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HI Randy, I notcied you mentioned a Teresa in one of your messages and wondered if it could be me as I am vgery active on Southside VA Stewart research??????? Look Randy, Martha Stone`s book on the Stewart`s of Trigg CO KT, Halifax CO VA and Caswell/Person Co NC is a laugh. I am sorry if I sound rude, I do not mean to. Recently a good fried of mine was at a Gen. Meeting at the Haljfax and Pittsylvania Co Historicl Soc. in May of ths year. Stone`s book was brought up and all thr pro`s there started to laugh,. they say she never has stepped one toe in either VA or NC and compiled much of her research on speculative rumours. Old James Stewart or “Bald Jimmy” had a 1786 Lord Granville Grant in Orange CO NC, which later became Caswell Co on Hyco River. I know when he died his wife was named Agnes and I suppose he had other wives before her. This line is very elusive and I have often wondered if my line is could be related in some way. James Stewart had a son named Thomas who married a Susanna Drummond in Granville CO NC. Thomas had a son named Nathaniel who is on the 182o Person CO NC census with a whole slew of “free others”. The name Nathaniel is very popular in my Stuart line. We do not have proof that John Stuart who married Sarah Fulkerson, dau of Derrick Fulkerson and Eleanor,was a son of brother to old James Stuart. John did die in Robertson CO TN abt 1799, he had sons named James M., Elijah, Abraham ( no doubt named aftet Sarah`s brother). Many of these men lived a short time in Christain CO KY and later in Ark. I have been searching hard for a male with the last name of Stuart/Stewart for our DNA project of this line in Caswell CO NC, Halifax CO VA. We are also lookig for men from the Stewart line that was in Lunenburg, Charlotte, Halifax and Pittsylvania CO VA. Now, they intermarried with the Caldwell`s , Weakelys and Russell`s.
Best regards,
Teresa Stuart de Rios
El Salvador
Randy about Priscilla Stewart being mentioned as his housekeeper. From what I have read, nowhite man orwhite woman could be legally married to a non white person in this time frame. So, she would have been listed as his housekeeper instead of wife. Either he or she was of mixed race. Many times the husband would buy the freedom for the wife and they would become “free others”. I am not an expert on this subject, but find it very facinating. As early as the mid 1600`s white indentured women with the last name of Stewart copulated with non white and has mixed race kids. The white indentured woman shared the same quarter with the other servants, white, black, Indian or mixed race. Thus we have the whole Dinwiddie Co Stewart line of Dr Thomas Stewart and others. Mecklenburg Co and parts of NC were a haven for these mixed race folks and their families. Nc was considered “back country” and the folks around them were not as stuck up as the Tidewater VA British foks. In other words they were received with more or less open arms in these communities.
Teresa Stuart de Rios
I have just been reading all this information about the Stewarts. I am looking for information about the Drews. I know the Drews intermarried with the Stewarts, Jeffries and Guys. I am interested in more information about Benjamin Drew. There is a record of him marrying Morning Jeffries. He was from Lunenburg Va.,Mecklenburg VA and then to Orange County, NC. James Drew, I believe, was his cousin. Have any of you come across the Drew family in your research?
Randy
Are you still around and doing STEWART genealogy? I would like very much to go over my STEWART lines with you as we seem to have similar family lore and names.
With regards,
John Pohlman
Randy;6074 wrote: Stewart OR Stuart – Halifax VA; Mecklenburg VA; Lunenberg VA; Person and Caswell County NC
I apologize for such a long message – but I LIKE DETAILS – with NAMES – PLACES and DATES – otherwise, how are we ever going to figure this all OUT!!!! – I have always been told that my Stewart ancestor descends from “Cherokee” but Paul Heinegg responded and said there were no Cherokee in that part of Virginia – and that made me search his fabulous website of Colonial “African Americans” which could possibly be a mix of Indian or “Melungeon” at
http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/
so I am beginning to think there may be a possibility of a mix of Indian “Cherokee??” or at least Native American and African-American, or mulatto. I have read thru all the surnames on his website and so many of these names are associated with or married into my Stewart family per “The Genealogy and History of the Stewart Family of Halifax County, VA Caswell and Person Counites, North Carolina and Trigg County, KY by Martha Jane Stone 1986 Lexington KY.
On page 22 and 27 of this book, Martha Jane Stone says my ancestor?, James Stewart, Jr. was son of James Stewart “Bald Jimmy” who came from Ireland to Newport News VA about 1737 and ended up in Halifax CO VA where he married a “Cherokee” woman and two other wives, Catherine and Agnes, and had issue by all three wives, perhaps – but my ancestor I thought James Stewart Jr. was by the “Cherokee” wife. A James Stewart Jr. will, made 22 March 1804, probated 12 years later on 20 May 1816 Mecklenburg VA, shows that a William Stewart, executor but James mentions “no ”
children” (of his own) — however he willed “that my housekeeper Priscilla Stewart have
full possession of the land where I now dwell as long as she may live single and no longer” After her death or marriage the 125 acre farm was to be equally divided among “her” four sons, James, Peter, Joseph and WILLIAM (who MAY BE my ancestor). At Priscilla’s death (and if still single), the remainder of James’s estate was to be divided equally among “her” eight children, Polly, James, Amy, Peter, Joseph, Patty, Anna and WILLIAM. What I find fascinating is that these children married into mulatto or Black families found on Paul Heinegg website info. On page 160 of referenced book above, the marriages are as follows:
8 children of Priscilla Stewart per Will – and marriages per Stone book – page 160 – and
1)Amy Stewart marr 13 Feb 1809 Meck VA to Robin EVANS (in Heinegg website) Bond: James Chavous ( Chavis ?) – in Heinegg website, I think this James Chavis Jr, married 1) Jane EVANS and 2) Betsey Smith
2) James Stewart marr 19 Dec 1810 Halifax VA to Nancy Williams – Bond: John S. Williams
3) Polly marr 4 Sept 1807 Mecklenburg VA Frederick HAMMOND – Bond: Frederick Dyson
4) Prissey (Priscilla) Stewart marr 14 Dec 1795 Mecklenburg VA to Frederick IVEY – Bond: William Willis – per Heinegg website – I think Frederick IVEY was Bondsman for Elizabeth Chavis who married Edward Brandon 10 Mar 1806 Mecklenburg VA – also I found there is a William CHAVIS who married Elizabeth Ivy 6 Mar 1819 Mecklenburg VA
5) Anna
6) Joseph Stewart marr Mary Tucker – no source – except March 1963 Stewart Clan Magazine
7) Peter
8) WILLIAM Stewart (my ancestor??) – My ancestor a William Stewart marr 23 Jul 1802 Caswell NC to Rachel Wisdom Bond: James Stuart – William was supposedly born circa 1782 and Rachel born circa
1785 – daughter of Larkin Wisdom and Elizabeth Phelps – they moved from Storey Creek, Caswell NC to Bledsoe Co TN in 1817.
There is a strange thing though – there is a marriage record for James Stewart to Priscilla Stewart on 14 Nov 1791 in Mecklenburg VA, Bond: John Walden (p. 160 of the book referenced above) but the will of James Stewart written in 1804 calls Priscilla “housekeeper” and calls all the children, who he names as heirs – “her” children.
Below is the info from Heinegg ‘s website at http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ some of which seems to fit the info found independently by Stone for her book referenced above:
8. James1 Stewart, born say 1734, may have been the James Stewart of Brunswick County who leased land on Flat Rock Creek in Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, from Agnes Freeman (widow of Arthur Freeman) for twelve years on 10 December 1754 for the yearly rent of 20 pounds currency. The lease included the use of a grist mill and a slave named Tony [DB 4:131]. He was taxable on 100 acres, 3 horses, and about 10 cattle in Dinwiddie County from 1782 to 1788 [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-90; Land Tax List 1782-1814, B lists]. He was called James Stewart, Sr., of Dinwiddie County when he purchased 225 acres in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, at the head of Little Creek adjoining Stith and Munford from William and Mary Stewart for 100 pounds on 11 February 1788 [DB 7:253]. That same day he was security for the 11 February 1788 Mecklenburg County, Virginia, marriage bond of (his nephew) James Stewart, Jr. He was a “Mulatto” taxable in Mecklenburg County on his own tithe, a slave named Isham, and two horses in 1790 [Personal Property Tax List B, p.39]. He married Priscilla Stewart, 14 November 1791 Mecklenburg County bond, John (Chavis) Walden security. He was called brother of Doctor Thomas Stewart of Dinwiddie County on 5 December 1792 when Thomas made a Mecklenburg County deed of gift to his son James [DB 8:306]. He was an exempt taxable in Mecklenburg County in 1795, taxable in 1796 on a slave named Judy, adjacent to James Stewart, Jr. [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1805, frame 558, 622]. He was called a blacksmith on 10 June 1799 William Stewart, shoemaker, sued him for a 3 pound debt due by account [Orders 1798-1801, 192]. He was taxable in Mecklenburg County on 242 acres in 1804 [DB 16:272]. He head of a Mecklenburg County household of 2 “free colored” in 1820 [VA:148b]. He sold 45 acres in Mecklenburg County on Mill Creek adjoining William Stewart to Elizabeth Brandun on 10 September 1811 [DB 14:461]. On 26 July 1816 James Drew paid the taxes which were due for the years 1804 and 1805 on 170 acres of James Stewart, Sr.’s land [DB 16:277]. His 22 March 1804 Mecklenburg County will, proved 20 May 1816 by William Stewart, left 125 acres to his “housekeeper Priscilla Stewart” and her eight children Polly, James, Amey, Peter, Joseph, Patty, Anny and William [WB 8:237]. He was the father of
i. Thomas, born say 1773, over the age of sixteen in 1791 when he was taxable in his father’s Mecklenburg County household [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1805, frame 383].
ii. John, born say 1775, over the age of sixteen in 1791 when he was taxable in his father’s Mecklenburg County household [Personal Property Tax List, 1782-1805, frame 383].
iii. Polly, married James Drew, 1817 Mecklenburg County bond.
iv. James6, born say 1785.
v. Amey, married Robin (Robert) Evans, 13 February 1809 Mecklenburg County bond, James Chavous security.
vi. Peter6, born in 1789, not yet twenty-one years old in 1804 when James Stewart made his will. He and his brother Joseph were to live with Elison Crew and receive tuition until the age of twenty-one. He received a certificate in Mecklenburg County on 20 May 1812 signed by Christopher Blackburn, Alexander S. Field, J.B. Jones, and Jo. B. Clausel: a free man born and raised in the County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia … five feet ten Inches and three quarters, a bright mulatto born some time in the year one thousand Seven hundred and eighty nine … resided in the County and State above mentioned, since his birth to the present period and has generally supported a good Character [Free Person of Color, no.3, p.2].
vii. Joseph2, born say 1790, head of a Mecklenburg County household of 5 “free colored” in 1820. On 21 November 1828 he sold 125 acres adjoining the lands of William Stewart, deceased, to Henry Avery [DB 23:512].
viii. Patty, born say 1792.
ix. Anney3, born say 1794.
x. William8, born say 1796***.
Now, my great grandfather, Howard Kennedy, per my grandmother,his daughter Kittie Clyde Kennedy Pace, was 1/16 “Cherokee” and that would fit with him being the gg-grandson of James Stewart “Bald Jimmy” and his “Cherokee” wife who had James Stewart Jr whose will mentions “housekeeper” Priscilla Stewart and “her” children, including my William Stewart, although the date of his marriage to Rachel Wisdom would indicate him born about 1782 and not circa 1796*** (per Heinegg).
Stone in her book is not sure or has not “proved” that my William Stewart, who married Rachel Wisdom, (my ancestors) in 1802 is the son of James Stewart, Jr. who in his will indicates that William Stewart is son of Priscilla Stewart, whom he calls “his housekeeper” (although the marriage record in 1791 is confusing), — the real source for the “Cherokee” or Native American ancestry and/or Black ancestry AND therefore, Priscilla Stewart would be 1/2 “Cherokee” if her mother was “Cherokee” and her father was Black or vice versa – and my grandfather would still be same 1/16 if not descended from James Stewart
Jr. Wonder if anyone else has these same ancestors or names associated with the Stewart family and can shed any light on this which would be much appreciated. Has anyone else seen any records on a Priscilla Stewart? as mulatto, Black or “Cherokee” or otherwise some Native American group?
Thanks Randy
Hi Randy. I just read your post. I am a Stewart descendant. My Stewarts lived by the Catawba river in Chester, SC. I just took a DNA test not too long ago and one of my Stewart cousins from Scotland, is also descended from King of Scotland. He is a genealogist and have records of all of the Stewart families that came over here. I am just trying to find my connection to the Stewarts from VA. I do know that the Stewarts also married into the Peay line, which is said to have settled in Louisa Co, VA before migrating to SC. I have also heard of the Cherokee connection in the Stewart line, but not sure if this is my direct line. My ancestors that I have been trying to find out more about are Harriet Stewart and Rueben Peay. Rueben is listed as Mu in the 1870 census and Harriet is listed as Blk. I talked to a Stewart descendant from SC and he said that the Stewarts didn’t believe in slavery. I am just trying to figure out out how Harriet ended up in SC. I look foward to hearing about your thoughts.
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