John, the second son of Rev. Robert and Janet McMordie, was born ca. 1760 in York County, Pennsylvania (US Censuses; Adams County Wills, 1809). Although he was ca. 21 years of age at the end of the Revolutionary War, no clear records have been found documenting his service. He might, however, have been the John McMurdie as an 18 months man of the Federal Army in 1780. On 7 May 1788, after the War, he was on the roster of James Ramsey's Company of Infantry, Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series). He moved from Adams to Franklin County sometime before 1788 and remained there for the rest his life (US Censuses, Egle, 1900).
John McMordie was a dedicated layman in the Presbyterian Church and was a commissioner in either the Chambersburg or Mercersburg Church in 1804 and 1805 (Genea. Soc. of Penn, 1935; Bentley, 1983). He also supported the Constitution of the United States and, as a member of the Franklin County grand jury of 1805, strongly recommended to his fellow citizens that they support those candidates who expressed these same views (Bentley, 1983). He never married, so upon his death in Feb of 1833, he willed his estate to brothers Robert and Francis (of Mercer County), sisters Jane Armstrong (widow of Quinton Armstrong) and Agnes Speer (wife of Rev. Wm Speer) and Robert's children, Robert, David, Nancy and Jane (Egle, 1900).
Adams County, Pennsylvania, Will Book B, p. 45, No. 34, 1809.
Bentley, E. P., (Ed.), Pennsylvania Vital Records,, Genea Publ Co, Baltimore, 1983, pp, 656, 658, 659.
Egle, W H, Notes & Quiries, Genea Publ, Baltimore, 1970, AV 1900, p. 126.
Genea Soc of Penn, Philadelphia, 1935, Vol. XII, p. 73.
Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series, Vol. III, and p. 435.
Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series, Vol. IV, p. 17.
US Census of Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, 1800, #874.
US Census of Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, 1810, #914.
US Census of Mercersburg, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania, 1820, #091.