Stephen Lewis (bef 1753-1801) and Kerrenhappuck (—) of Dobbs, Glasgow, Greene and Robeson Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

[Lewis Home] - [Table of Contents] - Stephen Lewis son of Jacob

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

Stephen Lewis is 5 times great uncle.

Stephen Lewis was born before ca 1753 based on him being included on a 1769 tax list, and assuming he was at least 16 then. We could assume he was 21 or more then, but he was listed with his father, so perhaps only 16-ish at the time.

Stephen would likely have been born in Bertie (now Hertford) Co., NC, but would have moved to Dobbs Co., NC while still fairly young.

Stephen is a proven son of Jacob Lewis (1720s-c1795) as shown by the aforementioned 1769 tax list which explicitly states that Stephen is Jacob’s son.

1769 Dobbs Co., NC Tax List

Name Whites-Blacks-Total

John Garland, Jacob Lewis, Joseph Whitley and Negroes Perel? Winney 3-2-5

Jacob Lewis and son Stephen 2-0-2

James Lewis 1-0-1

John Murphy Junr & Antony Lewis 2-0-2

This also happens to be Stephen’s first public record. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the Dobbs Co., NC records were lost due to court house fires in the late 1800s so we don’t have much on his time there. The section the Lewises lived in was actually Johnston County when the first arrived, but became Dobbs in 1758 and remained so until 1791 when Dobbs was dissolved. That year the southern half became Lenoir County and the northern half became Glasgow which was renamed Greene County in 1799. Stephen and family resided in the northern part that is now Greene County.

On 15 Apr 1771, a Land Warrant was issued in Dobbs Co., NC to Jacob Lewis for “a plantation containing” 100 acres on the south side of the Rainbow Swamp joining the said Lewis’s land and Thomas Evans’s land. The survey was dated 15 Oct 1772 and mentioned John Maxwell’s corner. James Lewis and Stephen Lewis were chain bearers.

Jacob Lewis made a deed to James Lewis and one to Stephen Lewis both between 1773 and 1775. No details are known as only the index survives, not the actual deed books. (Dobbs Co., NC Deed Book 10, p. 122 (James) and p. 129 (Stephen), index only.)

The above suggests Stephen was old enough to be needing his own land by then, so quite possibly already married. We know from his Will and other records that Stephen’s wife had the very Biblical name of Keren Happuch or Kerenhappuch, undoubtedly named after Job’s daughter from Job 42:14.

She was born between 1740 and 1750 per her age on the 1830 census. This might make her a bit older than her husband Stephen, though we don’t know when he was born precisely, other than before ca 1753. They probably married in the early 1770s in Dobbs (now Greene) Co., NC.

I haven’t found any indication of her maiden name thus far, not even a strong clue.

On 19 Jun 1778, James Lewis made a land entry for 200 acres in Dobbs Co., NC on the North side of Wheat Swamp, South side of Rainbow and both sides of Long Branch, joining Jacob Lewis, Charles Hiles and George Bell. On 12 Oct 1779 a survey was made for James Lewis in Dobbs Co., NC for 135 acres on north side of Wheat Swamp and south side of “The Rainbow” and both sides of Long Branch. It mentions Jacob Lewis’s corner. The chain bearers were Jacob Lewis and Stephen Lewis.

Stephen Lewis is on the 1780 tax list in Dobbs Co., NC taxed for $400 worth of property in Granger District. Listed in the same grouping are his father Jacob Lewis and brothers James and William Lewis, each with $400 taxable property. It was not an alphabetical list, so these were all living near each other assuming the tax collector went from house to house, or they all came in to pay taxes as a group if the tax collector didn’t visit. The transcriber of the tax list described Granger District as being in modern Greene County from Snow Hill to south as far as Wheat Swamp, including Hookerton and westward to include Arba. That perfectly describes the area where the Lewis’s had land.

1780 Dobbs Co., NC Tax List, Granger District

Line # Name Value

52 Jacob Lewis 400

53 James Lewis 400

54 Stephen Lewis 400

55 Willm Lewis 400

At some point in the 1780s Jacob Lewis, his sons Benjamin, James, William and John and other members of this family moved south, however, Stephen remained in Dobbs awhile longer.

Stephen was still in Dobbs for the 1790 census, listed in a grouping with Cader Lewis and James Lewis. John Lewis was on the same page, but quite a few houses away. Cader is a proven son of Stephen. I think James might also be a son, though he could be a nephew instead. John’s connection isn’t know, but also a potential son or nephew. There was a Benjamin Lewis listed also, but not near the others. Benjamin resided in the section that later became Lenoir County, and perhaps coincidentally, also wound up in Robeson Co., NC later. Stephen does have a brother named Benjamin Lewis, but it’s not this same one who was in Dobbs in 1790.

1790 Census, Dobbs Co., NC

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
461	Cader Lewis	1	1	1	~	~
461	James Lewis	1	1	3	~	~
461	Stephen Lewis	1	1	2	~	~
461	John Lewis	1	~	1	~	~
463	Benjamin Lewis	1	1	3	~	~

Dobbs County was dissolved in 1791 by being split into Lenoir and Glasgow Counties. Stephen and family found themselves in Glasgow, which was renamed Greene in 1799.

On 8 Jan 1793, Benjamin Lewis of Georgetown Dist., SC, Planter, made a deed to Stephen Lewis of Glasgow Co., NC for 300 pounds current money for land in Robeson Co., NC. 240 acres on the east side of Indian Swamp joining 200 acres belonging to the widow Stewart. The land was part of a 640 acre patent to David Clark, conveyed by Clark to Samuel Thornton, and by Thornton to James Sanders and by him to John Smith, then by John Willis, Smith’s attorney, to Jesse Jernigan Senr, and by him to Jesse Jernigan Junr, and by him to Benjamin Lewis. “Benja. Lewis” signed. Witnesses were Nancy Lewis and Jacob Lewis (his mark). Benjamin Lewis acknowledged the deed himself in July 1793 court. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book C, pp. 411-413.)

The above is Stephen’s brother Benjamin selling him land in Robeson Co., NC where several members of the family were then residing. Benjamin himself wasn’t very far away, just over the state line in South Carolina. Jacob Lewis, one of the witnesses, is Stephen’s father. I’m not sure who Nancy Lewis is.

Stephen and family would have moved to Robeson Co., NC around the time this deed was made.

Big Indian Swamp rises in Robeson Co., NC in Juniper Bay just a little north of Proctorville and flows generally southerly, passing to the west of Proctorville. Little Indian Swamp rises in east Proctorville and flows south not very far before joining Big Indian. Together they become Indian Swamp. It continues flowing southerly a few miles then joins Ashpole Swamp. Indian Swamp’s run is entirely in south eastern Robeson County. Where it joins Ashpole is very near the Dillon Co., SC line, which in 1792 was part of Georgetown Dist., SC. Ashpole flows southerly another couple of mile and joins the Lumber River, back then usually called Drowning Creek.

On 2 Jan 1794, Stephen Lewis of Robeson made a deed to Kadar Lewis (his son), selling him the 200 acres that Benjamin had sold him the year prior. Stephen Lewis signed. Benjamin Lewis, James Lewis and Richard Lewis witnessed. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book *, pp. ***)

“Kadar” Lewis is Cader Lewis, Stephen’s son (as proven by his Will). Benjamin Lewis and James Lewis are Stephen’s brothers. Richard Lewis is his nephew, a son of James.

Stephen Lewis is not listed on the 1800 census as far as I can find. It’s possible that he and his wife are residing with his brother John Lewis in Robeson that year for they have a male and female with them both over age 45 (born before 1755) which are too old to be John and his own wife. However, I have no way to know who those people are. Regardless, it seems certain that Stephen and wife were residing in Robeson at this time, though left off the census for some reason. Son Cader Lewis was “next door” in Marion Dist., SC in 1800, but had no one his parents age residing with him. Perhaps Stephen and wife were residing with a married daughter, thus not listed under Stephen’s name (only heads of household were listed by name on these early census records).

Stephen Lewis made his Will in Robeson Co., NC on 25 Oct 1800 “being in a declining state of health of body but of reasonable sense and memory ...”

He named:

∙ my wife Kerenapac Lewis.

∙ daughter Nancy Barfield.

∙ son Cader Lewis ... land next to John Lewis ...

∙ Executors John Flowers and William Ashley.

He signed as Stephen Lewis. Witnesses were John Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis (her mark) and Morgan Elmore (his mark).

John Lewis is his brother. Elizabeth Lewis is probably his sister-in-law, wife of James Lewis.

Stephen Lewis was dead by 6 Oct 1801, for on that date “The last will and testament of Stephen Lewis deceased was proved by the oath of John Lewis and Morgan Elmore and admitted to record.” (Robeson Co., NC Court Minutes 1797-1806.)

I did not find the Widow Lewis on the 1810 census. She wasn’t listed as a head of household anywhere, nor was she residing with son Cader who by then had moved off with his uncle William Lewis and was residing in Wayne Co., NC. I was unable to locate her daughter Nancy Lewis Barfield in 1810, so perhaps she was with her, wherever that was.

On 10 Apr 1817, Caran Happas Lewis, Nancy Barfield and Furney Barfield, of Robeson Co., NC sold 100 acres to William Atkinson for $250, the land being on the west side of Hog Swamp. All three grantors signed with marks. Witnesses were Jacob Barnes and James Atkinson. (Robeson Co., NC Deed Book *, pp. **.) *****

I didn’t find Mrs. Lewis on the 1820 census either, though someone her age was residing with her daughter Nancy Lewis Barfield in Marion Dist., SC and that is almost certainly her unless it was his own mother instead.

1820 Census, Marion Dist., SC

Page

Name

Furny Barfield

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

1m 45+ (before 1775) Furney Barfield (bef 1775)

1m 10-15 (1804/1810) Son?

2m 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Son?

2. Son?

1f 45+ (before 1775) Kerrenhappuck (—) Lewis (1740/50) mother-in-law

1f 26-44 (1775/1794) Nancy Lewis Barfield (c1780) wife

1f 10-15 (1804/1810) Daughter?

2f 0-9 (1810/1820) 1. Daughter?

2. Daughter?

They were still in Marion for the 1830 census, and Karrenhappuck seems to be with them still.

1830 Census, Marion Dist., SC

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+

Furny Barfield

Slaves=0

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

1m 50-59 (1770/1780) Furney Barfield (1770/1775)

1m 10-14 (1815/1820) Son?

1f 80-89 (1740/1750) Kerrenhappuck (—) Lewis (1740/50) mother-in-law

1f 40-49 (1780/1790) Nancy Lewis Barfield (c1780) wife

The Barfields moved back to Robeson Co., NC before 1833. I don’t know if Kerranhappuck made the move with them or died before they left Marion, however, she does seem to have died in the 1830s either in Marion or in Robeson.

Children

Only two children are named in Stephen’s 1800 Will, son Cader and daughter Nancy Barfield. However, the 1790 census suggests they had at least one other son born 1774/1790. It’s also possible that James and John Lewis who were near them in 1790 were their sons as well, though none of these were named in the Will. If they are Stephen’s sons, why did he not mention them? Had they died before 1800? Or were they already well taken care of in his opinion, thus needing no inheritance? Or, just as likely, they aren’t his sons after all? As of now I have no evidence they are his sons, but they must fit into the family somewhere.

1. Cader Lewis (1770/74-1831/35). He is a proven son of Stephen’s as named in his 1800 Will. Cader was born in Dobbs (now Greene) and was already married by the time of the 1790 census, listed two houses from his father on that census. I haven’t discovered the name of his first wife. He moved to Georgetown (now Marion Co., SC) Dist., SC when his father moved to Robeson in the 1790s (the two counties were next to each other then) and was there on the 1800 census. However, he moved into Robeson later that same year and remained there a short while until ca 1802. Sometime before 1805 he followed his uncle William Lewis (1761-1841) “back home” to Greene Co., NC and spent the next few years following his nomad uncle William from county to county, next to Wayne Co., NC by 1810, to Duplin Co., NC by 1811 and still there through ca 1817. I wasn’t able to find him on the 1820 census, but around that same time he moved back to Marion Dist., SC and married a 2^nd time to Elizabeth (—), his first wife haven died sometime before then. She was born ca 1790/1800, maiden name unknown.

Cader is listed on the 1824 tax list in Marion, and also there on the 1830 census. He died there sometime between 1833 and 1835. Widow Elizabeth is on the 1840 census in Marion Dist., SC. In 1840 she made a deed of gift to her five children.

We know his children by his 2^nd wife (per the 1840 deed of gift) are Elizabeth Jane (c1822), Sarah Amanda (1822), Margaret Ann, Tracy K. (c1832) and Theophilus G. Lewis (c1833).

I haven’t positively identified his children from his first marriage, though I suspect James R. Lewis (c1793) and Stephen Lewis (1775/1794) are his.

2. Nancy Lewis (c1780-aft 1850) is a proven child of Stephen as named in his 1800 Will. She married Furney Barfield before 1800, presumably in Robeson Co., NC. He was born ca 1770/75 and died 1845 in Robeson. I wasn’t able to find them on the 1800 or 1810 census, but they were in Marion Dist., SC in 1820 and 1830 and Robeson in 1840. He left a Will there dated 24 Jan 1845 naming wife Nancy and children Dearatha, Caran Happaig, heirs of Clary, Appy and Stephen, no surnames listed, though most were probably married by then.

Nancy is listed on the 1850 census in Robeson Co., NC with Erick L. Houston and wife Eliza Thompson, relationship unknown. Erick’s 1^st wife was Eliza Lewis, daughter of James Lewis, who *could* be Nancy’s brother, but I’m not sure of that.

3. James Lewis born before 1774 was listed next to Stephen on the 1790 census in Dobbs Co., NC. This isn’t Stephen’s brother James who was already in Robeson by then. This could be a nephew, but I don’t know who he belongs to. Brother James had a son James (1772-1855), but he was only 18 at this time and I don’t think he was married yet. Of course it could still be him. Stephen’s brother Benjamin had a likely son named James, but he was even younger, so it isn’t him. None of the other known brothers are likely the father of this James due to being too young, so I think the answer is that he’s either Stephen’s son, left out of his 1800 Will for some reason, or this is James (1772-1855) who hadn’t joined his father in Robeson just yet. That may be the explanation because I have no other information on this James unless he is indeed James 1772-1855. There is also the possibility this is a much older James, perhaps an uncle to Stephen instead, but I’m not aware of a James of that generation this could be.

For now, I’m only mentioning several options for the identity of this James in 1790, as I don’t think he’s Stephen’s son, primarily because he wasn’t named in the 1800 Will.

4. Unidentified Son (1774/1790). Stephen had an apparent son this age with him on the 1790 census, a male under 16 (born 1774/1790). I’ve found no records suggesting who this might have been. It’s possible he died just after the census was taken, thus no longer living when Stephen made his Will in 1800.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Stephen Lewis and Karrenhappuch (—) Lewis.

Revised: May 25, 2026

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]