Absalom Stewart (abt. 1770 - 1829)

Born about 1770 in Augusta, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Smith) Stewart — married 20 Jul 1793 in Montgomery, Virginia

Husband of Tabitha (Clay) Stewart — married 26 May 1798 in Montgomery, Virginia

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1829 at about age 59 in Lawrence, Kentucky

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Genealogically Defined

Biography

Absolum Stewart was born about 1770 in Augusta County, Virginia the son of Ralph Stewart and Mary Elliott. ^[1]Living on the frontier of Virginia and given his family history Absolum learned as a young child the clear and present danger to his life from hostile Indians. His grandfather James Stewart was captured and burned at the stake by Indians in 1757 and Absolum’s father Ralph Stewart fought against the Indians under Chief Cornstalk in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. [1] At an early age Absolum was destined to experience first-hand the Indian threat. An often repeated and embellished family story about him includes the tale of how he was captured in 1787 by Shawnee Indians under the leadership of Chief Black Wolf, son of the famous Chief Cornstalk. He was taken to the Indian settlements at Chillicothe, on the Scioto River (now Ohio) (or in some versions Canada on Lake Superior) and held for four to seven years (depending on who is telling the story). During this time he was adopted by an Indian squaw that had lost her son. He eventually escaped and after numerous adventures returned to Virginia where he joined his brothers. ^[2]

Not long after he returned to Virginia he married. Some believe his first wife was a Wilson and they married about 1790. There is however, no documented source for the marriage.^[3] The first documented marriage for Absolum was to Susannah Smith on 20 Jul 1793 in Montgomery County, Virginia. ^[4]His father Ralph Stewart signed a consent for Absolum’s marriage which implies he was under age and would place his birth closer to 1775. The consent also calls into question the previous undocumented marriage to a Wilson. Susannah Smith Stewart was dead before 1798 because Absolum Stewart married his last wife Tabitha Clay on 26 May 1798 in Montgomery County, Virginia.^[5]

For the next few years we must rely on tax records to keep up with Absolum’s movements. We know that by 1800 Absolum owned land on Brush Creek a branch of the Bluestone River in Montgomery County, Virginia (now Mercer County, West Virginia). ^[6][7]Tax records show he had gone to “Guyandotte” (Cabell County, Virginia) about 1805 when he had to pay a militia fine for not attending the muster in Montgomery County, VA.^[8] Absalum Stuart is shown owning 50 acres in Cabell County, Virginia on the 1811 tax list and he purchased another 100 acres on Buffalo Creek in 1812. ^[9] He was living in Cabell County, Virginia in the 1820 census.^[10] In 1822 he acquired a land grant in Lawrence County, Kentucky (across the Big Sandy River from then Cabell, later Wayne, County, Virginia). The land grant was for 100 acres on Sandy River at the mouth of Bear Creek (near the town of Buchanan). ^[11][12]

He remained on the land at Bear Creek until his death in 1828. His will named his "dearly and well beloved wife Tabitha" and his children (listed in order of birth): eldest son Andrew, second son William, eldest daughter Elizabeth Prichard , second daughter Nancy Campbell, third daughter Rebecca Rice, third son Charles, fourth daughter Eleanor, fifth daughter Mary, six daughter Emily, fourth son James, fifth son Hiram, seventh daughter Melinda, and sixth son Johnson.^[13][14]

Absolum’s surname is frequently found using the alternate spelling Stuart. The spelling originally in Scotland was Stewart. Later due to the family's close ties to the Scottish throne and Scotland's alliance with France the Stuart spelling became another accepted form.

Sources

1. ↑ Dickerson, Florence S. The James Stewart Family of Early Augusta County, Virginia and Descendants, 1740-1960 (1960). p 57, 58, 67-76
2. ↑ Dickerson, Florence (Smith). 1966. The James Stewart family of Early Augusta County, Virginia, and Descendants, 1740-1960. P 67.
3. ↑ A possible source for the supposition Absolum married a Wilson may be the fact on 5 May 1800 Absalom Stewart bought of Jesse Willson for $20 seventeen acres of land lying in the counties of Montgomery and Tazewell, on Brush creek (a branch of Bluestone)
4. ↑ Bond dated 30 Jul 1793. The marriage bond shows Susanna Smith was the daughter of Isaac Smith, who was surety on the bond. Witnesses were Nimrod Smith and Mitchell Clay.
5. ↑ Kegley, Mary B., and F. B. Kegley. 1980. Early adventurers on the Western waters. Orange, Va: Green Publishers. Vol 2, P 150, 176
6. ↑ Mont. Co., VA Deed Book C, p 387; Plat Book E, p 495.
7. ↑ Schreiner-Yantis, Netti. 1992. Archives of the pioneers of Tazewell County, Virginia. Springfield, VA: N. Schreiner-Yantis. P165, Tazewell County Land Grants 1800-1820, “Richard Blankenship (assignee of Abselom Stewart). 33 acres. 8 Feb 1804. Surveyed 1 May 1800 in Montgomery and Tazewell Counties, the greater part in the former on Brush Creek, waters of Bluestone. Corner to tract of 17 acres surveyed for Jesse Willson.”
8. ↑ VA State Library Auditor's Item #159, Box T & U, Militia Fines
9. ↑ Cabell Co., VA Deed Book 1, p 204.
10. ↑ (Series:M33, Roll 130, Image 176) US Census 1820, Cabell Co., VA, p 089 (197/832/849) Absolum Stuart.
11. ↑ Kentucky Land Grant Book L, p 49, 12 Sep 1822
12. ↑ Lawrence Co., KY Deed Book B, p 240
13. ↑ Will: 7 Sep 1828, Lawrence Co., Kentucky. Will Book 1, p 8
14. ↑ Genealogies of Kentucky families: from the Filson Club history quarterly. 1981. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co. Vol III, p 346-351

• Anderson, C.S. WVRALEIGH-L ARCHIVES (2007) published at Rootsweb 2007-06/1180797298

• Walker Family History 2002 xlibris corp.