Person:Thomas Stevenson (49)

Advisory

There are many internet (and some published) versions of this family that claim that Thomas Stevenson and his wife Mary Hawkins were born in 1720 (approx) and 1719, respectively. Given the approximate birthdates of their children, the liklihood of Thomas and Mary being well into their 50's and more likely their 60's, this appears problematic at best. Mary, the wife of Thomas left her will which was proven on 6 April 1829, which if she had been born in 1719, would have been 110 years old at the time of her death. In addition, Mary Hawkins was clearly named in the will of her father, Nathaniel Hawkins, who was born in abt. 1722 or 1723 (by varying accounts), so there is no possible way that she could have been born prior to the date of her father, proving the inaccuracy of many internet (and published) versions. More research is necessary on this family.

Land Records

July 6th, 1801, Thomas Stephenson & wife, Mary (Hawkins), conveyed to Joseph Stephenson 57 acres of land in Orange County, Virginia, on the North Fork of the Pumonkey River.

Will of Thomas Stephenson

In the name of God, Amen, I, Thomas Stephenson of Madison County, Kentucky, farmer, being in perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, calling the mortality of my boddy and knowing that it appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say, Principally and first of all, I give and Recommend my soul in the hands of all mighty God that gave it and my boddy, I recommend to Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of _____________________________________________________________________, ________________________________, John and Nathan H. Stephenson, my executors _____________, utterly disallow, revoke and disconnect all and Every former? _______ment _______bequests and Executors by me and ________ before named, willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirm this and no other to be my last will and Testament in _________, whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th? day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twelve. Signed, sealed? , published, pronounced and declared by the said Thomas Stephenson, as his last will and Testament, made in the presents? of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto suscribed our names.

(signed) Thomas + Stephenson [His Mark]

witnessed by

Pleasant Turner

Thomas Clark

John + Waremouth [His Mark]

At a court held for Madison County on Monday, the 6th? day of 1812. This will was proved to be the last will and Testament of Thomas Stephen by the oath of Thomas Clark and John Waremouth and ordered to be recorded.

February 18th, 1819, Thomas Stephenson's widow, Mary Stephenson, made to their heirs, a quit claim deed to estate bequeathed to her by the Will of her husband, which will was proved April 6th, 1812. Executors: sons, John Stephenson and Nathan Stephenson.

Will Abstract of Wife Mary

The Will of Mrs. Mary Stephenson bears date, December 22nd, 1824 / probated April 6th, 1829, the Wills shows on its face that she was a widow and relict of Thomas Stephenson. She distributed her property equally among her children: Nancy Long and Catherine Patton, now Catherine Slavin – their parts given to their children – and she appointed her son, Nathan H. Stephenson, Executor.

Notes

From "A history of Kentucky and Kentuckians", Volume 2, by E. Polk Johnson, Lewis Publishing:

- (Note: several dates listed here have been dis-proven).

William Worth Stephenson was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on the 24th of October, 1857, and is a son of Dr. Andrew T. and Elizabeth Ann (Smith) Stephenson, both of whom were likewise born in Madison county. The genealogy in the agnatic line is traced back to staunch English and Scotch stock, and Thomas Stevenson, great-grandfather of the subject of this review, came to America when a young man. being accompanied by his four brothers. He had been a resident of the north of Ireland prior to his emigration to America. He remained for a time in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and removed to Orange county, Virginia, where he took the oath of allegiance on the 22d of May, 1740. (Note: it was apparently a DIFFERENT Thomas Stephenson with wife Rachel that proved his importation to Orange County, Virginia in May 1740) He accumulated a considerable estate both in lands, and in slaves. His brothers James and John also settled in the Old Dominion state. Thomas Stevenson served in the southern division of the Continental army during the war of the Revolution. He married Miss Mary Hawkins, who was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1716 [Note: this date has been dis-proven], and who was a daughter of Nathan Hawkins, also a native of that county. They reared a large family of children,—namely: James, John, Joseph. Nathan. Nicholas, Thomas, Mrs. Catherine Petton. Betsey and Mrs. Nancy Long. Thomas Stevenson was a second cousin of Hon. Andrew Stevenson, speaker of Congress from 1827 to 1835 and minister to England from 1836 to 1841.

Joseph H. Stephenson, son of Thomas and Mary (Hawkins) Stevenson, (Mother Mary Hawkins would have been age 55 at Joseph's birth, which appears problematic) was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the 6th of November, 1771. As a young man he emigrated to Kentucky, settling at what is now Kirksville. Madison county, in 1798. There he purchased land and there he devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Mary Tribble, daughter of Rev. Andrew Tribble. an able Baptist clergyman, who had taken part in the fight for religious liberty in Virginia. Rev. Andrew Tribble married a daughter of Thomas Burris, whose wife was a daughter of Roger Tandy, a very early settler of Spottsylvania county. Virginia. Thomas Burris served under Washington in the battle of the Meadows and he also participated in a number of engagements of the war of the Revolution. He and his three sons-in-law came to Madison county, Kentucky, about the year 1783. James H. Stephenson changed the spelling of the family name by substituting "ph" for "v", as he had been in funned by a learned educator that this change was logically correct, the name being derived from Stephen. Joseph H. and Mary (Tribble) Stephenson reared a large family of children, and one of the number was Dr. Andrew Tribble Stephenson, father of him whose name initiates this review.