John Stephenson (abt. 1724 - 1773)

Husband of Jane (Unknown) Fleming — married about 1752 (to 1773) in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 12 Feb 1773 at about age 49 in Pickny District, Province of South Carolina

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Biography

• John Stephenson and family came to present York County,South Carolina,apparently from old Augusta County,now Rockbridge County,Virginia. John looked the country over and arranged to have 200 acres on Bullock Creek" at a place called" Stephenson's Branch" surveyed for him in October 1762. This tract, crossed today by the highway between Hickory Grove and Sharon,was granted two years later by South Carolina. The boundary between the two Carolinas was unsettled and four years later North Carolina granted John an adjoining tact of one hundred acres.^[1]

Note: Mr. Elmer Oris Parker believed that our John Stephenson was the John Stephenson and Jane James who sold 290 acres on Mill Creek near new present Lexington,Virginia to William Ramsey on May 16,1753. He was convinced that the John Stephenson in Virginia and the John Stephenson in South Carolina could write their names,but Jane made her "x" mark in both Virginia and South Carolina. There were several John Stephenson's/Stevenson's who lived in Old Augusta County.Virginia,so Mr. Parker wrote me that he could not prove that our John Stephenson in South Carolina was the John Stephenson who lived in Old Augusta County,Virginia. ^[2]

The Children of John and Jean Stephenson were Mary Stephenson,John Stephenson, Agnes Stephenson,Robert Stephenson,and Margaret Stephenson ^[3] The will of John Stephenson ^[4]

Since grandfather was on his deathbed he was unable to write or sign his will and it was written for him by a friend Andrew Campbell and he used his wrong spelling of "Stevenson."

South Carolina, Craven County In the name of God Amen. I, John Stevenson being weak in Body yet in perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the frailty of my Body that it is appointed to all men once to die and after death Judgment and Willing to dispose of the small Estate God in his Providence has been pleased to bestow upon me. I therefore do order and allow my Body to the Dust from whence it came not doubting but at the last day they shall both be united in Glory in the Kingdom of Christ. I therefore do order and allow my Body to be buried in a most Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Exors. and after my funeral charges and my Just debts being paid,I do Give and bequeath in manner and form following.

Item. I do give and bequeath to my two sons Robert and John Stevenson my whole real Estate in Lands to be equally divided between them and if any of them die without issue it shall fall and become to the surviving heir and if both the above named Robert And John die without issue then the Whole Estate shall be equally divided between by two daughters Agnes and Margaret and their heirs. Item. I likewise Give and Bequeath unto said Robert and John my Negro Wench named Nelly. Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife the thirds of all my Estate Real and Personal and likewise the Dunn horse and his Saddle and Bridle. Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Robert one Cow and calf. Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son John one Cow and yearling and the rest of my perishable Estate to be equally divided between my well Beloved Wife Jean (Jane) and my two Daughters Agnes and Margaret only five Shillings Sterling to my Daughter Mary Stevenson now married to Daniel McCleary (Daniel McClaren) and one Cow and Calf to my Grandson John McCleary (McClaren) one mare and Colt.

And I constitute and and appoint my well beloved friends John Patton, Joseph Hardin, and John Armstrong my whole and Sole Exors of this my last Will and Testament Revoking all other Wills by me drawn and signed heretofore. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set by hand and Seal this 9th day of February 1773 his John x. Stevenson (L.S.)

Signed, Sealed, and Acknowledged In the presence of us his Patrick x Lafterty mark his John x Gibson mark Andw, Campbell

Proved by virtue of a Dedimus from the Honorble William Bull Esqr Lieut Govr. directed to Joseph Brown Esqr the 22 May 1773. At the same time qualified Joseph Hardin and John Patton Exors. to said will. Actually Dedimus was issued to Joseph Brown,Esqr of Broad River to prove the will of John Stinson, Decd and Qualify the Exors, March 31,1773. Charleston Will Book 1771-1774, pages 282, 383.

The will of John Stephenson copied here as written with remarks by Elmer Oris Parker.

Sources

1. ↑ Parker, Elmer Oris. John and Jane Stephenson ,1990,as sent toTommy Stephenson via mail. The document is in the possession of Tommy Stephenson.
2. ↑ Parker, Elmer Oris. Letter sent by mail on June 5, 1995. In the possession ofTommy Stephenson
3. ↑ Parker, Elmer Oris. Family Group Sheet, in possession ofTommy Stephenson
4. ↑ "South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-NWS7-TQ?cc=1919417&wc=M6N4-FZ9%3A210905601%2C211710001 : 21 May 2014), Charleston > Wills, 1771-1779, Vol. 015 > image 177 of 352; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

• South Carolina Department of Archives and History. [ http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/RecordDetail.aspx?RecordId=98317] South Carolina Archives and History database, accessed May 3,2017.

• North Carolina Land Grant Images and Data. [1]. State Archives of North Carolina. Accessed May 4,2017.

• KinNextions."here is a link to the will of John Stephenson Rootweb. Ancestry.com. Accessed April 20,2017

• Parker, Elmer Oris. The Will of John Stephenson Sent to me in a letter from Elmer Oris Parker and in the possession of Tommy Stephenson August 20,2018.

• WikiTree profile Stephenson-640 created through the import of White.wiki.ged on Oct 26, 2011 by Pam Wade. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Pam and others.