James Samuel Stevenson (1794 - 1872)

Born 9 Mar 1794 in Anderson, Pendleton, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1872 at age 78 in Anderson, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lee Casad [send private message]

BIOGRAPHY

James Stephenson was born on March 9, 1794 in Anderson, Pendleton, South Carolina, United States to Margaret Johnson Stephenson, 24 and George Washington Stephenson, 33.

James married Margaret Jane Seawright and they had 12 children.

In 1830, 1840 and 1850 census, James was in Anderson, South Carolina, USA. In 1860 census, James is 66, wife Jane is 63, son Leroy is 20 and grandson Elbert Jackson is 17 in the 4th Regiment of Anderson County, South Carolina, USA. In 1870, James, 76 is still on his 380-acre farm estimated to be worth $1200 and personal effects worth $800 with wife Jane, 73, and son Leroy, 28, who is also working on the farm. They have a domestic servant, F Thomas and two farm hands John, 18 and Levi Thomas, 16. All were born in South Carolina.

In James' Final Will in 1871, he specifies his desires but also names his children: D Leroy Stephenson, Eliza B Stephenson Brown (deceased), Andrew Thomas Stevenson (deceased), Samuel J Stevenson (deceased). John Stevenson was mentioned as having James' land of 165 acres in Paulatock, Mississippi and that he wanted the 165 acres to be sold and divided among the children and the deceased children's children, as well as the 380-acre farm in Anderson to be sold and disposed of in the same manner after his wife Jane's death. He also wanted his son D Leroy Stephenson to stay on the 380-acre farm with his mother until her death. And records show them together through the Census of 1880. His mother dies in 1884.

Another discovery is that John mentioned above is John A Stevenson who never married and went out west mining only to come home to John Matthew, his brother, for his final days. John A was buried with many of the family members at Starr Baptist Church, Starr, Anderson, South Carolina, USA. A newspaper article is the source for this information and it is shown on FindAGrave^[1] in the memorial for John A Stevenson 1 Nov 1822-12 Oct 1904. At this writing, I am unsure of what the A stands for in this family member's names. Research continues.

A John Alexander Stephenson, 6 Aug 1831-5 Jan 1904, has been erroneously attached to this family, I believe, with a wife, Elvira. This man is the son of a John J Stephenson and Margaret Bowen Stephenson, also of South Carolina. See Census of 1850 for clarification on this matter.

Missing from the will are Elbert Johnson Stevenson 1827-1865 who died in 1865 before his father's death in 1871, John Matthew Stevenson 1830-1908, Newton W Stevenson 1834-1904, George Alexander Stevenson 1814-1900 and William Hamilton Stevenson 1817-1910. Perhaps when the homeplace on 380 acres and the 165 acres in Paulatock, Mississippi was actually sold after the death of Jane Seawright Stevenson, then maybe it was divided with ALL of the children or their heirs. (Note: Or is the author on the wrong James Stevenson? Please advise if reader feels so. Suggestions always welcome.)

James passed away on November 14, 1872 in Anderson County, South Carolina and was buried at the Starr Baptist Church Cemetery, Starr, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA. His wife, Margaret Jane Seawright Stevenson passed away in 1884 and was buried with him at the church cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 28 March 2022), memorial page for James Samuel Stevenson (9 Mar 1794–14 Nov 1872), Find A Grave: Memorial #5302594, citing Starr Baptist Church Cemetery, Starr, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Darlene ADDISON Menn (contributor 47073427) .

• Accolades for First Hand Information as remembered by Lee Casad, Wednesday, August 13, 2014.

• George Stephenson Margaret Johnson

• US Census of 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870.

• American Genealogical-Biographic Index (AGBI)

• South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980, Page 405, 1871.

• Biography Research by Jenny Capell Campbell, 4th GGdaughter of James Samuel Stephenson.