Marty and Karla Grant

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Isam P. Stewart (1804-1888) and Serenia T. Ray of NC (Buncombe, Henderson)

[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - Isham P. Stewart (1804-1888)

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I am not related to Isam P. Stewart as far as I can prove. However, he did live in Buncombe Co., NC at the same time as my ancestor John Stewart (1730/40-1830).

Isam P. Stewart, also Stuart, also Isham, Isom, Ice, etc., was born 5 Sep 1804 per his tombstone at the Stuart Cemetery in Henderson Co., NC.

I don’t know what his P. middle initial stands for, but it does appear on several records.

He was born in North Carolina per his 1850 and 1870 census entries. However, his 1880 entry shows him born in South Carolina. If NC is correct, then it would be Surry Co., NC if his parents are who I suspect. If South Carolina, then probably Greenville District.

Regarding his parents, I *think* he’s a son of Charles Stewart (1770/75) and wife Elizabeth, but I don’t have absolute proof of that. I’m basing it on two things, one, proximity, and two, He named his oldest son Charles.

Ice would have been around 6 for the 1810 census, so should be enumerated in the under 10 age group (born ca 1800/1810). There were several Stewarts within our area of interest that had apparent sons in that age group, including my main suspect, Charles Stewart, still in Surry.

1810 Census, Buncombe Co., NC

p. 263 Nathaniel Steward Junr          30020-00010-0-0

p. 270 James Stewart                         11010-01010-0-0

p. 271 Joshua Steward                       20010-10100-0-0

1810 Census, Surry Co., NC

p. 634 Chas Stewart                            20010-10010-0-0

1810 Census, Greenville Dist., SC

p. 532 J. Suart (sic)                              10100-10100-0-0

p. 558 E. Sturt (sic)                              12110-10100-0-0

p. 561 James Stuard                           20100-10100-0-0

p. 562 Alex Sturt (sic)                         50010-00010-0-0

Ice would be about 16 for the 1820 census, so he should be in the 16-25 age group (born ca 1794/1804), and perhaps in the 10-15 age group (ca 1804/1810). Charles had moved to Buncombe by this time and he did have an apparent son listed in both those categories. In fact, he and Nathaniel Jr are the only ones who did. There were two potential matches in Greenville Dist., SC if he happened to be there. I include Greenville because some of the Buncombe Stewarts came from there.

1820 Census, Buncombe Co., NC

p. 125 Charles Stuart                          011101-30010-0-0

p. 125 Nathaniel Stuart (Jun)            221101-30010-0-0

1820 Census, Greenville Dist., SC

p. 1 William Stewart                           220210-31001-0-0

p. 5 Edward Stewart Senr                  010101-00101-0-0

Ice would have been around 24 for the 1830 census. That is old enough to be on his own, but there is no listing for him in his own name. However, Charles Stewart does have an apparent son his age with him in 1830. I suspect this is him.

Isham P. Stewart married Serenia T. Ray sometime between 1830 and ca 1832, presumably in Buncombe Co., NC. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificate of her daughter Rachel. Serenia (spelled various ways) was born 10 Feb 1815 per her tombstone. I don’t know who her parents were. There were several Ray families in Buncombe on the 1830 census but only one who had an apparent daughter her age. Ryland Ray had a girl aged 15-19 with him in 1830, which could be Serenia. If he is her father, it would certainly explain why her second oldest son was named Rylent.

Ice Stuart was listed as a voter in the 1835 elections in Buncombe in Bent Creek precinct. This puts him in the same neighborhood as Charles, et al.

Henderson County was formed in 1838 from southern Buncombe, the line cutting pretty close to where the Stewarts lived. Either Ice fell into the new county or moved there before the 1840 census. He was a few houses from Joshua Jones who was a son-in-law of Edward Stuart (1755/60) likely Ice’s uncle.

1840 Census, Henderson Co., NC

Page	Name (Males first row, females on second)	0-4	5-9	10-14	15-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60-69	70-79	80-89	90-99	100+
151	Ice Stuart	1	2	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

They are listed on the 1850 census in Henderson.

1850 Census, Henderson Co., NC

Page 249, House 442, Family 442

They are listed in Henderson for the 1860 census. On the first page, the birth places are blank, which I assume means North Carolina.

1860 Census, Henderson Co., NC, Mills River PO

Page 357B & 358, House 92, Family 91

They are in Henderson for the 1870 census. Although his initials should be. “I. P.” it is clearly listed as “J. P.” compared to other “J” names on the same page. Son Thomas is next door.

1870 Census, Henderson Co., NC, Mills River Township, Mills River PO

Page 317B, House 162, Family 162

They are on the 1880 census in Henderson. This time Ice is listed as being born in South Carolina, and both parents born in Virginia (which is probably accurate). His son next door lists his father as born in South Carolina so that matches his own entry.

1880 Census, Henderson Co., NC, Mills River

Page 319, House 5, Family 5

Serenia Ray Stewart/Stuart died on 15 Apr 1887. Isham P. “Ice” Stewart/Stuart died just under a year later on 1 Mar 1888. They are buried at the Stuart Cemetery.

There is an interesting article on the Stuart Cemetery that is worth the read.

There is a cemetery survey on the OBCGS site that is more informative than the Findagrave entry for the cemetery, though that one is also a good reference as it has photos and user submitted information.

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Children

Isam “Ice” Stewart and wife Serenia had 14 children as proven by the various census records. The oldest were born in Buncombe Co., NC (perhaps in the part that became Henderson in 1838), while the rest were likely born in Henderson County. Most of the children remained in the area, though the oldest son went to Texas, and the second oldest moved just a little further into western North Carolina where he wound up amongst my Stewarts in Graham Co., NC.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Isam P. Stewart and Serenia T. Ray.

Revised: July 5, 2024

Copyright © 1996-2024 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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