Dennis MACKLENDON/McCLENDON  (Abt. 1650 - 1706)

The generally accepted story of the origin of the McLendon/McClendon family 
in America as stated by various authors is that Dennis Macklenden, the 
immigrant, came to the Colony of Carolina sometime prior to the second 
Monday in January, 1696; where he proved eleven headrights for which he 
received 550 acres of land. Dennis [I] was supposed to have been born in 
Scotland, the son of a John MacLennan. There, he married Elizabeth 
(_______) and sired four sons: Francis, Dennis [II], Bryan, and Thomas. 
They then came directly from Scotland arriving in America shortly before 
Dennis [I] proved his rights. The researchers proposing this theory have 
no documented facts to support it.

Another descendant/researcher believes that Dennis McLendon came to North
America earlier than the date his name first appeared in the records of 
North Carolina. His origin was not Scotland, but the island of Barbados. 
Dennis first went to the Virginia Colony, probably Nansemond County, 
which was located on the North Carolina border not far from Perquimans 
Precinct. His date of arrival in Virginia is not supported by records and 
only one reference to him has been located there. In a land transaction 
in Nansemond County dated 29 Oct 1696, one of the boundaries of the 
tract involved was described as "Maccladland's". 

It is speculated that Dennis left Barbados prior to the publishing of his
father's will on 29 Dec 1687, which placed him in Virginia at least 
ten years, or more, prior to his appearance in North Carolina. During 
this time he would have had ample time to marry and have children. 
Dennis was a planter as evidenced by the placing of that title after 
his name on a deed of sale in Barbadian records dated in 1690.

In the will of his father, recorded in 1687 in Barbados, he is the only 
child mentioned. In subsequent documents wherein he disposes of his 
father's property in Barbados, he is described as "Denis Maclendon, 
of Virginia".  The earliest mention of his name in extant American Colonial 
records occurs in Perquimans County, North Carolina in January, 1696/7. 
In this document he claimed rights to receive land based on his impor-
tation of eleven persons into the Colony. He may have actually arrived 
as much as twenty years earlier. He returned to the Court again on 30 
Oct 1700 and using the same names claimed another thirteen headrights. 
This time he identified himself as Dennis  McLendon, "Senr."

He served many times as a juror and on 10 Apr 1705 he was commissioned a 
Justice of the Albemarle County Court. His residence also served as his 
courthouse. His will was presented to the Court on 28 Aug 1706. The session 
was held at the home of "Mrs Deborah McLendon". Dennis was recorded 
as "decd." 

A more plausible story of the origination of the McLendon/McClendon family 
in America is that Dennis McLendon [I] was born on the Island of Barbados, 
probably in the 1660s. He was the only surviving heir of Byran Maclandins, 
planter of Barbados, and his wife Margery Hunt, daughter of Henry Hunt of 
Barbados. Economic opportunity was poor on the island and Dennis migrat-
ed to Virginia sometime prior to 29 Dec 1687. Bryan McLendon died in Feb. 
1688 and Dennis returned in 1690 to claim his inheritance and dispose of his 
father's estate. By 1 Jan 1697 Dennis had left Virginia for Perquimans Pre-
cinct, Albemarle County, Carolina with a small group friends and relatives.

His story remains incomplete. The Barbadian records are over three hundred 
years old. The tropical climate has deteriorated them to the point that some 
are now unreadable and others are so fragile that they may not be examined. 
Virginia records, if they exist, which would prove the above, have not been located.

Sources:
Genealogical research notes and letters of Roderick A. McLendon, Valencia, 
CA. 1995.
The History of Perquimans County, North Carolina, pp.11, 14, 150, Mrs. Watson 
Winslow, Hertford, NC. 1931. 1990.