Robert Stewart and Isabel Stewart of North Carolina (Mecklenburg, Union)

Marty and Karla Grant

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Robert Stewart (d 1777) and Isabel of North Carolina (Mecklenburg, Union)

[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - Robert Stewart

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I am not related to Robert Stewart as far as I can tell. However, he lived in Mecklenburg Co., NC as did my own ancestor John Stewart (1730/40-1830). I think their time there overlapped. Of course that doesn’t mean they were related.

I think there is a reasonable chance that Robert Stewart and Alexander Stewart (d 1789) are brothers for they lived near each other and some of their children and grandchildren were associated with each other.

Robert had 300 acres on Six Mile Creek (Sixmile) which rises in Eastern Mecklenburg and flows southerly, becoming the Mecklenburg / Union border for most of its run to the South Carolina line where it continues into Lancaster Co., SC where it joins Twelvemile Creek.

He also had 300 acres on Twelve Mile Creek which rises in what is now Union Co., NC, first as two main branches, West Fork and East Fork which flow southerly until they join and become Twelve Mile Creek (or Twelvemile Creek), then flows south easterly into Lancaster Co., SC where it joins the Catawba River. This entire region would have been considered Anson Co., NC until 1763 when Mecklenburg was formed. They figured out the state line in 1775. The South Carolina portion of Twelvemile would have been in Camden County at that time. Union was formed from Mecklenburg (and Anson) in 1842.

A map showing the waterways in old Mecklenburg where Stewarts had land.

Robert Stewart (also Stuart) birth date is unknown, but it was 1748 or before. I don’t know where he was born or when he came to Mecklenburg, though he was there by 1769.

His wife was Isabel, maiden name unknown. Some online trees show her as a Huston, but with no sources listed. The family was associated with the Hustons in Mecklenburg. Robert and Isabel married before 1770.

On 16 Dec 1769, Robert Stewart was granted 300 acres on Six Mile Creek described as being in Tryon County. Beginning at a Hickory in Aaron Hustins line ... Patrick Williams line ...

On 18 Jan 1770, Abraham Alexander, Thomas Polk and George Allen of Mecklenburg sold a lot in Charlotte to Robert Stuart for £2, it being Lot 97 south side of Tryon Street. Witnesses were Samuel Wilson and John Springsteen. (Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 5, p. 307.)

On 28 May 1773, George Neel of Mecklenburg made a deed to Oughtry McKibbin for land on 12 Mile Creek. Witnesses were William Haggans, Arch Crockett and Robert Stuart. (Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 8, p. 119.)

On 27 Sep 1773 James Harris and wife Margaret, of Mecklenburg, made a deed to Robert Stewart. For £40, they sold him 300 acres. No landmarks were given other than metes and bounds and “Ligates upper corner.” James Harris signed. Margaret Harris made her mark. Witnesses were Fran. Baggett, Thomas Harris and Robert Lewis (who signed with a mark). (Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 10, p. 105.)

On 10 Oct 1775, Aaron Huston and wife Margaret made of a deed to Mathew Patton for land on 12 Mile Creek. Witnesses were John Knighton, Robert Stewart and Will Matthews. (Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 7, p. 5.)

Robert Stewart made his Will on 25 Sep 1777 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. He named:

∙ Wife Isbel

∙ Son William.

∙ Son James.

∙ My four daughters Agness, Elizabeth, Margaret, Jean Stewart

He named his wife “Isbel” and dear friend James Houston as Executors.

Robert Stewart signed the Will with a mark. Witnesses were Henry Downs and Hugh Huston, the latter of whom proved the Will in Oct 1777 court. (Mecklenburg Co., NC Will Book F, pp. 158-159 and also Loose Estates, Robert Stewart 1777.)

He gave the plantation he lived on to his wife, with it going to son William after her death. He gave half of the Twelve Mile Creek land to his son James, being the “Upper” part. The other half was to be sold to use to pay off his debts.

On 15 Jul 1778, James Huston and Isbel Stewart, Executors of Robert Stewart, deceased, made a deed to William Mathews. For £150 they sold him 150 acres on both sides Glady Fork of 12 Mile Creek. It mentions it was land sold by James Harris to Robert Stewart. James Huston and Isbel Stewart signed. Witnesses were Henry Downs, Alexander Inglis and Mathew Paton. (Mecklenburg Co., NC Deed Book 7, pp. 496-498.)

The above was the half of his plantation sold as stipulated in his Will.

That is the last record I found for Isabel Stewart. She was listed in the estate inventory as “Isabella Stuart.” She was apparently dead by 1794 when son William sold the land that she’d inherited which was to go to him after her death.

An undated receipt in Robert’s estate file says: This is to certify that I have received in full of that part of my decs’d husband’s estate specified in his will. Cetron Stewart.

This is almost certainly in the wrong file. This should be in the estate file of Thomas Stewart (d 1778) whose wife was named Catherine, often spelled the way it is on the receipt.

Children

Robert’s Will proves six children, sons William and James, daughters Agnes, Elizabeth, Margaret and Jean (Jane) Stewart. They way it is written, it looks as if the daughters were unmarried at the time of the Will. In fact, I think all the children were still minors at the time, though not stated.

1. William Stewart (1765/70-aft 1830)

2. James Stewart (1765/70-aft 1840)

3. Agnes Stewart, no further info. Online trees without documentation show her born ca 1764, died 1786, married to George Howey (1762-1835). Agnes Howey is buried at Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Charlotte. I haven’t seen any actual evidence yet she’s the same person as Agnes Stewart, but certainly could be.

4. Elizabeth Stewart, no further info. An online tree shows her born ca 1773, died ca 1849 in Mecklenburg. No spouse listed. What is the proof for those dates?

5. Margaret Stewart, no further info. An online tree shows her born 1772, died 1842 in Mecklenburg, wife of John Stephenson. Is there proof this is the same Margaret?

6. Jean (Jane) Stewart, no further info.

William Stewart inherited his father’s Sixmile Creek land. Obtained more land there and on Twelve Mile Creek. Numerous deeds 1794 through 1818, then no more. None of them included his wife’s name, nor did any other Stewarts witness any of them. Going by his census entries we can conclude he was born between 1765 and 1774.

CENSUS:1790 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 374 William Stuart 1-2-4-0-0

p. 383 William Stuart 2-0-2-0-0 <--- probably this one judging by neighbors, Houstons, Downs, etc.

CENSUS:1800 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 546 William Stuart 01010-11110-0-0

p. 563 William Stuart 20010-00100-0-0

p. 602 William Stuart 20010-31010-0-1 < this is him judging by his neighbors and household

CENSUS:1810 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 480 Wm Stewart 21010-01210-0-5 < this is the best match

p. 481 Wm Stewart 01100-01001-0-0

p. 514 Wm Stewart 21110-40110-0-0

CENSUS:1820 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 181 William Steward 111210-22110-0-Slaves=3000-0000

p. 197 William Stewart 000001-01101-0-0 < next to Othneal Stewart. Judging by age and neighbors this would have to be him.

CENSUS:1830 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 369 William Stewart 00101101-00011001

Husband and wife in their 50s (1770/80). Next to Samuel Stewart (1790/1800). I don’t think this is William, son of Robert. This is the one with land on McDowell Creek.

It appears that William Stewart died after 1818, perhaps after 1820 if that’s him on the 1820 census on page 197 which it seems to be. Then again, perhaps he didn’t die around that time, but moved away somewhere else.

One online tree shows this William Stewart dying ca 1837 in Wilcox Co. AL. What is the evidence it’s the same William? I looked into it a little bit and I tend to think this is correct.

I checked the 1830 census and found a William Stewart (1760/70) in Wilcox two houses from James Stewart (1760/70), so that fits. Samuel Stewart (1810/15) and Robert Stewart (1790/1800) are nearby. The name “Robert” fits. Furthermore, there is a Mrs. Ann Huston (1770/80) very near them and a Samuel Matthews (1780/90). Huston (Houston) and Matthews were names they were associated with in Mecklenburg, so that does make these two in Wilcox look like our same William and James from Mecklenburg.

CENSUS:1830 Wilcox Co., AL p. 189

William Stewart 001010001-000000001

The 1830 census helps narrow William’s birth date to 1765/1770.

James Stewart inherited his father’s Twelvemile Creek land. Based on two census entries, he was born ca 1765/74, same as his brother William. However, there is the possibility that the James listed on the census records is not the same person.

1800 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 600 James Stuart 40010-00010-0-1

1810 Mecklenburg Co., NC

p. 474 Jas Stewart 02001-10101-0-0 4 houses from Joseph Stewart

p. 477 Jas Stewart 61010-00010-0-0 < best match

I didn’t find James in Mecklenburg on the 1820 or 1830 census. He’d either died or moved away before 1820.

There appear to be no land records for this James Stewart. What happened to the land he inherited from his father? That would be 150 acres on Twelvemile Creek.

One online tree shows this James Stewart dying 1843 in Wilcox Co. AL. What is the evidence it’s the same James? I looked into it a little bit and I tend to think this is correct.

CENSUS:1830 Wilcox Co., AL p. 189

James Stewart 002240001-001000001

James is still in Wilcox for the 1840 census, near Isabella Stewart, Wm H. Stewart, John T. Houston, James H. Stewart, John Q. Stewart, Samuel Stewart.

CENSUS:1840 Wilcox Co., AL p. 328

James Steward 0001500001-000100001

The 1830 and 1840 censuses helps narrow James’s birth date to 1765/1770.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Robert and Isabel Stewart

Revised: May 11, 2024

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