Elijah McClanahan

Elijah McClanahan (April 20, 1770 died 1857) (aka Elijah McClanachan; McClanechan, etc.) was a noted planter and soldier in western Virginia and the Roanoke Valley. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 5th/121st Virginia Militia in the War of 1812, and was one of the largest landholders in what later became Roanoke County, Virginia.

Elijah McClanahan was the son of William and Sarah Neely McClanahan, along with three brothers: John, James and Green. He was also very generous, and probably already had the Smallpox, because at the age of 13, on October 10, 1783, he was "...allowed five pounds for attending a Continental soldier with the small pox." By the age of 22, he was granted a license to keep an ordinary or Tavern in their house.

Elijah McClanahan married on September 3, 1795, Agatha Strother Lewis (born March 15, 1779, and died June 14, 1852), daughter of Colonel Andrew Lewis (soldier), who then lived on Bent Mountain, Virginia. They had twelve children: 1. Elizabeth; married Dr. Gabriel Nash; second husband was Dr. Cox, of Missouri; offspring, several children. 2. Sallie; married Edward White, brother of Alexander White, of Fort Lewis; offspring, seven children. 3. Mary; married R. D. Montague; offspring, five. She was mother-in-law of Judge George Junkin, whose son, William Junkin, is now (1894) missionary in Corea. 4. Agnes; married Dr. John Ingles; offspring, four, one of whom is Mrs. Colonel Thomas Lewis, of Roanoke. 5. Lucy; married William Johnston; offspring, six. 6. Nancy; married Colin Bass. 7. Catharine; married Thomas Ingles; offspring, five. 8. Fannie; married Thomas Micou, of Essex County, Virginia; second husband, Rev. Charles Miller; grandmother of Rev. W. McC. Miller; offspring, five. 9. Jane; married Rev. J. N. Lewis; offspring, two. 10. Peggy; died young. 11. William; engaged to marry Patsy Lewis; both died from fever without having married. 12. Andrew.

On August 11, 1795, he took an oath of Captain of the Virginia militia.

With the organization of the 5th Virginia Militia, Elijah McClanahan was promoted to Lieutenant colonel (United States). He is also listed as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 121st Regiment, Virginia Militia, during the War of 1812.

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