James Logan McKee was the son of John McKee and Jane Logan McKee. He was a soldier in local Indian wars and the Revolutionary War. He married Jane Telford on 6 Jun 1782 (John T McKee bible). Jane died 30 Apr 1800 and 7 years later, he married widow Nancy "Agnes" Leech Scott, on 26 Mar 1807 in Kerrs Creek, Virginia. She died 5 Feb 1835.

He was likely born in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Part of Lancaster became Dauphin Co., in 1785. It was a Scots Irish area. In 1738 about "10 or 11 McKee brothers came from Ireland to America," settling in Lancaster and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plus Wheeling, WV. The ones that settled in Lancaster, moved to Virginia in about 1760. Robert and John settled in Rockbridge Co., near Lexington. Brother William settled in Augusta or Botetourt Co., Virginia, later moving to Montgomery Co., Kentucky, but he died in Virginia. Robert's son Col. Wm McKee married John's daughter Miriam. (The McKees of Virginia and Kentucky, George W. McKee, Kentucky, died 1891), p 102 & 104).

James' signature appears on his 3 Jun 1782 marriage bond to "Jennet" Tedford. See photo and caption. Rev. Jno Brown married James McKee to his first wife Janet "Talford" on 6 "May" 1782 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia (The 18 Dec 1866 Staunton Spectator*).

According to the following source, JARV (John A R Varner's wife was Martha A Smiley, daughter of Ellen Jane McKee Smiley) says: "To my wife's great-grandfather, William McKee, he gave "Highland Bell" plantation, now one of the finiest farms in the county; and to James McKee the "Red House Farm." The McKees of Virginia and Kentucky, by George Wilson McKee, Published 1891 by J. B. Richards in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, p 53.

His son, "John T. McKee makes declaration, January 5th, 1835; For and on behalf of his mother, Nancy McKee, widow of James McKee, deceased; James died August 14, 1832, aged 80 years and 6 months; he was born in Pennsylvania March 14th 1752, and came with his brother to Virginia and settled on Kerr's Creek in the year 1754; served under Col. William Christian; was substitute for William McKee; Colonel Dickinson, Capt. Charles Campbell, Lieut. Samuel Davidson, all now dead; served as Ensign under Col. John Bowyer, Capt. Thomas Harrison, Lieut. Alex Wiley; mentions John Davidson, a pensioner, General Campbell, General Muhlenberg, Colonel Willis. William McKee , brother of James, deposes as his services." Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted From the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1754-1800, by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. 2, p 483.

"James McKee, Rockbridge 5 Jan 1835. Born in Pennsylvania, 14 Mar 1752, died in Rockbridge, 14 Aug 1832. Drafted from Rockbridge in Summer of 1776, for a tour of 3 months against the Cherokees, serving under Col. Wm Christian. Served a tour of 3 months in Greenbrier when the Shawnees attached Donally's Fort. Third tour in fall of 1777, at Point Pleasant under Col. Jno Dickenson, Capt. Charles Campbell, and Lt. Samuel Davidson. Fourth tour as Ensign, 10 Jan 1781, to 25 Apr 1781, and marched to Portsmouth. Was out 2 weeks the following June for 2 weeks when Tarleton plundered Charlottesville. Drafted 3 months in July and marched to headquarters at Westham near Richmond. Last draft of 2 months in October to march to Yorktown. Total service, 17 months, 29 days. Declaration by Nancy McKee, widow. Left a son, John T." Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War, J.T. McAllister, 1913, p 120, Section #125, S16954.

In his pension file: James McKee, born March 14, 1752 in Pennsylvania, moved in 1754 (sic) with his brother William to Kerr's Creek in Rockbridge County, Virginia. In 1776, he enlisted in the summer and served 3 months against the Cherokee Indians in Col. Wm Christian's Virginia regiment. For 3 months in 1776, he served again, substituting for his brother, William, when the Shawnee Indians attacked at Donnelly's Fort. He enlisted again in Sep 1777, serving 3 months in Capt. Chas. Campbells's company. He again enlisted and served 10 Jan 1781 through 25 Apr 1781, as ensign in Capt. Thos Harrison's company. He served 2 weeks in 1781, and for 3 months from July 1781 in Col. Willis' Virginia regiment. Soldier James McKee, died 14 Aug 1832 in Rockbridge Co., Virginia and his widow Nancy died 5 Feb 1835. The pension due their father was allowed his children: John T. McKee and Mary Jane (Mrs. Andrew Bratton), both residents of Rockbridge Co., Virginia in 1835 (Book of McKees, Raymond W. McKee, 1959, p 131). Note: he moved in 1774, not 1754.

According to James Wilson McClung's WPA survey of the "Old home of James McKee" #ROC359, dated 10 Jun 1936, "This homesite was the scene of one of the last Indian massacres in Rockbridge County." It was 1st built "between 1740 - 1750" and added over/onto in 1875, after it was burned, both with extra think walls (or other special undefined) protection from the Indians. A 1936 photo of the home, shows a 2 story, weather boarded, rectangular building (with an L to the North side) with 2 brick/stone chimneys, one on either end, 3 windows up, and the commonly seen Rockbridge I House of the area, with a later porch addition. It was built over the stone foundation basement from the original home, as was the custom. It had/has 4-8" old pine plank flooring, plus pine wainscoting. The very FIRST Benjamin Borden land grant in Rockbridge Co., Virginia, was sold to James McKee "prior to 1778, when the county was formed from Augusta Co. Homesteaders often cleared the land first and checked it out prior to purchase. On 4 Aug 1778 (WHY, who died?), it was willed to James' sons Wm and John, in WB 1, p 19. It stayed in the McKee family through E(dgar) M(cKee) Lackey ownership in 1898, for about 150 years. "Only several hundred yards distant" that the last massacre occurred, where Jane Logan McKee lost her life. It's located about 5 miles N of Lexington, taking Rt. 60 from Lexington, W 5.5 miles to Rt. 631, 1/2 mile, home is on the north side of highway adjoining. It is facing to the south and to Whistle Creek. A descendent of his, Mrs. W Horace Lackey was an informant for the survey data. The Library of Virginia is asking $100. for rights to display the WPA photo of the home, looking is free. John McKee would have been the first home owner in 1740-50, since his son James was born in 1752 and possibly witnessed the raid, that took his mother away, at age 11. (Confusion here about who owned this home in 1740-1750, when it was Augusta Co. Was it squatted on? James father John, owned other land that he left in his will to son John. Was this home handled prior to the will or otherwise? Missing a few vital details here to sew it up.

Jan 1777 Virginia Gazette (LDS film) ad reads: FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD. STOLEN out of my wagon, 15 miles above Albemarle courthoufe, in the night, between the 16th and 17th of December laft, a large dark bay (or rather black) horse, about 6 years old, 15 hands and an inch high, with a bald face, three white feet, his mane half roached, a fhort fwischtail, with fome few white hairs about the root of it, one fmall faddle fpot, and was fhod round. The thief is fuppofed to be gone towards Pennsylvania or South Carolina, and poffibly may have traded away the horse. Whoever gives fuch intelligence as the said horfe may be got again, to mr. Sampfon Matthews at Staunton, or to the fubfcriber on Carr's creek, Augusta county, fhall have 30 dollars, and the above reward on conviction of the thief. JAMES M'KEE. See photo, do not reproduce.

VASSAR's Master Spreadsheet of Revolutionary War Veterans adds he served as a substitute for his brother William. "Moved with brother William to Rockbridge Co. 1774, settling on Kerr's Creek. Pen(sion) granted 1835 to children that was due to their mother, #S16954."

DAR Genealogical Research Database includes:
MCKEE, JAMES LOGAN Ancestor #: A077470
XXX Notice: PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED WITH AT LEAST ONE PREVIOUSLY VERIFIED PAPER - SEE ANCESTOR'S FULL RECORD (WHY?)
Service: VIRGINIA Rank(s): ENSIGN
Birth: 3-14-1752 PENNSYLVANIA
Death: 8-14-1832 ROCKBRIDGE CO VIRGINIA
Pension Number: *S16954
Service Source: *S16954
Service Description: 1) CAPT THOMAS HARRISON, COLS JOHN BOWYER, WILLIS; ALSO HORSEMAN
2) ALSO PVT, CAPT CHARLES CAMPBELL, COLS WILLIAM CHRISTIAN, DICKINSON
Residence: County: ROCKBRIDGE CO - State: VIRGINIA
Spouses: 1) JANE TELFORD
Created: 2002-03-27 23:17:13.16, Updated: 2016-09-26 08:56:46.42
2) NANCY AGNES LEITCH SCOTT

He is in the D.A.R. Patriot Index, Ancestor #: A077470. Private in Capt Charles Campbell's company.

Note: The John T McKee bible gives his birth date as 14 Mar 1752. It is believed he was born in Pennsylvania, but I have not seen it documented. This would make him actually 80 years and 5 months. I have also seen he died at 80 years and 6 months or Feb 1752.

His wife Jane Telford McKee, their son John Telford McKee, grand daughter Martha Hanna McKee Dunlap, and other kin are also buried here.

His fallen gravestone is transcribed below. "Fagen" at the bottom of his gravestone, was the name of the Virginia stone engraver. He was popular in the area.

*The previous entry was for 2 May 1782 and ditto marks follow it for 6 May 1782, making it a possible entry error. The bond is dated 3 Jun 1782 so I believe it is June instead. The spelling of his wife's names constantly changes.

Bio researched and written by LSP, do not reproduce, all rights reserved