"William McCaleb, or McKillop, as the name was originally spelled, was born in
Invernesshire, Scotland, 1715 son of the highland Chieftain, William McCaleb and his wife, Mary McDonnel of the
clan McDonnell. His father fought at the battle of Preston-Moor. He fought with his major clan McDonald at the
battle of Culloden 1746, Being pursued by the army of William Duke of Cumberland, he fled to Ireland with his
consort, Sarah McAlpin, daughter of Chief McAlpin and immigrated from Dublin, landing in Charleston, province of
South Carolina in the same year.
"William McCaleb and his family settled with the exiled followers of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the south of
Saluda in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He died in 1775. His son, William McCaleb, pioneer, soldier and
legislator, was born in Pendleton District, South Carolina 1747. He fought under General Marion and Pickens in
the American Revolutionary War, commanding a company of Hussars or Horses of the 91st Militia, South Carolina Line.
He participated in the battle of Camden, Eutaw Springs, 96 and the siege of Charleston. After the war he represented
the South of Saluda with his colleague, General Wade Hampton, in the South Carolina convention that ratified the
Federal Constitution. Captain McCaleb married Ann McKey, a South Carolina heroine of the Revolutionary War, whose
clan colors are Blue and Green, like those of the Marquis of Lorne. They migrated in 1798 to the Spanish Province
of Florida, Natchez District, settling on the Big Bayou Pierre, Claiborne County, Mississippi where they established
the Hermitage Plantation. He died in 1813 and is buried on that plantation."
The above was included in a letter to Mrs. Katy McC. Headley by Dr. McCaleb. It was written only a few months
before his death. It was submitted by Rembert Lechner to the Mesquite Historical and Genealogical Society for
publication in "The Mesquite Tree", vol. 20, no. 1.
Transcribed here by K. Torp.
