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John Steptoe (abt. 1678 - bef. 1741)

John Steptoe aka Stepto
Born about in Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died before before about age 63 in Northumberland, Virginiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 Mar 2011
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Contents

Biography

Birth

John is commonly said to have been born about 1673 or 1678 in Lancaster or Northumberland counties in Virginia to Anthony Steptoe and his wife Patience or Lucy Stephens Steptoe. Anthony first appears in Lancaster County, VA giving a deposition on 9 Mar 1669 that he was a servant to John Coussins and had come into the country without an indenture.[1] He next appears in a court order dated 19 Mar 1678/9, which states that he had married the widow of Thomas Howard.[2] This appears to be the source of John's estimated birthdate. The writer was unable to find conclusive proof of his parentage, or that Anthony Steptoe was married to anyone other than Patience. – Kenneth Dixon

Marriage

He was married to Elizabeth, the widow of John Eustace.[3][4]

Deeds, Court Orders, Appointments, Etc.

  • 21 May 1701 – Northumberland County, VA – John Steptoe, executor, granted a probate on the will of Arthur Steptoe, deceased, which was proved by the oaths of John Eustace and George Anderson.[5]
  • 23 Dec 1701 – Northumberland County, VA – Will of John Eustace. Appointed Thos. Pinckard, James Ennis, and John Steptoe to be joint executors after the death or marriage of his wife. Wit: Jno. Steptoe, George Wale, Jno. Hust.[6]
  • 10 May 1709 – Lancaster County, VA – Will of William Wren. Appointed loving wife Eliz. Wren & brother John Stepto executors. Wit: Robert Gibson, Will. Burbig, Robert Wright.[7]
  • 16 Nov 1719 – Northumberland County, VA – John and Elizabeth Steptoe appoint Phillip Smith, Gent., their attorney to acknowledge in court a deed of release of all the estate of John Eustace, decd., to his son and heir William Eustace. Wit: Charles Lee, Jno. Man.[3]
  • 16 Nov 1719 – Northumberland County, VA – John Steptoe and Elizabeth Steptoe, late Elizabeth Eustace, widow of John Eustace, to William Eustace, said Eustace's son and heir, for £80, all their interest in the real estate of the said John Eustace. Wit: Charles Lee, John Man.[4]

Will & Probate

He signed his will on 12 Sep 1741 in Northumberland County, VA, leaving bequests to his loving wife Elizabeth, his son William, his son Thomas, and his daughter Lucy. He appointed his sons William, John, James, and Thomas Stepto his executors. Thos. Pinkard, John Pinkard, Thomas Lawson, and Edward Robison served as witnesses. The will was proved in open court on 9 Nov 1741 by the oaths of Thomas Pinkard and John Pinkard.[8]
"In the Name of God Amen I John Stepto of the County of Northumberland & Colony of Virginia being sick & weak but in perfect sence & memory blessed be God do make this my Last will & Testament In manner & form as follows Imprimis I bequeath my Soul to the Allmighty God who Gave it me & my body to the Earth to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Extors hearafter named Item my Will & desire is that my Loveing wife Elizabeth Stepto shall have the use of all my Land I now Live on & all the appurtenances thereto belonging dureing her Widdowhood not debarring my Son William Stepto of the plantation where he now Lives from makeing Euse of the Same also the half of all my orchards which my desire is that he may have at my decease my will is that my Loveing wife may have the use of all my personall Estate dureing her Widdowhood Except my store of Goods tobaccos & money which I Give one half to my Son William as aforesd. & the other half to my Son Thomas & their heirs for Ever Item I Give & bequeath to my Son William as aforesd. one negro man Jack one negro woman Bett one negro Girl Sarah to him & his heirs for Ever Item I Give & bequeath unto my Daughter Lucy one negro man Charles one negro boy toby & one negro Girl Silla to her & her heirs for Ever Item I Give & bequeath unto my Son Thos. as aforesd. one negro boy Will one negro boy tom one negro Girl Letty to him & his heirs for Ever mg will & desire is that whatever estate I have gave to my other Children may debar them from any Claim from any other part of my Estate I appoint my Loveing wife Eliz: as aforesd. my sons William John James & Thomas Stepto to be my whole & sole Extrs. of this my Last will & Testament In witness whereof I hereunto have set my hand & seale this 12th day of September 1741
John Stepto (Seale)
Signed sealed in the presence of
Thos. Pinkard
John Pinkard
Thomas Lawson
Edward Robison
9th: the 9th: 1741 This will was proved in Northumberland County Court to be the Last Will & Testament of Mr. John Stepto Decd: by the oaths of Thomas Pinkard & John Pinkard witnesses thereto & Willm: Stepto one of the Extrs: named in the Sd: Will made oath thereto whose motion the Sd: Will is admited to Record
Exd: Test James Fontaine Clk: Cur:"[8]
An inventory and appraisement of his estate was exhibited into court on 11 Jan 1741/2 by William Stepto, executor. It lists the following 12 enslaved people: an enslaved man named Jack, an enslaved man named Jacob, an enslaved man named Charles, an enslaved boy named Toby, an enslaved boy named Will, an enslaved woman named Liddy, an enslaved woman named Dinah, an enslaved boy named Tom, an enslaved woman named Betty, an enslaved girl named Silla, an enslaved girl named Letty, and an enslaved boy named Moses.[9]

Death

John died sometime between 12 Sep 1741, when he signed his will in Northumberland County, VA, and 9 Nov 1741, when his will was proved in court.[8]

Source

  1. Lancaster County, Virginia, Order Book I [1666–1680], p. 41, Anthony Steptoe's indenture, 9 March 1669; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R39V-7?cat=394896 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R39V-7?cat=394896) : accessed 5 December 2023) > digital film 8,359,641 > image 76 of 478.
  2. Northumberland County, Virginia, Order Book Pt. I [1678–1698], p. 32, Anthony Steptoe indebted to Francis Hunter, 19 March 1678/9; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-VY2T?cat=401620 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-VY2T?cat=401620) : accessed 5 December 2023) > digital film 7,897,250 > image 53 of 495.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Northumberland County, Virginia, Record Book [1718–1726], p. 93, 16 November 1719; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9LP-H4GM?i=228&cat=363009 : accessed 7 December 2023) > digital film 4,098,118 > image 229 of 617.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Northumberland County, Virginia, Record Book [1718–1726], p. 93, 16 November 1719; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9LP-H4GM?i=228&cat=363009 : accessed 7 December 2023) > digital film 4,098,118 > image 229 of 617.
  5. Northumberland County, Virginia, Order Book, Pt. I [1699–1713], p. 162, probate of Arthur Steptoe's will, 21 May 1701; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-XQ9T-T?cat=401620 : accessed 6 December 2023) > digital film 7,897,251 > image 86 of 428.
  6. Northumberland County, Virginia, Record Book [1706–1720], pp. 245–246, will of John Eustace; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-YHFD?i=596&cat=363009 : accessed 7 December 2023) > digital film 7,645,576 > image 597 of 609.
  7. Lancaster County, Virginia, Wills, Etc. Book No. 10 Pt. 1 [1709–1727], pp. 67-68, will of William Wren, 10 May 1709; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PF-CS24-6?cat=383647 : accessed 7 December 2023) > digital film 7,646,128 > image 166 of 676.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Northumberland County, Virginia, Record Book [1738–1743], pp. 144-144a, will of John Stepto, 12 September 1741; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9LP-4Q36?i=157&cat=363009 : accessed 4 December 2023) > digital film 4,098,119 > image 158 of 808.
  9. Northumberland County, Virginia, Record Book [1738–1743], pp. 153–155, inventory & appraisement of John Stepto's estate, 11 January 1741/2; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9LP-4QS3?i=173&cat=363009 : accessed 3 December 2023) > digital film 4,098,119 > images 174–176 of 808.




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Comments: 2

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I have seen documents on family ancestry giving John’s death date as 5th Jan 1741. He married Elizabeth in 1705 whom was a widow of a John Eustace captain of Militia.
posted by Cliff Truesdale
Steptoe-14 and Steptoe-4 appear to represent the same person because: Appear to be the same person