NameJohn McClain
Birthabt 1792, South Carolina
Deathbef 1900
Marriage10 Jan 1849, Bath Co., Kentucky
Separationbef 1860
SpouseMicha Morris
Birthabt 1816, Kentucky
Deathbef 1900
Children
Birthabt Sep 1849, Bath Co., Kentucky
Birthabt 1852, Bath Co., Kentucky
Birthabt 1854, Bath Co., Kentucky
Birthabt 1855, Bath Co., Kentucky
Deathbef 1900, Bath Co., Kentucky
Notes for John McClain
Many member family trees on Ancestry.com identify the John McClain and James McClain who settled in Bath Co., Ky as sons of Charles McClain and Elizabeth Moon of North and South Carolina. I have not seen any primary sources for that attribution (e.g., none of the trees mention any wills, etc.), so I prefer to consider their parents unknown.
Census
In 1870 he is listed with his daughter Sarah and her husband William Staton as age 77, wheel wright, born in Kentucky.
In 1880 he is listed with them as John McClane, age 88, border, wheelrite, born S.C. S.C. Vct. (I do not know how to interpret the Vct, but it is entered for several other parent birthplace fields on the page. I suspect it of being an abbreviation for unstated, in some form.)
Census Notes for Micha Morris
1870 census of Bath Co., Ky, Mudlick precinct, Olympian Springs P.O., enumerated 6 Aug, lists on p. 12 as family #83/85:
McClain, Micha (f), 55, keeping house; Catharine, 15; George, 13. All born in Kentucky.
In 1880 she is listed near Owingsville with her daughter Susan and Susan’s husband Lafayette Ginter as Micha McClain, 65, mother-in-law, widowed, born Ky Ky Ky.
Notes for John & Micha (Family)
John and Micha apparently separated sometime after George Ann was born in 1855, and before 1860, since they were recorded in separate households in the 1860 through 1880 censuses. I do not know if they ever officially divorced. Neither one remarried.
Census
1850 census of Bath Co., Ky, division 2, enumerated 27 July, lists on p. 26 as family #181:
John McClane, 58, wheelright, b. S. Carolina; Micha, 34 (female), b. Ky; Amanda, 11; Jenelly (f), 9; Isaac, 7; Sousan Jackson, 7; Alfred, 5; Joseph, 4; Garrard McLane, 9/12. All children born in Kentucky.
In 1860 this family appears to be split up among three households.
1860 census of Bath Co., Ky, Owingsville P.O., enumerated 10 July, lists on p. 106 as household #769:
John McClain, 68, farmer, b. S. Carolina.
1860 census of Bath Co., Ky, Owingsville P.O., enumerated 14 Aug, lists on p. 234 as family #1697:
Michael McClain, 45, farmer; Susan, 17. Both born in Kentucky.
I believe the above is Micha, incorrectly listed as male, with her daughter Susan from her first marriage.
1860 census of Bath Co., Ky, Owingsville P.O., enumerated 14 Aug, lists on p. 238 as family #1724:
Alfred McClain, 36; Joseph, 34; Garrett, 10; Cindarella, 8; Catharine, 6; George Ann, 5.
Alfred and Joseph are probably Alfred Jackson and Joseph Jackson, incorrectly listed as 20 years older than their actual age and with their stepfather’s surname. If not, I do not know who they are; there is no other match in the 1850 or 1870 censuses.
This kind of large error can occur when the census taker records the families first in a scratch notebook while going on visits, and then copies them for neatness into the official census ledgers later at home, and misreads his or her own handwriting.
In 1870 Catherine and George Ann are back with Micha, see her notes.