Marty and Karla Grant
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John Stewart, Blacksmith (bef 1755-aft 1803) and Mary of North Carolina (Guilford)
[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - John Stewart (bef 1755-aft 1803), Blacksmith
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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 some possibility this John and my John are one and the same person as both had wives named Mary and the time-line in Guilford is compatible (perhaps).
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 “Blacksmith” because he was often named that way in records, to distinguish himself from other John Stewarts.
John Stewart was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census, 45 and upwards. I can’t narrow it down more than that at present.
John’s wife was named Mary in 1791. I don’t know her maiden name or if she was his only wife or not. I think they were probably married in the 1770s at least. There is a possibility that she is the same Mary Stewart named in the 1791 Will of William Barnhill in Guilford Co., NC as his daughter. More research on that family might prove whether it’s the same Mary or not. The only reason I think it might be, other than the name being the same, is that George Alexander (who married a Mary Stewart in 1774) was associated with William Barnhill, and it’s my opinion that Mary Stewart Alexander might be John Stewart, Blacksmith’s sister. Unproven, but possible. I base that on an 1801 deed for John Stewart (see below) which George Alexander witnessed. Keep in mind I have no proof that John’s wife Mary is Mary Barnhill. George Stewart has a better claim probably. His wife was also named Mary, and George was a chain carrier for one of William Barnhill’s 1779 surveys for a land entry.
On 16 May 1787, John Stewart received a state land grant of 400 acres on the waters of Alamance and Pole Cat. The land was entered 28 Sep 1784, bordering William Weatherly, Fothergill, William Shannon, Robert Neeley and William Quiet. The survey was dated 31 May 1785. Chain Carriers were John Johnson and Solomon Shannon. (North Carolina Land Grants.) I didn’t find a corresponding deed for this in the deed book.
With the above, John Stewart had a total of 400 acres in Guilford, all of it on waters of both Pole Cat and Alamance. I don’t know if he moved to this land right away because he also acquired land on Reedy Fork which wasn’t nearby.
On 22 Aug 1787, James Brown sold land to John Stewart blacksmith. The land was described as 282 acres on a branch of Reedy Fork of Haw River on the south side of the fork and on both sides of the county line between Orange and Roan (Rowan), now Guilford. The land was granted by deed to William Anderson by Granville 23 May 1758. Signed James Brown. Witnessed by Henry Reed and George Park. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 4, pp. 337-338).
Reedy Fork of Haw River rises in Kernersville, which is west of Greensboro, and in Forsyth County, then flows north easterly into Guilford, then northeasterly, then easterly, all the way around Greensboro on the north side of the city, like a bypass, then continues easterly and before joining the Haw River just inside of present day Alamance County. Reedy Fork literally traverses the entire width of Guilford County.
We can narrow down where this land was based on the description as being on both sides of the old county lines between Rowan and Orange. That means the land was on the eastern side of Guilford somewhere in the vicinity of the current Alamance County line. That might place the land somewhere north of Sockwell Road (SR 2735).
I tried to narrow down the location of the above by looking at land records for Henry Reed and George Park who witnessed the 1787 deed. Park had no Reedy Fork land, but Reed had some, but where Horsepen Creek joins, which is on the western part of Reedy Fork, now part of Lake Brandt. That does not seem to be where John Stewarts land was.
On 13 Nov 1788, John Stuart was bondsman for the marriage bond of John Neely and Mary Stuart. I don’t know if this is John Stewart, blacksmith, or one of the other Johns. Whichever John it is, Mary Stewart is undoubtedly a close relation, such as sister, daughter or niece. My best guest at the moment is that this is John’s daughter. John was associated with several Neelys.
In 1788, John Stewart and James Stewart were chain carriers for a survey for John Stephenson, for land on Alamance. I believe James is probably John’s oldest son.
There are two John Stewarts on the 1790 census in Guilford. The one on page 494 is most likely John Stewart, Blacksmith, though that isn’t 100% certain. The other one is probably John Stewart Sr, and wife Jean.
1790 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 494 John Stuart 1-1-5-0-0 This is probably Blacksmith John.
p. 495 John Stuart 1-0-1-0-2
On 17 Sep 1790, John Stewart was bondsman for the marriage bond of James Stewart and Margrit Braley. I think this is John Stewart, blacksmith, and his son James.
On 8 Nov 1791, John Stewart Blacksmith of Guilford made a deed to William Malhattan, being 282 acres on Reedy Fork from the 1787 deed. No neighbors or streams were mentioned other than it being a branch of Reedy Fork. The deed was signed by John Stewart and Mary Stewart. Witnesses were George Wilson and Edward Holland. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 5, p. 279).
With the above deed, it would seem John Stewart no longer owned any land on Reedy Fork. He was living on Alamance and Pole Cat by this time.
On 25 May 1792, in Guilford court, the Will of Hance Clark, deceased, was proven in court by James McBride, one of the witnesses. Then, Mary Clark, widow of the deceased, and John Stuart Senior, Blacksmith, Executors qualified as such. The Will was dated March 1791.
The above shows that John Stewart, blacksmith, was then likely the eldest John Stewart in Guilford at the time, hence the use of the “Senior” suffix. I would have thought John Stewart (wife Jean) would have still been the eldest at that time. Perhaps he was, and the two men were actually one and the same person, which is certainly a possibility.
Hance Clark had a 1793 land grant (posthumous) on Alamance Creek. He entered the land in 1785. Alamance is not close to Reedy Fork at all, being several miles to the south. Can we infer from this that John Stewart, blacksmith, had moved in that direction after selling his Reedy Fork land in 1791? It would explain how he was near Hance Clark in order to a good enough friend to be named Executor. Then again they could have met anywhere before then.
There was only one John Stewart in Guilford on the 1800 census. He was next to his likely son William Stewart and near many of the names associated with him in deeds, such as William Dickey, William Dodson/Dobson, Abram Powell and Daniel Sullivan.
1800 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 622 John Stewart 10001-01101-0-0
On 1 Sep 1800, John Stewart received a state land grant for 100 acres on Pole Cat adjoining his own line and Fothergills old line. The land was entered 17 Aug 1790. The survey was dated 31 May 1792. John Stephenson and Samuel Shannon were chain carriers. (North Carolina Land Grants.) The deed for this grant shows 24 Dec 1800 instead of 1 Sep 1800.(Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 348.)
With the above, John Stewart now has a total of 500 acres on waters of both Pole Cat and Alamance. He sold this 100 acre grant to Daniel Sullivan in 1801 (see below).
On 29 Jan 1801, John Stewart of Guilford made a deed to Abraham Powell for 30 pounds. 30 acres on Alamance, part of a tract formerly belonging to said John Stewart. Signed by John Stewart. Witnessed by Nathan Armfield, Wm Dobson. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 8, pp. 337-338.)
With the above, John Stewart now has a total of 470 acres in Guilford, all of it on waters of both Pole Cat and Alamance. This 30 acre tract must be part of his original 400 acres, not the 100 acre additional tract. The use of the phrase “formerly” belonging to John Stewart makes no sense if he still owns it in order to sell it. I think it mean where he formerly lived instead. I’m not sure though.
On – Nov 1801, John Stewart of Guilford made a deed to Daniel Sullivan for 60 pounds. 100 acres on Pole Cat granted to John Stewart by the state. Bordering Fothergill and Sullivan. Signed by John Stewart. Witnessed by William Adams and Joseph Jackson. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 11, p. 169.)
With the above, John Stewart now has a total of 370 acres in Guilford, all of it on waters of both Pole Cat and Alamance. This is the entirety of his 100 acre grant from 1800.
On 1 Dec 1801, John Stewart of Guilford made a deed to James Kirkman for $273 for 168 acres on the waters of Alamance being “part of a tract of land formerly belonging to the said John Stewart.” (Formerly? This wording again makes no sense, for it was formerly his land, it wouldn’t be his to sell any longer.) Mentions Levi Tucker’s line, Powell’s corner, Joseph Jackson’s line, Nathan Armfield line. Signed by John Stewart. Witnessed by James Neeley and George Alexander. The deed was proved in Nov 1803 court by George Alexander. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 8, p. 118.)
With the above, John Stewart now has a total of 202 acres in Guilford, all of it on waters of both Pole Cat and Alamance.
George Alexander, one of the witnesses to the above deed married Mary Stuart in 1774 in Guilford. Is this the same person some 27 years later? If so, I’d assume he was John Stewart’s brother-in-law instead of son-in-law, unless John is even older than I think.
Two Neelys married Stewarts prior to this. John Neeley to Mary Stuart in 1788 (John Stuart, bondsman), and Andrew Neely to Agnes Stewart 1799 (William Stewart bondsman).
On 2 Dec 1803, John Stewart made a deed to William Adams, for 200 pounds, “my old tract of land” on waters of Pole Cat & Alamance ... William Wiley’s corner, Nealey’s line, Levi Tucker’s line, James Kirkman’s corner, 202 acres. Signed by John Stewart. Witnessed by Nathan Armfield and John Galbreath. (Guilford Co., NC Deed Book 9, pp. 93-94.)
With this deed, John Stewart no longer has any land in Guilford.
Did he die just after this? Or move away?
There are two John Stewarts on the 1810 census in Guilford. Neither is old enough to be John Stewart, blacksmith.
1810 Census Guilford Co., NC
p. 924 John Stewart 20010-11011-0-10 Next to Andrew Donell
p. 944 Jehu Stewart Jr 22110-31010-0-0 Indexed as John, but says Jehu.
p. 950 Jehu Stewart 10001-00110-0-0 Indexed as John, but says Jehu.
p. 990 John Stewart 00210-33001-0-0 Next to Joseph Cook.
One question you might have is how do I know that John Stewart, Blacksmith, of Reedy Fork is the same as John Stewart of Alamance/Pole Cat since the latter was never referred to as a blacksmith in any of his deeds there. The answer is Hance Clark who named John as his executor in his 1791 Will. Hance (also Hans) lived on Alamance and it wouldn’t make much sense to name someone who lived many miles away as your executor, thus proving, more or less, that Blacksmith John lived in the same area in 1791.
I have nothing else on John Stewart, Blacksmith or his wife Mary. It has occurred to me that this might be the same John Stewart (1750-aft 1835) who was a Revolutionary War Soldier from Guilford, serving under his brother Cpt. George Stewart. That John was in Butts Co., GA in 1835 when he applied for a pension. I don’t know if that John had a wife named Mary or if he was a blacksmith. If either of those are the case, then perhaps it is the same John. He claimed to have moved to GA in 1790, which doesn’t quite work because John Blacksmith was still in Guilford as late as 1803. It’s close enough to consider though, but not too likely.
Could he be the same as John Stewart Sr and wife Jean, of Benaja Creek? It’s possible, except the fact that John Sr was dead by 1796, and John Blacksmith was still alive through 1803 at least.
Could John Stewart, Blacksmith be the same as my John Stewart (1730/40-1830) and wife Mary Ann? It’s possible, but I don’t think the time-line works very well for it because Blacksmith John was still in Guilford as late as 1803, whereas my John was in Cabarrus by 1800 and Buncombe by 1802. Thus, I don’t think they could be the same John.
I have no proven children for John and Mary, but I have a few strong candidates. I also suspect that Mary Stewart who married George Alexander in 1774 could be John’s sister.
∙ James Stewart (1755/74) was a chain carrier with John in 1789. John was bondsman for his 1790 marriage to Margaret Braley. Listed on 1790 census 1 male, 1 female, suggesting newlyweds.
∙ Mary Stewart (bef 1774) married John Neely / Neeley in 1774, John Stewart, bondsman. They were not in Guilford for the 1790 census. I did find one in 1790 York Dist., SC who might be them, because in 1800 the same John Neely had Andrew Neely next door (see below). There is also a Robert Neely nearby in 1790, and that’s a name associated with John Stewart, Blacksmith in Guilford in the 1780s, but not found in Guilford in 1790.
∙ William Stewart (1774/84) was next to John in 1800. William was bondsman for 1799 marriage of Agnes Stewart to Andrew Neely. William was still in Guilford in 1810.
∙ Agnes Stewart (c1779-aft 1850) married Andrew Neely in 1799. On 1800 census in York Dist., SC next to John Neely. In York in 1810, to TN by 1820, in Carroll Co., TN in 1830 and 1840. Andrew died in 1840s, Agnes listed on 1850 census in Carroll.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Stewart and Mary
Revised: May 28, 2024
Copyright © 1996-2024 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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