Stephen McPherson (1724 - 1799)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Children 2 Foot Notes 3 Sources 4 Acknowledgements 5 Sources

Biography

According to the DAR and Loudoun County Revolutionary War Papers Index, Stephen McPherson was paid in 1782 for goods (beef) and services supplied to the Army and Militia.^[1]

Stephen McPherson (McFarson) was born about 1724 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of [Donnaidh] "Daniel" McPherson (1682–1755) and Ruth (Shires) McPherson (1698–1748).^[2] The early Pennsylvania records recorded the name spelled as Mackfarson, McFarson and McFerson. At the time of his birth his father was documented owning land in Kennett, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Stephen married first Mary Pyle (1731–1780) on the 7th of February 1749 in Kennett, Chester, Pennsylvania. At the Quaker Kennett Monthly Meeting on 2nd of 8th month 1753, Mary McFarson requested a certificate to the New Garden Monthly Meeting. ^[3]

Daniel McFerson set his hand and seal to his Last Will and Testament on the 24th day of February 1755 making a special bequest that his lots in Wilmington be sold by his Executors after his decease, and the money arising from the sale together with the other part of his personal estate be divided between his son William, Stephen & daughter Ann Carter. William was to receive ten pounds more than Stephen and his sister, Ann.^[2] On the 26th day of August 1755, Stephen McFarson along with his siblings, William, John, Ann Carter and her husband Nathaniel, released unto their brother, Daniel McFarson, their Right Title & Interest whatsoever each of them had to a plantation and tract of land belonging to the Father, Daniel McFarson deceased, situate on Pequea Creek in Salisbury Township in Lancaster County.^[4]

According to History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Stephan McFarson was included in the 1753 list of taxables for the township of New Garden, but he was not on the 1774 list of owners.^[5]

Plantation For Sale

A plantation and land situated in New Garden Township, in the county of Chester containing 124 acres, owned by Stephen, was advertised for sale on the 13th of September 1764.^[6] According to the ad, a Blacksmith business had been carried on there for several years prior to 1764, five or six acres of which were a well-watered meadow, and a bearing orchard was on the property.

Stephen McPherson 67-68 Tax

The 1767/68 tax list for New Garden, Chester County, Pennsylvania charged Stephen McPherson for 100 acres & dwelling, four horses, and three cattle.^[7]

Although family traditions have been handed down claiming that Stephen's parents were members of the Quakers, Stephen apparently did not have a Birthright among the Friends of the Society given the fact he and wife Mary had to request that their children be received into membership. At a meeting held on the 11th day of the 4th Month in 1769 New Garden Preparative meeting reports that Stephen McFerson & wife request that all their children be receid. [received] into Membership with us. Thomas Suger, Isaaac Jackson & Thomas Hutton are appointed to Visit them in company with Women Friends and report their "Sence" thereof to next meeting.^[8] Subsequent monthly meetings recorded numerous visits with the children, and the Friends appointed therefore found freedom to advise both parents and children to solidly consider the weight and Importance of their request yet some time longer which is left under consideration until next meeting.^[8] The results of a third visit recorded at a meeting held on the 2nd of the 9th month 1769 reported that they found Encouragement to grant the parents request but thought it proper to visit again.^[8] The Women's Minutes on the 7th of the 7th month 1770 reported the Friends appointed have had another opportunity with Stephen McFerson's children & Report they think it best their case should lye another Month, it is therefore left under the care of Jane Mason & Hannah Jackson to Join Men Friends in visiting them & Report their case.^[9]

Stephen McPherson in the County of Chester in the Province of Pennsylvania purchased 285 acres in Loudoun County, Colony of Virginia on the fifth day of October 1773.^[10] According to the Quaker Monthly Meeting notes in April 1774, Mary McPherson requested a certificate from the New Garden Monthly Meeting in the Province of Pennsylvania to the Fairfax Monthly Meeting in Loudoun County in Colony of Virginia.^[11]

The 1774 List of Tithables for Loudoun County, Virginia taxed Stephen McPearson, Stephen McPhearson Junr, Joseph McPhearson, and Richd Boys in the same household.^[12]

Stephen married second Ann Fred in 1777 in Upperville, Loudoun County, Virginia. The complaint against Ann Mcfarson (formerly Fred) for her outgoing in marriage with a man not of our society, she being precautioned at a meeting held on the 27th of the 9th month 1777, confirms that Stephen McPherson was not a member of the Quaker Friends.^[13]

According to the Loudoun County Revolutionary War Papers Index, Stephen McPherson was paid in 1782 for goods and services supplied to the Army and Militia.^[14]

On the 7th day of October 1790, Stephen McPherson Senior, Blacksmith, of the county of Loudoun and Anne his wife sold to Joseph Carr of the same place, Merchant, all that Tract or lott of land on which Joseph McPherson Junior now liveth (it being part of the residue of a greater tract of land which the said Stephen McPherson Sen. purchased of John Violett and William Allen & conveyed by lease and release bearing date the 19th & 20th days of February 1764 [?] lying being & situate in the county and bounded as follows beginning at a small red oak corner to Stephen McPherson Jun. and Joseph Allen (now Joseph Gibson) thence with the said Gibson's line (formerly Allen's) to a gum and white oake in the fork of two branches corner to said Gibson & formerly Allen thence with said line to a large white oak near a branch and thence to a white oak, a new made corner, thence to a stone near a large dead black steep, supposed & meaned to be fixed in Carter's line thence with said line to a small red oak supposed to be in Carters line and corner to Stephen McPherson Jr., thence with said line to the beginning containing 68 acres agreeably to a survey made by Joseph Lane the 5th day of October 1790.^[15] On the 2nd day of October 1793, Stephen and Anne sold another tract of land, containing 31 & 3/4's acres, unto Joseph Carr adjoining the 68 acres formerly sold to Joseph Carr which was described as a lot on the turnpike road which leads from Ashby's gap to Alexandria runs it being the lot on which Stephen McPherson at present "liveth."^{[16][See also Foot Note 1]}

Stephen set his hand and seal to his Last Will and Testament on the 2nd day of February 1799 making bequests unto wife Ann...son John...son Stephen...daughter Rachel Boyce...son Joseph...son Daniel...daughter Ruth Merrill...son William...son Jesse...son James

Will of Stephen McPherson

Stephen passed away between the 2nd of February 1799 (date will was written,) and the 14th of October 1799 (date will was proved) in Loudon County, Virginia. ^{[17] [18]}

Children

Children of Stephen McPherson born to May Pyle were:^[18]

1. William McPherson (1766–1827)
2. John McPherson (1752–1804)
3. Stephen McPherson Jr. (1753–1827 )
4. Joseph McPherson (b: ABT 1755 - died)
5. Rachel McPherson (1755– )(married Boyce)
6. Daniel "Mountain Daniel" McPherson Sr. (1758–1832)
7. Ruth McPherson (1763- ) (married Merrell)
8. Jesse McPherson Sr. (1765–1849)
9. James McPherson (1767–1839)

Foot Notes

1. According to the history of the Hunter Head Tavern, "Joseph Carr purchased McPherson’s farm, mill and log cabin, and later opened a general store." Today the original log cabin is part of Hunter Head Tavern located in Upperville, Virginia. The interior of the log cabin is pictured on photo 2 of 7 shown on visitloudoun.org.

Sources

• Quaker Monthly Meeting Notes: Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1768-1778; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 339. Minutes, 1768-1778. Page 37, citing Stephen McPherson. Digital images: Ancestry.com [database on-line], image 24 of 219.

• Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1768-1778; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 339. Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, page 210 [database on-line], image 111 of 219 citing Mary wife of Stephen McPherson. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Acknowledgements

• 19 Apr 2011 - Anonymous (Stout) S imported the data for Stephen McPherson from Stout - Trask - Cowan .ged

Sources

1. ↑ Loudoun County Clerk's Office. Historic Records Division Loudoun County Revolutionary War Papers, Page 35 of 60, citing, McPherson, Stephen.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Pennsylvania Probate Records 1683-1994, images Familysearch.org Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will Book A, Page 104-105, citing will of Daniel McFerson. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film #005534200,Image 265 of 589.
3. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Pennsylvania Chester Kennett Monthly Meeting Women´s Minutes, 1690-1789, Ancestry.com [database with images], U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, image 120 of 290, citing Mary McFarson. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
4. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book N, 1767-1776, (Pages 69-71), citing John McFarson, William McFarson, Stephen McFarson, Nathaniel Carter and Ann Carter to Daniel McFarson. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images], Film #007856830, Images 624-625 of 917. Accessed 16 August 2021.
5. ↑ Futhey, John Smith, Cope, Gilbert, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts, 1881; page 189, citing Stephen McFarson.
6. ↑ Newspapers.com, The Pennsylvania Gazette, 13 Sept 1764, Thu, Page 1, citing Stephen McPherson. Digital images: Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24940383/stephen_mcpherson_chester_county_pa/
7. ↑ Chester County Pennsylvania, Tax List, 1693-1774, Vol. M. 1797-1764, Page 487, citing Stephen Mfarson; Familysearch.org, Film 007521372 [database with images], image 695 citing McPherson, Hutton.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, Chester County, New Garden Monthly Meeting, Minutes, 1768-1778. Page 36-37, citing Stephen McFerson, wife and children; Page 47, citing visit 2nd of 9th month 1769; . Digital images: Ancestry.com [database with images] image 24 of 219. Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
9. ↑ Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, Chester County, New Garden Monthly Meeting, Women´s Minutes, 1764-1785, Page 73, citing Stephen McFerson's children. Digital images: Ancestry.com [database with images] image 41 of 192. Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
10. ↑ Loudoun County Virginia, Deed Book v. I, 1771-1773, page 395-399, citing Stephen McPherson. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008190555, image 492-494 of 523.
11. ↑ Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Women's Minutes, 1764-1785; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 348, Pennsylvania Chester New Garden Monthly Meeting Women´s Minutes, 1764-1785, page 143, citing Mary McPherson. Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line], image 76 of 192, citing Mary McPherson. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
12. ↑ Loudoun County, Virginia, List of Tithables, Year 1774, entry 31, citing Stephen McPearson, Stephen McPhearson Junr, Joseph McPhearson, and Richd Boys. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film #007898132, image 454 of 963. Accessed 6 November 2022.
13. ↑ Virginia, Loudoun, Fairfax Monthly Meeting Minutes, 1768-1782, Page 107, citing Ann Mcfarson (formerly Fred). Digital images: Ancestry.com U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database with images] image 112 of 184.
14. ↑ Loudoun County Clerk's Office. Historic Records Division. Loudoun County Revolutionary War Papers, Page 35 of 60, citing, McPherson, Stephen.
15. ↑ Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book S, page 203-207, Stephen McPherson, Sr. to Joseph Carr. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film #007895925 image 387 of 478. Accessed 31 December 2021.
16. ↑ Loudoun County, Virginia, Deed Book W, Page 126-128, citing Stephen McPherson and Ann to Joseph Carr, Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film #008190556, image 72 of 510. Accessed 1 Jan 2022.
17. ↑ Entered by Jon Pritts, Jul 6, 2012
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Loudoun County, Virginia Will Book F, 2797-1802, page 121, citing Steven McPherson. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images], Film #007645411. image 458 of 609.