Capt James W. Stinson Stephenson ¹

  General Notes:

William Stephenson and his brother James "Jack" Stephenson and 2 sisters came from Balleymoney County, Antrim, Ireland, to the colonies in Oct 1772 on the ship, James and Mary. They arrived at Charleston SC Dec 20 1772. They both fought in the Revolutionary War.

James had one daughter who died on the ship on the way to the colonies and was buried at sea.

One source states that he died Oct 8 1788. See note below and a copy of a Will of James Stinson/Stephenson who died in Oct 8 1788.

Hon. W E Kaynes, Columbia, Tennessee, January 6 1840 Comptroller General of South Carolina at Columbia -

I filed the paper of Elizabeth Stephenson, wife, or widow of Moses Stephenson dee and of Rosana Stephenson, widow of James Stephenson dee, Margaret Tolen widow of James Tolen dee. The said Moses & James Stephenson and James Tolen once soldiers of the War of the Revolution from South Carolina. Hon. J R Poinsette (?) Secretary of War refers me to you for proof of services, says you have the records of the names of all the soldiers of the old war from that State and requires me to procure from you a certificate of the fact, whether, the records shows that the said dee men were soldiers in whose companies and they served & the fact of the length of service if your records show it.

Please make the examination of the records in your possession of the roll of soldiers and certifiy the same to me as attorney for the aforesaid applicants for pension.

Your obedient humble servant, /s Jno H Deal (?)

Transcription of original Indenture:

Indenture Book No. 393: Issue the 27 Oct 1784 to Mr. James Stephenson for Four pounds fourteen shilling and three pence sterling 45 days militia duty in 1780 and 1781. Acct audited. L4.14.3

Indenture Book, no. not legible: Issued the 7 of April 1785 to Mr. James Stephenson for Forty pounds ten shilling sterling for 380 days duty in 1780 and 1781. a??? acc audited L40:10

For 380 militia duty in 1780 & 1781 in Capt Crawford as footman 18 days and as horseman.

Transcription of original letter:Columbia, TennesseeSept 8 1840 Dear Sir:

Enclosed you have five dollars ??? the South Western Railroad Bank No. 370 ? payable at Knoxville, Tennessee. You will please certify to the Hon J L Edward Pension Commissioner or Col J R Poinsette, Sec or War, the record evidence in your possession of the services of James Stephenson a private soldier part of the time and a Sergeant part of the time in the War of the Revolution. James Stephenson served under Captain Bratton afterward, Maj. Bratton. Captain Lacy afterward promoted, ??? or his widow alleges 18 months in the regular service as a ?????. Will you also examine your records and forward to me a certificate in due form of the services of John Johnson also a soldier from your State. I need a letter from you stating his services as well as Mr. Stephenson. I cannot send you the other dollar because of the want of change of money that would be worth anything to you except specie (?). the postage would equal the amount.

Please forward to the Department immediately for Jas Stephenson and to me for John Johnson, Your friend, /s ???????, Att for applicants

Larry E Stephenson states: "I am convinced that our Grandfather James lived and died in Chester County, SC. Perhaps he did not serve in the army. He died Oct 8 1788, leaving an estate in Chester County. Beneficiaries of the will were his wife, Rose Stephenson, Robert Stephenson, James and Mary Stephenson."

WILL OF JAMES STINSON (STEPHENSON) - See note above: Dated September 16 1788

In the name of God Amen, the sixteenth day of September in year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, I, James Stephenson of the state of South Carolina and County of Chester, weary being very sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God that calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that God appointed once for all men to die doth make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say Punesfully Impremis I give and recommend my soul into the hand of allmighty God that gave it, my body I do recommendto the earth to be buried in a decent Christian way at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurection I shall receive the same again by the Might Power of God and as touching such World of Estate wherewith it hat Pleased God to bless me with in this life. I give and dispose the same as followeth to wit:

I give and bequeath unto Rose Stephenson, my dearly beloved wife, the one half of my plantation that I now live on during her widowhood and after that term of time I give and bequeath the same to my beloved son, Robert Stephenson, the other half of my Plantation I give & bequeath unto my dearly beloved son and daughter, James Stephenson & Mary Stephenson to be equally divided between them and all the remainder of my estate to be equally divided between them and all my debts I allow to be collected & all my just debts and funeral charges paid off in the first place and the remainder to be dealth with as the law directs like wise, I constitute, appoint & ordain my well beloved brother, William Stephenson, Executor & my well beloved wife, Rose Stephenson, Executrix of this my last Will & Testament & I do utterly disanull, Revoke, and make void all and every other Testament, Wills, Bequest and Executors by me in anywise before named, Willed and Bequeathed ratifying this & noting it to be my last Will & Testament.

In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & seal the Day and Year first above written.

James Stinson (Seal) Signed, sealed, pronounced & Declared) in Presence of ---- Andrew Hamphill
-----Elizabeth Brady (her mark)


Sources:

Title: gurley.FTW
Repository:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: Aug 2, 2000

  Additional Information:

• Alt. Death, 8 Sep 1788.

• Military Service: the Revolutionary War.

Jack married Rosannah Nellie in 1765 in Balleymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. (Rosannah Nellie was born about 1750 in Ireland,¹ died in 1783 ¹ and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Williamson County, Tennessee ¹.)