Person:William Stevenson (24)

Will of William Stevenson

William Stevenson, Patriarch.

Will; Original in his own hand. Copied from A History and Genealogical Record of the Stevenson Family from 1748 to 1926 By Rev. Samuel Harris Stevenson, Rev. J. A. Harris, and Hon. W. F. Stevenson.

In the name of God. Amen. I, William Stevenson, Senior, of the State of North Carolina and County of Iredell, being at present in my ordinary state of health, of mind and of memory - thanks be to God for it - calling to mind the mortality of my body, that it is appointed for all men once to die, for that all have sinned - do make this and ordain it and no other heretofore by me made - to be my last will and testament. And first of all, I commit my soul to God, who gave it to me, and my body to the dust, to be buried in a decent manner, at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter mentioned, nothing doubting but I shall receive the same again at the Last Day by the power of Almighty God; and for such earthly things as it hath pleased God to endow me with, I dispose of them in the following manner;

And, first of all, I allow my lawful debts fully to be discharged.

2. I leave to my loving wife, Mary, one negro wench named Dina, to be at her disposal during the life of my wife; and after that, if the said Dina be alive, to go as I shall direct. I also leave to her her own choose of all the beds we own, with full furniture hereunto belonging; also her own clothes, coarse and fine, also her own choose of all the horse creatures we then shall be possessed of; her own saddle and bridle; also a choose of the cattle as far as two cows and two calves; I also leave her in full possession of the house I now live in while she remains my widow; also the use of the barn, kitchen and other necessary houses thereunto belonging with the third part of this plantation I now live on, clear and unclear, with the use of all my stock, horses, cows, sheep and hogs, with all laboring instruments necessary for laboring on the plantation, except the reserves hereafter to be made; also the negro man named Henry, during her widowhood, to be under her direction to labor for the family support; and if my dear wife does not choose to live in her present habitation, but would choose rather to go to live with some other of her children, she may take with her the wenches named, and Henry, and what stock she pleases, to labor for her and themselves.

3. I leave to my son, Moses, the whole of the plantation I now live on, which contains 535 acres, after my wife is served of it, and two parts of it clear and unclear, till then. I also allow to him, after my wife is done with them, all the instruments of laboring tools belonging to the plantation, the present wagon excepted; the remaining at the time of cattle, sheep, and hogs I allow for his use; also all household furniture of all kinds, except beds and books, I bequeath to him. I also allow him my big house Bible and Hymn and Psalm Book with my lot in Union Library. :4. I leave and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth McKenzie, the forementioned wench Dina, when my wife is done with her, to whom she is now left, her, with all her breed, till then, if any there be, be the said McKenzie's; and till that time comes she is now possessed of a negro boy named Jack that is to fill her room until delivered to her, and if death should prevent, Jack is to continue in her stead as their own property; but if Dina is delivered aforesaid Jack returned and disposed of as hereafter directed.

5. I leave and bequeath to William Stevenson, son of John Stevenson, one hundred acres of land laying on the waters of Third and Fourth Creek near Statesville, being part of a tract given by me to my son, Robert Stevenson, and by him exchanged to his brother James, the said 100 acres being on the east end of said tract, beginning at a black oak sapling, George Robinson's northeast corner of a piece of the same tract he bought of said James Stevenson; from thence east to a post oak sapling, being the original east corner of said tract; but now cut down, unknowingly by the cutter, is now supplied by a large standing stone set up by and before many witnesses for that purpose; from thence south to a Spainish oak joining William Simentown, Esqr.; thence west with said Simentown's till a post oak sapling on said line George Robinson's southeast corner; thence north with said Robinson's line to the beginning. And if the said William should not live to possess it, it is to pass to the next male in the family till possessed.

6. I leave to Mary Stevenson, John Stevenson's oldest daughter, one mare known by the name of the sorrel mare's colt.

7. I leave to my son, John Stevenson, the wagon I am now the possessor of, but no gears.

8. I also leave to my son, William Stevenson, all my clothes that I am possessed sof both coarse and fine.

9. I do leave and bequeath unto William Stevenson Sloan one hundred dollars, to be paid to him out of my estate, together with my full margin Bible to be given to him also.

10. My books not already mentioned I allow to be divided amongst my children at the discretion of my Executors.

11. The remaining of my estate not yet bequeathed I allow to be put to public sale, to-wit: The two negroes Henry and Jack, if Dina lives to release Jack; if not, Henry is only to be sold; also what horses may remain together with whatever bedding may then remain as the property of the Estate, all to be sold, and the whole Estate, or the amount of it after all demands are cleared off, to be equally divided amongst all my children, male and female.

Last of all, I appoint my sons, John, William and Robert Stevenson to be the Executors of this, my last will and testament, and in witness of my satisfaction with what is herein contained, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eighth day of March, 1803.

Signed with my hand and sealed with my seal in presence of us, William Stevenson, Sr.

Test: Fergus Sloane,

O. H. Matthewa, Jurat. (Red Wafer)

Jno. Matthews.

Information on William Stevenson

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lzrslong/b3838.htm

William STEVENSON3,583 was born in 1725 in Ulster, County Atrim, Ireland.3,583 He died in 1809 in Nearstatesville, North Carolina.3,583 He is reference number 42919. [boyd-trees.ged]

[jswaim2.FTW]

[James E. Swaim.GED]

Mr. Stevenson died in the spring of 1809. His son Robert had moved to the great West in 1807, and settled in Bellvue, in Missouri, in 1808. The sons John and William qualified as Executors and filed the inventory of the Extate May 15, 1809.

William Stevenson arrived in Washington County Pennsylvania in between 1747 and 1750, probably 1748. He migrated to Iredell County, N. C. in 176

William's mother married (2.) Mr. White in County Atrim, Ulster, Ireland, after the death of her husband. She emigrated with Mr. White and the rest of the Stevenson siblings. William did not accompany them at the time. He was bound to a tailor in Ireland for several years to learn the tailor's trade and his master would not give him up to accompany the rest of the family.

William married Mary McClelland of a Scotch Irish family, who perhaps, had emigrated to America about the same time as his mother and Mr. White.

William received a land grant from Lord Granville April 4, 1761. He visited the country between the Catawba and South Yadkin Rivers in North Carolina. In the fall of 1763 he removed with his family to Iredell County, North Carolina. Two of his brothers and perhaps several of his wife's kin went with them.

William Stevenson often called "Little Gabriel," from his great fluency and fervency in prayer was elected and installed one of the 1st. board of Ruling Elders in Fourth Creek Church, and served the church in this capacity for as long as he lived. Spouse: Mary MCCLELLAND. William STEVENSON and Mary MCCLELLAND were married. Reference Number:767147 Children were: John STEVENSON.

http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db=rml&id=I01178&ti=5541

4. William Stevenson was born 1725 in County Antrim, IRL, and died 1 MAY 1809 in Iredell Co., NC. He was the son of 8. Henry Stevenson and 9. Ann Curlett.

5. Mary McLelland was born ABT. 1730 in County Antrim, and died 1811 in Iredell Co., NC. She was the daughter of 10. William McLelland and 11. Mary Ross.

Children of Mary McLelland and William Stevenson are:    

i. Thomas Stevenson was born ABT. 1756 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died ABT. 1780.

ii. Mary Stevenson was born ABT. 1757 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died ABT. 1757.

iii. John Stevenson was born 23 JUL 1758 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died 2 NOV 1836 in Iredell Co., NC. He married Elizabeth Moffett 1 SEP 1785 in Rowan Co., NC, daughter of William Moffett and (female) Sloan. She was born 1761, and died ABT. 1834 in Iredell Co., NC.

iv. Jane Stevenson was born 28 DEC 1762 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died 25 JUL 1856 in Caledonia, MO. She married William Alexander Sloan 13 MAY 1783 in Rowan Co., NC, son of Fergus Sloan and Ann Elizabeth Robinson. He was born 1753 in Rowan Co., NC, and died 22 JUN 1827 in Belleveu, MO.

v. William Stevenson was born 1763 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died 12 SEP 1840 in Iredell Co., NC. He married Prudence Hall, daughter of Thomas Hall and Elizabeth Sloan. She was born 1764 in PA or NC, and died 25 JUN 1852 in Iredell Co., NC.

vi. James Stevenson was born 10 MAR 1768 in Rowan Co., NC Colony, and died 20 JUN 1850 in Christian Co., KY. He married Nancy Young Brevard 26 DEC 1793, daughter of Hugh Brevard , Col. and Jean Young. She was born 4 JAN 1774 in Burke Co., NC Colony, and died 11 OCT 1841 in Christian Co., KY.

vii. Joseph Stevenson was born 25 APR 1769 in Rowan Co., NC. He married Jennie Brevard 2 SEP 1795, daughter of Hugh Brevard , Col. and Jean Young. She was born 10 MAY 1776 in Burke Co., NC, and died BEF. JUL 1804. He married Martha Clendennin 10 JUL 1804. She was born 27 JUN 1777, and died BEF. 1880.

viii. Robert Montgomery Young Stevenson was born 5 MAY 1772 in Rowan Co., NC, and died 23 JUL 1835 in Keener Co., MO. He married Mary Rebecca Steele, daughter of Mortimer Steele , Capt.. She was born 1775 in Statesville, NC, and died 4 OCT 1839 in Wayne Co., MO.

ix. Moses Stevenson was born 1773 in Rowan Co., NC Colony, and died MAR 1821. He married Annie Ewing ABT. 1790. She was born 3 OCT 1772 in Rowan Co., NC Colony, and died ABT. 1810 in Iredell Co., NC. He married Sara Watts BEF. 1820, daughter of William Watts and Rachel Davidson. She was born 2 SEP 1782 in Rowan Co., NC, and died in KY.

x. Nancy Stevenson was born ABT. 1775 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died in Iredell Co., NC. She married John Watt, son of William Watt and Jane Reid. He was born ABT. 1765 in Rowan Co., NC, and died 1821 in Iredell Co., NC.

xi. Elizabeth Stevenson was born 10 JAN 1779 in Rowan Co., NC, and died 12 JAN 1840 in Wharton Co., TX. She married Andrew McKenzie ABT. 1798 in Iredell Co., NC. He was born 1771 in Rowan Co., NC, and died 1819 in Trigg Co., KY.

http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/special/mccormick/chapter3.txt

As already mentioned, William Stevenson and his wife Mary (McLelland) Stevenson, had born to them, and reared to maturity, a family of seven sons and three daughters. There were also born to them two daughters, their fourth and sixth children, each of whom died in infancy. These two were named Mary, for their mother, the first named Mary having died before the other was born. I never saw any of these ten children who lived to maturity, except my grandmother McKenzie, who was the youngest of them. I arrived in the Blue Water neighborhood, in Christian County, Kentucky, a few days after the death of James, the last survivor of them, who died at his home near Blue Water, on the 20th day of June, 1850. One son, Thomas, died unmarried during the Revolutionary War; Robert married Mariah Rebecca Steele, a sister of my father's mother, and moved to Missouri, as mentioned in Chapter II. The oldest daughter, Jane, married William Sloan, and moved to Missouri, of whom I know only what is mentioned in Chapter II. The other daughter, Nancy, married John Watt, of whom my mother often spoke to her children. I have no recollection of having met any of the descendants of the three just named of the children of William and Mary Stevenson. On my visits to Christian County, Kentucky, in 1850 and in 1853, I met very many of the descendants of their others sons, and have met different ones of them from time to time in other states. They are now widely scattered, and in many places may be found some one of them who has become prominent in business or in professional or public life.