Upon his mother's death in 1819, his older brother Moses became his guardian.
When he reached his majority, he received "all my dowry that is coming to me" from the estate of his mother, July 25, 1823
He was baptized by Elder Thomas Cox in Jefferson County in 1823 and begin to preach in 1828. He was ordained at Hebron Church in Shelby County by elders Hosea Holcombe and Thomas Cox in 1832.
He was living in St. Clair Co, AL by 1830; probably near his two brothers, Andrew and Robert, and older sister Jane Cox. He had two sons in this year's census 1 m - 5, 1 m 5-10, 1 m 20-30, 1 f 20-30.
His obituary states that he settled in Talladega Co, Al in 1831. He was present at the founding of the Coosa River Baptist Association in 1833. He seems to have moved around quite a bit during those early years because he was pastor of the New Hope Church in St. Clair county in 1835.
1834 Mary Taylor 1st wife died and he married 2nd wife Malinda Burns
Talladega County, Alabama Ancestral Homesteads, compiled by Bill & Sue Tubbs, May 2001,
William McCain (Assignee of Charles W Peters *GLO) 79.92 acres, W1/2NW1/4, Sec 18, Twns 17S, Range 6E, October 20, 1835
William McCain, 39.96 acres, NE1/4SE1/4, Sec 34, Twns 16S, Range 5E, July 15, 1854
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"History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Alabama" by Hosea Holcombe, Minister of the Gospel. Philadelphia. King and Baird, Printers, No. 9 George Street. 1840 (Reproduction by West Jefferson County Historical Society, Inc., Bessemer, Alabama. 1975. Page 237 indicates that Wm. was one of four ministers present to constitute the Coosa River Assoc. in 1833, which was organized in the Talladega meeting house.
Then there is a piece on each church in the assoc. "Friendship:....Elder Wm. McCain is their paster; their progress has been onward. On one of the coldest days of last January, the writer had the pleasure of witnessing the baptism of five ladies, and one gentleman, by Mr. McCain."
"Shiloh, was constituted Agust, 1835; it joined the assoc. the same year, and had only nine members. It has enjoyed a revival since, and there has been a considerable ingathering. Elders McCain and Talliaferro have served them alternately, but the former is their present pastor."
"New Hope, in Saint Clair County, was formerly a member of Mount Zion Assoc., but united with the Coosa River in 1834. They have always, until recently, been a small band. Their number has increased considerably in the course of one year. Elder Wm. McCain labours with them in word and in doctrine."
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Estates and Administrations Benton County AL Vol II, p 28 lists from Samuel Clark's will and estate lists money loaned to William McCain on June 16, 1838. The following eight entries show the annual return on the loan to Samuel Clark's estate: April 28, 1839, February 28, 1840, March 1, 1841, March 1, 1842, March 1, 1843, March 1, 1844, April 18, 1845, September 24, 1846.
Then in 1840, he was 1st Pastor of the Friendship Church, now the 1st Baptist Church of Oxford, Calhoun County (then Benton Co), Alabama. Lived at Fyffe, Talladega, Alabama. Since he lived in the northwestern area of Talladega Co where three or four counties came together and was a country preacher, he probably was the pastor of numerous churches in the 45 years of his ministry.
Census 1840, 3 sons and 2 daughters. There was an older male and an older female living with them who could have been Malinda's children by an earlier marriage or the children of a brother or sister.
Census of 1850 Margaret A Mallory 28, F, born in Tennessee and James M Stafford, 23, M, laborer born in North Carolina were living in Rev. McCain's household. Rev. McCain listed as a Baptist Minister with $1,800 value of real estate owned.
1860 Census Northern Division, Talladega County, Alabama, printed page 681, June 20, 1860, Baptist preacher, J Cockran 15 (m) and N Cockran 12 (f) were living with them
1862 Malinda Burns 2nd wife died
1863 married 3rd wife Nancy E. Finley
May 1868 a tornado destroyed the house of worship of Hephzibah Church. The church erected another neat and commodious house and it held dedication services. JJ D Renfroe preached the service. William McCain is the pastor.
Source: The Alabama Baptist, August 21, 1969, Historical Highlights
1870 Census, living in Lincoln Community of northern Talladega Co., Alabama, p 432, married to Nancy, Living with them were their two small children and her son, Sterling A Kerksey, by her previous marriage.
May 30, 1870, Last Will and Testament, Talladega Co, AL, Will Book D, p 243, wife Nancy will have land (285 acres) and personal property to raise minor children Robert and Anna, when they become of age the property will be sold and divided equally among the heirs., Robert will also receive a horse, saddle, and bridle when he becomes of age, wife will receive her dower, one cow and calf and 12 months provisions.
Buried 1871: Jemison Cemetery, near the town of Talladega, Coosa River Alabama Baptist Association erected a crypt over his grave. "A godly man and a most successful Minister of the Gospel for 45 years. His praise is in all the Churches. To die was gain."
The last two entries in records of the settlement of the estate of Rev. William McCain give his middle initial as "C". There is a strong possibility that his middle name was Calvin.
Married three times had 16 children
Talladega Co, AL Minute Book K, p 93-95, January 19, 1871, notify heirs of probation of Wm's will
p 119-120, February 2, 1871, Petitions court for continuance all heirs have not be notified, amend list of heirs to include an infant son of Bass McCain dec, living with his mother whereabouts unknown in Texas
p 185-86, March 14, 1871, Theodore Bowden wants a jury trial to determine if Wm was of sound mind when he wrote his will
April 13, 1871, jury trial determined that Wm was of sound mind when he wrote will
p 228, June 2, 1871, Letters of administration given to AW McCain and Nancy, inventory made, request to sell 2 cows and
calves, 1 silver watch, man's saddle, 1 yoke of oxen, 1 wagon and 1 old buggy, permission given to sell
p 354-57, September 25, 1871, personal property did not bring enough to cover debts, need to sell some land p 426, November 6, 1871, court has inspected sale of personal property, 46.22 acres continued until Dec 16, 1871
December 16, 1871, Talladega Co, AL, Minute Book L, p 29, administrators, AW McCain (oldest son) and wife Nancy E, petition court to sell a portion of the land because the personal property is not sufficient to pay the debts, all heirs are in agreement to sell
Talladega Co, AL, Minute Book L, p 283-4, January 20, 1873, Debt greater than personal property, application for an order to sell land
p 292, February 7, 1873, H H Hamill appointed guardian ad litem for minors in estate
p 333, March 10, 1873, order to sell land
p 378, May 14, 1873, continuance order to sell land
p 538, November 22, 1873, W. R. Bell purchased land, he is the husband of Alice Burnes the daughter of BF Burnes who is Malinda's (William's 2nd wife) brother
Talladega Co, AL, Minute Book N, p 99-100, February 14, 1878, land bought by WR Bell at the sale has been paid for and, estate has permission of the court to give Mr. Bell the deed
