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Note: CATHERINE REBECCA McGUIRE Abt 1812- Aft 1880 Some sources have Catherine's father as William McGuire instead of Samuel Wallace McGuire. William was the older brother of Samuel Wallace McGuire. Regardless of which brother was Catherine's father, her Great Grandfather was James Felix McGuire. He was born in Ireland in about 1735 and later migrated to Virginia with his father, John McGuire. They then traveled west with Daniel Boone to Kentucky. James Felix McGuire and his son, Jesse, were eventually killed on the 19th of Aug in 1782 in the Battle of the Blue Licks along with 62 other men including Daniel Boone's own son. It was a very bloody and savage battle but fought by brave men and was known for being the last battle of the Revolutionary War. Here is a short rendition of the battle...... For generations it was known as "the last battle of the Revolutionary War." From the American perspective, it was a disaster. In just a few minutes on the afternoon of August 19, 1782, British troops and their Wyandot allies killed almost 70 Kentucky militiamen-nearly 40% of the American force-and captured several others. Among the dead were such leading Kentuckians of the time as Lexington co-founder John Todd and land commissioner Col. Stephen Trigg (both of whom now have Kentucky counties named for them). The Blue Licks battle followed a British raid on Bryan's Station, just north of Lexington, on August 15. The station was well defended, and the British pulled out and began a retreat north. A hastily assembled group of about 180 militiamen set off in pursuit, catching up with the Redcoats at a ford of the Licking River in what is now southern Robertson County. Daniel Boone, in command of one troop, counseled caution because he feared that the British and Wyandots would be waiting in the easily defended ravines up ahead. Others, knowing that reinforcements were on their way, also wanted to wait before attacking. But legend has it that an impatient major charged the river, and the battle was on. As Boone had feared, British riflemen concealed in the ravines easily cut down the onrushing Americans-including Boone's son Israel. By the time the reinforcements did arrive five days later, all they could do was bury the bodies. Because of the British involvement, the Battle of Blue Licks is considered one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War. In fact, it is one of those tragic ironies of history that it actually took place some time after the Revolution itself had ended-word simply hadn't reached the frontier yet. But in the larger scheme of things, Blue Licks was also just one in the series of bloody raids, skirmishes, and all-out battles that raged for years between white settlers and the native tribes whose territory they had entered. That war would continue for several more years. Assuming that Catherine's father was, in fact, Samuel W. McGuire, then much is also known about her maternal ancestors. Her mother was Jeneth (Jane) Ferguson born in Mt Sterling, Montgomery CO, Kentucky on 17 Aug 1797. Jane was the fifth of 8 children born of William Ferguson and Catherine Adkins Lemaster. William was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1755. In 1771, William came to America at the age of 16 with two brothers (Joseph and Robert) and his father, Josiah Ferguson (b.1725 d.1808). They first settled in Westmoreland CO, PA. They moved then to North Carolina then they too as many did followed Daniel Boone to Kentucky. While living in Pennsylvania, he enlisted in Aug 1776 in Westmoreland Cty, PA. William fought in the extensively in the Revolutionary War. He was in the battles of Cow Pens, Bound Brook, Brandywine, and Germantown. William served for three years under Gen. George Washington. He was encamped in at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78. He was present at Yorktown when Cornwallace made his surrender. He was a private in the regiment commanded by Col McCoy of 8th Pennslyvania Regiment for 3 years and he also served under Daniel Boone. He was discharged from the Continental Army in Sep 1779. After the war William married Catharine Lemaster, daughter of Abraham Lemaster and Ann Scott, and moved to Montgomery Co. Kentucky. Later they moved to Floyd Co. Kentucky on Grape Creek, near Salyerville. They had eight children together. William was an Old Regular Baptist minister and helped to organize the churches in Floyd Co, KY. He filed for a Revolutionary War Pension in 1818 while living in Floyd CO, KY. William and Catharine are said to have been buried under a favorite tree on their farm overlooking the mouth of Grape Creek in present day Magoffin Co, KY. A military grave marker was placed near the site by Ferguson descendants in June of 1997.
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