Y-DNA - Sorting the various branches of McLean's

We can use Y-DNA information to evaluate several branches of McLean's that were present in Iredell and Rowan Counties, North Carolina in the late 1700's and early 1800's.

Branches of these McLean's that we know something about are:

• John McLean, Silversmith b1755 d1829, lived on Buffalo Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean Sr. b1755 d1817 , lived near the Yadkin River, Vashti, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean, Planter b1746 d1818, lived on Buffalo Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• Daniel McLean, b1769 d1829 , lived on Elk Shoals Creek, Iredell-Alexander Co, NC
• John McLean Jr b1789 Coddle Creek, Rowan Co, lived NW of Mooresville, Iredell Co, NC d1865
• William McLean b~1794 d1863, lived on Coddle Creek, Rowan Co, NC

Y- DNA results are separated into Haplogroups - groups of people from a distinct branch of the human genetic tree.  FTDNA's (Family Tree DNA Co) lists 191 McLean's in their "Clan McLean" group.  These McLean's fall into one of ten Haplogroups:

• A             African           1      1%
• E1b          Semitic           5      3%
• I1             Nordic            12    6%
• I2a           Slavic              4      2%
• I2b           Nordic            10    5%
• J2             Semitic           12    6%
• R1a          E. European   10    5%
• R1b1        W. European  4      2%
• R1b1b2    Celtic             112   59%
• R1b1b2a   Niall              21    11%
•                          
• Total                               191  100%

If we group these into the main branches:

• A       1                                   1%   
• E        5                                   3%
• I         26                                14%
• J        12                                 5%
• R       147                               77%

So, the distribution of McLean Y-DNA is:

• 77%      R haplogroup
• 14%      I  haplogroup
• 9%        Other haplogroups

Here is what we found out by testing Y-DNA from descendants of some of these McLean's:

• John McLean, Silversmith - Descendant Gene McLean of Santa Barbara, CA - R1b1a2 Celtic
• John McLean Sr - Vashti - Descendant Marvin A McLean of Oroville, CA - R1b12 Celtic
• Daniel McLean of Elk Shoals Creek - Descendant Bob McLean of Maryland - I2b1a1 Nordic Isles-Scot
• John McLean Jr of Mooresville - Descendant Bob McLean of Sonoma - I2b1a1 Nordic Isles-Scot
• William McLean of Coddle Creek, Rowan Co - Stephen Wade McLean of SC - R1b1b2 Celtic
• John McLean, Planter - no descendant found.

So the Silversmith, John McLean Sr of Vashit and William McLean of Coddle Creek, Rowan Co lines are from the dominant haplogroup R, and the Daniel and John McLean Jr lines are from the secondary haplogroup I.

John McLean Sr. of Coddle Creek, Rowan County, North Carolina

John McLean Sr. first shows up when he purchases 268 acres of land on Coddle Creek, Rowan County, North Carolina.

This deed indicates that John McLean Sr was living in Rowan County before he purchased this land.

Next we find him listed in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census.

By the 1820 Census a John McLean is shown in the same area with the same neighbors, but a much younger age so this would be John McLean Jr.

No other direct information has been found yet as to John McLean Sr's year or place of birth or death. No will has been found.

However, there is a John McLean listed on the Rowan County 1778 Tax List.

And there is a property in Rowan County purchased by John McLean in 1783 (Book 10 page 284?) and then sold to William Wilson on Feb 3rd 1787 (book 10 page 552).

I have a copy of the 3 Feb 1787 deed selling this parcel, but it is a very bad copy and mostly unreadable. In that deed it mentions John McLean and Elsa McLean selling he parcel.


I am still searching for a copy of the 1783 deed.

                                                             

John McLean Jr

My gg grandfather, John McLean Jr. was born 8 Feb 1789 at his father's plantation on Coddle Creek, Rowan County, North Carolina.  The first census where he is listed as head of household is 1820 in Rowan County with neighbors indicating Coddle Creek area.  The census records for 1790, 1800, and 1810 from the same location show John McLean Sr (by age).

The census of 1830 and 1840 show John McLean Jr in Iredell County, Davidson Township area.

The distance from John Mclean Sr's Coddle Creek, Rowan County plantation and John McLean Jr's plantation northwest of Mooresville is less than ten miles.

                                                                               

By the census of 1850 amd 1860 John Jr and his family had purchased land northwest of Mooresville.

This family group chart shows details of the 1790-1860 census records.

In about 1819 John Jr. married Mary E. Crawford. Mary was born 16 Jul 1793. Her father was probably David Crawford 1865-1811. David Crawford held Iredell County land. Deed G-508. This land was sold 28 Sep 1811 by the estate.

John Jr and Mary had nine children:

• Quincy Adolphus              My g grandfather married Sarah A Alexander
• Mary C.                             Not married died 11 May 1895
• Nancy Caroline                 Married Thomas G Christie 1873, died 1901
• Joseph A.                          Confederate Army, died 5 Dec 1862
• Julius Hugh                       School Teacher died about 1881
• John Rodney                     Confederate Army, died 31 Oct 1862
• Ephraim T.                        Confederate Army, died Dec 1862
• Marcus Leroy                    Married Sarah Francis Kirpatrick, died 5 Dec 1910.  Line continues.
• Margaret Mary                  Non married, died after 1868

So what a tragic year 1862 was for this McLean family to loose three sons to the Civil War.

John McLean died 2 May 1865.  Mary E (Crawford) McLean died 9 July 1873.  They are both burried at the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Mooresville, NC.