James Stewart Sr

Descendants

Died after 16 Jan 1775 in Chatham, North Carolina

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This profile is part of the Stewart Name Study.

Biography

James Stewart Sr^[1]

He married Anne^[1] and the couple had the following known children:

1. John Stewart^[1]
2. Charles Stewart^[1]
3. James Stewart Jr.^[1]
4. Lydia Stewart^[1]
5. Judith Stewart^[1]
6. Mary Stewart^[1]
7. Joseph Stewart^[1]
8. William Stewart^[1]
9. Rhoda Stewart^[1]
10. Spencer Stewart^[1]
11. Peggy Stewart^[1]
12. Cynthia Stewart^[1]
13. Ann Stewart^[1]
14. Tabitha Stewart^[1]

James Stewart Sr signed his will on 16 Jan 1775 in Chatham County, North Carolina.^[1]

In the name of God Amen -- This 16th of January in the year of our Lord 1775. I James Stewart Senior of the County of Chatham and Province of North Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to god & calling mind that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament & First I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it & for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like manner nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive it again by the Mighty? of God & as to ?ing such worldly goods. Wherewith it hath pleased God to bless same with I give and bequeath in manner & form following--

Imprimis It is my will & I do order that all my just debts be paid

Item-I lend to my wife Anne Stewart the land & plantation on which I now live during her life or widowhood. Also two negroes named John & Suke, two horses, ?bobb of the great mare, two feather beds & furniture, five cows & calves, eight sheep, all my flock of geese, all my pewter, two iron posts, two spinning wheels, ? water pail, 1 washing tub, 1 frying pan, all ??? ....and ?? after her death or marriage of my wife, ?? sold & ?? after mentions except the land and plantation, which I give & bequeath unto my son Spencer Stewart to him & his heirs forever if lawfully begotten and in case he should die without lawful heirs my will & desire is that said land should be divided amongst all the rest of my children except Peggy Page, said land bounded as follows Beginning on Mary Colly's line running along a line of Marked trees near a west course about sixty yards from the lower cornfield fence to a whiteoak then a west course to the road run along the road to a marked postoak near the corner then along the old line north ?? from a line ?? along ?? ?? ?? first station then all my other lands I give and desire to be sold at the discretion of my Executor & the money to be equally divided amongst all my children except Spencer Stewart and Peggy Page.

Item-I give & bequeath unto my three youngest daughters namely, Cynthia, Ann & Tabitha Stewart there pounds ten shillings each

Item-I give & bequeath unto my grand daughter Anne Page one feather bed

Item-I give to my grandson James Page one cow

Item-I give to my grandson William? Page one heffer & young sow? ?? ?? Page ?? ??

Item-I give and bequeath to my son John Stewart for ?? done five pounds

Item- I give & bequeath to be equally divided at the discretion of my Executors my negro boy George at Benjamin Branty's ? all other negroes, stock, household furniture with the ? ansing rom the sale of land & other things with the stock of household furniture that I lent to my wife af?? deceases or marrieage amongst my children named as follows, John Stewart, Charles Stewart, James Stewart, Lydia George, Judith George, Mary Edwards, Joseph Stewart, William Stewart, Rhoda Brantley, Elizabeth Petty, Spencer Stewart, Cynthia Stewart, Anne Stewart & Tabitha Stewart, and One child’s part to Peggy Page’s children: James Page, Anne Page & William Page to them and their heirs forever.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my daughter Peggy Page one shilling sterling and no more. And I do hereby appoint John Stewart, James Stewart (line missing)…of my last Will & Testament.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presents (sic) of Us: W. Malone, Robt. Rutherford, William Landrum, James Stewart Senr.

Interlined before signed…Spencer Stewart to have no part of Money arrising (sic) from the Sale of Lands…Jan 16, 1775. Proved, May Court, 1775…May 9, 1775

Chatham County, N. C. Records, North Carolina Archives, File C.R. 002.801.15

(will continue transcription as time permits)

^[1]

Research Notes

• A James Stewart was married to Mary Anne Phelp/Philp on 14 Jul 1727 in Findo-Gask, Perth, Scotland. As these are very common given names and there is no source either James or Anne was born in Scotland (or anywhere at this point) this needs more research to determine if it is or is not, in fact, this same couple.

"Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY3W-ZWP : 10 February 2018), James Stewart and Anne Philp, 14 Jul 1727; citing Findo-Gask,Perth,Scotland, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,080.

Maiden name is unsourced and possibly incorrect.

Similarly, wedding location and source are possibly conflated with another James and Mary Anne Stewart.

• The following is a quote from Lest We Forget: Our Melvins and Kin by Lionel Melvin:

"This line of Stewarts is thought to have arrived from the Pennsylvania settlement by the old wagon trail into the Piedmont of North Carolina.They arrived before the American Revolution and were active in the conflict.

"They are believed to be connected with the Royal Stewart (Stuart) family of England/Scotland. There was an Alexander Stewart in Philadelphia with William Penn.

James Stewart was an early settler in the part of Orange County, NC which was set off in 1770 as Chatham Co., NC. James Stewart, Sr. dated his will January 16, 1773 and it was probated that year for Chatham Co. The executors were his sons John and James Stewart. He named his wife Anne, child Spencer Stewart, three daughters, Cynthia, Anna and Tabitha, all unmarried [at that time].

'Granddaughter Anne Page, daughter Peggy Page [wife of Nathaniel Page], "one schilling and no more"; grandson James Page and his brother; sons John, Charles and James; children Lydia George, Judith George, Mary Edwards, William Stewart, Rhoda Brantley, Elizabeth Petty, Spencer Stewart, Cynthia Stewart, Anne Stewart and Tabitha Stewart; and Peggy Page's children James, Anne and William Page.'

• Below was copied directly from Early History of the Baptists in North Carolina - No. 3 Biblical Recorder, 1889, and needs a full original source citation:

Haw River, (Separate), was situated in Chatham county, twenty miles above the forks, on the north branch of the Cape Fear, near which the principal meeting-house stands, 190 miles west from New Berne, and - miles S. S. W. from Philadelphia. This church consists of six branches: one near Haw River, where they have a house of worship 32x24, built in l769, on vacant land; another at Collin's Mount, on the north side of the river; then Deep River, Rocky River, Tick Creek, and Carraway Creek, in Guilford county. At each place there is a good house of worship. The minister is Rev. Elnathan Davis, who has to his assistance Nathanial Powell at Deep River, Drury Sims and George Williams at Rocky River, Thomas Brown at Collin's Mount, John Robbins at Carraway Creek, and James Stewart at Haw River. The families in the neighborhood numbered about 310, whereof 198 were baptized and in communion, which is here administered the last Sunday in January, April, June and October. The pastor has no stipulated salary, but from gifts help, etc,, receives about L20 per year. Ruling elders, imposition of hands, anointing the sick, washing of feet, etc, are admitted. Haw River church had Its beginning in the following manner: When Mulkey's church, located at Deep River, emigrated, these remained, Nathaniel Powell, Conrad Dowde and wife, Isaac Brooks and wife, George Williams, William Barber, Nehemiah Howard and wife, William Smith and wife, Mary Brooks, Sharper and Cato (negroes), Mr. Hodges, James Steward, Simon Poe, Robert Calleh, Samuel Marsh. On the last Saturday in October, 1764, they were constituted into a regular Baptist church, and united with the Sandy Creek Association October, 1765.

The most remarkable thing in the history of this church was the passage of the following resolution:

"Resolved, That any member of this church who shall fail or refuse to join the Regulators shall be excommunicated.

"Robert Marsh was sentenced to receive thirty lashes every month until he should consent to join the Regulaters."

The first pastor to minister unto these people was Rev. Elnathan Davis, who was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, on the 9th day of November, 1735. He was raised on James River, Virginia, and bred a Seven Day Baptist, but came to this section in 1757. Having embraced the faith of the Separate Baptists he was baptized by Rev. Shubal Stearns in May, 1764, and was called to the care of Haw River the same year. On the 13th of November, 1770, he was ordained to the full work of the ministry by Rev. Samuel Harris and Elder Jas. Steward.

• The following need verification that they are this same James:

North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890: James Stewart, Residence: 1763 No Township Listed, Bladen County, NC Ancestry Record 3566 #16351491.

• Additional statements that need a source citation and additional research todetermine if they apply to this same James Stewart:

Father is not Cornelius Azariah Stewart according to DNA research and an unsupported paper trail.

It is possible that James and Anne arrived to Wilmington, NC in 1739 aboard the Thistle or The Charming Molly.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17} Chatham County, North Carolina Province Wills. Will of James Stewart Sr dated 16 Jan 1775.

   Wills and Estate Papers. Chatham County, North Carolina. 1663-1978

   Stewart, James (Sr.), 1775.

   FHL micro roll 1548330. Image Group #7639835.

• Edson, George. The Stewart Clan Magazine. Stewarts in Chatham County, North Carolina.Volume 20, Number 2. August 1942. page 285-6.
• Edson, George editor. The Stewart Clan Magazine: Genealogical Records of Stewart-Stuart Families. Tome D, Vol XX: No 2. Aug 1942, cover. Olathe, Kansas.
• North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890: James Stewart, Residence: 1755 No Township Listed, Orange County, NC Ancestry Record 3566 #17071185.