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Drennan, John (Drenan, Drennon, Drennen)
John Drennan was a resident of York County. He served in the House for New Acquisition District in the Sixth (1785-1786), Seventh (1787-1788), Eighth (1789-1790) General Assemblies. Local offices he held included the following: justice of the peace for York (1785), commissioner, to establish inspection and exportation of tobacco near the Catawba River (1789); and commissioner, to establish a ferry at Long Island on the lower part of thee Catawba (1795). John Drennan was listed in the 1800 federal census in York County and was credited with owning one slave.
Sources: Census, 1790, 28. Census, 1800, York Co., 952. Misc Recs., UU; 278, SC Statutes, 5: 119;9:365
Copied from: Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Vol. III, 1775-1790
1. John Drennan, was born in Pennsylvania circa 1740. John died 19 January 1816 in Wilson Co. Tennessee, at 75 years of age. John is buried at the Sugg's Creek Church graveyard. His tombstone reads "Here lies the body of John Drennan who departed this life 19th day of January 1816 in the 76th year of his age. Another date unexplained is also on the tombstone (24 August 1819). Also a very elaborate Masonic Emblem.
He married two times that we know of. His first wife is unknown and they were married prior to 1768. He married Delphan (?) in either South Carolina or Tennessee, circa 1803. Delphan died 1839 in Independence County, Arkansas.
(Deed) 24 December 1765, William Hagins and wife Mary of the Waxhaws, husbandman, to John Drennan, late of Pennsylvania, Yoeman, for 20 pounds, land on North side of Catawba, opposite the Catawba Indian Town, part of an original grant to Robert Mukelhaney...William Hagins (seal), Mary Hagins (O) (seal), Witness. ___Nutt, Robert Crockett, Samuel Thompson. (Source: Mecklenburg County, NC. Deed Abstracts, Vol 1., 1763-1768, Pp 304-306).
John also leased land from the Catawba Indians. On 6 November 1787, he leased 635 acres for a period of 99 years. The rent to be paid annually consisted of ten Spanish milled dollars or the value thereof in goods and chattels. Just when John went south from Pennsylvania is not known. It is known that John's brother Thomas lived next door to him in South Carolina until circa 1803. Also living nearby was a cousin Mary, a David Drennan who could have been another brother and a Hugh Drennan.
John served as Probate Judge of York County, South Carolina. (Source: York County, South Carolina Minutes of the County Court 1786-1797, author: Laurence K. Wells, available from Brent H. Holcomb, Columbia, SC).
John Drennan served three terms in the South Carolina Genreal Assembly. The following was taken from the "Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Volume III, 1775-1790."
"DRENNAN, JOHN (Drenan, Drennon, Drennan). John Drennan was a resident of York County. He served in the House for New Acquisition District in the Sixth (1785-1786), Seventh (1787-1788), and Eighth (1789-1790) General Assemblies. Local offices he held included the following: Justice of the Peace for York (1785); commissioner, to establish inspection and exportation of tabacco near the Catawba River (1789); and commissioner, to extablish a ferry at Long Island on the lower part of the Catawba (1795). John Drennan was listed in the 1800 federal census in York County and was credited with owning one slave.
About 1803 John moved his family to Wilson County, Tennessee. Also moving at the same time were John Arnold, Matthias DeVault, Thomas Drennan, Thomas Kirkpatrick, John McPeak and Jacob Sullivan. 1805 Wilson County Tax Records show that John Drennan owned 173 acres of land. In that same year he was indicted by the Wilson County Grand Jury, found guilty, and fined 25 cents. The offense is not known. 25 December 1805 he purchased from John Thompson of Rupel County, Virginia, 220 acres of land at Suggs Creek for $206.00. John purchased an additional 200 acres from Willard Smith on 5 September 1811. He sold 40 acres to Samuel Brown on 21 November 1812 for $150.50. He also sold 39 acres to John Smith on 6 June 1815 for $130.00. After John's death his estate valued at $2900.00 was settled 14 September 1816, with Thomas Drennan acting as administrator. Heirs included John Drennan, David Drennan, John Arnold, Joseph Drennan, Henry Miller, Thomas Drennan and the heirs of William Drennan.
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Drennan Family Tree
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Drennan Family Tree
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Drennan Family Tree
© 2005 John Scott , 305 Murphy Court , Macon , GA 31216 , jsscott@tennesseeheritage.com. Permission is granted to copy portions of this document for personal use only. May not be published in paper form, electronically, or by any other means without permission.