James Felix McGuire

  Noted events in his life and other information:

• Dates & Events:
Battle of Blue Licks, Last Battle of the Revolution
In July 1782 as the revolutionary War was coming to a close one last major war campaign was underway. Under British/Canadian leadership close to 50 Canadian Rangers commanded by Capt. William Caldwell and nearly 400 Indians, mainly from the Shawanee Tribe, crossed the Ohio River into Ky. As this large military force invaded Ky. small detachments set off to harass several settlements, such as Bryan's Station & Hoy's station, while the main army was directed at Lower Blue Lick Springs, on the Middle Fork of the Licking River, in what was then part of Fayette County, Ky. It would take this enemy force nearly a month to reach the Blue Lick area.
The Americans prepared to battle the invaders. Lt. col. Daniel Boone and Lt. JAMES McGUIRE of the Fayette County, Ky. militia, and others joined forces for the fight to come. On 19 Aug. 1782 LT. JAMES McGUIRE and the others marched into a horse-shoe bend of the Licking River through a narrow gulley where unknown to them was the enemy in concealment waiting to entrap and attack them. Once the Americans entered the "trap" in a period of about 15 minutes one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolution took place.
The battle erupted fiercely in the front lines with the canadian Rangers as the savage Indians attacked the Americans left flank and rear positions. There were many acts of heroism but a bloody defeat fell upon the Americans While some of the American forces were able to retreat and escape over 60 men, including LT. JAMES McGUIRE, were brutally slaughered that day at the Battle of Blue Licks.
The dead American Troops, all early pioneers of Ky., were mutilated by the savage Indians and their remains were left laying for two days to fall victim to wild beast and vultures. When American support troops arrived two days after the brief battle, all that remained of the dead were buried into a mass common gravesite.
This bloody defeat so outraged the Kentuckians that over 1000 men organized under Gen. Clark to plan an act of pure retalation. This Ky. force began a march from Losantville (now Cincinnatti, Ohio)against the Shawanee Tribe and other Indian tribes who were involved at Blue Licks. The Kentuckians began a desolating campaign against Indian strongholds in Chillicothe, Pickaway, Willstown and other locations in Ohio. Villages were reduced to ashes, crops and fields laid waste and many Indians were killed. Those Indians not killed escaped into the Ohio wilderness to face a hungry winter. The Indians learned a serious lesson and never tried to invade Kentucky again.

1774- The Loyal Land Company surveyed 100 acres for James McGuire on the conflux of the New & Greenbriar Rivers in Virginia.

1779-Oct. -James McGuire & family migrated to Boonesborough, Ky. Moved into a cabin owned by David McGee on "Jouetts Creek".

1780- James McGuire living at "McGee's Station". During summer made "salt" as profession.

1782- June- James McGuire enlisted into the Fayette Co. Ky. "Militia". Became a Lieutenant.

1782-19 Aug.- James McGuire killed in action at the Battle of Blue Licks, Fayette Co., Ky.(Known as Last Battle of Revolution)

1787- James McGuire's widow, Margaret and son John appear on 1st. Tax List for Fayette Co. Ky. By 1789 Margaret not listed on tax rolls-deceased.


From: Roy Mayo Family

• Name:
Maguire, with its variants MacGuire, McGwire etc, comes from the Irish Mag Uidhir, meaning 'son of the brown(-haired) one'.

James married Margaret Black or Pack.