John Leech ^{78,179,187,215}

  General Notes:

The Leeches, from p. 305 of History of the House of Ochiltree of Ayrshire, Scotland with the Genealogy of the Families of Those Who Came to America and of Some of the Allied Families, 1124--1916 by Clementine (Brown) Railey:

John Leech; born April, 1739, in North Ireland; came, with his elder sister, Agnes, at nine years of age, from Londonderry, in 1748, to Lancaster Co., PA. They were the only surviving members of a family of seven. Agnes Leech was born in 1730, and married Thomas Lackey. John Leech married, in 1761, in PA., in his 22 year, Martha McComb. They came to Rockbridge Co., VA., in 1778, settling near Collierstown, twelve miles from Lexington, where they lived and died. John Leech and wife were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. He was an elder in Old Oxford church, Rockbridge Co.
************************************************************

Notes about John Leech and John Leech, Jr. from VM:

W. H. Eagles Notes and Queries, p 557 states John Leech came from Armagh, Ireland & that John served in the Revolutionary War! They, the Leech family of (7) sailed from Londonderry, Ireland in 1748 & they lived for a time in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Only 2 survived the sea voyage. John married Martha McComb in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania when Cumberland County was formed; it had been part of Lancaster County. I believe they did not move from Lancaster County, but that where they lived simply became Cumberland County. In 1778 John and Martha moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia.

On p307 of the Ochiltree book it states that John Leech, Jr. married Ann Crawford. This is an error!! John Leech Jr. married Margaret Risk.

In Rockbridge County came a James Leech with a wife named Martha and they too had a son John -- this John married Ann Crawford.

Some believe John & James are the same person. This shows they did not do much research. I have been in contact with 2 descendants of James Leech. We believe John & James are related, probably cousins -- but, so far no proof.
************************************************************

Note in letter from VM to Don M. McCarty dated March 7, 2001:

There was a family of 7 who left Ireland in 1748. Only 2 survived the crossing. Agnes Leech age 18 and her younger brother John age 9, born April 1739.

John grew up in Pennsylvania and married a Martha McComb. They moved to Rockridge County, Virginia and had 13 children. Most note only 12.
************************************************************

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Occupation: Farmer.

2. Religion: Presbyterian.

3. Military: Revolutionary War.

4. Residence: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Between 1748 and 1778. ¹⁸⁷

5. Residence: Rockbridge County, Virginia, After 1778. ¹⁸⁷

John married Martha McComb on 18 Apr 1761 in Pennsylvania. (Martha McComb was born in 1744, died on 19 Jun 1804 in Rockbridge County, Virginia and was buried in Old Oxford Church Cemetery, Rockbridge County, Virginia.)

John next married Jean Holman on 4 Aug 1808.