Britton Medlin Update

This is an update to the previous post about Britton Medlin's War of 1812 Pension,  The pension papers filled out by Britton's widow, Margaret Medlin, left some question as to the correct spelling of her maiden name -- McDole or McDowell.  A McDowell descendant has recently contacted me and Margaret's maiden name is McDowell.

The following message was sent to me:
"Margaret is a daughter of Andrew McDowell and his second wife, Mary McKean, McKeown or McKane. They were from Winnsboro, Fairfield Co., SC. Andrew was a surveyor in SC, and came to White Co. to work between 1805 and 1810. Mary's father was Alexander McKean, and he and Andrew McDowell can be seen on jury lists in Fairfield Co. Mary had died before her father died. In his estate quibbles it is mentioned that she was the wife of Andrew McDowell and had 2 daughters named Margaret and Jane. In 1820 Andrew and the 2 daughters are in the census in White County."

The Elizabeth McDowell Elrod, whose sons K Harrison Elrod and John Elrod were witnesses for Margaret Medlin, may be the daughter of Margaret's older half-brother, John McDowell.  That would explain the close relationship and the reason K Harrison Elrod and John Elrod were chosen to be witnesses for Margaret Medlin in the widow's pension.

K Harrison and John Elrod - Witnesses for Margaret Medlin

To find out more about the McDowell family, go to the blog:

McDowell Family of White County, Tennessee