William Harrison

  General Notes:

Extracted from "Settlers by the Long Grey Trail" – from HARRISON HERITAGE Vol. VI No. 4 December 1986.
"In addition to the James River and Prince William lines there was a "Skimino" HARRISON family that had long been settled in VA, when the valley of VA was opened for settlement. This line was founded by RICHARD HARRISON (1600-1664) born in St. Nicholas Parish, in the town of Colchester, county of Essex, England, who emigrated to VA. By 1634 when he was found paying tithes in respect to a patent of land on Queens Creek, in Skimino Hundred, Middletown, later Burton (sic) Parish, York Co. His close kinsman, Dr. JEREMY HARRISON settled near him.
William married MARY HUBBARD, the daughter of MATTHEW HUBBARD, a renowned planter who was affiliated with NICHOLAS COMINS and his family, and had among others, William II (1675-1727) who married ANNE RADLIFFE.
William II in turn had a son William III (1705-1771) who married MARGARET MAUPIN and had a son William IV, embraced his wife's faith and in 1817 sold his Queen's Creek property and removed (via Winchester, the Cumberland Road, Wheeling etc.) to near Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, a VA settlement of Quakers. His eldest son SAMUEL JORDAN HARRISON (1771-1846) settled in Lynchburg, VA. William, another son of William IV, followed his brother to Lynchburg. See Aris Sonis Fosisque, "The Harrisons of Skimino" by FAIRFAX HARRISON. 4-84
"DR. JEREMIAH (JEREMY) HARRISON and his brother JOHN, sons of SYDNEY HARRISON of St. Runwalds Parish, Colchester, England."
Extract from COLONIAL GRANVILLE COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE "Loose Leaves from "THE LOST TRIBES OF NORTH CAROLINA," Compiled and Edited by WORTH S. RAY., pp. 252-
"FROM "THE SKIMINO HARRISONS" (p.5). We know that RICHARD HARRISON (1620-1664) (sic), the immigrant, was born in St. Nicholas Parish in the town of Colchester, Essex, but when and under what circumstances he came to Virginia we do not know. The earliest record of him in Virginia is of his paying tithes in 1634 in respect of a patent of land on Queen's Creek, in Middletown (afterwards Bruton) Parish, York County. His plantation lay within the limits of Skimino Hundred and for nearly two hundred years the Skimino spelled home to his family. His estate shows he was a man of substance, and in addition to himself and his wife ELIZABETH BESOUTH he brought into the Colony eight persons.)
CAPT. THOMAS HARRISON was another one of the name who settled on Queen's Creek in York County. He is supposed to have been a seaman and Master of the ship HONOUR which belonged to Col. William Pryor, a member of the Court of York County and who was otherwise prominent. On Jan 11, 1641/2 he bought 200 acres in the parish and county of York from Capt. William Brocas and Daniel Dickinson for 4000 pounds of tobacco--he and Capt. Thomas Harwood and Richard Bennett, Esq. On Jan 25, 1646. Col Pryor, in his will, also mentions his brother in law, Jasper Clayton and his daughters Margaret and Mary Prior, leaving to the former "my whole part of the ship HONOUR, command by Capt. Thomas Harrison. The following interesting item is taken from WILLIAM AND MARY MAGAZINE, Vol. 23:
"Whereas,FRANCIS WHEELER, of London, Merchant, bound for Virginia, on the ship HONOUR with CAPT. THOMAS HARRISON,he (Francis Wheeler) being servant (in the service) of Mr. John White, of London, Grocer, WHEELER & WHITE, appoint Anthony Stanford, faster for William Allen, a merchant, agent to trade goods in the event Wheeler should die." Date, Sept. 16, 1640."
Another Item dated Jan 30, 1646:
"Tobacco to be delivered to William Allen, merchant in London by Capt. William Brocas, Esq. And wife Mary, to THOMAS HARRISON, Master of the ship HONOUR."
FRANCIS WHEELER married ELEANOR after the death of NICHOLAS COMINS) and became the step-father of ELIZABETH COMINS the wife of ROBERT HARRISON; and Capt. William Brogas sold lands in York County to CAPT. THOMAS HARRISON. Col ROBERT BURTON, of Granville County, whose mother was TABITHA MINGE, was the grandson of MARY HUNT who married ROBERT MINGE son of JAMES MINGE and AMADEA HARRISON. (Daughter of ROBERT HARRISON and ELIZABETH COMINS), and after the death of ROBERT MINGE, she married WILLIAM ALLEN, whose sister JUDITH ALLEN married NOEL HUNT BURTON, grandfather of Col. Robert.
Considering the above, we have listed the following Harrisons who settled on Queen's Creek in York County:
1. Richard Harrison (1630)
2. John Harrison (1645)
3. Jeremy Harrison (1645)
4. Robert Harrison (1650)
5. Nicholas Harrison, N.D. (1652)
6. Capt. Thomas Harrison
In listing the above Harrisons we have given the dates where they are shown on the records, though it is patent that some of them were there much earlier. And we have omitted to the mention of two other Harrisons who may have been residing in the same locality…Harmon Harrison…and…Burr Harrison.
That RICHARD and ROBERT HARRISON were brothers is almost conclusively proven by the fact that ROBERT HARRISON was one of supervisors of RICHARD HARRISON'S will in 1664, with RICHARD'S brother- in- law JAMES BESOUTH, and the further fact that when ROBERT HARRISON, son of Robert died his legatees were his "loving friend Richard Kendall and his heirs." This Richard Kendall was the son of John Kendall and Anne Harrison, the daughter of Richard. . . These brothers represent only a piece of the family. Sons and daughters may have been born before Richard and between him and Robert. (sic) Who were these missing sons and daughters, and who were the parents? Without actual proof the evidence is convincingly strong that they were the sons of Robert, the brother of Jeffrey Harrison and of Harmon Harrison, and of Mrs. Ann (Harrison) Reynold, the wife of William Reynolds of Queen's Creek. So after familiarizing himself {Francis Burton Harrison} with the extant records of all the Harrisons in Virginia at this point, and their numerous activities, he concludes that:
Robert Harrison and his wife Mary had children:
(1) George Harrison "Mariner," d. 1634 {This is debatable.}
(2) Robert Harrison (1613-1668)
(3) Samuel Harrison
(4) Richard Harrison
(5) Martha Harrison
(1) George Harrison made his will Nov. 17, 1630, in which he mentions his brother Richard Harrison. Other legatees were Gerald Pinson, Robert Colson, Peter Holloway and William Allison. The will shows he had been in the service of the EAST INDIA COMPANY.
(2) Robert Harrison (see pages 253-254).
(3) Samuel Harrison. I have found no record of Samuel Harrison, but have a record of another Samuel, who I am sure must have been his son. He died in Gloucester Co, VA, in Feb. 1703-4 without leaving a will. His wife was Sarah Hunt, the daughter of William Hunt who died in Gloucester in 1688. Robert Minge, a grandson of Robert Harrison (1613-1668) married Mary Hunt, daughter of a William Hunt, probable son of this William. The will of Thomas Pinson (of Gloucester) in 1697, mentions two sons of Samuel Harrison: William Harrison and Samuel Harrison, Jr. In 1744 two grandchildren of Samuel Harrison and his wife Sarah Hunt were Joseph and Priscilla Harrison.
(4) Richard Harrison (1620-1664) (sic)
(1) Martha Harrison. Mentioned in the will of her uncle, William Harrison in 1634. No further record.
Capt. Thomas Harrison of the ship HONOUR, owned by Col. William Pryor, was obviously a very close kinsman of the children of Robert Harrison and his wife Mary named in the above list. I am inclined to the view that he was a cousin of Robert, Jeffrey and Harmon Harrison and that he was also the brother of Ellener Harrison. In fact, in the abstract of Col. Pryor's will in York County, he is called "brother in law" but Gen. Francis Burton Harrison who has gone to much trouble to investigate the matter declares that in the English Version of the will, which he examined, it is revealed that this is a mistake, due to a misplaced comma. Capt. Thomas Harrison's dates are 1590-1678, which would make him a contemporary of Mrs. Pryor and the parents of Robert and Richard Harrison. I regret very much my inability to give a list of his children. It appears that he died leaving a will in which their names are mentioned. Among them was a John Harrison, who died before his father. This John Harrison left a son John, who was Master of a vessel riding in James River on May 15, 1706, and whose name appears on a petition presented to the council by a number of other seamen for some purpose. (Executive Journals of Virginia) A later Capt. Thomas Harrison who patented lands in Surry County with one John Scott on Atchamowsock Swamp falling into the Nottoway River, whom I have not positively identified at this writing, may have been a grandson also. He was apparently one of the Prince George and Brunswick County Harrison ancestors, his daughter Ann Harrison having married one of the Hamblins from York County.
Robert Harrison (1613-1668) was aged 45 years in 1648. His wife was Elizabeth Comins (or Cummings as I find it on the York records), the daughter of Nicholas Comins and his wife Eleanor, who after his death married Francis Wheeler.
From all accounts it appears that this was the elder Francis Wheeler, father of another Francis Wheeler, a London Merchant. Elizabeth Comins who married Robert Harrison about 1650 had one brother Nicholas Comins, whose wife was named Elizabeth. According to Francis Burton Harrison, Robert Harrison and his wife Elizabeth Comins had the following children:
(1) Nicholas Harrison (1652-1697) n.m.
(2) Robert Harrison m. Sarah
(3) James Harrison (1661-1695) died s. p.
(4) Amadea Harrison (1650-17--) m. James Minge ( SPELLED Menzies in Scotland)
(5) Frances Harrison m. Thomas Shands
According to Hotten's "The Original Lists of Persons of Quality. . . ," p. 234, Nicholas Comins (Comon) and his wife Ellen came to America in 1622. On 1 Sept 1639, he acquired 200 acres of land in Charles City Co. He was born about 1602 in London, England, and died 24 Apr 1656 in York County, VA. (Source: Fleets Abstracts) Will was dated 12 Sept 1655. Names son Nicholas who married Elizabeth Hooper; daughter, Elizabeth Harrison, wife of Robert Harrison and Elizabeth's three children (not specifically named). Executrix: wife Ellen (sic). Wife Ellen (Eleanor) Elison. She died 1660 in Hampton Parish, York Co., VA. They had two children: Nicholas Jr. And Elizabeth. Nicholas (the elder) may have had a brother Edward Comins, born about 1607 in London, England. He possibly married an Elizabeth_______. Father of Nicholas was a William Cummye.
The following additional information comes from a different source and adds a daughter Elizabeth Harrison to the above list, which purports to be the will of Robert Harrison. It gives no further information about either Nicholas or James Harrison, but does give the following:
(2) Robert Harrison was a builder and erected the brick prison or jail in Yorktown and perhaps the Custom House located there.
(4) Amadea Harrison was mentioned as the grandchild of Mrs. Eleanor Wheeler in her will in 1660, together with her son Nicholas Comins, and Amadea Harrison, after having been previously married once or twice, finally married James Minge, the Clerk of Charles City County, Virginia, and they were the parents of a Robert Minge, who married Mary Hunt, daughter of William Hunt and Tabitha Minge. This last marriage produced Tabitha Minge, who married Hutchins Burton, who was the father of Col. Robert Burton, of Granville County, North Carolina. Hutchins Burton moved from Virginia to Granville County, where he had a tragic ending.
(5) Frances Harrison married Thomas Shands, the father of William, who patented lands in Surry, VA, in 1722 and married Nazareth Roberts {RoBards}, daughter of John Roberts (sic), of Surry County, who left a will in 1740. They had one son named William Shands. This William died leaving a will in Surry, County, VA, in 1759, in which is named sons Thomas, John and William Shands, and three daughters whose Christian names are omitted by who married respectively, one a man named Stuart {William}, another a Nathaniel Mitchell, and another a certain Christopher Golightly."
Extracted from JAMES A. STEWART: SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS by Peggy A. Givens, GPG Publishing Co., 5992 Walnut Glen, McAlester, Oklahoma 74501, 1994, pp. 21-24
. . . The Shands' family history begins with a NICHOLAS COMINS(1) in York County, Virginia, as published in TYLER'S QUARTERLY AND GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol XV, No. 3, Jan 1934:
Nicholas Comins made his will in York Co, which was proved 24 Apr 1656. He names his wife Eleanor, son Nicholas and daughter Elizabeth, wife of Robert Harrison. Eleanor, the widow, married secondly Francis Wheeler, whose son was a London merchant. There is a very interesting letter from the son, in London, on record in York County, (dated 29 Dec 1659) to his father in Virginia, telling about the tobacco trade and the civil war in England, and giving advice to his father "to keep a plantation in Virginia, the times being so dangerous here."
Mrs. Eleanor Wheeler's will was made 13 Apr 1660, and mentions among others her son, Nicholas Comins(2), grandchild Amy Harrison, and the child's father, Robert Harrison.
Robert Harrison(1), age about 44 years in 1658, died in 1668—Robert Harrison being the same age as the William Steward, who left Gravesend, England, in 1635 bound for Barbados. The children named in his will were Nicholas, Robert, James, Amadea, Elizabeth, and Frances.
Robert, the son, was a builder and erected the brick prison in Yorktown and perhaps the Custom House. A deed in 1693 recorded in York County names these children and states that Amadea (Amy) was married to James Minge(1) of Charles City County, and Frances was married to Thomas Shands(1) of the same county. Charles City County extended at that time on both sides of the James River, and the reference is to Prince George County, which was cut from Charles City County in 1704.
There is little doubt that Thomas Shands(1) was the father of William Shands(2), who patented land in Surry County in 1722, although the loss of records prevents direct proof. He married Nazareth Roberts/RoBards, named as daughter of John Roberts/RoBards of Surry, in his will, dated 11 Sep 1740 and recorded in Surry County on 21 Jan 1741. It was stated by William Shands(4) born in 1757 that his ancestor came to this country as secretary to James Minge who was clerk of the Houses of Burgesses and drafter of Bacon's Laws in 1676.
Of these, John Shands(3), died without a will before his father, and his inventory was admitted to record 21 Jan 1758. His wife Elizabeth is named as his administratix in 1761. His son, John Shands(4), married his first cousin, Priscilla, daughter of William Shands(3) and Priscilla Moss Shands in 1764. (Sussex County Marriage Bonds) They emigrated to Spartanburg, S.C. John Shands is the first of the Shands' names appearing in the records of Spartanburg County. Certainly as early as 7 Nov 1785 he was settled there. On that date he received a grant of 200 acres from the state of SC signed by the Hon. William Moultrie, Gov. (TYLER QUARTERLY MAGAZINE)
Extracted by permission of Wayland Arthur Shands from his book SHANDS FAMILY HISTORY - Part I, 1986, Bagpipe Press, Inc, Route 2, Box 440, Greenwood, SC 29646, to Peggy A. Givens.
Wayland Arthur Shands in his SHANDS FAMILY HISTORY - Part I - gives an in-depth account of the Shands' family in Surry and Sussex
Counties in Virginia:
Thomas Shands(1) who came from Scotland where he was secretary to James Minge, Clerk of the House of Burgesses and drafter of Bacon's Laws in 1676, married Frances Harrison in Virginia. We do not know when Thomas and James Minge arrived in America. . .However, documented evidence shows that William was the son of our Thomas and his wife, Frances Harrison, and that William was definitely of our lineage.
William Shands(2), we believe, was born 1685 because his name was among 34 others whose signatures were affixed in 1710 to a petition of the citizens of Charles City Co, VA, deploring conditions resulting from the partitioning in 1703 of Charles City County. (VA Mag of Hist and Biog XVIII, 1910, p. 398) His signature on that document establishes he had reached his majority by or before that time, 1710, which indicates the date of his birth to have been about the mid-to-late 1680's.
William became a large, prosperous land owner, as indicated by his will, which was dated 4 Jan 1759. It was said that William patented land in 1722 in Surry County, VA, from King George and that he was given land in Prince George Co, VA, by his father. The original of a deed of land to William Shands in Surry County, signed by then-gov, William
Gooch.
William married Nazareth Robbards, daughter of John Robbards. They had 3 sons and 3 daughters. The sons were John, William, Jr., and Thomas; the daughters were Frances, Elizabeth, and Mary. Thomas died young. William, Sr., signed his will 4 Jan 1759, and it was proved 17 Aug 1759. His wife, Nazareth Robbards Shands died before 9 Oct 1764, the date will was proved. Both wills were in Sussex County, VA.
John Shands(3), born 1713, in Albemarle Parish, Surry-Sussex Co's, VA, son of William and Nazareth Robbards, married Elizabeth Averitt. John was a well educated man as shown by the several legal documents which he prepared and signed. He was also a very well-to-do man. Legal documents showed that he and Elizabeth made a number of purchases and sales of land. In addition, in the will of his grandfather, John Robbards, probated 21 Jan 1741, he was given his grandfather's "Otterdam Swamp Farm," a large tract. There was an indenture dated 14 Jul 1755 showing that John and Elizabeth agreed to sell 320 acres of that tract on the northeast side of the Otterdam Swamp farm, including all of the houses, appurtenances, orchards, lands, woods, etc., for 125 pounds. John and Elizabeth had 3 children born in Surry/Sussex Co's, VA: Francis born 5 Aug 1739; Mary born 8 Jun 1749; and John, Jr., born 27 Sep 1741 married his lst cousin, Phebe Shands, who was born 21 Jan 1744 in same county. (John Shands, Jr.(4) and his family from first and second wives moved to Spartanburg Dist, SC, shortly after the Rev War before 1784.}
{Dr. R.E. Shands of the Shands Hospital, Inc., of New Albany, Miss, in his typed reference to this famiily prior to 1964 states that John Shands(4) had three wives: (1) Priscilla Shands, his first cousin - no children; (2) Rebecca Lee, with 2 children;: Anthony, born 1774 and Rebecca, born in 1776; (3) Margaret Castleberry, a devoted and pious woman, member of the Baptist church—7 children, William, Jesse, Joel, Gideon, Abraham, Dorcas, and Sarah.}
Continuing with Wayland Arthur Shands' account of the Surry/Sussex Shands—William Shands, Jr.(3), who called himself "William, Sr.," was born in 1714, son of William and Nazareth Robbards Shands, married Priscilla Moss on 9 Nov 1738, daughter of William Moss. This William Shands was a well-to-do farmer, including sizable acreage of land, farm animals, slaves, and money. He and Priscilla had 11 children born in Surry/Sussex, VA: Lucy, Mary, Phebe, Augustine, Amy, Elizabeth, Thomas III, William III, William IV, Martha, and Priscilla. There is no indication why, but in his will, dated 24 Aug 1776, William made as his legatees Lucy, Phebe, Martha, Augustine, William IV. He gave mostly money to the 3 daughters; household goods and personal effects, slaves, farm animals, and implements to William IV; and slaves and land to Augustine. Augustine and William IV were named co-executors of the estate. The exact date of death of William Shands, Jr., is unknown, but it was shortly before 19 Dec 1776, when certificate was granted for obtaining a probate of his estate. Priscilla Moss Shands' date of death is unknown.
Thomas Shands,II(3), was born in the early 1700's in what became Sussex County, VA. He was the son of William and Nazareth Robbards Shands and was not robust as he never married. He predeceased his father. Thomas signed his will 13 Nov 1751, in which he gave his land to his brother, William, Jr.; his 3 slaves "yellow Face," Dick and Bob to his father; his riding horse to his nephew, William Golightly, and the rest of his estate to his father. He named his brother, William, Jr., and a family friend, Thomas Young, as co-executors. Thomas Shands died in 1754.
Mary Shands(3) born approximately 1720, in what became Sussex Co, VA, daughter of William and Nazareth Robbards, married WILLIAM STUART; their son, James, is named in his grandfather's will. This is the family highlighted in this researcher's history of the STEWART FAMILY. See the section entitled THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM AND MARY SHANDS STEWART OF SURRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
Elizabeth Shands(3) born in early 1700's in what became Sussex Co, VA, was the daughter of William and Nazareth Robbards Shands. She married Nathaniel Mitchell, son of Henry and Tabitha Branch Mitchell. Elizabeth and Nathaniel had at least one child born in Sussex Co, John Mitchell, who was mentioned in his grandfather, William Shands' will. Elizabeth died in 1768. It is this researcher's belief that their son John Mitchell married Scota Stewart, daughter of William and Mary Shands Stewart, who had witnessed the christening of William Stewart, Peggy A. Givens' direct line ancestor, son of John and Lucretia _________Stewart in 1775, along with her brother William Stewart, and Thomas Ogburn, their cousin. Scota was apparently a pet name for either Elizabeth or Charlotte. A Rebecca Stewart married another Mitchell in Brunswick Co, VA.
Frances Shands(3) born in the early 1700's in what became Sussex Co, VA, was the daughter of William and Nazareth Robbards Shands. She married Christopher Golightly. Frances and Christopher had 5 children who were born in Sussex Co, VA: Shands, William, Christopher, Jr., John, and David. All of the sons moved to the Old 96 Dist of SC. These are names found in the book by Brent H. Holcomb which gives minutes of the county court, years 1785-1799, in Spartanburg Co, SC. All of the sons were reported to have served in SC during the Rev War (Union County Heritage - South Carolina, p. 114). The dates of death and places of burial of the parents are unknown.
THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM(1) AND MARY SHANDS STEWART OF SURRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA
On 19 Jul 1742 William Stuart(1) purchased 150 acres on the south side of the Nottoway River from William Freeman and his wife Elizabeth. It is with this William that we can place our family of Stewarts in Surry County, Virginia. He is the son of Charles Steward who married Anne Pace.
In Charles Steward's will dated 2 Dec 1752 and probated on 25 Sep 1753, Surry County Deed Book # 6, p. 446, 1749-1753: (Extracted from STEWART CLAN MAGAZINE, Tome E, Jan and Feb 1944, Vol. XXI: No. 8) -- Richard(4) Stewart son of Charles(3), born about 1720, married (1) _____________ and (2)___________. . . His father, in his will dated Dec. 2, 1752, and probated Sep. 25, 1753, gave him and his brother, William, 200 acres of land in Surry, south of the Nottoway River. . .After he gives property and possessions to his other children and his wife, he states that he gives his son William the remainder of his land. . .This William is the son of Charles and Anne Pace Steward and the William who marries Mary Shands. A Charles Steward was sponsored to America in 1635 by Edward Osborne and mentioned in 1638 with Christopher Branch of Henrico, VA.
During this period of time our Stewart/Steward/Stuart/Stuard name was not spelled consistently, nor were other family spellings. On the 1790 Census of the United States some family names had as many twenty spelling variations. Many people are thrown off track when searching for their ancestors if they believe the family has spelled its name only one way. Most of these Southerners could neither read nor write; therefore, the person doing the recording or census taking spelled names as he heard them spoken in the various dialects.
By 1742 William Stuart was strongly affiliated with the Shands/Robards/Rives families, which would indicate an earlier connection. A close friend was Sloman Wynn—the Wynns were said to have come from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. They descended from Robert Wynne, mayor of Canterbury, who was born in 1563 in Shrewsbury. . .
William Stuart and Mary Shands were married after 1740 as proven by her Grandfather Robards' will. Their first child James was christened on 3 Nov 1743. His godparents were William Shands, William Shands, Jr., and Elizabeth Shands. . . Several of their children's christenings were registered in the ALBEMARLE PARISH REGISTER recorded by Rev. Willie. Two of their daughters, Anne and Frances, and their son, William, Jr., were not recorded, causing one to believe that they resided elsewhere at the time, perhaps in Brunswick Co.
In 1749 their known children were James, Anne, Frances, and William, Jr. Son, John, was born on 23 Feb 1749/50 and christened on 8 Apr. John's godparents were John Shands, Elizabeth Shands, and Edward Shelton. . . Son, Thomas, was christened on 18 Jun 1752, his godparents' being Matthew Wynne, son of Sloman, James Williams, and Mary Marriable. Another son, Charles, was christened on 18 Jan 1757, with Isaac Mason (cousin by marriage), William Willie, registrar of the ALBEMARLE PARISH REGISTER, and Anne McGee, named as his godparents.
Two daughters were born in the 1760s. Elizabeth was christened on 7 Mar 1762, her godparents being William Weathers, and her sisters, Anne Stewart and Frances Stewart. Charlotte was christened on 29 Sep 1763, her godparents being an uncle, Henry Mitchell, and aunts, Sally Ogburn and Amy Shands.
Many land transactions and deeds involving our Stewarts occurred over the next several years and are recorded in deed books of Surry and Sussex Counties.
WHERE DID THE CHILDREN GO?
In William Lindsay Hopkins's book SUSSEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DEED BOOKS A-E, 1754-MARCH 1779, we can track some of William(4) and Mary Shands Stewart's children. Son, William, Jr., was purchasing land from his father and others by the late 1760's; son, James, bought a slave from his father in 1770; plus daughter, Frances, who had married Marcus Gilliam, was given a Negro girl, Hannah, in 1768, witnessed by her brothers: James and John, and brother-in-law, Thomas Stokes, who had married Anne. . .
Frances Stewart and Marcus Gilliam were married before 1767 since their first child was christened in January of that year. Their children, indicated on the ALBEMARLE PARISH REGISTER, were Nathaniel, c. 11 Jan 1767, godparents being William Stewart, Thomas Hall, and Mary Hern. Son, Drury, was c. on 8 Feb 1769 with godparents listed as William Rives, Jr., William Hern, and Lucy Hern. Son William was c. on 1 Oct 1771. William Stewart, Jr., William Lamb, and Sarah Sommerville were his godparents. By 1774 the Marcus Gilliam family was living in Bute Co, NC, later Warren and Franklin Counties.
Daughter, Anne Stewart and Thomas Stokes were married after 1762. Thomas could have had a son, Christopher Stokes, when they married.
Their children recorded on the ALBEMARLE PARISH REGISTER were as follows:
Richard was christened on 17 Apr 1771, godparents being William Stewart, Jr., Jesse Sturdivant, and Lucy Gilliam. Anne was c. on 13 Mar 1773 with her godparents listed as Moses Knight, Susanna Newsom and Frances
Woodruff. Daughter, Mary (Polly), was christened on 19 Jun 1775. Her godparents were William Hardy, Frances Sturdivant, and Anna Williams. By 1777 Thomas Stokes is listed as deceased, apparently a casualty of the Rev War.
{In Dr. Stephen E. Bradley's book THE DEEDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY VIRGINIA 1779-1792, 1993, more is found about this family:} "38-(40) Christopher Stokes of Sussex Co. makes bond to Ann Stokes of same for 50 pounds VA 22 Oct 1779. Sd Christopher Stokes was heir to his father Thos. Stokes' estate, & he gives up his right to 2 Negroes Janne & Frank, also the use of 1/3 of land during her life, to complete the administration of his father's estate, & after sd Ann's death the Negroes to be divided among his brothers & sisters Elizabeth, Catharine, Thomas, Richard, Nancy, &
Polly. Wit: Robt. Jones, Joseph Dennis 18 Nov 1779. W. P. Claiborne Clerk."
Son, William Stuart, Jr., married Jemima Johnson after Feb 1772. Mrs. C. H. Stuart of Stanton, TN, gives an account of her family in the book THIS I GIVE TO YOU. Mary Ann Mitchell of Jackson, Tennessee, is also a researcher of this family.
My direct ancestor, John Stewart, son of William and Mary Shands Stewart, was listed as a merchant on some deeds of the 1770s. On 20 Oct 1774 he was living in Brunswick and is shown purchasing 200 acres on the south side of Nottoway River and the Hunting Quarter Swamp, being the land whereon William Rieves now lives and bounded by Stith Parham, William Hern, and William Hardaway. Apparently, he was married or married soon thereafter, Lucy Parker, thought to be the daughter of Drury/Drewery and Elizabeth Barham Parker since their first child, our ancestor William B. Stewart is shown on the ALBEMARLE PARISH REGISTER in 1775, being christened on 3 May 1775. His godparents were William Stewart, Thomas Ogburn, and Scota Stewart, believed to be either Elizabeth or Charlotte. {Scota Steward married John Mitchell, her cousin. After his death she married Peter Cain, Jr., their building a house in Sussex County, VA, which is still standing today.} In some recordings this name is transcribed Seala or Scota, but I believe it is Scota—back to ancient Stewart lore about Scota, princess of Ireland and Scotland from whom the Stuart Kings prove their lineage back to King Solomon, King David and the Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of the great Exodus of the Israelites.
John and Lucretia Parker Steward had four children. William B., Frederick P., Elizabeth Gilliam, and David, who died young. Elizabeth married Gray Gilliam and moved to Halifax, NC, eventually moving to Logan County, KY. Col. Stephen Temple was the surety on their marriage. He was married to Harriett Judkins, a possible cousin of Elizabeth through the Barham family. The Temples also moved to Logan Co, KY by 1800. Frederick P. Stuart married Cassandra Jones and moved to Logan County, KY, as well. William Steward moved to Georgia, marrying Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Cader Parker formerly of Nansemond Co, VA, 1782 and later Greene Co, GA. William and Elizabeth Parker Steward moved to Lowndes County, Alabama, where many of their friends and relatives had moved from Virginia, Surry and Sussex in particular. Most of their children married in Alabama before moving westward to LA, ARK, TX. All of this is recorded in the book JAMES A. STEWART: SOMEWHERE IN TEXAS, 1994, by Peggy A. Givens, GPG Publishing Co, 5992 Walnut Glen, McAlester, OK 74501

William married Mary Hubbard. (Mary Hubbard was born in 1650.)