The Claflin family are a Scottish American family of 17th century New England origins. The descendants of Robert Maclachlan of Wenham, Massachusetts, a Scottish soldier and prisoner of war from the Battle of Dunbar (1650) assumed to have belonged to the Clan Maclachlan,First recorded spelled Mackclothlan in Massachusetts, for which see Wight, p. 11. The Gaelic -ch- is historically difficult for native English speakers to phonologically process and then reproduce, concerning which see also Clan Maclachlan#Early history. Replacement with -th- was common in medieval times; see Gerrard et al for the most recent Dunbar-related research and discussion of the Claflin descent and his wife Joanna Warner, members of the family have distinguished themselves in various occupations and regions of the United States.
Revolutionary War Although not of great means in the early generations, a considerable number of the Claflin family, twenty four in all, fought as militiamen and soldiers on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, including at Lexington and Concord (many), the Battle of Bunker Hill (several), the Battle of White Plains (one), and finally in the Saratoga campaign (two, possibly more),Wight, pp. 28–59. Or as many as twenty six, two more being recorded as militiamen but not recorded as seeing combat. with Nathaniel Claflin being present at the Surrender of Burgoyne.Wight, p. 47 Their length of service varied from only eight days to several months and years, with a few serving as junior officers. In addition, three more members served as drummers, and two more as pipers.
Earlier in the French and Indian War several Claflins joined in the Crown Point Expedition.
People Adelaide Avery Claflin, suffragist, born Adelaide Avery Avery Claflin, composer and banker Bruce Claflin, businessman Edith Claflin, linguist and scholar Horace Brigham Claflin, businessman, H.B. Claflin & Company Increase Claflin, pioneer, first white settler of Door County, WisconsinDoor County's First Settler, Hjalmar Holand, History of Door County, Wisconsin (1917) Ira W. Claflin, Civil War officer Lee Claflin, philanthropist History of the Wesleyan Academy, David Sherman Tennessee Celeste Claflin, suffragist, broker, and rumoured mistress of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Later became Lady Cook, Viscountess of Montserrat. Victoria Woodhull née Claflin, suffragist, broker, and presidential candidate. Subject of Onward Victoria. William Claflin, Governor of Massachusetts and philanthropist William Henry Claflin Jr., businessman and amateur archaeologist
Female line: Harvey Claflin Mansfield Jr., Professor of Government at Harvard University. Grandmother was Adelaide Claflin daughter of Harvey Thatcher Claflin.Wight, p. 326
Places and institutions Adams Claflin House Boston University, co-founded by Lee Claflin, charter signed by son William Claflin Claflin, Kansas Claflin-Richards House, home of Robert Mackclothlan Claflin School Claflin University, land donated by William and Lee Claflin Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly
See also Robert Claflin Rusack, Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles Claflin-Norrish House Claflin doctrine
Notes
References
Gerrard et al., Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxford: Oxbow Books. 2018. Wight, Charles Henry, Genealogy of the Claflin Family, 1661–1898. New York: Press of William Green. 1903. Full scan at the Internet Archive.
External Claflin Family Association