marched from the Spotsylvania Courthouse to Williamsburg, Ruffin’s Ferry, Richmond, and again to Williamsburg “…from whence we were ordered to little Yorktown about the time of the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis to General Washington.”

John married Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie” West in 1784 when he was 24 years of age and she, 19 years of age.  Together they had eight children.  Sarah West McQuiddy was a close relative of Benjamin West, the famous and internationally known American painter. 

In 1786, John leased 93 acres of land at Culpeper County, Virginia.  By 1790, John and Sarah were thought to have gone with the early settlers to Kentucky.  According to the 1810 U.S. Census, John was living near Mortonsville, Woodford County, Kentucky, where he had a farm and owned six slaves.  John signed his name with an “X” indicating that he had not learned to write.  

John later built a large, two-story house five miles from Mortonsville at Versailles.  Sarah died in 1835 and is buried at Versailles. 

John married the widow Susan Hanks Smith at Versailles between 1835 and 1840.  John McQuiddy, Sr., a well-respected and substantial citizen of Woodford County, Kentucky, died in 1841.  His widow petitioned for a pension based on John’s Revolutionary War record.