Marty and Karla Grant

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Jacob Stewart (c1774-1863) and Elizabeth Setzer of North Carolina (Guilford, Cabarrus, Buncombe, Macon, Cherokee)

[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - Jacob Stewart (c1774-1863)

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Jacob Stewart is my 4 times great uncle.

Special thanks to Lawrence Wood (deceased) and Carl H. Stewart for data shared on this family. Also thanks to Carol Taylor, Barbara Ledford and Mitch Watson and others who were helpful as well.

Note: There was another Jacob Stuart (c1777-aft 1860) who was in Buncombe Co., NC at the same time as this one. They didn’t live near each other, but there is certainly a little room for confusion among the records.

Jacob Stewart / Stuart was born ca 1774/75 per his age on the 1850 census (75) or ca 1773/74 per his age on the 1860 census (86). Those are close enough to settle on ca 1774.

He was born in North Carolina according to both the 1850 and 1860 censuses. He was in Macon Co., NC for both of those. The census taker there in 1850 and 1860 went above and beyond and recorded not only the state of birth, but the county of birth for nearly everyone. This is solid gold data. However in Jacob’s case it’s caused much confusion. In 1850 his birth place was listed as Cabarrus Co., NC. In 1860 he was reported as born in Guilford Co., NC.

In both cases, Jacob was residing with his daughter Lydia Moore and her family. He wasn’t the head of household, thus it can be reasonably assumed that he wasn’t the one who provided the information to the census taker either time. However, there may be a thread of truth to both claims. We know that Jacob’s parents were in Cabarrus Co., NC in 1800, thus that might explain why someone thought Jacob was born there. However, I don’t think the family was there ca 1774 when Jacob was born, in fact I don’t think they lived in Cabarrus all that long.

Does that mean Guilford is probably the true birth place of Jacob? Maybe so, but to date I’ve found no proof that his parents were ever in Guilford. Lack of proof doesn’t mean they weren’t there of course, only that they left no records of themselves in that county.

I’m going to stick with a Guilford County birth place for Jacob pending evidence to the contrary.

Jacob is almost certainly a son of John Stewart (1730/40-1830) and Mary Ann (1740/50-1842). The proof of this is mainly the proximity of the families, both residing on Newfound Creek in Buncombe at the same time, and later side by side in Macon Co., NC.

Jacob’s parents seemed to have been nomadic, thus Jacob may have spent his childhood in several different places. Born in Guilford ca 1774, then moved to Rutherford (now Buncombe) before 1790, then to Cabarrus by 1800, then to Buncombe (again) by 1802.

Jacob would have been about 15 or 16 for the 1790 census. I believe his father John is the one listed in Rutherford on that census. He had two sons under 16, one of whom is probably Jacob (c1774), the other his brother Noah (c1786).

Jacob would have been about 25 or 26 for the 1800 census, old enough to be on his own, but I found no listing for him on that census. His parents were in Cabarrus County that year and they did have two males age 16-25 (1774/84) home with them. One of those is very likely Jacob.

Jacob’s parents were in Buncombe Co., NC by 1803 for that year they were listed among the founding members of the Newfound Baptist Church. Newfound Creek is in the section of Buncombe County very close to the Haywood County line. Newfound Mountain is part of the boundary. Jacob was not listed as a member of the church.

There is a possibility that Jacob Stewart remained in Cabarrus a year or two before moving west with to join his parents. There is an 1804 marriage bond that might be him. Then again, it might not be him.

On 11 Jul 1804 Jacob Steward obtained a marriage bond in Cabarrus Co., NC to marry Peggy Carroll. Dennis Clay was the bondsman.

Margaret “Peggy” Carroll would have been at least 14 in order to marry, so born ca 1790 or earlier, perhaps much earlier. If she were under 21, she would have needed her father’s permission to marry. Unfortunately, that part of the marriage bond was is either lost, or never existed.

The primary problem with the above is that a family history written about Jacob Stewart by his granddaughter (or perhaps recited by her to a great grandchild) doesn’t mention him being married prior to his marriage to Elizabeth Setzer. Of course it could be the compiler didn’t know about it, or it could be that this isn’t the same Jacob Stewart. I’ve gone round and round on whether or not this 1804 marriage is our Jacob or not.

The reason I thought it was our Jacob:

1.         The Stewarts lived in Cabarrus as late as 1800.

2.         The Carroll family was associated with Jacob’s children in Macon Co., NC. I figured it was the same family.

3.         We found no other Jacob Stewart / Stuart whom it could be instead.

Each of the above “pros” has a corresponding “con.”

1.         Jacob’s parents were in Buncombe by 1803. Of course he could have remained in Cabarrus a year or two, or returned there to marry his sweetheart left behind.

2.         The surname might not be Carroll at all, but Correll or similar, thus probably not related to those Carroll families later in Macon County associated with the Stewarts.

3.         While we found no other Jacob Stewart that might have married there in 1804, I did recently find a Jacob Stirewalt.

Stirewalt looks very much like Stewart at a glance, depending on the handwriting involved. I never would have thought of this except I was hunting for records for a Jacob Stewart in Cabarrus County ca 1804 when I kept getting directed to Jacob Stirewalt instead. That got me thinking perhaps it was him who married Margaret Carroll in 1804 instead of our Jacob Stewart or some other Jacob Stewart.

I have not been able to lay eyes on a copy of the original marriage bond yet, so I can’t confirm what it actually says for Jacob’s surname. However, while hunting for additional information on Jacob Stirewalt I found something that supports my theory that he’s the one who married in 1804.

I didn’t find him on the 1810 census, nor did I find any Carroll (or similar) in Cabarrus. The closest I found was a Daniel Carl (or Corl) which might be a variation of the same name. I should note that the 1804 marriage for Peggy Carroll is the only Carroll marriage in Cabarrus during that era. The only other similar marriage is Ames Holbrooks marriage bond with Emeline Corrill dated 17 Apr 1800 with David L. Parish, bondsman. I should note that this bond is faded and hard to read. It’s also been interpreted as James Holbrooks and 1840 instead of 1800. I’ve seen the original bond and I’m not sure myself.

Moving to 1820 I found Jacob Stigerwalt in Cabarrus. A little research revealed that Stirewalt and Stigerwalt are variations of the same name, so this seemed to be the right man. He was in Cabarrus County just two houses from William Corroll (bef 1775) and John Corroll (1775/94). That could be a coincidence, but it seemed to be strong (circumstantial) evidence that perhaps the 1804 marriage was for Jacob Stirewalt and not Jacob Stewart.

Jacob Stirewalt was in Cabarrus in 1830. The listings were alphabetical within communities. Stirewalt was in the same grouping with John Corell. There is another Jacob Stirewalt in neighboring Rowan Co., NC in 1830, but he’s too young to be the one who married in 1804.

Jacob Stirewalt of Cabarrus was originally from Rowan. He does appear in some Cabarrus records before 1810, thus supporting the theory that it’s him marrying there in 1804. He was born in Rowan on 16 Jun 1777 and died 3 Jun 1855 in Cabarrus. He married Jean (Jane) Johnston on 11 Oct 1809 in Rowan. He was 32 at the time of that marriage. If he is the same one who married Margaret “Peggy” Carroll on 11 Jul 1804, then he was 27 at the time of that marriage, which certainly works. Stirewalt researchers don’t seem to have the Peggy Carroll marriage for their Jacob, so I’m either on the wrong track with this, or they just never discovered it due to the “Steward” spelling in the published version of the marriage record.

I don’t know who Jacob Stirewalt’s parents were. Going back to the 1790 census I see John and Frederick Stirewalt in Rowan Co., NC in the same grouping with Peter Corl, and Adam Correll.

In 1800, Peter Stirewalt, Adam Stirewalt and Michael Stirewalt are in Rowan in the same grouping with Jacob Corell, Philip Corell as well as John Stuart and John Setzer, just to complicate things. I don’t know which John Stewart this was. He was 45+, born before 1755, as was his wife. They had one daughter at home age 16-25 (1774/84). These are not Jacob Stewart’s parents. His parents were in Cabarrus in 1800.

From these census records alone, I might assume that the Stirewalts and Corrells were in Southern Rowan close to the Cabarrus County line. I don’t know if that’s actually the case or not. However, since Stirewalts and Carrolls (or Corrells) were in close proximity there in Rowan for several years, I think that supports my notion that it was Jacob Stirewalt who married Peggy Carroll in Cabarrus in 1804, instead of it being my uncle Jacob Stewart.

However, seeing that a John Stewart and John Setzer were in the same vicinity to the above in 1800 dilutes my circumstantial evidence a bit. On the other hand, we don’t know if those two are related to our Jacob or his (second?) wife Elizabeth Setzer.

Further dilution comes from our Jacob’s father John Stewart’s 1800 census entry in Cabarrus. He is two houses from Isham Clay on that census. Note that it was a Dennis Clay who was the bondsman for the 1804 marriage for Jacob Stewart. Dennis Clay himself was on the next page from John in 1800 about 20 households away but only 12 houses from Michael Waters who was married to Jacob Stewart’s sister. This means that my Stewarts were near Dennis Clay in Cabarrus.

Bottom line is that I don’t know whether the 1804 marriage is Jacob Stewart (c1774-1863) or Jacob Stirewalt (1777-1855). My current opinion is that it’s Stirewalt. I could be wrong though.

If Margaret was our Jacob’s wife, then she died within a couple of years of marriage to Jacob Stewart. However, she would likely be the mother of his oldest children.

Tradition says that Jacob Stewart’s wife was Elizabeth Setzer. That may be entirely correct, but I’ve never seen any actual evidence for that being her name. Census analysis shows that Jacob’s wife was born ca 1775/1780 and died after 1830. They married sometime before 1807 assuming she’s the mother of all Jacob’s children and not his second wife.

It isn't clear where Jacob could have met Elizabeth Setzer. As far as I've been able to tell, Jacob never lived in a county where Setzer families also lived, at least not until the 1820s when he moved to what is now Macon Co., NC. I did note the proximity of at least one Setzer on the 1800 census to the Stirewalts in Rowan. That could mean they were close to the Stewarts in Cabarrus too if those Stirewalts lived close to the county line as I’ve surmised.

Lawrence Wood told me that he was never able to find a place for Elizabeth Setzer Stewart in the Setzer family, and that he had researched the that line for years. He published a book on them, now out of print. I have not seen it, but numerous online trees cite it.

Looking at the 1790 census I only see two Setzer families in North Carolina.

1790 Census Burke Co., NC, Seventh Company

p. 97 Adam Sutser               1-4-2-0-0

1790 Census Lincoln Co., NC Third Company

p. 110 Jno Setser 1-2-3-0-0

There were a few more on the 1800 census.

1800 Census Burke Co., NC

p. 794 Adam Setser             42210-11010-0-0

1800 Census Lincoln Co., NC

p. 870 Jacob Setzer             32101-10110-0-0

p. 870 John Setzer               22101-11110-0-3

1800 Census Rowan Co., NC

p. 343 John Stuart               00001-00101-0-0

p. 343 John Setzer               30010-20120-0-0*

* This one is listed next to John Stuart. However, it’s an alphabetical listing, so not necessarily neighbors. Yet, they are in the same general community. This may be significant or a coincidence. There are also Corrells and Stirewalts in that community. This might suggest this particular community was near the Cabarrus line, thus this John Setzer could be Elizabeth’s father. It also means that the 1804 marriage in Cabarrus might indeed be our Jacob Stewart and not Jacob Stirewalt. I’m not sure about that though.

By 1810 all the North Carolina Setzers were in Burke and Lincoln counties. The one from 1800 Rowan was no longer there.

Jacob Stewart was on the 1810 census in Buncombe. Next door neighbors on either side were James Morrow and Mary Brown. No known relatives were listed nearby. James Henderson was three houses away. I mention him because of the 1820 census (see below).

1810 Census, Buncombe Co., NC

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

273

Jacob Steward

~

~

~

1

~

2

~

~

1

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 26-44 (1765/1784)       Jacob Stewart (c1774)

1f 26-44 (1765/1784)         Elizabeth Setzer Stewart (c1775/80) wife

2f 0-9 (1800/1810)              1. Lydia Stewart (1807) daughter.

                                               2. Mary Stewart (1804/10) daughter.

On 10 Aug 1810, Jacob Stuart entered 150 acres of land on both sides of Newfound Creek in Buncombe County. It was granted to him on 10 Dec 1812. The land entry described the land as joining Enoch Swim and George Millar. The land survey was dated 17 Nov 1811. Enoch Swim and Jeremiah Rogers were the chain bearers for the surveyor, John Patton. (North Carolina Land Grants and Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book S1-6 page 218.

In the early part of 1812, Jacob must have moved to neighboring Burke County for awhile, or else Elizabeth was visiting there when their son John Stuart was born. He was born 19 Jun 1812 in Burke (per the 1850 census). There were five Setzer households in Burke on the 1810 census. They were all next to each other on a non alphabetical census, so clearly neighbors. Are they closely related to Elizabeth Setzer Stewart?

1810 Census Burke Co., NC

p. 338 Adam Setser             03101-11101-0-0

p. 338 John Setser               20010-10100-0-0

p. 338 Jacob Setser             00100-00100-0-0

p. 338 Laurence Setser       00100-10100-0-0

p. 338 Adam Setser Jr         00100-00100-0-0

Jacob should be listed on the 1820 census in Buncombe Co., NC but one would be hard pressed to find him. He is listed, but his name is partly obscured. He is two houses from his parents, I believe. There is a Henderson household between them. This might be James Henderson from the 1810 census, or perhaps not.

1820 Census, Buncombe Co., NC

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-17

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

68

–cob Stuart

1

~

~

~

~

1

1

2

~

1

~

68

— Henderson

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

1

1

~

1

68

— Stuart

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

1

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 45+ (before 1775)        Jacob Stewart (c1774)

1m 0-9 (1810/1820)            John Stewart (1812) son

1f 26-44 (1775/1794)         Elizabeth Setzer Stewart (c1775/80) wife

2f 10-15 (1804/1810)         1. Lydia Stewart (1807) daughter.

                                               2. Mary Stewart (1804/10) daughter.

1f 0-9 (1810/1820)              Stacy Stewart (c1815) daughter.

On 6 Feb 1822 Jacob Steward of Buncombe, sold his 150 acres on Newfound Creek to David Cole. Jacob Stewart signed with a mark. Witnesses were John Cole and Joseph Cole. This deed probably signified Jacob’s move to what is now Macon Co., NC. (Buncombe Co., NC Deed Book 13 page 227).

Sometime after selling their Buncombe County land, Jacob and family, and his parents John and Mary Ann, moved to the south western region of then Haywood County. This area later became Macon County, NC.

In 1828, Jacob Steward and many others signed a Petition requesting that Macon County be formed. This petition was also a census of residents in that area. Jacob was listed with 1 male over 21 (himself), 1 male under 21 (probably his son John-1812), 2 females (presumably his wife Elizabeth and daughter Stacy), and no slaves.

Jacob Stuart was listed on the 1830 census in Macon Co., NC, and was next door to his parents. Two of his married children were nearby as well.

1830 Census, Macon 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+
12		~	~	~	1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~
		~	~	~	1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 50-59 (1770/1780)       Jacob Stewart (c1774)

1m 15-19 (1810/1815)       John Stewart (1812) son

1f 50-59 (1770/1780)         Elizabeth Setzer Stewart (c1775/80) wife

1f 15-19 (1810/1815)         Stacy Stewart (c1815) daughter.

Jacob was a voter in the 1835 Congressional elections. He was listed as Jacob Steward and voted in the Valleytown Precinct, which means he had moved into the western part of Macon County, in the area that soon became Cherokee County.

Jacob was listed on the 1840 census in Cherokee Co., NC (formed 1839 from Macon). Christopher Setzer was listed on the same page as Jacob, a few households away. Jacob's son-in-law Thomas Postell was also listed in Cherokee but not on the same page. Two young children were with Jacob in 1840 who I suspect are Stacy’s children, though Stacy herself doesn’t seem to be there. There was no older woman at home, so apparently Elizabeth Setzer Stewart had died between 1830 and 1840.

1840 Census, Cherokee 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+

247

Jacob Steward

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be)

1m 60-69 (1770/1780)       Jacob Stewart (c1774)

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            Felix N. Moss (c1832) grandson

1f 0-4 (1835/1840)              Margaret Moss (c1839) granddaughter.

By 1850 Jacob Stewart had gone back to Macon Co., NC and was residing with his daughter Lydia and her husband Abraham Moore. Abraham’s father John P. Moore was also residing with them. They were next to my aunt Elizabeth Grant and two houses from Lurany Stewart Simonds (c1785) daughter of William Stewart (1740/50).

1850 Census, Macon Co., NC, Tennessee Valley

Page 326, House 162, Family 166

On 22 Jul 1854 Jacob Steward entered 100 acres in Jackson Co., NC, which was granted to him on 26 Nov 1856. I don’t know if this is Jacob (c1774) or his grandson Jacob (1836). The younger Jacob actually resided in Jackson at the time, so it might be him. However, neither Jacob had any land according to their 1860 census entries. The land was on Price Creek and was surveyed on 30 Nov 1855. John Stewart (son of the elder Jacob, father of the younger one) and William Henderson were the chain bearers for the surveyor. The metes and bounds mentioned Wilson’s Corner and Steward’s corner. (North Carolina Land Grants.)

Jacob is still with Lydia and Abraham Moore for the 1860 census. Joseph Carroll is residing with them. I think this is the same Joseph who is a son of Solomon Carroll. Solomon’s daughter Nancy married Jacob’s grandson William Jasper Stewart. Another daughter, Sarah Carroll, married another grandson, John P. Stewart. I don’t think these Carrolls have any connection to the family in Cabarrus whose name might actually have been Correll instead.

1860 Census, Macon Co., NC, Tennessee Valley, Franklin PO

Page 459B, House 51, Family 52

Jacob Stewart supposedly died on 6 Feb 1863, though I don’t know the source for that date.

I don’t know where he’s buried, perhaps on the Abraham Moore property.

---

Children

Jacob Stewart and Elizabeth Setzer may have had eight children if an old family record is to be trusted. I believe there are four children for certain and the others are far less certain. The family record was written by a great grandchild of Jacob Stewart. I don’t know who they were, but they were apparently a child of Ruth Jane Stewart Watson (1850-1946) who was Jacob’s granddaughter. There are some things in the record that don’t seem to be accurate, so take it for what it’s worth. I think they conflated several families in this record. It’s difficult to parse at times.

This was shared with me by Carl Stewart. The original is in the possession of Mitch Watson. Spelling is as it was originally. This document also contains information on the Moss family. The section numbers were added by me for analysis purposes.

[Section 1] Grandady Jake Steweart & Elizybeth Setcher Stewart family. 3 Sons. John Stewart who married Mary Moss Stewart. Jayhue Stewart who left and went to Georgia No one know where Prealo Stewart who died between the age of 15 & 20 years of age Sallie Stewart who married Milton Moss. Lydia Stewart who married Aberham Moor who is the mother Jackson Moor who married Kate Holbrooks & Peg Henry Moor John T. Henry wife, another woman who married Black Burn man. Stacy Stewart who married Buck Colbert who died, later she married J. David Moss.

[Section 2] The young Ruthie (^Stewart) Moss married Johnson Moss Junor. And old Ruthie Stewart grandady Jake sister married the old man Johnson Moss. Brother to Babe Moss & old man Billie Moss who married Drusil Hooper Moss sister to Bettie Hooper Moss. Drusie was the mother of Glenville Jim Moss.

[Section 3] My grandmother name was Mary. And Mary mother name was Bettie Hooper before she married Babe Moss. The family was:

    Mrs. Losenda Watson

    Mrs. Peggie Henderson

    Mrs. Jennie Peek

    Mrs. Sallie Wilson

    Mrs. Betty Jane Kitchens

    Mrs. Leanda Wike

    Mrs. Mary Stewart

    Mrs. Vader Gassaway (apparently marked out)

    One son

    Mr. William J. Moss

    Another boy who died young Milt Moss.

    (In different hand writing) Aunt Jane dau. Lessie writing about her grandmother and who Henry Moss children married.

    Marriages of Wm Henry Moss & Elizabeth Hooper children (End of different handwriting)

    (Back to original handwriting)

[Section 4]

    John H. Watson

    William Henderson

    Pillie Peek

    William Wigens

    Jason Kitchens

    Jake Wike

    John Stewart

    Jim Wilson

    William Moss wife Martha Owens

[Section 5] (In a different hand) Marriages of John Choga's children

    (Back to original hand)

    Mrs. Milt Rada Hooper

    Mr. Jake was promised Kate Holbrooks

    Mrs. Bill Vade Carrol and late Lillie Hedden

    Mrs. Sarah Carroll ("John" written above her name) sister to Gade Carroll

    Mrs. Elizybeth married J C Stywinter

    Mrs. Leander Watson

    Mrs. Jayhue Dallsha Jamison

    by the Owens woman

    Mrs. Robert Stacy Poats

    Mrs. Ida Clane Ash

    Mrs. Sallie Parker Moore

    Mrs. Jack Arlecie Brown

    Mrs. Etta Wait Reed

The above requires some analysis.

Section 1: Grandady Jake Steweart & Elizybeth Setcher Stewart family. 3 Sons. John Stewart who married Mary Moss Stewart. Jayhue Stewart who left and went to Georgia No one know where Prealo Stewart who died between the age of 15 & 20 years of age Sallie Stewart who married Milton Moss. Lydia Stewart who married Aberham Moor who is the mother Jackson Moor who married Kate Holbrooks & Peg Henry Moor John T. Henry wife, another woman who married Black Burn man. Stacy Stewart who married Buck Colbert who died, later she married J. David Moss.

This says that Jacob Stewart and wife Elizabeth Setzer had three sons:

1. John Stewart who married Mary Moss.

2. Jayhue Stewart who went to GA, no one knows where.

3. Prealo Stewart who died between ages 15 to 20.

It then lists daughters, presumably:

1. Sally Stewart who married Milton Moss.

2. Lydia Stewart who married Abraham Moore.

3. Stacy Stewart who married Buck Colbert who died, then J. David Moss.

Those listed after Lydia are her children, not Jacob’s:

1. Andrew Jackson Moore married Mary Catherine Holbrook.

2. Margaret “Peg” Moore who married John T. Henry.

3. Another woman who married a Blackburn man. This is probably referring to Jacob D. Moore who married Cynthia Louisa Blackburn.

Section 2: The young Ruthie (^Stewart) Moss married Johnson Moss Junor. And old Ruthie Stewart grandady Jake sister married the old man Johnson Moss. Brother to Babe Moss & old man Billie Moss who married Drusil Hooper Moss sister to Bettie Hooper Moss. Drusie was the mother of Glenville Jim Moss.

It was written out as “Young Ruthie Moss” but someone wrote “Stewart”in above between Ruthie and Moss, meaning they thought Ruthie was a Stewart. It doesn’t say that this Ruthie is Jacob’s daughter, but that would be the implication. She apparently married the younger Johnson Moss.

Then it refers to “old Ruthie” Jacob Stewart’s sister who married an older man also named Johnson Moss. The next few names are Moss family members, not Stewarts.

Section 3 pertains to the siblings of Mary Moss Stewart, i.e children of William Moss and Elizabeth Hooper.

Section 4 pertains to the spouses of the above Moss children.

Section 5 pertains to the children of John Stewart (1812-1895) and wife Mary Moss.

Going back to Section 1, there are six children, and a seventh if Ruthie from section 2 is meant to be Jacob’s child. An eighth child (Mary), probably the eldest, is proven by her marriage bond, though she was apparently not remembered by the one who wrote out the family history.

 

1.         Mary “Polly” Stewart (1804/10-c1849) married Thomas T. Postell in 1822. Proven by her marriage bond listing her as Jacob’s daughter. She wasn’t listed in the family history.

2.         Lydia Stewart (1807-1878) married Abraham Moore ca 1820s. Proven by Jacob living with her in 1850 and 1860. Also named in the family history.

3.         John Stewart (1812-1895) married 1, Mary Moss, 2, Lucinda Owens. Named in family history.

4.         Stacy Stewart (c1815-aft 1880) married 1, J. David Moss, 2, William Colvard. Named in family history.

5.         Jayhue Stewart named in family history.

6.         Prealo Stewart named in family history.

7.         Sally Stewart married Milton Moss. Named in family history.

8.         Ruth Stewart married Johnson Moss Jr. Named in family history.

---

Mary “Polly” Stewart / Stuart is a proven child of Jacob as named in her 1822 marriage bond. She was born ca 1800/10 per her age on the 1830 census. We can narrow it down to ca 1804/1810 based on her father’s census records. She seemed to be home with him in 1810 aged under 10 (1800/10) and with him in 1820 aged 10-15 (1804/1810).

She was likely named for Jacob’s mother Mary Ann Stewart.

On 6 Aug 1822 Thomas Postell and John Creesmon obtained a marriage bond in Haywood Co., NC for Postell to marry “Polly Stords” daughter of Jacob “Stords.” Though the surname is badly written on the bond, she is actually a proven Stewart by other sources.

Thomas T. Postell was born ca 1804/5 in Buncombe Co., NC. I’m informed by others that he’s a son of Francis Postell and Margaret Chastain, though I have no proof of that myself.

Thomas is listed on the 1830 census in Macon Co., NC next to brother-in-law Abraham Moore, two houses from Mary’s grandparents (John and Mary Ann Stewart) and three from her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth.

1830 Census, Macon 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+
12	Thomas Postell	1	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might*) be:

1m 20-29 (1800/1810)       Thomas T. Postell (c1805)

1m 5-9 (1820/1825)            John Postell (c1825) son

1m 0-4 (1825/1830)            Jacob Postell (1827) son

1f 20-29 (1800/1810)         Mary Stewart Postell (1804/10) wife

1f 0-4 (1825/1830)              Daughter? (c1825)

They moved to neighboring Cherokee Co., NC by 1840 as did Jacob Stewart.

1840 Census, Cherokee 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+
232	Thomas T. Postell	1	2	1	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	1	~	1	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might*) be:

1m 30-39 (1800/1810)       Thomas T. Postell (c1805)

1m 10-14 (1825/1830)       John Postell (c1825) son

2m 5-9 (1830/1835)            1. Jacob Postell (1827) son

                                               2. James Postell (c1832) son

1m 0-4 (1835/1840)            Alston M. Postell (c1837) son

1f 20-29 (1810/1820)         Mary Stewart Postell (c1804/10) wife

1f 15-19 (1820/1825)         Daughter? (c1825)

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Mary M. Postell (c1830) daughter

2f 0-4 (1835/1840)              1. Elizabeth Postell (c1839) daughter

                                               2. Daughter?

Mary “Polly” Stewart Postell died before 1850. There is a findagrave.com entry for her that gives 11 Jun 1849 for her death date but with no source. That is the same day her son Russell was born, so if her death date is accurate, then she apparently died in childbirth.

Thomas T. Postell married Lucinda before 1850. I’ve seen her surname listed as Brock, but I haven’t seen the proof for that. She was born ca 1814/15 in North Carolina.

They are on the 1850 census in Cherokee Co., NC. They might be somewhere in Valleytown Township judging by some of their neighbors.

1850 Census, Cherokee Co., NC

Page 31B, House 401, Page 401

I wasn’t able to find them on the 1860 census. I found some of the children.

∙           I couldn’t find John.

∙           Jacob was in Fannin Co., GA in 1860.

∙           Mary Postell Passmore was in Cherokee next to brother James and sister Elizabeth.

∙           James Postell was in Cherokee next to sister Mary.

∙           I couldn’t find Alston Postell in 1860.

∙           Elizabeth Postell Brock was in Cherokee next to sister Mary.

∙           I couldn’t find William Thomas Postell in 1860.

∙           Matilda Postell Wilson was in Cherokee with siblings Russell and Sarah residing with her.

∙           Russell was with sister Matilda.

∙           Sarah was with sister Matilda.

Lucinda died sometime before ca 1864, for on 13 Mar 1864, Thomas T. Postell married Nancy Barnett in Lumpkin Co., GA. I’ve seen online sources that show her maiden name to be Brock, meaning she’d been married to a Barnett before marrying Postell. This could be correct but I haven’t sought to prove it. If she’s a Brock and Lucinda is a Brock, were they sisters?

Thomas is listed on the 1870 census in Lumpkin Co., GA. They are two houses from Samuel Waters, son of John Stuart Waters, son of Emelia Stewart Waters, sister of Jacob Stewart (c1774).

Thomas is on the 1880 census in Union Co., GA near several other Postells.

I want to thank Ron Long for sharing information on this family with me way back when.

---

Lydia Stewart was born 14 Jan 1807 (per tombstone) in Buncombe Co., NC per the 1850 census or Haywood Co., NC per the 1860 census.

Lydia was named in the family history as a child of Jacob and Elizabeth Stewart. Also, Jacob lived out his elder years with her as proven by the 1850 and 1860 census records, so that seems fairly conclusive that she is his child. There is also the death certificate of their youngest daughter Lydia Jane Moore Higdon which lists her mother as “Lydia Stewart.”

Lydia was seemingly home with her parents for the 1810 census, aged under 10 (1800/10) and in 1820 aged 10-15 (1804/10). She married Abraham Moore sometime before 1827 in Haywood Co., NC (now Macon Co., NC). No marriage record was found for them in the Haywood marriages, which are extant for this period, but that is where they likely married.

Abraham Moore was born 27 Dec 1806 (per tombstone) in Buncombe Co., NC (per 1850 and 1860 census), a son of John Parker Moore (1765-c1856/60) and Millie Redmond (c1765-1840/50).

Abraham Moore, like his father-in-law Jacob Stuart, signed the 1828 petition asking for the creation of Macon County from the southwestern part of Haywood. Abraham was listed with 1 white male over 21 (himself), 1 white male under 21 (son Andrew Moore-1827), and 1 white female (wife Lydia) and no slaves.

Abraham Moore was listed on the 1830 census in Macon Co., NC next door to his brother-in-law Thomas Postell, and next to his grandparents-in-law John and Mary Ann Stuart, who were next to Jacob Stuart. My ancestor Joseph Moore (c1786) is a few households away, and as far as we can prove, is not related to Abraham Moore.

1830 Census, Macon 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+

12

Abriham Moore

2

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 20-29 (1800/1810)       Abraham Moore (1806)

2m 0-4 (1825/1830)            1. Andrew J. Moore (1827) son

                                               2. John P. Moore (1829) son

1f 20-29 (1800/1810)         Lydia Stewart Moore (1807) wife

Like his father-in-law Jacob Stuart, Abraham Moore moved to what is now Cherokee Co., NC in the early 1830s. He was listed on the 1835 Congressional Voter List in Macon Co., NC in Valleytown Precinct. Cherokee County was created in 1839 from this section of Macon, but it seems that he had moved back to Macon before 1839.

Abraham Moore was listed on the August 1839 Macon Co., NC Court Records on the Insolvent list (unpaid taxes). He was listed with 156 acres and 1 poll. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1838-1855, p. 34)

Abraham Moore was listed on the 1840 census in Macon Co., NC. He seemed to be in the area around Burningtown or Iotla Creek (based on his neighbors names), and this is far from Ellijay Creek, in fact on the other end of the county. He may have resided in that area briefly, or perhaps this is just a result of the census records getting out of order. Then again, my ancestor M. J. Waters, Lydia’s cousin, was in the same area.

1840 Census, Macon 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+
149	Abrahm Moore	~	1	2	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
		2	1	~	~	~	1	~	~	~	~	~	~	~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

 

1m 30-39 (1800/1810)       Abraham Moore (1806)

2m 10-14 (1825/1830)       1. Andrew J. Moore (1827) son

                                               2. John P. Moore (1829) son

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            Jacob D. Moore (c1832) son

1f 30-39 (1800/1810)         Lydia Stewart Moore (1807) wife

1f 5-9 (1830/1835)              Mary Angeline Moore (1833) daughter

2f 0-4 (1835/1840)              1. Ruth E. Moore (1835) daughter

                                               2. Eliza C. Moore (1838) daughter

Abraham Moore and family were still in Macon for the 1850 census. Abraham had a full house, including his widowed father John P. Moore, and his widowed father-in-law Jacob Stuart. There was also a farm laborer Jesse Williams, relationship unknown.

1850 Census, Macon Co., NC, Tennessee Valley

Page 326, House 162, Family 166

In 1860 Abraham and Lydia were still in Macon County. Abraham's father John P. Moore had died, but Jacob Stuart was still living with them.

1860 Census, Macon Co., NC, Tennessee Valley, Franklin PO

Page 459B, House 51, Family 52

They are on the 1870 census in Macon County in Ellijay Township next to their son A. J. Moore.

1870 Census, Macon Co., NC, Ellijay Township, Franklin PO

Page 295B, House 53, Family 55

Lydia Stewart Moore died on 23 Sep 1878 (per tombstone) in Macon Co., NC and is buried at Sugarfork (or Sugar Fork) Baptist Church.

Abraham Moore is listed on the 1880 census in Macon in Ellijay Township. His “niece” Tabitha Moore is living with him as a housekeeper. She’s actually his granddaughter. Warren Williams is there as a farm laborer. He’s not related as far as I can tell.

1880 Census, Macon Co., NC, Ellijay Township

Page 496, House 106, Family 106

Abraham Moore died on 15 Dec 1881 and is buried at Sugarfork Baptist.

Lawrence Wood (deceased), provided me with a great deal of information about this family, including many birth and death dates, most of which I’ve since confirmed from other records, such as tombstones and so on.

---

John Stewart was born 19 Jun 1812 (per tombstone) in Burke Co., NC (per 1850 census). He was the only one of Jacob’s children born in Burke as far as we know. This suggests his mother Elizabeth Setzer Stewart was perhaps visiting some relatives there when he was born. There were several Setzers in Burke at the time, relationship to her unknown.

John was probably named for his grandfather John Stewart.

I’ve seen others list this John as John Posey Stewart, but I’ve never seen any document with that middle name, or even an initial for him. Also, some say he was known as “Choga” John, perhaps to distinguish himself from other John Stewarts in the region? There is evidence of Choga, namely the death certificate of his daughter Ida which lists her father as “Choge” Stewart.

He seems to be home with his parents for the 1820 census, aged under 10 (1810/1820) and with them in 1830 aged 15-19 (1810/1815).

On 14 Jun 1831 John Stewart obtained a marriage bond in Macon Co., NC to marry Mary Moss. Melton Moss (probably Milton) was the bondsman. The bond listed Mary as a child of William Moss. She was only 17 then so needed her father’s permission to marry.

Mary Moss was born 9 Dec 1813 (per tombstone) in South Carolina. She is a child of William Moss and Elizabeth Hooper. Her father is proven by her marriage bond. Elizabeth Hooper is proven by her daughter Lucinda’s death certificate and perhaps other records.

John Stuart voted in the 1835 Congressional elections, and was listed in Macon Co., NC in Fairfield Precinct.

John Stuart was listed on the 1840 census in Macon Co., NC. He was next door to his father-in-law William Moss. They were apparently in the Hamburg region of Macon Co., NC, based on their neighbors.

1840 Census, Macon 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+

163

John Stuart

3

1

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

1

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 20-29 (1810/1820)       John Stewart (1812)

1m 5-9 (1830/1835)            Milton M. Stewart (1833) son

3m 0-4 (1835/1840)            1. Jacob N. Stewart (1836) son

                                               2. William J. Stewart (1838) son

                                               3. Jefferson W. Stewart (1840) son

1f 20-29 (1810/1820)         Mary Moss Stewart (1813) wife

On 28 Jan 1845 John Stuart received a state land grant of 50 acres on White Pine Creek. He entered the land on 9 Sep 1842. (Macon Co., NC Deed Book E page 359).

In September 1845, in Macon Court, John Stuart was one of several named to work under Jesse Cline on a road crew. (Macon Co., NC Court Minutes 1838-1855 pg 3)

John Stuart was listed on the 1850 census in Macon Co, NC, in Hamburg District. Mary’s parents are next door.

1850 Census, Macon Co., NC, Hamburg

Page 373B, House 773, Family 788

* John P. Stuart age 9 is listed after the next house with the notation “Place 18” which means to put him on line 18 which would be in John’s household between Jeff and Margaret.

The Hamburg section of Macon County became Jackson County when that county was formed in 1851.

Mary Moss Stewart died on 28 Jul 1859 in Jackson Co., NC. She was buried at the Hamburg Cemetery. However, when the TVA built Glenwood Lake in 1940 her grave was moved to the Stewart Cemetery. There is a modern marker there for her, her husband and his second wife.

They are on the 1860 census in Jackson County. Unfortunately the census taker listed nearly everyone in the county by initials only, with some exceptions.

1860 Census, Jackson Co., NC, Webster PO

Page 295, House 240, Family 240

John Stewart married Lucinda Elvira Owens ca 1860 or 1861, presumably in Jackson Co., NC, though no marriage record was found there. Lucinda was born 21 Apr 1836 (per tombstone) in South Carolina. Her parents were (according to other researchers), Rev. John R. Owens and Sarah Ann Fore.

The Stewarts are on the 1870 census in Jackson.

1870 Census, Jackson Co., NC, Subdivision 66 Township No 8, Cashiers Valley PO

Page 235B, House 60, Family 60

They are on the 1880 census in Jackson.

1880 Census, Jackson Co., NC, Hamburg

Page 317, House 59, Family 59

John Stewart died on 13 Apr 1895 at the age of 82. He was buried at the Hamburg Cemetery, and like his first wife, his grave was moved to the Stewart Cemetery in 1940.

On 14 Nov 1899, Widow Lucinda Elvira Owens Stewart married Samuel W. Reid in Jackson Co., NC.

They were in neighboring Transylvania Co., NC for the 1900 census.

1900 Census, Transylvania Co., NC, Hogback

Page 61B, House 104, Family 106

Samuel Reid died 21 Oct 1902 and is buried at the Reid Cemetery in Transylvania Co., NC.

Lucinda is on the 1910 census in Macon Co., NC. She is with Andrew J. Moore (a grandson of Jacob Stewart), and listed as his aunt, despite him being about ten years older than she. This is accurate since Moore’s mother Lydia Stewart Moore was the sister of Lucinda’s late husband John Stewart. Being an aunt by marriage makes it odd for her to be living with him though. However, her being there can be explained further because her daughter Sarah Stewart had married Andrew Moore’s son Parker Moore, and they were living there as well.

Oddly, Lucinda is listed as a Stewart and not a Reid. This is probably because she wasn’t married to Mr. Reid all that long before he died, so they still thought of her as a Stewart.

1910 Census, Macon Co., NC, Ellijay

Page 36B, House 45, Family 45

Lucinda Elvira Owens Stewart Reid died on 20 Nov 1913 in Transylvania Co., NC according to her death certificate. Her occupation was listed as Midwife. “Wate Reid” was the informant. That was her son-in-law who married her daughter Mary Etta Stewart. He was also the grandson of her second husband Samuel W. Reid.

Lucinda was also buried at Hamburg and later moved to the Stewart Cemetery.

John Stewart and his first wife, Mary Moss, had nine children together. He and his second wife Lucinda E. Owens had seven. 

The Family Record mentioned earlier includes the spouses of all those children (see above, the part labeled Section 5).

---

Stacy Stewart was born ca 1814/15 per her ages on the 1850 census (35) and 1880 census (65). This agrees well enough with her 1860 age (44) and 1870 age (54).

She was born in Macon Co., NC per her 1860 census entry. However, there was no Macon in 1815 as that area was still Cherokee territory. It’s far more likely she was born in Haywood or Buncombe or perhaps even Burke like her older brother John (1812).

She seems to be home with her parents for the 1820 census aged under 10 (born 1810/20) and with them in 1830, aged 15-19 (1810/15).

Stacy Stewart married a Mr. Moss before ca 1831. In the family history it says that she married J. David Moss after her Colvard husband died. However, Mr. Colvard didn’t die until the 1880s. Her Moss children predate her Colvard marriage by several years, so the family history is either wrong or else she married two different Moss men, one as a first husband, another a third.

I have not been able to find more information on J. David Moss, or at least not one old enough to be her first husband. Whoever he was, he was probably closely related to Mary Moss who married Stacy Stewart’s brother John Stewart in 1831.

David Moss apparently died before 1840. There were several Moss listings in both Cherokee and Macon Counties that year.

1840 Census Cherokee Co., NC

p. 234 Eli Moss                     2111001010000-1110001000000

p. 237 Howell Moss            1000100000000-1000100000000

p. 237 Howell Moss            0000000010000-0000110000000

p. 241 Nicy Moss                 1100000000000-3000200000000

p. 246 Jefferson Moss        0100110000000-2000100000000

p. 274 Henry Moss              2300100000000-1220110000000

p. 274 Elexander Moss       1111020000000-1010010100000

1840 Census Macon Co., NC

p. 151 Milton Moss             3000100000000-0001010000000

p. 163 William Moss           0100000010000-0020000100000 * Next to John Stuart

None of the above seem to be Stacy as far as I can determine. Stacy’s father Jacob Stewart seemed to have Stacy’s two young Moss children with him in 1840, or at least two children matching their ages. I can’t be certain who they were.

Stacy Stewart Moss began a relationship with William Colvard in the 1840s and had a child by him ca 1846 in Cherokee Co., NC. Her name was Mary Jane Colvard. She was “legitimized” when Colvard married Stacy Stewart in 1865. However, she was nearly 20 by then.

William Colvard (c1798) and his brother Neal Colvard (c1795) were sons of William and Rachel Colvard of Wilkes Co., NC. William (1798) and Neal were wealthy land owners and slave owners who migrated to Cherokee County from Wilkes Co., NC. They were both bachelors. I suspect that Stacy was a housekeeper for them in the 1840s. She was not with them on the 1840 census though, but she was next door to them in 1850.

On the 1850 census Stacy was listed as a Stewart, not a Moss, though she was a widow Moss at the time as later records show.

1850 Census, Cherokee Co., NC

Page 59, House 766 & 767, Family 766 & 767

Felix and Margaret were Moss children while Mary J. was a Colvard, though all were listed as Stewarts here.

Stacy was no longer near the Colvards by 1860. She was just two houses from my ancestor Caleb Winfrey who resided in Valleytown Township between Andrews and Topton. (He was not related to the Stewarts as far as I’m aware.) Stacy and her children were listed as Moss this time.

1860 Census, Cherokee Co., NC, Murphey District, Murphey PO

Page 218B, House 689, Family 689

William and Neal Colvard were listed some 500 households away, though that might not be as far it seems. Notice their real and personal property values. The Colvards were quite wealthy for the time.

1860 Census, Cherokee Co., NC, Murphey District, Murphey PO

Page 176B, House 128, Family 128

I don’t know who Charles H. Colvard, age 13, was. Perhaps a nephew. I couldn’t find him on the 1850 census. It is noteworthy that in 1860 the Colvards lived next door to George W. Hayes and wife Elizabeth Stewart Hayes (1817-1897), no known relation to Stacy Stewart. Elizabeth was a sister to James Stewart of Cherokee Co., NC, all of whom formerly lived in Wilkes (now Caldwell) Co., NC before moving to Cherokee County in the 1840s.

I don’t know what changed, but on 3 Nov 1865, William Colvard obtained a marriage license in Cherokee Co., NC to marry Stacy Moss. With their marriage, his daughter with her was no longer considered illegitimate.

They are listed on the 1870 census in Cherokee, in Valleytown Township. His brother Neal is with them. I’m assuming they were living on the Colvard plantation. William and Stacy’s daughter was now married and they were living there as well.

1870 Census, Cherokee Co., NC, Valley Town Township, Valley Town PO

Page 355, House 52, Family 52

I don’t know who Julia Allman is. She was 13 and listed as attending school. I would suspect she is a niece or somehow related to the Colvards, or perhaps a servant and not related. Though listed as 13 here in 1870 (born ca 1856/57), the same Julia Allman (I think) was listed as 19 on the 1880 census (born ca 1860/61). On that census she was a servant in the household of James and Nancy (Kyle) Whitaker.

Stacy and family are on the 1880 census. It appears that William’s brother Neal had died by this time as he wasn’t with them nor listed elsewhere as far as I could find.

1880 Census, Cherokee Co., NC, Murphy Township

Page 264, House 271, Family 281

I didn’t find either William or Stacy on the 1900 census. It’s very likely they were both dead by then.

In the family history mentioned before, this was said about Stacy:

“Stacy Stewart who married Buck Colbert who died, later she married J. David Moss.”

From that, we can assume that “Buck” was William Colvard’s nickname. It does make sense for him to die before her as he was about 20 years her senior. Did she marry J. David Moss after the death of William Colvard? Or, as I theorized earlier, was David actually her first husband? That would explain her Moss children born in the early 1830s. Of course this doesn’t preclude her having two Moss marriages, her first ca 1830, and another in the 1880s after the death of Mr. Colvard. It would help if we could determine who J. David Moss was.

Stacy’s son Felix N. Moss (c1831) died in Cherokee Co., NC on 27 Nov 1862 of sickness. He was serving in the Confederate Army at the time. I don’t think he ever married. He was with his mother for the 1850 census. In 1860 he was with A. N. Colvard and family, listed as a School Teacher. Andrew Newton Colvard (1812-1880) was a 1^st cousin of William Colvard, Stacy’s husband.

Stacy’s daughter Margaret Moss (c1833) was home with her in 1850 and 1860. I found no record of her after that. I don’t know who she might have married or when she died.

Stacy and William’s daughter Mary Jane Colvard married Samuel Winslow Davidson ca 1868/69 in Cherokee Co., NC. He was a son of Col. Hugh Harvey Davidson and Lucinda Emeline Moody. Winslow and Mary had four children. She died before 1894 when Winslow remarried.

In the book Descendants of Virginia Calverts by Ella Foy O’Gorman, 1947, it has this entry on William’s family:

p. 708

7924. William Colvard (William, William, William)

b 1796; d. abt 1876, aged 80 yrs, at Tomatlo, Cherokee Co., N.C., where he resided.

               Issue of William and .... (.....) Colvard:

               7941       i. Neal Colvard, resided at Murphy, N.C.

               7942       ii. Quincy Colvard, resided at Alcoa, Tenn.

               7943       iii. Effie Colvard; m. .... McIvor.

               7944       iv. a dau; m. .... Davidson.

Miss Ruth Colvard and W. T. Neel.

The last two names were who provided the information. Elsewhere it states that Miss Ruth Colvard was of North Wilkesboro, and William Trent Neel was of Bryn Mawr, PA. I don’t know how they were connected to the family.

The above writeup has several deficiencies:

 

∙           William Colvard was still alive in 1880, so he didn’t die ca 1876.

∙           They didn’t know his wife’s name was Stacy Stewart Moss.

∙           The first three children listed were not William’s children, but his grandchildren. Their surname was Davidson, not Colvard.

∙           The fourth child’s name wasn’t known. That is Mary Jane Colvard, the only one listed who is actually William’s child.

∙           The community was Tomotla, not Tomatlo, but close enough considering how hard Indian names can be to pronounce and/or spell.

---

Jayhue Stewart (alias Jehu, Jehue, etc.) was named in the family history as one of Jacob’s sons:

[Section 1] Grandady Jake Steweart & Elizybeth Setcher Stewart family. 3 Sons. John Stewart who married Mary Moss Stewart. Jayhue Stewart who left and went to Georgia No one know where. Prealo Stewart who died between the age of 15 & 20 years of age.

I think whoever provided this information was confused. Jacob only had one son as far as census records are concerned. In 1810 he had none. In 1820 he only had one, who has to be John (1812). In 1830 he only had one, again it has to be John (1812).

In 1840 Jacob did have a male aged 5-9 (1830/1835) living with him. I’ve assumed that was his orphaned grandson Felix N. Moss (c1831), but of course it could be someone else. However, I don’t think it’s likely Jacob would have had a son this age unless Elizabeth had died and he married again to someone much younger, who also died before 1840.

It is entirely possible that Jacob had another son who somehow managed to miss all the census records. For example, what if that marriage between Jacob Stewart and Margaret “Peggy” Carroll in 1804 really is our Jacob and not a Jacob Stirewalt as I’ve theorized? Perhaps Jacob and Margaret had a few children together before she died. He married Elizabeth Setzer afterwards, but his children by Margaret went to live with her relatives. This was a common enough occurrence. It could explain why Jehu does not seem to be with Jacob in 1810, 1820 or 1830.

However, I’ve found no records for this Jehu Stewart. There were actually several men of that name born in North Carolina, part of the large Quaker family of Stewarts in Guilford, Randolph, Chatham and Orange County region:

 

∙           Jehu Stewart (1740-1827) son of Robert (1710-1783)

∙           Jehu Stewart (1770-1845) son of Jehu (1740).

∙           Jehu Stewart (1797-1878) son of Henry (1766) son of Alexander (1737-1767)

∙           Jehu Stewart (1802) son of Robert son of Jehu (1740).

∙           Jehu Stewart (1817) son of Alexander (1794) son of John (1764-1856)

All of the above are proven to be the children of who I have listed per Quaker records, thus none are Jacob’s son.

My personal opinion, considering the complete lack of evidence for a Jehu Stewart who could be Jacob’s son, is that the person who wrote, or told, the family history was speaking of some other relative named Jehu, but not a Stewart, and got confused. Likely options would be Setzer, Moss, Hooper or Watson, as those were the closest lines connected to the author(s) of the family history.

John Stewart (1812) son of Jacob, named one of his sons Jehu P. Stewart (1858-1903). The author probably wasn’t referring to him for he never went to Georgia as far as I’m aware.

The only way there was a son named Jehu would be if he was from a prior marriage and wasn’t raised in Jacob’s household, at least not at census time.

I found no likely matches for Jehu Stewart on the 1830, 1840 or 1850 censuses.

---

Prealo Stewart was named in the family history as one of Jacob’s sons:

[Section 1] Grandady Jake Steweart & Elizybeth Setcher Stewart family. 3 Sons. John Stewart who married Mary Moss Stewart. Jayhue Stewart who left and went to Georgia No one know where. Prealo Stewart who died between the age of 15 & 20 years of age.

As I said in Jehu’s section, I think whoever provided this information was confused. Jacob only had one son as far as census records are concerned. In 1810 he had none. In 1820 he only had one, who has to be John (1812). In 1830 he only had one, again it has to be John (1812).

In 1840 Jacob did have a male aged 5-9 (1830/1835) living with him. I’ve assumed that was his orphaned grandson Felix N. Moss (c1831), but of course it could be someone else. However, I don’t think it’s likely Jacob would have had a son this age unless Elizabeth had died and he married again to someone much younger, who also died before 1840.

My personal opinion, considering the complete lack of evidence for a Prealo Stewart who could be Jacob’s son, is that the person who wrote, or told, the family history was speaking of some other relative named Prealo, but not a Stewart, and got confused.

There is in fact a Prealo Watson (1889-1911) who died at age 21. Was this who they were referring to? I suppose it depends on when the family history was written down. Prealo Watson was a son of Moses L. Watson and wife Ruth Jane Stewart. Perhaps he wasn’t the one being referenced, but was a namesake of an older relative, also named Prealo. But was it actually a Prealo Stewart? We may never know for sure.

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Sally Stewart was named in the family history as one of Jacob’s daughters (presumed daughter, anyway):

[Section 1] Grandady Jake Steweart & Elizybeth Setcher Stewart family. 3 Sons. John Stewart who married Mary Moss Stewart. Jayhue Stewart who left and went to Georgia No one know where Prealo Stewart who died between the age of 15 & 20 years of age Sallie Stewart who married Milton Moss. Lydia Stewart who married Aberham Moor who is the mother Jackson Moor who married Kate Holbrooks & Peg Henry Moor John T. Henry wife, another woman who married Black Burn man. Stacy Stewart who married Buck Colbert who died, later she married J. David Moss.

As I said in Jehu and Prealo’s sections, I think whoever provided this information was confused. Jacob only had one three daughters as far as census records are concerned. In 1810 he had two (Mary and Lydia). In 1820 he had three (Mary, Lydia and Stacy). In 1830 he only had one, who had to be Stacy. There is no room for a daughter named Sally.

In 1840 Jacob did have a female aged under 5 (1835/40) living with him. I’ve assumed that was his orphaned granddaughter Margaret Moss (c1833), but of course it could be someone else. However, I don’t think it’s likely Jacob would have had a daughter this age unless Elizabeth had died and he married again to someone much younger, who also died before 1840.

One way to explain Sally would be if she was a child of Jacob’s first wife, Margaret Carroll, and raised by her relatives after her death thus never appearing in Jacob’s census households. That is assuming that Margaret was actually Jacob’s wife.

The family history says Sally married Milton Moss, but provides no further details.

There may be more than one Milton Moss. One of them, born 9 Aug 1811, married Ruth Peak in 1836 in Macon Co., NC, and had at least seven children with her. None of his children per the 1840 or 1850 census seem to predate that marriage. Could he have married Sally Stewart first, who died, then he married Ruth? If so, did they have any children together? Is Felix Moss (c1831) and Margaret Moss (c1833) their children? I currently have them as Stacy Stewart Moss’s children since they were living with her.

Regarding Milton Moss himself. Is he a son of William Moss and Elizabeth Hooper, thus a brother to Mary Moss who married John Stewart in 1831? I’ve seen trees that include this Milton in that family. However, others show that William and Elizabeth did have a son named Milton who died as a child.

It’s my current opinion that there was no Sally Stewart who married Milton Moss. I could be wrong of course.

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Ruth Stewart was named in the family history as one of Jacob’s daughters (presumed daughter, anyway):

[Section 2] The young Ruthie (^Stewart) Moss married Johnson Moss Junor. And old Ruthie Stewart grandady Jake sister married the old man Johnson Moss. (Note: “Stewart” written in above the name Ruthie Moss.)

As I said in Sally’s section, I think whoever provided this information was confused. Jacob only had one three daughters as far as census records are concerned. In 1810 he had two (Mary and Lydia). In 1820 he had three (Mary, Lydia and Stacy). In 1830 he only had one, who had to be Stacy. There is no room for a daughter named Ruth or Ruthie.

In 1840 Jacob did have a female aged under 5 (1835/40) living with him. I’ve assumed that was his orphaned granddaughter Margaret Moss (c1833), but of course it could be someone else. However, I don’t think it’s likely Jacob would have had a daughter this age unless Elizabeth had died and he married again to someone much younger, who also died before 1840.

One way to explain Ruth would be if she was a child of Jacob’s first wife, Margaret Carroll, and raised by her relatives after her death thus never appearing in Jacob’s census households. That is assuming that Margaret was actually Jacob’s wife.

The family history says the younger Ruth married Johnson Moss Junior, but provides no further details, except to say an older Ruth (Jacob Stewart’s sister) married old man Johnson Moss.

I’ve found no records at all for either old man Johnson Moss nor a younger man of the same name, or at least none that appear to be the ones in question.

I have found records for some others named Johnson Moss way outside our geographic area of interest. See Ruth Stewart “Sr” for what I found on the older Johnson Moss.

I found even less for a younger man named Johnson Moss. The only Ruth I found was Milton Moss’s wife Ruth Peak Moss.

It’s my current opinion that there was no Ruth Stewart, daughter of Jacob, who married Johnson Moss. I could be wrong of course. This may be another case of the family history mixing up one person for another, and those mentioned weren’t actually Stewarts. And (or), “Johnson” Moss wasn’t actually the right name for the men mentioned and it should be something else, or perhaps that was a middle name (or nickname) not found on public records.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Jacob Stewart and Elizabeth Setzer.

Revised: July 9, 2024

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

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