Norman/Maxwell Family

His last name was spelled various ways but McCORKEL and McCORKELL appears most frequently in documents of the time. He signed his will as John McCorkel.

JOHN McCORKLE: parents not known; possibly a son of James McCorkle and Jane Steele, but no solid proof has been found. An unverified report says that he was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was married first to Margaret Evans that died around 1806. John and Margaret were living in Pennsylvania "on the waters of the Schuylkill" ' when their son James was born in 1763. John and his family moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina about 1765, where they settled on Twelve Mile Creek (near current Charlotte, NC). After Margaret's death, John married Susannah Gordon about 1808 in Mecklenburg County, NC).

He appears in the censuses of Mecklenburg Co., NC, in 1790, 1800, and 1810. He was probably the John McCorkle who served as Constable in that county in 1774, as tax collector during the Revolution, and as Justice of the Peace.

Though there is no solid evidence of kinship between John McCorkle and the other McCorkles who settled in the same general area of the Carolinas-- Alexander, Matthew, James, and Robert -- it is perhaps not without significance that he named three of his sons James, Robert and Matthew.

Following is a transcript of John's will that was written in 1810 and probated in 1811/1812. Notice that he named his youngest son, Matthew, as one of his executors. At the time of the writing of this will his sons; Archibald, Owen and Matthew were still living in Mecklenburg County. Three other sons; James, Robert and John II, were living in Georgia.

JOHN MCCORKEL
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
29 AUG 1810

In the Name of God Amen. I John McCorkel of 12 Mile Creek, Mecklenburg County, State of North Carolina being at present weak in body but of a sound mind and blessed by God. Calling to mind the mortality of the body and that is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following: First of all Commend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, and as for such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same as follows: First, I will that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged as soon as convenient after my demise. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Sussanah all the household and kitchen furniture that she has brought to me (at our marriage) that is as good order and repair as when first brought. Likewise all the money coming to her by the last will of her late husband, which cannot at present be ascertained her estate not being as yet settled. Three cows and three calves her choice of my stock and one hundred and sixty dollars in lieu of a years provisions for her and her family. All to be for use and backup and to be wholly her disposal. I leave unto my son Matthew the plantation he now lives on containing 200 acres and part of the tract of land that I now live on which lyeth southwest of the creek running through the same containing 30acres be his and his heirs forever. I likewise leave unto my son Matthew my Negro man named Hercules on the condition that he pays unto his stepmother Sussanah, the sum of one hundred dollars at the end of three years after my demise and that if she is alive and remains my widow. It shall not be lawful for my son Matthew to sell or convey the land left him herein until the said 100 dollars is paid or is insured to be paid to my widow at the time it may be become due; and it is my will that the plantation that I now live on containing 200 acres (excepting that part left my son Matthew) and 50 acres adjoining the same and land of Joseph McCommens to sale as soon as convenient after my demise and the money arising from that sale and the sale of all my personal property(excepting my wearing apparel which I leave to my sons Matthew and Owen)and after payment of my just debts I leave the remainder to my five sons Archibald, Owen, James, Robert, and John and my four daughters Mary wife to Hugh Forbis, Margaret wife to John Williams, Elizabeth wife to Samuel Gordon, and Molly wife to Jonathan Gordon share and share alike, and I do authorize my executors or any two of them to make a good title or deed of conveyance to purchasers of my land as I myself could have in my lifetime when personally present. Lastly, I do nominate my son Matthew and my sons in law Samuel and Jonathan Gordon to be the sole executors of this my last will and testament. Hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made. Ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament. Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the 29th day of August in the year of our Lord, 1810. Signed, Sealed and Acknowledged by the said John McCorkel to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request have subscribed our names hereto.
; John Lawson Signed: John McCorkel
Robert Howie
Eli McCorkel; Surname could be spelled McCorkel.