Robert McClure
Possible Parents are Robert McClure born 1734 & Margaret Douglas 1736
Born: Feb 6 1772
Died: Dec 13 1829
Married
Mary Hepburn
daughter of Hon. William & Crecy (Covenhaven) Hepburn
Born 1780
Died Dec 17, 1839
Children:
Robert McClure
Hepburn McClure 1809-1890
Mary Matilda McClure 1818-1849
Edward C. McClure 1825-1890
Executor of his father in law, William Hepburn's Will
"Ninthly. I constitute and appoint Robert McClure, Esq., and my sons Samuel Hepburn, William Hepburn, and James Hepburn, to be executors of this will, and guardians of such of my children as may be minors at the time of my decease — of such my executors, or a majority, may act, and
if any one should die, a majority of the survivors may appoint another guardian in his place, if deemed necessary. I also appoint Alexander Stewart as one of the guardians for my minor children."
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Guardian of his nephew Samuel for a short time:
"On the 5th of May of that year, wishing to learn a trade, he chose his uncle, Robert McClure, as his guardian, who bound him to a blacksmith. He served his full time, three years, but did not follow that trade very long, as he soon went to work for his eldest brother, William, who was then a saddle and harness maker at Williamsport."
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HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of the Bench and Bar of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
http://www.lycolaw.org/history/sketches/18a.htm
Robert McClure
Among those attracted to Williamsport soon after the organization of Lycoming County was Robert McClure, the father of Hepburn McClure, Esq. He was born in Cumberland County, February 6, 1772. Little is known of his ancestry. After receiving a rudimentary education, he entered Dickinson College, from which he was graduated with honors. Among his classmates at college were Roger B. Taney, later Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Judge Huston, of Bellefonte. He studied law at Carlisle, and after being admitted to the bar came to Williamsport about the time of the organization of the county in 1795, and settled here. He and Charles Huston were the first lawyers here. He married Mary, a daughter of William Hepburn, who owned what was then known as “Deer Park”, comprising 320 acres. Old Oaks Park, site of the Williamsport Hospital, was a portion of this splendid estate.
John F. Wolfinger, late of Milton, who knew him well wrote of him: “In personal appearance Robert McClure was a tall, heavy man, with broad ruddy face and a countenance indicative of firmness and severe thought. His movements were slow and easy. He did but little law business when I knew him, and lived sort of a retired life, and died soon after I came to Williamsport. He seemed to have done a considerable amount of work in his best days, and to have occupied a high and honorable rank at the bar...”
Mr. McClure was sent to the legislature in 1822 and re-elected in 1824. In 1827 he was sent to the State Senate, but died before the completion of his term. Joseph B. Anthony filled out the vacancy, caused by the death of Senator McClure, which occurred December 13, 1829. His remains lay in the old burying ground on West Fourth Street, a short distance this side of Lycoming Creek, until the bodies buried there were removed to other cemeteries.
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From the History Of Lycoming County, Chapter 17
When Lycoming county was erected the first members of the bar to locate here were John Kidd, Charles Huston, and Robert McClure. Kidd, who had been admitted at Sunbury in August, 1791, came here by appointment of Governor Mifflin in April, 1795, invested with authority to swear in the officers of the new county and set the wheels of local government in motion. He opened his office in Jaysburg and performed the duties of all the court officers for several years. He was, therefore, the first member of the bar to settle here permanently. He died April 9, 1813.
Robert McClure, the third member of the trio of first lawyers, was born in Cumberland county, February 6, 1772. After receiving a rudimentary education he entered Dickinson College and graduated with honor. Roger B. Taney and Charles Huston were among his classmates. He studied law at Carlisle, came to Williams-port early in 1795, and was admitted to the bar when the county was organized that year. Like Kidd and Huston he first opened an office in Jaysburg. He married Mary, a daughter of William Hepburn. Mr. McClure was sent to the Lower House of the legislature in 1822 and returned in 1824. In 1827 he was chosen a State Senator, but died December 13, 1829, before the completion of his term. He was buried in the old graveyard on West Fourth street, Williamsport.
Hepburn McClure was a son of Robert McClure, who was one of the three first lawyers to locate in Williamsport in 1795. He was born November 24, 1809; studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar of Lycoming county about 1830. He served as postmaster of Williamsport and prothonotary of Lycoming county. At the time of his death, which. occurred in the spring of 1890, he was the oldest member of the bar.
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Genealogy and history of the Hepburn family of the Susquehanna Valley : with reference to other families of the same
Mary Hepburn,^ (William,- Samuel,^) born on the Deer Park farm in 1780, and died December 17, 1839, in Williamsport, was the second child and daughter of Judge William Hepburn and Crecy Covenhoven, his first wife. She married Robert McClure, who was born in Cumberland
County February 6, 1772. He graduated from Dickinson College. Roger B. Taney, afterwards Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Hon. Charles Huston, were among his classmates. He studied law at Carlisle, and after his admission to the bar came to Williamsport about
1795, and locate'd. He and his classmate, Charles Huston, were the two first lawyers to settle in the town which had just been laid out by Michael Ross.
Mr. McClure is described as a " tall, stout man, with a broad ruddy face and a countenance indicative of firmness and deep thought." He built up a fine law practice, and throughout life was noted for his integrity of character and reliability in business matters. He was sent to the lower house of the Legislature in 1822, and re-elected in 1824. In 1827 he was elected a State Senator, but died December
13, 1829. His will, which was dated December 4, 1829, only nine days before his death, mentions his sons, William, Robert and Hepburn, and appoints them and his wife executors of his estate. In a codicil he bequeathed his law library to his son, Hepburn McClure ; also the journals of Congress and the Legislature, together with the Nicholson State Papers. His two farms were willed to his wife. One
was located near Linden, and the other east of Williamsport.
Hepburn McClure, their second son, born November 24, 1809, and died in the spring of 1890, was the oldest living member of the Williamsport bar at the time of his death, having been admitted in 1830. He served as postmaster of Williamsport from May, 1839, to July, 1841, and as prothonotary of Lycoming County from 1842 to 1845. He was also clerk of the United States Court for the Western
District of Pennsylvania for many years.
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