Submitted by Descendant: Cecil P. PEEL Jr.
Moses Andrew “Lamb” McClelland was born circa 1821 in Telfair County, Georgia, the son of Silas McClelland and Penelope Anderson. The family relocated to Florida in the 1830’s and on 17 June 1837, at the age of 16, Moses enrolled during the 2nd Seminole Indian War as Andrew “”McClennan” in Captain William B. North’s Company, East Florida Mounted Volunteers. He was discharged 18 December 1837 at Fort Gilliland, Florida, and again enrolled as A. M. McClelland in Captain North’s Company. He served from 6 April 1838 to 11 July 1838 and re-enlisted once more on 12 July 1838. He was discharged 12 January 1839. During the period of the War with Mexico, there was a growing threat of another war with the Seminoles, so Ft. Brooke in Tampa, Hillsborough County, was again reactivated, and Moses enlisted in 1847.
Fifteen years prior to his enlistment, Moses was living at or near Cork, Hillsborough County, and on 27 August 1847 he married Sarah Platt, daughter of Peter Platt and Harriet Polk. He was honorably discharged at Ft. Brooke in September of 1849 and by 1850 the family was in the Itchpsessa Settlement in Hillsborough County. He later settled in Manatee County.
Moses and Sarah had five children, the third born on 27 October 1852 being named after his father. In the early 1850’s Moses Sr. received Bounty Land Warrant #9205 for 160 acres, and by 1870 the family was living in Township 34 – Fort Hartsuff-Zolfo area. On 31 August 1892, at the age of 71 and a resident of Zolfo, Moses applied for a pension based on his service during the Seminole Indian Wars. He was granted a pension of $8.00 per month, which he received until his death on 3 august 1896. His wife Sarah continued to receive a widow’s pension until her death in 1912, which had then increased to $12.00 per month.
Moses Andrew McClelland was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2002