Marty and Karla Grant
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John Stewart, Esquire (1765/74-1825) and Nancy Agnes Gorrell of North Carolina (Guilford)
[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Stewart (c1765/74-1825)
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I am not related to John Stewart as far as I can tell. However, he lived in Guilford Co., NC for a time as did my own ancestor also named John Stewart (1730/40-1830). There is no possibility this John and my John are one and the same person.
There were records for several different John Stewarts in Guilford. Follow the link for more on the other Johns and my attempts to sort them out.
I refer to this John as “Esquire” because he was a county justice from 1793 through 1810 at least.
John Stewart was born 1760 according to many undocumented online trees. Census analysis shows 1765/74 which fits better with his lack of early records.
John Stewart is a proven son of Finley Stewart and Prudence Shaw Stewart as named in both their Wills.
Finley Stewart had land somewhere near the present community of Sedalia. He also had land a little further south on the south side of what is now called Little Alamance Creek, but was then the “North Fork” or “North Alamance.” John Stewart presumably grew up on one or both those tracts of land.
On 13 Nov 1788, John Stuart was bondsman for the marriage bond of John Neely and Mary Stuart. I think this might be John Stewart, Blacksmith instead.
There were two John Stewarts on the 1790 census in Guilford. I don’t think either of these are John Stewart, Esquire, as he wasn’t married yet. He may have still been home with his parents. Finley Stewart did have four males over 16 at home, which would be himself, son Robert (1764), son James (1770) and probably John (c1760).
1790 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 494 John Stuart 1-1-5-0-0 Not John Stewart, Esq. Probably Blacksmith John.
p. 495 John Stuart 1-0-1-0-2 Not John Stewart, Esq. Probably John Stewart Sr and wife Jean.
On 17 Sep 1790, John Stewart was bondsman for the marriage bond of James Stewart and Margrit Braley. I think this is actually Blacksmith John, even though this John had a brother named James.
In court on 24 Dec 1793, John Stewart was listed as Esquire for the first time. This title was usually reserved for lawyers, justices, etc. He was a justice in 1809 and 1810, perhaps other times.
In 1797, John Stewart son of Jehu Stewart would have turned 21, thus any records from 1797 on could be for either him, John Esquire or John Blacksmith. Location and associated names generally help sort them out.
There was only one John Stewart in Guilford on the 1800 census and it’s fairly clear he’s John Stewart, Blacksmith due to his age (45+, or born before 1755) and neighbors. John Esquire, was still with his parents in 1800, I believe. Finley did have a male with him aged 26-44 (1755/1774), which could be John for Robert was married by 1800, and I think James was as well.
1800 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 622 John Stewart 10001-01101-0-0 Not John Stewart, Esq. Probably Blacksmith John.
On 12 Jun 1802, John Stuart was the bondsman for the marriage bond of David Gorrell and Euphanie Stewart. Euphamia Stewart is John’s sister. David Gorrell was the brother of John’s soon to be wife Nancy Agnes Gorrell.
On 12 Aug 1803, John Stewart obtained a marriage bond to marry Nancy Gorrell. David Gorrell (her brother) was the bondsman. John would have been between 28 and 38 at this time. Nancy was born 1765/1784 per her page on the 1810 census. Combined with her 1820 census entry, she was born 1774/84, though some online trees give her birth as 4 Mar 1762 meaning she was 41 when she married John and in her 58 when her last child was born in 1820, all of which seems unlikely. 1774/84 works much better for her and can be supported with actual evidence.
On 18 Jun 1804, James Stewart of Iredell Co., NC made a deed to John Stewart of Guilford, for $500, land on Alamance. 250 acres. Part of a tract granted to Finley Stewart. Signed James Stewart. Witnessed by Robert Stewart. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 8, pp. 321-322.)
James was John’s brother. Finley, their father, had deeded this land to James in 1795. This was the only land John had at this time as far as I’m aware, total 250 acres.
12 Jun 1807 Finley Stewart made his Will in Guilford Co., NC, naming, among others, his son John, whom he also named as Executor along with David Gorrell.
On 31 May 1808, Ralph Gorrell of Guilford made a deed to John Stewart & Agness, his wife, for love and affection and ten pounds, 400 acres on both sides of Great Alamance, Adam Lorances line, Loftin’s corner, originally conveyed to Ralph Gorrell in two tracts. Signed by Ralph Gorrell. Witnessed by Catherine Gorrell, Levin Kirkman. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 11, pp. 110-111.)
Ralph Gorrell was Agnes’s father. This took John’s land holdings to 650 acres not including anything he inherited from his father (no acreage was specified in the Will).
On 7 Dec 1808, John Stewart received a state land grant for 40 acres on waters of Alamance, John Thom’s corner, Finley Stewart’s line, William Eakin’s line, Robert Alison’s line. Entered 22 May 1806. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 10, p. 29.)
This took John’s lands up to 690 acres, excluding anything inherited from his father.
There are two John Stewarts on the 1810 census in Guilford, or four if you count the two Jehu Stewarts mistakenly indexed as Johns. The first one listed (p. 924) is probably John Stewart, son of Finley. The last one is probably John (1776) son of Jehu.
1810 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 924 John Stewart 20010-11011-0-10 Next to Andrew Donell. Son of Finley.
p. 990 John Stewart 00210-33001-0-0 Next to Joseph Cook. Son of Jehu.
On 15 May 1819 John’s mother Prudence Stewart made her Will in Guilford, naming sons John and Robert Stewart and son-in-law David Gorrell executors. She named her children and several grandchildren including one of John’s children, James Addison Stewart.
There are three John Stewarts on the 1820 census in Guilford. The one on page 116 is John, son of Finley, judging by his age and that he had slaves.
1820 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 116 John Stewart 220001-21010-0-Slaves=1020-0010 Son of Finley.
p. 122 John Stewart 110101-11001-0-0
p. 123 John Stewart 001210-02201-0-0 Son of Jehu.
John Stewart died on 11 Jun 1825 (per tombstone), probably in his 50s. He did not leave a Will.
15 Aug 1825, Agness Stuart (signed Nancy Stewart), with Matthew Young, David Gorrell, James Gorrell got an administration bond for the estate of John Stuart, deceased. (Guilford Co., NC Estates.)
23 Feb 1826 Matthew Young. Guardian bond for Mary K., Ralph W., James A., Prudence C. Caty Ann, David G. and Robert S. Stewart, minor orphans of John Stewart deceased. Another document refers to James, Caroline and Catherine as orphans, which clarifies that Prudence C. is probably Caroline.
*****
John and Agnes had seven children as proven by his estate records.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Stewart and Agnes Gorrell Stewart.
Revised: May 25, 2024
Copyright © 1996-2024 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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