1. John1 Drennan was born in Pennsylvania 1740. John died January 19, 1816 in Wilson Co., TN.
He married an unknown person in York So., SC (then Mecklenburg Co., NC), around 1767. John remarried, after the
death of his wife, to Delphan Arnold, widow of Joseph Arnold. The following is a brief history of the Drennan Family written by
Thomas E. Partlow: The Drennan name, alternately spelled Draynon, Drenning, Drenin, Drenon, Drennon, Drenan, etc., was in the
original Welch spelled Draighnean, meaning "Grandson of Draighnean" or "Blackthorn". The precise date of their arrival to America is not
known. Pennsylvania records reveal the names of several Drennans living in that colony. Joseph Drayon was a taxpayer in East
Nottingham in 1753. David Drenan was a landowner in New London in 1774. In the same year, Joseph Drenin was listed as a taxpayer in West
Nottingham. Other records indicate that a John Drennen served in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolution, serving as a
Private in Captain John Vanmeter's Company, 4th Battalion, Westmoreland County Militia, and is shown on the payroll of Captain Vanmeter's
Company being paid dated 10 July 1784. Whle some of the Drennans remained in Pennsylvania, others moved to York Co., SC (which
was then Mecklenburg Co., NC). These included John Drennan and brother Thomas. Also, living near them was a cousin, Mary Drennan.
John Drennan served as Probate Judge of York Co, SC. The earliest Drennan record in South Carolina reveals that John was
involved in a lawsuit with Samuel Lowerie in the year 1758. On 24 December 1765, John purchased land from William Hoggans.
Later, he bought land from John eayrs. However, the most interesting of Drennan's purchases was his lease of land from the Catawba Indians.
On 6 November 1787, he leased six hundred and thirty-five acres of land from the Indians for a period of ninety-nine years. The rent was to
be paid annually. It consisted of ten Spanish milled dollars or the value thereof in goods and chattels. It is not known how or why this
lease ended. In 1805, a number of South Carolina families moved to Wilson County, Tennessee. These included John Drennan, John
Arnold, Mathias Devault, Thomas Drennan, Thomas Kirkpatrick, John McPeak, Jacob sullivan, and others. Wilson Co., TN tax records
for 1805 show that John Drennan owned one hundred and seventy-three acres of land. In the same year, Drennan was indicted by the Wilson Co.
Grand Jury. He was convicted and fined twenty-five dollars. The nature of the offense is not given. On 25 December 1805, John
purchased from John Thompson of ?Rupel Co., Virginia two hundred and twenty acres of land at Sugg's Creek for two hundred and six dollars.
The deed was recorded in March 1806. Drennan purchased an additional two hundred acres from William Smith on 5 september 1811. He sold
Samuel Brown forty acres on 21 November 1812 for one hundred and fifty dollars and fifty cents. On 6 June 1815, he sold John Smith
thirty-nine acres for one hundred and thirty dollars. John's tombstone at Sugg's Creek Cemetery indicates that he was a Mason.
An unexplained date on the tombstone is 24 August 1819. The Estate, valued at twenty-nine hundred dollars, was settled 14 September 1816,
with Thomas Drennan acting as Administrator. Heirs were: John Drennan, David Drennan, John Arnold, Joseph Drennan, Henry Miller, Thomas
Drennan, and the heirs of William Drennan. From writings of Imogene Bennett: John's wife at the time of his death,
Delphan, received a widow's allotment, 12 June 1816, in Wilson Co., TN. in pursuance of an order of the court to us directed, we, Ransom
Gwynn, John Hannah, and Jenkins Sullivan met at the late dwelling house of John Drennan, deceased, and have allotted the widow one year's
provisions, to wit, 100 weight of bacon, 34 pounds of lard, 2 live hogs, and 4 barrels of corn. Recorded 20 August 1816.
Information currently being further researched by Janice Drennan: William Drennan born ca 1702 in Lancaster Co., PA.
His children included William b. 1739, John b. 1740, Samuel, Thomas, James, Joseph, and David. It is thought that the grandfather, William,
was deported from Scotland and arrived in New Jersey about 1685. Janice has found information on the William Drennan of 1685 who
had his ear cut off in Scotland for not swearing allegiance to the King and was transported from Scotland to New Jersey in 1685. There is
the strong possibility that this William Drennan is the father or grandfather of the William Drennan born in 1702 in PA, but has not been
proved yet.
John Drennan had the following children:
After his death, his sister Jane Drennan (married to John Arnold) was appointed guardian of his 3 children. His
spouse Margaret moved to Independence Co., AR.
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