Mary McLellan

• General Notes
  • Mary McLellan came from the north of Ireland, and was the sister of Hugh McLellan of Gorham and James McLellan of Saco. She married in Ireland a man by the name of Craige, much older than herself. Craige had a son John by a former wife. The family left Ireland for America somewhere about the year 1729 to 1730, and landed first in Boston, Mass. On the voyage over Craige died, leaving his widow with two children, Jane or Jenny as she was called, and Hugh, with the son John by his first wife. hugh was probably bornabout the year 1723; Jenny was older. Thomas Bolton came over in the same vessel. He was said to have been an old bachelor, and from the same town as the Craiges. In Boston he married the widow Craige, and soon after came with his family to Portland, where he remained a while, and had some propert; he then exchanged his property for lands in Windham, and moved in. This was before the year 1747. The son, John Craige, remained in Boston, and we lose sight of him. Hugh was about six years old when the family left Ireland. The daughter, Jenny Craige married John Miller of Falmouth (Portland) August 27, 1738. He was a tailor, and carried on quite a business, and was a man of some property. I do not know of their leaving any children or descendants. At one time Hugh McLellan was living on a farm at Back Cove, and was driven in by fear of the Indians. He says he lived a while in the house with his niece Jenny Miller. This was before Hugh purchased his farm in Gorham, in 1738. Mrs Miller outlived her husband many years, and died November 4, 1760. Hugh Craige married Elizabeth Warren in Falmouth, November 11, 1749, and soon after purchased land in the town of Windham, and moved on to it. Of the exact time we have no date, but it was in the early days of Windham. He owned, as early as 1750, the two home lots, Nos. 50 and 51. He was one of the selectmen of the town in 1770 and 1774, and on the Committee of Correspondence in 1773. He is said to have been a good citizen, and has many descendants now living in town. He died March 19, 1777, aged 54, and his wife, Elizabeth craige, died in 1810, aged 83. We have not the date of Thomas Bolton and Mary (McLellan) Craige's marriage, but after their marriage they lived several years in Falmouth, where their son William was born, April 13, 1731. They alson had two daughters, Martha, who married Richard Mayberry of Windham, Feburary 21, 1756, and died at the age of 90, and Mary who was born in 1733, and married Robert Millions of Windham in 1760. Thomas Bolton settled in Windham, probably on what was called Home Lot No. 52, for here he had a garrison-house in the time of the Indian war. At the time of his death he was about 90 years old. His wife died in Gorham, aged 89, about the year 1788, which was soon after the death of her husband. She was buried in the orchard opposite the McLellan brick house, on the road leading to Fort Hill, it not being possible to get her body to Windham on account of the roads, and there being no bridge on the river above Saccarappa. Several years after her death, her body was taken up by her grandsons and taken to Windham and deposited in the old Anderson burying ground, by the side of her husband. there was a curious story told in relation to her death, which is perhaps rather tinctured with superstition, but we will give it as it was told us. While on a visit to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth McLellan, in Gorham, they were sitting and talking in the southeast front room of the brick house, (now standing) when an old rooster came into the front entry, and commenced to crow most lustily. Mrs. Bolton immediately said to Mrs. McLellan, "Elizabeth there will be a death in this house in less than a forenight. That rooster's crowing in the door is a sure sign." "Well, " says Mrs. McLellan, "we will make the sign come true, and the old rooster shall be the victim, and we will eat him for dinner." Calling the old fellow up to her, she caught him and wrung his neck in the room where they were. Notwithstanding this sudden death, it appears not to have been the one predicted by the rooster. Mrs. Bolton was taken next day with a severe attack of dysentery, and cholera-morbus, and died in two days after, and was buried as I have before said. -History of Gorham, Me by Hugh McLellan -complied and edited by his daughter Katharine B. Lewis Portland Smith and Sale, Printer 1903-

Details of Mary's family with Thomas Bolton

Details of Mary's family with Craige