John W. McLeod was born around 1818 in South Carolina. He worked as a farmer in Bennettsville, South Carolina, and by 1850, he owned $8,000 of real estate. In March 1849, he attended a “public meeting” at Marlboro Court House. He helped draft resolutions declaring that “our rights and property have been threatened, if not already violated, by the Northern and Eastern States, and a constantly increasing majority in Congress.” He argued that “any invidious legislation by Congress, admitting ‘free soil’ Abolitionists to occupy the public domain, to the exclusion of slaveholders with their property, would be so palpably unjust that we will never consent to be thus robbed of our rights.” He called for “Equality in the Union—or Secession from the Union.” 

 

He married Isabella Crossland, and they had at least seven children: Archibald, born around 1856; Edward, born around 1858; Mark, born around 1861; Ann, born around 1864; Samuel, born around 1865; John, born around 1866; and Kate, born around 1868. By 1860, he owned $7,000 of real estate and $15,626 of personal property. By 1870, his wealth had fallen to $3,700 of real estate and $950 of personal property. He died sometime after 1870.

SOURCES