Person:Isaac Stephens (3)

About Isaac Stephens

From "Sequatchie Families" by James L. Douhat:

Isaac Stephens, scion of the Stephens family in Sequatchie Valley, came to this area via Virginia and Meigs County, Tennessee. He was born on February 26, 1782 in Botetourt County, Virginia, the son of Soloman and Milly or Molly Britt. Soloman had come to this country with his brother James, sometime around 1785-1786 from England.

According to the family tradition, Isaac, the only son, did not like his stepfather so when about nine years old, he went to live with the family of John and Anna Davis of Montgomery County, Virginia. This family moved to Meigs County, Tennessee. Isaac married their daughter Anna, in January, 1803.

Isaac Stephens was born in the state of Virginia. Anna Davis, his wife, was born in the state of New York. They were among the first settlers of Sequatchie Valley. They first thought of locating at Big Spring farm where they died, but the cane was so heavy and thick they went down near Pikeville and cleared up some land on what is known now as the "Old Aaron Swafford" farm. Isaac Stephens was at one time a member of the legislature of Tennessee. He was a very zealous Christian, a class leader at Stony Point Church (Methodist).

He did serve in the Tennessee legislature for the 10th, 11th, and 15th session of that body. These were the years 1813, 1815, and 1823. He was a representative of Bledsoe County for two terms and Marion County for one, the 15th session. He was also commissioned as a Captain in the 31st Militia Regiment of Tennessee. He served as a commissioner in the town of Pikeville.

Isaac Stephens is mentioned several times in "County Court Minutes (Abstract) 1841-1846, Bledsoe County, Tennessee", including the following:

Ordered that the Sheriff summons the following gentlemen to attend as Jurors for the Circuit Court for Bledsoe County at November Term . . . Charles Lowery, Isaac Stephens, . . . August Session, 1842.

Ordered that the Sheriff summons the following gentlemen to attend as Judges at the ensuing August Election: . . . 3. William Nail, John Tollett, Isaac Stephens, July Session, 1843.

Court Appointed following gentlemen Judges of the Election to be held on 5th of November next, for the purpose of electing President and Vice President of the United States: . . . John F. Greer, . . . John Tollett, William Nail, Isaac Stephens . . . October Session, 1844

Jury of View : Isaac Stephens, John Tollett, . . . To view an alteration in the public road commencing at Stephen's Branch where it crosses Old Road near Tollett's Mill, to intersect the Old Road where Stephen's Field crosses the same . . . make report January Term, October Term, 1845

Mark Stephens, Isaac Stephens witnessed the will of Bennett Rector, November Court Session, November 1845.

Isaac Stephens appointed to a Jury of View, to view a road beginning at Isaac Stephens Branch to intersect the Old Road on top of the hill. . . make report next term, April Session, 1846.

p. 453, Ordered that Isaac Stephens, James Orme, William Nail be appointed . . . one years provisions for Dory Parham, the widow of Johnson Parham, dec'd . . . make report next year, June Term, 1846.

1850 Census, Bledsoe County, Tennessee:

22 485 485 Stephens Mark 42 M Farmer 2500 TN

23  485  485 Stephens       Elizabeth C.   25   F                                  VA                            
24  485  485 Stephens       William E.     2    M                                  TN                            
25  486  486 Stephens       Isaac          68   M         Farmer         5000      VA                            
26  486  486 Stephens       Anna           70   F                                  NY                            
27  487  487 Stephens       James          40   M         Farmer         2500      TN                            
28  487  487 Stephens       Isabella       41   F                                  TN                            
29  487  487 Stephens       Ann J.         18   F                                  TN                            
30  487  487 Stephens       Isaac H.       16   M         Labourer                 TN                       X    
31  487  487 Stephens       Martha E.      13   F                                  TN                       X    
32  487  487 Stephens       William E.     10   M                                  TN                       X    
33  487  487 Stephens       John E.        8    M                                  TN                       X    
34  487  487 Stephens       Margaret H.    5    F                                  TN                            
35  487  487 Stephens       Mark A.        2    M                                  TN

1. ↑ Sequatchie Families, by James L. Douthat, pub. 1983, 2504 Kell Road, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
   p. 98.
2. ↑ Sequatchie Valley Bible Records, by James L. Douthat, pub. by Mountain Press, 2504 Kell Road, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
   p. 28.
3. ↑ County Court Minutes (Abstracts), 1841-1846, Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Goins and Hobbs Genealogy Service, purchased from Mountain Press, Signal Mountain, Tennessee)
   p. 22.
4. ↑ County Court Minutes (Abstracts), 1841-1846, Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Goins and Hobbs Genealogy Service, purchased from Mountain Press, Signal Mountain, Tennessee)
   p. 38.
5. ↑ County Court Minutes (Abstracts), 1841-1846, Bledsoe County, Tennessee. (Goins and Hobbs Genealogy Service, purchased from Mountain Press, Signal Mountain, Tennessee)
   p. 95.