Person:Edward Stevens (14)

About Edward Stevens

From wikipedia.com

Edward Stevens (1745[2] – August 17, 1820[3]) was an officer in the American Revolutionary War and later a state legislator for Virginia, serving in the Virginia Senate.[4] He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1794.[5]

Stevens began his military career as a lieutenant colonel in the 1775 Battle of Great Bridge, where he commanded a battalion of riflemen,[6] the Culpeper Minutemen.[7] Stevens distinguished himself in the battle[6] and was given a command as colonel of the 10th Virginia Regiment. Stevens raised and equipped his regiment and marched to rendezvous with General George Washington, his direct commander.[8] Stevens's command had their first engagement at the Battle of Brandywine, where the regiment did not enter the battle until the American forces had begun to retreat. Stevens troops covered the retreat and prevented the British from pursuing.[8] Stevens received the public praise of Washington after both Brandywine and the subsequent Battle of Germantown.[8]

Stevens became a brigadier general in the Virginia Militia. Stevens saw his first action as a general at the Battle of Camden. Before the battle Stevens complained that his "militia will not be satisfied with what regular troops well off with."[9] At the council of war before the battle, Stevens advised "It is too late to retreat now; we must fight."[8] Stevens's statement is thought to have convinced Horatio Gates to engage the British rather than retreat.[10] The battle did not go well, and Stevens considered resigning, but Nathanael Greene convinced Stevens to continue his service.[11]

Stevens next commanded his militia at the Battle of Guilford Court House. Stevens' militia was positioned behind a line of North Carolina militia. When the North Carolinians broke, dropped their weapons, and ran at the beginning of the battle, Stevens told his soldiers to make way for the retreat and that this was part of the battle plan.[4] Stevens also positioned riflemen behind his line to shoot retreating soldiers.[4] During the battle Stevens was wounded in the thigh.[4] Stevens was in Charlottesville, Virginia, recovering from his wound when Banestre Tarleton launched a raid on the town to capture Virginia's legislature and its governor, Thomas Jefferson. Captain Jack Jouett, who had ridden through the night to warn of the British attack, drew the attention of the British and led them on a chase so the wounded Stevens could escape.[12] Stevens returned to the battlefield to lead a brigade of 750 men at the Siege of Yorktown.[13]

Addendum

General Edward Stevens married Grizzell "Gilly" Coleman (1746-1820), daughter of Robert Coleman (1716-1793) and Sarah Ann Saunders (1718- abt. 1775), about 1765 in Virginia. They apparently had three children together who all died prior to the writing of his will in 1820. He had his will listed in Culpeper County, Virginia and was entered into probate on 24 August 1820. His will was also entered into probate in Clinton County, Ohio on 15 October 1827, which is a more legible copy of his will.

Will Transcript

Edward Stevens Will [Note: several words illegible in his Culpeper Co., VA Will, but more legible in his Clinton Co. OH Copy]

I Edward Stevens of Culpeper County do declare this my last Will & Testament revoking all others

First all my just debts is to be ;unctually paid & without delay and the Legacies herein bequeathed are to be discharged in the manner directed.

Item I give To my dearly beloved wife Gilly Stevens I bequeath my whole Estate Real & personal during her life except Such parts thereof as otherwise hereafter disposed of All my Lotts that is improved as also those unimproved as also those unimproved in the Town of Fairfax with all my Household & Kitchen furniture.

Item I give unto my daughter in law Polly Stevens during her natural life the Houses and Gardens which she now occupies with two hundred & fifty acres of Land adjoining thereto to begin at the west end of my tanyard & to angle in such a manner as to take in ye easterly spring which crosses the water into ye Tanyard and from thence in such a Straight line to my back line adjoining Capt. James Bell & thence to run with mine and his dividing lines to the mountains Run & from thence to run up Mountain Run to the mouth of a large Ditch which conveys the water through my meadow & from thence a straight line to the upper east end of my tanyard.

Item I desire that all my debts shall be collected as soon as possible and as fast as they are collected two thirds of which is to be paid into the hands of my wife and the other third into the hands of my daughter in Law Polly Stevens to do with as they may think best.

Item I give unto James Scantand of the State of Kentucky two hundred & fifty acres of Land which is to be taken from a Tract of Land that I have adjoining the said Scanland (of twelve hundred & seven Acres laying on Cartwright Creek, and muse be taken from the part adjoining to his Land and to be laid off in such a manner as not to injury the remainder of the Tract.

Item I give unto William Edmondson one hundred & fifty Acres Land to be taken from the Tract of Land which I have given a part of to James Scanland which is to include the improvements he lives on & must be laid off in such a manner as to do as ___ my to the Balance of the Tract as possible.

Item I give Richard Chandler two hundred Acres Land to be taken from the tract which I gave William Edmondson a part of & adjoining the said William Edmondson & to be laid off in such a manner as to do as little injury as possible to the remaining part of the Original Tract.

Item I give unto John Bland (who married Nancy Edmondson) one hundred and fifty Acres Land to be taken from from the tract which I gave a part of to James Scaland to be laid off in such a manner as to do as little injury to the remaining part of the original tract as possible.

item I give unto Edward Evans one hundred & fifty acres of Land to be taken from this Tract which I gave a part of to James Scanland to be laid off in such a manner as to do as little injury to the remaining part of the Original Tract as possible.

Item I give unto James Edmondson one hundred & fifty Acres Land to be taken from the Tract of Land which I gave a part of to James Scanland to be laid off in such a manner as to do as little injury to the remaining part of the Original Tract as possible.

Item I give unto Betsey Emery | before marriage Betsey Edmondson is she is living & if she is dec'd I give unto here Children one hundred & fifty acres Land to be taken from the Tract of Land which I gave James Scanland to be laid off in such a manner as to do as little as possible to the remaining part of the Original Tract as possible.

Item It is my bequest if the Original Tract of Land should not hold out Twelve hundred & seven acres which the plan mentions in that case a deduction must be made from the reasonably given to each of the devisees.

Item The One hundred Acres of Land laying in Kentucky & being a part of a Tract which I sold to W. Smith & Funks? and which I permitted John Edmondson to settle on I do now hereby give to the said John Edmondson and his wife as lonhg as they live and after their deaths to be sold and the money divided amongst John Edmondson children and their heir.

Item The seven hundred & fifty acres of Land I expect it will be held out more; belonging to ma in the State of Ohio and laying adjacent to a Town called Wilmington. I hereby direct to be sold on a Twelve months credit the Land to be secured for the payment of the money & the amount of the money when received to be divided amongst the children of my Sister Patty Edmondson on the following proportion Viz. unto James Scanland two ninths John Edmondson, Robert Chandler decd. his proportion to his children, Joseph Edmondson dec'd his proportion to his children, Edward Evans, John Bland who married Nancy Edmondson, James Edmondson, Betsey Edmondson who I believe married a man by the name of Emery & each of these one Ninth Part.

Item I have a Patent for one thousand Acres Land laying in the Dismal Swamp Norfolk County which said Land I gave unto George Pollard the son of my friend Robert Pollard, and I do also hereby give him two Negroes named Hannale & Agnes.

Item It is my will & declare that in case my wife should depart the life before my daughter in Law Polly Stevens in consequence thereof I then give unto my daughter in Law Polly Stevens during her natural life one third part of my Real & personal Estate that I have given unto my wife during her life.

Item I give unto my Wife the following named Negroes to wit Charlotte & her two children Edward & Lacy & a Negro Girl named Luckey with all my Household & Kitchen furniture all those I give also lastly to my Wife to dispose of as she many chose and they are to be considered as her sole property.

Item It is my Will & desire that in case my Wife should depart this life before my daughter in Law Polly Stevens in that case I do hereby give my said daughter in Law Polly Stevens exclusive of the one third part I have heretofore given, one hourty part more of my Real & personal Estate which I gave my wife during here Life.

Item It is my Will and desire that in case my daughter in Law Polly Stevens should depart this life before my Wife in that event I do hereby give and all that I have given unto my said daughter in Law unto my Wife during her life.

Item After the death of my Wife I give unto my friend Robert Pollard of the City of Richmond my man Tom a Negro boy Walker & a little Girl Sally.

Item After the death of my Wife or sooner if she pleases I give unto Edward Duncanson the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars.

item I promised to give unto the Trustees of the protestant Episcopal Church one acre of Land to build a church thereon As also one acre of Land to the prebyterians for the same purpose adjoining the Town of Fairfax which Gifts I do hereby confirm with a desire it should be done in such a manner as to inspire the main body as little as possible.

Item I promised to give unto the Freemans Lodge of the Town of Fairfax one acre of Land adjoining my Family Burial Ground a title to them for the same Sale hereby confirm.

Item I hereby give my daughter in Law Polly Stevens a Negro Girl named Lesey to be her absolute property.

Item after the death of my Wife and daughter in Law Polly Stevens I do hereby gives and Bequeath unto the following persons (who are children or intermarried with children of my Sister Patty Edmondson) Viz. Robert Chandler dec'd, his children, Joseph Edmondson dec'd his children, John Edmondson, James Scanland, John Bland who married Nancy Edmondson, Edward Evans, James Edmondson, Betsey Edmondson who I believe married a man by the name of Emory, Robert Edmondson should he be alive but I am to told he is dead and never married of he is living dead of his lawful children they are hereby included all my estate both Real & personal which I gave my Wife & daughter in Law Polly Stevens during their Lives I do now direct the same to be equally divided Between the above mentioned children of my Sister Patty Edmondson.

Item It is my most fervent desire & Request that my Slaves which I have herein deemed should be healed with humanity they must do their duty for without they cannot be supported.

Lastly I constitute my Dearly beloved Wife & daughter in Law Polly Stevens my Nephew Robert Pollard & my Friends John McNeale, Richard Johnston, Tull Phill Legheford & Thomas Hall Executrix & Executor as Witness my Hand & seal this 1st June one thousand and eight hundred & Twenty.

[Signed} Edward Stevens [Seal]

At a Court Continued and held for Culpeper County the 24th day of August 1820.

This Last Will and Testament of Edward Stevens dec'd was produced to the Court by Richard J. Tull and Philip Leghefort two of the executors therein named and there being no subscribing Witnesses to the said Will John Thackelford, William Broadus and Richard Henry Field were sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the Testators hand writing and truly believe the said Will and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly written by the testators own hand whereaforesaid the said Will & Ordered to be Recorded.

Teste: Thomas W. Lightfoot C.G.

1.   Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Stevens_(general)

2.   Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.

   Bounty Land Warrant information relating to Edward Stevens VAS1922 vsl 2VA
   Transcribed by Will Graves 4/27/15
   
   [From bounty land records in the Library of Virginia]
   
   [Note: the following document only appears in the file indexed under the name of Robert
   Lawson]
   
   In the House of Delegates
   November 11, 1783
   Resolved that the Petition of Edward Stevens, and Robert Lawson, praying that a bounty
   of Lands may be granted them, is reasonable.
   Resolved that the same Bounty of Land ought to be allowed to Brigadier General Edward
   Stevens, and Brigadier General Robert Lawson, as is allowed to Officers of the same Rank in the Continental Army.
   Teste:
   S/ John Beckley, C. H. D.
   1783 November 19th
   agreed to by the Senate
   S/ William Davis, C. S. A Copy
   S/ John Beckley, C. H. Ds
   _________________________________
   [From Digital Library of Virginia ] Culpeper County Legislative Petitions
   
   To the Honorable Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
   The Memorial of Edward Stevens & Robert Lawson, –
   late Brigadier Generals in the Militia of this State, Humbly represents. – That when the contest between Great Britain and the United States of America commenced, they were early impressed with the justice of the American cause, & therefore took a decided part against Great Britain. At an early period of the War they had the honor to command each, a Regiment in the federal Army: for which important trust, they had the confidence to believe, they discharged the united duties of Soldier, & Citizen, being pressed by a variety of circumstances, which although of a private nature, were nevertheless so weighty with your Memorialists, as to constrain them to resign
   
   [paper damaged and several words rendered illegible] their command, which they had accepted
   with alacrity. But although they were thus impelled to leave the Continental Army, to pay some attention to their domestic matters, which were in such a train at that time as absolutely to require their immediate care, still they trust, that it is a fact well known, that they did not abandon the cause of their Country: – but on the contrary they sought the first opportunity that offered, of being employed in its defense, when invaded by the Enemy in 1779; and it is with the most lively gratitude, that they reflect, on the generous confidence of their Country, in calling them into its Service; & conferring on them, a higher degree of rank, then they had in the federal Army, or their merits would well entitle them to aspire to. This consideration alone, would have operated so powerfully upon their minds, as to shut, out every wish of seeking further reward, for their past Services, if they had been so happy as to render any, in the opinion, of their Countrymen, had they not observed, in a variety of instances, that the benefit, and liberal, disposition of this Honorable House, hath [one or more words rendered illegible] them to grant Lands to those of the Public Servants employed in the War, whose pretensions thereto, with diffidence they conceive, were not founded under longer, or more faithful Services to the Commonwealth, then your Memorialists.
   The intent then of your Memorialists, in soliciting the attention of this Honorable House,
   is, that they will be pleased to take their case under consideration, & grant them such bounty in Lands, as you in your Justice, & generosity, shall think fit.
   And your Memorialists, as in duty bound will ever pray &
   S Edw.d Stevens
   Novr 5th 1783
   S/ Ro: Lawson
   
   [reverse]
   Stevens and Lawson
   their Petition
   November 5th : 1783
   referred to Propositions
   (reasonable)
   (reported)
   
   https://revwarapps.org/VAS1922.pdf

3.   .

   Brigadier General Edward Stevens
   Edward Stevens was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1745. Stevens began his military service as lieutenant colonel of the Culpeper battalion of minutemen raised in 1775, a detachment of which he led at the Battle of Great Bridge on 9 December 1775. In November 1776, Stevens was commissioned colonel of the 10th Virginia Regiment of Continentals. Stevens led his regiment with distinction during the Philadelphia Campaign before resigning his commission in January 1778. Stevens recruited a battalion of the Virginia Line in June 1778 and was subsequently appointed brigadier general of the Virginia militia in 1779. He commanded Virginia Line brigades at Camden in August 1780 and at Guilford Courthouse in March 1781, where he was severely wounded. After a period of convalescence, Stevens returned to action, leading a Virginia brigade during the Virginia campaigns in 1781. Stevens served brief terms as a state senator in 1776 and 1779–80 before dying in 1820.
   
   https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/419/oa_monograph/chapter/3104655

4.   Find A Grave.

   Gen Edward Stevens
   Birth 1745, Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia, USA
   Death 17 Aug 1820 (aged 74–75), Culpeper County, Virginia, USA
   Burial Masonic Cemetery, Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia, USA
   
   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8296932/edward-stevens

5.   Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900.

   Name Edward Steven
   Gender Male
   Residence Date Abt 1820
   Residence Place Culpeper
   Will Date 1 Jun 1820
   Probate Date 1 Jun 1820 [s/b 24 Aug 1820]
   Probate Place Culpeper, Virginia, USA
   Inferred Death Year 1820
   Inferred Death Place Virginia, USA
   Item Description Mixed Records, Vol F, 1809-1813; Mixed Records, Vols H-I, 1817-1825
   Individuals Listed (Name) Relationship
   Edward Steven Testator
   Gelly Steven Wife
   Polly Steven Daughter
   Robert Polland Friend
   Charlotte Enslaved Person
   Edward Enslaved Person's Child
   Lucy Enslaved Person's Child
   Luckey Enslaved Person
   Patty Edwardson Sister
   Robert Chandler Nephew
   Joseph Edwardson Nephew
   John Edwardson Nephew
   James Scanland Nephew-in-law
   Nancy Edwardson Niece
   Edward Evans Nephew
   James Edwardson Nephew
   Betsey Edwardson Niece
   John McNeale Friend
   Richard Johnston Tull Friend
   Phillip Leghyart Friend
   Thomas Hall Friend