Patriot of Shelia Alms, Deb Uchtmann, Bernice Cowan, Mary Ann Bunselmeyer
John Clendenin’s story begins in Scotland. Charles Clendenin, John’s grandfather, was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland in 1712 and immigrated to America prior to 1735. After arriving in Lancaster, PA he traveled south to Westmorland County, Virginia and settled at Fort Lee/Fort Clendenin. In 1818 this settlement was renamed Charleston, West Virginia after Charles Clendenin.
John Clendenin was born January 15, 1759 in Eddisen, Augusta County, Virginia. His father, James Clendenin (son of Charles), served in the French/Indian War in 1759 as one of Captain William Preston’s Rangers. John served in the 3rd Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line and was noted to have also furnished supplies to the forces. During the war, John was assigned to some type of military prison. Family history has it that while serving in this capacity, a woman came to John in desperate need to talk to her brother who was incarcerated in the prison. The law would not permit a woman to enter the confines of a prison. John, showing compassion, loaned her his uniform for disguise and the woman was able to see her brother.
After the Revolutionary War, John and his wife Mary (Sympson) moved to Green County, Kentucky.
At the close of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the area of Illinois was surveyed into land patents that were to be sold and the revenues generated were used defray the cost of the war. Anyone with military service was given preference in purchasing these land patents. In 1817 John and his family relocated from Kentucky to Chester, IL. On October 11, 1817, John purchased one of the land patents in the amount of 120 acres for $262.40.
John lived on this land until his death in 1836 and was buried in the family cemetery located on this property. This cemetery has been incorporated as “The Clendenin Historical Site”. On June 16, 2007, Liberty Bell of the West Chapter held a ceremony marking the grave of Revolutionary War Soldier and Patriot, John Clendenin.