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John was born between 1625 and 1640 in England. His parentage is unknown. Where John might have come from is not known, although he was probably not born in Virginia. But he had certainly arrived by 1671, as seen below.
John Stevens of Gloster (sic) County, Parish of Abbington (sic).... by deed dated 9 Jun 1671 bought 600 acres of land in the County of Rappahannock on the south side of the Freshes of the Rappahannock River of John Prosser, who had also sold land to William Daniel, James Lindsay and Thomas Jackson later in Caroline Co. (Old) Rappahannock Co. Deeds 1677-1682." p. 1, Pamunkey.[1][2][3][4][5]
There was a deed dated 6/9/1671 from Old Rappahannock County in an area that in 1692 became a part of Essex County, and in 1727 became Caroline County. John Stevens of Gloucester Co bought 600 acres on the south side of the Rappahannock River in St. Mary's Parish on a creek between Snow and Ware Creeks flowing into the river, at the tidewater line of the river. This land had been a part of a large grant, made probably by Gov Stir William Berkeley to one of his favourites, John Prosser.
John was a member of the congregation of the Abingdon Episcopal Church in Gloucester County, Virginia. He died between 1681 and 1704 in Gloucester Co., Virginia.
In 1653 Captain Henry Fleet gave power of attorney to John Stevens to collect debts in Westmoreland County. John Stevens acquired six hundred acres in Rappahannock Co. "on the south side of the Freshes" from John Prosser. This was a considerable land holding, equivalent to 12 headrights for passages paid to the colony. In 1660 John Stevens and Walter Granger witnessed the deed of Thomas Robinson, a blacksmith, who bought 700 acres on Totoskey Creek (Old Rappahanock Co.) adj. Fauntleroy's land from Moore and Mary Fauntleroy. Other neighbors on the Creek were Thomas Dyos, Luke Billington, Robert Bailey, James Samford, John Canady, Thomas Chetwood, Thomas Freshwater, William Barber, William Thornberry, Samuell Peachey, Edward Lewis.
John Stephens 13 Mar 1657 (Old) Rappahannock County 1000 acres. On Rappahannock River of Creek, opposite to the land of Col. Henry Fleete. Patents No. 4, p. 303.
In the Crown Colonies there was a perpetual obligation imposed upon all land when first granted known as the quit-rent. In Virginia this duty amounted to one shilling for every fifty acres, payable in tobacco at the rate of a penny per pound.
The Stevens appear around the families of Warren, Ham/Hamm, Larkin Chew, Henry Goodloe, Robert Goodloe. Larkin Chew was a sheriff in Caroline Co. Thomas Burgess married Mary Warren, d/o William Warren Sr. (b. 1680). William was Thomas Warren Jr.'s uncle. Andrew Harrison was a close friend of Thomas Warren Jr.[6]
The Warrens removed from Essex Co. to Caroline Co. in 1717 where they lived on the middle forks of the Mattapony River about 8 miles due south of Fredericksburg, probably in the area of the current town of Welchs. From Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants 1694-1742:
3-212: Ralph Stephens of Northumberland Co. died seized of 100 A. in said Co. purchased of John Ashton 21 May 1679. Endorsement by Thomas Hobson Clk of said Co. Escheat Grant to Francis Self of Westmoreland Co. who is in possession. On Mattapony R., by Fort Path. 6 Jan. 1708.
Deed dated 6/9/1671 from Old Rappahannock County in an area that in 1692 became a part of Essex County, and in 1727 became Caroline County. John Stevens of Gloucester Co bought 600 acres on the south side of the Rappahannock River in St. Mary's Parish on a creek between Snow and Ware Creeks flowing into the river, at the tidewater line of the river. This land had been a part of a large grant, made probably by Gov Stir William Berkeley to one of his favorites, John Prosser.
John Stephens 13 Mar 1657 - (Old) Rappahannock County 1000 acres. On Rappahannock River of Creek, opposite to the land of Col. Henry Fleete. Patents No. 4, p. 303. It will be remembered that in the Crown Colonies there was a perpetual obligation imposed upon all land when first granted known as the quit-rent. In Virginia this duty amounted to one shilling for every fifty acres, payable in tobacco at the rate of apenny per pound. The baptismal records for John Stevens's children were kept at the Abingdon Episcopal Church which is located between Gloucester and Gloucester Point.
John's married Mary Munford, c.1660, in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co. Mary was born c.1640, the daughter of Edward Munford who sailed to Virginia from England on the "Thomas and John" in June of 1635 at the age of twenty, and settled in Gloucester County. He owned six hundred acres on the south side of the Rappahannock River on a creek flowing into the river at the tidewater line between Snow Creek and Ware Creek.[7]
Children:
Marriage 1 Mary Mumford b: ABT 1645 in Gloucester Co., VA. Married: ABT 1660 in Gloucester Co., VA. - Abington Parish Ch| ildren
In 1624, there was a John Stevens living at Martins Hundred according to the 1623/4 Jamestown census which lists 1033 people.[8][9]
Other resources:
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