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- Name: John S. Stevenson
- Birth: 1731 in County Antrim, Ulster Province, Ireland, about 20 miles North of Belfast
- Death: BEF 30 JUN 1794 in Greene County, GA (date will probated)
- Note:
John S. Stephenson and his family lived about twenty miles North of Belfast, Ireland, in County Antrim. One account refers to him as "Carpenter John". They were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. When frequent crop failures made life in Ireland almost unbearable, they took passage to the new world, intending to settle near John's brother William in Rowan Co., NC. On the same ship were the family of William Waddell, all from near Belfast and all Presbyterian.
This group arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on January 25, 1767, after their ship had been 56 days at sea, partly in severe weather. There were men at the docks with empty freight wagons, having unloaded their produce, and they agreed to take the immigrants with them on their return trip to Rowan County, North Carolina. They said land there was fertile and inexpensive. Both families settled near each other and near brother William in that part of Rowan County which later became Iredell County in 1788. John and brother William were charter elders in Fourth Creek Presbyterian Church (now First Presbyterian Church in present Statesville, NC).
John's homeplace was located along the banks of Third Creek about two miles Southwest of downtown Statesville, NC., near the 1300's block of Buffalo Shoals Road and its intersection with Bostian Bridge Drive. (Re: William Sharpe Map of 1773). On the Rowan County tax list of 1778 he was listed in John Purviance's District. Iredell Court Minutes of 1789 state that James McCollum was overseer of the road from Third Creek to John Stephenson, Sr. John served as Constable for a while in Rowan Co., his term ending in 1780 when James Wray was appointed in his stead. John obtained additional grants of land adjacent to the homeplace, one grant of unknown acreage in 1778 and in 1792 another of 210 acres (adjoining William Stevenson and Fergus Sloan), which was later sold by John's executors, to Archibald Young for 68 pounds (recorded in Deed Book B, page 153, September 16, 1794). This same 210 acres was sold by Young on Nov. 12, 1801 to Thomas Beard.
John and Hannah moved to Greene County, GA (possibly near Blackstock), in 1793, to live with their son Thomas. John made his will there November 11, l793, and died the next year. His will named sons Thomas and William as executors and provided bequests to Hannah and the five children. He left his "big Bible" to Hannah and directed it should pass to Thomas upon her death.
Note: John the immigrant signed his name as "Stevenson". His Kentucky and Tennessee descendants continued that spelling. His Georgia descendants and his brother, William, used the "Stephenson" spelling.
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Will of John S. Stephenson, as copied from Greene County, Georgia, Court House records, Will Book A&B, page 247, in Georgia Dept . of Archives and History, Atlanta, by Mrs. Herschel Smith of Winder, Georgia, who also copied the inventories which follow the will.
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF GREENE
In the name of God, amen. I, John Stephenson, of the State of Georgia and County of Greene; being in perfect health of body and of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God. Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament - - That is to say principally and first of all. I give and I recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors; nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First - - I give and bequeth to Hannah, my dearly beloved wife, all her wearing apparel, her spinning wheel and all the household furniture to be disposed of as she thinks proper; likewise, one horse and one cow which shall be her choice of them which I have; likewise, my big Bible and my book of Wat's Psalms and Hymns - - all this to be enjoyed by her during her widowhood - - said books I allow to my son Thomas, at the decease of my said wife. Also, I give to my well beloved sons, Thomas and William Stephenson (whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain the sole executors of this my last will and testament) my wagon and gear and wearing apparel and iron wedges jointly between them; also I give my mattock to said William. Also I give to my well beloved daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, five half Johannas each; likewise each of my said daughters to have a cow and Mary to have one horse. And likewise all my books, except the above mentioned, to be equally divided amongst my children in this state. Also it is my will that my lands in the State of North Carolina be sold and the price thereof with my monies there collected and equally divided amongst my wife and children in this state. Also my son Joseph, I allow him to keep what he is indebted to my estate, and also Alexander Moore's note.
This is my last will and testament.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh (11th) day of November in the year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred Ninety-Three (1793).
(Signed) John Stephenson L.S.
Signed, sealed and pronounced the will of said John Stephenson in the presence of:
William Greer
Sarah GreerProbated June 30, 1794
Gilbert Greer
(1) John Waddell was one of the appraisers of this estate. This John Waddell is believed related to Mary Waddell Stephenson, wife of John Stephenson's oldest son, Thomas.
(2) John S. Stephenson signed this will as "John Stevenson"
(3) Johannes - A Portuguese coin issued 1722-1835. Named for John V. in whose reign it was first coined
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RECORD OF INVENTORY AND APPRAISEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN
STEPHENSON, DECEASED, LATE OF GREENE COUNTY, GEORGIA
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One dun cow 42/-, one dun calf 14/- L 2 - 16 - 0
One dark colored cow 38/-, one calf 14/- 2 - 12 - 0
One cow and calf 42/-, one black horse 120/- 8 - 2
Horse bell 3/-, one cow bell 4/8 7 - 8
One wagon, hind geer and feeding trough & wagon cloth 15 - 0
One log chain 5/-, one mattock 5/-, 2 hoes 2/6 12 - 6
Two iron wedges 5/-, 1 handsaw, drawing knife and chisel 8 - 0
One falling axe 5/-, two maul rings 3/- 8 - 0
One bell and collar 3/-, one small do 1/6 0 - 4 - 6
One 3 horse tree 1/6, one two horse do 5/0 0 - 6 - 6
One keg 3/-, two collars, one pr hems and traces 2/- 0 - 5 - 0
1 auger 6/-, one shovel, plow screw and clevis 11/- 0 - 11 - 6
1 washing tub 3/6, 1 old spinning wheel 14/- 0 - 17 - 6
One spinning wheel 18/8, one do 16/4 0 - 34 - 6
1 hackle 7/2, 2 sickles 4/3, 3 chairs 4/-, 1 table 7/- - - 15 - 0
1 womans saddle 50/-, 1 womans hunting do 40/- 4 - 10 - 0
1 hammer 4d, 1 large pot 7/-, 1 small do 3/- 0 - 10 - 4
1 Dutch oven, lid & hooks 10/-, 1 small do 3/- 0 - 13 - 0
1 pot rack 9/4, 1 pr fire tongs 2/4, 1 pr sad irons 2/6 14 - 2
One dozen soup plates 4/-, four pewter plates 8/- 0 - 12 - 0
Eight pewter plates 9/3, pewter dishes 20/- 1 - 9 - 0
6 tin cups 4/8, 1 candlestick 4d, 1 flesh fork 2/-,
1 tea cannister 1/2 0 - 8 - 2
1 pepper box 4d, 1 funnel 4d, 1 naggin 7d, 1 mug 0 - 2 - 3
A parcel of flax 5/-, 1 pewter basin 3/-, 1 mug 1/2 9 - 2
1 teapot 3/-, 2 porringers 2/6, 1 doz pewter spoons 0 - 7 - 6
1 wooden bowl 4d, 2 pails 3/-, 1 pr scissors 1/2,
knives and forks 4/8 0 - 9 - 0
2 pails, one oak other cedar 3/2, bowl and saucer 1/6 4 - 6
2 doz cups and saucers 3/6, 1 small basin 4d,
2 quart bottles 1 - 4 -10
2 vials 10d, 1 pr cotton chards 5/-, 2 pr old chards 6 - 4
2 reeds 10/-, 2 harnesses 6/-, 1 trunk 9/4, cotton 1 - 17 - 0
3 old bags 10/-, 3 do 28/-, one small do 2/4 1 - 14 - 4
3 earthen crocks 2/-, 1 churn 2/-, 1 barrel 3/-,
1 barrel 1/2 0 - 8 - 2
1 barrel 2/6, 1 sifter 1/-, 1 bread tray 1/6,
1 bridle 2/- 0 - 7 - 0
1 bed and furniture L 10-19, 1 bed and furniture L 7 17 - 19 - 0
One lot of bed clothes 1 - 17 - 4
One bed and furniture L 6-10, 3 baskets 7/- 6 - 17 - 0
Sheets and pillow cases 40/- 2 - 0 - 0
A lot of leather 28/- 1 - 8 - 0
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A RETURN AND INVENTORY OF THAT PART OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN
STEPHENSON, DECEASED, which was disposed of by me in North
Carolina, in Augusta, September 1794:
210 acres of land sold to Archd. Young L 68 - 0 - 0
One saddle and bridle sold to Jas. Stephenson 21/- 1 - 1 - 0
One pitch fork 3/- 0 - 3 - 0
Paper medium in my fathers pocket book 3 - 6 - 6
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L 71 - 9 - 8
Given under my hand, as a sworn executor, this 27th day
of September, 1794.
(Signed) Wm. Stephenson
Test: Wm. Phillips
A true copy of the original: Registered this 27th September, 1794
Wm. Phillips R.P.G.C.
This day Will. Stephenson appeared and made oath that the above return he has made in full of all the monies, goods and property left by his brother, John Stephenson, deceased, is just and true.
Sworn and suscribed to this 6th day of Sept. A.D. 1794
Will. Young, J.P.
(Signed) Wm. Stephenson, Senr.
A true copy of the original: Registered this 7th January, 17
Wm. Phillips, R.P.
(1) The above was copied from Greene County, Georgia, Court House records, Will Book A & B, pages 248 - 252, Greensboro, Georgia
(2) The first Wm. Stephenson above is the son of John Stephenson and executor of his estate. The Wm. Stephenson, Senr. above was John Stephenson's brother, who lived in North Carolina.
Father: Henry Stevenson b: 1697 in Ricalton, Oxnam Parish, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Mother: Ann Curlett b: 1698 in Rocksburghshire, Scotland
Marriage 1 Hannah Thompson b: ABT 1730 in County Antrim, Ireland
- Married: ABT 1748 in County Antrim, Ireland
- Married: 6 FEB 1767 in County Antrim, Ireland
Children
- John Stephenson b: 20 NOV 1750 in County Antrim, Ireland
- Thomas Randolph Stephenson b: 1755 in County Antrim, Ireland, about 20 miles North of Belfast.
- William Stephenson b: 1763 in County Antrim, Ireland
- Jane Stephenson b: 1764 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC
- Joseph Stephenson b: 1766 in County Antrim, Ireland. Joseph was mentioned in his father's will.
- Mary Stephenson b: ABT 1766 in County Antrim, Ireland. Mary was mentioned in her father's will.
- Elizabeth Ann Stephenson b: 15 FEB 1777 in Rowan Co., NC
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