John Stith (abt. 1755)

Born about 1755 in Charles City, Charles, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Cocke) Stith — married about 1782 in Charles City County, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Caution: There is no documentation supporting this John Stith as a son of Lt. Col. John Stith. His 1762 will in Charles City County named only two sons, Anderson & William Stith. It is possible, but not certain, this was the young orphan son of Anderson Stith.

John Stith served during the American Revolution. He first served as Lieutenant of the 3rd Light Virginia Dragoons and was soon after promoted to Captain. He served in this capacity thru 1779. He appears to have been thereafter promoted to Major. Specific evidence of this is found in the Revolutionary War Public Service Claims of Charles City County, Virginia of 1782/3 when a claim was paid to provide supplies for Major Stith's Lt. Dragoons.^[1] It is probable additional claims might be found in counties where Stith's troops were stationed. His name appears in numerous veteran pension applications, but his own application for compensation is not found. John is recorded as receiving large amounts of bounty land for his continued service throughout the fight for freedom but is not to be mistaken for his cousin, Captain John Stith of the 4th Volunteer Regiment.

"John Stith, Lieut. 3rd Light Dragoons. Feb 6, 1777. Captain, date not given, but serving in 1779. Taken prisoner at Tappan Sept 28, 1778. Awarded 5,166 acres (Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution).

John Stith first married to Lucy Harrison. The death of Lucy Stith, the wife of Captain John Stith of Baylor's Lt. Dragoons, was reported in the Virginia Gazette to have occurred at the home of Peyton Randolph called Wilton in 1780. She died without issue. Peyton Randolph had been security for Joanna Bassett Stith, widow of Anderson Stith, when she administered the estate of her deceased husband in 1764.

John Stith married about 1782 to widow Rebecca (Cocke) Johnson of Westbury in Charles City County. She was the daughter and sole heir of Col. Littleberry Cocke, who was deceased, and his wife Rebecca Hubbard. She was the widow of James Bray Johnson who died in 1779. This is proven by John Stith beginning to pay the tax on her family home of Westbury in Charles City County in 1782 until her death.

The death of Mrs. Rebecca Stith, wife of Major John Stith of Westbury was reported as occurring 31 March 1787 in the Virginia Gazette Weekley Advertiser, 5 April 1787.^[2] It appears John Stith left Charles City County shortly after the death of his wife, not appearing in the tax lists of 1788 when her widowed mother again began paying the tax on her Westbury home. Rebecca Cock was mother to one child by her first marriage to James Bray Johnson, proven by the will of her mother, Rebecca H. Cocke dated 10 May 1792 and proved 16 May 1793 in Charles City County bequeathing her entire estate to her only grandchild.

Tax records show John Stith resided in Charles City County from 1782 thru 1787. He was paying personal property tax in Charles City County, naming 34 slaves, and also paying land tax on the 200 acre Cocke family plantation Westbury until 1787, the year of Rebecca's death. John was not on the 1788 tax lists. (See: Brush-Everard House Archaeological Report, Block 29 Building 10 Lot 165-166-172 by Samford & Moodey, p. 4, regarding lots upon which John Stith was taxed in Williamsburg[3])

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol.12, No. 1. (Jul., 1903), pp. 25-28. PERSONAL NOTICES FROM THE "VIRGINIA GAZETTE."
(February 12, 1779 - December 25, 1779.)
The Year 1780.
Death - Mrs. Lucy Stith, at Wilton, spouse of Capt. John Stith, of Baylor's Dragoons. May 31.

Tax Lists

Land Tax List

• 1782 Upper Westover Precinct John Stith 47 slaves [listed on two pages] VA., Charles City Co. Land Tax List. [4]
• 1782 John Stith, VA., Charles City Co. Land Tax on 200 acres 25 – 250 0 0 [5]
• 1783-1786 appear to be alterations/changes only of the 1782 Land Tax

Personal Property Tax List

• 1783 Waynoake Precinct John Stith 1 free male tithe, 34 slaves [6]
• 1787, JULY 2. John Stith -- note at far left says "from information" [7]

Notes:
IF this John Stith was husband to the above Lucy (Harrison) Stith, who died 1780 without issue at Wilton, she was a daughter of Nathaniel Harrison & Mary Ruffin. Her husband [then] Capt. John Stith was young enough to be serving as Captain in Baylor's Lt. Dragoons (VA. Mag. of Hist. & Bio. Vol. 33/34, p. 187).

Wilton was constructed c. 1753 by William Randolph III, son of William Randolph II, of Turkey Island. This home was owned by Peyton Randolph at the time Lucy Stith, wife of Capt. John Stith, appears to have died there.^[3]

Anderson Stith and Joanna Bassett had a son named John Stith. The 1785 will of Joanna Stith indicated their son John had yet to have children. He moved to Warren County, Georgia prior to 1791 and was styled as "Colonel" John Stith in the latter years of his life. It was many times published in George Newsprint he was a Veteran of the Revolution. It is probable but not proven he was the John Stith who served as Captain of Baylor's Lt. Dragoons during the Revolution.

Sources

• [8]Personal Notices from the "Virginia Gazette" The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 12, No. 1 (Jul., 1903), pp. 25-28. Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture.

1. ↑ Revolutionary War Public Service Claims of Charles City County, Virginia. See claim #154, p. 7.[1]
2. ↑ Abstracts of marriage and obituary notices in Virginia newspapers before 1820. FHL Film # 008152417, image 302/5133.[2]
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_House_Museum

• [9]Henley, Bernard J. Died- On Saturday Last, Mrs. Rebecca Stith, Spouse of Major John Stith, Westbury, in Charles City. (p. 2, c. 2). N.p., 1787. Print.

Research Notes

The Revolutionary War pension application of William Bassett specifically details the massacre at Tappan where most Rebel soldiers were brutally killed during his service with John Stith's dragoons. While one should prefer the original, C. Leon Harris has done a fantastic job of transcribing this very difficult to read and lengthy document.

• [10]Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters. Pension Application of William Bassett W9739. Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris.