Hometown Heroes
Gen. Samuel McClellan Connecticut State Militia
By Michael Rocchetti
General Samuel McClellan (1730- 1807) was a veteran of both the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. He was a true Patriot, a prominent citizen, and a very successful businessman. His stately colonial home, near the corner of Route 169 and Route 171 in Woodstock, still stands in testimony to his affluence and prominence.
He was born January 4, 1730, in Worcester, Mass, the son of immigrants from Kirendbright, on the Firth of Solway in Scotland. During the French and Indian War, Samuel McClellan served as an Ensign and later a Lieutenant of a company from Massachusetts, and was wounded in battle.
Upon his return from the provincial campaign he purchased a farm in Woodstock, married and settled there. He later engaged in mercantile business and established an extensive trade, importing his own goods and supplying neighboring merchants. When the Revolution put a stop to his trade, he trained and equipped the county militia. A fine troop of horse was raised in Woodstock, Pomfret and Killingly, of which he became commander. He rose by promotions until 1784 when he was Brigadier-General of the 5th Brigade, Connecticut militia. In 1776 his regiment was ordered into service and stationed in and about New Jersey. He was solicited by General Washington to join the Continental Army and was offered an important commission but his domestic and business affairs compelled him to refuse.
After the invasion and burning of New London and the massacre at Fort Groton, he was appointed over the troops stationed at those points and continued the command until the close of the war, acting as commissary in the purchase and forwarding of provisions for the army when not otherwise in active service. He returned to mercantile business after the war but soon gave it up to manage his extensive estates. He was highly esteemed as a Christian gentleman and was honored by his townsmen by many important offices. Source: the Abbe-Abbey Genealogy
During the entire war Woodstock did more than her share. While there were many from this town who served the patriot cause with glory to themselves and honor to Woodstock, the name of Captain, afterwards General, Samuel McClellan stands out the most illustrious. When the currency of the Continentals had depreciated and no funds were forthcoming with which to pay the soldiers, McClellan advanced £ 1,000 ($233,000 in 2025 dollars) from his own private purse to pay the men of his regiment. Source: Woodstock, an Historical Sketch, by Clarence W Bowen.
He was married three times, November 16, 1757 to Jemima Chandler. His second marriage of March 5, 1766, was to Rachel Abbe. His third marriage of July 3, 1798, was to Eunice Folunsbee of Worcester. His great-grandson George McClellan was a U.S. Army Major General who commanded the Army of the Potomac during the early years of the Civil War.
Samuel McClellan died September 17, 1807, in Woodstock, and is buried at the Woodstock Hill Cemetery.
Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.

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